Reply to Graduation HS Senior wants to go to Europe with friends

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[quote=Anonymous]PP with family and friends in Europe here. Just adding regarding safety: I know many are posting about how much safer they feel in Europe than in the U.S., and how they were just fine when they did similar trips at similar ages however many years back in the day.

I do agree that overall I feel much safer in many places in Britain and France than in some suburbs here.

But the reality is that in any city or on board any train etc., anywhere, a group of very obviously American girls, focused on each other and on having a good time, is going to attract the attention of pickpockets and thieves at a minimum (and Europe has truly expert pickpockets and bag thieves, believe me).

These girls, if they go, need to be very well versed in how to wear their bags, where to keep passports, cards and cash inside their bags--never, ever in some outside flap, for instance -- and how to deal if they get pickpocketed or robbed or just lose a passport, etc. I know two people whose bags were sliced open from behind, and a hand slipped inside to feel through the contents in just seconds, without their knowledge [i]while the bags were hanging from their shoulders[/i]. I'm not mentioning that to be scary, but to note that those types of criminals are there, as are everyday pickpockets. Simply telling these girls, "Watch out for pickpockets" is useless if these kids are not also taught specifically how to protect their stuff and themselves, and how to move through crowded places. That isn't a reason [u]not[/u] to go, but I would question whether the large group your DD wants to travel with would really be paying adequate attention to basic safety for bags and passports etc. and...for themselves.

What may be a reason not to go is that despite everyone's belief that crime must be worse here than there, there is serious crime, especially when alcohol gets involved. Of course the link between being drunk and being vulnerable applies here as well. But I sometimes think American tourists believe Europe is some magical kingdom where everything is rose-colored. It does require the same due diligence -- which includes staying sober and having your wits about you -- as anywhere. I would be concerned that a general attitude of "Europe is so much safer" would make parents and these girls a bit too relaxed about safety. I'm no nervous Nellie about these things, but I would not want my own teen DD doing this trip as you depict it.

And by the way, I agree with the poster who noted that if DD thinks a fake ID is OK and is some kind of protection from trouble...she's not mature enough to make this trip. I DO think it's good that she actually told you about the fake ID idea, OP, rather than getting one behind your back! That's positive communication between you. But a fake ID is just a terrible idea on any continent. Including this one.[/quote]

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