Doing Adventures with Family or school trip to Europe

[minniejack]

My DD will be a junior this fall. The foreign language takes a trip overseas every other year--I told her no as a Freshman that she had to wait until the next time. After a horrid trip to NYC with her school orchestra where the kids that I chaperoned ditched her and me and stole the entire time from the Chinese purse people to Sephora, she currently says she never wants to go on a school trip again. Teens change their minds daily (imagine that).

Also, her brother will be a Freshman this year; so in 2 yrs, he too will be asking. So potentially I'd be spending more for me and my DH to go with Disney, but we'd be doing it as a family.
So here's the question: Would you all spend approximately the same amount for her to go with the school for France/London trip ( Also, it wasn't a full week, during school time and she always freaks even about missing a day for anything) or do a Adventures trip for the whole family at a time that's convenient for all of us??
What do you think?

 

[sayhello]

Personally, I'd go with the family trip. You can go the same places (London/France - Knights & Lights trip) so all she'd be missing is the companionship of the other foreign language students. If you think she'd prefer your company to theirs, go for it!

Sayhello

 

[arthur06]

If you can afford to do the family ABD, I say go for that! ABD are second to none!

 

[minniejack]

Thanks arthur and sayhello.

Anybody else?

Are the ABD tours really that good? I've only been on tours with dance/school groups to NYC and well....that left a lot to be desired-- tour guides that don't exactly know anything about NY

Do the tour guides help set up special dietary needs? We need to be gluten free and while my DD does speak French it's only 4 yrs of high school french. And I only know the French alphabet from 3rd grade. I could probably ask for alphabet soup--maybe.

I'm leaning toward the Disney tour over the school.

 

[RSM]

Thanks arthur and sayhello.

Anybody else?

Are the ABD tours really that good? I've only been on tours with dance/school groups to NYC and well....that left a lot to be desired-- tour guides that don't exactly know anything about NY

Do the tour guides help set up special dietary needs? We need to be gluten free and while my DD does speak French it's only 4 yrs of high school french. And I only know the French alphabet from 3rd grade. I could probably ask for alphabet soup--maybe.

I'm leaning toward the Disney tour over the school.

HI minniejack,

We just got back from ABD's Alpine Magic adventure. It was our first ABD, and I will say the adventure guides really are that good. They really understand the region you are in and are there to pretty much resolve any issue you may have. You will generally find that at least one of the guides speak the local language. On ours, the guides were speaking Italian, German, as well as English.

Our son has a tree nut allergy and before every meal our guide spoke wth the chef to understand what could be eaten and what couldn't be eaten. She often called ahead to restaurants where the group would be eating to talk to the chef to ensure our son got nut-free food. In our group there was another child that was a vegetarian and he always had vegetarian meals. We also had two who did not eat cheese, and during the fondue meal, one of the guides went to an Italian restaurant with them while we had another guide at the fondue restaurant. I wouldn't anticipate an issue with a gluten free diet. I'm sure the guides have dealt with this before and would provide you with great service.

 

[figmentfan2009]

Miniejack
I would do the family one in a heart beat.

special diet? Call disney and tell them what you need. We have a severe fish allergy and they went WAY out of the way to make sure at every meal that she was safe... and we were in CHINA.... fish everywhere... I am comfortable enough with the attention they pay to every detail to be taking the same sever fish allergy chick to Italy... more fish...

We had a less allergic more finicky eater in China... she really wasn't an adventurous eater... they made sure that she had sticky rice and garlic and soy sauce no matter where we were... she ate what she liked even if there was wicked cool things like fish face, duck face and spicy food... they made sure it was always on hand even when they had to have it brought in specially for her...

Yes... the guides are that good. Yes, Disney is that good.

Let them know if your kids (or you and your dh) have any interests in particular... and they will point out special things to do on your off time... we have a history buff and they told us special places we could go that were historically significant for the area.

Not only are the guides well versed with the area you are going to be... there is a local expert that helps out in many places who knows even more.

And it is Disney quality... not mickey in your face.

I would not hesitate to do the family trip and forgo the class trip... you see how class trips end up going and I have two of the kick me kids in class who would be left behind, lost, or ignored... NO ONE gets ignored on an ABD tour. Even if you aren't a real croud... people person... you are integrated well into the group and everyone gets to know everyone.

Do I sound like the poster child for ABD yet?

 

[sayhello]

Thanks arthur and sayhello.

Anybody else?

Are the ABD tours really that good? I've only been on tours with dance/school groups to NYC and well....that left a lot to be desired-- tour guides that don't exactly know anything about NY

Do the tour guides help set up special dietary needs? We need to be gluten free and while my DD does speak French it's only 4 yrs of high school french. And I only know the French alphabet from 3rd grade. I could probably ask for alphabet soup--maybe.

I'm leaning toward the Disney tour over the school.

In case you haven't gotten the idea from RSM and figmentfan2009, YES, they are THAT good! Certainly, the Adventure Guides are a huge part of that. They speak the language, they have local experts to help even more, they are on top of everything. You couldn't ask for a better experience in "worry-free" travel. We had a gluten-free family in *Italy*, and the Adventure Guides assured them of appropriate meals at every place we ate. They really know what they are doing. I think *quality* wise, there would be absolutely NO comparison with the school trip. Apples vs last season's oranges! I think you'll be very pleased with ABD.

Sayhello

 

[minniejack]

thank you, thank you

I think ABD will definitely be my choice. Being gluten free in a foreign country sort of terrified me and I don't think the school would exactly go out of their way to help DD.

Because of Disney's attention to our diets that is exactly why we chose to do Disney World this year. I can't wait!

 

[glassslipper2004]

The ABD trips are really, really, really excellent. That said, the only reason to pick the school trip over the ABD would be if your child wanted the bonding experience that going on a trip with her/his school friends would bring. I know when I went with my high school choir to Vienna, sharing that experience with them was way more interesting to me than if we had done it with my family. Of course, that trip was well run (at least as far as I could tell as a kid) and I had a good experience; it seems that you and your child have seen how it can go the other way.

But you will all love ABD, all four of you, and will have the trip of a lifetime.

 

[pjacobi]

...while my DD does speak French it's only 4 yrs of high school french. And I only know the French alphabet from 3rd grade. I could probably ask for alphabet soup--maybe.

If you try to use text book French/German/Italian in a large European city, the European would roll their eyes, shake their head, say something in incomprehensible, sigh...then respond in perfect English!

English is widely used in Europe, especially in large cities and even some smaller towns. Europeans do appreciate it if you at least know the local polite words for "please" and "thank you".

About the only problems I have had are the natural bi-lingual areas (German/French, Dutch/German, German/Italian) near boarder regions, where English falls to 3rd place.

If you really want to immerse yourself in Europe, read Rick Steves and plan your own trip. Large tour groups tend to isolate you from the locals.

Plan to go beyond tourist stops or else you will hear more Japanese and English than the local language.


-Paul

 

[kristilew]

Remembering my own high school trips, my DD will never be going on one herself Especially in other countries where there are not the same age restrictions on drinking.

Besides, the kids she'll stay friends with after high school, she's already close to now. The rest, it doesn't matter how much they bond on a class trip, in a few years she'll never see them again. Why not give her a chance to bond with a new set of people who are in it for the travel? And, most importantly, to have fun with her own family for a carefree, exciting trip where everything is so engaging that you can just enjoy each other instead of having to be "the parent?"

 

[minniejack]

Remembering my own high school trips, my DD will never be going on one herself Especially in other countries where there are not the same age restrictions on drinking.

Besides, the kids she'll stay friends with after high school, she's already close to now. The rest, it doesn't matter how much they bond on a class trip, in a few years she'll never see them again. Why not give her a chance to bond with a new set of people who are in it for the travel? And, most importantly, to have fun with her own family for a carefree, exciting trip where everything is so engaging that you can just enjoy each other instead of having to be "the parent?"

My poor kids don't stand a chance--I've been there, done that

I just saw your responses--I haven't been on this thread in a week. Good points


And you both posted on my b-day 7/27, so I'm thinking that's a good sign to take your advice!

 

[minniejack]

Update: I don't have to make the decision. The economy must've gotten to the school's decision--the school has always made the trip to Europe every other year with a combined Spanish/French group. This year, the Spanish kids go to Puerto Rico and the French group goes to Montreal. In February.

DD is mad as a hornet and come on...in February??? Do you know how cold that will be?? She's thinking Haiti or any warm, small, French speaking island.

So, we will definitely make the trip as a family--maybe as a graduation present next yr.--and she won't have to miss school to do it!!

Thanks all

 

[tmmalave]

I take it she is in french class then. Because I can most definitely tell you that the weather will be lovely in Puerto Rico in February. And you can come here for a fraction of the cost that it would take to go to Europe!

Enjoy your ABD though.

 

[sayhello]

I attended a wedding in Montreal in February. The ceremony was "under the stars". It was FREAKING FREEZING COLD!!!!! I can't imagine doing it to sight-see!

Sayhello

 

[glassslipper2004]

We're going to Paris the week of Thanksgiving. Guide books tell me it will be 40 degrees and rainy... but we have friends staying there for a few months and it was the only time we felt we could take the kids out of school (they'll only miss a few days). I know it will be cold - we are just going to try to prepare ourselves and not get too down about it. No bicycling at Versailles for us, though.

 

[sayhello]

We're going to Paris the week of Thanksgiving. Guide books tell me it will be 40 degrees and rainy... but we have friends staying there for a few months and it was the only time we felt we could take the kids out of school (they'll only miss a few days). I know it will be cold - we are just going to try to prepare ourselves and not get too down about it. No bicycling at Versailles for us, though.

I agree that it's all about expectations. As long as you have a realistic idea about what to expect, then the weather won't "ruin" your vacation. Have a GREAT trip!

Sayhello