Contiki tours now offer a slower pace and more free time to explore on your own.
My daughter aged 19 is travelling alone to London one week before Christmas with plans to do a 21-day Contiki tour of Europe. Any tips on travelling there in winter (i'm a very concerned mum). E Curran, Griffith, NSW
It's only natural that you should be concerned, and recent events in London would do nothing to soothe those concerns.
Stay away from crowds? Not possible in Europe. Against the risk and the fears you might have for her must be set the positives.
Walk the High Line when visiting New York.Credit: Getty Images
Setting off into the world alone at that age is one of the most empowering experiences you can have and fear should not stand in her way.
Knowledge will go a long way towards keeping her safe and the internet has a wealth of information written specifically for women travellers.
Both you and she should read it and have a talk about which advice is sensible and practical.
She should register her travel plans with Smart Traveller smartraveller.gov.au, the Australian government's traveller website.
Apart from that, stay in touch and dress warmly.
TIPOLOGIST
The MiFi is a compact, portable hotspot that allows you to connect several devices to the internet using the local mobile-phone network. Buy your own device and insert a local data SIM card and you're good to go, or hire a MiFi device. Ideal for a family or small group travelling together.
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