When I was younger, I always struggled with how to ask permission from my parents to let me travel. If you’re struggling with the same thing, don’t worry. I gotchu! I asked 10 travellers to share with us their techniques on how they convinced their parents to let them travel. Read carefully — you might want to try a thing or two.
Also read: 13 Struggles Only Travellers With Strict Parents Understand
1. Permission slip
“The first time my barkada planned an out-of-town trip, I declined immediately. I knew my parents wouldn’t allow me to go, even when I was already in college. But my barkada really wanted me to go, so one of them wrote a letter to my parents months before our trip. Remember the field trip letters your elementary school would give your parents for approval? That was that. She put in our itinerary, modes of transportation, accommodation, and contact details of everyone. Still, I was surprised when my dad said yes.”
2. International exchange program
“I applied for exchange in The EBA Consortium international fieldwork with friends. Yun yung ginawa ko noong nag-Japan ako. It was my first time to travel without family. Feeling ko kasi, mas papayagan ako kapag may kasamang study or work opportunity.”
3. Use the magic word
“May friend akong may bodyguard at sariling kotse na may driver. Parang magic word yung pangalan ng friend ko kapag may gala kaming barkada. So noong una kong travel, inemphasise kong kasama siya. Syempre, may interrogation pa rin na sumunod. Pero pinayagan ako eventually.”
4. Friends like family
“Pumayag parents ko kasi may kasama akong friend na super duper close ko na. Yung tipong nag-oovernight na sa bahay kaya kilalang kilala na nila.”
5. Student council duties
“Kasama ako sa student council, so kapag may planning kami na out-of-town, pinapayagan nila ako.”
6. Hand in their resumes
“Bago ako mag-travel mag-isa, kinausap ng parents ko yung friend kong tutuluyan ko. Buti pinaghanda ko na siya ng statement bago pa siya kausapin. Nilista niya lahat ng household skills niya, at lahat ng documents to prove na responsible adult siya — NBI clearance, voter’s ID, cellphone number at address ng bahay niya. In the end, ako pa ang sinabihan ng magulang ko. Basta huwag ko raw siyang tuturuan maging tamad, pwede akong makituloy sa kanya.”
7. One year in the making
“Yung parents ko kasi, mas gusto nila hindi yung bigla-biglang lakad. So ako, sinabi ko noong pagkabook namin ng ticket. Parang around October o November 2015 ata ako nagpaalam, tapos July 2016 yung trip. Sinabi ko kung sino mga kasama ko. Okay naman sa mommy ko, pero noong una nag-aalala kasi ang dami niyang tanong. Tapos graduating naman na ako noon, kaya inexplain ko na I need that trip. Ayon, pinayagan ako. Basta lagi raw ko sila iupdate at mag-ingat daw ako.”
8. Sama si mommy!
“I’ve only ever travelled without my mom once, and I think I said on a budget kami, so uncomfortable. Kasi airbnb, ganyan, so wag na siya sumama. Abroad with friends? Sobrang dein. Lagi kasama si mommy. Like may conference abroad, ganun, tapos kasama siya. Pero dati, yes keri lang yung beach with friends. Pero usually kasi parang org event siya, so I always say na marami naman kami, wala mangyayari sakin.”
9 Timing is everything
“Basta pagkawala ko sa poder nila, nag-travel na ako with friends muna. Nakaka-burnout sa Manila, and mahirap magmatch ng sched since yuppies and nag-aaral pa yung iba. So naghahanap lang ako ng solo travel blogs tapos lalayas na ako. Sinasabi ko sa kanila kung saan ako pupunta. Gusto din kasi nila ako mag-explore since super strict nila nung undergrad. They made me feel the freedom I earned from graduating and being independent. Plus, lola ako. Kilala nila ako. Umuuwi ako sa college curfew ko kahit walang nagpapauwi sakin. And sa beach lifestyle ko, alam nilang ayoko pumaparty. I’m there for the surf, so wala na silang worries. Pagkabalik, kwento kwento how nice people are sa province, so they’re happy. Ako pa tumatawag sa tatay ko para tanungin, ‘Nasa labas ako, bakit hindi mo ako pinapauwi?’”
10.Wala talaga eh
“Story ng pagpayag ng parents ko sa akin magtravel na wala sila? Yung best travel story ko na kasi yung makikitulog ako sa bahay ng kaklase ko para sa project. Twenty-three na ako.”
Also read: 15 Precautions Female Travellers Should Observe
The quotes here have been edited for grammar, clarity and flow.
