Taking 15 year old girl to Europe for first time

[Anonymous]

I agree with the themed London Walks and Paris Walks recommendations.

I learned to like walking tours as a 7th grader, and I've retained an appreciation for them.

In the West End, a couple of years ago, we saw Les Mis and the full length 2 part Harry Potter play that has been abridged for the US run. If Six is playing, that would be a good fit based on subject matter.

The Harry Potter studio in Leavesden decorates for Christmas. Book tickets far ahead.

My kids liked Stonehenge much more than I expected. This can be done as a day tour. Sometimes combined with Bath. We liked the tourist trap Sally Lunn's restaurant in Bath, and there is a fashion museum there.

https://www.fashionmuseum.co.uk/

In Paris, I took my kids to a bakery tour in the Marais where they got to observe baking and try to make baguettes, round loaves, croissant creation, and almond cookie balls. We booked this on Get Your Guide.

I agree with shopping at Galeries Lafayette. It is a pretty building, it has a gift shop and an eating area on the top floor, and it offers a lot of famous brands. As Detroiters, we were amused to see Carhartt presented and sold like high-fashion urban wear in the same store that sells the $500 per dress brands that Suri Cruise and Princess Charlotte wear.

I was interested in history and architecture as a child but I was not always a grateful tourist. I think it's still good to travel early because it builds life skills and kids often are more interested once they become adults.

I would recommend using movies you watch together to get your daughter interested in specific locations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.)

But try to take your kids to some well done, interactive museums in the U.S. then. Make sure they have read a book or have some background. Otherwise they will grow up to be the same type of adult.

[Anonymous]

Can people please recommend hotels they like in both London and Paris?
-OP

[Anonymous]

I think the trip would be good for experiencing a different culture. So for that reason, I might not go to England, but might do Paris and another city. If you can afford an open-jaw ticket, that might make life a little easier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.)

But try to take your kids to some well done, interactive museums in the U.S. then. Make sure they have read a book or have some background. Otherwise they will grow up to be the same type of adult.

I have 2 siblings and we all grew up in the same house, went to the same schools, had the same opportunities. We are wildly different people and have been since we were kids. One of my siblings was like OPs kid, and still is like that. I was the reader of the family, always interested in learning and seeing new things. Still am. My kids are also wildly different and have been since pretty much birth. You are fooling yourself if you think you can manufacture a kid who will be interested in things because you are.

[Anonymous]

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

Most finish just before Christmas. What about London - they’ll still have all the Christmas decorations up, and she can go shopping and get her fill of instagram and Tik tok popular things. Then maybe head to Paris or Amsterdam? No where in Europe will be warm that time of year

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok everyone take a chill pill

Go to London
Thames cruise
Shopping on Bond St or Mayfair or Kensington or Covent Garden
Train to Windsor don’t have to go inside the castle to appreciate it
Afternoon tea in Windsor
Or train out to Bicester Outlets near Oxford
Dinner in Oxford
London Eye
Shopping at Harrods
Eat at Harrods food halls
Train to Paris
Do two nights in Paris
Do a cooking class
Seine dinner
Shopping in Paris
Fly home open jaw

Thank you!! This is exactly what I was looking for. I have never been to Europe, so I am clueless. Clearly she will appreciate the culture and taking in the sites, I just don’t want to spend most of our time in museums, that’s all that I meant by the comment.
-OP

Remember to get an ETA visa waiver before you go to the UK.

[Anonymous]

OP and her daughter sound like a waste of space. Seriously.

[Anonymous]

Recently went to Lisbon and took a great cooking class, visited museum of design (lots of fashion), ate, and shopped. Really easy to get around the city walking or on public transportation and the weather will be better than in England. Less expensive too.

[Anonymous]

Is your daughter in true crime? Mine is and really enjoyed a Jack the Ripper walking tour we did last summer. I was surprised that it was so good (expected it to be that tacky). They take place in the East London and you can go to Spitalfields Market before or after.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can people please recommend hotels they like in both London and Paris?
-OP

A PP. I chose AirBnBs because I was traveling with 4-5 people. In Paris, I looked for the registration license number which is required to be legal. And lots of reviews.

We liked living in residential areas because we like shopping for groceries to see how local people live and what they like to eat. It's fun to try new packaged foods. And easier to keep eating healthy sides like fresh fruit and vegetables which we do eat in Europe.

I think it might be easier, OP, if you posted hotels you like, and asked people to troubleshoot. Any stop on the subway system would work. You have a lot of flexibility with only 2 people.

There's a modern hotel near the Tower of London that looked a bit expensive but fun. I'm sure it will come up in searches. Kensington is a neighborhood that might work. Also there's a big Western chain hotel right near Camden Locks that looked like it would have nice views. I like hotels with architectural charm or views.

I also considered, based on price, some chain hotels around Southwark. There was a multi-stand covered market nearby where you could buy breakfast and lunch foods. That is also close to the New Globe Theater. I forgot to mention the Globe Theater in my earlier post. If your kid is a true theater kid, she might enjoy attending a performance or just going to the theater tour. My older kid enjoyed the theater tour and later became a summer AV tech for a Shakespeare in a park company. You have to plant the seeds to get them to grow.

[Anonymous]

My teens love food tours. Its normally a combo walking tour and food tour so you see some of the sights while stopping for food/drinks. We've done them in Lisbon and London (borough's market). We also took a cooking class in Athens that was really fun. We've also done things like scooter or segway tours which are a bit more fun than a walking tour.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

Re warmth, remember Paris is along the same latitude as Montreal. It will be cold in most of Europe (same as US) in late December.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ok everyone take a chill pill

Go to London
Thames cruise
Shopping on Bond St or Mayfair or Kensington or Covent Garden
Train to Windsor don’t have to go inside the castle to appreciate it
Afternoon tea in Windsor
Or train out to Bicester Outlets near Oxford
Dinner in Oxford
London Eye
Shopping at Harrods
Eat at Harrods food halls
Train to Paris
Do two nights in Paris
Do a cooking class
Seine dinner
Shopping in Paris
Fly home open jaw

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok everyone take a chill pill

Go to London
Thames cruise
Shopping on Bond St or Mayfair or Kensington or Covent Garden
Train to Windsor don’t have to go inside the castle to appreciate it
Afternoon tea in Windsor
Or train out to Bicester Outlets near Oxford
Dinner in Oxford
London Eye
Shopping at Harrods
Eat at Harrods food halls
Train to Paris
Do two nights in Paris
Do a cooking class
Seine dinner
Shopping in Paris
Fly home open jaw

Yes, this sounds like a great trip for someone who isn't into history. Both cities have GORGEOUS parks ... if the weather is nice, you can hang out in the parks. And you really should do the Eiffel Tower. I've traveled a lot, and it's one of the cliched destinations that still just filled me with joy.