Stories like hers repeat themselves every hour of every day. Sometimes this was a good thing, but sometimes it was incredibly frustrating. EF Tours are set up to be hosted by a local teacher who is then designated as the group leader. Teachers are incentivized with free and reduced price travel to recruit students to join their tours. However, I was never allowed to speak with management. DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILD ON AN EF TRIP!! But he did recommend that our group stop at an Austrian "crystal factory" for "a short 30 minute" visit. She usually did a count to make sure everyone was there when we were ready to leave, but she did leave people behind at least twice during our trip and have to go back and get them. Unfortunately, frustrated travelers are the norm with most EF Tours. Outside of Heidelberg we stayed in a gymnasium dormitory (German high school) that was out for the summer. nike nationals track and field backpack; 0 comments. According to a survey conducted by Consumer Reports, one in three travelers who booked tours with EF Tours did not receive a full refund when they attempted to cancel their trip. Sometimes they were just continental breakfasts with cold offerings, and sometimes we were given hot breakfasts with eggs, bacon, and such. Enroll online or call 800-766-2645, EF Go Ahead Tours They both were on the higher end of what I expected based on the descriptions provided by EF Tours of what our hotels would be like. Hi, I recently made a deposit to my bank of 12,400. For what it's worth 4k for a scotland ireland trip is definitely too much. About 3-4 months before our trip, and after we had already paid IN FULL, we were notified that because of our small group, our group leader had only signed 5 people up..hindsight tells me people saw what a rip off it was and didn't sign up to take it in the rear from EF. Once you get the notification for your EF ATM adjustment you should have access to the full amount of funds you deposited. 8 weeks.It has been 8 weeks so my son contacted the insurance company and was told the money would be put back into our account between June 20 to 25th. Dinners seemed to improve when we got to France. | During our entire time in London, we were not once served any traditional English food. Be nice! She was frequently the last person downstairs at our hotels to meet our bus 15 to 20 minutes after the time she told us to meet her, and did not budget in adequate travel time to most of our destinations. During our time in Rome, lunch came with some free time to wander, so we were able to go out and select the restaurant of our choice. There were also some pretty significant changes to our itinerary. Check out Elliott Advocacy Today, our free, daily newsletter with links to your favorite commentary, tips and news about consumer advocacy. If you booked a trip like this as an adult, you would scream from the rooftops for a refund but since these are kids, apparently EF doesn't have to listen because there will be another crop of unsuspecting students waiting to go next year. This was saddening but completely understandable. Our group had a few in person meetings at a local restaurant prior to our trip where we discussed issues ranging from passports to packing for our trip to Europe, and got a chance to meet our fellow travelers. Senior trips that were canceled by EF Explore America Tours due to the Coronavirus Covid-19 outbreak should be refunded in FULL, ALL travelers' trip costs minus the travel protection plan cost per traveler since the reason for cancellation was out of the school or the travelers' control. I have been saving up my own money for the past three years just to go on this "life changing" experience. I am a retired college Professor of Art. I did purchase it actually! EF, as a company, offers may types of tours ranging from group trips for adults to organized gap years for high school graduates. A Comprehensive Guide, Do Travel Adapters Change Voltage? Vouchers issued and redeemed by the original traveler may not be combined with future discounts, scholarships, or other special incentives if the same discounts, scholarships, or other special incentives existed on the original tour. If not used for travel, a COVID-19 Future Travel Voucher can be exchanged for a refund of all money paid into a travelers account less $500. The purpose of this article is to provide a step-by-step guide on how to get a full refund from EF Tours. They along with their team canceled the tour and refuses to refund the full amount. We simply got information from our Tour Guide when and where to meet up with the group after dinner and selected a nearby local pub so we could have a traditional English dining experience. We knew going into this tour that our itinerary would be extremely hectic. It's just all circular and I can't get anywhere. You can also call 800-665-5364 to request a refund on an international tour; for bookings of domestic trips through EF Explore America, call 888-333-9756. 321. how to get a full refund from ef tours. Full list of UK dates. Do you have knowledge or insights to share? Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey announced Thursday her office has reached a settlement with EF tours that resulted in more than $1.4 million in additional refunds for nearly 4,200. In Munich, we were given lodging one block from the red light district, and had three young women awakened during the middle of the night by a drunken man demanding access to their room (their room entrance was directly onto the street). These refund policies cover only a partial amount of the costs EF has already incurred for each . Sometimes it was quite obvious where our group was supposed to go, and sometimes it wasnt. But COVID-19 canceled those plans. I think our experience would have been better with a more seasoned Tour Guide. posted by: 23rd July 2021; No Comments . Not only did I make a complaint to the Better Business Bureau but I also requested that a manager call me and I have yet to hear from anyone. Settling with a debit card, a check or even a wire transfer means the money is gone. No one asked to go there, and most of us seemed annoyed that we were stopping. For ten of the eleven nights of our trip, we were provided with clean, safe accommodations that lived up to what the EF Tours website told us to expect. By enrolling on an EF Educational Tour pursuant to a COVID-19 Voucher redemption, the traveler is agreeing to the most current version of the Booking Conditions, which is available at www.eftours.com/bc. At the time of this publication, EF Tours has been notified of this unacceptable hotel and has yet to respond. Our guide that year was a young US college student who worked at a bookstore in downtown Rome. Just another site how to get a full refund from ef tours I called EF and they directed me to the insurance company-which is an absolute rip off. My oldest son was scheduled to take a school trip to Peru next year. Exploring the Pros, Cons, and Benefits of Utilizing Professional Vacation Planning Services. My kids are going on an EF tour in March. I am self employed so I had to send a letter stating that my business went under and this had created a hardship. Those memories are truly priceless. I just hope the tour goes well. EF is withholding $500 in administration fees, plus the $95 deposit, plus some other fee. It was necessary for a family member to go to Costa Rica. This was the only true hostel on our trip. I will never, ever even consider sending any of my other kids on one of these trips. The Elliott Report is a consumer news site supported by Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that offers free advice and advocacy for consumers. Whatever you need, well handle it. But use a credit card, and you have the full force of federal law ( the Fair Credit Billing Act) and your credit card's resolution department in your corner. Said she would pay for it herself as the total cost for her to go alone would be enough to take my entire family on a nice vacation. While our tour guide was a very sweet, personable woman, she didnt seem to understand how to manage the timing logistics for a group of 40 travelers. EF has the group leader/teacher set up deadlines for signing up to go on the trip, sometimes including small discounts to encourage enrollment. The brochure also claimed that students could earn educational credit while on tour, and that all tours feature experiential learning activities.. We were late to our tours in London, Florence, and the Vatican. What can we do with this company? But their ads sure reflect diversity! The purpose of this article is to provide a step-by-step guide on how to get a full refund from EF Tours. Hi, I'm Happy Sharer and I love sharing interesting and useful knowledge with others. Did you purchase trip insurance? I have a passion for learning and enjoy explaining complex concepts in a simple way. He went as part of a group of senior high school students on a school sponsored trip. Had it been a different group of personalities, Im not sure how it would have gone. Before our trip, our group leader did make sure to advise us about pickpocketing and theft at major tourist sites in Europe, and advised us to be prepared. My moms stairlift has a big problem it does not work outside! As a result, the plaintiffs and thousands of others have suffered "direct and consequential financial damage . $900 which we did. Absolutely not. How to get tickets. Once EF has processed and notified you of this move, you may opt to receive a COVID-19 Future Travel Voucher valued at 100% of monies paid toward your original tour/program. I am now retired, but have organized and will be leading another "Best of Europe" tour this September. We got to listen to an orchestra perform in Piazza della Signoria in Florence. And if that doesnt work well, you can always contact me. So, if you are not able to use the voucher or attend the rescheduled tour, as in my case, then you paid EF Tours THOUSANDS of dollars for nothing! That is INSANE. Tour participants are also given access to an EF Tours App, that just lists your daily itinerary for your trip. For example, on our first full day of the trip, we visited the Tower of London. According to their website, EF Tours has been in operation since 1965 and offers trips for students and teachers designed to provide immersive, life-changing education., Basically, EF Tours organizes international trips for students to a wide variety of destinations, promising compelling itineraries full of experiential learning.. In Rome, it was a tiramisu cooking class. Check out our directory. All travelers must pay the non-refundable, non-transferable $95 Enrollment Fee upon enrollment in order for the enrollment to be complete. Note that this is a salesperson who will try to sway you into "changing your destination, adjusting dates or setting up a new payment plan to make paying for your trip easier" according to their help center. And the airlines deferred to Expedia. have zero control or influence on these trips. Was told that in total I will lose the $749 each person as we also will lose the Global Travel Protection Plan amount as well. Just keep your expectations realistic. how to get a full refund from ef tours. All I know to do is make this issue public. Menu. I was told by the EF Tours representative that he could room with boys from other schools or upgrade (at an additional $90 per night!) We were late to our appointment at the Louvre. Trips like this EF Tour require students to be pretty mature when it comes to safety. A Comprehensive Guide, Is Hiring a Travel Agent Worth It? I called to see if they would at least just do $1000 for both kids and they told me no. Have had 2 separate travel experiences with EF. Is there any way I can get around it? Some of it was just bad luck however I feel like most of it was EF tours being lazy and not trying to help make the experience the best that it could have been. COVID-19 required everybody to be quarantined. In spite of these two disastrous group travel experiences with EF Tours, I LOVED organizing and leading tours to Europe. I've been paying off a trip to Ireland/England from EF Tours for Girl Scouts for about a year. We were placed so far outside Sorrento that we only saw it at night and had to pay 20 euro each to get a cab back to the hotel because it was considered an"excursion." Your card has consumer protection programs built in so you can challenge a charge if the vendor does not fulfill what was promised. Half staying for exchange program arrived to our destination early. The EF Go Ahead Tours app supports and connects our global community. And, this hotel was a truck stop on the M1. Breakfast is provided each day at the hotel, usually continental style, but sometimes with hot offerings just depending on your hotel. Vrbo took my $1,270! Travelers should expect to receive a refund approximately 4-6 weeks after it is requested. This is the biggest scam ever. Evidently, just before the drop deadline, the other boys in our group dropped out because of cost, and he's the lone boy traveling from our school with a group of girls. I asked the front desk to remedy this, but it was never addressed, and we had to repeat the blind search for our rooms every time we went up. They informed me that my type of service is not recognized and I would not be covered. Our group was quite good about being on time to meet up locations with a couple of small exceptions that could not be helped. This hotel was significantly older than the other three we had stayed at, but it was still clean and comfortable. Experts say you shouldnt use a credit card dispute unless you have no other choice, which is to say the travel company wont refund your purchase even though its agreed to do so. Call 877-485-4184 to enroll, EF Ultimate Break Jose had approached her online agency and every airline in her itinerary. Though not quite as refined as the Hiltons, and a little slap-shot with the furniture, we found this place to be clean and welcoming. Our award-winning daily newsletters keep you posted on our random acts of consumer advocacy. by | Oct 29, 2021 | how to stop gypsophila smelling | groomsman proposal funny | Oct 29, 2021 | how to stop gypsophila smelling | groomsman proposal funny The next group dinner was at a Polish restaurant where the group was served a fried chicken patty and french fries. Your email address will not be published. Sears couldnt deliver my appliances. Read more, Copyright 2023 Chaotically Yours | Birch on Trellis Framework by Mediavine. They want to keep $1000 each child therefore I will loss $2000. Empowering Lives with Nutritious and Delicious NDIS Meals! According to their website, EF claims to design tours to help educators teach, and so students can learn moreabout tolerance, other perspectives, and themselves.. The original discount amount will apply. Email insurance@riskstrategiestravel.com. PLAN. Usually if you haven't paid in full you could get a cancel for any reason insurance which will give you about 75% back. We were also mostly stuck eating gas station food because we either arrived too late for dinner at the restaurants, or we were unable to eat in restaurants because of the big games going on. Your local principals, school boards, etc. It was quite nice not to have to worry about any of that. Whenever I called and asked for a manager, I was told that non were available and that they would call me when they became available. Yes, even though quarantine is a covered reason for a full refund, EF Tours CHARGED members $$ a significant amount of money thus negating a full refund. ). Flexible, fee-free rebooking options Need to make new travel plans? Im Louise. It was absolutely fantastic. I had to do this for a foreign airline that owed me a partial refund for a flight originating in the U.S., and they wound up giving me a full refund, voluntarily.. The school uses them for all there spring break trips and this is very disappointing that they are doing this to us. There was a layer of dusty film all over my bathroom and my pillow had an unidentified crusty stain on it. On our way to Rome, our guide added a stop in Ovierto, a beautiful small town with picturesque views, wonderful dining and great little shops which we enjoyed immensely. It was kind of like a tasting menu, where you got a little bit of each destination. Thats why weve enhanced our already top-tier, industry-leading coverage programs to provide even more choices, and to give travelers, families, and school communities the widest range of safe and flexible plans. As a working class family that was attempting to give our child a wonder experience, I am outraged that a company would gain such a profit off of a cancellation! Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. I loved knowing that I could write my own tour, knowing that every detail would be done right. Following these steps should give customers the best chance of getting a full refund from EF Tours. My son had a very poor experience with the Grecian Odyssey EF tours. By skipping the London Eye, we were able to have a bit more time to explore and plenty of time to enjoy our pub dinner that we mentioned earlier since the London Eye excursion was timed to happen right before dinner. We had a wonderful group of kids who took their personal safety pretty seriously, and didnt take unnecessary risks that would put them in jeopardy. Three weeks after enrolling, our circumstances changed so I called to cancel, expecting to pay the $95 cancellation fee x2. Which btw the ticket was $100!!! In my opinion they are if they hired them to insure these trips they should make good on there promises to get you to buy the insurance. Do your trip make a suggestion about tips? Wheres my airline ticket refund from GotoGate? My daughter wanted to go with members of her class on this great trip with EF tours. They are basically stealing our money and find this to be okay. We were encouraged to invite friends and family to join us on the tour, whether or not they were associated with our school or even local to our area. One of the destinations was an Island called Tortuga. The local tour guides who showed us the sights of each city were the most informative folks on this trip, with extensive knowledge of the history and culture at each stop, but we were forced to use amplifying devices called Whispers in order to hear the guides. It felt like a complete waste of time to travel and waste that many days.