Program Overview
Organized by Travel For Teens and The GOW School, this Italian cultural immersion will have you discovering the best of Italy’s mouthwatering cuisine, awe-inspiring art, charming villas and vineyards, fascinating history and ruins, and renowned shopping.
Our first stop is Venice – a dreamlike city of bridges and canals unlike any other in the world. Then it’s off to discover the Renaissance city of Florence, home to Michelangelo’s David, the famous leather markets, and the world-famous Uffizi art gallery. Climb to the top of the Duomo for a breathtaking view of the whole city, and of course, no trip to Italy would be complete without undertaking TFT’s famous gelato challenge!
Then, we will step back in time to Ancient Rome, where we will discover the Colosseum and Roman Forum, and wander through medieval Italy in Trastevere after spending our morning in the Vatican City.
All Gow School students and families are welcome to join this adventure of a lifetime! There are a limited number of spaces for the trip which are available on a first come first serve basis.
During this trip, you will…
- Visit the culinary capital of Italy and indulge in the finest balsamic vinegar, prosciutto, and local cheeses
- Guarantee your return to Rome with a coin tossed into the Trevi Fountain
- Stroll across the famous Ponte Vecchio and experience the Renaissance city of Florence
- Wander through the vast interior of St. Peter’s Basilica and stare in awe at Michelangelo’s masterpiece in the Sistine Chapel
- Discover the ancient ruins and marvel at the Colosseum in Rome
- Climb the Duomo for incredible views of Florence
- Explore local neighborhoods of Rome in search of the best artisan pizza
Trip Itinerary
DAY 1: Departure time
- Flight departs for Milan, Italy
DAY 2: Benvenuti in Italia!
- Flight arrives in Milan
- Meet your TFT Counselors at the airport and a private transfer to Venice
- Lunch and TFT First-Day Meeting
- Get your introduction to Venice during our walking tour
- First night’s dinner – Authentic Italian cuisine.
DAY 3: The Carnival
- Opening water parade for the carnival.
- Enjoy all that Carnival has to offer! Lunch
- Partake in our favorite Venetian mask-making class this afternoon after seeing all the masks on display at Carnival — learn about this unique cultural tradition specific to Venice!
- Dinner in Venice
DAY 4: Gondolas and Canals
- Vaporetto ride out to Murano Island & Glassblowing workshop
- Lunch in St. Mark Square
- Visit the Ducal Palace
- Gondola ride along the canals
- Dinner in Venice
Day 5: Cross the regions
- Catch our train, and then coach, towards Florence!
- Stop in Parma and see how traditional balsamic vinegar is made
- Lunch at our Balsamic Vinegar tasting
- Arrive in Florence and check into our hotel
- Climb the Duomo and explore Florence
- First Florentine dinner TFT’s famous gelato tour!
DAY 6: The Renaissance City
- Morning visit to the Uffizi, one of the world’s most important museums
- Lunch in the Mercado San Lorenzo
- Free time to shop in the famous leather market San Lorenzo
- Visit l’Accademia to see Michelangelo’s David
- Afternoon options: more shopping time, or relax at the hotel
- Hike up to Piazzale Michelangelo for a sunset photo shoot
- Dinner
DAY 7: Visit the Vatican
- Take a train to Rome
- Lunch of pizza al taglio – pizza by the slice!
- Tour the Vatican Museums, including the Sistine Chapel
- St. Peter’s Basilica – Explore the inside of this opulent church.
- Dinner and evening photo session in Piazza Navona
DAY 8: 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 Lunch near the
- Trevi Fountain – throw your coin to ensure your return to the Eternal City
- Afternoon Options: Shopping on the Via del Corso OR Catch views of Rome from the Victor Emmanuel II Monument
- Head to the medieval Roman neighborhood of Trastevere
- Final Dinner in Trastevere- wrap up this trip of a lifetime in one of our favorite restaurants in Italy
DAY 9: Arrivederci Italia!
- Flight back to USA
Informational Webinar
Informational Meeting Details
A TFT representative will give a short presentation and answer your questions.
When: TBD
Time: TBD
Register Now
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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 $3,695 which INCLUDES breakfasts and dinners, accommodations, admissions, departure taxes, tips (no extra gratuities), registration charges, ground transportation (coaches/trains/public transport)
Tuition does NOT INCLUDE travel insurance, lunches and meals not listed in the itinerary, airfare, 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, and expenses related to unforeseen circumstances (e.g. transportation delays or natural disasters).
Please note: there is an adult supplement of $50 for additional admission costs.
Tuition for the trip is $3,695 which INCLUDES breakfasts and dinners, accommodations, admissions, departure taxes, tips (no extra gratuities), registration charges, ground transportation (coaches/trains/public transport)
Tuition does NOT INCLUDE travel insurance, lunches and meals not listed in the itinerary, airfare, 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, and expenses related to unforeseen circumstances (e.g. transportation delays or natural disasters).
Please note: there is an adult supplement of $50 for additional admission costs.
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?
All Gow School students and families are welcome to join this adventure of a lifetime!
Space is limited and is awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis.
All Gow School students and families are welcome to join this adventure of a lifetime!
Space is limited and is awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis.
What is the payment timeline?
Deadline to register: TBD
At the time of registration: a $750 trip deposit is due
Balance in four installments broken up between registration and 60 days before the trip. The exact dates are TBD.
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)
Deadline to register: TBD
At the time of registration: a $750 trip deposit is due
Balance in four installments broken up between registration and 60 days before the trip. The exact dates are TBD.
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)
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 $350 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 $350 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.

