Teenage Dream

How to plan a trip your teens will rave about for years.

TEENAGERS CAN BE A HARD-TO-IMPRESS BUNCH.

We asked Family Twist, a private family vacation guide company, how to make sure teens will have fun on their family trip.

They want to be engaged. For example, an escape-room activity will impress, whereas an audio guide in a museum probably won’t.

Teens love active experiences, like bike riding, boat tours or hikes. Hands-on activities also go over well— things like cooking pasta in Rome, learning about street art in Shoreditch (arguably the coolest area in London) or baking macarons in Paris.

The key is to make the experiences diverse. And of course, everything should ideally be highly Instagrammable!

What’s a common mistake parents make when planning a trip with teens?

Some forget to take their kids’ individual interests into consideration, whether that’s fashion, football, horses, unsolved mysteries, music or Da Vinci. Try to include at least one “me-time moment” for each teen during the trip.

What are some travel hacks parents of teens should know?

On your first day, start with something the kids are looking forward to. Do not lose them at the very start! They will be hard to remotivate.

As tempting as it can be to jam-pack your trip, leave some free time so teens can sleep, eat and update their social networks.

A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down. A “boring” church tour is more palatable if followed by a pizza-making class.

What are some teen-friendly destinations trending for 2023?

Paris is popular for its glamor, art and architecture. London is a good choice for its history of music and fashion, and its rebel spirit in general. And Barcelona is a great option, known for its laid-back atmosphere, beaches, tapas and football.