Tips/Suggestions for student exchange trip to Bavaria.

Asked by jonsblond (43774) January 22nd, 2009 from iPhone

My son has a year and a half to plan for his trip to Bavaria. He will be staying with his host family for two weeks, then spend a week with his fellow classmates (20 students) visiting Munich, Austria and Switzerland. I’m curious to know if any of you have done a student exchange, or live in or have viisited any of these areas? Should he take a gift for his host family? Most of his meals are paid for, except for lunch during the week long trip with his classmates. How much spending money would you suggest? How soon should we start the passport process? Finally, any tips for the worried mom sending her son overseas for the first time?