The first step is to contact us on our toll free number (888-457-4534) to speak with our school trips coordinator. After discussing your budget, ideal destinations, educational goals, etc., we go to work on fitting your needs into a rough itinerary proposal which can be further tweaked based on your input. Once your ideal itinerary has been established and a budget agreed upon, we create marketing materials (flyers to pass out at your school) and a custom website with pictures, maps and itineraries for prospective parents and students. In addition, a TFT representive will travel to your school to give a presentation to interested families, answer questions, and talk about the itinerary. Travel for Teens handles all payments, paperwork, and reservations; all we ask of teachers is support in drumming up the trip to students and parents. 

We'll stay at a safe, comfortable hotel just a few minutes from the beach. The hotel has a pool, AC, wifi, private bathrooms, and 24 hour security. Participants will sleep in rooms with 2 - 4 beds.

Nope! There are only a few places in Costa Rica where it is recommended travelers get immunized for Malaria and we do not visit any of those places. For more information, please speak to a physician or check out the World Health Organization’s website www.who.int/en/.

Nope! TFT counselors speak Spanish, your surf instructors speak English, and the surf school accepts beginner to advanced level surfers. If you ARE learning Spanish, however, there’s no better way to practice than to visit a Spanish speaking country and interact with the locals!

The food in Costa Rica is delicious! Expect to eat seasoned rice, beans, chicken, steak, tropical fruit and veggies, plantains, and many other foods flavored with unique Caribbean spices! Vegetarians will have no issues eating well on the trip. Also, unlike in Europe where a light breakfast of coffee and toast is the norm, ticos (Costa Ricans) eat big, savory breakfasts—and so will we!

This trip is very full of planned activities, but we are mindful of the risks of over exertion! There will be time to chill out some afternoons after our days activities, but, as on all of our trips, you’ll not be allowed to leave the hotel on your own once the group has returned from the day’s activities and settled in, or allowed to venture out without a counselor. It is only under rare circumstances, however, that a counselor will NOT be available to accompany you in the event you need/would like to leave the hotel for something that’s not on the itinerary.

The Trip Leader for every trip is a seasoned teen travel professional who lives or has lived and worked in the destination country. Fluency in the language and culture of the destination is crucial. Our Senior Counselors are experienced, responsible and fun-loving, so our participants enjoy sharing experiences with them. At Travel for Teens we pride ourselves on our rigorous staff application process and the professionalism of our full time and summer staff. It is the job of the counselors to keep the fun clean and happening, the learning and the laughter in good balance, and to oversee the safety of the participants. Minimum ratios are one staff member to every seven participants. Trips may also include one or two Junior Counselors, who are college students with a history of TFT travel, and one or more Counselors in Training (CIT’s) with limited responsibility. CIT’s are not counted in staff-participant rations.

Travel for Teens organizes chaperoned group flights for every trip. You do not have to go on the group flight with us, although there are several advantages to doing so: the group flight is chaperoned by TFT staff, a lot of group bonding happens on the trip over, and we get great group flight prices. Parents are responsible for arranging for participants to get to the group flight airport. Travel for Teens staff is at the airport, greets arriving participants as they walk to baggage claim, and escorts them to where the rest of the group has assembled.

The group flight for the Costa Rica Surf and Service trip departs from Miami, Florida and flies direct into and out of San Jose. The group flight price is extremely economical (less than $450 round trip). Please note that for late sign ups (those who sign up within 35 days of the trip’s departure), the group flight cost is not guaranteed.

Travel for Teens organizes chaperoned group flights for every trip. You do not have to go on the group flight with us, although there are several advantages to doing so: the group flight is chaperoned by TFT staff, a lot of group bonding happens on the trip over, and we get great group flight prices. Parents are responsible for arranging for participants to get to the group flight airport. Travel for Teens staff is at the airport, greets arriving participants as they walk to baggage claim, and escorts them to where the rest of the group has assembled.

The group flight for the Costa Rica Surf and Service trip departs from Miami, Florida and flies direct into and out of San Jose. The group flight price is extremely economical (less than $450 round trip). Please note that for late sign ups (those who sign up within 35 days of the trip’s departure), the group flight cost is not guaranteed.

The Trip Leader for every trip is a seasoned teen travel professional who lives or has lived and worked in the destination country. Fluency in the language and culture of the destination is crucial. Our Senior Counselors are experienced, responsible and fun-loving, so our participants enjoy sharing experiences with them. At Travel for Teens we pride ourselves on our rigorous staff application process and the professionalism of our full time and summer staff. It is the job of the counselors to keep the fun clean and happening, the learning and the laughter in good balance, and to oversee the safety of the participants. Minimum ratios are one staff member to every seven participants. Trips may also include one or two Junior Counselors, who are college students with a history of TFT travel, and one or more Counselors in Training (CIT’s) with limited responsibility. CIT’s are not counted in staff-participant rations.

This trip is very full of planned activities, but we are mindful of the risks of over exertion! There will be time to chill out some afternoons after our days activities, but, as on all of our trips, you’ll not be allowed to leave the hotel on your own once the group has returned from the day’s activities and settled in, or allowed to venture out without a counselor. It is only under rare circumstances, however, that a counselor will NOT be available to accompany you in the event you need/would like to leave the hotel for something that’s not on the itinerary.

The food in Costa Rica is delicious! Expect to eat seasoned rice, beans, chicken, steak, tropical fruit and veggies, plantains, and many other foods flavored with unique Caribbean spices! Vegetarians will have no issues eating well on the trip. Also, unlike in Europe where a light breakfast of coffee and toast is the norm, ticos (Costa Ricans) eat big, savory breakfasts—and so will we!

Nope! TFT counselors speak Spanish, your surf instructors speak English, and the surf school accepts beginner to advanced level surfers.

We'll stay at a safe, comfortable hotel just a few minutes from the beach. The hotel has a pool, AC, wifi, and 24 hour security. Participants will sleep in rooms with 2 - 4 beds. 

None at all! Your Travel for Teens counselors speak Spanish and the group will be accompanied by a native Costa Rican guide and driver for the entire trip. If you are learning Spanish, however, there’s no better way to practice than to visit a Spanish speaking country!

Nope! There are only a few places in Costa Rica where it is recommended travelers get immunized for Malaria. We do not, however, visit those places. For more information, please speak to a physician or check out the World Health Organization’s website www.who.int/en/.

You don't need to know any Spanish to travel on this trip; if you are taking Spanish classes, however, it's a great opportunity to practice!

Travel for Teens organizes chaperoned group flights for every trip. You do not have to go on the group flight with us, although there are several advantages to doing so: the group flight is chaperoned by TFT staff, a lot of group bonding happens on the trip over, and we get great group flight prices. Parents are responsible for arranging for participants to get to the group flight airport. Travel for Teens staff is at the airport, greets arriving participants as they walk to baggage claim, and escorts them to where the rest of the group has assembled.

The group flight for the Costa Rica Adventure and Service I trip departs from Miami, Florida and flies direct into and out of San Jose. The group flight price is very economical.

The food in Costa Rica is delicious! Expect to eat seasoned rice, beans, chicken, steak, tropical fruit and veggies, plantains, and many other foods flavored with unique Caribbean spices! Vegetarians will have no issues eating well on the trip. Also, unlike in Europe where a light breakfast of coffee and toast is the norm, ticos (Costa Ricans) eat big, savory breakfasts—and so will we!.

The Trip Leader for every trip is a seasoned teen travel professional who lives or has lived and worked in the destination country. Fluency in the language and culture of the destination is crucial. Our Senior Counselors are experienced, responsible and fun-loving, so our participants enjoy sharing experiences with them. At Travel for Teens we pride ourselves on our rigorous staff application process and the professionalism of our full time and summer staff.

It is the job of the counselors to keep the fun clean and happening, the learning and the laughter in good balance, and to oversee the safety of the participants. Minimum ratios are one staff member to every seven participants. Trips may also include one or two Junior Counselors, who are college students with a history of TFT travel, and one or more Counselors in Training (CIT’s) with limited responsibility. CIT’s are not counted in staff-participant ratios.

The Trip Leader for every trip is a seasoned teen travel professional who lives or has lived and worked in the destination country. Fluency in the language and culture of the destination is crucial. Our Senior Counselors are experienced, responsible and fun-loving, so our participants enjoy sharing experiences with them. At Travel for Teens we pride ourselves on our rigorous staff application process and the professionalism of our full time and summer staff.

It is the job of the counselors to keep the fun clean and happening, the learning and the laughter in good balance, and to oversee the safety of the participants. Minimum ratios are one staff member to every seven participants. Trips may also include one or two Junior Counselors, who are college students with a history of TFT travel, and one or more Counselors in Training (CIT’s) with limited responsibility. CIT’s are not counted in staff-participant ratios.

The Trip Leader for every trip is a seasoned teen travel professional who lives or has lived and worked in the destination country. Fluency in the language and culture of the destination is crucial. Our Senior Counselors are experienced, responsible and fun-loving, so our participants enjoy sharing experiences with them. At Travel for Teens we pride ourselves on our rigorous staff application process and the professionalism of our full time and summer staff.

It is the job of the counselors to keep the fun clean and happening, the learning and the laughter in good balance, and to oversee the safety of the participants. Minimum ratios are one staff member to every seven participants. Trips may also include one or two Junior Counselors, who are college students with a history of TFT travel, and one or more Counselors in Training (CIT’s) with limited responsibility. CIT’s are not counted in staff-participant ratios.

Almost every citizen from any nationality needs to get a visa to travel to China. Click this link to learn more about how you can apply for a visa for your child. http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/hzqz/zgqz/t84246.htm

There are no immunizations required to travel to China beyond what would be required for your child to attend high school in America.

Travel for Teens organizes chaperoned group flights for every trip. You do not have to go on the group flight with us, although there are several advantages to doing so: the group flight is chaperoned by TFT staff, a lot of group bonding happens on the trip over, and we get great group flight prices. Parents are responsible for arranging for participants to get to the group flight airport. Travel for Teens staff are at the airport, greet arriving participants as they walk to baggage claim, and escort them to where the rest of the group has assembled. Our group flight to China departs from Los Angeles, CA (LAX) and arrives into Shanghai, China (PVG). Our return flight departs from Beijing (PEK) and arrives at Los Angeles, CA (LAX). Please contact us for details regarding flight cost.

Our hotels and guest houses are specifically chosen to be in safe areas and to be generally well-suited to facilitating group supervision. This means we do not use large, impersonal hotels on the outskirts of cities. We stay away from large hotel chains, preferring to select smaller, family run places where we establish personal relationships with the owners. In Shanghai, we stay in a three star hotel near East Nanjing Road. In Shaolin we will stay in a guest house across the river from the Shaolin Monastary. In Xi’an we stay in a three star hotel two blocks from the Drum Tower. In Chengdu, we stay in a three star hotel. In Shangli we stay in a guest house in the center of the town. In Beijing, we stay in a 3 star hotel by the Forbidden city.

In a word – so much more delicious than the Chinese food you have eaten before! The food in China varies from city to city and province to province. In most occasions, breakfast will be at the hotel. Lunch and Dinner will be at local restaurants. Most lunches and dinners are eaten family style. The cuisine in the areas where we are visiting features a wide range of fresh fruits, vegetables, meat and some fish. Vegetarian options are plentiful.

Our counselors tend to stay with group nearly always. Every day we will break up into smaller groups to give our participants lots of choice and flexibility in their itinerary. We do offer some free time to do some shopping, for example, in defined areas that we are very familiar with such as Shanghai, Shaolin, Xi’an and Beijing.

The Trip Leader for every trip is a seasoned teen travel professional who lives or has lived and worked in the destination country. Fluency in the language and culture of the destination is crucial. Our Senior Counselors are experienced, responsible and fun-loving, so our participants enjoy sharing experiences with them. At Travel for Teens we pride ourselves on our rigorous staff application process and the professionalism of our full time and summer staff.

It is the job of the counselors to keep the fun clean and happening, the learning and the laughter in good balance, and to oversee the safety of the participants. Minimum ratios are one staff member to every seven participants. Trips may also include one or two Junior Counselors, who are college students with a history of TFT travel, and one or more Counselors in Training (CIT’s) with limited responsibility. CIT’s are not counted in staff-participant ratios.

In Madrid we'll stay in a hotel that couldn't be any more centrally located: la Plaza de la Puerta del Sol in the heart of Madrid, within walking distance of the city's most culturally significant sites and best restaurants. The hotel was completely renovated in 2006 and is very comfortable.

In Palma de Mallorca we'll stay in another very comfortable hotel/resort with a pool, a ping pong table, billiards, and a terrace that looks out over the city and port. Just outside the hotel is a bus stop that brings you to the city center in 10 minutes and a five minute walk brings you to the harbor for strolls along the marina.

In Barcelona we stay in the heart of the Gothic Quarter in the most centrally located area of the city and just a block from La Rambla.

All of the hotels are in safe areas with 24 hour security, and all hotels provide air conditioning. Every student will have his or her own bed (2 to 4 per room).

The food is excellent! We will eat tapas, paella, tortilla Española (a type of potato omelette), as well as try falafel pitas, shwarma wraps, and other Mediterranean specialties. Every night there will be a vegetarian option and vegans can be accommodated as well.

This program accepts students of all levels from entry to advanced, so no previous knowledge of Spanish is required! On the first day of classes all students will take a placement test to determine which class will best suit their needs. All learning materials are provided at no extra cost. Bringing a basic notebook and pencil are recommended, but not required.

Our counselors tend to stay with group nearly always. Every day we will break up into smaller groups to give our participants lots of choice and flexibility in their itinerary. We do offer some free time to do some shopping, for example, in defined areas that we are very familiar with.

The Trip Leader for every trip is a seasoned teen travel professional who lives or has lived and worked in the destination country. Fluency in the language and culture of the destination is crucial. Our Senior Counselors are experienced, responsible and fun-loving, so our participants enjoy sharing experiences with them. At Travel for Teens we pride ourselves on our rigorous staff application process and the professionalism of our full time and summer staff.

It is the job of the counselors to keep the fun clean and happening, the learning and the laughter in good balance, and to oversee the safety of the participants. Minimum ratios are one staff member to every seven participants. Trips may also include one or two Junior Counselors, who are college students with a history of TFT travel, and one or more Counselors in Training (CIT’s) with limited responsibility. CIT’s are not counted in staff-participant ratios.

Travel for Teens organizes chaperoned group flights for every trip. You do not have to go on the group flight with us, although there are several advantages to doing so: the group flight is chaperoned by TFT staff, a lot of group bonding happens on the trip over, and we get great group flight prices. Parents are responsible for arranging for participants to get to the group flight airport. Travel for Teens staff are at the airport, greet arriving participants as they walk to baggage claim, and escort them to where the rest of the group has assembled.

Our group flight to Fiji flies into and out of Nadi, Fiji from Los Angeles International Airport. Please contact us for details regarding flight cost.

No, scuba diving is totally optional. If you have never dove before, you will have the opportunity to try diving doing something called an “intro dive”. If you are already certified, you can dive with the dive masters.

The food on the Islands favors the style of the locals who cook their food all together over one fire pit. We will sample the local cuisine several times during the trip. The Fijian cuisine consists of food from the Natives and the Indians. Many of the foods prepared by the Natives and Indians share the same ingredients found on the island. These include taro, breadfruit, sweet potatoes, cassava, coconut, and fish. Fresh fruits and vegetables are plentiful on the islands.

While on the Yasawa and Mamanuca islands, our days will be structured to give choices during the morning, afternoon and evening interspersed with free time to relax on the beach or walk through the rain forests. There will be some time for souvenir shopping on the main land.

Our hotels are specifically chosen to be in safe areas and to be generally well-suited to facilitating group supervision. This means we do not use large, impersonal hotels on the outskirts of cities. We stay away from large hotel chains, preferring to select small, family run places where we establish personal relationships with the owners. We do use hostels on some of our trips, only when they are exceptionally clean, safe, and have some other especially favorable characteristic (i.e. the new hostel in Florence which is hip, modern, and 30 seconds from the Duomo).

We will be using 4 different accommodations on 3 different Yasawa Islands and then on the mainland outside of Nadi. We will be staying in top rated hostels and hotels – between 2-3 people per room.

The Trip Leader for every trip is a seasoned teen travel professional who lives or has lived and worked in the destination country. Fluency in the language and culture of the destination is crucial. Our Senior Counselors are experienced, responsible and fun-loving, so our participants enjoy sharing experiences with them. At Travel for Teens we pride ourselves on our rigorous staff application process and the professionalism of our full time and summer staff.

It is the job of the counselors to keep the fun clean and happening, the learning and the laughter in good balance, and to oversee the safety of the participants. Minimum ratios are one staff member to every seven participants. Trips may also include one or two Junior Counselors, who are college students with a history of TFT travel, and one or more Counselors in Training (CIT’s) with limited responsibility. CIT’s are not counted in staff-participant ratios.

No, you do not need to speak any Italian!

Yes – In fact, we’ll be living and working with a Sicilian family who are the project managers. They are quite possibly the nicest, most generous and open family in all of Italy, and they welcome us with open arms. Their four children and their cousins and friends will also likely be around to work, cook and eat with us. This gives us a great opportunity to have an informal cultural exchange, trading words and games in Italian and English.

Please see the description of the project on the overview page.

You will receive a certificate for 40 hours of service work. We’ll work hard, get dirty, and have lots of fun!

Yes. All participants must bring sturdy shoes to work in (hiking boots or any thick rubber soled shoes will do). You will also need a pair of work gloves. Please bring several changes of clothes that can (and will!) get dirty.

A re-usable water bottle (i.e. Nalgene) and sunscreen are essential.

Sicilian food is made with fresh, local ingredients. We’ll be eating lots of fresh vegetables that were grown in nearby gardens, fruit right off the trees, local cheeses and bread, and delicious home-made pastas.

Every day after lunch we’ll have a few hours of free time to relax during the hottest part of the day. After dinner and dinner clean-up, everyone is free to hang out and enjoy the evening.

Generally speaking, our counselors stay with group nearly always. On the day trips, we'll offer some free time for shopping, for example, in defined areas that we are very familiar with.

We are staying in a country estate in the hills outside the city of Catania. The house is fully equipped with male/female facilities, a full kitchen, a living area, and bedrooms. We also have a wonderful terrace where we spend time hanging out in the evenings. The estate is surrounded on all sides by olive groves, vineyards, and fruit trees – and Mt. Etna provides the majestic backdrop. We will be living with the Sicilian family who are the project managers of the community service project that we are working on, and we have the good fortune to cook our meals with them every day, picking up some great pointers on Italian cooking.

The Trip Leader for every trip is a seasoned teen travel professional who lives or has lived and worked in the destination country. Fluency in the language and culture of the destination is crucial. Our Senior Counselors are experienced, responsible and fun-loving, so our participants enjoy sharing experiences with them. At Travel for Teens we pride ourselves on our rigorous staff application process and the professionalism of our full time and summer staff.

It is the job of the counselors to keep the fun clean and happening, the learning and the laughter in good balance, and to oversee the safety of the participants. Minimum ratios are one staff member to every seven participants. Trips may also include one or two Junior Counselors, who are college students with a history of TFT travel, and one or more Counselors in Training (CIT’s) with limited responsibility. CIT’s are not counted in staff-participant ratios.

Travel for Teens organizes chaperoned group flights for every trip. You do not have to go on the group flight with us, although there are several advantages to doing so: the group flight is chaperoned by TFT staff, a lot of group bonding happens on the trip over, and we get great group flight prices. Parents are responsible for arranging for participants to get to the group flight airport. Travel for Teens staff are at the airport, greet arriving participants as they walk to baggage claim, and escort them to where the rest of the group has assembled.

Our group flight to Italy flies into and out of Catania from Newark, NJ. Please contact us for details regarding flight cost.

The food is delicious! There is a bit of everything, so everyone can eat something that pleases them. Even though a lot of food will look familiar to you, we encourage you to be adventurous, and step out of your comfort zone, try something new!

As on all our trips, vegetarians and vegans can be accommodated.

In London, we will be staying in a two star hotel near Kings Cross Station, the station made famous by Harry Potter's very own Platform 9 and 3/4.

In Paris, we will be staying in a hostel located in the Marais, a hip, popular district known for its street artists. We are at walking distance of Notre Dame, tons of little cafes, creperies, and shops. The hotel itself is old townhouses converted into a youth hostel, which accommodates students from all over the world.

Both hotels are in safe areas with 24 hour security. Every student will have his or her own bed (2 - 6 to a room in Paris and 2 to 4 to a room in London).

Our group flight to South Africa departs from New York (JFK) and arrives in Johannesburg (JNB) then we change planes en route to Botswana. On the return we fly from Johannesburg (JNB) back to JFK. Please contact us for details regarding flight cost. Note – on the return the flight departs South Africa on August 1st and lands the morning of August 2nd. This means you can combine this trip with any trip in Europe in Session 2 or Session 4 and not miss a day!

We only visit and stay in the safest places and hotels in South Africa, Zambia and Botswana. We have carefully avoided any areas which are prone to crime. Safety is our number one priority at all times.

Participants will be able to see all of the Big 5 from a safe distance. On every safari/game drive, there will be guides in order to keep participants safe. Outside of the game parks, there is almost no chance of encountering any dangerous animals.

The food in South Africa is influenced heavily from the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. Botswana and Zambia offer lots of fruits, vegetables and grains as well as fresh meat options. South Africa attracts people from all over the world so there is a wide range of cuisine available. We will have the chance to enjoy a few 'traditional' South African meals in a buffet style so that participants can try a lot of different local foods found nowhere else but here. We will also have a traditional cooking lesson in South Africa.

The second half of July is a very dry time of year in Botswana, Zambia and on the Wild Coast of South Africa. In Botswana and Zambia it will get as warm as 80 during the day and as cool as 50 at night. In South Africa it will be between 65-75 during the day and 55-60 at night. While it is their winter, it is quite moderate.

Hotels are only in safe areas plus they are clean and set up for supervising groups of kids. This means we do not use large, impersonal hotels on the outskirts of cities. Not only do they not provide the authenticity we seek but when kids are not grouped into a manageable space and there are many other people in the hotel, supervision is more difficult. We do not use hotel chains, instead we primarily stay in small hotels, but do use hostels on some of our trips.

In Kasane, Botswana and Livingstone, Zambia we will be staying 2-3 people per room in a 3 star hotel with air conditioning and ensuite accommodations. One night of the trip in Botswana we will spend in Chobe National Park camping. You do not need to bring any of the camping gear – your tent and your bed (yes a bed!) will be set up before you arrive for the night. This night is historically one of the campers’ favorite nights of the trip!
In South Africa we stay in Beach Side Bungalows along the wild coast. We have separate bungalows for the boys and girls.

You will need your own towel, pillow and reusable water bottle.

The food in Paris is delicious and very diversified. You'll have the chance to try many authentic French dishes prepared by world-class chefs. Paris is also known for being able to find something for every taste. Food from many different countries is also plentiful and is quickly changing the 'classic' notion of French cooking. It is possible to have Senegalese, Indian, and Vietnamese food all in one day, while having a French pastry for dessert.

In Paris we'll stay in safe, comfortable auberge de jeunesse a short walk from Notre Dame in a converted mansion with a beautiful inner courtyard.

Our counselors tend to stay with group nearly always. Every day we will break up into smaller groups to give our participants lots of choice and flexibility in their itinerary. We do offer some free time to do some shopping, for example, in defined areas that we are very familiar with.

The Trip Leader for every trip is a seasoned teen travel professional who lives or has lived and worked in the destination country. Fluency in the language and culture of the destination is crucial. Our Senior Counselors are experienced, responsible and fun-loving, so our participants enjoy sharing experiences with them. At Travel for Teens we pride ourselves on our rigorous staff application process and the professionalism of our full time and summer staff.

It is the job of the counselors to keep the fun clean and happening, the learning and the laughter in good balance, and to oversee the safety of the participants. Minimum ratios are one staff member to every seven participants. Trips may also include one or two Junior Counselors, who are college students with a history of TFT travel, and one or more Counselors in Training (CIT’s) with limited responsibility. CIT’s are not counted in staff-participant rations.

Necessary Gear:

• Digital Camera – either compact or dSLR (digital single lens reflex – the big cameras with interchangeable lenses)
  Compact digital cameras must have manual capability (ability to adjust ISO, exposure, shutter speed, aperture). Please note that we will only be working with digital.
• Charger, extra batteries, and download cable for your camera
  Don’t forget a European converter so you can plug your charger into the European sockets, which are different from the ones in the US. You will also need the cable that came with your camera to download your photos to a portable computer.
• Camera bag for camera, lenses, and accessories
  Choose the most comfortable bag for you, as you will be carrying your camera a lot! Camera backpacks are often more comfortable than shoulder bags.
• At least two memory cards for a total of 8GB of memory space

Optional Gear:

• Optional: Extra lenses for a dSLR
  It’s fine to bring only one lens. If you do bring several, we suggest you bring a standard zoom lens and a fixed 50mm, 85mm, or 100mm lens (an 85 or 100mm lens is the best for portraiture). Do not bring more than 3 lenses.
• Portable computer with enough free disk space to download your photos and installed photo editing software such as Lightroom, Aperture, or Photoshop.
  This is the one TFT trip that allows you to bring a portable computer. If you bring a computer, please make sure you have enough disk space, a USB jump drive, or blank DVD’s where you can save backups of your photos as we go. Please note that a computer is NOT necessary - If you don’t have a computer our counselors will gladly download your photos for you and you can look on as we do photo editing demos.

Please note that Travel for Teens, LLC does not assume any responsibility for your personal items or equipment in the event of damage or loss. You are responsible for purchasing travel insurance to cover your expensive items such as your camera, lenses, and computer.

Necessary Gear:

• Digital Camera – either compact or dSLR (digital single lens reflex – the big cameras with interchangeable lenses)
  Compact digital cameras must have manual capability (ability to adjust ISO, exposure, shutter speed, aperture). Please note that we will only be working with digital.
• Charger, extra batteries, and download cable for your camera
  Don’t forget a European converter so you can plug your charger into the European sockets, which are different from the ones in the US. You will also need the cable that came with your camera to download your photos to a portable computer.
• Camera bag for camera, lenses, and accessories
  Choose the most comfortable bag for you, as you will be carrying your camera a lot! Camera backpacks are often more comfortable than shoulder bags.
• At least two memory cards for a total of 8GB of memory space

Optional Gear:

• Optional: Extra lenses for a dSLR
  It’s fine to bring only one lens. If you do bring several, we suggest you bring a standard zoom lens and a fixed 50mm, 85mm, or 100mm lens (an 85 or 100mm lens is the best for portraiture). Do not bring more than 3 lenses.
• Portable computer with enough free disk space to download your photos and installed photo editing software such as Lightroom, Aperture, or Photoshop.
  This is the one TFT trip that allows you to bring a portable computer. If you bring a computer, please make sure you have enough disk space, a USB jump drive, or blank DVD’s where you can save backups of your photos as we go. Please note that a computer is NOT necessary - If you don’t have a computer our counselors will gladly download your photos for you and you can look on as we do photo editing demos.

Please note that Travel for Teens, LLC does not assume any responsibility for your personal items or equipment in the event of damage or loss. You are responsible for purchasing travel insurance to cover your expensive items such as your camera, lenses, and computer.

Our counselors tend to stay with group nearly always. Every day we will break up into smaller groups to give our participants lots of choice and flexibility in their itinerary. We do offer some free time to do some shopping, for example, in defined areas that we are very familiar with.

The Trip Leader for every trip is a seasoned teen travel professional who lives or has lived and worked in the destination country. Fluency in the language and culture of the destination is crucial. Our Senior Counselors are experienced, responsible and fun-loving, so our participants enjoy sharing experiences with them. At Travel for Teens we pride ourselves on our rigorous staff application process and the professionalism of our full time and summer staff. It is the job of the counselors to keep the fun clean and happening, the learning and the laughter in good balance, and to oversee the safety of the participants.

Minimum ratios are one staff member to every seven participants. Trips may also include one or two Junior Counselors, who are college students with a history of TFT travel, and one or more Counselors in Training (CIT’s) with limited responsibility. CIT’s are not counted in staff-participant rations.

The counselors on this trip also have experience teaching photography to students and are adept at giving hands on lessons and feedback.

Our counselors tend to stay with group nearly always. Every day we will break up into smaller groups to give our participants lots of choice and flexibility in their itinerary. We do offer some free time to do some shopping, for example, in defined areas that we are very familiar with.

Our counselors tend to stay with group nearly always. Every day we will break up into smaller groups to give our participants lots of choice and flexibility in their itinerary. We do offer some free time to do some shopping, for example, in defined areas that we are very familiar with.

The Trip Leader for every trip is a seasoned teen travel professional who lives or has lived and worked in the destination country. Fluency in the language and culture of the destination is crucial. Our Senior Counselors are experienced, responsible and fun-loving, so our participants enjoy sharing experiences with them. At Travel for Teens we pride ourselves on our rigorous staff application process and the professionalism of our full time and summer staff.

It is the job of the counselors to keep the fun clean and happening, the learning and the laughter in good balance, and to oversee the safety of the participants. Minimum ratios are one staff member to every seven participants. Trips may also include one or two Junior Counselors, who are college students with a history of TFT travel, and one or more Counselors in Training (CIT’s) with limited responsibility. CIT’s are not counted in staff-participant ratios.

In Madrid we'll stay in a hotel that couldn't be any more centrally located: la Plaza de la Puerta del Sol in the heart of Madrid, within walking distance of the city's most culturally significant sites and best restaurants. The hotel was completely renovated in 2006 and is very comfortable.

In Palma de Mallorca we'll stay in another very comfortable hotel/resort with a pool, a ping pong table, billiards, and a terrace that looks out over the city and port. Just outside the hotel is a bus stop that brings you to the city center in 10 minutes and a five minute walk brings you to the harbor for strolls along the marina.

In Barcelona we stay in the heart of the Gothic Quarter in the most centrally located area of the city and just a block from La Rambla.

All of the hotels are in safe areas with 24 hour security, and all hotels provide air conditioning. Every student will have his or her own bed (2 to 4 per room).

The food is excellent! We will eat tapas, paella, tortilla Española (a type of potato omelette), as well as try falafel pitas, shwarma wraps, and other Mediterranean specialties. Every night there will be a vegetarian option and vegans can be accommodated as well.

This program accepts students of all levels from entry to advanced, so no previous knowledge of Spanish is required! On the first day of classes all students will take a placement test to determine which class will best suit their needs. All learning materials are provided at no extra cost. Bringing a basic notebook and pencil are recommended, but not required.

Our counselors tend to stay with group nearly always. Every day we will break up into smaller groups to give our participants lots of choice and flexibility in their itinerary. We do offer some free time to do some shopping, for example, in defined areas that we are very familiar with.

The Trip Leader for every trip is a seasoned teen travel professional who lives or has lived and worked in the destination country. Fluency in the language and culture of the destination is crucial. Our Senior Counselors are experienced, responsible and fun-loving, so our participants enjoy sharing experiences with them. At Travel for Teens we pride ourselves on our rigorous staff application process and the professionalism of our full time and summer staff.

It is the job of the counselors to keep the fun clean and happening, the learning and the laughter in good balance, and to oversee the safety of the participants. Minimum ratios are one staff member to every seven participants. Trips may also include one or two Junior Counselors, who are college students with a history of TFT travel, and one or more Counselors in Training (CIT’s) with limited responsibility. CIT’s are not counted in staff-participant ratios.

Our days are full of planned activities, but they are not regimented. You’ll have many choices as to what you do and where you go each day, and we will adapt to the unique rhythms of life in each country we visit. As on all of our trips, you’ll not be allowed to leave the hotel on your own once the group has returned from the day’s activities and settled in, or allowed to venture out without a counselor. It is only under rare circumstances, however, that a counselor will NOT be available to accompany you in the event you need/would like to leave the hotel for something that’s not on the itinerary.

Our days are full of planned activities, but they are not regimented. You’ll have many choices as to what you do and where you go each day, and we will adapt to the unique rhythms of life in each country we visit. As on all of our trips, you’ll not be allowed to leave the hotel on your own once the group has returned from the day’s activities and settled in, or allowed to venture out without a counselor. It is only under rare circumstances, however, that a counselor will NOT be available to accompany you in the event you need/would like to leave the hotel for something that’s not on the itinerary.

All of the accommodations on the Backpacking for Teens I trip are safe, clean, and comfortable. In Amsterdam we stay in a great 3-star hotel steps from the Vondelpark. In Munich we are in a centrally located, clean hotel, while in Switzerland we will stay in a traditional Swiss chalet in the breathtaking Swiss Alps. In Venice we enjoy a perfect location and a great hotel with many rooms opening right onto a beautiful piazza.

The Trip Leader for every trip is a seasoned teen travel professional who lives or has lived and worked in the destination country. Fluency in the language and culture of the destination is crucial. Our Senior Counselors are experienced, responsible and fun-loving, so our participants enjoy sharing experiences with them. At Travel for Teens we pride ourselves on our rigorous staff application process and the professionalism of our full time and summer staff.

It is the job of the counselors to keep the fun clean and happening, the learning and the laughter in good balance, and to oversee the safety of the participants. Minimum ratios are one staff member to every seven participants. Trips may also include one or two Junior Counselors, who are college students with a history of TFT travel, and one or more Counselors in Training (CIT’s) with limited responsibility. CIT’s are not counted in staff-participant ratios.

Travel for Teens organizes chaperoned group flights for every trip. You do not have to go on the group flight with us, although there are several advantages to doing so: the group flight is chaperoned by TFT staff, a lot of group bonding happens on the trip over, and we get great group flight prices. Parents are responsible for arranging for participants to get to the group flight airport. Travel for Teens staff are at the airport, greet arriving participants as they walk to baggage claim, and escort them to where the rest of the group has assembled.

Our group flight for the Backpacking for Teens Ib trip departs from Newark, NJ and arrives in Amsterdam. At the end of the trip, the group flies back to Newark out of Venice, Italy. Please contact us for details regarding flight cost.

Yes – please pack your belongings in a large travel backpack as opposed to a duffel bag or rolling suitcase. This is for ease of travel, as we will be using trains and busses (and our feet) to get around.

In the backpacking spirit, we’ll be catching trains from Amsterdam all the way to Venice. You’ll learn how to use your RailPass and how to use public transportation systems in general in Europe. Pack light!

The food in each of these four European countries is unique and delicious! Vegetarians will have no issues eating well on the trip. Breakfasts, in the European style, are generally light and consist of toast, pastries, cereal, and fruit. Lunches will generally be sandwiches or something similar, and dinners will be more substantial meals in restaurants or local eateries.

One way to raise money for summer travel is through a fundraiser. One organization that can help you raise money is called Equal Exchange; you can find more information about how it works by visiting their website at: www.equalexchange.coop/fundraiser. 

Yes - please bring all of the following items:

• Reusable water bottle (such as a Nalgene) 
• A wide-brimmed hat for the sun - you will need it! 
• High SPF sunscreen - bring it from home as it is expensive abroad 
• Long pants are necessary to enter certain religious sites 
• Sweatshirt for cool nights

Summer in Egypt is very hot and dry - we will be getting over 12 hours of sunlight every day! In Cairo you can expect lows in the 70’s and highs in the 90’s, while in Luxor and Sinai plan for lows in the 80’s and high temperatures of 100+ degrees F. In the desert, nights can get a bit chilly so we recommend that you do bring a sweatshirt.

Constant hydration will be a necessity to deal with the dry heat that we will encounter in Egypt. We will also begin our days early before the sun gets too hot, and rest during the hottest part of each day.

Traditional meals in Egypt are heavily influenced by Middle Eastern cuisine, and are often composed of simple, hearty dishes featuring grilled meats and/or falafel served with rice or pita bread and fresh, local vegetables. Fresh seafood is a delicacy where we will be staying in Sinai on the Red Sea. Egyptian cuisine incorporates a delicious variety of meats, vegetables, rice, bread and fish, and promises to satisfy even the most picky eaters.

The Trip Leader on this trip is a seasoned teen travel professional who has done extensive in-country research in Egypt. Our group will be accompanied at all times by our local Egyptian guide and we will be supported by our network of trusted local contacts. Our Senior Counselors are experienced, responsible and fun-loving, so our participants enjoy sharing experiences with them. At Travel for Teens we pride ourselves on our rigorous staff application process and the professionalism of our full time and summer staff.

It is the job of the counselors to keep the fun clean and happening, the learning and the laughter in good balance, and to oversee the safety of the participants. Minimum ratios are one staff member to every seven participants. Trips may also include one or two Junior Counselors, who are college students with a history of TFT travel, and one or more Counselors in Training (CIT’s) with limited responsibility. CIT’s are not counted in staff-participant ratios.

Yes, the independent flight fee does still apply. Regardless of when your child's independently purchased flight abroad lands, we will need to arrange for an extra counselor at the airport to meet your child in case your child’s flight is a.) late or b.) arriving at a different terminal.

No – your child is not required to take the group flight path. 95% of our participants do elect to take the group flight for our trips. If your child does not take the group flight, there will be a $100 independent flight fee added to your child’s tuition to cover the cost of an extra counselor at the airport and for the separate transfer of your child and the counselor to the accommodation.

You are welcome to use frequent flier miles to book your child’s ticket on the group flight if there are frequent flier seats available.

Flight costs are never included in the trip tuition. As we have students joining us from all across North America and from around the world, it is impossible for us to consistently price our trips to include flights. All of our trips offer discount chaperoned group flights.

Yes – please pack your belongings in a large travel backpack as opposed to a duffel bag or rolling suitcase. This is for ease of travel, as we will be using trains and busses (and our feet) to get around.

In the backpacking spirit, we’ll be catching trains from Florence all the way to Paris. You’ll learn how to use your RailPass and how to use public transportation systems in general in Europe. Pack light!

The food in each of these three European countries is unique and delicious! Vegetarians will have no issues eating well on the trip. Breakfasts, in the European style, are generally light and consist of toast, pastries, cereal, and fruit. Lunches will generally be sandwiches or something similar, and dinners will be more substantial meals in restaurants or local eateries.

Yes – please pack your belongings in a large travel backpack as opposed to a duffel bag or rolling suitcase. This is for ease of travel, as we will be using trains and busses (and our feet) to get around.

In the backpacking spirit, we’ll be catching trains from Amsterdam all the way to Venice. You’ll learn how to use your RailPass and how to use public transportation systems in general in Europe. Pack light!

The food in each of these four European countries is unique and delicious! Vegetarians will have no issues eating well on the trip. Breakfasts, in the European style, are generally light and consist of toast, pastries, cereal, and fruit. Lunches will generally be sandwiches or something similar, and dinners will be more substantial meals in restaurants or local eateries.

Our counselors tend to stay with group nearly always. Most days we will break up into smaller groups (according to preference of the day’s activities) to give our participants lots of choice and flexibility in their itinerary. We do offer some free time to do some shopping, for example, in defined areas that we are very familiar with.

Our counselors tend to stay with group nearly always. Most days we will break up into smaller groups (according to preference of the day’s activities) to give our participants lots of choice and flexibility in their itinerary. We do offer some free time to do some shopping, for example, in defined areas that we are very familiar with.

Our counselors tend to stay with group nearly always. Most days we will break up into smaller groups (according to preference of the day’s activities) to give our participants lots of choice and flexibility in their itinerary. We do offer some free time to do some shopping, for example, in defined areas that we are very familiar with.

The Trip Leader for every trip is a seasoned teen travel professional who lives or has lived and worked in the destination country. Fluency in the language and culture of the destination is crucial. Our Senior Counselors are experienced, responsible and fun-loving, so our participants enjoy sharing experiences with them. At Travel for Teens we pride ourselves on our rigorous staff application process and the professionalism of our full time and summer staff.

It is the job of the counselors to keep the fun clean and happening, the learning and the laughter in good balance, and to oversee the safety of the participants. Minimum ratios are one staff member to every seven participants. Trips may also include one or two Junior Counselors, who are college students with a history of TFT travel, and one or more Counselors in Training (CIT’s) with limited responsibility. CIT’s are not counted in staff-participant rations.

The counselors on this trip also have experience teaching photography to students and are adept at giving hands on lessons and feedback.

The Trip Leader for every trip is a seasoned teen travel professional who lives or has lived and worked in the destination country. Fluency in the language and culture of the destination is crucial. Our Senior Counselors are experienced, responsible and fun-loving, so our participants enjoy sharing experiences with them. At Travel for Teens we pride ourselves on our rigorous staff application process and the professionalism of our full time and summer staff. It is the job of the counselors to keep the fun clean and happening, the learning and the laughter in good balance, and to oversee the safety of the participants. Minimum ratios are one staff member to every seven participants. Trips may also include one or two Junior Counselors, who are college students with a history of TFT travel, and one or more Counselors in Training (CIT’s) with limited responsibility. CIT’s are not counted in staff-participant rations.

The Trip Leader for every trip is a seasoned teen travel professional who lives or has lived and worked in the destination country. Fluency in the language and culture of the destination is crucial. Our Senior Counselors are experienced, responsible and fun-loving, so our participants enjoy sharing experiences with them. At Travel for Teens we pride ourselves on our rigorous staff application process and the professionalism of our full time and summer staff. It is the job of the counselors to keep the fun clean and happening, the learning and the laughter in good balance, and to oversee the safety of the participants. Minimum ratios are one staff member to every seven participants. Trips may also include one or two Junior Counselors, who are college students with a history of TFT travel, and one or more Counselors in Training (CIT’s) with limited responsibility. CIT’s are not counted in staff-participant rations.

Travel for Teens organizes chaperoned group flights for every trip. You do not have to go on the group flight with us, although there are several advantages to doing so: the group flight is chaperoned by TFT staff, a lot of group bonding happens on the trip over, and we get great group flight prices. Parents are responsible for arranging for participants to get to the group flight airport. Travel for Teens staff is at the airport, greets arriving participants as they walk to baggage claim, and escorts them to where the rest of the group has assembled.

The group flight for the Costa Rica Adventure and Service II trip departs from Miami, Florida and flies direct into and out of San Jose. The group flight price is extremely economical (less than $450 round trip). Please note that for late sign ups (those who sign up within 35 days of the trip’s departure), the group flight cost is not guaranteed.

The food in Costa Rica is delicious! Expect to eat seasoned rice, beans, chicken, steak, tropical fruit and veggies, plantains, and many other foods flavored with unique Caribbean spices! Vegetarians will have no issues eating well on the trip. Also, unlike in Europe where a light breakfast of coffee and toast is the norm, ticos (Costa Ricans) eat big, savory breakfasts—and so will we!

This trip is very full of planned activities, but we are mindful of the risks of over exertion! At each of the locations we visit there will be time to chill out (afternoons and evenings to soak in hot springs in Arenal and Guanacaste for example), as well as a full day on the Pacific beach to enjoy the resort’s many amenities! As on all of our trips, you’ll not be allowed to leave the hotel on your own once the group has returned from the day’s activities and settled in, or allowed to venture out without a counselor. It is only under rare circumstances, however, that a counselor will NOT be available to accompany you in the event you need/would like to leave the hotel for something that’s not on the itinerary.

All of the accommodations on the Costa Rica Adventure and Service trip range from 3-4 stars and are extremely comfortable. In San Jose our hotel is 4 star rated with a pool and Jacuzzi! In Tortuguero, we stay in a beautifully maintained lodge nestled between the Caribbean Sea and a river that snakes through miles of protected rainforest. In Sarapiqui we stay in another very comfortable lodge with a pool surrounded by lush jungle and an onsite bat sanctuary! In Arenal, we stay in a 4 star hotel with a pool, 5 natural hot spring pools with varying degrees of heat that flow into each other, and spectacular views of the Arenal Volcano. In Guanacaste, we stay at yet another beautiful lodge where we’ll do our canopy (zipline) tour, slide down a waterslide that’s carved into a mountainside, and soak in hot springs. Our final weekend we spend in a 3 star resort on the Pacific ocean! The hotel is on triple flag world class white sand beaches and offers a mini golf course, snorkeling, multiple swimming pools, a spa, and more!

None at all! Your Travel for Teens counselors speak Spanish and we will be accompanied by a native Costa Rican guide and driver for virtually the entire trip. If you are learning Spanish, however, there’s no better way to practice than to visit a Spanish speaking country! Our counselors are happy to speak with you in Spanish as well (if you’re feeling shy about speaking to locals)!

Any and all levels are welcome—your classes could serve as an introduction to Spanish or as an opportunity to hone your skills. You will be placed in a class according to your skill level, which is assessed your first day of class. Each day after our community service project, we’ll have lunch and head to our language school for roughly 4 hours of classes, broken up into 50 minute segments. There are a total of 5 days of language classes.

At each of the locations we visit there will be a new community service project which we will work on for roughly 4 hours. In Tortuguero we’ll participate in a beach cleaning activity that will benefit the giant turtles who use the beach to lay their eggs. In Sarapiqui, we’ll participate in a tree planting activity which benefits the Green Macaw. In Arenal, we’ll head to the local “Fortuna Park” and work on whatever needs attention (last year a group put a fresh coat of paint on some old benches). In Guanacaste, we’ll visit a local school to lend a hand to whatever job needs to be done at the time (might be painting, teaching English, organizing soccer matches, etc). Finally, before laying out in the sun on the Pacific coast, we’ll take a boat up a river to a nearby beach and help clean it up.

We’ll be working on a variety of service projects in and around the San Jose area, including helping out at a school in San Jose doing whatever work needs to be done at the time (might be painting, teaching English, organizing soccer matches, etc), volunteering at a retirement home and connecting with the residents, volunteering at an orphanage, helping clean up a local park, and a tree planting activity.

Nope! There are only a few places in Costa Rica where it is recommended travelers get immunized for Malaria. We do not, however, visit those places. For more information, please speak to a physician or check out the World Health Organization’s website www.who.int/en/.

Nope! There are only a few places in Costa Rica where it is recommended travelers get immunized for Malaria and we do not visit any of those places. For more information, please speak to a Physician or check out the World Health Organization’s website www.who.int/en/.

The food in Costa Rica is delicious! Expect to eat seasoned rice, beans, chicken, steak, tropical fruit and veggies, plantains, and many other foods flavored with unique Caribbean spices! Vegetarians will have no issues eating well on the trip. Also, unlike in Europe where a light breakfast of coffee and toast is the norm, ticos (Costa Ricans) eat big, savory breakfasts—and so will we!

This trip is very full of planned activities, but we are mindful of the risks of over exertion! You’ll have nights in San Jose to shop in groups with counselors, go for an evening stroll, or just chill out by the pool at the hotel; in Arenal, you’ll have afternoons and evenings when you’ll get to soak in hot springs; and you’ll have plenty of free time on the Pacific beach to enjoy the resort’s many amenities! As on all of our trips, you’ll not be allowed to leave the hotel on your own once the group has returned from the day’s activities and settled in, or allowed to venture out without a counselor. It is only under rare circumstances, however, that a counselor will NOT be available to accompany you in the event you need/would like to leave the hotel for something that’s not on the itinerary.

All of the accommodations on the Costa Rica Service and Spanish trip range from 3-4 stars and are extremely comfortable. In San Jose, our hotel is 4 star rated and has a pool and Jacuzzi! In Arenal, (first weekend of the trip), we’ll stay in another 4 star hotel with a pool, 5 natural hot spring pools with varying degrees of heat that flow into each other, and spectacular views of the Arenal Volcano. Our final weekend we’ll spend in a 3 star resort hotel on the Pacific ocean! The hotel is on triple flag world class white sand beaches and offers a mini golf course, snorkeling, multiple swimming pools, and more!

Travel for Teens organizes chaperoned group flights for every trip. You do not have to go on the group flight with us, although there are several advantages to doing so: the group flight is chaperoned by TFT staff, a lot of group bonding happens on the trip over, and we get great group flight prices. Parents are responsible for arranging for participants to get to the group flight airport. Travel for Teens staff are at the airport, greet arriving participants as they walk to baggage claim, and escort them to where the rest of the group has assembled.

Our group flight for the Backpacking for Teens II trip departs from Newark, NJ and arrives in Florence, Italy. At the end of the trip, the group flies back to Newark out of Paris, France. Please contact us for details regarding flight cost.

Counselors are always with the group except during time free time to do some shopping, for example, in defined areas that we are very familiar with. If participants are ever shopping by themselves within these defined areas they go in groups and for no more than an hour and 15 minutes. Virtually every day we break into smaller groups to give our participants lots of choice and flexibility in their itinerary.

All of the accommodations on the Backpacking for Teens II trip are safe, clean, and comfortable. In Florence we stay in a hostel inside a Renaissance palace that is literally steps from the Duomo and is traditionally one of the favorite TFT accommodations. In the Cinque Terre we’ll be at a cozy family run hotel with its own private garden, and in Interlaken we will be in backpackers paradise at a super-hip hostel. In Paris we are a short walk from Notre Dame in a converted palace with a beautiful inner courtyard.

The Trip Leader for every trip is a seasoned teen travel professional who lives or has lived and worked in the destination country. Fluency in the language and culture of the destination is crucial. Our Senior Counselors are experienced, responsible and fun-loving, so our participants enjoy sharing experiences with them. At Travel for Teens we pride ourselves on our rigorous staff application process and the professionalism of our full time and summer staff.

It is the job of the counselors to keep the fun clean and happening, the learning and the laughter in good balance, and to oversee the safety of the participants. Minimum ratios are one staff member to every seven participants. Trips may also include one or two Junior Counselors, who are college students with a history of TFT travel, and one or more Counselors in Training (CIT’s) with limited responsibility. CIT’s are not counted in staff-participant ratios.

Travel for Teens organizes chaperoned group flights for every trip. You do not have to go on the group flight with us, although there are several advantages to doing so: the group flight is chaperoned by TFT staff, a lot of group bonding happens on the trip over, and we get great group flight prices. Parents are responsible for arranging for participants to get to the group flight airport. Travel for Teens staff are at the airport, greet arriving participants as they walk to baggage claim, and escort them to where the rest of the group has assembled.

Our group flight for the Backpacking for Teens I trip departs from Newark, NJ and arrives in Amsterdam. At the end of the trip, the group flies back to Newark out of Venice, Italy. Please contact us for details regarding flight cost.

Our days are full of planned activities, but they are not regimented. You’ll have many choices as to what you do and where you go each day, and we will adapt to the unique rhythms of life in each country we visit. As on all of our trips, you’ll not be allowed to leave the hotel on your own once the group has returned from the day’s activities and settled in, or allowed to venture out without a counselor. It is only under rare circumstances, however, that a counselor will NOT be available to accompany you in the event you need/would like to leave the hotel for something that’s not on the itinerary.

All of the accommodations on the Backpacking for Teens I trip are safe, clean, and comfortable. In Amsterdam we stay in a great 3-star hotel steps from the Vondelpark. In Munich we are in a centrally located, clean hotel, while in Switzerland we will stay in a traditional Swiss chalet in the breathtaking Swiss Alps. In Venice we enjoy a perfect location and a great hotel with many rooms opening right onto a beautiful piazza.

The Trip Leader for every trip is a seasoned teen travel professional who lives or has lived and worked in the destination country. Fluency in the language and culture of the destination is crucial. Our Senior Counselors are experienced, responsible and fun-loving, so our participants enjoy sharing experiences with them. At Travel for Teens we pride ourselves on our rigorous staff application process and the professionalism of our full time and summer staff.

It is the job of the counselors to keep the fun clean and happening, the learning and the laughter in good balance, and to oversee the safety of the participants. Minimum ratios are one staff member to every seven participants. Trips may also include one or two Junior Counselors, who are college students with a history of TFT travel, and one or more Counselors in Training (CIT’s) with limited responsibility. CIT’s are not counted in staff-participant ratios.

The food in Thailand offers an incredible opportunity to eat authentically every day. Thai food is a mixture of the Chinese, Indian and Malaysian cuisine. Noodles, meat, vegetables, rice and seafood are offered almost at every meal. There will be opportunities to eat western style food throughout the trip as well as many opportunities to try the local specialties.

On our Thailand Trip, we stay in five different locations. First, in Chiang Mai, we stay at a boarding school in a suburb only 15 minutes from the city. It is the perfect location to get acclimatized to the time difference and weather. One night during our stay in Chiang Mai we will overnight with a hill tribe during our two day service project. Next, on Koh Phi Phi, we stay in Bungalows. In Kanchanburi, we stay right on the river kwai. In Bangkok we stay in a 4 star hotel in the center of the city.

The Trip Leader for every trip is a seasoned teen travel professional who lives or has lived and worked in the destination country. Fluency in the language and culture of the destination is crucial. Our Senior Counselors are experienced, responsible and fun-loving, so our participants enjoy sharing experiences with them. At Travel for Teens we pride ourselves on our rigorous staff application process and the professionalism of our full time and summer staff.

It is the job of the counselors to keep the fun clean and happening, the learning and the laughter in good balance, and to oversee the safety of the participants. Minimum ratios are one staff member to every seven participants. Trips may also include one or two Junior Counselors, who are college students with a history of TFT travel, and one or more Counselors in Training (CIT’s) with limited responsibility. CIT’s are not counted in staff-participant ratios.

Not a word—but if you do, it’s a great opportunity to practice!

Travel for Teens organizes chaperoned group flights for every trip. You do not have to go on the group flight with us, although there are several advantages to doing so: the group flight is chaperoned by TFT staff, a lot of group bonding happens on the trip over, and we get great group flight prices. Parents are responsible for arranging for participants to get to the group flight airport. Travel for Teens staff are at the airport, greet arriving participants as they walk to baggage claim, and escort them to where the rest of the group has assembled.

Our group flight for the Spain & Portugal trip departs from Newark, NJ and arrives in Lisbon. After our time in Lisbon and Galicia, the group flies across Spain to Barcelona. This cost is not included in the tuition but ranges from 100-150 dollars (depending on the date you sign up). The group flies out of Barcelona at the end of the trip. Please contact us for details regarding the group flight cost.

The food in Spain can be a variety of styles—in Andalusia tapas are a very popular cultural specialty. Tapas are appetizer sized dishes that amount to a full meal. Parts of Andalusia also serve delicious Mediterranean dishes—Shwarma and Falafel wraps are ubiquitous in Granada. In Northern Spain, particularly in Galicia, a wide variety of seafood is the region’s specialty. Due to their size and diversity, Barcelona and Madrid are saturated with restaurants serving foods from all over the globe. In every location we visit vegetarian options are available.

Our counselors tend to stay with group nearly always. Every day we will break up into smaller groups to give our participants lots of choice and flexibility in their itinerary. We do offer some free time to do some shopping, for example, in defined areas that we are very familiar with.

Hotels are only in safe areas plus they are clean and set up for supervising groups of kids. This means we do not use large, impersonal hotels on the outskirts of cities. Not only do they not provide the authenticity we seek but when kids are not grouped into a manageable space and there are many other people in the hotel, supervision is more difficult. We do not use hotel chains, instead we primarily stay in small hotels, but do use hostels on some of our trips.

LISBON
Roughly 200 meters from the city’s main square, our hotel in Lisbon is air conditioned, safe, and quite comfortable.

GALICIA
At our next stop in Galicia, we stay in a hotel located just 100 meters from a long sandy beach with a view of Portugal and a restaurant terrace where we eat lunch most afternoons. The hotel also has a tennis court, a pool, a ping pong table, and spacious rooms. In addition, due to the vacationing schedule of Gallegans, we often have the hotel almost entirely to ourselves!

BARCELONA
At our final stop of Barcelona, we stay in a clean, safe, comfortable hostel in the Gothic quarter. The famous Rambla Avenue is just steps away!

The Trip Leader for every trip is a seasoned teen travel professional who lives or has lived and worked in the destination country. Fluency in the language and culture of the destination is crucial. Our Senior Counselors are experienced, responsible and fun-loving, so our participants enjoy sharing experiences with them. At Travel for Teens we pride ourselves on our rigorous staff application process and the professionalism of our full time and summer staff.

It is the job of the counselors to keep the fun clean and happening, the learning and the laughter in good balance, and to oversee the safety of the participants. Minimum ratios are one staff member to every seven participants. Trips may also include one or two Junior Counselors, who are college students with a history of TFT travel, and one or more Counselors in Training (CIT’s) with limited responsibility. CIT’s are not counted in staff-participant rations.

We only visit and stay in the safest places and hotels in South Africa. We have carefully avoided any areas which are prone to crime. Safety is our number one priority at all times.

Participants will be able to see all of the Big 5 from a safe distance. On every safari/game drive, there will be guides in order to keep participants safe. Outside of the game parks, there is almost no chance of encountering any dangerous animals.

Participants will need to bring a pair of work gloves as well as a set of clothes that can get paint on them. All tools and materials will be provided to participants on site.

Travel for Teens organizes chaperoned group flights for every trip. You do not have to go on the group flight with us, although there are several advantages to doing so: the group flight is chaperoned by TFT staff, a lot of group bonding happens on the trip over, and we get great group flight prices. Parents are responsible for arranging for participants to get to the group flight airport. Travel for Teens staff are at the airport, greet arriving participants as they walk to baggage claim, and escort them to where the rest of the group has assembled.

Our group flight to South Africa departs from Washington Dulles (IAD) and arrives in Johannesburg (JNB) then we change planes en route to Cape Town (CPT). On the return we fly from Johannesburg (JNB) back to IAD. Please contact us for details regarding flight cost. Note – on the return the flight departs South Africa on July 21st and lands the morning of July 22nd. This means you can combine this trip with any trip in Europe and not miss a day!

The food in South Africa is influenced heavily from the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. South Africa attracts people from all over the world so there is a wide range of cuisine available. We will have the chance to enjoy a few ‘traditional’ South African meals in a buffet style so that participants can try a lot of different local foods found nowhere else but here.

While in South Africa, students will have free time at the accommodations. There will be a few occasions where we will allow students to go shopping in certain safe areas of Cape Town and some rural markets. Students will not be able to leave the accommodations without one of our staff members. Our accommodations outside East London and in Kruger National Park will permit a comfortable amount of free time in between the service projects and between game drives. Our time in Johannesburg and Cape Town will be fairly regimented to maximize the activities we can enjoy during our time.

Our hotels and accommodations are specifically chosen to be in safe areas and to be generally well-suited to facilitating group supervision. This means we do not use large, impersonal hotels on the outskirts of cities. We stay away from large hotel chains, preferring to select small, family run places where we establish personal relationships with the owners.

We’ll start our trip in Cape Town at a locally owned 3 star hotel. Next during our service project, we will be staying in bungalows on a bluff overlooking a bay near Cinsta, outside East London on the Wild Coast. We will be staying in modern log cabins near Kruger National park for our game drive days and Last we will be staying in a 4 star hotel outside Pretoria for our last night.

The Trip Leader for every trip is a seasoned teen travel professional who lives or has lived and worked in the destination country. Fluency in the language and culture of the destination is crucial. Our Senior Counselors are experienced, responsible and fun-loving, so our participants enjoy sharing experiences with them. At Travel for Teens we pride ourselves on our rigorous staff application process and the professionalism of our full time and summer staff.

It is the job of the counselors to keep the fun clean and happening, the learning and the laughter in good balance, and to oversee the safety of the participants. Minimum ratios are one staff member to every seven participants. Trips may also include one or two Junior Counselors, who are college students with a history of TFT travel, and one or more Counselors in Training (CIT’s) with limited responsibility. CIT’s are not counted in staff-participant ratios.

No, you do not need to speak any Italian!

Yes – In fact, we’ll be living and working with a Sicilian family who are the project managers. They are quite possibly the nicest, most generous and open family in all of Italy, and they welcome us with open arms. Their four children and their cousins and friends will also likely be around to work, cook and eat with us. This gives us a great opportunity to have an informal cultural exchange, trading words and games in Italian and English.

Please see the description of the project on our website: http://www.travelforteens.com/Sicily Community Service/Overview. You will receive a certificate for 40 hours of service work. We’ll work hard, get dirty, and have lots of fun!

Yes. All participants must bring sturdy shoes to work in (hiking boots or any thick rubber soled shoes will do). You will also need a pair of work gloves. Please bring several changes of clothes that can (and will!) get dirty.

A re-usable water bottle (i.e. Nalgene) and sunscreen are essential.

Travel for Teens organizes chaperoned group flights for every trip. You do not have to go on the group flight with us, although there are several advantages to doing so: the group flight is chaperoned by TFT staff, a lot of group bonding happens on the trip over, and we get great group flight prices. Parents are responsible for arranging for participants to get to the group flight airport. Travel for Teens staff are at the airport, greet arriving participants as they walk to baggage claim, and escort them to where the rest of the group has assembled.

Our group flight to Italy flies into and out of Catania from Newark, NJ. Please contact us for details regarding flight cost.

Sicilian food is made with fresh, local ingredients. We’ll be eating lots of fresh vegetables that were grown in nearby gardens, fruit right off the trees, local cheeses and bread, and delicious home-made pastas.

Every day after lunch we’ll have a few hours of free time to relax during the hottest part of the day. After dinner and dinner clean-up, everyone is free to hang out and enjoy the evening.

We are staying in a country estate in the hills outside the city of Catania. The house is fully equipped with male/female facilities, a full kitchen, a living area, and bedrooms. We also have a wonderful terrace where we spend time hanging out in the evenings. The estate is surrounded on all sides by olive groves, vineyards, and fruit trees – and Mt. Etna provides the majestic backdrop. We will be living with the Sicilian family who are the project managers of the community service project that we are working on, and we have the good fortune to cook our meals with them every day, picking up some great pointers on Italian cooking.

The Trip Leader for every trip is a seasoned teen travel professional who lives or has lived and worked in the destination country. Fluency in the language and culture of the destination is crucial. Our Senior Counselors are experienced, responsible and fun-loving, so our participants enjoy sharing experiences with them. At Travel for Teens we pride ourselves on our rigorous staff application process and the professionalism of our full time and summer staff.

It is the job of the counselors to keep the fun clean and happening, the learning and the laughter in good balance, and to oversee the safety of the participants. Minimum ratios are one staff member to every seven participants. Trips may also include one or two Junior Counselors, who are college students with a history of TFT travel, and one or more Counselors in Training (CIT’s) with limited responsibility. CIT’s are not counted in staff-participant ratios.

Nope! All materials and text books are provided and included in the tuition. We recommend students buy a basic notebook we’ve arrived in Malaga to keep a vocab and phrase list. It is not mandatory, however.

Only if you want to! We certainly encourage it, but do not insist.

Our language school is part of one of the largest accredited organizations of schools that has been teaching Spanish to foreign students for 35 years throughout Spain. On your first day of class you’ll take a placement level test which will be used to determine who you will share a class with. Group size per classroom is a maximum of 10, a mixture of adolescent students at your level from all over the world. The school is just a few blocks from the beach and several of the classrooms are actually outside, next to the pool (in Malaga)! The day is broken into 4 separate 50 minute lessons (beginning at 9:00am) with 10-15 minute breaks in between. You do not need to have taken any Spanish to go on this trip—you just have to be willing to learn!

The food in Spain can be a variety of styles—in Andalusia tapas are a very popular cultural specialty. Tapas are appetizer sized dishes that amount to a full meal. Parts of Andalusia also serve delicious Mediterranean dishes—Shwarma and Falafel wraps are ubiquitous in Granada. In Northern Spain, particularly in Galicia, a wide variety of seafood is the region’s specialty. Due to their size and diversity, Barcelona and Madrid are saturated with restaurants serving foods from all over the globe. In every location we visit vegetarian options are available.

Our counselors tend to stay with the group nearly always. Every day we will break up into smaller groups to give our participants lots of choice and flexibility in their itinerary. We do offer some free time to do some shopping, for example, in defined areas that we are very familiar with.

Malaga and Granada are both relatively small cities, and very safe. Once the group has learned it’s way around and is familiar with the area, participants will be permitted to shop for 45 minutes to an hour in groups of 3 and up within a defined area with counselors posted in different spots (e.g. a café). Often times, however, counselors will shop with the kids.

The Trip Leader for every trip is a seasoned teen travel professional who lives or has lived and worked in the destination country. Fluency in the language and culture of the destination is crucial. Our Senior Counselors are experienced, responsible and fun-loving, so our participants enjoy sharing experiences with them. At Travel for Teens we pride ourselves on our rigorous staff application process and the professionalism of our full time and summer staff.

It is the job of the counselors to keep the fun clean and happening, the learning and the laughter in good balance, and to oversee the safety of the participants. Minimum ratios are one staff member to every seven participants. Trips may also include one or two Junior Counselors, who are college students with a history of TFT travel, and one or more Counselors in Training (CIT’s) with limited responsibility. CIT’s are not counted in staff-participant rations.

Travel for Teens organizes chaperoned group flights for every trip. You do not have to go on the group flight with us, although there are several advantages to doing so: the group flight is chaperoned by TFT staff, a lot of group bonding happens on the trip over, and we get great group flight prices. Parents are responsible for arranging for participants to get to the group flight airport. Travel for Teens staff are at the airport, greet arriving participants as they walk to baggage claim, and escort them to where the rest of the group has assembled.

Our group flight for the Madrid & the South of Spain trip departs from Newark, NJ and arrives in Madrid. The group flight at the end of the trip flies out of Lisbon, Portugal. Please contact us for details regarding flight cost.

The food in Spain can be a variety of styles—in Andalusia tapas are a very popular cultural specialty. Tapas are appetizer sized dishes that amount to a full meal. Parts of Andalusia also serve delicious Mediterranean dishes and Shwarma and Falafel wraps are ubiquitous in Granada. In Northern Spain, particularly in Galicia, a wide variety of seafood is the region’s specialty. Due to their size and diversity, Barcelona and Madrid are saturated with restaurants serving foods from all over the globe. In every location we visit vegetarian options are available.

Our counselors tend to stay with group nearly always. Every day we will break up into smaller groups to give our participants lots of choice and flexibility in their itinerary. We do offer some free time to do some shopping, for example, in defined areas that we are very familiar with.

Hotels are only in safe areas plus they are clean and set up for supervising groups of kids. This means we do not use large, impersonal hotels on the outskirts of cities. Not only do they not provide the authenticity we seek but when kids are not grouped into a manageable space and there are many other people in the hotel, supervision is more difficult. We do not use hotel chains, instead we primarily stay in small hotels, but do use hostels on some of our trips.

MADRID
In Madrid we stay in a hotel just steps from perhaps THE most central location in the entire city: la Plaza de la Puerta del Sol, the very heart of Madrid and in some respects all of Spain! The hotel was recently renovated and boasts gleaming marble bathrooms, clean comfortable beds and powerful air conditioning.

GRANADA
At our next stop, we stay in a charming hostel which is also very centrally located (only a few blocks from the city’s main Cathedral), safe and comfortable—attached is a full massage and spa parlor for anyone interested!

SEVILLE
At our final stop in beautiful Seville we stay in a hotel a few blocks from the Guadalquivir River, the bullring, and just a five minute walk from the famous Catedral de Sevilla, the 3rd largest cathedral in the world!

The Trip Leader for every trip is a seasoned teen travel professional who lives or has lived and worked in the destination country. Fluency in the language and culture of the destination is crucial. Our Senior Counselors are experienced, responsible and fun-loving, so our participants enjoy sharing experiences with them. At Travel for Teens we pride ourselves on our rigorous staff application process and the professionalism of our full time and summer staff.

It is the job of the counselors to keep the fun clean and happening, the learning and the laughter in good balance, and to oversee the safety of the participants. Minimum ratios are one staff member to every seven participants. Trips may also include one or two Junior Counselors, who are college students with a history of TFT travel, and one or more Counselors in Training (CIT’s) with limited responsibility. CIT’s are not counted in staff-participant rations.

None! The good news is everyone in London and Scotland will understand what you’re saying. The bad news is that you might not understand everything they’re saying. Be prepared to learn new sayings and slang from London and give your Scots-English a shot when you’re in Edinburgh. You’ll be surprised how much you don’t know about English!

The food in Europe can be a variety of styles—Breakfast usually consists of a croissant and coffee. Sometimes meats and cheeses are included. Lunch will be a sandwich style baguette and dinners are taken relatively late and long. Be prepared to try something new and to savor the care and appreciation that is taken into preparing European cuisine.

Our counselors tend to stay with the group nearly always. Every day we will break up into smaller groups to give our participants lots of choice and flexibility in their itinerary. We do offer some free time to do some shopping, for example, in defined areas that we are very familiar with.

London is a big city, but the city center is safe and access to the tube makes it very convenient. Once the group has learned it’s way around and is familiar with the area, participants will be permitted to shop for 45 minutes to an hour in groups of 3 and up within a defined area with counselors posted in different spots (e.g. a café). Often times, however, counselors will shop with the kids.

Edinburgh is a small city and is extremely easy to navigate as well. We will travel everywhere by foot and learn all about the grass market, old town, the royal mile, and new town.

Hotels are only in safe areas plus they are clean and set up for supervising groups of kids. This means we do not use large, impersonal hotels on the outskirts of cities. Not only do they not provide the authenticity we seek but when kids are not grouped into a manageable space and there are many other people in the hotel, supervision is more difficult. We do not use hotel chains; instead we primarily stay in small hotels, but do use hostels on some of our trips.

In London, the group stays in a comfortable, centrally located hotel close to all the attractions and major tube lines in London. In Edinburgh, we stay in a charming hostel also centrally located and just down the street from the famous “Royal Mile.”

The Trip Leader for every trip is a seasoned teen travel professional who lives or has lived and worked in the destination country. Fluency in the language and culture of the destination is crucial. Our Senior Counselors are experienced, responsible and fun-loving, so our participants enjoy sharing experiences with them. At Travel for Teens we pride ourselves on our rigorous staff application process and the professionalism of our full time and summer staff.

It is the job of the counselors to keep the fun clean and happening, the learning and the laughter in good balance, and to oversee the safety of the participants. Minimum ratios are one staff member to every seven participants. Trips may also include one or two Junior Counselors, who are college students with a history of TFT travel, and one or more Counselors in Training (CIT’s) with limited responsibility. CIT’s are not counted in staff-participant ratios.

Necessary Gear:

• Digital Camera – either compact or dSLR (digital single lens reflex – the big cameras with interchangeable lenses)
  Compact digital cameras must have manual capability (ability to adjust ISO, exposure, shutter speed, aperture). Please note that we will only be working with digital.
• Charger, extra batteries, and download cable for your camera
  Don’t forget a European converter so you can plug your charger into the European sockets, which are different from the ones in the US. You will also need the cable that came with your camera to download your photos to a portable computer.
• Camera bag for camera, lenses, and accessories
  Choose the most comfortable bag for you, as you will be carrying your camera a lot! Camera backpacks are often more comfortable than shoulder bags.
• At least two memory cards for a total of 8GB of memory space

Optional Gear:

• Optional: Extra lenses for a dSLR
  It’s fine to bring only one lens. If you do bring several, we suggest you bring a standard zoom lens and a fixed 50mm, 85mm, or 100mm lens (an 85 or 100mm lens is the best for portraiture). Do not bring more than 3 lenses.
• Portable computer with enough free disk space to download your photos and installed photo editing software such as Lightroom, Aperture, or Photoshop.
  This is the one TFT trip that allows you to bring a portable computer. If you bring a computer, please make sure you have enough disk space, a USB jump drive, or blank DVD’s where you can save backups of your photos as we go. Please note that a computer is NOT necessary - If you don’t have a computer our counselors will gladly download your photos for you and you can look on as we do photo editing demos.

Please note that Travel for Teens, LLC does not assume any responsibility for your personal items or equipment in the event of damage or loss. You are responsible for purchasing travel insurance to cover your expensive items such as your camera, lenses, and computer.

Please contact Trip Director Nic Emery at nic@travelforteens.com with any questions regarding the trip or with the equipment list.

Travel for Teens organizes chaperoned group flights for every trip. You do not have to go on the group flight with us, although there are several advantages to doing so: the group flight is chaperoned by TFT staff, a lot of group bonding happens on the trip over, and we get great group flight prices. Parents are responsible for arranging for participants to get to the group flight airport. Travel for Teens staff is at the airport, greets arriving participants as they walk to baggage claim, and escorts them to where the rest of the group has assembled.

Our group flight to Italy departs from Newark, NJ and arrives in Pisa, and on the return we’ll be departing from Venice and arriving in Newark. Please contact us for details regarding flight cost.

Italian cuisine is all about fresh, local ingredients. We’ll be eating Italian pizza, pasta, meats and vegetables. We also love to do picnics al fresco in stunning places like Murano and Pisa.

Our counselors tend to stay with group nearly always. Every day we will break up into smaller groups to give our participants lots of choice and flexibility in their itinerary. We do offer some free time to do some shopping, for example, in defined areas that we are very familiar with.

We will inevitably have free time to walk around and practice our photography. One example of this would be in the Campo de’ Fiori in Rome, where there is an outdoor market. We will also have free time to go shopping, etc, in Florence and Venice.

Our hotels are specifically chosen to be in safe areas and to be generally well-suited to facilitating group supervision. This means we do not use large, impersonal hotels on the outskirts of cities. We stay away from large hotel chains, preferring to select small, family run places where we establish personal relationships with the owners. We do use hostels on some of our trips, only when they are exceptionally clean, safe, and have some other especially favorable characteristic (i.e. the new hostel in Florence which is hip, modern, and 30 seconds from the Duomo).

In Rome we’ll be staying at an elegant hotel near the central Piazza Santa Maria Maggiore, while in Florence we’ll be staying at a brand new hostel that is literally a 30-second walk from the Duomo. We will have our own private rooms at the hostel. In Venice we’re staying at a great hotel that we go back to every year, a short walk from the train station.

The Trip Leader for every trip is a seasoned teen travel professional who lives or has lived and worked in the destination country. Fluency in the language and culture of the destination is crucial. Our Senior Counselors are experienced, responsible and fun-loving, so our participants enjoy sharing experiences with them. At Travel for Teens we pride ourselves on our rigorous staff application process and the professionalism of our full time and summer staff.

It is the job of the counselors to keep the fun clean and happening, the learning and the laughter in good balance, and to oversee the safety of the participants. Minimum ratios are one staff member to every seven participants. Trips may also include one or two Junior Counselors, who are college students with a history of TFT travel, and one or more Counselors in Training (CIT’s) with limited responsibility. CIT’s are not counted in staff-participant ratios.

In addition to our regular Travel for Teens counselors, the Italy Photography trip features our professional photographer (he hails from Florence and speaks perfect English), who is responsible for running the photo workshop portion of the trip.

Our group will catch the overnight ferry from Igoumenitsa, Greece to Brindisi, Italy. We’ll have private four-person cabins on the ferry.

Travel for Teens organizes chaperoned group flights for every trip. You do not have to go on the group flight with us, although there are several advantages to doing so: the group flight is chaperoned by TFT staff, a lot of group bonding happens on the trip over, and we get great group flight prices. Parents are responsible for arranging for participants to get to the group flight airport. Travel for Teens staff are at the airport, greet arriving participants as they walk to baggage claim, and escort them to where the rest of the group has assembled.

Our group flight to Greece & Italy departs from Newark, NJ and arrives in Athens. The return flight departs from Rome and arrives in Newark, NJ. Please contact us for details regarding flight cost.

Greek and Italian cuisine is quite different, but share some similarities of the Mediterranean diet: fresh, local ingredients are the name of the game. You’ll encounter grilled meats, fish, and fresh vegetables. In Greece you’ll experience fresh vegetables, amazing chicken, lamb and seafood as well as the delicious gyro & famous dessert baklava, while in Italy you’ll dine on mouth-watering pizza, pasta and other local specialties.

Our counselors tend to stay with group nearly always. Every day we will break up into smaller groups to give our participants lots of choice and flexibility in their itinerary. We do offer some free time to do some shopping, for example, in defined areas that we are very familiar with.

Participants will enjoy some shopping time in the characteristic Athens neighborhoods, while on the Ionian island of Lefkada the group will have a bit more freedom. On Lefkada we’ll be staying in the small beachside town of Vassiliki, a fishing village which is also famous for its world-class windsurfing. In Rome we tend to stay together as a group or split into smaller groups when we have several options, including shopping on the Via del Corso.

Our hotels are specifically chosen to be in safe areas and to be generally well-suited to facilitating group supervision. This means we do not use large, impersonal hotels on the outskirts of cities. We stay away from large hotel chains, preferring to select small, family run places where we establish personal relationships with the owners. We do use hostels on some of our trips, only when they are exceptionally clean, safe, and have some other especially favorable characteristic (i.e. the new hostel in Florence which is hip, modern, and 30 seconds from the Duomo).

In Athens we stay at a 3 star hotel only a five minute walk in the center of Athens near Syntagma. Travelers average between 2-4 per room.
On Lefkada, we stay in the capital of Vasiliki in a 3 star hotel only minutes from the beach.
In Rome we’ll be staying at an elegant hotel near the central Piazza Santa Maria Maggiore, a short walk from both the Coliseum and the main train station.

The Trip Leader for every trip is a seasoned teen travel professional who lives or has lived and worked in the destination country. Fluency in the language and culture of the destination is crucial. Our Senior Counselors are experienced, responsible and fun-loving, so our participants enjoy sharing experiences with them. At Travel for Teens we pride ourselves on our rigorous staff application process and the professionalism of our full time and summer staff.

It is the job of the counselors to keep the fun clean and happening, the learning and the laughter in good balance, and to oversee the safety of the participants. Minimum ratios are one staff member to every seven participants. Trips may also include one or two Junior Counselors, who are college students with a history of TFT travel, and one or more Counselors in Training (CIT’s) with limited responsibility. CIT’s are not counted in staff-participant ratios.

In June & July the temperatures in Athens average between 90-100 during the day and 75-85 at night. On the islands it is a bit cooler in the evening however the daytime temperatures still are very high.

Travel for Teens organizes chaperoned group flights for every trip. You do not have to go on the group flight with us, although there are several advantages to doing so: the group flight is chaperoned by TFT staff, a lot of group bonding happens on the trip over, and we get great group flight prices. Parents are responsible for arranging for participants to get to the group flight airport. Travel for Teens staff are at the airport, greet arriving participants as they walk to baggage claim, and escort them to where the rest of the group has assembled.

Our group flight to Greece departs from Newark, NJ and arrives in Athens. Please contact us for details regarding flight cost.

The food in Greece is made from fresh, delicious and local ingredients. We’ll enjoy the famous grilled meats and have the option to try the incredible seafood. Vegetarian options are plentiful too. Of course, we’ll also try out the famous Greek gyros & the world renowned baklava!

Our counselors tend to stay with group nearly always. Every day we will break up into smaller groups to give our participants lots of choice and flexibility in their itinerary. We do offer some free time to do some shopping, for example, in defined areas that we are very familiar with.

When we are on Santorini & Paros, there will be a little bit of free time to shop and explore the capital cities.

Our hotels are specifically chosen to be in safe areas and to be generally well-suited to facilitating group supervision. This means we do not use large, impersonal hotels on the outskirts of cities. We stay away from large hotel chains, preferring to select small, family run places where we establish personal relationships with the owners. All of our accommodations are ensuite, with air conditioning and 24 hour security.

In Athens we stay at a 3 star hotel only a five minute walk in the center of Athens near Syntagma. Travelers average between 2-4 per room.
On Paros we stay in the capital of Parokia in a 2 ½ star hotel .5 KM’s from the port and 2 minutes from the beach.
On Santorini, we stay in the capital of Fira in Villas looking out on the ocean.
On the islands, both of our hotels have pools.

The Trip Leader for every trip is a seasoned teen travel professional who lives or has lived and worked in the destination country. Fluency in the language and culture of the destination is crucial. Our Senior Counselors are experienced, responsible and fun-loving, so our participants enjoy sharing experiences with them. At Travel for Teens we pride ourselves on our rigorous staff application process and the professionalism of our full time and summer staff.

It is the job of the counselors to keep the fun clean and happening, the learning and the laughter in good balance, and to oversee the safety of the participants. Minimum ratios are one staff member to every seven participants. Trips may also include one or two Junior Counselors, who are college students with a history of TFT travel, and one or more Counselors in Training (CIT’s) with limited responsibility. CIT’s are not counted in staff-participant ratios.

No, scuba diving is totally optional. If you have never dove before, you will have the opportunity to try diving doing something called an “intro dive”. If you are already certified, you can dive with the dive masters.

Travel for Teens organizes chaperoned group flights for every trip. You do not have to go on the group flight with us, although there are several advantages to doing so: the group flight is chaperoned by TFT staff, a lot of group bonding happens on the trip over, and we get great group flight prices. Parents are responsible for arranging for participants to get to the group flight airport. Travel for Teens staff are at the airport, greet arriving participants as they walk to baggage claim, and escort them to where the rest of the group has assembled.

Our group flight to Fiji flies into and out of Nadi, Fiji from Los Angeles International Airport. Please contact us for details regarding flight cost.

The food on the Islands favors the style of the locals who cook their food all together over one fire pit. We will sample the local cuisine several times during the trip. The Fijian cuisine consists of food from the Natives and the Indians. Many of the foods prepared by the Natives and Indians share the same ingredients found on the island. These include taro, breadfruit, sweet potatoes, cassava, coconut, and fish. Fresh fruits and vegetables are plentiful on the islands.

While on the Yasawa and Mamanuca islands, our days will be structured to give choices during the morning, afternoon and evening interspersed with free time to relax on the beach or walk through the rain forests. There will be some time for souvenir shopping on the main land.

Our hotels are specifically chosen to be in safe areas and to be generally well-suited to facilitating group supervision. This means we do not use large, impersonal hotels on the outskirts of cities. We stay away from large hotel chains, preferring to select small, family run places where we establish personal relationships with the owners. We do use hostels on some of our trips, only when they are exceptionally clean, safe, and have some other especially favorable characteristic (i.e. the new hostel in Florence which is hip, modern, and 30 seconds from the Duomo).

We will be using 4 different accommodations on 3 different Yasawa Islands and then on the mainland outside of Nadi. We will be staying in top rated hostels and hotels – between 2-3 people per room.

The Trip Leader for every trip is a seasoned teen travel professional who lives or has lived and worked in the destination country. Fluency in the language and culture of the destination is crucial. Our Senior Counselors are experienced, responsible and fun-loving, so our participants enjoy sharing experiences with them. At Travel for Teens we pride ourselves on our rigorous staff application process and the professionalism of our full time and summer staff.

It is the job of the counselors to keep the fun clean and happening, the learning and the laughter in good balance, and to oversee the safety of the participants. Minimum ratios are one staff member to every seven participants. Trips may also include one or two Junior Counselors, who are college students with a history of TFT travel, and one or more Counselors in Training (CIT’s) with limited responsibility. CIT’s are not counted in staff-participant ratios.

Travel for Teens organizes chaperoned group flights for every trip. You do not have to go on the group flight with us, although there are several advantages to doing so: the group flight is chaperoned by TFT staff, a lot of group bonding happens on the trip over, and we get great group flight prices. Parents are responsible for arranging for participants to get to the group flight airport. Travel for Teens staff are at the airport, greet arriving participants as they walk to baggage claim, and escort them to where the rest of the group has assembled.

Our group flight to Eastern Europe departs from Newark, NJ and arrives in Budapest. Our return flight departs from Prague and arrives back at Newark. Please contact us for details regarding flight cost.

The food in Eastern Europe offers a glimpse into every day life for the locals in all three places. The focus of the food is heavy towards roasted meats & chicken with soup, bread and wonderful creative vegetarian options. You will have the option to eat the best Hungarian goulash, Polish sausage and Czech street pastries.

Counselors are always with the group except during time free time to do some shopping, for example, in defined areas that we are very familiar with. If participants are ever shopping by themselves within these defined areas they go in groups and for no more than an hour and 15 minutes.
Virtually every day we break into smaller groups to give our participants lots of choice and flexibility in their itinerary.

On this trip the group will have some free time to explore some of the safe pedestrian areas of Budapest, Krakow and Prague. A counselor will always be near by when participants have free time in each city.

Our hotels are specifically chosen to be in safe areas and to be generally well-suited to facilitating group supervision. This means we do not use large, impersonal hotels on the outskirts of cities. We stay away from large hotel chains, preferring to select small, family run places where we establish personal relationships with the owners.

The Trip Leader for every trip is a seasoned teen travel professional who lives or has lived and worked in the destination country. Fluency in the language and culture of the destination is crucial. Our Senior Counselors are experienced, responsible and fun-loving, so our participants enjoy sharing experiences with them. At Travel for Teens we pride ourselves on our rigorous staff application process and the professionalism of our full time and summer staff.

It is the job of the counselors to keep the fun clean and happening, the learning and the laughter in good balance, and to oversee the safety of the participants. Minimum ratios are one staff member to every seven participants. Trips may also include one or two Junior Counselors, who are college students with a history of TFT travel, and one or more Counselors in Training (CIT’s) with limited responsibility. CIT’s are not counted in staff-participant ratios.

Travel for Teens organizes chaperoned group flights for every trip. You do not have to go on the group flight with us, although there are several advantages to doing so: the group flight is chaperoned by TFT staff, a lot of group bonding happens on the trip over, and we get great group flight prices. Parents are responsible for arranging for participants to get to the group flight airport. Travel for Teens staff are at the airport, greet arriving participants as they walk to baggage claim, and escort them to where the rest of the group has assembled.

Our group flight to Europe departs from Newark, NJ and arrives in Barcelona. Our return flight departs Paris and arrives at Newark. Please contact us for details regarding flight cost.

In a word – delicious! In France, we’ll enjoy classic French café fare, including the world-famous croissants, French bread, and a classic fondue dinner.

Italian food is all about fresh, simple ingredients. We’ll sample the best of Italian pizza and pasta on our swing through Italy.

The food in Spain can be a variety of styles—in Andalusia tapas are a very popular cultural specialty. Tapas are small dishes that accumulate to a full meals served in multiple appetizer sized plates.

We also love to have picnics al fresco, and do this whenever possible, which is a great way to taste some local food sitting out in the fresh air.

Our counselors tend to stay with group nearly always. Every day we will break up into smaller groups to give our participants lots of choice and flexibility in their itinerary. We do offer some free time to do some shopping, for example, in defined areas that we are very familiar with.

We will have the chance to go clubbing on this trip in Paris as well as in Florence, where of course our counselors will be present at all times.

Our hotels are specifically chosen to be in safe areas and to be generally well-suited to facilitating group supervision. This means we do not use large, impersonal hotels on the outskirts of cities. We stay away from large hotel chains, preferring to select smaller, family run places where we establish personal relationships with the owners. 

In Barcelona we stay in the heart of the Gothic Quarter in the most centrally located area of the city and just a block from La Rambla. In Rome we stay at an elegant hotel near the central Piazza Santa Maria Maggiore, close to both the Coliseum and the main train station. In Florence we stay in a central hotel only 5 minutes away from the Duomo. Finally, in Paris, our accommodation is located just moments from some of the best sights in the City of Light. We'll be near the famous Montparnasse neighborhood on the Left Bank, the vibrant intellectual and artistic center of Paris in the 1920's. 

The Trip Leader for every trip is a seasoned teen travel professional who lives or has lived and worked in the destination country. Fluency in the language and culture of the destination is crucial. Our Senior Counselors are experienced, responsible and fun-loving, so our participants enjoy sharing experiences with them. At Travel for Teens we pride ourselves on our rigorous staff application process and the professionalism of our full time and summer staff.

It is the job of the counselors to keep the fun clean and happening, the learning and the laughter in good balance, and to oversee the safety of the participants. Minimum ratios are one staff member to every seven participants. Trips may also include one or two Junior Counselors, who are college students with a history of TFT travel, and one or more Counselors in Training (CIT’s) with limited responsibility. CIT’s are not counted in staff-participant ratios.

Travel for Teens organizes chaperoned group flights for every trip. You do not have to go on the group flight with us, although there are several advantages to doing so: the group flight is chaperoned by TFT staff, a lot of group bonding happens on the trip over, and we get great group flight prices. Parents are responsible for arranging for participants to get to the group flight airport. Travel for Teens staff are at the airport, greet arriving participants as they walk to baggage claim, and escort them to where the rest of the group has assembled.

Our group flight to Italy departs from Newark, NJ and arrives in Rome. The return flight departs from Venice and arrives back in Newark. Please contact us for details regarding flight cost.

Italian cuisine is all about fresh, local ingredients. We’ll be eating Italian pizza, pasta, meats and vegetables. We also love to do picnics al fresco in stunning places like Murano and Pisa. One great thing about this trip is that we get to experience first-hand the regional differences in Italian cooking – we’ll eat pizza down south in Rome while in the Cinque Terre we’ll eat the local pesto and Tuscany we’ll munch on traditional Tuscan country food.

Our counselors tend to stay with group nearly always. Every day we will break up into smaller groups to give our participants lots of choice and flexibility in their itinerary. We do offer some free time to do some shopping, for example, in defined areas that we are very familiar with.

In Rome and Venice we tend to stay together more as a group, while in Tuscany and in the Cinque Terre our group will have a bit more freedom. In Tuscany we’re staying at a rambling country estate, and participants will have the chance to wander and explore the property.

Monterosso, the small fishing village that we stay in during the Cinque Terre portion of the trip, is classic small-town Italy. Our group will have a fair amount of freedom to roam the small center of town during the time that we are not involved with working on our service project.

Our hotels are specifically chosen to be in safe areas and to be generally well-suited to facilitating group supervision. This means we do not use large, impersonal hotels on the outskirts of cities. We stay away from large hotel chains, preferring to select small, family run places where we establish personal relationships with the owners. We do use hostels on some of our trips, only when they are exceptionally clean, safe, and have some other especially favorable characteristic (i.e. the new hostel in Florence which is hip, modern, and 30 seconds from the Duomo).

In Rome we’ll be staying at an elegant hotel near the central Piazza Santa Maria Maggiore, close to both the Coliseum and the main train station. In Tuscany we have the pleasure of staying at a beautiful estate in the rolling hills of the countryside. In the Cinque Terre we will be staying in a fantastic family-run hotel that we return to every year. We have a great relationship with the owner, who treats us like family every time we return. In Venice we’re staying at a great hotel that we go back to every year, a short walk from the train station.

The Trip Leader for every trip is a seasoned teen travel professional who lives or has lived and worked in the destination country. Fluency in the language and culture of the destination is crucial. Our Senior Counselors are experienced, responsible and fun-loving, so our participants enjoy sharing experiences with them. At Travel for Teens we pride ourselves on our rigorous staff application process and the professionalism of our full time and summer staff.

It is the job of the counselors to keep the fun clean and happening, the learning and the laughter in good balance, and to oversee the safety of the participants. Minimum ratios are one staff member to every seven participants. Trips may also include one or two Junior Counselors, who are college students with a history of TFT travel, and one or more Counselors in Training (CIT’s) with limited responsibility. CIT’s are not counted in staff-participant ratios.

Yes – please be sure to bring real hiking shoes or boots, as we will be hiking on uneven and steep trails in the Cinque Terre. Also, bring a pair of work gloves that you will wear while working on the trails. Please don’t forget a re-usable water bottle (i.e. Nalgene) and sunscreen. And bring your bathing suit!

Travel for Teens organizes chaperoned group flights for every trip. You do not have to go on the group flight with us, although there are several advantages to doing so: the group flight is chaperoned by TFT staff, a lot of group bonding happens on the trip over, and we get great group flight prices. Parents are responsible for arranging for participants to get to the group flight airport. Travel for Teens staff is at the airport, greets arriving participants as they walk to baggage claim, and escorts them to where the rest of the group has assembled.

Our group flight to Italy departs from Newark, NJ and arrives in Florence. We will then return to the USA from Naples. Please contact us for details regarding flight cost.

Italian cuisine is all about fresh, local ingredients. We’ll be eating Italian pizza, pasta, meats and vegetables. We also love to do picnics al fresco in stunning places like Murano and Pisa.

Our counselors tend to stay with group nearly always. Every day we will break up into smaller groups to give our participants lots of choice and flexibility in their itinerary. We do offer some free time to do some shopping, for example, in defined areas that we are very familiar with.

Monterosso, the small fishing village that we stay in during the Cinque Terre portion of the trip, is classic small-town Italy. Our group will have a fair amount of freedom to roam the small center of town during the time that we are not involved with working on our service project. In Florence the group will generally stay together either as a whole or split into smaller groups with counselors, however the group will have some free time to wander the markets in Florence as well.

Travel for Teens is fortunate to have the opportunity to work alongside the Cinque Terre National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, helping to maintain the Park and mend the dry-stone walls which are essential to the ancient culture and traditions of the region. In 2008, our project generated such interest that Trip Director Nic Emery was featured in an interview that was broadcast on the regional television network.

Our hotels are specifically chosen to be in safe areas and to be generally well-suited to facilitating group supervision. This means we do not use large, impersonal hotels on the outskirts of cities. We stay away from large hotel chains, preferring to select small, family run places where we establish personal relationships with the owners. We do use hostels on some of our trips, only when they are exceptionally clean, safe, and have some other especially favorable characteristic (i.e. the new hostel in Florence which is hip, modern, and 30 seconds from the Duomo).

In the Cinque Terre we will be staying in a fantastic family-run hotel that we return to every year. We have a great relationship with the owner, who treats us like family every time we return. In Florence we’ll be staying in a brand-new hostel that is literally 30 seconds from the Duomo. We will have private rooms in the hostel, which is hip and clean – the kids will probably like it more than any hotel.

The Trip Leader for every trip is a seasoned teen travel professional who lives or has lived and worked in the destination country. Fluency in the language and culture of the destination is crucial. Our Senior Counselors are experienced, responsible and fun-loving, so our participants enjoy sharing experiences with them. At Travel for Teens we pride ourselves on our rigorous staff application process and the professionalism of our full time and summer staff.

It is the job of the counselors to keep the fun clean and happening, the learning and the laughter in good balance, and to oversee the safety of the participants. Minimum ratios are one staff member to every seven participants. Trips may also include one or two Junior Counselors, who are college students with a history of TFT travel, and one or more Counselors in Training (CIT’s) with limited responsibility. CIT’s are not counted in staff-participant ratios.

None! Whatever knowledge you bring to the trip will of course be helpful. It’s also always a great thing if you’re willing to learn!

The food in Spain can be a variety of styles—tapas are a very popular cultural specialty. They are small dishes that accumulate to a full meals served in multiple appetizer sized plates. Paella is also a popular dish that we will definitely both learn to make and sample. It is a huge rice dish full of meats or seafood.

Our counselors tend to stay with the group nearly always. Every day we will break up into smaller groups to give our participants lots of choice and flexibility in their itinerary. We do offer some free time to do some shopping, for example, in defined areas that we are very familiar with.

Palma is a relatively small city, and very safe. Once the group has learned it’s way around and is familiar with the area, participants will be permitted to shop for 45 minutes to an hour in groups of 3 and up within a defined area with counselors posted in different spots (e.g. a café). Often times, however, counselors will shop with the kids.

Barcelona is a big city but has an easy to navigate city center. It is also extremely traveler friendly as it is the most visited city in all of Europe.

Hotels are only in safe areas plus they are clean and set up for supervising groups of kids. This means we do not use large, impersonal hotels on the outskirts of cities. Not only do they not provide the authenticity we seek but when kids are not grouped into a manageable space and there are many other people in the hotel, supervision is more difficult. We do not use hotel chains; instead we primarily stay in small hotels, but do use hostels on some of our trips.

In Palma de Mallorca, the group stays in a comfortable, centrally located hotel just steps from the beautiful harbor. It is a resort complete with a pool, ping pong, billiards, and a Mediterranean view. In Barcelona, we stay in a charming hostel also centrally located, not even a minute’s walk to Barcelona’s famous pedestrian promenade, Las Ramblas!

The Trip Leader for every trip is a seasoned teen travel professional who lives or has lived and worked in the destination country. Fluency in the language and culture of the destination is crucial. Our Senior Counselors are experienced, responsible and fun-loving, so our participants enjoy sharing experiences with them. At Travel for Teens we pride ourselves on our rigorous staff application process and the professionalism of our full time and summer staff.

It is the job of the counselors to keep the fun clean and happening, the learning and the laughter in good balance, and to oversee the safety of the participants. Minimum ratios are one staff member to every seven participants. Trips may also include one or two Junior Counselors, who are college students with a history of TFT travel, and one or more Counselors in Training (CIT’s) with limited responsibility. CIT’s are not counted in staff-participant ratios.

Travel for Teens organizes chaperoned group flights for every trip. You do not have to go on the group flight with us, although there are several advantages to doing so: the group flight is chaperoned by TFT staff, a lot of group bonding happens on the trip over, and we get great group flight prices. Parents are responsible for arranging for participants to get to the group flight airport. Travel for Teens staff are at the airport, greet arriving participants as they walk to baggage claim, and escort them to where the rest of the group has assembled.

Our group flight to Australia departs from Los Angeles LAX and arrives in Sydney, Australia. For the return, we depart from Queenstown, New Zealand and arrive back at Los Angeles LAX. Please contact us for details regarding flight cost.

In the Outback you will get to try damper (a type of bread common in the Outback) plus beef roasted over the barbie. The rest of the food on the trip is cosmopolitan. In Sydney you will have a special final dinner by the pool overlooking Sydney Harbour. You'll cultivate a taste for TimTams and Milo, as well. If you’re a vegetarian, no worries. There is plenty of vegetarian food available, even in the Outback. Our hosts in the Outback love taking on a challenge to find the tastiest vegetarian fares.

This is an action packed trip, but you will also have time to recharge if you choose. There is time to sit by the campfire in the Outback, or take a walk and check out the Southern Hemisphere constellations.

In Cairns you will have options in the evenings to shop, go to the Internet cafe, or spend time with your friends at the Night Markets.

In Sydney you will have many options for free time. Some of the options are laser tag, going to a performance at the Sydney Opera House, or the Imax theater. You can also explore Bondi and Manly Beaches.

In Queenstown you'll have many great options like chilling at the chalet with friends, late night shopping, and pick up games of soccer.

Our hotels are specifically chosen to be in safe areas and to be generally well-suited to facilitating group supervision. This means we do not use large, impersonal hotels on the outskirts of cities. We stay away from large hotel chains, preferring to select small, family run places where we establish personal relationships with the owners. We do use hostels on some of our trips, only when they are exceptionally clean, safe, and have some other especially favorable characteristic (i.e. the new hostel in Florence which is hip, modern, and 30 seconds from the Duomo).

In Australia we stay in a variety of accommodations. Our lodging in the Outback is rustic and cozy. You and your friends will be in cabins--each cabin has heat, AC, electricity and lots of authentic charm.

In Cairns you will be staying in a lively and fun hotel just moments away from the boat that will take you to the Great Barrier Reef. This hotel is tropical and very fun!

When you arrive in Sydney, you'll stay right in the center of the city. Our hotel is sleek, modern, and very cosmopolitan. It's within a moment's walk to shopping, the Harbour, parks, and the world's largest IMAX screen!

Next you'll fly to New Zealand and stay in a chalet at the base of the Remarkable Mountains. From your chalet you are at the perfect place to depart for your adventures. Many shops are nearby, plus museums, and restaurants. Your chalet will be equipped with a kitchen and a lounge in addition to bedrooms.

The Trip Leader for every trip is a seasoned teen travel professional who lives or has lived and worked in the destination country. Fluency in the language and culture of the destination is crucial. Our Senior Counselors are experienced, responsible and fun-loving, so our participants enjoy sharing experiences with them. At Travel for Teens we pride ourselves on our rigorous staff application process and the professionalism of our full time and summer staff.

It is the job of the counselors to keep the fun clean and happening, the learning and the laughter in good balance, and to oversee the safety of the participants. Minimum ratios are one staff member to every seven participants. Trips may also include one or two Junior Counselors, who are college students with a history of TFT travel, and one or more Counselors in Training (CIT’s) with limited responsibility. CIT’s are not counted in staff-participant ratios.

None! In Amsterdam the people speak Dutch and in Belgium and France they speak French. If you are brave and want to try to learn a bit about the languages, we strongly encourage it.

Travel for Teens organizes chaperoned group flights for every trip. You do not have to go on the group flight with us, although there are several advantages to doing so: the group flight is chaperoned by TFT staff, a lot of group bonding happens on the trip over, and we get great group flight prices. Parents are responsible for arranging for participants to get to the group flight airport. Travel for Teens staff are at the airport, greet arriving participants as they walk to baggage claim, and escort them to where the rest of the group has assembled.

Our group flight for the ABP trip departs from Newark, NJ and arrives in Amsterdam. It then departs from Paris at the end of the trip. Please contact us for details regarding flight cost.

The food in Europe can be a variety of styles—Breakfast usually consists of a croissant and coffee. Sometimes meats and cheeses are included. Lunch will be a sandwich style baguette and dinners are taken relatively late and long. Be prepared to try something new and to savor the care and appreciation that is taken into preparing European cuisine.

Our counselors tend to stay with the group nearly always. Every day we will break up into smaller groups to give our participants lots of choice and flexibility in their itinerary. We do offer some free time to do some shopping, for example, in defined areas that we are very familiar with.

Amsterdam is a big city, but the city center is safe and really easy to navigate. Once the group has learned it’s way around and is familiar with the area, participants will be permitted to shop for 45 minutes to an hour in groups of 3 and up within a defined area with counselors posted in different spots (e.g. a café). Often times, however, counselors will shop with the kids.

Bruges is a small city and is extremely easy to navigate as well. We will travel everywhere by foot and learn all about this pristine old city.

Paris is a big city. It is safe and we will travel around by foot and we will learn to use the metro.

Hotels are only in safe areas plus they are clean and set up for supervising groups of kids. This means we do not use large, impersonal hotels on the outskirts of cities. Not only do they not provide the authenticity we seek but when kids are not grouped into a manageable space and there are many other people in the hotel, supervision is more difficult. We do not use hotel chains; instead we primarily stay in small hotels, but do use hostels on some of our trips.

In Amsterdam, the group stays in a comfortable, centrally located hotel close to all the attractions and major sites. In Bruges, we stay in a charming hostel also centrally located within the quaint city center. The Paris hotel is located in a prime location just steps from many of the major sights in the city.

The Trip Leader for every trip is a seasoned teen travel professional who lives or has lived and worked in the destination country. Fluency in the language and culture of the destination is crucial. Our Senior Counselors are experienced, responsible and fun-loving, so our participants enjoy sharing experiences with them. At Travel for Teens we pride ourselves on our rigorous staff application process and the professionalism of our full time and summer staff.

It is the job of the counselors to keep the fun clean and happening, the learning and the laughter in good balance, and to oversee the safety of the participants. Minimum ratios are one staff member to every seven participants. Trips may also include one or two Junior Counselors, who are college students with a history of TFT travel, and one or more Counselors in Training (CIT’s) with limited responsibility. CIT’s are not counted in staff-participant ratios.

You will take the Metro and buses as well as walk around the city, which is the best way to see it!

We will take the TGV, a high-speed train that connects Paris with the South of France.

YES! You can go to Normandy, London on a day trip, Monaco, and Giverny. You can sign up for these excursions for a small additional fee on TFT Online after you register for the trip.

You will need your own towel and pillow as well as a reusable water bottle. Most participants bring a camera as well.

Travel for Teens organizes chaperoned group flights for every trip. You do not have to go on the group flight with us, although there are several advantages to doing so: the group flight is chaperoned by TFT staff, a lot of group bonding happens on the trip over, and we get great group flight prices. Parents are responsible for arranging for participants to get to the group flight airport. Travel for Teens staff are at the airport, greet arriving participants as they walk to baggage claim, and escort them to where the rest of the group has assembled.

Our group flight to France departs from Newark, NJ and arrives in Paris. You will then fly home from Nice to Newark. Please contact us for details regarding flight cost.

The food in Paris is delicious and very diversified. You'll have the chance to try many authentic French dishes prepared by world-class chefs. Paris is also known for being able to find something for every taste. Food from many different countries is also plentiful and is quickly changing the ‘classic’ notion of French cooking. It is possible to have Senegalese, Indian, and Vietnamese food all in one day, while having a French pastry for dessert.

Our counselors tend to stay with group nearly always. Every day we will break up into smaller groups to give our participants lots of choice and flexibility in their itinerary. We do offer some free time to do some shopping, for example, in defined areas that we are very familiar with.

You will have free time to shop, use the Internet, do laundry, and call home. Internet access is plentiful and there are Internet cafes near our hotel.

Our hotels are specifically chosen to be in safe areas and to be generally well-suited to facilitating group supervision. This means we do not use large, impersonal hotels on the outskirts of cities. We stay away from large hotel chains, preferring to select small, family run places where we establish personal relationships with the owners. We do use hostels on some of our trips, only when they are exceptionally clean, safe, and have some other especially favorable characteristic (i.e. the new hostel in Florence which is hip, modern, and 30 seconds from the Duomo).

Our hotel in Paris is fabulous! It's near the Montparnasse neighborhood on the Left Bank, an area that became famous in the 1920's as the vibrant intellectual and artistic hub of Paris. 

Our hotel in Nice is has a three star rating and is located in the old city. It is centrally located to explore Nice and the surrounding area.

The Trip Leader for every trip is a seasoned teen travel professional who lives or has lived and worked in the destination country. Fluency in the language and culture of the destination is crucial. Our Senior Counselors are experienced, responsible and fun-loving, so our participants enjoy sharing experiences with them. At Travel for Teens we pride ourselves on our rigorous staff application process and the professionalism of our full time and summer staff.

It is the job of the counselors to keep the fun clean and happening, the learning and the laughter in good balance, and to oversee the safety of the participants. Minimum ratios are one staff member to every seven participants. Trips may also include one or two Junior Counselors, who are college students with a history of TFT travel, and one or more Counselors in Training (CIT’s) with limited responsibility. CIT’s are not counted in staff-participant ratios.

You will have class in the mornings (M-F) and have afternoons, evenings, and weekends free for sightseeing and activities.

You will take the Metro and buses as well as walk around the city, which is the best way to see it!

YES! You can go to Normandy, London on a day trip, and Giverny. You can sign up for these excursions for a small additional fee on TFT Online after you register for the trip.

You will need your own towel and pillow as well as a reusable water bottle to keep hydrated during the day. Most participants bring a camera as well. You will also need a notebook, pens, and a small paperback dictionary.

Travel for Teens organizes chaperoned group flights for every trip. You do not have to go on the group flight with us, although there are several advantages to doing so: the group flight is chaperoned by TFT staff, a lot of group bonding happens on the trip over, and we get great group flight prices. Parents are responsible for arranging for participants to get to the group flight airport. Travel for Teens staff are at the airport, greet arriving participants as they walk to baggage claim, and escort them to where the rest of the group has assembled.

Our group flight to France departs from Newark, NJ and arrives in Paris Please contact us for details regarding flight cost.

The food in Paris is delicious and very diversified. You'll have the chance to try many authentic French dishes prepared by world-class chefs. Paris is also known for being able to find something for every taste. Food from many different countries is also plentiful and is quickly changing the ‘classic’ notion of French cooking. It is possible to have Senegalese, Indian, and Vietnamese food all in one day, while having a French pastry for dessert.

Our counselors tend to stay with group nearly always. Every day we will break up into smaller groups to give our participants lots of choice and flexibility in their itinerary. We do offer some free time to do some shopping, for example, in defined areas that we are very familiar with.

You will have free time to shop, use the Internet, do laundry, and call home. Internet access is plentiful and there are Internet cafes near our hotel.

Our hotels are specifically chosen to be in safe areas and to be generally well-suited to facilitating group supervision. This means we do not use large, impersonal hotels on the outskirts of cities. We stay away from large hotel chains, preferring to select small, family run places where we establish personal relationships with the owners. We do use hostels on some of our trips, only when they are exceptionally clean, safe, and have some other especially favorable characteristic (i.e. the new hostel in Florence which is hip, modern, and 30 seconds from the Duomo).

Our hotel in Paris is fabulous! It's located near the Montparnasse neighborhood on the Left Bank. this area was made famous in the 1920's when it became the vibrant intellectual and artistic hub of the city. 

The Trip Leader for every trip is a seasoned teen travel professional who lives or has lived and worked in the destination country. Fluency in the language and culture of the destination is crucial. Our Senior Counselors are experienced, responsible and fun-loving, so our participants enjoy sharing experiences with them. At Travel for Teens we pride ourselves on our rigorous staff application process and the professionalism of our full time and summer staff.

It is the job of the counselors to keep the fun clean and happening, the learning and the laughter in good balance, and to oversee the safety of the participants. Minimum ratios are one staff member to every seven participants. Trips may also include one or two Junior Counselors, who are college students with a history of TFT travel, and one or more Counselors in Training (CIT’s) with limited responsibility. CIT’s are not counted in staff-participant ratios.

We travel by private coaches between cities. To get to the Aran Islands we take a ferry and then explore the lanes of the tiny island by bike.

You’ll need a bathing suit and an extra pair of sneakers that you don’t mind getting dirty/wet. Most of our participants also bring a camera to record their adventures!

The food in Ireland is fresh and plentiful. You’ll have the chance to try some traditional Irish dishes made using local ingredients. You’ll have many classic Irish dishes, including fish and chips, always a favorite. We’ll have a traditional Irish barbeque, too!

If you’re a vegetarian, don’t despair! Vegetarian options abound in Ireland.

Our counselors tend to stay with group nearly always. Every day we will break up into smaller groups to give our participants lots of choice and flexibility in their itinerary. We do offer some free time to do some shopping, for example, in defined areas that we are very familiar with.

You will have free time to hang out and do some shopping in Galway City.

Hotels are only in safe areas plus they are clean and set up for supervising groups of kids. This means we do not use large, impersonal hotels on the outskirts of cities. Not only do they not provide the authenticity we seek but when kids are not grouped into a manageable space and there are many other people in the hotel, supervision is more difficult. We do not use hotel chains, instead we primarily stay in small hotels, but do use hostels on some of our trips.

We start our trip at an adventure center where the accommodation is spacious and comfortable. You will stay in large rooms with other participants (of the same gender) from Travel for Teens. The rooms have bunk beds and are cozy.

For our second accommodation, we stay in a top rated hostel right next to Ashford Castle.

In Galway City we stay in another modern, top-rated hostel just 5 minutes off of Eyre Square!

The Trip Leader for every trip is a seasoned teen travel professional who lives or has lived and worked in the destination country. Fluency in the language and culture of the destination is crucial. Our Senior Counselors are experienced, responsible and fun-loving, so our participants enjoy sharing experiences with them. At Travel for Teens we pride ourselves on our rigorous staff application process and the professionalism of our full time and summer staff.

It is the job of the counselors to keep the fun clean and happening, the learning and the laughter in good balance, and to oversee the safety of the participants. Minimum ratios are one staff member to every seven participants. Trips may also include one or two Junior Counselors, who are college students with a history of TFT travel, and one or more Counselors in Training (CIT’s) with limited responsibility. CIT’s are not counted in staff-participant rations.

Mary Anne, Thank you so much for writing back. All the kind things you had to say about me brought tears to my eyes. I'm glad you had fun traveling and I hope to see you again! I've already started talking to my parents about a TFT trip next summer. Where do you recommend? I was really lucky to meet someone as great as you. I've told everyone in Yellow Springs, Ohio about you and now, they are all dying to meet you. Thanks again for making my summer of 2007 the best one of my life!

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Hi Philippe, I am writing you this email to thank you for the most incredible summer of my life. From the moment I walked into the airport i was greeted with warm smiles and excitement from both the counselors and the travelers. Who knew that Greece was such an amazing and interesting country? Climbing the Acropolis, lying on the breath taking beaches, sailing in the bluest of oceans, it was all so much fun, I wish my summer never ended! The counselors were incredible as well. They were always excited, and enthusiastic, which made the trip so much better. They were so much fun, and they knew how to make you feel right at home. I recommended Travel for Teens to all of my friends, because if you want to enjoy your summer, and make it an unforgettable one, then these trips are just right for you! This summer was by far the best summer of my life. I made friends who I still keep in touch with, and created memories that will last me a lifetime. The best part about it all was being with other kids who just wanted to learn about the culture, and have fun too! Thank you so much Travel for Teens, for making this summer such an incredible one, and I look forward to seeing you next summer!

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Dear Ned, Well, it's been about three months since we went to Italy but I still miss it so much. That trip was so absolutely amazing. You put so much of yourself and worked so hard that it was inexplicably special. I just wanted to thank you for that. We really got immersed into what Italy has and you educated us so much too. It is really something I will never forget. Your passion and excitement for life is contagious. You really got everyone excited about everything and that was just great. Keep doing what your doing because it changes peoples view on their world and the world around them forever. I hope your doing great! Good luck with everything! Thank you soooooo much.

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Pat, Thank you so much for the best summer ever! I loved every minute of the four weeks in Italy and Paris and south of France! I made so many new friends and I definitely want to come back next year. You are the best! I miss the trip a lot! I miss you! Thanks for everything! xoxo

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Hey Ned! How are ya?... I just wanted to thank you for another amazing summer. After last summer, I was afraid this one wouldn't compare and I would be disappointed, but I was completely wrong. I had a beyond amazing time on all of the trips I went on. I can't even begin to explain how excited I was that day to meet up with you in the Paris airport on the way to Thailand. I had already been on two incredible trips that summer and then Thailand and Australia just surpassed everything. I will never forget any of the places I went to or all of the people I met. Every trip I have been on has been absolutely unforgettable and I am always thinking about what an amazing time I had. Thank you so much for a great time in Thailand, Cambodia, and Australia!!! Any word on the reunion yet?

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Dear Pat, I love absolutely everything about my three years with [Travel for Teens], and I have no plans to stop traveling with you. Because of Travel for Teens I have toured a fair amount of Europe and seen a grand total of 10 countries. I never could have dreamed up anything this amazing before my trip to Italy in 2005. But, apparently wishes do come true! I have met friends that I will keep forever, and counselors that I consider very good friends. I know this company is always expanding, and I truly cannot wait to watch it grow... Thank you so much for the incredible opportunities you have provided.

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... I had an AMAZING time and I can't wait to do another trip next summer. My brother might do one as well. I have been talking to some of the kids from the trip and we have been saying how much we miss you! I'll probably stop into the office once in a while to say hi.

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Hey Ned, I just wanted to write and say thank you so much for organizing the trip and making it such a memorable experience. It was exactly what I was looking for in a summer program, and I don't think I'll ever forget the memories I have of it. I was also wondering if you had any more pictures of me running around at the highland games. My mom and dad thought that was really cool, and wanted to see more of it. Anyway, I hope your future travels are safe, and as enjoyable as the one I was just a part of. Cheers,

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Ned! Sounds like you guys are having a blast in Australia! I'm going through serious withdrawal right now ... I want to be back with you guys so badly! While Cassie & I were talking yesterday, we both said how sad it was not to wake up & start an exciting day with everyone. Thank you (Jake & Damien) for the best two weeks ever! I can't thank you enough... Can't wait to travel/see the three of you!

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Hey Phil, This is Jordan de Vries, I went on the Ireland trip in August 2007 and it is still fresh in my memory. I really enjoyed the trip and it has inspired me to travel the world more, most likely with Travel for Teens. The counselors were fantastic and knew perfectly how to balance safety and fun. Though it was only 10 days, I feel like I lived a separate lifetime in Ireland. I would go back in a heartbeat and wish to do that someday. I would really like to thank everyone that helped out on the trip because it would not have been the same without them.

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Hey Ned! I know this is long overdue, but I just wanted to thank you for such a wonderful trip. I had a great time and felt as though the program was very organized and accommodating. I learned a lot and had a blast. The trip leaders were amazing and so were the rest of the kids. Christina and I both enjoyed ourselves and will never forget the awesome experience we had… Thank you again,

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Hey Ned, It's Michael Foreman. How's Thailand? I'm finally acclimated to the new time zone in the States, and now have enough energy to drop an e-mail. I wanted to thank you for the wonderful time I had in Eastern Europe. I really appreciated the history of the countries and places we visited, and overall liked the entire group of campers and counselors. I would like to come back to Travel for Teens next year for some more trips, and just wanted to thank you for a wonderful time and experience. Thanks again.

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YES! You can go to Normandy, London on a day trip, and Giverny. You can sign up for these excursions for a small additional fee on TFT Online after you register for the trip.

You will need your own towel and pillow as well as a reusable water bottle. Most participants bring a camera as well.

The food in Paris is delicious and very diversified. You'll have the chance to try many authentic French dishes prepared by world-class chefs. Paris is also known for being able to find something for every taste. Food from many different countries is also plentiful and is quickly changing the ‘classic’ notion of French cooking. It is possible to have Senegalese, Indian, and Vietnamese food all in one day, while having a French pastry for dessert.

Our counselors tend to stay with group nearly always. Every day we will break up into smaller groups to give our participants lots of choice and flexibility in their itinerary. We do offer some free time to do some shopping, for example, in defined areas that we are very familiar with.

You will have free time to shop, use the Internet, do laundry, and call home. Internet access is plentiful and there are Internet cafes near our hotel.

Our hotels are specifically chosen to be in safe areas and to be generally well-suited to facilitating group supervision. This means we do not use large, impersonal hotels on the outskirts of cities. We stay away from large hotel chains, preferring to select small, family run places where we establish personal relationships with the owners. We do use hostels on some of our trips, only when they are exceptionally clean, safe, and have some other especially favorable characteristic (i.e. the new hostel in Florence which is hip, modern, and 30 seconds from the Duomo).

Our hotel in Paris is fabulous! It's moments from some of the best sights in the City of Light. A quick walk will take you to the Seine, Notre Dame Cathedral, two different Metro lines, and plenty of shopping.

Inside the hotel you'll find a huge cobblestone paved courtyard set up with wrought iron tables and chairs. You'll quickly feel at home while meeting new friends from around the world in the courtyard.

Many rooms have large French windows that open up onto the courtyard. A typical room is set up in a modern lofted style. Each room is spacious, airy, and perfect as a base for your Parisian adventures. Additionally, there is an onsite restaurant and 24-hour security.

The Trip Leader for every trip is a seasoned teen travel professional who lives or has lived and worked in the destination country. Fluency in the language and culture of the destination is crucial. Our Senior Counselors are experienced, responsible and fun-loving, so our participants enjoy sharing experiences with them. At Travel for Teens we pride ourselves on our rigorous staff application process and the professionalism of our full time and summer staff.

It is the job of the counselors to keep the fun clean and happening, the learning and the laughter in good balance, and to oversee the safety of the participants. Minimum ratios are one staff member to every seven participants. Trips may also include one or two Junior Counselors, who are college students with a history of TFT travel, and one or more Counselors in Training (CIT’s) with limited responsibility. CIT’s are not counted in staff-participant ratios.

Travel for Teens was founded in 2003 upon the model of providing the opportunity for students to live as a local in all of the places that we visit. We have achieved great success with schools as we have a particular aptitude for listening to the vision of a teacher and delivering incredible life changing cultural exploration trips.

You are welcome to contact other teachers who have traveled with us. Please contact us at 1-888-457-4534 or info@travelforteens.com for a list of references.

We strongly encourage all parents to purchase trip cancellation insurance in order to protect against unforeseen circumstances which are the common reason for students to have to cancel their plans with us. All payments to Travel for Teens are non-refundable.

Teachers never have to handle any funds. Travel For Teens handles all payments directly so that teachers do not need to be responsible at all for any financial payments. Payments schedules are custom designed for each trip by the teachers and Travel for Teens.

We price our school trips to be all inclusive of airfare whereas our regular trips do not include airfare.

We price all of our school trips to be inclusive of airfare, accommodations, transportation, 3 meals a day, admissions to all sights and monuments, guides, taxes and tips. Our trip prices do not include money for trip insurance, medical visits, souvenirs, shopping, snacks, bottled water or soda, internet, phone calls home or laundry.

All of our trips are designed to be all inclusive. Our school trip packages range from $2500 to $5000 depending on the destination, chaperone to student ratio, length of the trip and choices of activities.

We have four major rules on our trips, and we take them very seriously: No drinking, no drugs, no sex, and no leaving the group without specific permission. Breaking these four main rules will result in a participant being sent home. For lesser infractions, teachers and the Travel For Teens staff will discuss the situation and decide together on an appropriate punishment. All disciplinary infractions on school trips are handled jointly between the chaperones and the Travel For Teens staff.

Safety is our absolute first priority. Our counselors carry first aid kits to treat minor injuries, are American Red Cross certified in First Aid and CPR, and if water is involved in an activity, we have a certified lifeguard present.

In case of a more serious injury, our Trip Leader and counselors are familiar with the emergency numbers and procedures to follow in each country that we visit. All of our counselors carry cell phones at all times.

Our staff is trained to be very sensitive to the physical conditions of the students traveling with us, and we take their health and safety extremely seriously. Our counselors carry medicine kits with over-the-counter medicines to treat common sicknesses, and our policy is always to check with the parents of the student before administering any type of medicine.

If a student becomes seriously ill, we will not hesitate to visit a doctor or the local hospital and maintain regular contact with the student’s parents.

Absolutely not! Our Trip Directors have either lived or currently live in the area you are traveling and are fluent in the native language. Accompanying counselors are also either fluent or proficient in the language.

Travel for Teens STRONGLY recommends all participants purchase traveler's insurance for protection against trip cancellation due to medical/family emergencies, lost baggage situations, full medical coverage abroad, and more. We have found STA Travel and TravMark Insurance to be the most comprehensive coverage available. We can provide you with contact information upon request.

Travel For Teens, LLC is a fully insured company belonging to the International Association of Travel Agents.

Travel For Teens has carefully scouted all of the locations where we bring our participants and invests considerable resources in our vendor quality control year to year. All counselors are CPR and First Aid certified. We have a lengthy and thorough hiring process which includes background checks, face to face interviews and weekend long training sessions. We have local contacts in all of the places we go in case of a medical or other emergency.

We strongly encourage all participants to purchase trip cancellation insurance. In the event that there is flight cancellation, delay or strike, Travel For Teens will do all that we can to reschedule our itinerary to prevent or minimize any itinerary disruptions. Additional costs relating to a trip delay are covered by the trip cancellation policies that we recommend.

We are able to revise itineraries several times before the trip leaves for the summer. Once the trip has begun, we are able to offer some degree of flexibility of when the activities on a trip may occur. We understand that travel is not always predictable but to the best of our abilities we offer a comfortable amount of flexibility on the trip to accommodate unforeseen itinerary complications such as inclement weather.

Our motto for custom trips is “If You Can Dream It, We Can Plan It.” We will work with you to customize the trip as much as you would like. We know that every group or class has unique priorities, and your trip will deliver an experience that will provide tangible signs of personal growth in students as well as very satisfied parents.

Travel For Teens always provides a Travel For Teens Trip Director to lead your trip in the destination country. Additionally, we offer one free chaperone for every ‘x’ number of students based on the budget of the trip. The ratio of free chaperones to students ranges from 6:1 to 10:1 depending on the budget per student.

As the teacher, you are welcome to be as involved or disengaged as you please. We will ask you to contribute whatever you like or have time for in the planning process. However, we do need your help reaching out to students and their parents to help recruit enough kids for your trip. We will provide you with promotional materials and whatever other tools you need to make the trip a success.

Our trip planning process, from start to finish, permits you the teacher to completely customize your itinerary and goals in order to give your students an authentic experience that incorporates cultural and educational life lessons. Travel for Teens believes the same people who help you craft your ideal trip should also lead it with you, simplifying your contact with us and invariably resulting in a smoother travel experience with a staff you already know and trust. We pride ourselves on our unmatched personal approach and flexibility. Above all these qualities are what past/current teachers, students and parents have commented on time and again.

You can call us any time, seven days a week, at 1-888-457-4534. Shoot us an e-mail at info@travelforteens.com.

Considering its relatively low cost, we STRONGLY recommend that you purchase traveler's insurance for protection against trip cancellation due to medical/family emergencies, strikes and flight cancellations, lost baggage situations, full medical coverage abroad, and more. We have found TravMark Insurance to be one company that is sometimes a good choice. Please contact us for more details.

Of course - we'd be happy to provide you with a list of references.

Given our continuing collaboration with a wide variety of accommodations in many different countries, we often enjoy (and pass on to you) discounted rates for our clients.

Of course – you can give us a call any time day or night. You will have the personal contact number for your trip designer, in addition to the following numbers:

Toll Free: 888-457-4534
From outside the US: +1 484-802-7515

or e-mail us at info@travelforteens.com

It all depends on where you want to go! Each member of our staff specializes in a different area of the world. We will assign a team to your project with a trip designer as the lead person. The person who will plan your trip will have spent a significant amount of time in your destination and therefore can give you firsthand advice.

Italy, France, Spain, Greece, Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and South Africa, among others!

It's very simple - you have as much or as little control as you want to have over the planning of your trip. Our task is to listen to what you would like us to do. For example, if you only know that you want a great vacation in Italy, we'll create your entire itinerary including hotels, restaurants, sights, ticket reservations, and country-specific tips and suggestions.

On the other hand, if you know that you want to spend 3 nights in Rome, 2 nights in a Tuscan B&B, and 3 nights in Bologna and you already have your hotels picked out, that's great too. We'll work with you to fill in the blanks.

Our custom trips are an incredible value. We offer you a half-hour free consultation so that you can learn about what we are able to do for you. After this consultation if you decide you’d like us to plan your trip, we ask for a deposit of $500 so that we may begin making reservations and doing research for you. Our rate is a mere $40/hour. On average, a ten-day trip for a family of four requires between 10-15 hours of planning time.

In addition to leading the best teen travel programs in the world, we also organize custom-built trips for private clients of all ages. Drawing upon our extensive knowledge of the regions that we visit (including Europe, South Africa, Thailand, Australia & New Zealand, and Fiji), we will work with you to customize your trip of a lifetime. The advantages of working with us to organize your trip are many – you'll get insider access to sights, events, and people that you would never have known about. Our personal service is unparalleled—we can plan any and every detail of your trip, and our prices can't be beat.

Don't hesitate to contact us if you'd like to speak to some of our previous clients.

Understandably, parents often have concerns about sending their child away to a foreign country, especially if it’s the first time. There are a few things that might change their mind – request a copy of our brochure and go over it with them in detail, and watch our DVD with them. If that’s not enough, just have them give us a call any time at 1-888-457-4534 or write us an email at info@travelforteens.com so that they can talk to us directly about their concerns. We talk to lots and lots of parents and they usually come away feeling much better!

The Internet is the preferred method of communication between you and your parents or friends, however bringing laptop computers is prohibited (except for on our Italy Photography trip). Time will be given to the group to be able to use the Internet in public Internet points.

You are allowed to bring cell phones, but please note that they are not permitted to be turned on outside the hotel room for anything other than emergencies. This is important so that you can be focused on the trip and not on texting your friends back home. You can call/text your friends or parents when you’re back in your hotel room.

We can accommodate special diets with advance notice and communication. We have vegetarians and food allergies on virtually every trip.

Our age range goes from 13-18 years old, and the average age of participants on our trips is about 16.

The vast majority of our participants come from the USA. We get about 40% of our students from the East Coast - from Miami to Maine - and 30% from the West coasts - from San Diego to Seattle - 25% of our students are from the Midwest and the South and about 5% of our students reside outside the United States.

Non-American participants are more than welcome to join us on our trips!

Our trips are not loaded with tons of confining rules, however we do have four unbending and unbreakable rules, which can result in being sent home at your family’s expense:

1. No leaving the group without permission of a staff member
2. No drugs
3. No alcohol not dispensed by TFT staff
4. No sexual activity

Guys, you do not want to mess with these rules – we take them seriously and we enforce them for your safety and the safety of the group. Unfortunately, every year we do have to send kids home.

If you come on a trip with a friend, we will do everything in our power to give you guys a room together. Depending on the hotel, you might find that you have 1 or 2 other roommates from our group as well, but 99% of the time you will be able to room with your friend!

Our two most important criteria for hotels is that they are safe and clean. We never take groups to hotels where we have not stayed. We look for hotels in good parts of town, centrally located, and we tend to stay away from large, impersonal hotels on the outskirts of cities.

We do not use hotel chains, instead we primarily stay in small hotels. On occasion we do stay in hostels, but this is rare and we only stay in hostels when we find a hostel of particularly exceptional quality.

The participants are with our counselors most of the time, whether we’re together as a large group or split up into smaller groups. There are some exceptions, though – when we know that an area is particularly safe and not easy to get lost in, we’ll let you guys explore and shop on your own for a few hours, as long as you stay in groups of four.

We tend to stick together at night – sometimes we go to a flamenco show or a disco or whatever else happens to be going on that night, but we can’t let you go off on your own after dark.

We are co-ed, and boys and girls sleep in separate quarters on all of our trips. Our average ratio of boys to girls is around 40/60.

We believe in flexibility - Any seasoned traveler will tell you that the best experiences on the road happen when you’re least expecting them. While we do create a day-by-day itinerary for all of our trips, we build in choices and flexibility so that we can easily change our schedule based on weather, fickle opening hours, or new opportunities that present themselves on the ground. That said, certain important sights and activities are guaranteed – you WILL see the Eiffel Tower in Paris and you WILL go to the Coliseum in Rome, for example.

Another basic concept of the TFT way of traveling is having choices. We often divide our group into smaller groups and split up for the morning or afternoon so that you can choose the activity that interests you most. For example, one group might go to a modern art museum while a second group will go to a cooking lesson and a third goes to check out a cathedral – once again, the choice is yours.

This totally depends on which trip you choose – you can find details about what we do on each individual trip right here on our website.

In general, Travel for Teens is a cultural experience with lots of flexibility built in to each itinerary (see more about this in the next question). We seek to immerse ourselves in the culture and traditions of the country that we travel to, going far beyond a typical and superficial touristy experience. In Italy this may mean visiting a gondola workshop in Venice, while in Paris taking a behind the scenes tour of a Paris fashion house, while in Thailand this could include visiting a monastery and holding a question-and-answer session with a monk.

Some trips are more adventure oriented while others focus on community service, cultural exploration, or language learning. On ALL of our trips you can count on actively learning about the culture you find yourself in, eating authentic food, and meeting great people.

Teenagers from 13-18 years old may participate in our trips. While this is a broad age range, our groups are large enough that everyone is able to find a tight group of friends. A remarkable amount of spontaneous interaction and acceptance across all ages does occur.

The majority of our participants come from the United States, but we also travel with participants from around the world.

For a detailed description of how the registration process works and our monthly payment plan option, please see our TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR ENROLLMENT.

We do offer need based, reduced tuition aid though of course there is a limit to what we can give each year. If interested in applying for reduced tuition please write an email to info@travelforteens.com explaining why you need it and where you would like to go. Please keep in mind, the more open you are to where you will be going, the more likely you are to be awarded assistance. Your parents will be asked to forward the top page of their income tax return should you be selected as a finalist for aid in March or April when the applications are reviewed.

Our participants are carefully coached in the habits and cultural signals of the host countries, and we tend to be treated very well by our host countries. We require appropriate attire and we teach respect for the countries we are in.

Therefore, we do not generally experience any sort of anti-American sentiment.

The Internet is the preferred method of communication between parents and participants, however bringing laptop computer is prohibited (with the exception of our Italy Photography Trip). Time will be given to the group to be able to use the Internet in public Internet points.

All counselors carry cell phones with e-mail access at all times. Parents may contact us at any time day or night, in case of emergency. Trip Leaders will send update e-mails to parents every 3 days or so to give information on the progress of the group.

Participants have a list of counselor phone numbers and a phone card, which they are taught to use in case they get separated from the group. While we like the participants to have a US cell phone with them for ease in US airport coordination, we discourage the use of cell phones abroad. We do not forbid them, however they are not permitted to be turned on outside the hotel room for anything other than emergencies. We expect participants to be willing and able to avoid non-emergency cell phone call to or from home, as we cannot accomplish an immersion experience with distractions.

We do not have homestays on any of our trips. While we recognize the value that some homestay experiences can provide, we do not feel the safety of participants can be assured 100% of the time.

We travel in large groups which then break apart into smaller groups with a counselor to accommodate different choices of activities. We tend to keep a late schedule, departing mid morning and often returning to the hotel around midnight. We do not herd our participants around, over schedule them or, conversely, permit sitting around doing nothing. There is, however, down time and time for reflection, plus time for laundry and stocking up on personal necessities.

We do have itineraries but our structure permits plenty of opportunity for spontaneous, off-the-beaten-path fun. Days are divided into units with choices of activities for each unit. Our model provides structure without rigidity. Teens have told us time and again they do not like being forced to conform to inflexible schedules. Participants do not have to be athletic but there are sports opportunities for those who like them on every trip. Our Ireland and Italy Community Service trips do require more physical fitness, and all of our trips involve walking up to 5 miles a day.

Most participants do not travel with a friend, but some do. We do not permit the formation of cliques or the exclusion of anyone, and bullying is never acceptable.

We feel that people learn best when they are having a great time, so our trips feature activities designed to meet the teens’ desire to have a great time and the parents’ desire for more than a typical or superficial tourist-trip. We do not conduct teen tours!

We strive to make sure our trips are carried out in an atmosphere of acceptance and respect. Consideration for others, personal responsibility, teamwork and kindness are virtues we embrace at all levels every day and at all times. We consider the intangible aspects of travel to be very important. Bonding, friendships, respect and feeling cared for and valued are fundamental to our philosophy. Our participants are treated like adults and are expected to behave in an adult-like manner.

Travel for Teens STRONGLY recommends all participants purchase traveler's insurance for protection against trip cancellation due to medical/family emergencies, lost baggage situations, full medical coverage abroad, and more. We have found STA Travel and TravMark Insurance to be the most comprehensive coverage available. We can provide you with contact information upon request.

Travel For Teens, LLC is a fully insured company belonging to the International Association of Travel Agents.

We can accommodate special diets with advance notice and communication. We have vegetarians and food allergies on virtually every trip.

Parents have the choice to permit tasting of local beer and wine under our supervision for participants 16 years of age or older. Responsible wine consumption is considered part of the local culture in many of our destinations. A taste is considered half of a normal glass. No other alcohol consumption is permitted.

Dinner, the main meal of the day is taken in a restaurant, café or the like. Lunch is typically a sandwich, breakfast is consistent with the culture being visited. Meals range from very high end and expensive to charming and ethnic, and often there is a choice. We discourage bottled water and encourage use of refillable water bottles to save you money as well as wasteful plastic.

We know that many teenagers can be a little bit picky. We encourage participants to try new things and broaden their horizons, as eating is always a central part of our cultural immersion experience. In any case, we can always work with the restaurant to find something that will work for everyone.

The majority of our participants sign up by themselves, and others sign up with one or two friends. Bonding happens very quickly on our trips, and participants who sign up alone tend to make lasting friendships while traveling with us.

Friends who sign up together will be allowed to room together for the duration of the trip, but should be aware that we expect everyone to integrate themselves into the larger group and make friendships beyond their already-established relationships.

Our age range goes from 13-18 years old, and the average age of participants on our trips is about 16.

The vast majority of our participants come from the USA, we get about 40% of our students from the East Coast from Miami to Maine and 30% from the West coasts from San Diego to Seattle, 25% of our students are from the Midwest and the south and we about 5% of our students reside outside the United States.

Non-American participants are more than welcome to join us on our trips!

We offer group travel on all of our trips but it is also possible to meet us abroad if this is more convenient for you. Our flights coordinator will work with you to make sure the best plan is made for having your child join the group. All group flights and flights between sessions for combination trips are chaperoned by TFT staff.

Please contact us for trip-specific flight details.

Our trips are not loaded with tons of confining rules, however we do have four unbending and unbreakable rules, which can result in a participant being sent home at their parent’s expense:

1. No leaving the group without permission of a staff member
2. No drugs
3. No alcohol – (That is, none that is unsupervised by TFT staff and that exceeds one drink-see more info about this below
4. No sexual activity

Parents should make sure their teens know that any rule infractions or disrespect of the rules may result in being sent home early at your expense. In the event that a participant becomes separated from the group we have a clear set of procedures we follow. Our trips are not appropriate for those travelers who have trouble functioning within group guidelines or who expect or require complete lack of structure. Sadly, every year we DO send kids home for rule infractions and we are very serious about enforcing these rules for the safety of the group.

Our two most important criteria for our accommodations are that they are safe and clean. We never take groups to accommodations that we have not stayed in before. We look for hotels in good parts of town, centrally located, and we tend to stay away from large, impersonal hotels on the outskirts of cities. We also take into consideration the physical lay out of the accommodation to help ease our ability to supervise when we are choosing hotels for our groups.

We do not use hotel chains. Instead we primarily stay in small hotels. On occasion we do stay in hostels, but this is rare and we only stay in hostels when we find it to be of particularly exceptional quality.

Safety is absolutely our number one concern at all times. We do everything in our power to render every trip as safe as it can possibly be. We analyze every aspect of every trip in detail before setting out with a group, going over contingency plans and emergency numbers for each country. We visit each and every hotel, sight, and activity that we do in person before going there with a group. We carry first aid kits and are aware of the emergency numbers and procedures in each country that we visit. The safety of our participants is constantly on our mind.

Our team is made up of experienced, mature adults who are trained to think proactively about safety in every type of situation. All counselors are re-certified annually in First Aid and CPR. In addition, we run background checks and put candidates through an extensive interview process before they are considered for employment with us. All of our staff participates in an annual staff training workshop, and our Trip Leaders undergo further training.

Please bear in mind that the act of traveling itself will always include inherent risks. We may travel on airplanes, trains, buses, boats, and bicycles – and accidents can happen. If someone is injured, we will assess the situation, contact the parents of the participant, and seek appropriate medical attention. We have access to English-speaking doctors most of the time, and when we do not, our bilingual counselors function as translators.

Our staff is trained to be very sensitive to the physical conditions of the students traveling with us, and we take their health and safety extremely seriously. Our counselors carry medicine kits with over the counter medicines in them to treat common sicknesses, and our policy is always to check with the parents of the child before administering any type of medicine.

If a child becomes seriously ill, we will not hesitate to visit a doctor or the local hospital, all while maintaining regular contact with the parents of the student.

Our team is made up of experienced, mature adults. All counselors are re-certified annually in First Aid and CPR. In addition, we run background checks and put candidates through an extensive interview process before they are considered for employment with us. All of our staff participates in an annual staff training workshop, and our Trip Leaders undergo further training.

The counselors we choose are experienced, responsible and hip, so our participants enjoy sharing experiences with them. Our Trip Leaders have lived and studied or worked in their destination country and are extremely knowledgeable about the history and culture involved. The vast majority of them are also fluent in the language of that country.

It is the job of the counselors to keep the fun clean and happening, the learning and the laughter in good balance, and most importantly to oversee the safety of the participants. Minimum ratios are one staff member to every seven participants, but usually the ratio is actually 1 to 5. Trip Leaders and Senior Counselors account for most staff. Trips may also include one or two Junior Counselors, who are college students with a history of TFT travel, and one or more Counselors in Training (CIT’s) with limited responsibility. CIT’s are not counted in staff-participant rations.

Our minimum camper to counselor ratio is 7:1, although typically our trips have a 6:1 or 5:1 ratio.

Our participants have a lot of choice in how their time is spent, but our program does not embrace the notion of no supervision (with the exception of certain situations which counselors deem safe enough to allow an hour to an hour and a half of shopping). We do not allow kids to leave the hotel without a counselor nor do we give them an afternoon of unsupervised freedom to roam a town/city.

The participants are with our counselors almost all of the time. There are certain exceptions to this rule: When we deem it to be safe, small groups can go to the corner to a store, or shop within a prescribed area for a limited amount of time with a counselor nearby. In certain areas, primarily small towns or in regions like the south of France, they may go unsupervised in small groups, however they primarily remain with a counselor in training (CIT).

The participants are never allowed to go out on their own at night.

We are co-ed, and boys and girls sleep in separate quarters on all of our trips. Our average ratio of boys to girls is around 40/60.

We price all of our trips to be inclusive of accommodations, transportation, 3 meals a day, admissions to all sights and monuments, guides, taxes and tips. Our trip prices do not include airfare, trip insurance, medical visits, souvenirs, shopping, snacks, bottled water or soda, internet, phone calls home or laundry.

Teenagers from 13-18 years old may participate in our trips. While this is a broad age range, our groups are large enough that everyone is able to find a group of friends. A remarkable amount of spontaneous interaction and acceptance across all ages does occur.

Any teenager who speaks English and is physically and mentally fit may apply! The majority of our participants come from the United States, but we also travel with participants from all around the world.

We provide a totally unique mix of fun, learning, and cultural immersion on every one of our trips. We go far beyond a superficial tourist itinerary and live as locals, always seeking out the most authentic experiences. We also demonstrate an outstanding level of service and support that is unmatched by any other teen travel company.

Our attention to detail in the planning stages of the trip is especially important for your child to have a first-rate experience. The same people who are planning your trip will also be leading it. Furthermore, our Trip Directors have all lived or worked abroad in the places your teen is going. Once the trip is on the ground, our experienced team of counselors makes sure that the trip runs smoothly and that everybody is having a great time. We pride ourselves on our personal approach, something that we know you and your children appreciate.

We’re glad you’ve found your way to our website! If you’re interested in discussing our trips, please give us a ring at 1-888-457-4534 and speak to either our president, Pat Maloney, or our vice president, Ned Clark. We’ll be happy to discuss all aspects of any trip with you. You could also send us an e-mail any time at info@travelforteens.com.

Detailed individual trip descriptions can be found right here on our website. Many common questions regarding our trips and way of traveling are answered right here in this FAQ.