17years old..travelling alone..is it possible?

[charmaine]

hi there i am 17 years old and i am looking to travell from uk to the dr from 2 week holiday. nowfrom the times i have been before i know minors have to travell with parent or gaurdians but acording to everyone else i have spoken to they said regulations have changed and i was just wondering if anybody here may have a better idea than i have....i have tried to call the domican embassey in london but couldnt get through...thanks to anyone who can help me ...cheers x

[SKY]

I believe you can trave alone at this age, but you should check with your airline in the UK.

[sascha]

i know that if you're coming from canada it shouldnt be a problem but like SKY said, check with your airline or travel agent and they should be able to provide you with some guidance on this.

just out of curiousity...i didnt know much at 17 (not that you're the same as me!) but why at 17 are you choosing to travel to the DR on your own?

[Lapurr]

Coming from Canada you do need a parent or Guardian under the age of 18, We brought along a 16 year old friend of my daughters in 2006'.. We also needed a notarized permission to travel abroad letter stating the child was on vacation with myself and I was the chaperone, it was kind of a big deal!

Charmaine..17 and traveling alone? do you really think this is a wise choice?

[sascha]

thanks for clarifying lapurr. i have a friend who went with her 16 year old cousin and they didnt have a problem but maybe thats bc my friend was 20 and a relative?? not sure.

[John Evans]

have your parents got any advice about this -you said youve been before- you are not coming alone to meet someone are you- i would suggest coming with friends

[sascha]

Originally Posted by John Evans

have your parents got any advice about this -you said youve been before- you are not coming alone to meet someone are you- i would suggest coming with friends

exactly. im 25 and went to SD on my own for the first time for a month to volunteer and my parents were worried sick the whole time i was away. im thinking that if i was 17, there is no way they would have let me go especially if it was to vacation by myself.

as a 17 year old...what do you hope to see in the DR by yourself? as much as i enjoyed my time in SD, i was volunteering everyday so that kept me busy but the evenings and weekends could get lonely...do you know anyone there?

[misslyndajean]

ya i am 24 and my parents (& boyfriend) would chain me to my house if i told them i was travelling to the DR alone!!!

[Lambada]

Originally Posted by John Evans

have your parents got any advice about this -you said youve been before- you are not coming alone to meet someone are you- i would suggest coming with friends

I'm assuming she isn't 'running away from home' (because she'd hardly tell the world on a message board if she was).......so either has met someone or is one of those rare very independent & adult 17 year olds who want to travel unfettered by parental supervision.

charmaine, if you met the man of your dreams on a previous holiday & if he is a sankie in a hotel please reconsider your intentions. If your parents (assuming you have parents) don't give their consent to your trip, I understand that under UK law they can put a stop to it.

If nothing is going to stop you then remember that the UK Hon Consul for the North Coast is Genni Mendez in Puerto Plata & if you get into any sort of difficulty you should phone him 809-586-4244.

[Lapurr]

My daughter just turned 17, she is graduating high school in two months, and has her courses outlined for University- No matter how book smart she is ...there is NO WAY IN HELL, I would let her travel alone, not just alone even if she were going with a group of her friends and she were underage..well it'll never happen so I need not worry.

I know she will start traveling as soon as she turns 18, which is worrisome, she is very adventurous, luckily for me she is not very Rowdy and definitely not a risk taker like myself.