For a studious, well-behaved private schoolgirl looking forward to a milestone coming-of-age, it was the perfect early 18th birthday present.
And Lucy Clode, 17, was undoubtedly looking forward to the trip to New York with her mum Carolyn - presumably to hit the shops, see the sights and maybe even take in a show.
What probably wasn't in her plans was an unexpected online flirting session with a Hollywood superstar almost twice her age.
Unluckily for A-list actor James Franco, Miss Clode offered him nothing but a gentle knockback - because she was on holiday with her mum.
In the Big Apple this week, the excited Scottish teenager spotted Franco outside the stage door of the Broadway production in which he is starring at the moment.
Clode, who attends prestigious independent school Dollar Academy in Clackmannanshire, reached for her mobile and took some pictures of the James Dean and Spiderman star, and then - as teenagers are wont to do - she turned the lens on herself and took some "selfies" with the 35-year-old box office hit in the background.
It is understood that Franco spotted Clode taking the photos and shouted to her that she should put the photographs on the online picture-sharing site Instagram and "tag" him so he would be alerted to them.
A "selfie" of James Franco and Lucy Clode. Photo/Instagram.
According to Hollywood gossip websites, the pair later started an internet conversation that led to the now-famous rejection.
In what appear to be screenshots from Instagram, Franco works fast to establish where Miss Clode is from and how long she will be in New York.
He then seems to fire off three questions in quick succession: "You're 18?" "Who are you with?" and "Do you have a bf (boyfriend)?"
Miss Clode replies: "Nearly 18, my mum and not if you're around."
Franco then asks exactly when her birthday is and where she is staying in New York.
The conversation then appeared to switch to text message, and Franco asks "Can I see you? You're single? What's the hotel? Should I rent a room?"
When Miss Clode, from Dollar, voices concerns the conversation could be an April Fools joke by an imposter, Franco posts a picture of himself to prove it is genuine.
The sensible teen then decides: "I'll come back when I'm 18."
Franco responds: "If you don't want to meet text me when you do."
The screenshots of the conversation have taken Twitter and US gossip sites by storm - although it is unclear whether they are genuine or not, and fans claimed they could just be a publicity stunt.
It is worth noting that Franco's next film is the story of a high school teacher who is dating one of his pupils - and several eagle-eyed online commentators last night floated the suggestion that the exchange with Miss Clode could be a sophisticated joke.
During a conversation with a friend posted on Instagram, Miss Clode said: "James Franco asked me to meet him alone Romy! It was really him and I rejected him!! [what] am I doing?!"
She then added: "I am going to regret this for years - it's given me a confidence boost though lol."
Franco has not released a statement regarding the incident but did Tweet in reference to a comment that he liked younger women saying: "I'm not! I hope parents keep their teens away from me. Thank you." - with a link to an Instagram photo that has since been removed.
The age of consent in New York is 17, so even if the exchange is genuine, Franco is not doing anything wrong in the eyes of the law - but his actions drew criticism from fans last night.
On gossip site Perez Hilton, a user called moooose wrote: "It's interesting how someone could go from a charming sexy intellectual to a disgusting creepy perv over night."
