How to Prepare Your Teen for Their First Trip Without You

It’s the moment parents dread: Their teens have become independent enough to travel on their own and now it’s time to see them off on their first trip without you. It’s a big milestone for both teens and their parents, but it’s also nerve-wracking.

Put your mind at ease by preparing your teen with all of the tips and advice necessary to ensure they have a safe and pleasant vacation:

Have a “Lost Phone” Plan

Print copies of contact numbers, passports and key bookings in the event your teen loses their phone.

Set Expectations Early 

Before the trip, sit down with your teen and agree on safety rules and check-in times.

Don’t Rely on Friends’ Parents

If your teen is traveling with a friend or different family, keep in mind group travel doesn’t necessarily mean group responsibility.

Consider a Vetted Travel Provider, Travel Insurance

Seek out vetted travel providers and support services to ensure your teen is good to go. Travel insurance, meanwhile, can help if there’s a missed flight, injury or stolen phone. Vetted organizations also extend to other aspects of the trip; from fake TikTok event tickets to cloned Airbnb listings, be sure your teen is aware of how prevalent fraud can be.

Talk Openly

If you’re ready to let your teen travel without you, it means you have reached a level of trust with your kid. Focus on this trust and prepare them with smart decisions. This includes covering bases like recognizing risky situations and learning to walk away, particularly on a friends’ trip where peer pressure is a concern.

These tips come from Global Work & Travel, one of the world’s leading and largest work and travel brands.