Program Reviews

Ultimate Europe was a life changing experience for me and one I will never forget. I visited 7 countries in 30 days and formed close friendships with people I still keep in touch with and visit today. I highly recommend this trip in particular, because it offered a great mix of active, tourist, historical, and art related activities. The wide range of activities kept the trip interesting and fun, and I never felt as if we were doing the same types of activities throughout the trip. For instance, we hiked in Cinque Terre, visited the Eiffel Tower in Paris, visited the Van Gough museum in Amsterdam, and took the train to do a tour of Dachau in Germany. I also relished learning how to use the public transportation systems abroad and believe it helped me develop a stronger sense of direction. One of the reasons I chose TFT was because in comparison to other competitors who tend to use large buses to transport everyone, we primarily used public transportation, which afforded me an incredible opportunity to experience each place as if I were a local, observing the people who boarded the trains. TFT also stands out from competitors because it embraces flexibility and fosters independence, allowing participants to sometimes choose between activities based on personal interests. Overall, Ultimate Europe was an unbelievable trip that instilled in me a passion for traveling.

My experience with TFT has been nothing short of great. I loved my trip, the people, and sharing so many great adventures with everyone. I hope to do it again sometime soon! We went ziplining, white water rafting, and had so many crazy adventures. For service, we helped out at a school by cleaning their walls, and picked up trash on the beaches and in the streets. We also got to go on an alligator tour as well and see all the beautiful sites Costa Rica has to offer.

Bula everyone! This past 2017 summer I had the privilege of attending the adventures and service work in Fiji ! It was the most incredible thing I have even done !! The highlight for me would definitely be working and playing with the children there! I cannot say one bad thing about the locals as well, they were so inclusive to us we played volleyball with them and did lots of java ceremonies. Every night at one of the resorts we had a super fun dance party with my group, song and dance around the bonfire and live on Fiji time. The community service portion was also one of the best things about the trip, we got to sing and dance with the kids at the school, on our lunch break play soccer and get fresh coconuts off the trees. I will never forget the breath taking scenery of Fiji. It was truly one of the most beautiful places I have ever gone too. The part I miss most about this trip would be the people I met on it. We FaceTime weekly and can’t wait to meet up again somewhere! The hardest part about travel for teens is picking the destenation, I right now cannot figure out what trip I am going on for the 2018 summer! I just hope it will be as spectacular as Fiji !

This trip was easily one of my favorite TFT trips I have ever been on. We had a fairly small group of girls on the trip, and we all became extremely close throughout our stay in Tanzania. The staff was wonderful as always, and my trip director did a wonderful job making sure we were enjoying our experience. I always felt safe with our local tour guides, and our lodging was fantastic as well. The itinerary was extremely fun. The safaris were indescribable, and the time at the SEGA school was incredibly rewarding. We really got to know the girls in our small groups, and learning Swahili and playing games with them was a great experience for everyone in the group. I would love to go back to Tanzania with TFT again and would highly recommend this trip to anyone!

This trip was insane and worth every penny. We always had amazing adventures planned, beautiful destinations, and delicious food. We did almost every thing imaginable: hiking, hanging out on a beach, shopping, cooking, canyoning, white water rafting, biking, exploring museums, and more! If you love going to different countries, the outdoors, and European cities, this trip is for you! I fully recommend it to anyone and everyone.

Fantastic trip. Got to visit some of the most beautiful place in Europe. Hiking in Cinque Terre was one the most memorable and inspiring things I have ever done. Learn so much about the Italian history and culture. Got to try some of the best food of my life. Counselor and trip director went out of their way to make the trip fun, safe, and that everyone hand a awesome time. A great way to travel as a teenager and meet new people. Would definitely recommend to anybody looking to experience new culture and exploring different countries.

Last summer presented itself with a unique opportunity to go to Fiji. Fiji highlighted its massive coconut trees, marine life diversity (manta rays, sharks, vibrant coral!) and most importantly its warmhearted people. I loved immersing myself in a culturally diverse environment and interacting with the locals. We participated in kava ceremonies and talked about everything from rugby to our personal lives.
The community service took place on Nacula Island. Our group worked to complete the painting and beautification of two school buildings. While working, we peaked through the classroom windows to see eager children learning and absorbing information like a sponge. And at that moment I felt a deep responsibility to create a sound environment for them so that nothing impedes their learning.
Overall, this trip definitely shaped me and I can't wait for more opportunities like this!

My second trip with TFT did not disappoint. Going into the trip, I had extremely high expectations from my previous Thailand Elephant Service and Adventure trip, and TFT continues to blow me away. From the packed itinerary to the gorgeous accommodations and unique cultural immersion, I always felt that I had something to be grateful for. I truly experienced Fijian culture with a trip to the nearby island village that included a traditional church service and a home cooked lunch by a local family. Fijian people are some of the friendliest and kind-hearted individuals I have ever met. Helping out at the local primary school by building an incinerator and playing with the kids during recess was a fulfilling experience. I loved diving into the crystal blue waters to swim, scuba dive, and snorkel with sharks! I was continuously pushed out of my comfort zone by foreign cuisine and sunrise mountain hikes, which provided some of the most rewarding views of my life. My trip leaders and counselors were friendly, fun, and responsible. I cannot wait to travel with TFT again this summer!

Traveling is my absolute most favorite thing in the entire world. I discovered my love for travel back in 2014 when I traveled outside of the United States for the first time to China with Travel for Teens. After having an amazing experience there, I have since attended five other trips with the program, one of them being Iceland, most recently, in summer 2017. In late 2016, I was struggling to decide which country to visit with the program, and I ended up landing on Iceland without much prior knowledge of the country. I knew basic geographic facts, but other than that, not much else. When I arrived to the country in July 2017, after a mere one to two days, I knew this island was special. From the spectacular waterfalls cascading down in every direction from some of the most eye-catching mountains I've ever witnessed to incredible sights such as the inside of an active volcanic lava tube, this trip was magnificent - in every sense of the word. Prior to visiting Iceland, I would have never even begun to assume this island had so much to offer, but thanks to Travel for Teens, I was able to change my viewpoint quite drastically. The activities offered are some of the most amazing I have ever participated in, such as hiking into a canyon to see a secret waterfall, snorkeling in the most pristine water on Earth in between two tectonic plates in a massive crack in the earth, and engaging in a unique dining experience known as "Viking Sushi", where you have a chance to eat everything from clams to scallops to sea urchin directly from the sea in the freshest form possible. As expected, the Blue Lagoon was wonderful, and as a side note, we were lucky enough to see an entire rainbow inside the crater of a volcano. If that isn't amazing luck, I don't know what is! Would I recommend this program to anyone who is looking for a destination not nearly as often traveled to as mainland Europe? Yes. It is a one-of-a-kind destination, and Travel for Teens captures the island in all of its best aspects.

I wouldn’t trade this experience with TFT for he world! i not only learned about other countries and met people abroad but made friends from all over the US that i still talk to. I had such a great time on this trip and was able to grow personally and experience things i never would have if I had not gone on the Travel for older teens: Florence, CInque Terre, Interlaken, paris. Would recommend this trip every time.