At what age travel alone and how to organize?

Sometimes it is our little pieces that take the initiative and ask to go see the cousins, all alone like big. But it also happens that we have no choice and that they have to make them take the train or the plane, alone. Either for a colony of vacationeither to join Papi and Mamie at the other end of France. Even abroad! But are we really ready to leave our children, suitcase in one hand, ticket in the other, on a station quay or an airport tarmac? Come on, hears hearts parents! THE trips form youth… 😉 The whole thing is to prepare for it like experienced globetrotters (an experienced traveler is worth two). What documents should my child have on him during the trip? How to help him anticipate the route without stress? And, above all, at what age is it possible to travel alone ? Breathe a big blow, we tell you everything. You will see, it’s easier than it looks and we bet that this trip will create indelible memories!

At what age travel alone?

As much as there is no age to get a passport (parents who traveled with baby remember the photo shoot “closed mouth open eyes please” 😜). As much as there is a legal age to travel without mom or dad! And the cursor is (drum roll …) between 12 and 15 years, depending on the company and the destination. Let’s get a little in detail, do you want?

• A child can travel only by train from 12 years oldif it is a TGV (we forget the TER and the Ouigo).
• A child can travel Alone by plane from 12 years old If he stays in France, and From 15 years old for an international flight (or even 16 for some low cost companies).
• A minor can travel alone by coach between 12 and 16 years old depending on the companies.

“However, I have already seen toddlers without their parents aboard my flight …” Yes, but they were not alone! They were taken care of by a support servicewho supervised them during the journey. So, at what age travel alone? Well from 4 years old… But with an accompanying person! Otherwise, it will be 12 or 15 years.

How to take the train on your own when you’re a minor?

Take the train like a big one to join the family and take advantage of grandparentsit’s much less complicated than it looks! But, say, what is the minimum age to travel alone by train? It’s very simple:

• Between 4 and 14 years old You can call on the Junior and Cie service offered by the SNCF, and let your mini travel alone, a light heart and quiet mind!
• From 12 years oldyour prediction can grab its backpack and get on board the wagon without escort. But with an authorization to leave the territory if necessary (hello Thalys or the Eurostar!)

In any case, he will need his ticket, an identity document valid and sometimes even a photocopy of the identity card of his parents. If your little one is taken care of by the train company, he will have his papers in good standing and will not have to worry about anything. Better still, he will be able to count on the presence of an animator and will enjoy the trip to a small group of children. Arrived at good port, your child will be entrusted to the person who is responsible once on the platform.

How to organize a plane trip without the parents?

There, everything will depend on the destination:

• For a trip to Franceit’s like the train: from 4 years old By being supported by the company’s support service. Otherwise, you will have to wait 12 years.
• For a trip abroadyour mini globetrotter will have to have at least 5 years To travel under the thumb of the company. And 15 years old to travel solo, independently during the journey.

He will also need his transport title and an identity document (for an internal flight) or even a valid passport (for an international flight). And, of course, it will be necessary to provide a parental authorization for the trip, especially if it implies a exit from the territory. And as you are provident, you will have played the game of formalities before departure: entry formality, visa, vaccinations, etc.

How to judge my child’s maturity?

We can quite wonder what age travel alone … But wouldn’t the real question be whether my child is ready to embark on such an adventure? Not always easy to answer them, by the way! We would tend to say that it depends so much on maturity and degree of autonomy of your mini and your parent cold. If you live for adventure and travel, let’s bet that everyone is ready to try the solo journey for children! In the opposite case, it will be necessary to go more slowly.

If nothing presses, that you do not have the pressure from the school holidays and a guard system to be found even at the other end of the region … Take the time to gauge. To probe your mini and establish whether or not a Solo trip is possible for him or her. On the other hand, if you have the knife under your throat and your finger on the calendar, you will have to do everything to make your child live it well, without stress.

How to make the journey go well?

Avoid stops

For a first trip alone, the ideal remains the non -stop journey. First of all because it is much simpler for your mini: I get on board, I lis-I-male-je-bulle, and then I go back on the quay. Tadaaaaaa! But also because it’s more serene for parents. How much would we, if not, be asked if he stayed in the right wagon to the right station … anxiety! Ditto for the plane elsewhere. So we avoid the stress of the multiple shipments, from the passage of gantry and all the Toutim. And we cancel the chances of missing correspondence especially! And that, believe us, it’s worth any age 😂.

Documents to have on hand

Come on, we put a layer of it (for the listeners at the bottom of the room who could have missed, you never know …)! Your child must have his transporthis identity papers valid, and a authorisation exit from the territory plus a Visa Depending on its destination.

Simplify luggage

It is a bit of the key to success. Because, good, who likes to drag a bag or a suitcase that overflows? Eh ? We wonder … So, from 4 to 99 years old, we lighten up the luggage as much as possible! Make your child’s suitcase is strategic, and we can also involve the child concerned by the trip! If he travels by plane, put in the hold everything that weighs a ton and that he or she will not be able to wear. A simple backpack will be enough to contain what theoccupy.

So, ready to let Mimichou stand on his own two feet? Traveling alone cannot be improvised, but it can be a hell of a adventure. The whole thing is to anticipate, to involve his child so that he knows what he returns and is not surprised on D -Day. And to make him comfortable! A bag containing water, enough to snack, a comforter or a book … In short what to take care of is always a good idea! And if you feel a little apprehension, do not hesitate to present the destinations and hero of mini worlds : outstanding travelers! What make him want to travel like a big one. Come on, wish him a good trip from us 💛!