Travel For Teens: Travel Programs for Older Teens

Name: Travel For Teens: Travel Programs for Older Teens
Brand: Travel For Teens
SKU: 60043
Rating: 4.94 (53 reviews)

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4.94 Rating

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Location

Multiple Locations +19

Costa Rica
New Zealand
Thailand
Vietnam
Laos
Cambodia
Morocco
Spain
Portugal
Greece
Italy
Czech Republic
Croatia
Slovenia
Austria
France
Switzerland
Germany
Netherlands

Program Categories

Adventure Travel

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Program Details

Timeframe

Summer

Pricing

What's Included

Accommodation Activities Meals Transportation

Last Updated: Dec 27, 2023

Last Reviewed: Dec 04, 2024

Wish List

112 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

We know that older teens are more independent and we have designed several trips to reflect this! All of our itineraries for these trips have been designed specifically with older teens in mind. Whether it be using a rail pass, participating in more advanced activities, or discovering more exotic destinations, each of these trips is sure to inspire wanderlust in every teenager!

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Program Reviews

4.94 Rating

based on 53 reviews

Leave a Review

Rating Spread High School

5 rating 96.23%
4 rating 1.89%
3 rating 1.89%
2 rating 0%
1 rating 0%

Growth 4.85
Support 4.9
Fun 5
Housing 4.8
Safety 4.9

Good for Students, Adventure travelers, Under 18

Showing 49 - 53 of 53 reviews

This was my first time traveling without my parents in a different country. Through this program I as I was able to travel with other people as well as being able to go off by myself (with permission of course) and got to experience the culture Switzerland, Italy and France had. I met up with the group in Germany so I was a little late to everything. However, right when I got there I knew immediately that it was going to be a great trip. I sat down and immediately started talking to people. I went into this trip knowing now one and I came out with 25 new friends from all over the United States. It made me into the person I am today. It also gave me the travel bug even more then before. Going on this trip allowed us to see different cultures from around the world. While experiencing different cultures it made me not want to go back because of how well TFT put us deep in the culture of the place we were visiting. Through Travel For Teens, they have made me into the person I have always stride to be whether that be improving me leadership skills or my social skills. Travel for Teens is a great stepping stone to starting to travel by yourself in the future.

What would you improve about this program?

Everything was cramped into so little of time. We went to so many amazing places but we did a lot of the famous stuff in one day. We didn't need to go to Versailles as well as the Louvre in one day. If it was spread out over two days that would've been so much better.

I had a great time on the older teen trip to Prague, Austria, Slovenia and Croatia. It truly is an eye opening experience for someone who does not travel often. You are surrounded by a whole new culture and beautiful surroundings. The trip itself is packed with exciting activities, like exploring ice caves and zip-lining. The sights are stunning too. My favorite view was from the Eagle's Nest in Germany. The councilors were amazing and often at times felt like friends during the trip. it was unique for me because this was my first time in Europe so I soaked it all in. I made quality friendships with fellow teens and we still keep in touch even though we live in different states and countries. Overall this was a phenomenal experience for me and I would definitely recommend it.

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This past summer, I did the Older Teens trip that went to Florence, Cinque Terre, Switzerland, and Paris. This was absolutely the best trip I have ever been on. The experiences and memories that I made are endless, and the friends I made on this trip are still in contact today. In all of the cities, the staff was always prepared, and made sure that everyone was happy and having a good time. The accommodations we were housed in were always clean, and I never felt unsafe. My favorite memory overall of this trip was paragliding in Switzerland. This opportunity was unreal, and we got to see the city of Interlake from a completely different view! The fact that this was an Older Teens Trip was also good, because the staff gave us more freedom, and we were able to experience the different cities on our own! Overall, this trip was amazing and I highly recommend it.

I went on an older teens trip to Costa Rica with Travel For Teens. The action packed trip included rappelling down the side of a waterfall, hiking to a beautiful volcano, white water rafting, shopping, surfing, snorkeling, and more! The environment was great because I was surrounded by people my own age. It was one of the greatest learning experiences ever, and I made some lifelong friends along the way!

What would you improve about this program?

One of the counselors treated us (mostly 17-18 year olds) as if we were inexperienced 12 year old travelers. Although it's good to be safe, it was a little much for this trip.

Travel for Teens has really helped me develop into the person that I want to be. This summer, I will be going on my 5th trip with them, and I couldn't imagine doing anything else. Last summer I went on the Europe for Older Teens 2 trip to Florence, Cinque Terre, Interlaken, and Paris. I could go on for hours and hours about the amazing experiences that I was opened to, such as paragliding in the Swiss Alps and climbing the 414 step tower next to the Duomo, but really the best part (in my opinion) was the friends that I made. I go on these trips without previously knowing anybody. It is pretty intimidating being at the airport with a group of strangers who you will be spending every moment with for the next 10 days, but honestly, I wouldn't want it any other way. These kids do not know the person I am in school or at home, they just know me for who I am in that moment, the person I want to be. I find that sometimes, I feel closer to these kids than I do with my school friends, who I have known for more than 5 years! I recommend Travel For Teens to literally everyone I can. I wrote my college essay about the company and my experiences overseas and I definitely could not imagine my life without travel.

What would you improve about this program?

Honestly I can't think of anything :)

Questions & Answers

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Why did you choose this program?

I chose Travel for Teens because I wanted to travel on my own and this was the travel company I found. They had great trip options and a great reputation. From all the other companies I looked at touring with, they mostly do tours for schools and not just solo teens.

Travel for Teens offers great trips for teens travelling solo, so I chose to travel with them.

What did your program provider assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

They helped me with everything: the itinerary, what to pack, how to get in touch with everyone, where to find my pictures, and how to email the trip counsellors. The counsellors sent out emails and texts to all of us before the trip, exciting us more, and we also got a look into who they are before the trip too. They were great at making sure I was ready for my trip.

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What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

If I were to give anyone going on a TFT trip advice, I would definitely tell them to just live in the moment and try as many new things as possible and to buy the picture package. The counsellors take great pictures and I did not buy it, so all of my pictures are blurry and have the TFT logo. Trust me, you’ll want those great pics to post on social media and they won’t look that good if they’re blurry and have a logo on them.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

It can be a very busy day but when you’re travelling; every day is a busy day.

An average day would be you waking up and getting dressed then going to the hotel for breakfast. You’d meet everyone at breakfast and chat before going back to your rooms to get ready for the day ahead. You’d then take whatever transportation you have to get to your first activity and then all the activities after that.

At the end of the day, you’ll return to your hotel and go out for dinner or stay in. Either way, you’ll be with everyone on your trip.

After dinner, there might be an activity or tour, or there might be a little game you might play or quick discussion. Then you’ll return to your rooms where you chat with your roommates and go to sleep, excited for the next day of your adventure.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

Being a Canadian travelling with an all American group, I was afraid that politics or stereotypes might come into conflict since there was a lot going on between our two countries at the time. I definitely overcame that fear when I met my group. Everyone was very welcoming, especially the tour guides, who made sure everything was good between all of us.

Is there anything you think Travel For Teens should change?

I think the company is amazing and definitely lets your teen be treated like a young adult and not a kid. Absolutely worth the money.

If they had to change anything, though, I would say a bit less tours. For example, we had a tour at the Van Gogh museum and the entire time the lady told us about Van Gogh’s life and we only go to see 3 paintings. I would’ve loved it if we could explore on our own and meet back to our counsellors at a certain time.

But everything else was amazing!

Jessica Paszko

2018 Alum

Ashley Allen

2017 Alum

Matthew Ki

2016 Alum

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Seth Graham

Program

Travel For Teens: Travel Programs for Older Teens

Job Title

International Logistics Manager

Seth is a Philadelphia area native who has been privileged to travel the world since he was a teenager. A graduate of American University, he has traveled throughout Africa, Europe, North America, and the Caribbean. Some of his most rewarding experiences in life have been on teen travel programs: from getting up close and personal with moose in Alaska and mantas in Mozambique, to watching incredible sunsets over the Mediterranean Sea. Seth is always excited to help every student have a unique and memorable experience with Travel For Teens!

What is your favorite travel memory?

When I was SCUBA diving off the coast of Mozambique for a week, we were on a boat headed to a dive site when our driver spotted a whale shark nearby. He stopped the boat so we could all hop in to snorkel with the largest fish in the ocean. Whale sharks have baleen teeth like other whales, so they aren't as dangerous as they sound. I was almost close enough to touch the thick skin of an animal the size of a school bus! It was a truly unforgettable to swim right up next to such a large and majestic creature!

Later on that day, we got to dive with Manta Rays, Lion Fish and Morey Eels!

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

Since I started working here, I have grown in many ways. One of the most significant changes has been finding my passion for sharing the gift of travel with others. I was lucky enough to travel often as a teen, and have become a global citizen since then. It is an honor to be able to help others find a similar path and this is what drives me to create the best possible experiences for every one of our travelers.

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What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

One of the best stories I have heard from a returning alum was simply that he felt like he was already part of a family by the end of his two-week trip last summer. He felt so connected to our community that he felt he could sign up for ANY of our TFT trips this summer and he would get the same experience. Further proof that ALL are welcome and included in the TFT Family!

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

This is a tough choice! We offer so many unique and special trips it is hard to pick just one! If I had to choose, I would probably pick our Southeast Asia for Older Teens Trip. This trip visits Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia on a whirlwind backpacking tour that is a truly a once in a lifetime opportunity! Or maybe the Croatia Island Hopping trip where you spend 8 days sailing on the gorgeous Adriatic Sea and living on a boat!

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

Our company is unique in many ways, but one of my favorites is our focus on smaller group sizes. I have been on teen tours where the individual is lost in a crowd of 30 teenagers. Keeping our group sizes limited means our staff can devote more attention to each traveler and tailor the experience to their interests. It also contributes to the greater sense of community that we foster as responsible world travelers.

I was especially proud of the TFT leadership for taking a stand against riding Elephants in Thailand and educating our teen travelers about the abuses these animals have endured. We only partner with local vendors who treat animals with the respect and love they deserve, and I think this is an important message to stand behind.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

I don't think there is just one answer to what makes a company successful. However, I do believe that having a mission and having a staff that buys in to that mission are two very key factors. TFT strives to create global citizens through immersive and authentic travel experiences, transforming teens from passive tourists into confident and independent travelers.

Everyone who works for TFT has the same mission and we work together to make that mission happen. Every day I come in to the office with a smile on my face because I know that I and my colleagues are all striving to provide something completely authentic and transformative to every TFT Traveler. I measure our success by the smiles I see in every YouTube video, Instagram or Snapchat that our travelers and staff share with the world!

About Travel For Teens

Travel For Teens is a program provider that believes that teen travel should be both enriching and fun. TFT offers a full range of travel experiences that teens can choose from to create their own ideal international experience. TFT's motto is "Teaching teens to be travelers, not tourists," and their itineraries are designed to reflect this. While...