Do any of you have experience with EFCollegeBreak tours to Europe? We have three 19 year old girls planning a trip to Italy/Greece this summer and are looking at this company. The information I have been able to find is for tours arranged for a specific, usually high school age group.

Do you have any other recommendations for escourted tours for college age kids? The girls liked the idea that they would be with other people their own age (and not a bunch of high school kids) and have a significant amount of free time. I liked the idea that there would be someone with the group and that there would be some guided tours included.

I want my daughter to have this experience but want to be sure it is well done and safe.

Thanks for your help.

TTT

College age kids - unless they are on some special program tour (ie a musical group or something of that sort) usually travel by themselves. Or - take a young people's tour group - something like Con Tiki (but this is a well-know frat kegger atmosphere with tons of drinking/late night vs low percentage of touring).

For three mature and sensible young women - I think they would enjoy going by themselves much more. They have the option to take group day tours in each city as they please - but can have a less frenzied/frenetic/drunken overall experience.

We, too, have three 19-year-old girls planning a trip this summer and are looking at EFCollegeBreak tours. Specifically, we were looking at the 29-day European tour. We've spoken to representatives from the company a few times this week, who have been informative. Our friend (a high school teacher) has used them many times.
At this stage, though, they are open to any suggestions that would help make their trip memorable.
However, our concerns are the same as yours.
I'm not crazy about the idea of "tour" travel, but it seems like a safe option.
Any feedback and/or suggestions from folks who've had experience with traveling teens is greatly appreciated.

There's been little response for this thread.
Any thoughts from any of you would be greatly appreciated!

I think you may be getting little response becasue most college age travelers prefer to go on their own.

I know I did my firsrt trip to europe with my boyfriend when I was 19. And both of my step-daughters (from 18 on) - and many of their friends travel in couples or small groups on their own. They prefer the freedom to make their own plans - based on their interests (sometimess exploring study abroad options) incluidng which nights to go out pubbing or clubbing and not have a 7am start the next am.

But - they're all been to europe with parents before setting out on their own.

I took a Contiki bus trip when I was 21 for 30 nights around Europe. It was a wild time. I had a very fun time on the Contiki tour, but it's difficult to really experience the cities since you're in each city for a short amount of time. However, I do recommend it to people. My sister and a friend each took separate tours following mine and enjoyed themselves as well.

Now my husband and I can go back and see everything properly as independent travelers.

Also, I don't know if their routes include Italy and Greece, but check out Busabout.

Liz

EF College Beak tours is a division of EF Educational Tours. EF College Break caters to the college aged traveler. The students are grouped with other college aged travelers from around the US and Canada. The itineraries are based on the model of the high school/teacher trips but has free time built in, college level activities, the students can explore the city on their own, visit universities, etc. The activities on the tours are more geared to college aged students.

I am not sure about the other companies, but there is a Tour Director included for the group and they meet the group when they arrive on tour and then stay with them until they leave to go home.

You might want to do a search on the forum for "EF" -- I found 91 responses. Perhaps people who have experience with the company are your best resource.

Thanks so much for the input! I will type "EF" in order to get hits and research a bit more.
nytraveler - Traveling Europe independently at a young age must've been fascinating! Although my daughter has traveled with us extensively, she's never been to Europe. I believe I'd feel better that she travel with a group, at least this first time around.
Three of her friends have signed up for a 30-day EF tour of Europe. I'd like to research this option further since we're not totally sold on the concept.
We value the input from Fodorites tremendously.

Don;t misunderstand - I had never traveled in europe with my parents- my mom had never been and my dad only in the army. My boyfirend and I just organized the trip ourselves. However - we were paying for the trip ourselves - and doing all the planning (although naturally I told my parents I was going - didn;t just disappear for 6 weeks.)

If you're sending your daughter on the trip - as opposed to her paying for it and organizing it herself - I guess that's different.

We went to Spain with EF tours and it was the worst tour ever! The guides couldn't speak English, the buses were terrible, the hotels were the dirtiest. Try another company

Truly, I think the lack of replies only means that people here on Fodor's don't have experience with the specific tour companies you are asking about. Or sending college age kids on a tour.

Actually I do know one person who went on an EF Educational Tour, but it was much younger age group... plus a Mom and Grandma who went along. It seemed expensive to me, but they had fun.

my hs daughter is going on an EF tour with her school this spring break. I'll be happy to tell you about it in april, but I agree with other posters that most college age kids travel on their own, trains and hostels.

EF College Break is a great travel company! After hearing about how great the EF high school tours were, I decided to become a campus manager for EF College Break. I was fortunate enough to take 3 trips with them this summer, and they were all absolutely amazing! I've traveled many times in my young life, and I can honestly say that EFCB provides the best deals you'll find!

If you have any questions, I'd love to help! Just e-mail me at [email protected] and check out my blog at www.EFCollegeBreak.wordpress.com if you want more information.

Tim EFCB Campus Manager
Use code "Tech2009" to save $50!

If your daughters are responsible, they might do something on an independent basis. They could take alanguage course somewhere for a month (or an art history course ect) and then do a Kontiki thing for 2 weeks. At 21 I spent 4 months in Europe with 2 girlfriends..pre cell phone, pre ATM ect. We lived to tell the tale and we did it with our own savings. Admittedly, I had travelled before but with parents.

Tim - You need to know that it is against policy to advertise on this forum.

Sam