<p>I am curious as to what age you first traveled by yourself? I am a junior in college and live at home. I am planning to travel to Phoenix, AZ (an hour plane ride from where I live) next month for a couple of sporting events and a concert. I planned it on a weekend so I wouldn't miss any school. </p>
<p>I have never traveled by myself before. The longest I have traveled is about 50 miles and my Mom always gets ansy and says "what if something happens to your car", etc. </p>
<p>I am planning on flying to Phoenix (less than $200 airfare). With the concert and sporting events tickets, hotel, and rental car the final cost will be around $800. I have worked very hard at my job and I have more than enough to cover the costs. I am not asking for a penny from anyone.</p>
<p>But there is just one thing. My Mom says that I am too young to travel by myself (I am 20). I told her in about 2 years I will be on my own.</p>
<p>What can I do to convince her that I am not too young to travel myself?</p>
<p>Well.. I live 1000 miles away from home for college in a dorm and go into Boston by myself all the time, if that counts as traveling. Last summer (after my freshman year- I was 19), I lived by myself in an apartment in Boston and took cabs to the beach and local historical areas and rode my bike up to 10 miles outside the city all on my own.</p>
<p>The first <em>real</em> travel on my own was by train to DC, though I stayed with a friend and took public transportation rather than rent a car. I took a train across the country (I hate planes) from Boston to Nebraska over the summer as well by myself.</p>
<p>Prove to your mom that you are responsible. And she can’t really stop you anyway if you have your own car and your own credit card and such.</p>
<p>“Prove to your mom that you are responsible.”</p>
<p>^^ Don’t do that. Trying to prove to her you’re responsible is just like a nerdy loser trying to prove to a hot girl he’s relationship material. Just do what you want to do, and she’ll see on her own you’re independent.</p>
<p>You’re 20 years old, you don’t have to ask ANYONE’s permission, so long as you have the financial means. Do what you do.</p>
<p>My kids travelled on their own very young. But obviously this was only the actual “travel” portion. Once at their destination, they were picked up.</p>
<p>I would say that at 20, you are very ready and able for independent travel. You will be fine. My question is, most Car Rental Companies will not rent to anyone under the age of 21. Have you actually called and confirmed that they will rent to you?</p>
<p>You are 20. Who cares what your mom says! I travel by myself all the time and I haven’t died yet… I fly half way across the world by myself twice a year! (and have since high school) Nobody picks me up at the airport either… LOL. My cousin used to fly from England-Korea when she was in 5th grade… and for several years after that as well so yeah I think you would be fine.</p>
<p>Traveling by yourself in a car shouldn’t be so bad but it would be better if you had a friend so you can talk to each other (boredom) and have somebody to read the map for you. (or get a GPS) I plan on traveling from Illinois- Oklahoma during winter break with a friend so yeah. Have fun, have a safe trip.</p>
<p>Thank you for all of your comments. The problem is though is I live at home. It is not the same as living on campus. I know I am adult and should be able to make my own decisions, but the problem is I keep having to ask permission to do things.</p>
<p>You live at home. I assume that your parents are paying ]at least part of] your college tuition and probably other expenses, as well. I agree with the OP’s attitude. To completely disregard his mom’s attitude, however unfair he might think it is, would just be shooting himself in the foot (not to mention how disrespectful/inconsiderate it would be).</p>
<p>To the OP: Try talking to your mom and asking what you can do to make her comfortable. Maybe she just wants to feel consulted and validated, not like you’re going to do what you want regardless of her feelings. And I agree with proving your responsibility…showing her that you’ve thought things out and can handle the trip. Don’t leave it at “So, I feel like heading to Phoenix for a weekend.” Get hotel details, break down the cost, figure out how you’re going to get around, and show her that you know what you’re doing. Have the hotel phone number and a local taxi number on hand. Find a friend who has family or friends in Phoenix so that you have a local “emergency contact.” </p>
<p>Some private rental companies (not corporate chains) will rent cars to 18 year olds, otherwise, the above poster is right (21 is usually the bottom line, and even that’s with an extra daily “underage” charge until you’re 25). So be sure that you’ve found a company that will actually rent to you and be sure that you’ve factored in any age-related charges.</p>
<p>Alternatively, is there any way you could get a friend to join you? If it’s only an hour flight, then it’s probably a 5-6 hour drive…could you get some company and roadtrip it? </p>
<p>Good luck…hope your trip works out :)</p>
<p>(For the record, first time I traveled without my parents was at 12. First time I traveled totally solo was 22 and my parents were–and are!–flipping out.)</p>
<p>“You live at home. I assume that your parents are paying ]at least part of] your college tuition and probably other expenses, as well. I agree with the OP’s attitude. To completely disregard his mom’s attitude, however unfair he might think it is, would just be shooting himself in the foot (not to mention how disrespectful/inconsiderate it would be).”</p>
<p>^^I’m a sophomore in college, and live at home too. But I still do what I want. At a certain age, you stop asking for permission.</p>
<p>Yeah you should definitely sit down and talk it out with your parents. I am 20 as well and my parents have very little problem with me traveling as long as it is well-planned and safe. I live in NJ btw. I go up to Boston all the time by train and air (I go to school there). But for recreation, my friends and I have gone on many drives to places such as Baltimore to catch the Yanks O’s games, Pittsburgh to visit my friend’s extended family. We even flew to Miami for a short vacation one time. Hell, my parents begged me to go on the birthright Israel trip and spend 2 weeks halfway around the world (one of the best experiences of my life btw). As long as you can prove to your parents that you are responsible and that everything is very well planned out, I don’t see why they wouldn’t let you go. There comes a certain point when the whole “your too young” attitude really loses its meaning.</p>
<p>My college is about 2,500 miles away from my home so I will obviously be traveling alot by myself over the next four years. The first time i did was last year at age 17. My parents have no problem with it really as long as i dont do anything stupid LOL. parents just want you to be safe and sometimes to them that means not letting you venture out on your own.</p>
<p>When I was 16 I flew by myself from Michigan to California, with a stop in Chicago in between. I was terrified, but I made it and I’m still here!
I’m also 3 hours away from home so I have to drive 6 hours just to go home and back to school.
I say just talk with your mom, tell her you’ll be a phone call away and whatever else. I don’t know your mom’s personality so I don’t know what she goes for.
My mom doesn’t really like me going out too much but I always tell her I have my cell phone and that makes her feel a little better.</p>
<p>20 is definitely not too young to be traveling on your own. In fact, from my perspective, 20 is a pretty late start. I started traveling on my own (in terms of flights and transportation to/from hotels and home) at 14 (mainly this meant cross-Canada flights to see family, but also flights from Canada -> parts of the US), and have been making unaccompanied trips to universities, programs, vacations etc. when necessary for a couple of years now.</p>
<p>At 20, you should be far moer than capable of this stuff, so I’d just go and do it, and when you come back safely and the better for it, hopefully your mom will understand that at 20, you’re way too old for her to still be hovering around trying to protect you/control what you do. Obviously, though, if going will cause major problems in your relationship with your mother, I wouldn’t do it.</p>
<p>dood cut the chord. you’re mom’s gotta chill. tell her you’re gonna go wherever you want if you have the money.
hell, phoenix is way too close, go to latin america for a summer see the world. we’re all in our 20’s, it’s time to travel and put ourselves in danger, what’s youth for if not to see new things and challenge our imaginations?</p>
<p>I understand your mother’s concerns, but she needs to keep them to herself and let you do your thing. As long as your trips are well planned out and you are a responsible young person, there is no reason for her not to let you travel independently. My son is 19 and has traveled alone numerous times. That is not to say that I don’t worry…I do! I just keep it to myself and let him be who he needs to be and experience the world. This summer he wants to go to Africa…if that is not letting go, I don’t know what is!</p>
<p>traveling across states is nothing. its really easy, just carry on your bags if you dont want the hassle of waiting for them at the baggage claim. i first traveled within the states alone sophomore year of college. I traveled alone internationally my junior year of college. i went all over europe and randomly lived in scandanavia. you’ll be surprised how safe travels is now-a-days. just be smart and dont do stupid things.</p>
<p>My parents let me fly by myself beginning in 10th grade; they worried more when I was a senior in high school and decided to start driving the 90 miles to the beach alone or with my friends!</p>
<p>Tell your parents that you are much more likely to be injured/killed driving to the grocery store to get a gallon of milk than you are flying anywhere in the US.</p>
<p>I went on school trips and to camp starting very early on, but my first time really travelling alone was the summer I turned 18. I actually left about 3 days after my 18th birthday… but yeah - flew by myself to Scotland to meet my boyfriend where we stayed with his relatives. </p>
<p>I find the biggest thing with parents is details. It may be annoying that they want to know where you’re going to be at every instant, but showing them a plan and itinerary helps a lot. Especially now that nearly everyone has a cell phone, getting in touch with you when you’re away shouldn’t be a problem for them.</p>
Have fun, have a safe trip.</p>