EF Educational Tours
reviews and complaints

I initially purchased a trip with my son who was in an honor's history class. We were suppose to travel to Paris, Switzerland, and Germany. A few months before the trip, the teacher informed us that due to new Covid rules, we could not travel. Some of the parents opted to go on another trip to Spain. I paid a total of 6467 for this trip with my son. I chose to keep my money and decided on a trip to Belieze in October 2023 with my husband. I waited a year and half only to receive an email stating that because there was low turn out, this trip was cancelled. I called and requested a refund. I was initially told that they would refund all but $950. I asked why would they keep anything as I did not cancel either trip? I was then told that I would get the full $6467. I received that information in an email from the representative. I received a check for $5767. When I called and asked why they kept $700, I was given the run around. I then received a call from the person who told me that I would receive the $6467 that she made a mistake and they couldn't provide the $700 because it was cancelled. I again stated that I did not cancel it. She had the audacity to tell me that I could use the $700 as a voucher towards another trip with their company? Why would I opt to give this company more money to steal from me? Who in their right mind would do so? This company is treacherous. Parents, this company will steal your money and justify doing so.

We paid EF tours a total of $11,028 for both my son and myself to go on a school trip to Europe (I was going with him because he has a history of illness and didn’t want anything to happen while he was abroad). The trip was set to begin on June 26, 2023. We were required to purchase the global travel insurance they sell in case of any issues. It had coverage for trip delays and trip cancellations. Our international flight to London was cancelled, and we were stranded/delayed in Houston for 36 hours before EF finally cancelled the trip, and sent us back to our starting destination. We never made it to Europe at all. While delayed waiting for a resolution we were forced to use our own funds to Uber to hotels, pay for our own meals, etc. We were told all of this would be reimbursed by the insurance company due to delay. We were also told that since our trip was cancelled we could receive a refund by filing a claim again with the global travel insurance company, Seven Corners. I spoke with reps from both EF and Seven Corners and was assured we would get our money back, and just needed to file the claim. That was until my son’s claim was denied first. I contacted EF again, and was told ‘if we weren’t willing to take the risk of losing our refunds due to flight cancellations then we should have second thought group travel to begin with’. I have this chat transcript as well. I was told they will not refund ANY of the money we paid for the trip that THEY cancelled. Nor would we be reimbursed for any of the money we paid out of pocket while delayed pending their resolution. My son worked and raised this money on his own. He obtained the support of more than 70 individuals, and two dozen small businesses in our home town to pay for this trip, and now EF refuses to refund this money. This is not what my family, nor any of the amazing people that helped donate to this trip agreed to. Our leader did not reschedule, so there is no group trip with the school any longer, and we should be refunded since we paid for a trip that never came to fruition. Offering a 14 year old kid a voucher to join a random group of strangers on a different trip is NOT a reasonable offer or refund of any kind. These are kids! No parents would have signed them up for a trip in middle school unless it was with teachers, staff, or fellow students. Vouchers are no good to him. We are continually given the excuse that EF is not refunded by the airlines and therefore cannot refund us. However, I have documentation from United Airlines themselves including copies of a group contract and terms, as well as reservation documentation showing all tickets for everyone in our travel group were refunded back to EF. DOT requires this of all airlines. Since we were not given the option to book our own flights, and EF booked them on our behalf, I feel they should be required to follow these same DOT regulations and offer us a refund. When trying to speak to Seven Corners regarding claims, we are simply told they get their information from EF directly. Since I purchased the policy and am the insured, I find it difficult to understand how they only work with EF to resolve claims, and when asked if I was going to be provided the documentation they receive from EF (as would be the case with any other insurance claim), I was told no. They will not provide this. So EF has taken $11,028 from my minor child (and those that supported him), and left him with nothing except an extreme desire to NEVER travel again. He is devastated and heartbroken, and simply wants his money back that he earned/fundraised. I will pursue any and all avenues to make my son whole again, and to get back what is rightfully ours. EF, please give us back our money! You are a multi million dollar business harming so many middle income families and causing unnecessary stress and hardship. Any reputable business would remedy these situations. These kids are the future leaders of our world. Why don’t you try to lead by good example and show them good business practices, because this is horrible!

I called to cancel a tour for Summer of 2024. Due to not being able to afford it as well as personal issues for my child.

I added insurance that was only supposed to cost $190 in case of cancellation. The tour has not even been booked as of yet. Now I am being charged $600 to cancel and can not receive a number to anyone in corporate and have to hold for 30 minutes plus just to speak to a human that is rude and not helpful.

My daughter traveled to Ireland, London, Paris. June 5-June15 First they missed a tour of a castle because they had to wait for another group to arrive that was late. There bus ac was broken and you could not open the windows , they were extremely hot and uncomfortable, there tour guide had never even been to Ireland, he was from UK. They also missed out on exploring the louvre bc ef tour messed up and forgot about time difference , they had 20 minutes to explore suppose to have several hours, one of the hotels was not as nice a hotel, one place was without water and they eventually restored the water but it was very late in evening. We spent thousands on this trip and I would think we would be given funds back for the 2 venues that were not accommodated, the bus ac that broke , hotel issue etc there were several more issues as well ,I would expect $300-$500 at least to make amends to these issues.

3/10-3/11/23 - My daughter went on a tour to Germany, Prague, Krakow and Budapest and ended up missing the first 2 days of the Germany portion of her trip. The group missed connecting flights and were all rebooked on separate flights wane while half of her group made it to Germany to continue the tour more than 20 people were stuck in London due to cancelled flights and missed out on the main part of their tour. The only reason we booked this tour was for the Germany tours and my daughter studied the language and it was the main place she wanted to visit. I feel that if you cannot provide the service to the places we signed up and paid for then we should be compensated because at this point I will have to pay for a whole other vacation to take her back. She basically spent 1.5 days in the airport and I feel the tour should have been more accommodating to allow for them a few hours the follow morning after reaching Germany To attempt to see some sites to at least attempt to provide what we signed up for. Instead my daughter was told no time and had to immediately get on the bus & leave. I’m so dissatisfied/disappointed in the way this all was handled. Also the fact the the group leader left with the first group of travelers headed to Germany that didn’t get flight delays/cancellations which left other stranded with no point of contact with the company to try and rectify the situation. I would like a partial refund due to failure to provide the advertised services! Also, I would like to cancel my upcoming trip for next year without penalty and full refund!

I booked a tour in 2022 to Greece through Girl Scouts of America for 2024. Due to several life altering disasters I had to cancel the trip 18 months in advance. There are several hidden fees which totaled $1,300! How on earth is this justifiable? Customer service is the WORST! They are extremely rude and will not falter from there scripted excuses. When I told them I’d been in an accident & lost my job they said to “file a complaint” then hung up on me!

When I told them that nowhere in their cancellation policy where the egregious fees stated they said “Well that’s what they are now”

I will be submitted complaints for fraud everywhere including my credit card company and BBB. If not resolved I will go through my lawyer.

Southwest canceled my son's flight to DC over Christmas vacation he was supposed to be there for New Year's. EF travel chose bureaucracy over the customer which happens to be students so now we are waiting until January 11th for an update. Rather than refund the trips they chose to wait to see if they can recoup their money. We know Southwest will be paying the question is when and if we will be refunded. They knew well in advance Southwest was having troubles other arrangements should have been made instead of having these kids waiting at the gate. Never again.

I was just on an EF tour to Portugal and I can honestly say it was horrible. There was a fellow passenger who had caused a few problems earlier in the trip and later on the trip, threatened me on the bus (literally cornered me in the back seat) and nothing was done. It was an extremely uncomfortable situation and I had to leave the tour. Initially after this situation occurred a person from the company called me to get the story (since I immediately reported it to the tour director when I got off the bus) but never heard from him again. I was told the person would be kicked off the tour but they weren’t. It was so uncomfortable. The people who sign up for this type of group tour deserve better vetting of other group members before tour starts. Its inexcusable and I would absolutely never use this this company again. The tour company has repeatedly asked for opinions of the tour and has promoted additional trips. It’s a joke. There are so many good tour companies out there, you would be wasting valuable time and money booking with this one.

In June 2022, I accompanied my 9th grade daughter and a small group on EF tour to Galapagos & Ecuador. The day before trip, we were told cancelled due to civil unrest. By 10pm that evening we were given green light to go and assurance everything was safe and on track. Flights had been re-booked. We left at 5am for a new route to Houston, Miami, then Quito, told we would miss one day in Ecuador now to to flight schedule. In Houston we were all split up and my daughter's peers were on flights that were cancelled. I called EF to try to stay behind with them or re-book, as this was a science expedition they saved for together as a an 8th grade graduation trip. They saved $3800 a piece from babysitting, dog walking, plant watering...! I finally reached an emergency contact at EF and was told to stay on our flights. We went ahead and waited. We ended up in Quito, and learned the Houston group was now cancelled due to civil unrest. Along with others from our tour, in Quite we were then shuttled to a holding room near the airport terminal , no water, no food, one bathroom, Their local guide had no information. He could no get us on flights home. My daughter's peers in Houston were sent home. We asked to leave to home too. The local guide said we could fly to panama...That was it. We were told there was no where we could go. I ended up booking our own flights home to the US for $1500. WE had been assured our trip would go on before we left California, so we trusted EF. Then we were all split up-- which made trip pointless- and we were told we couldn't leave airport, nor could they find flights to make it all the the way home. We flew back to the US at 5am in the morning. Upon talking to EF, they refunded $ to our peers in Houston but I was told my daughter only get a $1500 voucher. WE never want to travel with EF again and this is not acceptable. It is a crime for a youth educational program to take $3800 dollars from a 15 year old after they endorse a trip, then fly us into civil unrest, only to tell us they have no ability to get us home. We would like a refund of cash to use for real educational purposes. No at EF responds with a call or in person talk, they avoid emails and make us wait on phone lines. If I can get any student considering this company to stop, I will. Please help us receive refund for this experience.

My son was scheduled to go to Peru on 8/3/2022, today is 7/28/22. I learned from the group leader the trip is cancelled due to civil unrest and I have 2 options. 1. I can reschedule to next year. This will not work for many reasons, first I we are most likely moving. 2. Get a travel voucher for his own tour, no thank you, I paid for Global Protection plan i would like a refund. The company told me I can sell my voucher. Why would I need to do the work for them? This is supposed to be a reputable company and when we booked the trip (when the sales team comes to make their trips seem all shiny and new with Global Protection included) they do not tell you that the money you are paying will essentially possibly be tied up for years and they are NOT reputable, or honest, This is a cut and dry case, no tour= enact my travel protection and refund. This is ridiculous and really wrong. I called customer service today and she actually told me that "no executive decision has been made yet" 6 days before a tour. I asked for management and she stated there was no one I could speak with. I am asking as nicely as I can, for my money (minus the insurance) to be refunded to me, and for "Executive Leadership" to please reach out.

Signed up in 2019 for a 2020 trip. Paid full price with insurance.The trip coordinator was a personal friend Mary Pope. She was contracted but not employed by EFgo ahead tours.

The 2020 trip was canceled due to Covid. We were offered a wait and see attitude for the following year 2021 . 2021 came with Covid restrictions that could not be met. So opted to try one more year to see if restrictions were lifted. 2022 . Same restrictions. My contact has always been through the group coordinator Mary Pope. Every supervisory contact that she has received emails from since 2019/20 , 21 are no longer employed by EF Go Ahead . I can supply all correspondence that my group coordinator had. Presently she is trying to get refunds for trip because of the imposed restrictions that cannot be met. They do not respond favorably. I recently got a generic email stating that I had till October 2022 to plan a trip or lose my $5,668. I cannot travel with EF Go Head Tours due to their restrictions. I signed on in 2019–20 when no restrictions were in force.

Every invoice has completely disappeared from my EF go ahead account. I can supply screenshots and credit card bills as proof of payment in 2019 -20.

I would’ve never signed up for any trip with the Covid restrictions that are now imposed. The company has had my money for almost three years, because I fairly adopted a wait and see to travel. Now that I see I cannot . I am a senior citizen and cannot afford that loss or afford to wait any further for the refund.

The communication from EF Tours it’s grossly nonexistent and generic.

People should be able to get a refund, without all of the hidden fees. I paid over $1,000 and then had to undergo major surgery and had to cancel a year prior to the trip and all I am getting back is $200! Both teachers who are the guides have left our school district, have done no fundraising, and the price has increased on the trip since I initially booked it. I also was being charged late fees even though I changed my payment plan. This whole company should be shut down. It is nothing but a money grab from unsuspecting parents! What a rip off! I will make sure and tell everyone I know not to take these tours.

Account #6297341

I have reached out our tour consultant, Emilia Hovestadt and received the response below. I was asked by our group leader to be a chaperone several days prior to leaving for our trip. Our group leader and another chaperone attending the trip tested positive for covid and were unable to attend.

Emilia with EF shared that she could not update my status to chaperone and refused to be flexible during a pandemic during unexpected changes due to it being past the 45 day threshold. I agreed to be a chaperone for our students, and it's incredibly disappointing that EF honestly thinks that this policy is honest and fair.

From: Emilia Hovestadt

Date: Tue, Jun 28, 2022, 9:41 AM

Subject: RE: Darianne Hicks reimbursement

Thank you for your email! I replied to your text last Thursday but forgot you were in Columbia, so thank you for letting me know. Unfortunately, there isn’t a way for us to give Darianne a discount. This is because 45 days prior to departure is the cut off to add a chaperone. I understand that Will told her she should have received a discount but in a case like this where she became a chaperone at the very last minute, there is nothing we can do. She is welcome to call traveler support for more clarification!

Thank you,

Emilia Hovestadt

Tour Consultant, EF Education First

Dear Sirs

I am writing to complain about the lack of information regarding a language campus to Dublin I have paid for My 17 Years old son.

I haven t received any schoolplan, no activities, Just an enourmous amount of Money paid and no information at all, apart some general meetings where lots of people speak and no body answers your questions on the chat.

My son is Flying with a Flight from Malpensa and he has to arrive at 3 am in the night to the Airport and apart from

this absurdity not previously announced

He has an unexpected stopover in Munich and no One accompanies him as he Is out of the group

Would it possible to help US have Better solution?

Russia is at war with Ukraine. UK prioritizing Ukraine people over my Tourist VISA. EF tours do not want to speak to me to accommodate my child's travel to join the EU trip after taking $6000 from me

"Russia is at war with Ukraine, the UK is prioritizing Ukraine visas over every other VISA on humanitarian grounds. I wanted to see if EF tours can show some sense of respect to the student travelers after they take our money. I simply asked to speak to the manager to be able to feel valued and they did not give me that opportunity. How can we trust such a company with life's our teenagers? THINK about it.

They gave me a manager email, you know how that works. It said the that tour operator is already in contact with you.

We could not secure VISA to the UK in time to travel on the trip and I was ready to expedite with 1000's dollars but the UK suspended all of that to take care of the Ukraine people. I was willing to spend $1000s of dollars from my pocket to travel to EU and join the EF tours. The lady on the phone Elizbeth said it's not possible. When I asked to speak to a manager, she refused as if it's a sin to speak to us...

As a note, they reminded us about packing things and getting corona vaccines but never sent any communication about getting VISA's. As a group tour, I was thinking they will guide us every step of the way. But I was wrong. There is no single communication about getting a VISA. By the time I realized I need to get a VISA, It was about 40 days before the departure date. Maybe it was my mistake assuming it. But don't you think they have to have skin in the game and advise me to get a VISA in time. May they would have if I did not pre-pay them.

You tell me what kind of review I should give to this kind of company

I want them to treat us with dignity and have the courtesy to extend the leadership sympathy. We need to get the feeling as we are working together." It's not late, if the EF tours leadership can speak to me and make an alternate arrangement, we can fix this broader disappointment and can celebrate this as a success story.

They know my contact number and my emails. They can still reach out to me to help me. Keep looking for more updates... to see how good EF tours is in terms of recovering from a disappointment.

"12 March 2022

Important update about Super Priority & Priority Visa Services offered by UKVI

UKVI is currently prioritizing applications made under the Ukraine Family Scheme, As a result, UKVI has temporarily suspended priority and super-priority services for all non-visit routes. Please click here for more information"

This company canceled our tour claiming Covid caused them to be short of staff to accommodate the tour. They kept $700 of our hard earned money and refuse to return it. We had the insurance but they own that too. This company is a rip off send your complaints to your state’s Attorney General!