Program Reviews

This is still my favorite trip I’ve ever been on in my life. I was worried going there that the staff would run the trip like a school field trip and not let us really explore or enjoy the trip. World Class Programs run by Derek was so well put together. The staff did an excellent job at balancing planned activities and free exploring. I always felt safe and without any worries I got to see all the sites I wanted to see while still getting to explore with other students freely and enjoy the different cities. The food was great the whole trip and the housing space was better than expected. Overall really well planned out wish I could do again with Derek as the guide.

My 16 year old took their first trip abroad with World Class Programs and it was an incredible experience. Staff was so fun, kind, and thoughtful with the students and truly loved sharing their passion for Italy with the kids. They were great at keeping parents in the loop with weekly emails that detailed everything they had been up to during the week and lots of photos. It was wonderful to see how much my child gained in terms of confidence, as well as passion for a new culture. We can't wait to take another trip with World Class Programs!

This is such a great progarm because you get a lot of free time and schedule things to do. I had a great time the people are good and the food is great. The staff care about you and want you to have a great time while keeping you safe. If you want to do something that they didn't plan for they are willing to adpat to things as long as they are reasonable. They also have group flights to and from the place you are visting or take your own flight. They reaaly try to get you to embacre the culture of the country by giving you cool experinces.

Best summer of my life. I met a ton of cool people, the staff were awesome and the food was amazing. In my opinion I think my favorite part of the trip was Kyoto because of the sheer amount of temples and shrines there. All of the courses were cool and teach a good amount of material and let you explore many new places related to the courses. The free time you get nearly everyday is great and super fun to walk around the city with friends. There are also multiple day trips in which you travel to nearby cities. 10/10 program, would recommend.

I went on the Italy program for 3 weeks about a week before the Japan trip was going to leave. I was heavily convinced to come on the Japan trip a week before and it was one of the best decisions I have made. I love this program with all my heart and have learned so much and I have so many memories that I will hold. I love the entire staff and they we genuine friends to us and were so dedicated to keeping us safe and having fun. They were not overruling and being unnecessary when it came to telling us to do something. They were very reasonable and considerate and genuinely our friends that we could have fun and laugh with. They program is so well organized and a wonderful opportunity for any high schooler wanting to travel and go explore a new country. You truly get your money’s worth and we did not have to worry about anything when it came to the itinerary. It was all super well planned out and I loved having something new every single day. Each day was a new adventure and had a new experience. Italy was such a good experience for me that I never wanted it to end so I had to do another trip and I also plan on attending a third trip next summer before I leave for college. These two trip has made me learn so much about Japan and meet new people and I am so he for this opportunity. The staff was so accommodating and so helpful. I would recommend this program to anyone it truly is worth every penny.

Going on this trip was more of a last minute miracle for me. I was incredibly nervous that I wouldn’t enjoy my time and I would feel home sick fast. That couldn’t have been further from the truth. The trip honestly felt like a little family and I enjoyed every moment. I myself am not an athletic person and I normally don’t enjoy long walks and sight seeing, however, this trip made it all worth it. The sleeping situations were good and I was always generally comfortable. It can become tiring but the staff is so supportive and always willing to give you time to rest.

For me the program is one of the best things I’ve done in a long time. The staff are great and Derek is one of the greatest people I’ve ever met. His planning for the trip was incredible and he was able to fit in so many destinations and attractions. We were able to have an experience of a lifetime thanks to him. One of my favorite parts of the trip was the week in Tokyo. We were able to see so many things and Derek gave us multiple chances to be free and independent. We were allowed to explore and go shopping frequently which was very nice. Overall, this trip was amazing and I would recommend it to anyone.

The program was very cool. Made a lot of new friends and had many fun memories during my time in Japan. Himeji castle was definitely my favorite thing that we visited. Learned a lot of new things in the classes I took during the program and got to experience something completely different from my everyday life in the United States. Overall I had a really fun and enjoyable time on my trip with world class programs. I would recommend this program if you want to experience something new and make some new friends along the way.

World class programs is a really fun experience and I would definitely recommend it! There are alot of really cool things to see and with this program you’ll see a lot of them. You’ll also get to witness and participate in some cool traditions. If you like traveling and want to see some awesome things you should definitely consider world class programs! Derek who is in charge of the program is also somewhat good and willing to helping with taxes! He also cares a lot about the health of the students … sometimes way too much.

In 2023, I was a part of the Florence, Italy trip. I fell in love with traveling but most importantly, World Class Programs. Derek Tano sculpts every trip with clear intentions and I was eager to return for the trip to Japan this year.
Our day trip to Hiroshima was on August 6th, the same day as the atomic bomb. We went to observe the Peace Festival and gain a new perspective of that day. While emotional, it was a unique and powerful experience that we were able to have. On a lighter note, every day was packed with exciting activities and unforgettable moments. On our second day, we all went bowling and laughed as if we knew each other our whole lives. While most of us couldn’t get a pin down, we enjoyed bonding together as a group. We sang our hearts out at karaoke, even losing our voices by the end of it. We did long walks to gorgeous shrines and temples, enjoying the scenery as we sweat in the hot sun. My major (Japanese History) took me to beautiful shrines and temples across Japan. I’ve learned so much about Shinto religion and Buddhism from my class.
I’ve made friendships that will last a lifetime on this trip. I’ve laughed harder than I ever had before, walked more than I could imagine, but most importantly, I learned so much about Japan and myself. I’ve gained a new perspective on the world and a love of traveling. World Class Programs is the only study abroad company I’d want to travel the world with. I can’t recommend this trip or any other WCP enough. Thank you for the best three weeks ever.