Travel For Teens: Travel Programs for Younger Teens

This summer was my first time going on a teen tour. I had so many fun experiences like zip lining, seeing and helping sea turtles and making new friends throughout the entire trip. Everyday was so much fun learning about the culture and seeing things that you don’t have back at your home. We learned how to adapt to the culture that is all around us.The foods you try you will want to bring back to your family and friends to spread the experience. I liked that the tour allows you to have your phones but you really never want to be on your phone while away. The only times are to talk to your family and to take photos. The counselors are so outgoing, positive and fun to be with and talk to. They take such good care of you trying to make sure you have the best trip possible. There’s so many to choose from that your kids will have an amazing time making many memories.

my experience during my spain and portugal trip was unique because not only did we go to the segrada familia and other amazing architecture, there was also amazing people i met. the people that were on the trip with me i bonded with very quick and everyone was super nice. it was really cool to be able to have all of these cool experiences and the counclers that quoted us everywhere were very nice and kept us safe the whole trip. we went to multiple places throughout spain and portugal like Barcelona, Sevilla, Granada, Lagos, Sintra and Lisbon! i would definitely recommend this program for anyone that is thinking of doing it

This summer, I traveled with Travel for Teens to Italy for 10 days, which was quickly followed by a service trip to the Florida Keys.
In Italy, we started off in Florence, took a day trip to Venice, went to Cinque Terre (one of the most gorgeous places I have ever been), and ended in Rome. Each city now holds more memories than I thought imaginable. My trip director, counselor, and CIT were all amazing, and my experience would not have been the same without them. As a kid with quite a few allergies, it was sometimes hard to find places where I could eat, but my counselors were very accommodating, taking me to alternative places when necessary. I also made some amazing friends during my time in Italy. One of my favorite memories was when my counselor pretended to get mad at all of the boys for ding dong ditching us, then sneaking to ding dong ditch all of them afterwards. The hardest part of this trip had to be saying goodbye. I think I cried all the way from the end of our final dinner to the start of my second trip. The friends and memories I made will last a lifetime and I could not recommend this trip enough.
In Florida, we went through the Florida Keys and Miami. It was a service trip, so we worked with the Coral Restoration Foundation, a sea turtle hospital, and a dolphin hospital. I learned SO much about coral from the interns at CRF, and we always did super fun activities. We also got to go snorkeling twice, which was incredible if you ignored the possibility of getting stung by a jellyfish. We always had a decent amount of down time in a day to relax and hang out with our friends. A lot of the time, we drove around in a big van, blasting our music. On the night that the Barbie movie came out, I think the 10 of us spent an hour trying to convince our counselor to take us. We finally convinced him, and hurried to our hotel to get all dressed up in pink. Overall, this trip was an amazing experience that I learned so much from and made so many good friends and amazing memories.

Best month of my life, by far. The only word I can think of to describe this past summer is “unreal”. I went on the Ultimate Europe: 30 Days trip. Nothing can compare to sipping tea at Kensington Palace, climbing the Arc de Triomphe and eating pastries atop the Eiffel Tower, sailing down Amsterdam's canals, visiting a giant German castle overlooking a stunning alpine lake, paragliding and whitewater rafting in the Swiss Alps, having brunch in a rotating restaurant on top of a nearly 3,000-meter-tall mountain, negotiating at an Italian leather market, relaxing at a gorgeous villa on a winery, exploring the Roman Colosseum, hiking in the beautiful Cinque Terre, swimming in the crystal-clear waters of the French Riviera, and partaking in a Spanish Tapas Masterchef-esque tournament, all within a month. This is just a small taste of what this trip has to offer. The amount of meaningful memories I’ve made is endless. I met new friends, tried new foods, experienced SO many things for the first time, and had an absolutely surreal amount of fun. As a younger teen (just leaving sophomore year), I felt very safe and supported by the incredible staff. 10/10 across the board.

Travel for Teens gave me experiences that will last me a lifetime and new friendships. This past summer, I visited Hawaii’s Big Island with TFT, and I genuinely feel like my life has changed for the better. Whether surfing at Kahalu’u Beach Park, experiencing a native luau, watching the sunset from 14,000 feet altitude at Mauna Kea, or even hanging out by the pool with my friends, I enjoyed every moment of it. We got to partake in a perfect blend of service in the community, learning about the natives and the fantastic island they live on, and thrilling expeieriences. Everyone on my trip, including the counselors, came from different backgrounds and areas of the world, giving many perspectives on the activities we did each day. My fantastic trip leader Maria helped all of us become comfortable with each other so that none of us had to experience any anxiety that we worried about being so far from home. By the end of the trip, I had many new friends. I talked to them regularly and learned so much about the Big Island that I was not ready to leave. Honestly, this was the most amazing trip I have ever been on, and I am so excited to go on another one this upcoming summer.

Traveling to Hawaii Ultimate Service and Adventure has been one of the most memorable experiences of my life. Like many others, I was nervous because I didn't know anyone or if anyone would like me for who I truly am. Once I arrived and met the rest of the group that fear was immediately gone. I formed some of the closest friendships I have ever had. The counselors were unbelievable. Whatever you needed they would accommodate you. They would listen to all your ideas and all your thoughts. The activities and service that we did were unbelievable. I was able to help out the Sea turtles in Hawaii. The sea turtles were injured and I was able to help them heal so they could get back out to sea. I had the best experiences going snorkeling, relaxing at the beach, shopping, surfing lessons and so much more. 15 days have never gone by so fast. Although the group is no longer in Hawaii, friendships and memories remain.

During this program, I met some of the best people in one of the most beautiful states in the country, as well as learned so much about the earth and how to take care of it. Throughout the trip, I got closer to my small volunteering group, who at the end was like my family, and also became much more educated about the danger our oceans and marine life are in and what we can do to make a difference. I am so lucky to have gotten to learn about the culture of Hawaii while growing as a person and meeting new people on this trip! This truly was an amazing experience, and I highly recommend it!

This past summer I made the most amazing memories in Costa Rica with TFT, on their Surf and Service trip. The prospect of navigating through airports alone can be a bit daunting, but the TFT staff made the process easy. TFT helped me book all my flights, and when I arrived at the Miami airport, I met with one of their counselors who led me to meet the other campers at our gate for our flight into Costa Rica. Each day was a new adventure, from snorkeling, sailing, ziplining, and of course lots of surfing, there was always something new to look forward to! Whether we were doing service work, exploring the town, catching waves at the beach, or setting off for another adventure, the staff was always checking in to ensure that all campers were physically and emotionally feeling their best. The trip was extremely organized, from where we had dinner, to the time we needed to board the buses, everything had been planned. Along with prioritizing safety and organization, TFT prioritizes a welcoming and high-spirited group comradery, to ensure that each camper has fun. From checking in with campers one on one periodically, to filling our itinerary with group collaborative activities, TFT’s devotion to a positive group atmosphere was evident in the friendships we made, and all the laughs we shared. The TFT community brings together a group of adventurous people, curious about the world, who all share a passion for travel, enabling some of the most amazing friendships. From the second I met everyone at the airport, until the moment we said goodbye, I never stopped growing my friendships with my fellow campers, many of which I keep in touch with, and have reunited with! My summer with TFT was truly unforgettable, and my only regret is that I did not find out about TFT sooner!