18th birthday trip ideas

hollydays

Barcelona? May would be a perfect time to go.

hollie.weimeraner

Not sure where you live but if she likes zoos how about Longleat? We went a few years ago and had an accompanied drive which was brilliant.

Pollycat

littleredhen wrote: »

It is hard to say what the problem is - we did go through a few things like if it was in UK it would have to be no more than a 2/3 hour drive as we only have the weekend, but she is being very vague. A couple of years ago we went to Dublin for the weekend and I got very annoyed with her as she seemed to have no interest in exploring the city - we ended up at the zoo one day and that was it! We have a zoo at home! I'm not sure that she has changed that much and my worry about going to a European City is that she won't do anything when we get there

When we do a city break - and we've been to Dublin and loved it - we pre-plan to get the most out of the visit.

Didn't you do that? Did you just get off the plane at Dublin and say "well, we're here now. What do we do now?"

It sounds a bit much to expect a 16 year old to decide what she wants to see in a different city and to get annoyed with her about it.

I do agree that it would be a waste of money to go to a lovely European city and not see what it has to offer.

I'd step back and either spend the money on something else for her or give her a 'voucher' for a trip when she decides where she might like to go.

littleredhen

Pollycat wrote: »

When we do a city break - and we've been to Dublin and loved it - we pre-plan to get the most out of the visit.

Didn't you do that? Did you just get off the plane at Dublin and say "well, we're here now. What do we do now?"

It sounds a bit much to expect a 16 year old to decide what she wants to see in a different city and to get annoyed with her about it.

I do agree that it would be a waste of money to go to a lovely European city and not see what it has to offer.

I'd step back and either spend the money on something else for her or give her a 'voucher' for a trip when she decides where she might like to go.

No I had planned with her what we were going to do but she changed her mind when we got there with the exception of the zoo, I went out and about myself anyway as there was nothing else I could do

eamon

What do you see her doing when she isn't at school, studying or with boy/girlfriend? or in other words look at her interests & hobbies for ideas.

cubegame

hollie.weimeraner wrote: »

Not sure where you live but if she likes zoos how about Longleat? We went a few years ago and had an accompanied drive which was brilliant.

Which also has a nearby spa.

littleredhen

eamon wrote: »

What do you see her doing when she isn't at school, studying or with boy/girlfriend? or in other words look at her interests & hobbies for ideas.

She works and when she isn't working she spends time on social media or with her friends just hanging out. When she was little she did every sport going but doesn't seem to have any hobbies now and I think that is just the way teenagers are these days!
I realise I am not really helping other to come up with suggestions but this is why I am struggling so much, I did say that if her dad was taking her to a spa then I wouldn't do the same. With regards to a zoo we live near Edinburgh and we used to have zoo membership for many years. I would want somewhere within a couple of hours drive of here so its Lake District or Yorkshire or somewhere north if I was going to do that but I am just not feeling it!

splishsplash

I wouldn't expect a teenager to be interested in sightseeing tbh. I would be more inclined to book an experience. A quick google for May throws up the Chelsea Flower Show; Stars of the White Nights festival in St Petersburg; Fiesta de San Isidro in Madrid etc. What would you think about something like that?

My kids are all in their 20s now, for the past while we do a quick trip to Christmas markets around Europe. This year it was Edinburgh's turn, as it happens! Such a lovely city. We had a great time but I think if we had gone with the sole intent of sightseeing, the kids wouldn't have been interested. As it happened, we managed to take in a lot, including the Castle, the Old Town, the length of Princes Street got a good inspection, plus of course, the markets and Santa Land.

So bearing in mind your daughter will just be 18 and has no burning interest driving the agenda, I would pick something fun and easy with no fixed timetables. Maybe throw out a bunch of suggestions and IF she wants to see what they're about, great, otherwise, make it about trying on clothes in fabulous shops, getting make up lessons in a foreign language, picking up a lovely piece of Swarovski jewellery from your trip etc. It's about making memories really, so think of it as being more about the journey than the destination.

Mojisola

littleredhen wrote: »

she has suggested a spa weekend in the uk with the dog but then tells me her dad is taking her for a spa break to coincide with his 55th birthday.

littleredhen wrote: »

I did say that if her dad was taking her to a spa then I wouldn't do the same.

Why not? Is a spa weekend something you're only allowed to do once?

You asked her what she wanted to do, she told you and you've said that you won't do that.

Pollycat

littleredhen wrote: »

She works and when she isn't working she spends time on social media or with her friends just hanging out. When she was little she did every sport going but doesn't seem to have any hobbies now and I think that is just the way teenagers are these days!
I realise I am not really helping other to come up with suggestions but this is why I am struggling so much, I did say that if her dad was taking her to a spa then I wouldn't do the same. With regards to a zoo we live near Edinburgh and we used to have zoo membership for many years. I would want somewhere within a couple of hours drive of here so its Lake District or Yorkshire or somewhere north if I was going to do that but I am just not feeling it!

I'd think of an alternative gift.
Don't try to fit her into the same box as her sister.


Or, as Mojisola says, if she wants to go to a spa - her only suggestion - why not give her what she's suggested (unless it's she who has vetoed that idea since her Dad's similar arrangement).