Cinque Terre Service


Trip Details

Dates Jul 19 - Jul 31

Session III

Duration 13 days

Grades 7 - 12

Tuition $3,885 + Airfare

Cities Cinque Terre, Rome, Sorrento, Pisa, Montalcino, Naples, Positano, Capri

Group Flight Details

Start Newark to Pisa

End Naples to Newark



  • How much free time do the participants get on their trip?

    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.

  • What's the food like in Italy?

    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.

  • Do I need to bring anything special on this community service trip?

    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!

  • What kind of community service work are we doing?

    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.

  • Do I need to buy flights or does TFT buy them for me? Where does the group depart from?

    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.

  • Who are the counselors on the trip?

    The Trip Leader for every trip is a seasoned teen travel professional with extensive TFT experience. Trip Leaders often live or have lived and worked in the destination country. Extensive knowledge of 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.

  • Where do we stay on the Cinque Terre Service trip?

    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. 

    In the Cinque Terre we will be staying in a fantastic family-run hotel that is only steps from the best beach in the Cinque Terre. In Rome we will stay at a centrally located hotel, while in Sorrento we will sleep at a gorgeous hotel with a sweeping view over the Bay of Naples. 

Trip Highlights

  • Work on a UNESCO World Heritage site while soaking up the sun and gentle breezes of the Mediterranean (20 hrs of community service credit)
  • Hike a trail that connects five tiny Mediterranean fishing villages amidst spectacular scenery
  • Swim in the azure waters of the Mediterranean
  • Wander the ancient streets of Rome and marvel at the Coliseum
  • Soak in the sun and laid-back ambience of Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast
  • Take a private boat trip down the Amalfi Coast and spend the day on chic Capri

Email the Regional Director

Nic Emery

nic@travelforteens.com

Trip Map

Cinque Terre Service