Frequently Asked Questions

EF has an unmatched worldwide presence, with 500 schools and offices in more than 50 locations.  EF has local staff members anywhere students go. 

That is one of the main reasons why I chose EF. That is, their ability to act quickly in person whenever and wherever they may be needed.

EF's dedicated Emergency Service & Support Team can be reached 24 hours a day at the North American and European headquarters. 

Parents can call 800-637-8222 from the U.S., while travelers can make a collect call to 001-617-619-2913 while abroad.

Travelers can also rely on the support and experience of their Tour Director, who stays with their group around the clock from the moment they clear customs to the time they set off for home again.

Safety is always a top priority at EF, which means they are continuously taking steps to help provide a safe experience for students on our tours. 

For example, EF requires all adult travelers aged 20 and older to complete a background check before traveling on an EF tour. To make the process as simple as possible, they work with the team at First Advantage, which emails adults a few months before the tour leaves with specific instructions.

All current Small MS 6th, 7th, and 8th graders, and their family members.

Current 4th/5th graders who will be Small MS 6th/7th grade students at the time of travel.

Siblings as young as 6 years old at the time of travel, accompanied by an adult. Siblings 20+ are considered adults and would pay the adult price difference.

Small MS alumni.

Itinerary
EF student tours are an introduction to travel and are intended to give young people the confidence to see the world. 

Itineraries are designed to get the most out of each destination, so the Tour Directors and local guides focus on showing students iconic sites with the best educational value. 

While some itineraries have scheduled free time, it's usually limited and travelers must participate in all scheduled activities.

Pace
Adults need to be aware that they will typically be on the go all day, leaving the hotel after an early breakfast and often returning after dinner. 

Days will often be fast-paced and include a lot of walking, so they should make sure to bring comfortable walking shoes. 

There may not be a lot of time to shop, and some lunches may be quick so that students get to see as much as possible.

2. 1. Tips money for the Tour Director, bus drivers, and local guides. I will ask you to Venmo me a specific amount per traveler by the second meeting. 

   2. Global Cougars Fly tee-shirt/s: Everybody will wear these on airport or local transportation days. Some parents purchase more than one for their kids, since laundry opportunities may not be available. You will be ordering these online about four months prior. Tee shirts are at cost.

   3. Charter bus to the airport fee. I often need this fee early on, as soon as I get a quote and I can reserve the charter bus. Charter bus companies get busy over the summer, so the sooner you book, the better. I will ask you to Venmo me a specific amount per traveler as well.

I know cell phones may be a topic of concern for some parents. Having said so, on these international trips, Mrs. Early sends constant reminders and notifications to the group. 

If you are traveling with your child, you can share all reminders with your student. 

If your child is traveling independently, I strongly advise you to provide your student with a cellphone with international roaming capabilities. 

Nowadays, parents can limit what apps their students can access, and even how long they can use the phone for every day.

Student rooms: Three or four student travelers in single and/or shared double beds (standard for student travelers)

Twin rooms: Two single beds (standard for adult travelers; students may pay to upgrade)

Single rooms: One single bed (adults may pay to upgrade)

Double rooms: One double bed (adult couples may request)

Family rooms: Two twin beds and a cot, or a double bed and a cot (families may request)

Any traveler who wishes to change their room type should submit this request to both their Group Leader and EF’s Customer Service team at 800-665-5364 as soon as possible. 

The deadline to make a change is 110 days before departure.

At the start of tour, travelers should bring the equivalent of $200-$300 in the currency of the initial destination. After that, ATMs are the most convenient way to withdraw cash since they accept a wide variety of bank and credit cards.

Before you travel, you should familiarize yourself with the current exchange rates for the U.S. dollar to the local currency of the destinations on your tour. 

Be sure to alert your bank and your credit or debit card company to let them know that you will be traveling abroad and make sure your cards will work. You should also find out if there are any fees associated with using your cards abroad.

Generally, breakfast and dinner are included on tour, with lunch on your own. 

Breakfast at your hotel typically includes cereal, bread or rolls, jam, juice, coffee, and tea.

Lunch is your chance to make culinary discoveries of your own. Our Tour Director will make recommendations.

Included dinners will be a mix of familiar dishes and local specialties from a set menu, either at a local restaurant or at your hotel. Table water is always provided free of charge; bottled water is provided in locations where deemed necessary by locals. Travelers are expected to pay for soft drinks and other beverages at dinner.

Travelers should expect portion sizes to be smaller than what they are accustomed to in America. 

Any travelers with dietary restrictions should communicate these details to EF prior to the tour and reiterate them with their Tour Director.

Your flight itinerary will be available online approximately 21 days prior to departure. All groups are issued electronic tickets (e-tickets), which means you only need to bring your passport to the airport for check-in. 

If a traveler has any special in-flight meal requests, they’ll need to call the airlines directly at least a week prior to departure. They should also confirm their requests at flight check-in.

 Mrs. Early requires that all travelers, children, and adults, fly INTO our destination bringing only a carry-on bag (22 x 14 x 9-inch size), and a personal item if necessary, such as a backpack. 

The last thing anybody wants is to be stuck at an airport with a big group of young travelers looking for lost bags, or for travelers to lose all of their belongings when we need to be on the go all day long. 

On the flight OUT, back into the US, it is fine to check in luggage if you buy souvenirs and need more space. Pack a duffle in your carry-on and problem solved!

 One piece of checked luggage is included in your fare.

It's a SUPER big deal!

A passport is required for all EF Educational Tours. Apply for a passport as soon as you enroll on a tour, as it can take up to 12 weeks to process. 

U.S. citizens traveling abroad must bring a passport that is valid for at least six months after the tour’s return and has at least three blank pages.

All travelers need to confirm their passport information to EF by logging in and visiting your “My Tours” page. 

This information is required by 110 days before your tour departs.

Make sure that the first, middle, and last name on your EF account matches your passport letter for letter, including punctuation and spacing.

EF uses this information when purchasing your flights, and airlines may not permit passengers to board if their ticket does not match their passport exactly. 

Name changes after 110 days prior to departure carry a minimum $200 fee up to the cost of a new ticket.

No longer able to travel? I do not manage money or payments.

Please call EF's Traveler Support team at 800-665-5364 and they will try to accommodate you in any way they can. 

The Traveler Support team will be happy to discuss the options available to you.

To review the EF's Cancellation Policy you signed at booking time in detail, please refer to EF’s Booking Conditions.

Things to Consider:

• You may be penalized depending on how close to departure you decide to cancel

• You may get all your money back if you bought the Global Protection Plan Plus

• You may need to wait between 6-8 weeks to receive a refund

• Depending on how you paid, you may be refunded to the same card used throughout, or receive a check in the mail if using different forms of payment. Checks are cut once a month.