I feel like EF tours did not take our interests and feelings into consideration and I feel like this trip was a complete waste of time and money. But whats this $452 bill? No one wanted to be the person that made us late. As a result, the plaintiffs and thousands of others have suffered "direct and consequential financial damage . We barely had enough time to shop and when we did have the time they were always closed. Although it did seem that everywhere we went in Italy, anyone who was gluten free or dairy free was served watermelon for dessert. This Arizona based company has been organizing dozens of tours for teachers and college professors all across the country for 30 years. Did EF Tours create the trip of my dreams? I booked a trip with our homeschool "trip club" to do EF's Great Britain tour with a 2 day extension to Paris. Thanks :). Original scheduled departure was on or before May 14, 2020. Make sure to include all relevant information, such as the date of the transaction, the amount of the refund requested, and any evidence you have of your dissatisfaction with EF Tours. Hi, I recently made a deposit to my bank of 12,400. When Will Hawaiis Safe Travels Program End? These tours are usually walking tours, but sometimes are bus tours, depending on the location. 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. We choose not to participate in the excursion in London because Im not the biggest fan of heights, and in Paris because my daughter wanted the opportunity to spend some extra free time in the city. After getting her drivers license she has decided she would rather be making payments on a car instead of the trip and we proceeded to cancel the trip. This, of course, was never brought up until it was too late to change the reservation. If you want any other info or even wanted to pass my company on to your leaders shoot me a message! Email insurance@riskstrategiestravel.com. Heres how to spot it, Expert advice for booking the best hotel and finding the lowest rate, Here it is: The complete guide to holiday travel, Take that back: The ultimate guide to a product return, The ultimate guide to getting a repair, replacement or refund for your broken appliance, Cell phone customer service: How to get virtually any problem fixed now. 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 youve signed up for your EF Tour, youll be given access to a tour portal on the EF website where you can track your payments and what steps you need take next to participate in the trip. Pre-sale tickets for Ed Sheeran's tour go live on Wednesday, March 8 at 9am for anyone who has preordered the new album via the Ed Sheeran website. Those memories are truly priceless. Once I realized that time would be much more limited at every destination than I expected it to be, the trip went much more smoothly. Thailand (/ t a l n d,-l n d / TY-land, -lnd), historically known as Siam (/ s a m, s a m /) and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning 513,120 square kilometres (198,120 sq mi), with a population of almost 70 million. And if that doesnt work well, you can always contact me. For example, you can shoot an email to an executive of a hotel chain when one of the properties refuses to offer a refund you deserve. Outside of Heidelberg we stayed in a gymnasium dormitory (German high school) that was out for the summer. When I called about a refund for the extension being taken off I was told by customer service "They make the cost even out." Cancel your tour and all travelers will receive a transferable Future Travel Voucher in the amount of all monies paid for the original tour, less the cost . EF will book with whatever airline has space available for the lowest price for the group. Finally, make sure youre dealing with the right company. 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. But in the most frustrating example, during our time in Paris a visit to the Frogonard Perfume Museum was added to our itinerary. I will never, ever even consider sending any of my other kids on one of these trips. A minimum number of 35 or 55 participants (varies by tour) is necessary to qualify for the group rates on which the Discovery Tour is based. Children are not monitored, left to find their own way in cities across the . We signed up about a year out from the trip, while another student who traveled with us signed up just a month or two before we left. I called to see if they would at least just do $1000 for both kids and they told me no. But their ads sure reflect diversity! We use cookies to improve your experience on our site and to show you personalised advertising. But use a credit card, and you have the full force of federal law (the Fair Credit Billing Act) and your credit cards resolution department in your corner. He paid Vantage $18,536. Our "hotels" were in suburbs, a great distance outside of the beautiful towns we were to visit. 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! We were assured that our tour director would be with us around the clock, handling local transportation, hotels, and meals while also providing their own insight into the local history and culture.. Things started off badly when we discovered that the lights in all the hallways were not on, and that we had to hunt around with our cell phone flashlights to find our way to our rooms. They need to be outted with their unfair business practices. Vrbo offered a refund after my husband lost his job. The kids didn't seem to mind it, but I did seem a little crowded at times. The tiramisu cooking class in Rome was not optional for our group for some reason. But in Paris, a visit to Montmartre was abandoned, even though our dinner restaurant was within a mile of the historic location. "All travelers with trips through April 30 will automatically receive a transferable travel voucher for the full amount paid (including all non-refundable payments) good through September 30,. We would be spending time in three different countries, seeing some of the most beautiful and historic cities in Europe. This was the only true hostel on our trip. EF is keeping $565 dollars needed to cover their overhead and costs to hotels and airlines but students could reschedule. 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. Each was wonderfully successful! Trips like this EF Tour require students to be pretty mature when it comes to safety. While this may seem like a school trip, it is not. On the second night we had a traditional Alsatian dish called Flammekueche, which was sort of like a pizza with a creamy sauce. EF Tours charged each participant $60. Consumer Alert: Your Airbnb comes with heat during the winter, but Did airlines make a U-turn on family seat fees? OH man! 110 comments. Were always here to help. If I elect to exchange a COVID-19 Future Travel Voucher for a refund how long will it take for me to receive my refund? We found that there wasnt that much education attached to our tour. In addition the insurance company retained by EF initially declined to pay to have my son evacuated from Cost Rica. We were combined with a group from upstate New York consisting of 14 travelers: one teacher, one adult, one child and 11 students. About Ultimate Break tours Meals, transportation, Tour Directors, pace, customization, and who you'll be traveling with. Im not sure what EF added to the experience to warrant that upcharge. I am not canceling the trip, but yet I am the one. My mom is part of a tour departing for a 10 day trip to Europe. Dont accept vouchers or points. Local 1-317-582-2658 or Toll-free 1-866-887-7148. For what it's worth 4k for a scotland ireland trip is definitely too much. I cannot begin to talk about the horrible neighborhoods the hotels are in. Lunches were always a gamble. This tends to give a false sense of urgency to the sign up process. These Britrail England Flexi Passes are taking forever to refund. All travelers must pay the non-refundable, non-transferable $95 Enrollment Fee upon enrollment in order for the enrollment to be complete. I feel I paid twice as much as the tour was worth with the lack of amenities and accommodations that were promised by EF as those that were . 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. Also, keep every email and receipt. My mom had to put hotel rooms for 30 students in her credit card. consumer advocate is called the three Ps., WHAT YOU CAN DO WHEN YOUR TRAVEL COMPANY WON'T SEND YOUR REFUND. I had to also pay $500.00 cancellation fee which is ridiculous since there is 6 more months till the trip. Would I go on another EF Tour? They also promise to have the lowest price on the market for this type of travel. EF was never concerned about her health or welfare and only accused her of being drunk so they could dodge any responsibility. I work for a competitor of EF and have about a million reasons why groups that go with them get ripped off. Lunches were not included in the initial price of our trip and were paid out of pocket each day. The deduction of $565 includes items such as the non-refundable deposit and other non-refundable fees. Why am I being charged a total of $550 in cancellation fees? Breakfast is provided each day at the hotel, usually continental style, but sometimes with hot offerings just depending on your hotel. It was an equally devastating experience. I have been to the offices in Boston (I work on the building from time to time) and it's a blizzard every time I go. These refund policies cover only a partial amount of the costs EF has already incurred for each . I cancelled my daughters trip to Greece. If you happen to wander around the Charles River, it is worth of walking toward the Zakim Bridge and stopping by North Point Park. 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. 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. I've been paying off a trip to Ireland/England from EF Tours for Girl Scouts for about a year. A COVID-19 Future Travel Voucher cannot be divided into multiple accounts, unless the traveler applies the voucher to a future tour and the voucher amount is higher than the price of the new tour. On June 20th we called them to verify and were told our claim was denied and we wouldn't be receiving anything back from them. Call 888-333-9756 to enroll, EF College Study She had us walking everywhere (1 1/2 mile from our hotel to the bus stop each day. Youll also connect with other readers who want to make the world a better place. Sometimes it was quite obvious where our group was supposed to go, and sometimes it wasnt. 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." Meals on the tour ran the gamut from weird to stellar, but overall were not to bad. You can call EF Ultimate Break at 1-800-766-2645. We were quoted a price and told the insurance was a great thing to have because with it you could cancel up to 24 hrs before the trip for a full refund minus the cost of insurance. Our help is free. For many years I organized and lead group tours to Europe for my college. 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. They informed me that my type of service is not recognized and I would not be covered. Several items listed on our initial brochure were changed before the trip due to pandemic restrictions and travel challenges, which was fine. Can a vacation rental host cancel my stay and keep my money? So they offered vouchers that were only good for up to 18 monthsUP TO 18 MONTHS! She had been paying for the trip in installments since 2018. The Global Travel Protection Plus plan provides a refund of the Program Price (minus the cost of the plan and other non-refundable fees) if your child needs to cancel their tour up to 24 hours prior to departure for any reason. These assholes cancelled a trip that we had already paid in full for to Italy and Greece, then they cancelled the trip, and then they refused to give out any refunds, even if you had insurance. My first year to Europe with a group was through EF Tours. If you have general questions about your enrollment in the travel . This has caused many customers to feel frustrated and helpless when trying to get a full refund from EF Tours. Your Group Leader may choose from the following options: Work with EF to modify your group's current tour itinerary and dates, or find a new tour and apply all money paid to the new tour. But on her return flight, one of the legs, on Flybe from Paris to Manchester, England, mysteriously vanished. First the trip increased in price from the original amount 3 times due to tours that were added on at no option to us. Even though this wasnt guaranteed, all of our accommodations had some sort of air conditioning, with some that functioned better than others, and all of them had WiFi. I think I would, but I would definitely choose a slower paced itinerary with more time in each destination. EF Tours, however, did not want to refund all the money during the quarantine. A COVID-19 Future Travel Voucher retains the value of all money paid into a travelers account which can be applied to any EF tours or language product with a departure date prior to the COVID-19 Future Travel Vouchers expiration date. by | Oct 29, 2021 | ark center hidden underwater base locations | john mccririck falling out of a boat | Oct 29, 2021 | ark center hidden underwater base locations | john mccririck falling out of a boat I just hope the tour goes well. Imagine being in London not able to tour anything because you don't have the proper tour bus that you were promised?? IS this the only forum about this place? 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. Ours just didnt seem quite ready to handle all the pressures and logistics that are required for managing a group of 40 people for 12 days. We were so late to our tour of Pompeii. That is INSANE. - Keep a travel log of your adventures. Thank you for your honesty! We got to listen to an orchestra perform in Piazza della Signoria in Florence. Get Involved; Contact; Donate! Travel Company efeducationaltours eftours eftours Photos See all Videos See all 1:02 On the rare occasion when this requirement is not fulfilled, participants are given one or more of the following options: 1. Since the legal drinking age in the areas we visited was 18, student who met this requirement were allowed to drink alcohol on our trip, but were asked to limit it to one drink with dinner. Consider hiring a lawyer who specializes in consumer protection and travel law. During our entire time in London, we were not once served any traditional English food. A most unsatisfactory and life changing (m for the worse) experience. But learning seemed to take a back seat to just being in another country in most circumstances. Dinners seemed to improve when we got to France. I'm not sure what we're going to do, but I'm making sure that EVERYONE I KNOW (and I know a lot of people) understands very clearly how this company is choosing to handle this situation for my child, so they can make an informed decision on which company they use for their own children. All transportation arrangements are made by EF Tours, including flights, buses, trains, etc. The only options available to us were food trucks along the river right next to the Tower complex. How Does PTO Work for Salaried Employees? It was necessary for a family member to go to Costa Rica. EF Tours inflexible, would not accommodate my request. It was over $8,300," Hignite said. EF has staff on the ground, 365 days a year, in over 50 countries to assist you in times of need. SCUMBAGS!!!!! to my lawyer for resolution of a full refund. I think our experience would have been better with a more seasoned Tour Guide. If EF Tours still refuses to issue a full refund, the next step is to contact your credit card company. It's just all circular and I can't get anywhere. Tickets to the entire estate are free for those under 18 years old and cost under $30 USD for anyone else, and thats without a group discount. A few days later, EF responded to an earlier complaint submitted by the plaintiff to the Arizona Office of the Attorney General in which the defendants allegedly offered the plaintiff a partial cash refund of $1,000 less than what she paid for her child's tour. Original scheduled departure was from May 15, 2020 September 30, 2022. Thus far I've paid off $1,500. Tours with scheduled departures from October 1, 2020 September 30, 2022, If at 44 days or less prior to departure of your tour, travel restrictions, governmental orders, or other conditions related to the COVID-19 pandemic make it impossible or impracticable for EF to operate your tour as scheduled, or any of the COVID-19 travel related events referenced in the. Im extremely glad we made those decisions. The Return & Refund Policies may vary widely among different types of products and sellers. The reviews of the food were always " not enough food and mediocre food". It is very expensive, and I'm just hoping for a positive experience. When he asked for these items at the front desk, he was told that we should have called earlier to request them since they were all locked up in a cabinet by the time we arrived at the hotel. It will cover topics such as contacting EF Tours directly, filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), disputing the charge with your credit card company, and seeking legal advice. Out of that $550, $95 is the none refundable deposit but come on, the rest if ridiculous, especially when the cancellation request is made OVER A YEAR in advance. It took me to every floor and A) the offices are gorgeous! What we didnt expect was the significant amount of wasted time and changes to our itinerary that happened on our tour. What can a COVID-19 Future Travel Voucher be used for? Information about our flights was not available until about a month before our departure, and information about our hotels was not available until we were about three weeks out from leaving. They were giving us the runaround, says Jose, a medical technologist from DeLand, Florida. Image courtesy: EF Go Ahead Tours Benefits of EF Go Ahead Tours. My oldest son was scheduled to take a school trip to Peru next year. Yet I received a check in the mail for $300 before I could talk to someone. With no more than 48 hours in any location, we expected it to be jam packed. I really did expect to spend some quality time at these major historic sites. Four kids to a room was common on our tour. Against my better judgement. Its been eight months. Even when customers provided evidence of their dissatisfaction, EF Tours refused to issue refunds or only offered partial refunds. This resulted in our group being habitually late to most of the tours we went on, and significantly cut into our time at some really important places.