Taking 15 year old girl to Europe for first time

[Anonymous]

We would like to leave the day after Christmas for a weeklong trip to Europe. Hoping someone could help me with an itinerary. She loves fashion, shopping, not into the museums or the historic stuff. She has a condition on her legs where she has to keep her lower half completely covered so don’t want to go anywhere too warm.

[Anonymous]

I love Germany and Austria at that time of year for Christmas Markets.

[Anonymous]

It won’t be warm anywhere the day after Christmas if you’re going to Europe.

[Anonymous]

My dad took me on a trip like this for my 16th birthday. We did London and Paris. Flew in and out of London and took Chunnel between. It was wonderful— a cherished memory. We also did the week after Christmas. It was a bit crazy but still fun to go to the Christmas markets, see the decorations and so on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My dad took me on a trip like this for my 16th birthday. We did London and Paris. Flew in and out of London and took Chunnel between. It was wonderful— a cherished memory. We also did the week after Christmas. It was a bit crazy but still fun to go to the Christmas markets, see the decorations and so on.

This would be my suggestion (unless
maybe you wanted to do London and Edinburgh for all the Harry Potter stuff you can do in Scotland)

[Anonymous]

“Not into museums or the historic stuff.”

Does she want to go on this trip, and if so, why?

I mean, we have shops in this country…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:“Not into museums or the historic stuff.”

Does she want to go on this trip, and if so, why?

I mean, we have shops in this country…

Right?!

OP, save your money and just take her to the Museum of Ice Cream in NYC so she can get that Insta-perfect shot. That seems like her level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:“Not into museums or the historic stuff.”

Does she want to go on this trip, and if so, why?

I mean, we have shops in this country…

Shopping is literally the same everywhere in the world. Go somewhere cheap, I guarantee they'll have the same chains you'll find everywhere else. I do not understand "shopping" as a travel activity. Why bother??

[Anonymous]

I have an almost 15 year old DD and she is also not really into the museums/history. We just got back from the UK and Paris. The trip wasn't for her - she just had to come along because there wasn't anyone to leave her with. The only parts she really enjoyed were (as expected) the Harry Potter Museum, Madama Tussauds and Disneyland Paris. She also loved shopping in London. It was honestly kind of a drag taking her to Westminster Abbey, Tower of London, St. Chappelle, etc.

DH and I have decided that we are shelving Europe/further until our kids are in college. They aren't ungrateful, they just don't really enjoy the trips and it doesn't make sense to keep taking them. They can take themselves later when they mature more (if they even want to go.)

[Anonymous]

Not a big deal if you aren't going to plan around museums and history, but what does she like? You could plan around coffee and pastries, trying unique foods, photographing landscapes, ice skating or skiing, train travel, ferries, theater or music... and then shop wherever those plans take you.

[Anonymous]

I am a guy and not much into fashion BUT I loved the Dior museum in Paris. Paris wonderful for many other reasons, especially the restaurants but the Dior museum would be a highlight for her.

[Anonymous]

I can't think of any way to help with an itinerary if all you're doing is shopping. You don't need admission tickets or reservations or transportation. Maybe take it one arrondissement at a time? Les Halles is a Westfield mall in the 1st. The 3rd/ 4th has some pleasant shopping streets between Pompidou and Place des Vosges. Then skip over to the 8th if you want to see where fashion happens/ happened. It's the same stores you'll find at Tyson's, but... in Paris. Galleries Lafayette in the 9th is just a department store, but it has some cachet for some reason. The building's nice I guess. Marche des Puces is famous, but I don't even know if it's open the week after Christmas. And again... just a flea market, in kind of a dingy neighborhood. Is she interested in antique junk or old letters? That could be cool. If open.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“Not into museums or the historic stuff.”

Does she want to go on this trip, and if so, why?

I mean, we have shops in this country…

Right?!

OP, save your money and just take her to the Museum of Ice Cream in NYC so she can get that Insta-perfect shot. That seems like her level.

I concur.
Then you can take selfies at SexintheCity apartment
Then go to the Museum of Illusion for for selfies

[Anonymous]

You people are so annoying — I bet I could play that game too— how many people stand in line to see paintings in European museums
and never see what’s in museums here?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You people are so annoying — I bet I could play that game too— how many people stand in line to see paintings in European museums
and never see what’s in museums here?

What are you talking about? DC museums are packed. We go to one monthly, on average. My kids go on their own, and with their friends. This is DC. The ignorance olympics isn't a thing here.