If you are an adult considering traveling on a tour, you already realize that this trip is great value for money. I wrote the following after a particularly whiny and trying trip with a very picky and inflexible traveler:
*Meal portions in Europe are smaller than they are here. Breakfast will consist of bread rolls or toast, jelly and juice and coffee. Soda, tea, coffee and alcoholic beverages are not included with dinner. You will be expected to pay if you desire this. Water is available at every meal and is safe to drink. Lunch may be as high as $15-$20 for a simple meal.
*Your hotel room may be much smaller than you are used to. The hotel may be old and worn. The hotel industry in Europe is older (sometimes centuries!) and is NOT the equivalent of the American industry. Many hotels do not have AC or elevators. You may have to climb several flights of stairs to reach your room. While comfortable, the European hotels are not as large or modern as American hotels. Please be aware that the walls are also older and thinner and not entirely soundproof. Please be quiet in the hallways and not overly loud when in your room. Be aware that you are sharing space with others.
*You may be expected to share a hotel room with participants from another group. If you are an adult you may be paired with adults from our group or another group traveling with us. Adult rooms can not be changed when on tour. Adults can pay extra to have a room to your self. Every room does have its own bathroom.
*You will be expected to be in good physical shape! You should be able to withstand hot and cold temperatures, walking/climbing stairs and hills in hot or cold temperatures with mild to medium exertion. You should be ready to be on the go from early morning to late at night (and be ready to take in huge amounts of exciting art, history, and cultural learning!)
*Big cities do pose some dangers. The biggest that you need to worry about is pickpockets. You may also encounter people trying to forcefully sell you souvenirs. There are a lot of scam artists on the streets! Be alert. Hold your bag close to your body when in large crowds.
*At one point, you will be tired, cranky, your feet will hurt, your whole body may hurt, you may be desperate for a bottle of water. (Maybe all of these at the same time!) Bring comfortable walking shoes!
*This is a STUDENT trip. Everything is geared towards students. If you are an adult along for the ride, you will also experience the same great value for money, and will be expected to stay with the group except for free time. You will NOT be expected to chaperone students.
*Be prepared for lots of waiting. You may have one to three layovers in airports, some with hours to wait. (EF books airline seats in bulk, so we will receive the seats that are available for our route. This may mean we have to pass through a specific airport or have several layovers.) We may have to wait at the airport for another group that we will be traveling with.
*If you sign up to go on this trip, it is assumed that you are seeking to experience cultural differences, new adventures and different customs, foods and habits. You will be outside of your comfort zone. Please realize that people who are faced with the unknown, unfamiliar or something out of their control can get overly aggressive or grouchy. Travel moments can be frustrating and trying. Please think about how you will react when you are faced with some difficult situations, food you may not like, a hotel room you may not feel comfortable in, or delays that you have no control over. Nobody wants to travel with someone who whines all the time.
If none of this bothers you- then you are ready for adventure!
Please plan on being open-minded, not openly rude; polite and grateful, not rude and thankless; think safety but don’t be scared; and be open to new ways of doing, thinking and acting. We will be exploring a different country with different customs, a different language, a much older history, and different food. Different can be good for you!
Exploring these differences will help you see beyond the borders of the US, will help you understand global connections and nuances; and will help you to become a global citizen who is aware, tolerant, and open-minded.
WELCOME TO OUR GRAND ADVENTURE!
