Travel For Teens: Germany

The overall experience was a blast. Berlin was just the first country we went to. We stayed in a hostel where we got to meet other students from other countries visiting Berlin. We went bike riding and tried their delicious cuisine. I was able to meet people that I am still in contact with. We went to holocaust museums and had an enriching experience in having a deeper understanding of the heart ships people went through. We also went to parliament and go to see the city from above. I learned that you had to pay for water everywhere you went, and public bathrooms weren't a thing, so be ready.

My life changed drastically over the course of two weeks and I owe that change to Travel for Teens and the summer I spent abroad in Berlin, Paris, and London! From the moment I stepped off the plane, I was greeted to nonstop action. From the get-go, there was so much to do. Being exposed to other cultures and learning phrases in German and French was fascinating and showed me that there was so much more to the world than my tiny bubble in California. From biking around Berlin to riding on the London Eye, there was never an absence of adventures. Besides adventures, there was also a community that formed over the course of two weeks. The staff were able to make every moment enjoyable and the other campers all contributed to the general companionship through their kindness and willingness to learn about the foreign world we found ourselves in. In the end, I came home wanting to go on more trips in the summers to come! From my summer, I’ve made lasting friendships and can effectively call myself a traveller and not a tourist!

This past summer I was lucky enough to join the second session of Travel for Teens trip for Older Teens to Amsterdam, Munich, the Swiss Alps, and Venice. I can say with complete confidence it is the best trip I have experienced with Travel for Teens insofar. I have noticed every year I enjoy the trips more and more as my confidence and trust in TFT grows and solidifies. I made instant connections with this trips two counselors; the extremely caring and understanding Marla, a college student similar in age to myself, and the hilarious and incredibly personable Ryan, who strictly maintained order while remaining a force I think everyone felt they could confide in and look up to. To me, this trip felt like a unique fusion of experience with cities, parks, natural landscapes, and history. Each destination offered something wildly different than the destination that came before, but there was a sense of seamlessness and awe that followed us through every train station, airport, and bus ride. Amsterdam allowed us to bond and ease into the language barrier and culture shock that varies across Europe for travelers, while serving as a balance between essential history and free time to explore the unique city with its canals, art museums, and countless shops. The leaders knew the best, hidden restaurants down seemingly random alleys, scenic routes to stroll down during the day, museums and sights that caused each of us to stop in our tracks, and were in tune when we needed to rest. Munich seemed less defined by the formalities and structure that were essential in establishing the group in Amsterdam, and Ryan’s love for Munich only made the experience more enjoyable. The authentic beer halls, outdoor markets, and ancient buildings were extremely effective in offering a look into the history and culture of Germany as a whole but additionally exposed what makes Munich such a unique and truly special city. I will not claim that our session’s trip to Munich went seamlessly due to the fiasco one night in a sushi shop with a woman who spoke only broken German, but we were able to laugh about it soon after and the experience proved to bring us closer as a unit. I cannot effectively convey the ethereality of riding a bike during golden hour through the gardens and parks of Munich; I just recommend you experience it for yourself. Another day that sticks out in my mind as one that you simply need to experience yourself is the day we visited Neuschwanstein Castle outside of Munich; I will never forget the dream-like state I was in for the entirety of the visit. I could not fathom the natural beauty of the landscape, the architecture, and the undeniably perfect weather. In saying this though, any trouble I encountered when we had to say goodbye to Munich was entirely forgotten when we entered Switzerland. It echoed the beauty of Germany’s natural landscape and introduced a heightened level of physical activity by way of mountain biking, canyoning, rope courses, and slack-lining. Every moment in this country was exhilarating, raw, and unforgettable. There was something intimate about the quiet nights when it rained, especially when we had free time to breathe in the landscape off of our cabins back porches. The windy van rides we took around the region, the swim in Lake Geneva at the base of a castle that offered unparalleled lookouts, and the sunsets over the snow-capped mountains every night that allowed even the most inexperienced of photographers to take pictures on par with National Geographic, combined to make our longest stop a defining feature of the trip. Despite the significant contrast between Switzerland and Italy, I can say with complete confidence that each offered something distinct and indispensable to the trip. Venice proved romantic and oddly like home despite it being my first time in Italy. There is something special about Venezians and their ability to welcome you as not even a friend, but like part of their family. Our time in Venice felt like we had arrived at the root of TFT’s goal for every trip; the trust, connections, and ease with which we could interact with each other that we achieved by the time we arrived at our final destination became strikingly clear in this hectic and loveable city. The relationships I built on this trip have set a standard for relationships I will build in my future. I have seen the instant support, understanding, and positivity that was offered by each member of our group, as well as the sense of adventure and appreciation for new things we all held in high regard, and have grown as a person because of it. Every dinner, tour, or plan does not have to run seamlessly to yield this final product, and TFT continuously proves to me its ability to facilitate an enjoyable and meaningful trip that exceeds my expectations time and time again.

Travel for Teens totally changed my life. TFT not only helped me become more independent, but it’s also helped me make life long friends. The overall experience was one of a kind, and it is one that I will never forget. The counselors were amazing and they made the trip so much more fun and relaxing. The trip was very organized which helped my family always know what I was doing, and by having a schedule as a group we were able to see so much more. With the schedule we were also given quite a lot of downtime which we could use to explore the local areas and hang out with her new friends. I did the Ultimate Europe for 21 days and I totally recommend taking a trip with TFT! My favorite part of the whole trip was visiting Switzerland and also visiting the Warner Bros. studio and Monday to see the Harry Potter studio tour.

Thanks to Travel for Teens, I had an amazing summer and I can't wait to have another one this year! I went on this trip without knowing anyone and I left with a group of new friends. We started in Berlin, we saw everything from lush parks to 13th-century churches to beautiful art museums. Then Paris, we climbed so many tourist attractions, Arc de Triumph, Montmartre and of course The Eiffel Tower. There was so much culture in London, from Abbey Road to Harry Potter there is something for everyone! I highly recommend this trip for anyone new to Europe and looking for an interesting trip filled with history, culture and adventure!

I had a fantastic time with TFT abroad in the summer of 2017. Not only did l learn a lot, but I also had a blast. I got to meet many people from different places and made many friends. One of the best parts is being able to travel with the trip leaders. They are friendly, supportive, and caring. Whenever we had a crisis, they were always calm and took responsibility. My favorite activities were the boat ride in Paris and the Broadway show in London. If I had the chance, I would totally go back again. You can't deny that there will always be up and downs to traveling, but I honestly cannot remember a time with TFT when l was less than happy. This company has really changed my life, teaching me to be a traveler, not a tourist. I would definitely recommend this program to teens who want to travel the world.

For my first summer at TFT, I certainly picked a great trip. All three cities were amazing, so were the people and counselors. I loved meeting new people from all over the world. The counselors are seasoned travelers and have so many amazing stories to share. I loved biking through the Bavarian countrysides in Germany and paddle boating on the Vltava in Prague. Prague was definitely my favorite city, throughout the city, there are hilarious random statues like babies with barcodes on their faces and a man hanging on a pole off the side of a building. It has so many beautiful landmarks like the John Lennon Wall and the Charles Bridge. There are so many little memories I'll cherish forever and I highly recommend this trip to anyone.

I went on the Ultimate Europe trip in the summer of 2016. I went to 7 different countries in one month. It was amazing. I love traveling and I have so many great memories from this experience. My favorite country we visited was Germany. While we were only in Germany a short time, we explored numerous places. I remember walking down the streets of Munich people watching and shopping. One of my favorite memories of Germany was when we went on a bike tour in Munich. Our tour guide was hilarious and showed us the best of the city. We biked through the English Gardens and saw people surfing in the surfing pool! Of course in Germany, you have to go to a beer garden or hall. As we soaked in the cool atmosphere of the beer hall, we also enjoyed delicious food I've never even heard of before. There are so many other great parts of this trip that stuck out in my mind. I still can't believe I've been to Paris and swam at a beach in Cinque Terre. The counselors on this trip were very kind and fun. They kept us safe always; but made sure we all had the best time. I also made a couple friends on the trip. I enjoyed exploring Europe with a group of teens my age, who love to travel. Traveling is a passion of mine, and I'm extremely glad to have gotten the opportunity to go on the Ultimate Europe program with Travel for Teens. I hope to travel with them again soon!