Just got back to find this thread is still going. Tom_mn, Sassafrass, the teacher who escorted EF tours, and former dissatisfied customers, all gave valid points of view.

1. What kind of travel experience is or would be relevant?

The poster who indicated they'd been traveling to Europe for 50 years likely meant he or she went home to visit family on a regular basis over the course of 50 years. I doubt they meant they flew to Europe 50 years ago and have been traveling, vagabond style, ever since! Or even that they had taken several tours over the course of 50 years that offered relevant lessons. Point being, I believe that poster posted in good faith, it is just that their experience wasn't relevant.

2. Role of teachers I know someone who as a teacher chaperoned several tours, and i do not doubt her word that the majority of her kids enjoyed themselves. I have no reason to doubt the posts of the teachers who posted here either. The point made above by another poster was a good one - that there are few alternatives to group tours for a student wishing to travel if traveling alone or only with their family is not an option.

However Tom_mn's point that teachers are not independent advocates is perfectly fair. While teachers are not employees of EF, their decision will be vulnerable to bias for other reasons. For the very reason of there being few if any realistic alternatives, by the time a teacher is holding seminars with parents, the only condition the teacher is likely going to attach to the project is if there is sufficient interest (i.e. a group of minimum size signs up.) Teachers are also not lawyers, they may dutifully read contracts but not necessarily catch details that may be missing. Such as, if the flight is arranged by EF, that any flight connections by contractual agreement, will be of such duration as to qualify for travel insurance coverage (3 hours minimum is the usual industry standard.) And, quite frankly, when traveling with a large group, I'd opt for an overnight stay either at the connection point or at destination, i.e. an extra day in advance of the official start of the tour, just to handle the possibility that the flight gets seriously delayed or even cancelled. Tour companies sell travel arrangements, well, I'd argue that's a pretty important travel arrangement to fail to provide.

I went to the EF site and found one review which absolutely floored me. The reviewer indicated that the outbound flight itinerary included a connection overseas with, wait for it, all of 1 hour and 20 minutes to make the connection. While nobody likes hanging around at airports, to lose the first day of a fast paced tour due to a missed connection is not a happy alternative to hanging around at airports.

3. Passports, etc.

Flight attendants probably have stories a foot thick about finding passports in seat pockets, or otherwise in or around seats. Telling someone they should be careful with passports might be a sincere warning but a warning is not an instruction. This is how Rick Steves got his reputation - he indicated HOW to be careful - his method of choice being, wearing, and using, a money belt as storage for passports, credit card, and critical details like insurance contacts, flight PNR record numbers, etc. It isn't the responsibility of his tour company any more than it is of EF that clients be careful, but OTOH if a tour company claims experience with handling novice travelers, they ought to prove it by arranging for a free money belt to be included with every client's tour package.

Thanks to all who posted, I always learn something.

I've debated posting this since it is likely possible the recent new poster to this thread has possibly moved on or maybe even was removed - and tbh, a bit surprised this thread is still open. But, with all the negative about this tour company, the negativity often has a theme centered around non-refundables and cancelations. And, if you do a search for any tour company or cruise line, you will find the same gripes. If these tours were "scams" or performing fraudulent acts, they would not be in business. I did not look, but surely EF and others have had some lawsuits about these circumstances, and yet are still in business. And for all of the negative reviews, there are quite a few positives.

Before anyone accuses me of "working for EF," remember that with how low budget they are - they cannot afford to have "minions" on the internet doing their dirty work. much less on a travel forum of a travel book company that is technically their competitor. I do work in legal for a different (not travel-related company) and fully versed in contracts. The fact of the matter is, as with most of the themes in this thread and other poor reviews, people do not do enough to read the legal fine print as they should. Pretty sure the non-refundable insurance piece was probably in that contract.

With that having been said, in 1997 my first trip to Europe was through EF. I found out about the trip through my French teacher my junior year of high school for a trip slated the following summer. I thought that was going to be my only opportunity to ever go to France. And, that night, without knowing more about it, I talked to my parents about if I paid half and if they could front the remainder for my graduation present. They agreed. And then went to the meetings. There were at least three meetings with my teacher and let me tell you, she went through every detail of the contract - some of which was over my head as I was only 17 - and every requirement. Multiple times.

The tour itself - it was enough to put me off of group tours forever, but mostly because at least once a day some kid or adult on the tour (not from our group) got lost and/or held up, which held up the rest of the group. Some things had to get eliminated. Looking for one kid for over an hour caused us to miss our visit to Reims. But that was not EF's fault. We had some issues along the way at various points, like traffic that caused us to miss our meal time and made our first night in Paris rather miserable. But regardless, still not EF's fault. But in all, I actually look back on that trip with fondness. Just my $0.02, for what it's (not) worth!

We deleted four posts for both inappropriate content and for unacceptable private messages sent to other members. Some subsequent posts were left in place even though they were in response to the deleted posts because they provide useful information.

Off topic but about EF
 

I beg to differ. EF absolutely can afford to but, no, they aren't likely to. I know quite a bit about EF as I worked there for over 20 years. Now retired.

EF was founded almost 60 years ago in Sweden by Bertil Hult, a Swedish billionaire and close friend of King Carl Gustaf. All of the companies under the EF umbrella are owned by the Hult family. They are primarily an education company and started out providing short-term homestays/language programs for Swedish kids in Europe. Kind of like the IKEA of education.

Though I loved my work and appreciate having worked for them, I am not really a fan of EF and, no, I won't say why. We'll just leave it there.

Thank you for your insight. My statement was based on, in part, to the poster (now deleted) who accused several longtime Fodors posters for working for and defending EF, though pretty sure none of those who had previously responded have ever worked for the company. Ironically, you being a newer member to our community almost fits their belief. As someone (me) who works in legal and deals with the public, it is often that common people think there are minions of companies all over the internet for some reason, especially with Americans. My response was mainly related to that.

Again, thanks for the background.

Just traveled with EF tours- they’re awful stay away
 

I just took a group of 30 high school students with Ed tours and it was a horrific experience. We don’t get what we paid for. At
times we were I safe and I had a very hard time getting anyone from EF tours to even respond to my emails. Use any other company- they are awful!!

Please elaborate. Specifically, what was horrific? Were students injured or harmed? Were busses in poor shape? Were hotels filthy and unhealthy? Were guides mean? Etc. What did you pay for that you did not get? Did you not get to see sights as described on the program? How were you unsafe? Bus driver? hotel? Thank you.