Program Overview
Important Note: There will be an informational webinar for this trip open to Hilton Head Prep families on February 26th at 6:30pm. Register here!
Organized by Travel For Teens and Hilton Head Preparatory School, this Portugal and Spain cultural immersion will have you discovering the mouthwatering cuisine, awe-inspiring art, and the fascinating history between both incredible countries!
Our first stop is Portugal’s vibrant capital city of Lisbon. Let the eclectic architecture wow you as you stroll the hillside neighborhood of Alfama, one of Lisbon’s oldest districts. If you listen carefully, you’ll even hear the sounds of traditional fado music as you explore the hidden alleyways and hip boutiques.
Take a day trip to the estate town of Sintra, where you’ll visit two hilltop castles with views that extend all the way to the Atlantic Ocean. Soak up the sun and sand at Lagos’ world-class beaches as we kayak through hidden grottoes, snorkel in crystal-clear waters, and watch the sunset at the End of the World!
Cross over the border into Spain, where you will wander the quaint cobblestone streets of the Andalusian cities of Seville and Granada, before exploring the capital city of Madrid in all its royal glory. You’ll take traditional dance classes in Seville, tour the gardens of the Alhambra Palace, and even have the chance to get a massage and soak in a traditional Arab bath-house in Granada!
We’ll end our adventure in Madrid, where we’ll stroll through the the Puerta del Sol, pay homage to the legendary Real Madrid Football Club at the Bernabéu Stadium, and go for a rowboat ride in Retiro Park!
This program is open to Hilton Head students in 9th-12th grade.
During this trip, you will…
- Climb the Moorish Castle and explore lagoons at a mansion in Portugal’s gorgeous mountain estate town
- Walk in the footsteps of the ancient Moorish kings at the spectacular Alhambra Palace
- Try the famous Pasteis de Belem at the original Portuguese bakery where they were invented
- Kayak through the incredible rock formations of Portugal’s Algarve coast
- Swim and snorkel off the beautiful coast of Lagos
- Tour the home of Real Madrid Football Club at the massive soccer stadium where they play
- Attend a Flamenco Show and take in the hand clapping, percussive footwork, and intricate hand, arm, and body movements.
- Dine on mouthwatering patatas bravas and other authentic Spanish tapas
- Go on a tapas tour through downtown Madrid, plus try paella and churros con chocolate
Trip Itinerary
DAY 1: DEPART FROM THE USA
DAYS 2: BEM-VINDO A PORTUGAL
- Meet your TFT Counselors at the airport and transfer to the hotel
- First-day meeting
- Get your introduction to Lisbon during our walking tour
- Explore St. George’s Castle, an 11th-century fort built during the Moorish period, and enjoy some amazing views!
- First night’s dinner – Authentic Portuguese cuisine
DAY 3: FAIRYTALE TOWN OF SINTRA
- Day trip to Sintra -We’ll check out this gorgeous town, home to a couple of castles, and visit the Palacio da Pena- a gorgeous palace on top of a mountain!
- Lunch in Sintra town
- Afternoon beach time in the resort town of Cascais
- Souvenir shopping time
- Dinner in Lisbon
DAY 4: DISCOVER BELEM
- Morning in Belem: Check out the Torre de Belém, the Monument to the Discoveries, and the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos.
- Try the traditional Pasteis de Belem, the Portuguese pastry whose recipe is still a secret!
- Train to Lagos
- Afternoon beach time
- Dinner in Lagos
DAY 5: SEA ADVENTURES
- Sea Kayaking Tour! – Kayak through Lagos’ stunning cliffs, sea caves, and coves, plus stop to go snorkeling.
- Lunch
- Shopping along the shore OR Hike up to the lighthouse!
- Relax on the beach
- Dinner
DAY 6: EXPLORING SEVILLE
- Bus to Seville
- Sevilla Walking Tour and Plaza de España – Check out this beautiful plaza with images from all over Spain.
- Cathedral of Sevilla – Pay a visit to Christopher Columbus’ tomb, hear the legend of how his bones traveled more than he did, and see where all that New World gold ended up.
- Traditional tapas dinner
- Flamenco show! Partake in one of the most traditional aspects of Andalusian culture! Olé!
DAY 7: TRAIN TO THE MIDDLE OF SPAIN
- See the Alcazar of Sevilla – Visit this amazing Moorish fortress, now a residence of the King and Queen of Spain, and explore the beautiful gardens.
- Train to Madrid
- Walking tour of downtown
- Madrid- You’ll explore all the sights of Puerta del Sol, where all major protests happen, as well as Kilometer 0, the Bear and Madroño Statue, and the Casa de Correos.
- Dinner in Madrid
- Churros for dessert! We’ll go to a churrería so famous, where even the King goes to get his churros!
DAY 8: THE BEAUTY OF MADRID
- Self-Guided tour of the Museo del Prado- Featuring masterpieces by Velázquez, Goya, el Greco and so many more of Spain’s greatest.
- Lunch in Parque del Retiro
Relaxing in the Parque del Retiro: Wander the beautiful gardens, see the turtles at the Crystal Palace, and go for a rowboat ride on the pond! - Afternoon Options: Watch the soccer game at the legendary Real Madrid Football Chome stadium, the Santiago Bernabéu* or have some free shopping time
- Fancy final dinner in a traditional Madrid restaurant
DAY 9: ADIÓS, ESPAÑA
Return flight to the USA
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Frequently Asked Question
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 & what does tuition include?
Tuition for the trip is $4,995 which INCLUDES all airfare, breakfasts and dinners, accommodations, transportation, entrance to museums/events, taxes and tips,
Tuition does NOT INCLUDE lunches and meals not listed in the itinerary, COVID-related expenses (PPE equipment and testing, as applicable), 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, expenses related to unforeseen circumstances (e.g. transportation delays or natural disasters), and Trip Protection Plans
Tuition for the trip is $4,995 which INCLUDES all airfare, breakfasts and dinners, accommodations, transportation, entrance to museums/events, taxes and tips,
Tuition does NOT INCLUDE lunches and meals not listed in the itinerary, COVID-related expenses (PPE equipment and testing, as applicable), 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, expenses related to unforeseen circumstances (e.g. transportation delays or natural disasters), and Trip Protection Plans
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.
Who can go on this trip?
The trip is open to all students in 9th-12th grade at Hilton Head Preparatory School. Space is limited and is awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis.
The trip is open to all students in 9th-12th grade at Hilton Head Preparatory School. Space is limited and is awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis.
What is the payment timeline?
Deadline to register: March 1, 2024
$750 trip deposit due within three business days of registration
Balance due in three installments:
March 15th, 2024
April 15th, 2024
May 15th, 2024
Deadline to register: March 1, 2024
$750 trip deposit due within three business days of registration
Balance due in three installments:
March 15th, 2024
April 15th, 2024
May 15th, 2024
After I register, what happens next?
Once you have completed your registration and paid your deposit, you will receive an 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.
Where do we stay?
We will be staying in three-star hotels throughout the program. The names of the accommodations are available to all families once they have signed up.
Single rooms can be requested and will cost $400 additional per person per single.
Note: singles must be requested at the time of registration to be guaranteed.
We will be staying in three-star hotels throughout the program. The names of the accommodations are available to all families once they have signed up.
Single rooms can be requested and will cost $400 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.
Safety, Sickness & Communication
SAFETY AND SICKNESS
The safety of our participants is our #1 concern, which is why we have only experienced trip leaders running the show. We offer 24/7 communication throughout our programs and have detailed risk management and safety policies in place. Please review our policies here.
For information regarding our specific policies with Covid-19 please review our Covid-19 protocols page here.
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.

