Tours for teens, one-way airfaires, driving in the Baltics

STEVE, for the last two years my husband and I have been wanting to take our granddaughters, ages 16 and 17, to France, but due to my husband’s health we can’t do it. Are there any organized and chaperoned tours to France for teens? — Marian Gregoriante, San Mateo, CA

DEAR MARIAN, yes, there are. First, I’d check with their school. Local teachers are often recruited to promote and escort tours during the summer months, and you might find a tour that’s ideal. A tour through a local school would offer your granddaughters the added advantage of traveling with friends. The website www.us.franceguide.com lists five companies providing youth programs to France, such as Weissman Teen Tours, which is a family-owned and -operated company in Ardsley, New York, catering to teens.

You might also check www.fiyto.org, the website of the Federation of International Youth Travel Organizations, a network of youth travel professionals, and www.csiet.org, the website of the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel, listing 78 youth travel and exchange organizations.

The only one I’m personally familiar with is Rotary Youth Exchange, at www.studentexchanges.org. As part of this program, my family and I have hosted 10 foreign exchange teenagers over the last 14 years, and we think it’s great.

STEVE, my wife and I are thinking about taking a container ship one way to Europe. Is there a good way to purchase return one-way air without being penalized for not purchasing a round-trip ticket? With freighter travel, return dates often are not known until the last minute. Joe Huddy, Bainbridge Island, WA

DEAR JOE, and I might add that you sometimes even end up in a different port or country than originally planned.

The air problem is one-way fares are habitually and illogically higher than round trips, and last-minute tickets are the highest of all. Oh, for the days of discounted standbys.

About your only hope is allowing yourself enough “layover” time in Europe to buy an advance-purchase ticket once you get there, sticking to off-season (with winter being the lowest) and checking the fares to your destination from several cities. The one-way fare from London to Seattle, for example, is about half the price of one from Paris to Seattle.

Since round-trip tickets are usually cheaper than one-way tickets, some travelers may be tempted to buy a round-trip ticket with no intention of using the return. This technique, however, is so highly frowned upon by the airlines that if a travel agent is caught collaborating with a traveler in deliberately arranging a round-trip ticket when the traveler should be buying a one-way, the agent can be fined thousands of dollars.

Frequent-flyer miles, provided you’ve got them and space is available, are a good alternative since there are usually no deadlines and, logically, they cost only half the miles of a round trip. Rules may vary between airlines.

STEVE, I would appreciate information regarding driving a rental car in the Baltic countries. Although over age 65, I consider myself a very capable driver and have had no problems in driving much of Europe, the U.K., Morocco and New Zealand. Some travel tales mention problems in the Baltic countries. Are those stories unusual? Any problems with the language barrier? — Doranna LaBonte, Tiverton, RI

DEAR DORANNA, the capitals of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are now connected by an improved road system, but the rural roads can be bumpy. Using Estonia as an example, here’s a quote from the U.S. Department of State: “The information below concerning Estonia is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.

“Driving in Estonia can be more dangerous than in much of the United States. Many roads, especially in rural areas, are poorly lit and are not up to Western standards. Some drivers can be aggressive, recklessly overtaking vehicles and traveling at high speed, even in crowded urban areas. Estonian laws against driving under the influence of alcohol are strict and follow a policy of zero tolerance. Unfortunately, accidents involving intoxicated drivers are distressingly frequent. It is not uncommon for the police to set up checkpoints on major streets and highways; drivers should pull over when asked. Drivers should always remain alert to the possibility of drunk drivers and drunken pedestrians.

“Estonian traffic laws require drivers to stop for all pedestrians in marked crosswalks. Nevertheless, Estonian motorists do not always comply with this regulation, and pedestrians should always be careful when crossing the streets. In rural areas, wild animals, such as deer and moose, and icy road conditions can create unexpected hazards. Dark-clothed or drunken pedestrians walking along unlit roads or darting across dimly-lit streets or highways pose a risk to unsuspecting drivers. Winter roads are usually treated and cleared of snow, but drivers should remain vigilant for icy patches and large potholes.”

In addition to the above, I’ve heard that in Lithuania there have been incidents where scam artists have put a “boot” on a rental car, even when the vehicle is not illegally parked, and then demanded a fine to remove the boot.

On the good side, most of the major rental car companies are represented there. You need to be aware, however, that several require a driver to have an International Driver’s License, they have age limit maximums of as low as 75 for the driver, and they may not allow their cars to be driven into another country (even a neighboring one) without prior permission. Plus rental car rates there are relatively expensive.

Regarding any language barrier in those three countries, previously Russian was taught as the second language, but English is now also taught in schools and popular with the young. Try to learn and use a few words of each country’s language (maybe even create cheat sheets as part of your pre-trip preparation) and it may lower barriers.

—Ask Steve is written by Steve Venables.