WorldStrides
Reviews and Complaints

I have learned a great deal from this trip and experience, although most of it has been negative and not what I would ever want to happen on a trip again. Working with WorldStrides has been one of the most frustrating and stressful aspects of trip planning that I have ever experienced. Working with WorldStrides/Explorica has been some of the most irritating customer service I have ever encountered. Throughout the setup process for this expensive trip for 15 people, I have felt ignored, belittled, dismissed, and insulted multiple times.

To provide full transparency, I am a teacher who used Explorica/WorldStrides for one of their educational trips to Spain with my students and some parents. Initially, we had a group of 15, but due to the poor management of this company, some parents pulled their children from the trip due to cost concerns. Building an international trip program at my school, this experience with WorldStrides has been a disaster. To regain the trust of parents, I have had to seek out a new company for future trips.

The lack of attention to detail from a company with as much experience and presence in the travel industry as WorldStrides is surprising. Small errors, like misspelling my name on emails, are common and indicate a "good enough" mentality. My colleague and I frequently caught mistakes that we had to bring to our rep's attention, only to be met with hostility or ignored. Asking questions yielded copy-pasted responses that did not address our concerns or complete ignorance for weeks at a time. Any issues we raised were met with hostility, reminding us of the terms and conditions we had agreed to.

One major concern was a very tight layover in Paris that almost caused our group to miss an international flight. Despite expressing our worries, our rep refused to assist us, repeatedly pointing us to the terms and conditions. Contacting customer service was unhelpful, as we were often directed to different departments or faced with a "not my problem" attitude. It took a considerable effort to ensure we would not be stranded during our return flight, with no assurances of additional costs for rebooking.

Our trip was initially scheduled for March but was moved to June. Despite our concerns about Holy Week in Spain, our rep assured us it wouldn't be an issue. However, last-minute changes were proposed in December that required more money. The options presented were for different trips unrelated to our original itinerary. Any objections were met with reminders of the terms and conditions, and additional costs were ignored.

The only positive aspect of the trip was our exceptional tour guide, Alvaro, who made our experience in Spain wonderful. Many travel methods chosen by WorldStrides seemed to prioritize cost over efficiency, resulting in lengthy bus rides when faster options were available.

In conclusion, I would strongly advise against using this company due to the frustrating experiences and disrespectful treatment that seems to be standard practice with WorldStrides.

Stay away from WorldStrides. They said they would refund my trip money when I cancelled it. They then sent me an email confirming the refund of $340.40. When I called to check the status of my refund they stated I would be getting no refund due to the $99 deposit being non refundable and that the $280 fee to return the trip money has to be paid even if I had only made one payment. They did not honor the email or the phone call where they stated there would be a refund. Terrible customer service. Stay away from this company.

Hi Gloria,

The refund check never arrived and it's been months. Greg Johnson confirmed it was mailed out July 26. I have sent many emails to Greg to find out why it never arrived and have been calling 3 times a week only for someone to tell me they are "escalating" the situation and someone will call me back. It's been since June 15 that I have spent hours trying to get an answer. Beyond the point of frustration. Your last email to me said that you were also working on it so I am also reaching back out to you. This is the last week I plan on occupying my time fighting for our refund before I send it over to have lawyers do the fighting for me. I hope this gets resolved before that happens.

Student: Gabrielle Berger

Berkley Medicine / June 14th

My son was supposed to go to Washington DC with his school on May 23rd with his school Merton Williams. The night before he started showing signs of a stomach bug. We hoped it was just something he ate but by the morning it was clear he was really sick. I let the school know and later that day as I had to start a new job, let the company know. I received three emails. The first asking for more information, the second letting me know I could expect a refund and the next, telling me I was not eligible because I needed to give a 24 hour notice. This was in the fine print. Had I known this I would not have purchased the travel insurance. I am not a psychic. Insurance is supposed to cover you when you need it most. My son was devastated. He was looking forward to this trip for months. Now I am devastated. I scraped together the money to send him. Going to DC is like a rite of passage for our school district and I did not want him to miss out. I feel like I was totally taken advantage of by this company.

I feel that I have been taken advantage of by world strides. My daughter auditioned and was accepted to the Sydney Australia performance. Unfortunately, we had to cancel because her father nor I could provide the funds for the program. I wrote World Strides and Honors Performance Series because they said that I needed to cancel in writing. According to the documents I signed, I would receive 50% of the program tuition back if I cancel before December 30, 2022.

I received an email from them on December 7, saying that I did not qualify for a refund and asking if I wanted add it for next year’s tuition. I was shocked. When I called I was told that I wouldn’t get 50% of my deposit back because I didn’t pay the full tuition.

When I spoke to the supervisor, she said the same thing. That they had a certain quota so I couldn’t be refunded.

My son has been accepted to their The Honors Performance Series and they charged us $250 for deposit. We tried to find more information about the program, for example, the acceptance rate. But they said they don’t have the number since they don’t know how many people applied. What a joke! They don’t know how many people applied! We asked refund at 10 days of acceptance letter. They refused to pay back and they said in the fine print: we have to do it within 7 days. There is no option of decline the program and there is no date in their acceptance letter. Not sure what else I can do to get my money back.

Our son was nominated by his teacher for this special program, which cost us $2400 to sign up for.

The program was canceled after funds were collected, supposedly due to COVID complications.

It has been months since cancellation notices were sent out, we're still waiting for a refund, following up daily and being told it's only a couple days away each time. Meanwhile, a deposit showed up as a temporary authorization in our bank giving us hope, and then disappeared as they didn't finalize it. Yet the refund is still days away...

I'm sure dozens of other kids had theirs canceled, where is the money they collected? Why take months to send it back when they canceled the entire program?

Wreaks of suspicious behavior.

Hi. My daughter was set up with Rusk ISD for a school trip. I never received any information or or anything on the policy. Had no paper work until a week ago & that's when I actually knew my account number. So the only time I spoke with anyone with World Stride is when I needed help on payment options as I got behind on the account. I spoke to someone on the phone with World Stride the end of April to set up another payment plan as I was trying my best to keep my daughter on this trip. He stated if I could not make the payment on May 1st & May 15th of $618. each on those days and then $100 each month after that until paid in full then there would not be a problem with getting my refund back. I did not know there was insurance I should had purchased or a certain date this needed to be done by. I was just corresponding with the school & never did I know the policy or I would had this cancelled at a decent time. I have been going back in forth emailing & they are saying I can not get my refund? The school also never mentioned this to me until I told them I had to cancel & I told them that as well. I hate that this has be a hassle just to my refund. What do you do with the money you take from people? I think it's ridiculous! I'm not a person out to get to anyone. Just a mother that was trying to keep my daughter on a school trip & could not make it happen. All I'm asking is to get my refund back as I was told over the phone with World Stride. I'm not sure if you keep records on the phone calls. I don't remember the gentleman's name. Please help me as I'm not happy having to go back & forth to get my refund! My daughter's name was also spelled wrong on the only paperwork I got about this account. Thank you! Account #[protected]-Rayleigh Goff

Program offered free insurance if you signed up early (April 2021) for March 2022 trip. Who would do that during the pandemic without it? Had to cancel due to Covid, and now Im told my account doesn't have insurance. There is a mysterious "Spring Discount" that I noticed. Funny how if we attended a Zoom meeting we got $50 credit. We had advertisements saying that. But nothing at all about the $150 discount. You'll advertise a $50 discount but don't even mention a $150 discount? I want a full copy of the Zoom parent meeting to review what was promised. One representative says they can get it then another says they dont record. What is it? Provide me with the advertisement saying how and why we'll get the spring discount. Be transparent.

Want copy of Zoom meeting to review for definitive proof guarantee was orvwas not made. If made as I and the trip coordinator recall, I want the rest of my $1192. I'm not asking for all the processing payment fees refunded, although an extra $6 per month is excessive.

Our son went on a trip to Washington dc and Virginia. First bad experience for him and the tour the guide was rude, second didn't follow itinerary
and kept telling kids later or place was to busy and couldn't go. And at one exibit she was down right rude. After our son got home I called to see what was left on our payment plan. Was told roughly $192.00. When I asked about the $75.00 they got rude and said there is a $75.00 surcharge due to not enough students from our school. Was not informed of this before the trip and told I have no choice but to pay it. Also lady in trip planning said it was informed in Dec. 2017 after we started making payments on the trip. Not once when I called to make payment did anyone ever mention this. I have gone online and see I am not alone on this type of money hungry bleeps.

My church St Christopher's Episcopal Church of Lubbock Tx was sent a grandiose itinerary Dec. 2014 for a trip to Italy. Landed in Milano, tour Verona, Padua, a full day in Venice, 2 nights in Montecatini Terme, a full day in Florence, tour Pisa, farm lunch and tour San Gimignano's towered city, 2 nights in Assisi, half day in Perugia to see Etruscan ruins, St Francis' Church, St. Claires' Church, farm lunch and wine tasting on the way to Rome, the market, Sistine Chapel, The Vatican, The Coloseum, the forum. It was pricey but I loved the itinerary--The Contract. I paid in full in advance. I paid $199 for trip insurance. 18 months no change to the itinerary, no notice of problems. 4 days before departure we were informed the Day 7 half day in Perugia was DELETED. I immediately PROTESTED. In route in the 2nd airport Verona was canceled. I paid for those tours: I paid for Verona, I paid for Perugia. I have asked for a refund from WorldStrides for 1 day's activity equivalent, $200. They have refused. The Program Leader received compensation of $10, 600 and does not qualify for a refund: Deacon Melissa Wafer-Cross refuses to provide ANY assistance for her 2 FREE tickets for herself and her husband David Cross. I am left to battle for my due refund. I paid for a tour of Verona. I paid for a paid guided tour of Perugia to see the Etruscan gates, the history of the city and the feel of Umbria. WorldStrides lies, cheats, swindles, robs, steals. They are unethical and dishonest. WorldStrides poor provisions almost killed 4 of our tour members with COPD, disabilities, dragging them up the extremely steep hill from the hotel to St. Francis' church. NEVER travel with WorldStrides. I won't.

I CALLED CUSTOMER SERVICE TO CANCEL TRIP# 119884. Was rudely told to send an email to customerservice worldstrides.org. I have as yet been able to get or find a good email address to send my email nor have I read anywhere on the paperwork they sent me explaining to cancel required an em ail as well the email address where to send it to. I am going to try calling again and speak with management to get the trip canceled due to medical reasons.

This company is out for every penny and gives horrible service! My daughter signed up for a trip and I paid the three hundred($300.00) deposit. 10 days later some things had changed and I called to cancel her trip and was told to send in a letter and it would be taken care of since it was so quickly, (the trip was not to take place for over 9 months in the future!) after signing up. I have called and emailed many times and have just now over 6 weeks later received a letter that I will now be receiving no refund! This company is a scam. They want money immediately, and will give no refunds even with such a quick cancellation. They are in it for the money only. Just search for their reviews-they are horror stories. I should have known better and read them first. Be aware.

I have never been on a trip sponsored by Worldstrides and won't, based on their advertising practices. I received a frankly creepy call from a person stating that their child Eve was in my class and they needed to talk to me about her. I looked up the number he gave [protected]) which was different from the number on the caller ID [protected]) and found that many other people were receiving the same weird call and found it concerning enough to report it. I wasted planning time trying to find a parent who doesn't exist so that I could address a fictitious problem with a student who doesn't exist. If this is how they advertise, I want nothing to do with their trips.

After having paid in full for a trip, we had a family situation come up. I wrote and asked for a refund. I also reminded them that I had purchased insurance that is supposed to cover this. I canceled on November 17th, 2014. On December 29th 2014, a $79.00 deposit was made from them into my checking account. On January 12th, I was on hold with customer service, for over 50 minutes. I explained that I've never received the big refund of nearly $500.00. A girl advised me that balanced owed to me was mailed the same day as the refund of $79.00 was deposited in my checking account. I was confused as to why the entire balance was not put back into my checking. Furthermore, where is that refund! I've never received it. After several conversations with supervisors and management, I was getting no answer that made sense. The manager happened to repeat an address to me that was incorrect. That freaked me out. He gave me my neighbors address. He also said that if it hadn't been returned to sender via the post office, They would have to put a stop payment on the check. This they said would take 30 days and then they'll issue another refund. My neighbor has never seen any mail from them to me. If she had, she would've given it to me. I don't know what's going on with this company, but something is wrong with this picture! I don't know where to turn!

I used to work for WorldStrides and I can say without a doubt that they are not in it to give the students a memorable trip. They are only in it for the money. I was repeatedly mislead as an employee representing WorldStrides to the teachers and parents & Students by the Management at WorldStrides. They are incredibly misleading and will lie to make a sale. Once you have made a payment to the company there is no way to get your money back (unless you have purchased insurance and had a major crisis in your life. And then you only get part of your money back.) Fred O'Connor leads this team of managers that encourage their reps to telestalk teachers and take not to take no for an answer. The poor rep get beat up by the teachers and school office staff AND by their managers and their bosses. The only reps that get ahead are reps that are willing to lie and steal from fellow team members. Stephanie Miller here in the Northwest is one of those reps. She is very good and very believable but she is a master at lying to get the sale. If she contacts your school hang up and block her calls. Stephanie is nothing but trouble. Good Luck.

I appreciate that the logistics of coordinating a trip for several dozen students is no small task, but when you're selling educational travel programs for our children I would think you would want to have enough customer service and admin. staff well versed in the program and able to handle issues for customers. We opted to make our payments by credit card; we are not comfortable giving out bank account information. For one of our payments we were charged twice. Our credit card company confirmed this, but Worldstrides had no record of it. They agreed to investigate it and promised they would have an answer within a week. Two weeks later nothing had been resolved. When I contacted customer service I was told that there is only one person who handles disputes and that she has been absent a lot. Furthermore, it was unclear whether she was away from her desk or just not in that day. TMI. I have little confidence that that money will ever be applied to our account. If it weren't for the fact that I trust the care of my child to the teachers and volunteers attending the trip, I would be reluctant to send them on any trip that Worldstrides coordinated.

The group left 7:45pm from Atlanta to D.C by bus. The kids were not allowed to sleep through the night while they were on the bus. They were wakening up every 3 hours to be forced to get off the bus to either for restroom or snack shop. Why can't the kids allowed to be on the bus? There were 4 adults chaperone available to be split with the kids who wished to get down the bus and who didn't. Those kids didn't get to sleep the first night and they didn't get to check in the hotel until the next night after 9pm. We would appreciate to know ahead of the time that 4 kids in a room with 2 sleep on the same bed with same blanket. Again, they didn't get to sleep on the way back too. When they come home, their faces show extremely tired. Basically, they didn't sleep for 2 nights with all the rest of the nights sharing beds and room with 3 other kids. I asked my child if she will sign up again. Her answer is firm with a big "NO."

WorldStrides runs school trips to Washington DC (among other trips). They were a NIGHTMARE to work with. I am a parent. At every turn, they tried to add un-explained fees. Every time I called, I was told I owed a different amount. And every time I took my eye off the ball, they had added some kind of a transaction fee. They say they'll email you something within 48 hours. You never get it. And there's no notation on their end that anyone even spoke to you. I got an email today asking if I'd like to write a review. After an hour trying to work through the site, I finally ended up needed them to email me a "new" password because somehow that was changed on me... and of course, no email ever came. They are a NIGHTMARE. I wish schools wouldn't keep going with them.