Program Overview
France is the very first country to which Travel For Teens began running programs and, thanks to our local knowledge and insider connections, there is no better way to discover this European gem than with us!
Our journey begins in the region of Provence. Our home base will be Aix, one of the most quaint towns in the South of France which has retained much of its provençal ambience with cobblestone streets, beautiful fountains, and a vibrant café life. Immerse yourself in French language and culture with a homestay experience (organized by Upper Dublin High School). In addition to language classes, we’ll enjoy Aix-en-Provence, home of the famous painter Paul Cézanne. Take a day trip to the Mediterranean city of Marseille before going for a swim at the spectacular Calenques National Park; explore the town of Arles, famous for inspiring the works of Vincent Van Gogh; and soak up the beauty of the south of France!
Then we’ll say au revoir to our host families and travel by train to the City of Light: Paris! What better way to welcome you to Paris than by going up the Eiffel Tower? Enjoy a fresh ham-and-cheese baguette on the Champs de Mars and savor homemade fondue in the Latin Quarter for dinner. Cruise down the Seine at twilight and watch the Eiffel Tower sparkle. Marvel at the world’s best masterpieces in the Louvre Museum–Will you be able to figure out what the Mona Lisa is smiling at? Stroll through the lush Tuileries Gardens with a fresh macaron in hand and gaze in awe at Notre Dame and the Arc de Triomphe. See Monet’s and Van Gogh’s most famous paintings up close at the Musée d’Orsay, and of course, shop ’til you drop on the Champs-Elysées. We’ll travel to the spectacular Chateau de Versailles, where you’ll see where history was made in the Hall of Mirrors and stroll through Marie Antoinette’s gardens!
Our years of experience bringing students to France means that we know exactly how to educate, excite, and inspire. Join us for the chance to immerse yourself in the best of France and leave with memories to last a lifetime!
Informational Meeting Details
Your Upper Dublin High School chaperones will give a short presentation and answer your questions.
Date: May 23, 2023
Trip Itinerary
DAY 1: DEPART FROM THE USA
Group flight departs from Philadelphia!
DAYS 2-10: Aix-en-Provence
Bienvenue en France! We’ll land in Paris and take a private transfer to Aix en Provence, famous for being the gateway to the French Alps and beautiful rolling hills of lavender. Here we’ll meet our host families! Living with locals provides the opportunity to practice their French language skills outside of the classroom.
We’ll have a blast exploring Aix-en-Provence with an adventurous scavenger hunt discovering the hidden corners of the quaint city. We’ll visit the art studio of the famous artist, Paul Cézanne, explore a local market, and take a day hike to Croix de Provence on Montagne Sainte Victoire. We’ll also take several day trips from Aix to explore our favorite hidden gems in the south of France (organized by the home stay families and Upper Dublin).
DAYS 11-14: PARIS & VERSAILLES
Then we’re off to Paris, the City of Light! Here we’ll experience the best of French culture as we marvel at priceless masterpieces and stunning architecture, stroll along the quintessential Parisian boulevards, and eat our way through the different arrondissements, or neighborhoods.
We’ll make sure to truly capture the priceless works of art in the Louvre during our guided tour and experience Paris on our sunset cruise down the Seine. Bike ride through Paris’ hidden alleyways with our local guide and learn interesting aspects of the city’s long history. Try some of your favorite recipes at authentic restaurants, such as crêpes, fondue, and omelettes, or maybe taste something new–escargot anyone? Finally, let’s not forget the experience of a lifetime: going all the way to the top of the Eiffel Tower!
Our time in Paris would not be complete without a visit to Versailles. We’ll take a short train ride out of Paris to the spectacular Château de Versailles, a hunting lodge-turned-palace. Learn about the most important historical moments that have taken place here, including the reign of the Sun King, the French Revolution, the Treaty of Versailles signed in the Hall of Mirrors, and more. Stroll through the gardens and see Marie Antoinette’s Hamlet before picking up fresh lunch ingredients in the Versailles farmers’ market.
DAY 15: RETURN FLIGHT TO THE USA
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Travel For Teens?
We are in our 21st year in the teen travel business and have emerged as the industry leader for teen travel in the United States, Canada, Europe, Latin America, Asia, Oceania, and Africa. We operate over 100 programs in 47 countries on 6 continents.
Our philosophy: We offer genuine and authentic trips for travelers, not tourists.
Our goal is to engender a passion for learning about other cultures and places through living like a local in that place.
How much is tuition and what does it include?
Tuition for the trip is $3.995, which INCLUDES all breakfasts and dinners, accommodations in Paris, roundtrip airfare, transportation, entrance to museums/events, Standard Travel Protection Plan, taxes and tips.
Tuition does NOT INCLUDE meals not listed in the itinerary, beverages other than filtered water at meals, laundry, souvenirs, shopping, visas and visa application fees, personal and medical expenses, activities and admissions that are not program-related or referenced in the itinerary, excess baggage fees, damage to hotels, or expenses related to unforeseen circumstances (e.g. transportation delays or natural disasters).
Tuition for the trip is $3.995, which INCLUDES all breakfasts and dinners, accommodations in Paris, roundtrip airfare, transportation, entrance to museums/events, Standard Travel Protection Plan, taxes and tips.
Tuition does NOT INCLUDE meals not listed in the itinerary, beverages other than filtered water at meals, laundry, souvenirs, shopping, visas and visa application fees, personal and medical expenses, activities and admissions that are not program-related or referenced in the itinerary, excess baggage fees, damage to hotels, or expenses related to unforeseen circumstances (e.g. transportation delays or natural disasters).
If I cannot afford the payment schedule listed above, does Travel For Teens provide flexible payment plans?
Yes, Travel For Teens is willing to customize a payment plan for any participant who needs a little flexibility in the payment schedule. Please email help@travelforteens.com for details on payment plans.
How much is trip cancellation insurance?
Travel For Teens will arrange for all chaperones and students to have our standard travel protection plan. The policy is underwritten by TII and details can be found at http://www.travelforteens.com/insurance.
Travel For Teens will arrange for all chaperones and students to have our standard travel protection plan. The policy is underwritten by TII and details can be found at http://www.travelforteens.com/insurance.
How much is airfare? How do the flights work?
Travel For Teens will reserve a group contract for all participants traveling roundtrip from Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) to Paris (CDG) and the connecting flight from Paris to Marseilles on the way there. The exact flight path will be determined in October 2023. TFT reserves the right to adjust the trip cost difference with a tuition supplement.
If participants would like us to book their independent flights for them, we are happy to do so for a $100 per ticket booking fee.
Travel For Teens will reserve a group contract for all participants traveling roundtrip from Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) to Paris (CDG) and the connecting flight from Paris to Marseilles on the way there. The exact flight path will be determined in October 2023. TFT reserves the right to adjust the trip cost difference with a tuition supplement.
If participants would like us to book their independent flights for them, we are happy to do so for a $100 per ticket booking fee.
Who can go on this trip?
The trip is open to all Upper Dublin High School students enrolled in French class. Space is limited and is awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis.
The trip is open to all Upper Dublin High School students enrolled in French class. Space is limited and is awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Are parents allowed to go on this trip?
Participants will be traveling without a parent.
Participants will be traveling without a parent.
What happens after I register?
Once your $750 deposit is paid, you will receive an email that confirms your registration.
In September 2023, you will receive another email that contains your USERNAME and PASSWORD to MyTFT. All forms to be completed by parents and physician as well as packing lists, travel tips, travel insurance information, and other important information can be found on the MyTFT portal (hard copies of the essential legal/medical forms can be mailed to participants upon request). Our contract and release must be signed by all custodial parents (or guardians) and the participant. We will host a second meeting in advance of your departure to go over all last minute questions and details.
Once your $750 deposit is paid, you will receive an email that confirms your registration.
In September 2023, you will receive another email that contains your USERNAME and PASSWORD to MyTFT. All forms to be completed by parents and physician as well as packing lists, travel tips, travel insurance information, and other important information can be found on the MyTFT portal (hard copies of the essential legal/medical forms can be mailed to participants upon request). Our contract and release must be signed by all custodial parents (or guardians) and the participant. We will host a second meeting in advance of your departure to go over all last minute questions and details.
Where do we stay?
Upper Dublin High School will be arranging homestays for the portion of the program in Aix-en-Provence. For further information regarding the homestays please contact lead chaperone Ms. Christine Jones.
We will be staying in a three-star hotel in Paris. The name of the accommodation is available to all families once they have signed up.
Single rooms can be requested and will cost $450 additional per person per single.
Note: singles must be requested at the time of registration to be guaranteed.
Upper Dublin High School will be arranging homestays for the portion of the program in Aix-en-Provence. For further information regarding the homestays please contact lead chaperone Ms. Christine Jones.
We will be staying in a three-star hotel in Paris. The name of the accommodation is available to all families once they have signed up.
Single rooms can be requested and will cost $450 additional per person per single.
Note: singles must be requested at the time of registration to be guaranteed.
Trip Emails & Photographs
PHOTOGRAPHS
We will take dozens, if not hundreds, of photos each day. The best photos will be posted as regularly as possible (ideally every day) to a private photo-sharing platform (Waldo Photos) where you can follow along with the trip. We will send you an email to alert you when we post new photos. Low-resolution photos can be viewed for free during and after the trip. All of your High-Resolution matched photos can be purchased and downloaded in real-time during the trip or after the trip for $50.
EMAILS
The Trip Director will be in regular email contact every 24-48 hours, internet willing, with our families. Emails will include fun detailed updates about the day’s activities and are a great way for families to follow along with the journey. Email will be the best way to communicate messages to the Trip Director.
What are the safety qualifications for our staff?
Our staff members undergo a rigorous hiring process. They receive the same background check as school educators, an extensive training process to go over all safety precautions and protocols, and are required to be certified in CPR and First Aid. We exclusively hire responsible, multi-talented individuals who are safety-minded and are as passionate about teen travel as we are.
What is the food like on a TFT program? Can you accommodate dietary restrictions?
In a word – delicious! At TFT, we believe food should be an integral part of the travel experience and always make an effort to eat at authentic establishments when we can. What better way to immerse yourself in the culture of a place than by sampling the local delicacies, and we encourage students to do so whenever possible! Just as we stay away from Americanized hotel chains, we try to avoid restaurants with menus that cater only to tourists because every good traveler knows the best food is found wherever the locals are eating!
We also love to have picnics al fresco and do this whenever possible, which is a great way to taste some local food while sitting out in the fresh air taking in the sights and sounds of our surroundings.
As always, we are willing and able to accommodate vegetarians, vegans, gluten allergies, and other dietary restrictions.
Do I need to speak the language?
No, our skilled staff members will help you get around and even teach you a few fun phrases!
Are participants allowed to have their cell phones on the program?
We do allow participants to bring their phones, but we ask that they use it solely as a camera when we are out and about during the day. We want everyone to focus on living in the moment and fully experience each new destination we are visiting without being absorbed in their phones. We ask that participants look at their journey with us as a way to disconnect. When we have downtime at our hotels in the evenings it is okay for participants to use their devices to connect with friends and family back home.
What is the activity level of this trip?
This is an active trip. The goal of the trip will be to maximize each day. We aim to achieve a good balance of activity and downtime. You will need to be comfortable walking about 5 miles a day in total.