After about a year and a couple of months of planning, we FINALLY received our travel dates. He refused to take us anywhere on our free time. There is a $95 non-refundable deposit + $300 cancellation fee (totals to around $400). This caused problems for a few kids on our trip who werent expecting these costs, and they unfortunately had to miss out on some of the better additions. If your Group Leader has chosen not to reschedule your original tour/program, you will receive a COVID-19 Future Travel Voucher valued at 100% of monies paid toward your original tour/program. Again, we found these rooms to be clean and pretty comfortable. In spite of these two disastrous group travel experiences with EF Tours, I LOVED organizing and leading tours to Europe. Call 800-665-5364 to enroll, EF Tours for High School Graduates nike nationals track and field backpack; 0 comments. As a parent considering an EF Tour for my teenager, I know safety was a big concern for me. Trips are usually initially introduced about two years before the travel date so that participants can make smaller monthly payments to cover the cost of the trip. Flights cancelled, rerouted. What options or Cancellation Terms apply to a traveler who has rebooked their tour with a rescheduled departure date between October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022 using a COVID-19 Future Travel Voucher? While the London Eye excursion seemed to go well for those who went on it, it was over priced. Of course we were served a lot of pasta, but we also had braised beef in tomato sauce, gnocchi, and pizza. I will never, ever even consider sending any of my other kids on one of these trips. If all other attempts to get a full refund from EF Tours fail, it may be time to seek legal advice. The first was in 2018. Frugality is the mental approach we each take when considering our resource allocations. This significantly hindered what we were able to see at our destinations, and made the whole tour seemed very rushed every day. 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. Our group was quite good about being on time to meet up locations with a couple of small exceptions that could not be helped. 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. Five families who are very angry with EF Educational Tours have. 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. By the first week I was already begging to go home and I kept hoping, thinking and praying that things would get better however they never did. we signed my son up for a trip to England , Paris, and Rome. We got to listen to an orchestra perform in Piazza della Signoria in Florence. We also were traveling to all the countries during the world cup. We publish the names and emails of customer service managers. Only a couple of people were given her contact information, which made communication confusing and difficult during our free time, especially when she got delayed during our free evening in Paris and our meeting time had to be pushed back significantly. All opinions are my own, and all costs were paid out of our pocket for this experience. 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. The EF in EF Tours stands for Education First. We were frequently told we could just grab a bite to eat at the train station or the airport, only to be left with minimal time and very limited options. During the tour, your group will meet up with various local guides who will give you some sort of tour of the city or historic site that youre visiting. Settling with a debit card, a check or even a wire transfer means the money is gone. Vrbo offered a refund after my husband lost his job. Here's how we make world travel easy. Our tour consisted of 26 travelers from our high school: three teachers, seven adults and 16 students. We were late to our appointment at the Louvre. Before we left on our trip, we were told by our group leader that we shouldnt need more that $25 US dollars per person per day for lunches and snacks. 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. They have tarnished their reputation and people are not as comfortable traveling with them anymore. 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. Absolutely not. My son is going on an EF tour this Spring and the teacher has suggested that each student pay a certain amount for tips. That's when we found out it would be around $800 to cancel. The traveler can then utilize the remaining portion of the COVID-19 Voucher on another EF product for themselves or a member of their immediate family or community. To make matters worse, EF Tours often refuses to issue refunds even after customers have submitted evidence of their dissatisfaction. It seemed cool at the time however most countries either had the shops and food places shut down early or be completely closed due to the big games. EF Tours makes a big deal out of their tours being focused on education. Finally, make sure youre dealing with the right company. lakewood board of education address; hyde park skatepark london; obituaries humphrey, nebraska Menu Toggle. When we arrived there, I watched as he was escorted upstairs for a nice steak dinner, while the rest of us went hungry (not enough time to stop elsewhere). Travel Company efeducationaltours eftours eftours Photos See all Videos See all 1:02 We put a deposit down and also the registration fee $199 plus $500. It has been no surprise that management NEVER called. Even when customers provided evidence of their dissatisfaction, EF Tours refused to issue refunds or only offered partial refunds. My oldest son was scheduled to take a school trip to Peru next year. Im Louise. Your card has consumer protection programs built in so you can challenge a charge if the vendor does not fulfill what was promised. 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. The teacher wouldnt return my phone call, or emails. The bus driver was a surly Dutch man, who was gruff and impossible. Ms. Alaina Kommer from Grant High School does only think about herself and her travelling experience. Also, keep every email and receipt. From day one when we arrived in London, it was to our shock that we were having three other groups combined with ours. We use cookies to improve your experience on our site and to show you personalised advertising. Empowering Lives with Nutritious and Delicious NDIS Meals! Those memories are truly priceless. But in Florence, visits to San Miniato al Monte and Piazzale Michelangelo were dropped off the itinerary with no explanation. 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. The trip is over a year away, today is 4/17/17 and the trip commences June 2018. Were always here to help. No one wanted to be the person that made us late. For example, airlines love to send you vouchers, but that funny money expires after a year. I have traveled extensively with Expedia, always buy travel insurance, and am covered for any thing, from war to terrorism, to a pandemic. I am out of $4,200.00, what is EF Tours out of??? Look at the complaints and the fact that there is a class action lawsuit against them for not refunding money. Save up to $300. The tour dates are as follows: Thursday 23 March - Manchester, AO Arena. We werent left with much recourse, since this was a group trip and we were on our last night, so we decided to just grin and bear it, and did our best to get some sleep. 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. Whatever happens, weve seen it. She lost her engagement ring in a rental car. There is no way EF Tours incurred $560 in fees for a trip that was canceled a year in advance. There was a layer of dusty film all over my bathroom and my pillow had an unidentified crusty stain on it. We were promised experiential learning activities during the trip. I always like to start my reviews by reminding you that I was not compensated in any way to write this post. Tuesday 28 March . Once you get the notification for your EF ATM adjustment you should have access to the full amount of funds you deposited. While they still stuck with four students to a room, several of the student rooms had enough beds to sleep up to 12 people. Also out of all four excursions throughout the trip, THREE OF THEM WERE CANCELLED! Give the company at least a week to respond to your refund request and two credit card billing cycles to pay you. Our tour guide didnt seem to have this mentality. CHICAGO (WLS) -- Countless study abroad trips have been canceled due to COVID-19, leaving many families out thousands of dollars. I just put a downpayment for our trip to Europe next summer. But when it comes to refunds, they quote rules and policies designed to make it difficult, if not impossible, to get a refund. Our Safety & Incident Response team is available 24/7 and we have a resource network of industry experts, healthcare professionals, and government personnel who liaise with local embassies, government authorities, and health providers. EF books all travelers in economy class seats for all transportation methods. However, we had already paid and were still excited to be spending 2 weeks in Europe together. Im normally a big fan of Korean food, but this wasnt great. We were not given specific dates for our trip, but instead we were given a window of time during which the trip would occur. Following these steps should give customers the best chance of getting a full refund from EF Tours. You're in!) Wife has been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and will not be able to make this trip. In Rome, it was a tiramisu cooking class. 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. During our trip there were extra excursions offered in any city we stayed in more than one night. However, EF Tours will override the plan and refuse your refund. I will never travel with EF Tours again. Will this be the busiest spring break ever? And honestly I'm a little sad about canceling, but even trips on groupon are more affordableand a little less PG haha. She signed up October 1 and we had to cancel Oct 14 due to conflicts with my work schedule. If you do not have a claim in process but have general questions about plan benefits, please contact the plan's producer - Risk Strategies Eduction. If you wanted a refund, there was a fee. EF does indicate up front that hotels may have small rooms without air conditioning, television, or elevators, and that WiFi may not always be available. He went as part of a group of senior high school students on a school sponsored trip. This all changed, as soon as I offered to pay him extra, per person, for his help. In Paris, those who went to Versaille told us the experience was underwhelming because of the limited time available inside the palace, and the lack of lunch options available to those who went. I sent the letter and will contact them again Monday to try and get answers. You might not know all the answers, but you've got a friend in us! There also seemed to be major sites in some of these cities that were not ever even an option to visit or see, due to our limited time in each city. We had a fantastic time seeing the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London. We've got you covered. A most unsatisfactory and life changing (m for the worse) experience. PLAN. Hi! Between Florence and Rome, we spent the night at the Hotel Villa Ricci (not pictured). The deduction of $565 includes items such as the non-refundable deposit and other non-refundable fees. oil filter john deere l110. 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. In Paris, it was a trip to Versaille to tour the palace and the gardens. Im not opposed to tipping but tips need to be earned and for him to request a set amount doesnt sit well with me. Before we get into that, it must be said that EF Tours operate fully independently of the local school district, and are not endorsed or supported by them whatsoever. The Return & Refund Policies may vary widely among different types of products and sellers. Did you purchase trip insurance? Can a vacation rental host cancel my stay and keep my money? I think I would, but I would definitely choose a slower paced itinerary with more time in each destination. This is the biggest scam ever. Persistence. His high school in the Parkway school district decided to book the tour through EF Educational Tours. Your email address will not be published. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. They should be ashamed of themselves. I overlooked all that because it was time spent with my daughter. I could honestly go on for 10 pages about the terrible food and the fact that you will only be given warm milk, cereal, coffee and last night's rolls for breakfast every day! In Italy, the dinners were quite good. After travel is completed on the fi rst tour, repeat travelers will receive a $100 Repeat Traveler Discount off future tours. Parents are upset that a student tour company won't give full refunds for canceled European vacations. That was during our terrible last night in Rome when we had to walk from our hotel to our dinner restaurant through some pretty sketchy areas of the city. EF Tours charged each participant $60. The biggest problem I saw with safety was when our Tour Guide would take off walking at a breakneck speed, frequently leaving half our group stuck at crosswalks or a few turns behind. 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. We were never given the names of the restaurants or addresses of where they would be unless we specifically asked for them. Image courtesy: EF Go Ahead Tours Benefits of EF Go Ahead Tours. But the worst experience in this hotel went to a dad on our trip, whos single room contained only a sofa. We were combined with a group from upstate New York consisting of 14 travelers: one teacher, one adult, one child and 11 students. All transportation arrangements are made by EF Tours, including flights, buses, trains, etc. Why am I being charged a total of $550 in cancellation fees? Getting a full refund from EF Tours can be a difficult process, but it is possible. Well isn't that what insurance is for??? Our help is free. 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. Four girls were placed in a room with one queen sized bed and two twin mattresses on the floor in London. You may wish to spend time at your destinations before or after the scheduled tour. Overall, breakfasts were adequate throughout the trip. My first year to Europe with a group was through EF Tours. 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! I had to also pay $500.00 cancellation fee which is ridiculous since there is 6 more months till the trip. I am outraged and helpless. They canceled my flight. Your email address will not be published. What EF products can a COVID-19 Future Travel Voucher be applied to? Does anyone have experience with this type of thing? Its always best to book any tour, hotel or activity for your trip with a major credit card, explains Claire Soares, founder of the travel company Up in the Air Life. I checked our beds for bedbugs and thankfully did not find any. We need to cancel due to medical and we were told we loose close to $800. I work for a competitor of EF and have about a million reasons why groups that go with them get ripped off. Call 877-485-4184 to enroll, EF Ultimate Break They make go in circles and have excuse after excuse. A money grab. Get online free 48v Electric Bike Controller Wiring Diagram e-books in eBook format, PDF, ef go ahead tours appMotorcycle Electrical Wiring Diagram Pdf - Motorcycle Wiring Diagram charlotte-purser.blogspot.com. Hence the lawsuit (in CA 2020, look it up). Two years later they called and talked me into a 9-Day tour to Rome. The best unexpected addition to our trip in my opinion was the opportunity to see a musical in the West End of London. First, was the chance to rebook the tour at no additional cost to any cities offered . A Comprehensive Guide, Do Travel Adapters Change Voltage? We told to make sure we ate lunch after our tour, before rejoining the group to get on the bus. We had to accept them. She had a black eye and blood in her eyeball for the entire trip. The first thing to keep in mind is that there are alcohol restrictions with these tours. 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. For detailed information about the safety and coverage programs that apply to your tour, please choose your departure date below. In London, the excursion was a visit to the London Eye, a giant ferris wheel type ride that gives riders a birds eye view of the city. You might be able to work something out. Interested students and parents are invited to attend informational meetings either in person or virtually where the group leader/teacher goes over the itinerary and any questions potential participants may have. I find that unreasonable - they initially said another roommate, now I am finding 4 kids in a room. On our way to Southern Italy, we spent the night in Sorrento at Sisters Hostel. If I cancel, I lose about $400 in cancellation fees. Travelers should expect to receive a refund approximately 4-6 weeks after it is requested. Had it been a different group of personalities, Im not sure how it would have gone. EF Tours inflexible, would not accommodate my request. How do I fix this $499 mistake? According to their website, EF claims to design tours to help educators teach, and so students can learn moreabout tolerance, other perspectives, and themselves.. Our "hotels" were in suburbs, a great distance outside of the beautiful towns we were to visit. then how you pay matters. I decided to give them on more try, as they promised a better experience..my bad. "You can accept a travel voucher with no penalties, or you can accept a. Seems a little steep for cancelling a trip that is still almost 2 years away. 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. I cancelled my daughters trip to Greece. Transfer of COVID-19 Future Travel Voucher. We were assured that the stop there would only last 30 minutes, but it ended up taking three times that, leaving us only an hour and a half to visit the Louvre before we had to be back on the bus to catch a flight to Italy. So, no refund. I worked on the building and had to be in the offices every 3 months for 2 years. 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. As for hotels, travelers know very little about where they are staying ahead of time. If not used for travel, a COVID-19 Voucher can be exchanged for a refund of all money paid into a travelers account less $565. They are so many other excellent companies out there. * (Smithsonian Student Travel repeat travelers will receive a I also asked if I could speak to someone else about it she told me I could but I would be wasting my time because they would tell me the same thing. Kinda defeats the whole concept of insurance. consumer advocate is called the three Ps., WHAT YOU CAN DO WHEN YOUR TRAVEL COMPANY WON'T SEND YOUR REFUND. Students and parents can then sign up directly through the EF Tours website, and submit all payments directly to the company. 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. 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. I think communicating with the group more about where were going could have avoided some sticky situations that a few of our travelers found themselves in when they were left behind. The company may refer your case to its legal department, where it could linger for weeks or months. Enroll online or call 800-766-2645, EF Explore America Things like this happened over and over again throughout the trip. All I know to do is make this issue public. We also didnt have a way to contact our Tour Guide directly. They also charged me $189 for insurance I declined. On October 22, 2020, Boston-based co-counsel for McGrane PC send a demand letter to the EF Defendants (including EF Explore America Inc., which runs domestic tours) demanding a full refund under Massachusetts consumer protection law which Massachusetts consumer protection law appears to more directly address the requirement that such full . But why cant I get a refund? I was told to call EF to see what my options are. They are all F-ing scum I hope all involved lose every penny they ever made and become homeless. From that time forward I lead 20 overseas tours to Europe for my college. While on tour, there was only one time that I felt like our group was taken to an unsafe area. I will say that the class was a fun experience at a great location, and we all enjoyed the desserts we made together. 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. Was informed of the price to cancel was $199 not the $95 listed. Sometimes this was a good thing, but sometimes it was incredibly frustrating. But their ads sure reflect diversity! Seriously, that was suppose to be the best part?!?!?! My daughter wanted to go with members of her class on this great trip with EF tours. So they offered vouchers that were only good for up to 18 monthsUP TO 18 MONTHS! 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. No one asked to go there, and most of us seemed annoyed that we were stopping. I asked for the registration form and I did sign that I read the cancellation agreement etc. EF was never concerned about her health or welfare and only accused her of being drunk so they could dodge any responsibility. We paid an extra $85 USD above and beyond the base tour price to experience it. how to get a full refund from ef tours how to get a full refund from ef tours Exploring the Basics, Benefits, and Policies, How to Contact Tesla: Customer Service Phone Number, Website, Social Media, Email & Live Chat, Bruce Willis Health Condition: Understanding the Actors Diet and Exercise Regimen, Exploring the Impact of Greg Gutfelds Vacation from Fox News. Were going to start with the breakdown of how things work with EF and what to expect as a participant or a parent, and then move on to our specific experience with our tour. For the most part, I felt quite safe during our trip. labelled. This article was published on February 22, 2019. Is there any way I can get around it? Each participant in our tour was required to submit a copy of our passport to EF to insure that we had the proper documentation to travel. Four boys were also booked in a room in London with only a king sized bed! 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. Get the best deals for oil filter for john deere l110 at eBay. I think our group leader made that choice when she set up our trip. With patience and persistence, you should eventually be able to get a full refund from EF Tours. Tune Up Kit Oil Air Filter Kit for John Deere L130 G100 G110 SABRE 2554. These Terms and Conditions apply to any COVID-19 Future Travel Voucher (COVID-19 Voucher) issued by EF Educational Tours (EF) in connection with EF tours scheduled to depart after February 24, 2020 (and EF tours traveling to China after January 28, 2020) through September 30, 2022. During our first night there we had a lovely traditional French meal of chicken with mushroom sauce in the back room of a small picturesque cafe with a ton of ambiance.
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