Teen going abroad on first holiday

[Deleted User]

My son is going abroad on his first holiday with his mates in July. I've sorted out passport and health card for him. He's off to Xante. I'm looking into putting money on a card and getting some euros so he will have some money in his pocket. Have a few questions though!

If there is any money left over on the card can we just cash it in with say the Post Office and get the balance back or is there a charge?

Safety-wise and bearing in mind he is a teenager - do they take bum bags for safety?! Lol, sound like an old lady! Just wondering how to protect his valuables and cash.

It's quite a good group of friends so not likely to leave anyone behind or get separated. Only one of them drinks alcohol. Been told that the clubs charge £10 for a bottle of water? Really?!

None of us used to going abroad so any tips welcome and don't assume I might know them!

opinions4u

I'd stick a pack of 12 in the suitcase for him.

DKLS

A ground floor apartment

Doshwaster

Beremy wrote: »

It's quite a good group of friends so not likely to leave anyone behind or get separated. Only one of them drinks alcohol. Been told that the clubs charge £10 for a bottle of water? Really?!

"Only one drinks alcohol"? Really?!

tomkirky

When you son goes out with his friends here does he take a bum bag? I don't find it likely and same rules apply, if he is going on his first lads holiday I'm sure he will be fine to look after himself. As for only one of them drinking it's probably unlikely that this will be the case when they get out there, regardless of that I'm sure he will be fine and enjoy it, if you trust him enough to go, then I'm sure he is capable of looking after himself and will have a great time, just let him enjoy it!

Cava

Most hotels abroad have safety deposit boxes (normally you have to pay for them) that he can put his money into. When he is out and about he will just need to keep his wits about him, but I'm sure he does that when he goes out in the UK. I've been to Zante several times and have never paid or seen anywhere charging 10 euro for bottled water, more like 2-3 euro.

EmmaParsons

As the above poster has said, make sure he gets a safety deposit box to put his valuables in as soon as he gets there. They will need to pay for this but it's far cheaper than paying for a new passport or losing all your money.

Other advice would be never to sleep with the balcony doors open. They will likely need to pay for air conditioning or a fan on arrival unless it's already included in the cost. Do not be tempted to think you won't need and then sleep with the doors open because it's too hot, most of us wouldn't do it a home so why do it abroad?

I know you have mentioned a health card but has he purchased travel insurance? the EHIC will only cover for basic state healthcare and not for anything major or private clinics.

Water can be bought in the supermarkets and costs around 50cents a bottle if that. The supermarkets often stay open until all hours and there are a few on the strip.

As long as they use their common sense and don't do anything they wouldn't do at home (balcony jumping, swimming in the sea at night etc) then they will be fine.

Lola888

I went to Zante when I was 18 and I had a great time. Don't buy him a bumbag, he won't thank you for it! Tell him to club together with his mates and get a safety deposit box, the hotel should have some for rent. Put his passport in there and most of his money and just take some out as and when you need it. The card thing is a bit awkward as you'll need to find a cash point to take it out and then go back to the hotel to put the card back. I took mainly cash and some traveller's chqs but that was back when traveller's chqs were still the way to do it.

Can't help with the card thing, but I would tell him to get water from the supermarkets too. There is so much competition in Zante I doubt they could charge that much for a bottle of water it is more likely that they will entice the boys in with promises of cheap shots and cocktails. The cocktails which will have next to no alcohol in and will be mainly fruit juice.

From memory the police patrol the beaches at night as there are turtles native to the area who come ashore to breed. They are very strict with the beaches, they will leave you alone if you are just walking or sitting on sun lounges though.

I guess you'll have to just trust him and tell him to have some common sense. We didn't have air con, but the way the place was constructed it was quite cool inside, but I wouldn't sleep with the doors open especially on a ground floor flat.

My parents just trusted me and I phoned them to try and reassure them a couple of times. Another tip if he is taking a mobile phone your provider and find out if there are any extra charges and if there are he might want to turn it off before he flies.

Saturnalia

Give him a good old lecture about taking, and using, sunscreen and condoms. No idea whether he'll listen or not though!

AlexMac

Don't worry; worrying won't help; he was patterned by your nature & nurture (genes and example) at the age of 5, so last minute lectures or re-programming won't change his attitude to drink, drugs, crime, exploitative conduct to others or to unprotected sex.

I second the travel insurance idea. Also, make sure he knows your phone numbers (I never met a kid who remembers numbers, so when they lose their phone, they're incommunicado). And ensure he knows how to disable his data roaming- or at least- knows what data costs and can afford it. Mobile calls in EU now cost very little but who knows how much an hour on facebook sucks out of your credit/contract.

Take a scan of his passport so you can email it to him when he loses his own- just in case!

And I repeat; don't worry. My 1st trip abroad, almost 50 years ago involved hitching to southern Spain. Without a map, and pre-mobile (in fact my parents didn't even have a landline...) I survived

stephb34

Don't get your euros or cashcard from the post office unless your having over £1000 and even then the rates not the best, there are better ones on the market.