What do you think about teens going?

stahrgazer · Newbie

What do you think about teens going?

Jerilyn Mc · Veteran Member

We'll be taking 2 teenagers to Ireland in June/July, also a graduation present. We're Irish by nature and by blood, so the kids are thrilled to be going. If your kids are interested in their history, you could find where their ancestors are from and look up some old "relatives". We plan on seeing some castles, going to Newgrange (a must!), and seeing Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland (also a must!!). My husband and I did a medieval banquet in England a few years back and had a blast, so I'm looking into finding one in Ireland (Bunratty's banquet is listed on the Ireland Yes site).

Good luck with your trip. I hope your kids are as much fun to travel with as mine (yes, I am lucky!)

Michele Erdvig · Host

stahrgazer,

Welcome to the forum! There are no foolish questions here. Feel free to ask what ever you need to know. Since your son and his friend are interested in visiting Ireland they must really want to go. I suggest getting a couple of guidebooks and photo books about Ireland and having the boys look through them to see what appeals. All kids are different and have various interests.

When planning a multi-generational trip you need to balance what the younger and older ones want to do. Mix it up each day so that everyone has fun. You will find wonderful beaches all over Ireland but the water is rather cold. Nice for walking though.

Once you know their interests you will know where to go and can start planning an itinerary. Let me know if I can help when you narrow it down a bit.

Michele

Marie · Guru

I am planning a May trip with an 18 yr. old and a 24 yr. old (girls). They are ecstatic about it. Scenery, pubs, castles, shopping, churches, ruins, food, MUSIC.....OK, so those are the things I am looking forward to, but , seriously, they are, too! Once you talk a bit online with the wonderful folks on this forum, you will know the trip will be a hit with the boys. Have a great trip, and congratulations on the upcoming graduation!!!

Marie

Michele Erdvig · Host

Jerilyn,

I have a bit about all the castle banquets and the ceili on my "Dining Page". My favorite banquet is Dunguaire since it is much smaller and more intimate. However, Bunratty is a bit more rambunctious and might appeal more to the youngsters. Irish Night is also good with lots of dance and music.

Michele

stahrgazer · Newbie

Thank you all for your quick responses. You have given me a starting place. I have a feeling the more we research this the more I will want to go (it's the other parents taking the kids) Looks like I better save up. That does lead to another question........the little trip research I have done has lead me to believe getting to Ireland is very expensive any helpful tips on this? They are traveling from Denver.

Thanks

stannseniors · Veteran Member

Jerilyn,

We took our 16 year old neice all over the English country side last year. She loved it. She couldn't wait to shop though and we were in a lot of small towns with not too many shops. I think it was the new experience, the new scenery and the cultural diffrerences that really kept up her interest. We had her look up some things about the places we were going and it made it a little more meaningful.

I think the boys will have fun...we were worried we would get bored too but there is no way to....you'll be suprised. We had been anywhere like that so we just didn't know what it would be like. We were never bored.

If they are interested in writing, have them keep a journal, interested in movies - have them make one with a video camera...If they like photography have them take photos for a book. Have them look up about your family history, where they are from and go there. Have them plan the trip.....The drinking age is 18 so pub hopping should be fun too....just a few ideas.

And, Ireland wasn't that expensive...stick to B&Bs---eat a huge breakfast then eat one more big meal about 3 or 4 at a pub. Snacks in between and you save a lot of $.

-- Edited by stannseniors at 22:56, 2007-01-03

Jerilyn Mc · Veteran Member

Our plan is to have no plan...we'll have a list of things we want to see and do and kind of wing it along the way. The kids (age 18 & almost 16) will definitely be part of that list making (tho I've been to Ireland and have a "few" sights that I have to see again). I know they won't be bored, they're good travellers and are interested in family history. If they weren't so busy with schoolwork, I'd love them to read some Irish history books, just to familiarize themselves with the sights. (Frank Delaney's Ireland, A novel is an excellent read). Maybe on the flight over.

Irisheyes · Senior Member

Stahrgazer,
You may want to read postings from Melissa5 on this board. She has traveled w/ older teens, close to the same ages as yours.
Good luck.

yesiree · Guru

Ireland really has something for everyone. As long as activities are diverse all will have a great time.

I recently asked my 18-year-old nephew what he remembered most from his trip two years ago. He mentioned a walk we took along the Atlantic coast at Loop Head, the mummies at St. Michan's Church in Dublin, the day he and I walked from Trinity to Kilmainham Gaol (it's a very loooooong walk) and watching the buskers on Grafton Street. He also liked the old churches and castles throughout Ireland, but we saw so many that he got tired of them and can't remember which was which now.

To save money, your son and his friend could offer to stay in a hostel when they are in larger towns and cities like Dublin...most 18-year-olds would appreciate the atomosphere (don't get a picture of hard partiers or drug users in your head, hostels tend to be filled with happy, gracious travelers from around the world in search of music and fun). Filling up with food at breakfast and grabbing a sandwich from a gas station can save on meal costs. Also planning who he intends to buy souveneirs for and how much he'd like to spend on them in advance can help, just make sure he calculates those amounts in Euros.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Melissa has a great trip report traveling with her husband and daughters. Just go to the Trip Reports section of the forum and look for Melissa5. She has her trip broken into chapters so look for Chapter One and proceed from there.

Michele

wojazz3 · Guru

Hi stahrgazer:

As Michele says, what your child might like will be different from another's. I would go so far as suggesting that they plan an itinerary and see what they would like to do. It will instantly get them involved. Their plan may not be the final plan, but it could act as a great jumping off point. Once they start the research, it will become obvious whether or not they will be bored. I doubt very much that they will.

I'm quite familiar with traveling from Denver as that is where I leave from. Depending on the time of year, deals can be hard to find. June will be your cheapest month of the summer months and July will probably be the most expensive. You can consider looking at prices to London and then a puddle jumper from there which sometimes works, but is pretty unlikely during the high summer months. In fact, London may be more expensive at that time as it is a major destination.

farecompare.com is an interesting site and sometimes is very useful. The upside is that it searches the major consolidators to find the best deals. The downside is that many of the deals they find don't actually exist. Also, the prices that they show are pre-tax prices. Once you find the price that excites you, you then have to go find it on one of the standard (orbitz, expedia etc) sites to get the price. Is is handy in that it gives you a quick look at the less expensive travel times and gives a jumping off point.

It's good that the guys say it's something they want to do. Get them involved in the planning and they will probably have a great time.

Bill