Monthly Update - January 2026

Home Monthly Update – January 2026

January Update From TFT Headquarters

Happy New Year TFT Families! If you are joining us for another year, welcome back! If you are new to the fold, welcome – we are grateful you’re here. We have hit the ground running in preparation for Summer 2026 and are ready to help you be prepared as well!

You can expect a monthly update and monthly update video shared during the first full week of the month from now until June 2026.

The goal of our monthly updates is to present to you key information relevant to the time of the year and a centralized place for general information that will help you and your teen prepare for their program.

Items covered in this update:

Timeline from Now til Departure
TFT Protection Plans
Summer Flights Update
Undecided Travelers
Post-Registration To-Do’s

Looking Forward!

This year will fly by! We want to make sure our families know what to expect as we approach summer. We’d like to share this timeline between now and departure to help you prepare.

January – February

Flights released on a rolling basis from mid-January until March 15
Post Registration Webinars – view schedule here.

March – April

Purchase travel protection & final payment by April 1
Check your MyTFT parent portal for trip Add-ons in early spring
Complete all your paperwork
Order your free TFT traveler tee!
Additional paperwork requirements for select programs
- Language placement assessment for language immersion programs
- Scuba waivers and certifications

May – June – July – August

Visa information released by May (when applicable)
Pre-Departure Webinars
Introduction to your Trip Leader in mid-June
Pre-Departure Emails
- General Instructions two weeks before departure
- Travelers join their WhatsApp group a week before departure
- Specific travel Day information one week before departure, including UM info if applicable

Protect Your Program!

Each year, at least one family has to unfortunately cancel at the last minute due to something unexpected, like an illness or injury. In addition, plans can change, last-minute jitters can hit, or homesickness can crop up during the program. Our TFT Protection Plans are custom policies created with teenage travelers in mind. And, in the event you have to use one of our policies, we’ll be right there with you — offering detailed instructions to file a claim, supporting documents, and any additional help you may need liaising with the insurance company.

Our policies are available to residents of the US, except Puerto Rico, and some state-level restrictions apply. You can review our full policy details here. If you live in Puerto Rico or outside of the US, international options are available under ‘Independent Plan Options.’

Questions about our Protection Plans? Schedule a quick call here!

TFT Protection Plan

The TFT Protection Plan is our base policy, which allows you to cancel and be eligible for up to 100% reimbursement if you are canceling for a plan-covered reason, such as injury or illness, before the trip. Once the program departs, you’re covered with missed connection, trip delay, and medical coverage while traveling.

Reasons to choose this plan:

Your traveler is absolutely certain they will go, barring the unexpected
You want a base-level, comprehensive plan with no frills

TFT Protection Plan w/ CFAR

This plan is identical to our base policy, but includes the Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR). In addition to the benefits of the Protection Plan, CFAR gives you the ability to cancel for any reason – and we mean any! – as long as we have written notice 48 hours before departure. When canceling using the CFAR benefit, you are eligible for up to 75% reimbursement for non-covered reasons and up to 100% reimbursement for covered reasons.

Reasons to choose this plan:

Your traveler is uncertain if they want to go on the trip
Vacation or other plans may change your available dates
Unexpected grades or behavior
Uncertainty of current or future global events

TFT Protection Plan w/ CFAR/IFAR

This is our most comprehensive plan, which offers maximum peace of mind for any cancellation scenario you can think of! Included with our base plan and CFAR benefit is the Interrupt For Any Reason (IFAR) benefit, which allows the traveler to interrupt and leave the program after 72 hours for any reason and be eligible for up to 75% reimbursement of the unused program costs. Homesick? Second thoughts? We never want a traveler to leave, but the IFAR benefit allows for an easier decision if that decision must be made.

Reasons to choose this plan:

Your traveler has heightened anxiety about traveling
Your traveler experiences severe homesickness
You want an easy, peace-of-mind policy option if your traveler simply wants to go home
You want a comprehensive policy that covers any ‘what if’ you can possibly think of

Flights

Group Flights & Flight Window Announcements

Each year, the Logistics Team carefully plans out specific flight paths for every summer program. For some programs, there will be a suggested group flight, while others will have flight arrival windows. We will begin to contact families with specific flight details, trip by trip, starting at the end of this month through March 15.

TFT has partnered with a professional flight-booking service, offering a quick, hassle-free solution to finding and purchasing flights! When we send the flight details, we will include the link to get a free quote from our agents. It’s that easy! You will also have the option to book on your own.

We know some of you are eager to book your teen’s flights! If you wish to book flights sooner, contact our Logistics team for more information.

Some Items to Check Off Your List

MyTFT

MyTFT, also known as the parent portal, will be your one-stop shop for all trip-related tasks and information. In it, you can currently find your paperwork and trip tasks, invoice, and transportation details. If you have multiple travelers, you can find them all in your account!

In the coming months, your MyTFT account will show optional trip add-ons if the program has them, a detailed itinerary and visa or waiver information (if applicable). We’ll continue to update you as more items are available!

Paperwork

Our paperwork consists of a packet sent via DocuSign and forms to be uploaded directly into your MyTFT account. When accessing the DocuSign paperwork, there will be a web form to complete first. The information input in that form will auto-populate into the packet!

To complete the rest of the paperwork, forms will need to be completed and/or uploaded directly into the parent portal. After logging in, navigate to the traveler’s trip page, and you will see ‘Traveler Tasks’. All tasks will have due dates. If you have any questions or need more time with a task, feel free to reach out to our Client Service team at help@travelforteens.com or call 888-457-4534!

Check out our Webinars!

Our Client Service & Logistics teams are holding monthly! Meet some of the team members that you’ll likely be speaking to in the upcoming months and go over your to-dos between registration and departure.

These sessions provide general information about paperwork, insurance, flights, payments, and other frequently asked questions. If you attend and have questions, a survey is sent out after the webinar, and you can request additional information there! Our team will answer your questions within 24-48 hours.

Starting in June and July, we will hold departure and trip-specific webinars to answer all your last-minute trip questions.

To see dates and register ahead of time, click here!

Schedule a Welcome Call!

We strongly suggest that all of our families schedule a welcome call with our Client Service team after registering, whether you’re an alum family or new to the fold we’re here to help! During this call, one of our team members can answer any questions you have. Don’t have specific questions? That’s okay! Our Client Service team will cover main topics such as paperwork, insurance, flights, and payment options.

Click here to schedule a welcome call!

Choosing a Trip

Still Undecided?

The deadline to choose a program is February 1st!

With so many amazing programs to choose from, we understand it can be a tough decision. That’s where our fantastic Program Consultants come in! They’re ready to assist you in finding the perfect fit for your teen’s interests. Schedule a call with one of them here, and they’ll guide you through the best options.

Our programs can fill up fast and several are almost sold out so the sooner the better!

Advice from College Advisors

Travel for Teens programs don’t just create unforgettable memories, they create stories worth telling! Through immersive travel, meaningful service, and real-world challenges, students gain perspective, confidence, and clarity about who they are. Our trusted college admission advisors help students transform these experiences into compelling, authentic essays that showcase growth, leadership, and curiosity— all qualities that colleges value most!

Click here to learn more.

Fun Tidbits!

Amazon Page & Gift Guide

The holidays might be over, but great travel gifts are always in season! Explore our Travel For Teens Amazon page and gift guide for teen-approved gear and trip-ready favorites, all hand-picked by our team to help travelers feel prepared, comfortable, and excited for their next trip.

TFT is Hiring!

Do you know a teacher, outdoor enthusiast or travel aficionado that you think would make a great summer counselor? Travel For Teens is hiring for summer positions now. Applicants must have experience working with teenagers, summer availability, and a clean background.

All positions can be viewed on our Careers page here.

Follow Us On Social Media

You can wanderlust all year long on our exciting social media platforms! See TikToks, videos, and reels from our favorite destinations and meet our dynamic staff! Not sure which adventure you’ll book for Summer 2026? Check out our Instagram highlights for some inspo!