How Young Is Too Young To Travel Alone?

About a generation ago, maybe longer,
there was an article in the New York Daily News from a woman who wrote she
allowed her son—who was about 11 or 12 years old, if that—to go to school
each morning by himself.

She gave him the proper amount of change for the bus
and the subway and sent him on his way.

It ignited a huge debate even at a time
when social media wasn’t prevalent. There were letters to the editor and
conversations among adults and parents.

The topic triggered massive feedback.

I was reminded of that this week after
reading a story about a woman overseas in Ireland who allowed
her 15-year-old son to travel on his own. Not travel to school, mind you, but
travel travel.

It engendered a new, but similar,
discussion.

How young is too young to travel alone?

Please note that the boy in question was
15 and traveling with a 16-year-old friend, but nonetheless, without adult
supervision. By rail. Around Europe.

15 Seems a Little Too Young

My mouth was agape when I first heard of
this. Full disclosure: I am a natural warrior wart. My children are now 24 and
20 and they still call me a helicopter parent.

I can’t help it; once a dad,
always a dad. But my initial reaction is that I would never let a 15-year-old
travel without adult supervision, much less around Europe.

As I tell my boys, it’s not you that I’m
worried about. It’s everybody else. But I have slowly come to realize that you
can’t control everybody else and their feelings and actions. You have to let
them grow up sometimes.

But 15 seems a little young in this
instance. 

Age is just one of three thoughts that
immediately came to mind. The other two are gender and location. And to be
clear, when I say gender, I am not trying to be sexist. I have nieces who are
far more mature than my nephews and sons are. But by simply being a girl or
young woman they are more vulnerable than boys or young men.

Location should speak for itself. Some
places are just more dangerous than others. When you turn the corner on a
campus or even a city street, you never know what you’re going to encounter.

With all due respect and apologies, 15
still seems a little too young.

For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.