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Study abroad pre trip
Posted on 8/24/26 at 8:56 pm
Posted on 8/24/26 at 8:56 pm
My son is a junior at Fayetteville and will be attending the U of A Rome campus next spring. I'm thinking about flying him to London 2 weeks before he reports and letting him go solo across Europe. Wife is terrified he'll die obviously. Have a cousin who lives in London so my plan would be for son to drop off his big luggage there and then take a backpack and go from there and then end up back in London and fly to Rome the day he needs to be there to check in.
Anyone ever done anything like that or have any advice? He would fly out the 27th of December and report to Rome on the 13th of January.
Anyone ever done anything like that or have any advice? He would fly out the 27th of December and report to Rome on the 13th of January.
5
Posted on 8/24/26 at 9:21 pm to hawgndodge
I spent 2 months backpacking through Europe before I started classes at U of Manchester. Why does your wife think he will die? Is he naive? Europe is very safe, my wife and I just got back from a month over there.
This post was edited on 8/24/26 at 10:09 pm
Posted on 8/25/26 at 6:51 am to hawgndodge
quote:
Wife is terrified he'll die obviously.
Had to chuckle here - I hope you wrote it that way.
The rest sounds absolutely amazing and I'm sure it's something your son will remember forever.
I never did anything like that, but I'd say for him to have some kind of loose plan that he shares with y'all so mom is, somewhat, happy. Maybe he checks in every couple of days so y'all know he's good and where he's supposed to be. But also let him know that if he wants to say, "frick it" I was supposed to go here, but now I really want to go there...then feel free to do it, but also let y'all know that plans have changed.
Sounds awesome and would love to hear more about the trip next year, so keep us updated!
Posted on 8/25/26 at 6:54 am to hawgndodge
I wouldn't worry at all. UKI and European youths gallivant all over solo or in small groups. Just follow common sense crime prevention techniques, number one of which is don't look like you're lost, even if you are. An Apple Watch or similar where he can get walking directions without having to pull his phone out will be helpful, too (both to keep the phone from getting snatched and to keep his hands in his gloves.)
He'll pretty much only need cash for some bathrooms on the mainland, everything else is tap to pay, so don't load him down with a bunch of Euro/GBP "just in case."
He'll pretty much only need cash for some bathrooms on the mainland, everything else is tap to pay, so don't load him down with a bunch of Euro/GBP "just in case."
Posted on 8/25/26 at 7:06 am to Zappas Stache
He's her favorite by far. Everyone in her family knows it. Typical baby of the family type thing. (He was the baby until we adopted his two younger brothers) He is also by far the most capable in being able to do this. I wouldn't be concerned at all.
Posted on 8/25/26 at 7:08 am to RummelTiger
Yeah it was tongue and cheek.
I think he would have a blast.
I think he would have a blast.
Posted on 8/25/26 at 8:41 am to hawgndodge
I’d buy him a Eurail pass so he can go wherever he wants whenever he wants to go. He can cover a lot of ground with one of those.
Posted on 8/25/26 at 9:11 am to hawgndodge
Yall know his maturity level but will say this, if yall are comfortable with him taking a solo trip, driving or flying, to visit friends in any US city, he will be absolutely fine in Western Europe.
Coming from someone who only flew 2 round trips before I was 22 and about to graduate college, but has since traveled a lot, much of a solo...its so much easier and safer to travel abroad to 99% of the world these days with technology and information. 80% of what I printed on my home printer in the early-mid 2000s was reservations and mapquest directions, now all that is needed is a phone and backup charger.
He will be fine.
Coming from someone who only flew 2 round trips before I was 22 and about to graduate college, but has since traveled a lot, much of a solo...its so much easier and safer to travel abroad to 99% of the world these days with technology and information. 80% of what I printed on my home printer in the early-mid 2000s was reservations and mapquest directions, now all that is needed is a phone and backup charger.
He will be fine.
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