<p>Anyone have experience with an under-18 year old (or any high school senior) traveling alone to auditions? If so, feel free to comment here or PM me. (This is for an article I'm writing.) I'm curious, particularly, about experiences checking in to hotels as a minor. But I'd love to hear about other experiences as well.</p>
<p>I was going to let D audition alone. But when I tried to arrange hotel I ran into issues because she doesn’t turn 18 until May. There was also a lack of public transportation from hotels where she could stay to the school and she could not rent a car. So I just paid another plane fare and went with her. I’m not even going to try to work on it for her next one, I’m just going to go and count it as a " vacation"
It would be helpful if the schools could arrange a hotel near campus that is willing to take auditioning high school seniors. Or even a empty dorm room. I asked at 2 schools if they had any suggestions for housing students and they did not. It will an expensive audition season for us both to fly. If your child is 18 already, lucky you, but there is still the transportation issue. Not all colleges are in public transportation savy cities.</p>
<p>Under 18, none of my kids - even the oh-so-sophisticated-older-brother - was ready to travel on their own. I can’t imagine hotels allowing them to check in even with a prepaid room from me. And forget about car rentals.</p>
<p>What a difference a few years makes. Study abroad, independent travel, grad school auditions, even being a tour manager for a musical group and managing other people’s hotel reservations.</p>
<p>My older son traveled on his own (to junior golf tournaments, not auditions,) senior year and never had any trouble with hotel rooms. He had a credit card with his name and I don’t think he was ever asked his age.</p>
<p>My good friend traveled to her auditions in NYC, LA, and Boston on her own as a 17-year-old and was never asked her age and did fine. </p>
<p>I am traveling to auditions on my own in Boston, Nashville, NYC, and Wisconsin as a 16-year-old senior and also did my school visits last year on my own as a 15-year-old. I was never asked my age or questioned even though I am tiny and look about 12. The biggest trouble was actually airport security who was worried because I had no drivers license or passport ID (just a high school ID). </p>
<p>I actually requested to my parents that I travel on my own because I enjoy being independent and they trust me. However I did tell the schools I am traveling on my own and in each place there was someone who kept a “lookout” for me (esp in Boston). The schools were proud of me traveling on my own and showing my independence.</p>
<p>My son, 17, traveled to auditions by himself last year - from Dallas to NYC. He did not run into problems with hotels because he stayed with friends in their dorm rooms. My D traveled to auditions in Chicago several years ago when she was 17 with 18 year old friend. When we made hotel reservations by phone we asked about checking in. We were told as long as they had a credit card in their name (she did) then there was no problem. </p>
<p>For me, the only downside of them going to auditions alone is that, as a parent, I don’t get to see the campus or attend any info sessions - if they have any. The first time I saw either of their eventual campuses was when I helped them move in on the first day. </p>
<p>My kids have been flying on their own, domestically and internationally, since they were 11 or 12. They always had a cell phone, plenty of cash and, once they were 16, a credit card in their name. We also reminded them what to do if they missed connections or a flight was cancelled, etc. They also are experienced in hailing cabs, catching shuttles, etc. By audition time, I was perfectly comfortable with them traveling alone - saved us a ton of money!</p>
<p>prestofaust, you wrote:
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<p>I’m amazed you got past TSA without a valid government ID! I did once make an arrangement for an under-18 to stay alone in a hotel but I had to prepay in full at the time of reservation. Did others have this experience, too?</p>
<p>Students, or parents whose kids have traveled alone: do you have any tips or advice for students in your position?</p>
<p>Advice from my solo music school visits + input from a friend who also auditioned by herself last year in Boston/NYC/LA area: </p>
<p>If you’re traveling to a place you’ve never been before, map out your trip pretty well. I had a complete, very specific itinerary that I created with my mumma for my solo trips to Boston and NYC and had looked up on GoogleMaps exactly where/when I needed to go & what shuttles to take etc… </p>
<p>Contact the school and tell them you are traveling by yourself. Sometimes schools (ie. Vanderbilt) have free shuttle services or you can spend the night in the dorm (ie. Lawrence). I had some very kind ladies at some schools’ admissions that gave me their #s and kind of “checked in” with me to make sure everything was ok. </p>
<p>Carry a credit card in your name. I used this to get into hotels, when I missed my bus & had to take a very expensive NYC cab, etc… It really came in handy in tight spots especially. Also carry cash and make sure you have a secret stash in a pocket or something. My friend’s bags were robbed in Boston when she traveled on her own but she had $50 stuffed in her bra that really saved her!</p>
<p>Pay attention to the times you book for your flights/train. My mum was very picky about the time I was flying into NYC because she did not want me figuring out buses/taxis late at night. In the end I did have to take a taxi by myself to my hotel because I missed my earlier connection and had to take a later flight but still I would’ve felt a lot more comfortable arriving earlier and not having to go through the hassle! </p>
<p>Also, just have fun and enjoy your independence! I had so much fun sightseeing on my own without my parents fussing about taking pictures or whether I was wearing a coat. I loved taking tours and feeling free to ask any question I wanted or just feeling free to wander around the campuses exploring and going to “college hangouts” that would be a bit awkward with my parents following me. </p>
<p>(don’t get me wrong I love my parents but I got a better feel for the school/teachers on the visits I did alone) </p>
<p>As a small-town country girl from the West, these visits on my own were my first experiences Ever in a big city and it was incredibly exciting and empowering. I felt proud that I could go from my teeny tiny town to NYC and figure it out on my own. </p>
<p>Was it tough when I missed busses/shuttles or got lost sometimes? Absolutely but the challenge was worth it and a lot of fun.</p>
<p>Thanks, presto, that was an awesome list. Great idea about the money-in-the-bra. As for arriving late at night, NYC is probably the one place I can think of that doesn’t shut down at night. Anywhere else could be a problem. Good luck finding food in Philadelphia, for example, after 11 PM, or after 9:30 PM in my neighborhood. :/</p>
<p>Re: my earlier post. Traveling alone under 17 is easier in the BIG cities. I have usually been able to find a hotel but transportation to and from the college has been our challenge. NYC, Boston, Chicago have easy public transportation and my D can handle that. Some of the smaller ones make it more of a challenge. At Hartt, I found a hotel but could not figure out how to get my D to and from school. When I asked the school, I got “we might could send a student or I think she can get a taxi” Also, there were no restaurants within walking distance of the hotel, so again she was going to have to try to get a cab, etc,etc. To much uncertainty, so I just went along to relieve that stress. I guess it worked, because she was accepted. If she goes there, she will take her car. That was one thing the current students stressed, “life here is better with a car”</p>