"It was a great experience - my daughter had a blast-and developed friendships along the way! She only wishes she started going on these trips when she was younger! I really appreciated the evening email update each night around same time. They were great!"
"She loved the country of course, as well as the counselors and a core group of kids. The adventures were very well planned and executed. She enjoyed and learned so much about the culture and people of Costa Rica. She loved the staff, they were very on hand and very approachable"
"Love the pictures, narratives and how much fun the teens seem to be having. It's great that the kids are learning so much while still having a good time. Thanks so much for all of the attention to detail and for always keeping us up to date!"
"Exceeded our expectations. The daily updates via email and the photos were amazing. My daughter made new friends and learned new skills while having fun and being independent. She enjoyed learning how to surf, having time to relax and play on the beach and meeting new friends. There seemed to be a good balance of planned activities and down time. My daughter is looking forward to her next trip and several of her friends at home are now looking forward to doing a teen travel trip instead of sleepaway camp!"
"I just wanted to thank you (and the other counselors) for these past three weeks. Olivia had a fabulous time on the trip!! She absolutely loved the country and really adored you. I don't think she wanted to leave! We are so grateful to you and the staff for all you did to ensure that the campers were having a blast and staying safe!! There were MANY times throughout the past few weeks that I really wished I was on this trip. The pictures were terrific and I always enjoyed your short updates from the day."
"Costa Rica was a fantastic experience. The most favorite parts were water rafting, surfing and boat day in Tamarindo. We really appreciated of how fast TFT reacted to the political instability in Ecuador and offered an option of redirecting the group to Costa Rica. Karla and Diana did a great job of leading the group. We felt safe for our daughter being with them. They were a perfect influence on Vlada and the rest of the group. Thank you very much!"
"I want to start with letting you know that receiving your emails and pictures every night is the highlight of my whole day. This is my first experience with TFT. We now know what a wonderful opportunity this is for her. I will definitely be sending her again next year. I have shared my “love” for your program with several different people and they too show interest in next year programs. This was all very new to me and I had so many questions and concerns and all of my questions were answered by all the many wonderful staff members. Everyone was very kind and so willing to help. I spoke with Maggie, Emily, Ned, Seth, just to name a few! Brittany was so kind as to give me her cell phone number and I kept very close tabs with her. So you can see why I am so impressed with the complete program and all of the many many wonderful people that are associated with it. Your professionalism has put my mind at ease and I want to thank you for your kindness. It is not easy sending your teen off to a foreign country but with the peace of mind that I have and the confidence I have in you, you have made it extremely easy and pleasant. I want to thank you very very much. I hope you have a wonderful evening and the rest of your trip. This is definitely a trip of a lifetime for her. Thank you so much for everything!!"
"I wanted to thank you for a fantastic trip for Kayla. She was very excited but also very anxious about this trip. I heard from her a lot the first few days but was really encouraging her to advocate for herself. It sounds like she worked on doing that and relayed the positive outcomes of conversing with you. That was a big deal for us. In addition to that it sounds like an amazing trip, and never having been to Greece I’m envious! I hope that you enjoyed your time as well.Thank you so much for your updates, support, and for working with my daughter. I hope that you enjoy the rest of your summer."
"This trip…my goodness!!! When we hear from Jordan, he is beyond happy! He has said that “this is the best time he’s ever had” and things “couldn't be better”. Based on the photos, your blogs and the things he tells us, he is not going to want to come home!! Thank you, Vianeli and Hana for making this an experience of a lifetime!"
"The feedback is that this has been the most outstanding trip Charlie has ever taken. This will go down as the time when my son broke out of his shell and started to really love life people places and experiences. Yes for such incredible friendships from these past 12 days and I don’t think I have ever seen him quite so happy every single time I talk to him. Charlie has expressed to me on numerous accounts how wonderful a counselor and guide and mentor and friend that you have have been. It is his fourth trip and by far his most favorite on all fronts. I can’t thank you enough for taking care of our children while in Europe. It’s a huge responsibility and you took it seriously and gave them the time of their lives. I could not be more grateful and appreciative of this trip and the program and the moments that he will carry with him the rest of his life. AAA+ grade in my book."
"Thank you for showing Ella the time of her life (truly)! Your emails were entertaining and educational. I am already looking where and when I can send my other 3 children on a TFT trip. A remarkable experience, memories to last a life time and most importantly the chance to reconnect with friends, people and the world that surrounds them after such a trying few years. I can’t thank you enough!"
"Thank you for leading this trip and watching over our daughter these past two weeks. She came back from her trip absolutely glowing (she still is - two days later!). She had an incredible experience and literally enjoyed every single minute of the trip. I am sure leading 20 teenagers around a foreign country (anywhere, really) can be challenging, so we are very grateful for your support and leadership. She really enjoyed getting to know you and was very complimentary of your leadership, as well as that of the other trip directors. Thanks for keeping us informed throughout - we loved your notes. This was a life-changing experience for Grace and she has inspired her younger siblings to travel on their own some day."
"Amazing….Jon had SUCH an incredible experience. He says he felt so comfortable with the staff and beyond the great travel experiences just really enjoyed the company of the staff and fellow travelers. He thought his trip to Costa Rica last year was great and describes this trip and exceeding all of his high expectations even based on that trip. TFT is fantastic at communication, me feeling confident that he’s safe, ease of scheduling… We know he will want to go on as many TFT trips as he possibly can in the next couple of years!"
"Really wonderful Job. Charlie cannot say enough good things about this trip. The top favorite items were the comradery amongst everyone, then Amalfi as a backdrop to these new friendships the icing on the cake. We loved the daily picture slide show at the end of day so thank you for your efforts to take and post those allowing us to be a fly on the wall. SO pleased with signed Charlie up. His younger sister already has many trips picked out for when she is old enough and very likely Charlie will be on another adventure with Travel for Teens next summer."
"I am delighted with the Travel for Teens program, from interaction with the staff pre-trip to updates during the trip, and finally, the joy my daughter experienced in Costa Rica. At the time (this past summer), Emily was nearly 16. Emily made teen friends during the program, many of whom she still remains in contact. Emily expressed that she was able to practice Spanish a lot, but even more if she wanted to do so. The guides speak Spanish and English, and of course, the locals, Spanish. There is significant interaction with the locals which fosters a sense of community and safety. Emily’s speaking Spanish skills improved significantly. There isn’t training in Spanish writing, but with the improvement in language, Emily’s writing skills followed. As far as balance, the program is absolutely nicely proportioned between language (ongoing in the background at all times), service, and sightseeing. In Emily’s program, they painted a church in a small village. It was a lot of work (and a lot of clothes randomly painted), but the kids were able to laugh and enjoy each other’s company in a situation where all where actively participating rather than viewing devices. Finally, the kids toured many places, jungle to beaches, and played along the way. I should mention that Emily has participated in two other teen travel programs. I find the team at Travel for Teens, hands down, the easiest to work with, and in particular Seth Graham and Ned Clark. Seth Graham is part of the Operations Team and he will ensure that your loved ones are booked on the best, most convenient flights, and staying in appropriate places."