Sassafrass

You now say you wish you had done some research. I purchased a new vacuum cleaner today for $350.00. I researched info first to decide what I wanted and how much to spend for it. I found exactly what I wanted for 40% off. I see traveler's agonizing over which hotel for a couple of hundred dollars. Yet, many people buy travel with no research. You are not the only one. Lots of people get sucked into vacation clubs where they do not buy anything except expensive membership. Travel seems to be one of the few things that people buy on impulse and it bothers me a lot. The thing is, this one would have been easy. There are hundreds and hundreds of threads, posts and other forums about student travel companies.

Now, were you there on the trip? If not, are you 100% sure of the accuracy of all the complaints? Not saying they didn't happen. EF has a bad rep. However, many student companies put three or four kids in a room, and that used to be stated in their literature, don't know if it still is.

Their food is not great, but the price difference between EF and other companies is enough to compensate.

Kids still see some pretty great sights, history, art, architecture, etc.

Of course teachers go free. Why on earth else would they take responsibility for a bunch of teens in another country? I did it three times when I was teaching and found the task such a worry, I did not enjoy the trips. I decided not to do the trips anymore, and I was very picky about who I took.

Most of their 10 day tours ran under 3K including airfare, tours and 2 meals a day. Great? No, but if your student is responsible and interested, it can be very rewarding, even with not great food and cheap hotels.

By the way, as a teacher, I did not feel EF, or any of the student companies, gave any preference to me. My room was the same as the students and I shared it. I ate with them and had the same food they did, and rode on the same bus they did.