The benefits of working with a group travel company like Explorica to create and organize your educational tour are numerous, and we know you’ll have tons of questions along the way. We picked ten of our most popular questions from parents, students, and teachers and broke them down here, just for you. Keep calm and happy planning!
What is educational travel?
More than just a vacation, educational travel combines sightseeing, outside-the-classroom learning, and interactive experiences to create an immersive, life-changing adventure — and the benefits are endless.
Educational travel allows students to experience the history and culture that they only hear about in class. When students interact with people from other cultures, this causes a change in perception. It makes them more curious and accepting, and more likely to consider cultural contexts.
Travel also increases empathy, and students become more aware of how they live and learn in comparison to others. When students go on tour, they have the unique opportunity to expand their horizons and experience the world without sacrificing safety. They have chances to manage their own time and money and learn to work through problems like navigating a new city and dealing with language barriers — this helps boost confidence and improve personal responsibility and problem-solving.
Where can I travel to?
Pick a tour by subject (like STEM or history), destination (like Latin America or Europe), or tour type (like language immersion or service-learning). Click here to browse our collection of nearly 200 tours, and be sure to mark down your favorites!
Who can participate in these trips?
While Explorica trips place a strong focus on educational value, that doesn’t mean our tours are exclusively for students. We encourage groups of all ages to travel with us, including families, educators, and Girl Scout troops. All participants must sign up via the group’s individual Tour Center.
How much does it cost to travel?
Tour prices vary by length and destination, but you’ll always get the Guaranteed Best Prices when you book with Explorica.
Is financial aid available?
Of course! We offer need-based financial assistance for our international tours, in addition to scholarship funds, fundraising resources, and low monthly payments to make travel more accessible for all students.
To be considered for need-based financial aid, participants must submit an application including a federal tax form 1040. Interested families can start the process by calling Explorica’s Customer Care team at 1.888.310.7121.
How much spending money should travelers bring on tour?
Explorica tours include round-trip airfare, accommodations, ground transportation, two meals a day, the full-time services of a tour director, guided sightseeing, and more. We recommend that participants budget $30 to $50 each day for souvenirs, lunch, and additional travel expenses. Click here to learn more about spending money.
Do travelers need cash for tips?
Like any member of the service industry, tour directors, bus drivers and local guides depend on tips to make a living. Program leaders are advised to collect tip money from each participant at the beginning of the tour to avoid confusion and lack of money at the end of the tour. Explorica provides program leaders with the option of including tips in the tour fee of each participant to help make the tipping process effortless. Click here to learn more about tipping on tour.
What about travel insurance?
Four out of five travelers protect their tours through TripMate, our third-party travel protection plan provider. Explorica offers a standard Travel Protection Plan as well as our Travel Protection Plan Plus, which includes our industry-exclusive Cancel for Any Reason policy. Click here to learn more about travel protection.
How does rooming work?
While on tour, 3-4 students of the same gender will be sharing a room, assigned by the program leader. Hotel rooms are furnished with either single or double beds — single beds sleep just one person and double beds may be shared. Adults (ages 23 and older) will sleep 2 travelers/room.
Can travelers earn academic credit?
Explorica is an accredited institution just like your school, which means students traveling on qualified tours have the opportunity to earn academic credit and educators are eligible to receive free professional development. Click here to learn more.
For answers to more common questions about student travel, visit our FAQ page.