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EF student tours....anyone have experience?

EF student tours....anyone have experience?

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by: djchavez0921 Active Indicator LED Icon 10 OP 
~ 9 years ago   Feb 19, '15 10:15am  
We are considering signing our high schooler up for a 9 day European tour for Spring Break of 2016.....Paris, Munich, etc. It's not actually through her school, but one of the teachers from the school is arranging it, so we're also considering my wife joining her; kinda like a Mom / Daughter trip.
 
Has anyone ever sent their child, or anyone else, on one of these? If so, what was your experience like?
 
What's everyone's take on the current situation abroad with Americans / Christians being targets for terrorists? Would you send someone on a trip like this? Too risky? I tend to stay current and read a lot of news, and I was all gung ho about it, figuring it would be a neat experience for both of them, up until yesterday. My spidey senses all of a sudden went on alert and now I'm starting to reconsider.
 
A nephew of mine went on one about a year ago, and it was fine, but I think things were slightly different then, than they are at the moment. Am I psyching myself out by all the reading I do? Being paranoid? Just wondering what other people's thoughts are. 4951
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tatertot58 Active Indicator LED Icon 15
~ 9 years ago   Feb 19, '15 10:56am  
I have traveled to 43 different countries over the past years. My take right now is I would rather not travel outside of the US. I have an AWESOME opportunity to go to Nepal in September and every time I mention it to my colleagues who are seasoned travelers I get these odd looks.   I guess if one wants to travel abroad they need to read all of the advisories and stay very cautious and alert... 4951
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Elle10 Active Indicator LED Icon 1
~ 9 years ago   Feb 19, '15 11:49am  
We are considering signing our high schooler up for a 9 day European tour for Spring Break of 2016.....Paris, Munich, etc. It's not actually through her school, but one of the teachers from the school is arranging it, so we're also considering my wife joining her; kinda like a Mom / Daughter trip.
 
Has anyone ever sent their child, or anyone else, on one of these? If so, what was your experience like?
 
What's everyone's take on the current situation abroad with Americans / Christians being targets for terrorists? Would you send someone on a trip like this? Too risky? I tend to stay current and read a lot of news, and I was all gung ho about it, figuring it would be a neat experience for both of them, up until yesterday. My spidey senses all of a sudden went on alert and now I'm starting to reconsider.
 
A nephew of mine went on one about a year ago, and it was fine, but I think things were slightly different then, than they are at the moment. Am I psyching myself out by all the reading I do? Being paranoid? Just wondering what other people's thoughts are.
 
@djchavez0921: I did the 10 day London/Paris/Rome/Florence EF tour and it was excellent. We ended up also doing a day trip around Assisi.
Our tour guide was hilarious AND professional, and knew enough history to be able to answer all our art and architectural questions, but he didn't drone on and on.Food and accommodations were great - we has some beautiful views! Obviously the overnight/underwater train ride between Paris and London was somewhat uncomfortable, but you won't have to go through anything like that.You will want to make sure you have lots of spending money. Although I still believe three meals a day are included, you'll want to try everything and it adds up! You won't regret doing an EF tour...you'll see everything you want to in a structured setting, and have enough down time to explore on your own. 4951
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Elle10 Active Indicator LED Icon 1
~ 9 years ago   Feb 19, '15 11:56am  
@djchavez0921: Also, as a Christian who lived in Cairo for three months, I would say that you shouldn't not travel based on fear. How do you think foreigners feel about American mass shootings? My friends abroad think my life is in constant danger because of what they see in the news. No matter where you are, you must take traveling precautions (I wouldn't fly Malaysian Airlines for instance). You should always respect the culture of where you are, and don't show off your flashy and expensive electronics, etc. 4951
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BlissfullyRetired Active Indicator LED Icon 2
~ 9 years ago   Feb 19, '15 12:06pm  
What's everyone's take on the current situation abroad with Americans / Christians being targets for terrorists? Would you send someone on a trip like this? Too risky? I tend to stay current and read a lot of news, and I was all gung ho about it, figuring it would be a neat experience for both of them, up until yesterday. My spidey senses all of a sudden went on alert and now I'm starting to reconsider.
 
@djchavez0921:  The European countries that they want to visit are probably fairly safe but Americans, especially a group of them, may be an easier target in those countries. I understand your concern. I have a nephew that just returned from the Netherlands and he and his wife are going back soon. I personally wouldn't want my wife and daughter to take that chance.
4951
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MarT Active Indicator LED Icon 9
~ 9 years ago   Feb 19, '15 12:23pm  
Just one word of advice. Even if neither of you go with her make sure you have a passport.  This sounds like a crazy lie, but it is a true story.  My niece was drugged and kidnapped in Rome on a senior trip.  Everything turned out okay in the end, it was gypsies trying to get 300 Euro.  She did nothing careless or wrong to end up in this position.  My sister was out of her mind waiting for news because she didn't have a passport to head there immediately.  Since my niece was already 18 they couldn't tell her everything about her medical condition.  Thankfully someone from the State Dept found a way to relay info to my sister while still honoring the law.  4951
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djchavez0921 Active Indicator LED Icon 10 OP 
~ 9 years ago   Feb 19, '15 1:18pm  
Just one word of advice. Even if neither of you go with her make sure you have a passport.  This sounds like a crazy lie, but it is a true story.  My niece was drugged and kidnapped in Rome on a senior trip.  Everything turned out okay in the end, it was gypsies trying to get 300 Euro.  She did nothing careless or wrong to end up in this position.  My sister was out of her mind waiting for news because she didn't have a passport to head there immediately.  Since my niece was already 18 they couldn't tell her everything about her medical condition.  Thankfully someone from the State Dept found a way to relay info to my sister while still honoring the law. 
 
@MarT: Thanks. I already have a passport so I'm good there.
4951
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djchavez0921 Active Indicator LED Icon 10 OP 
~ 9 years ago   Feb 19, '15 1:22pm  

@djchavez0921: Also, as a Christian who lived in Cairo for three months, I would say that you shouldn't not travel based on fear. How do you think foreigners feel about American mass shootings? My friends abroad think my life is in constant danger because of what they see in the news. No matter where you are, you must take traveling precautions (I wouldn't fly Malaysian Airlines for instance). You should always respect the culture of where you are, and don't show off your flashy and expensive electronics, etc.
 
@Elle10: I undertand what you're saying.
 
To one of your points though, there's a difference between someone going in to a random place and shooting up a bunch of random people, and someone being targeted specifically for being from a specific country and/or specific religious belief.
 
Appreciate your input though.
4951
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fcabanski Active Indicator LED Icon 16
~ 9 years ago   Feb 19, '15 2:44pm  
"How do you think foreigners feel about American mass shootings?"  When was the last time an American shot a bunch of people in Europe while screaming "Obama is President!!!!!!!!!"? 4951
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attila Active Indicator LED Icon 2
~ 9 years ago   Feb 19, '15 4:49pm  
We signed up at my daughter's previous school for a France, Switzerland, and Germany trip. Two months before the trip, they informed us there were not enough people signed up, so the members of our group were being reassigned to different trips that had available spots open. They also gave the option of returning our money, which is the option most of us took. However, I do believe they plan the activities to maximize the experience, so as long as it's a large group going, I'd say it's a great opportunity. Their trips are a bit pricy though, and they will add fees on periodically before the trip to cover tax and fuel price increases. 4951
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AstroKing Active Indicator LED Icon
~ 9 years ago   Feb 19, '15 5:31pm  
Don't let fear stop you from the trip of a lifetime.  There are tons of Americans where you are considering traveling.  Put it this way - you'll be plenty safe, especially now.  Security will be tight now and that means much safer than it normally would be. 4951
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Elle10 Active Indicator LED Icon 1
~ 9 years ago   Feb 19, '15 8:49pm  

- - - - - - - -
>>
@djchavez0921: Also, as a Christian who lived in Cairo for three months, I would say that you shouldn't not travel based on fear. How do you think foreigners feel about American mass shootings? My friends abroad think my life is in constant danger because of what they see in the news. No matter where you are, you must take traveling precautions (I wouldn't fly Malaysian Airlines for instance). You should always respect the culture of where you are, and don't show off your flashy and expensive electronics, etc.
 
@Elle10: I undertand what you're saying.
 
To one of your points though, there's a difference between someone going in to a random place and shooting up a bunch of random people, and someone being targeted specifically for being from a specific country and/or specific religious belief.
 
Appreciate your input though.
 
@djchavez0921: How on earth is someone in Europe going to know your religion, though? Any skin color can fall under any religious practice...
4951
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SwimSwim Active Indicator LED Icon 2
~ 9 years ago   Feb 20, '15 7:46am  
We signed our daughter up for the trip next Spring.  Yeah, I have concerns about the safety of it, but I can't let my fears keep her from having what I think will be a great experience.I think the price is really very good considering all they get to do. 4951
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