Program Overview
Explore all of the beauty and culture that Greece and Italy have to offer on this Mediterranean summer adventure. From island cruises and snorkeling in crystal blue waters to lively piazzas and mouthwatering meals, we’ll experience the best that Europe has to offer on this adventure of a lifetime!
In Greece, dig deep into ancient historical sites in Athens and jump right into a postcard as you island-hop your way around the rest of the country! The islands are home to stunning beaches, white-washed homes, charming towns and centuries of rich history. Snorkel in the Ionian and Aegean Seas, relax on picturesque beaches, eat like Greek gods, and explore the ancient culture in the very heart of Western civilization.
Then it’s time to discover the beauty of Italy. Sail the coast on a private boat and discover the island of Capri while eating your fill of authentic cuisine. Visit Rome, where we’ll wonder down cobblestone streets, step back in time to Ancient Rome and marvel at the Colosseum and Roman Forum. Next, we’ll explore the Cinque Terre – this region is home to five idyllic fishing villages with pastel-colored houses perched on dramatic cliffs that plunge into the crystal-blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Then it’s off to Florence – a Renaissance city home to Michelangelo’s David, the famous leather markets, and the world-famous Uffizi art gallery. Our final stop is Venice – a dreamlike city of bridges and canals unlike any other in the world.
Prepare to fall in love with the culture, people, history, cuisine, and pure beauty of Greece and Italy on this trip of a lifetime!
During this program, you will…
- Climb the Acropolis for a close-up look at the Parthenon, one of the most spectacular ancient ruins in the world
- Learn how to make the best Greek specialties during a private cooking class
- Try the world’s most delicious gyro in the historical Monastiraki neighborhood of Athens
- Marvel at the white buildings and blue domes that line the charming islands of Paros and Santorini
- See the world famous sunsets from the best vantage point of Santorini
- Visit the charming seaside city of Nafplio and climb to the top of a castle fortress overlooking the Aegean Sea
- Take a private boat tour around the caldera of Santorini, stopping at hidden beaches along the way
Trip Itinerary
DAY 1: Departure time
DAY 2: Welcome to Greece!
- Flight arrives in Athens
- Meet your TFT Counselors at the airport and transfer to the hotel
- Lunch and first day meeting
- Get your introduction to Athens during our walking tour. We’ll see the Temple of Zeus, the Marble Stadium, and walk through the districts of Plaka and Monastraki.
- First night’s dinner – Authentic Greek cuisine in the heart of Athens
DAY 3: Time travel to Ancient Greece
- Visit the Acropolis, one of the most iconic images of Western Civilization
- Jump into Athens circa 500 BC at the Acropolis Museum, one of the 10 best museums in the world.
- Lunch
- Afternoon options: Shopping on Ermou Street or relax at the hotel
- Dinner at a Classic Greek Taverna
DAY 4: Excursion to Nafplio
- Stop at the Corinth Canal, a technological feat of engineering dating back to the time of Ancient Greece and only completed in the 19th century!
- Discover the ancient healing sanctuary of Epidaurus, dedicated to Asclepius and home to one of the most famous theaters in the world!
- Lunch and free time in the first capital of Greece-charming Nafplio
- Visit a nearby beach for our first dip in the Mediterranean (weather- permitting)
- Dinner in Athens
DAY 5: Our first Greek Island - Paros
- Hop on our ferry to Paros
- Check into our Paros hotel and then head to lunch – Greek Gyros, anyone?
- Santa Maria Beach: This is the most gorgeous beach on the entire island! Afternoon choices of windsurfing, beach volleyball and snorkeling.
- Head back to the hotel
- Dinner in Paros
DAY 6: Our first sailing trip!
- Private Boat Trip: Sail along the beautiful coast of Paros with its crystal-blue waters and stunning coastline
- Lunch on Board
- Relax in Alyki!
- Grab a coffee or go swimming at the local beach – enjoy the afternoon Greek Siesta
- Sunset Dinner in Parikia with a Gelato!
DAY 7: Santorini/Fira
- Free morning in Paros
- Sail over the Aegean on our ferry to Santorini
- Lunch on the ferry
- Private transfer to our Santorini hotel for check-in
- Enjoy our first meal in Santorini with the best caldera view on the island
DAY 8: Picture-perfect island
- Depart for Oia, one of the most photographed places on the planet (optional hike)
- Free morning to stroll through the whitewashed alleyways of Oia and capture the scenic beauty
- Lunch in Oia
- Afternoon Options: Shopping in Fira or head to a black sand beach!
- Optional Add On: Scuba Diving! Love scuba diving or always wanted to try scuba diving? Here is your chance to dive the Mediterranean Sea off the amazing Greek islands!
- Dinner in Fira
DAY 9: Back to the mainland
- Morning ferry back to mainland
- Private transfer to our Athens hotel for check-in
- Lunch in Monastiraki — try the best gyro in Athens!
- Scavenger hunt in the Agora, the birthplace of democracy and in the heart of historical Athens
- Dinner
DAY 11: Fun in the sun
- Board the bus to Vasiliki for a day of scuba diving, snorkeling and kayaking or windsurfing!
- Lunch at the beach
- Transfer back to Lefkada town and refresh at the hotel
- Greek Cooking Lesson & Dinner
DAY 12: Island cruising
- Board our transfer for Nydri
- Cruise around the Islands: Board the boat for an all day cruise! We will be explore Nydri and several secluded islands off the coast of Lefkada including the Onassis’ island.
- Lunch
- Disembark the boat and refresh at the hotel
- Dinner in Lefkada town
DAY 13: Benvenuti in Italia!
- Catch your flight to Naples
- Flight arrives in Naples
- Lunch in Naples
- Transfer to Sorrento
- Check into our Sorrento accommodation
- Relax at the beach
- Our hotel in Sorrento has its own private beach underneath – head down and relax along the Italian coastline before we head to town tonight!
- Dinner in Sorrento
DAY 14:Amalfi Coast
- Private Amalfi Coast Cruise: The eighth wonder (of the Mediterranean, at least): the Costiera Amalfitana. Spend a magical day cruising the crystal clear waters, stopping at a bunch of our favorite places along the way!
- Lunch
- Swimming in the Mediterranean
- Dinner in Sorrento
DAY 15: Capri & Lemons
- Ferry to Capri
- Morning Options: Visit Anacapri and ride to the top of Mount Solaro for stunning views or explore around the town of Anacapri
- Lunch in Capri
- Explore Capri
- Ferry back to Sorrento
- Dinner in Sorrento
DAY 16: The Ancient City of Pompeii & Departure
16-day group
- Flight home departs from Naples airport
25-day group
- Head to Pompeii
- Visit the Ancient City of Pompeii: Explore the ruins of this nearly perfectly preserved ancient Roman city. It was covered by meters of ash during the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79AD.
- Lunch at Pompeii
- Depart for Rome and check into our accommodation
- Dinner in Rome
- Walk around and explore Rome as you head back to the hotel
DAY 17: Visit the Vatican
- Visit the Vatican Museums, including the Sistine Chapel
- St. Peter’s Basilica – Explore the inside of this opulent and amazing church.
- Lunch of pizza al taglio – pizza by the slice!
- Head to the medieval Roman neighborhood of Trastevere
- Visit the Basilica di Santa Maria
- Dinner in Trastevere
DAY 18: The Eternal City
- Visit the Colosseum: See where the gladiators fought!
- The Roman Forum: Learn about the rise and fall of one of the world’s greatest civilizations
- Visit the market at the Campo di Fiori and grab lunch
- Visit the Trevi Fountain-throw your coin to ensure your return to the Eternal City
- Shopping on the Via del Corso
- Dinner at Piazza Navona
DAY 19: The Five villages
- Head to Cinque Terre!
- Lunch on the train
- Arrive in Monterosso and check into our hotel
- Afternoon at the beach in Monterosso
- Pizza dinner and photo scavenger hunt in Monterosso
DAY 20: Explore Cinque Terre
- Depart for our Cinque Terre hike, where we’ll capture stunning vista views along the UNESCO heritage coastline (train option to towns for non-hikers)
- Lunch in one of the villages
- Head to Manarola, where we’ll enjoy an afternoon of swimming!
- Dinner in Monterosso
DAY 21: Renaissance City
- Catch our train to Florence!
- Arrive in Florence and check into our hotel
- Lunch in the Mercado San Lorenzo
- Visit l’Accademia to see
- Michelangelo’s David
- First Florentine dinner
- TFT’s famous gelato tour!
DAY 22: Museums & Leather
- Morning tour of the Uffizi, one of the world’s most important museums
- Lunch – try famous paninis!
- Learn about Florence’s famous leather industry at our private presentation
- Climb the Duomo to check out the incredible views of Florence
- Free Afternoon: take some time to explore and shop, or relax at the hotel
- Hike up to Piazzale Michelangelo for a sunset photo shoot and pizza dinner
DAY 23: La Serenissima Venice
- Catch our train to Venice
- Lunch on the train
- Arrive in Venice and drop-off the luggage
- Head out on our walking tour where we’ll learn about the Jewish Ghetto, Rialto Bridge, St. Mark’s Square, Doge’s Palace, and St. Mark’s Basilica
- Dinner in Venice
DAY 24: Gondolas and Canals
- Vaporetto ride out to Murano Island & glassblowing workshop
- Lunch
- Free afternoon: visit Doge’s Palace, climb the Campanile or shop till you drop
- Gondola ride along the canals
- Return to the hotel and refresh for our fancy final dinner
- Fancy final dinner in Venice- wrap up this trip of a lifetime in one of our favorite restaurants in Italy.
- Final Night Hangout: Reminisce on the incredible memories you’ve made with your new friends!
DAY 25: Arrivederci Italia!
- Flight back to USA
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Informational Meeting
Informational Meeting Details
A TFT representative will give a short presentation via Google Meet and answer your questions.
When: Sunday, Oct 27 ·
Time: 4:30–5:30 PM
Travel with us and discover why we are consistently winning awards for Top Youth Travel Organization.
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Trip Specific FAQs
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 $8995 for 25 days and $7545 for 16 days which INCLUDES all breakfasts and dinners, accommodations, transportation, intra-trip flights, entrance to museums/events, taxes, and tips.
Tuition does NOT INCLUDE airfare from USA to Europe, lunches and meals not listed in the itinerary, beverages other than filtered water at meals, COVID testing before, during, or after the trip, 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 Mandatory Trip Protection Plan.
Tuition for the trip is $8995 for 25 days and $7545 for 16 days which INCLUDES all breakfasts and dinners, accommodations, transportation, intra-trip flights, entrance to museums/events, taxes, and tips.
Tuition does NOT INCLUDE airfare from USA to Europe, lunches and meals not listed in the itinerary, beverages other than filtered water at meals, COVID testing before, during, or after the trip, 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 Mandatory Trip Protection Plan.
What is the payment timeline?
- Registration deadline: October 28, 2024
- At the time of registration: $750 trip deposit due
- Balance due in three installments
All payments may be paid via ACH (no fee) or by Credit Card (4% convenience fee added to all credit card payments other than the $750 deposit)
- Registration deadline: October 28, 2024
- At the time of registration: $750 trip deposit due
- Balance due in three installments
All payments may be paid via ACH (no fee) or by Credit Card (4% convenience fee added to all credit card payments other than the $750 deposit)
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.
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 have an additional fee 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 have an additional fee 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.