learn and travel group

GLOBAL LEADERSHIP ADVENTURES

GROUP TRAVEL

Everything You Need to Plan a Trip with Your Student Group

We're here to help you plan and lead travel program itineraries for your group of students!

Your adventure starts here!

At Global Leadership Adventures, we believe that travel and cross-cultural experiences are not only educationally enriching, they are crucial components of global citizenship and are the very best way to bring lessons learned in the classroom to life.

GLA Group Travel will work with you to create the perfect trip for your group with itineraries that provide an environment for members to learn, grow and challenge themselves.

While GLA programs are open for enrollment for any teen who wishes to enroll, our Group Travel programs are designed and facilitated exclusively for your group: for example, you can focus on maximizing community service hours, tailor the learning or leadership component to a specific theme or amp up the adventure. Take what you want more of and leave the rest!

GLA’s global partnerships span the globe. Our longstanding personal relationships in every community that we travel to, paired with years of experience bringing diverse groups abroad, allow for maximum customization, genuine cultural immersion and expert facilitation on the ground.

• Group Travel Hub
• Group Enrollment

Request More Information

• Schedule a Call
• View Sample Itineraries

START PLANNING YOUR GROUP TRIP

Please fill out this form so we can better support you as you begin to plan your group travel experience!

Programs & Destinations

Global Leadership Adventures operates programs in locations around the world, throughout Africa, Asia & the Pacific, Latin America and Europe. We also offer itineraries in the United States for groups looking to travel domestically.

GLA Group Travel can design an itinerary for your group based on your:

• Desired location
• Desired dates and duration
• Program goals
• Student needs

Additionally, we provide the flexibility to customize the thematic focus of your program.

Need help choosing a destination? Simply choose any open enrollment GLA program from our website, and then contact us at 858-771-0645 to explore how you can adapt our pre-designed programs to suit your group’s needs.

Have another destination in-mind?

Through our extensive network of contacts, we can often build programs in other locations.

Do you have a contact?

We’re happy to be introduced and work something out!

SCHEDULE A CALL WITH US

Our Admissions and Programs experts can help you realize your dream of a special trip for your student group, from planning to booking and beyond!

Will GLA Work with My School or Student Group?

Meet Our Partners

We partner with many types of organizations and schools throughout the United States and beyond. Click to see examples of the types of itineraries and learning objectives we have facilitated in the past.

• Public schools
• Private schools
• Charter schools
• Title I Schools
• International Baccalaureate Schools
• International schools
• Colleges and universities
• Home school networks
• Churches and religious youth groups
• NGOs and nonprofits
• Clubs and organizations
• Clinical transition and academic Programs
• and more…

Contact GLA Custom Group Travel

Whether you know exactly where you want to go or are still not sure where to start, we can help. Call us at 858-771-0645 during office hours or email us at [email protected] .

We will walk you through the process, help find the best-fit program for your group, and send you sample itineraries and pricing to meet your group’s needs.

WHAT'S INCLUDED WITH THE PROGRAM?

Check out this list of components to confirm what is included and not included with your GLA Troup Travel booking.

Testimonials from Past Participants and Staff

Check out these testimonials from past groups to hear what they had to say about their GLA  Group Travel experience!

“It really made a difference for the students. It lit a fire for them.”

-Susan A., Hawthorne Valley Waldorf School Group, New York

“From this experience I feel like I’m able to share more about my feelings and think more deeply about environmental issues. This trip has also made me more comfortable with public speaking and discussions in bigger groups.”

–Anonymous Student, Atmosphere Academy School Group, Florida

“The GLA staff were very welcoming, loving, positive and supportive. They were also firm, which is very essential amongst a group of teenagers. I really appreciate their work ethic.”

–Anonymous Teacher, Atmosphere Academy School Group, Costa Rica

“Before this trip I thought I was aware of how to work in a team. But after participating in all the activities during this program, I feel like my ability to work in a team has definitely gotten better.”

–Jeanmarlyn P., Atmosphere Academy School Group, Spain

“The GLA program made me want to go further in life, and inspired me to think of more ways to give back.”

–Warren S., Son of a Saint, Ghana

“Seeing everybody in our group take on leadership on this trip, and even taking on leadership myself, helped me understand fully what leadership is and how to bring it back with me in school.”

–Kimberly G., Atmosphere Academy School Group, Europe

WANT TO SEE A SAMPLE ITINERARY?

Discover a series of detailed program itineraries from a variety of destinations that you may want to book for your student group.

Ready for More Info? Let’s Get Started!

1. Let’s chat!

Whether you know exactly what you’re in the market for or you’d like to explore the possibilities, we’re here to help! Our Groups Coordinator will walk you through the process as you collaborate to find the best fit program; we will send different itineraries and proposals, including pricing.

We aim for quick turnarounds and can accommodate deadlines that schools and groups need to present to decision makers and stakeholders.

2. Review, customize and approve the itinerary.

Together, we can come up with the right program. Once you feel satisfied, we will support you through your school or organization’s approval process.

3. Fundraise and recruit.

Your students or group may be fundraising and need a bit of time to raise money. We have thousands of families and students with fundraising experience! We’ll be happy to share our GLA Fundraising Kit and other helpful materials with you.

4. Deposit and enroll.

Whether each student is responsible for their own tuition, or your school or organization is funding this opportunity, we will have each participant create a private account through our application portal. Here, they will upload travel documents and all other pre-departure requirements.

5. Get ready to depart!

You and your Program Coordinator will work to get everything ready to go. Need passports? We can help with that! Looking for a group flight to accommodate everyone? We’ve got a great flight partner.

We will also provide a customized pre-departure resource site to answer all those nitty gritty details, including a packing list, program schedule and resources for travel documents such as passports and visas.

YOUR GUIDE TO PROGRAM MODULES

We’ll work with you to develop your preferred components for an intentionally designed educational travel experience for your group.

Sample Itineraries for Groups

Browse through itineraries that various types of groups have enjoyed in the past, including tried-and-true favorites that mirror our open enrollment program options!

You can also explore highly customized itineraries to meet very specific curriculum needs, locations or learning objectives.

Sample Itineraries: Tried-and-True Programs

• Bali: Medicine & Public Health (Sample Duration: 10 Days)
• Belize: Animal & Wildlife Conservation (Sample Duration: 10 Days)
• Costa Rica: Animal & Wildlife Conservation (Sample Duration: 10 Days)
• Costa Rica: Environmental Stewardship (Sample Duration: 8 Days)
• Costa Rica: Leadership & Exploration (Sample Duration: 10 Days)
• Costa Rica: Marine Conservation (Sample Duration: 8 Days)
• Costa Rica: Sea Turtle Conservation (Sample Duration: 8 Days)
• Costa Rica: Sea Turtle Conservation (Sample Duration: 10 Days)
• Costa Rica: Sports Leadership (Sample Duration: 10 Days)
• Costa Rica: Youth & Education (Sample Duration: 8 Days)
• Dominican Republic: Medicine & Public Health (Sample Duration: 8 Days)
• Dominican Republic: Spanish Immersion (Sample Duration: 12 Days)
• Galapagos: Animal & Wildlife Conservation (Sample Duration: 8 Days)
• Ghana: Youth & Education (Sample Duration: 10 Days)
• Greece: Sea Turtle Conservation (Sample Duration: 10 Days)
• Greece: Leadership & Exploration (Sample Duration: 10 Days)
• Guatemala: Medicine & Public Health (Sample Duration: 10 Days)
• Guatemala: Youth & Education (Sample Duration: 8 Days)
• Italy: Leadership & Exploration (Sample Duration: 10 Days)
• Multi-Country Europe: Leadership & Exploration (Sample Duration: 10 Days)
• Multi-Country Europe: Sciences & STEM (Sample Duration: 10 Days)
• Peru: Community Development (Sample Duration: 10 Days)
• Peru: Spanish Immersion (Sample Duration: 10 Days)
• South Africa: Animal & Wildlife Conservation (Sample Duration: 12 Days)
• Thailand: Elephants & Education (Sample Duration: 10 Days)

Sample Itineraries: Bespoke Creations 

• Dominican Republic: Batey Life (Sample Duration: 6 Days)
• Dominican Republic: Service & Jewish Values (Sample Duration: 6 Days)
• Greece: The Photography Experience (Sample Duration: 10 Days)
• Italy: The Culinary Experience (Sample Duration: 10 Days)
• Japan: The Signature Experience (Sample Duration: 10 Days)
• Spain: Cultural Crossroads & Lessons for Today (Sample Duration: 12 Days)
• Sumatra: Orangutan & Conservation Expedition (Sample Duration: 10 Days)
• Tanzania: Youth & Education (Sample Duration: 10 Days)
• United Kingdom: The Backstage Theatre Experience (Sample Duration: 8 Days)

ENROLL IN A GROUP TRIP

Trying to find where to enroll after you’ve already built a group trip with GLA? Click the button below to reach our enrollment form!

Experiencias que transforman vidas

En Learn and Travel, conectamos a estudiantes con el mundo empresarial global. Viajes educativos que inspiran, enseñan y abren puertas a futuras oportunidades.

¡Feliz año 2024!

Estamos trabajando para que tu experiencia en Learn and Travel sea la mejor.

Regresa pronto.

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What’s Next? Senior Adventures in Learning and Travel (SALT), LLC

Join a vibrant community of lifelong learners, intent on keeping their minds active, their creative juices flowing, their bodies in shape, and their social connections strong.

Register now!

Join SALT for Spring 2024!

See the link to our spring catalog below., our newsletter is temporarily suspended until we revamp our website this summer., check out our national and international tours for some great travel opportunities. a salt membership is not required to register for our national and international excursions..

To register for classes, clubs, and local excursions each semester , you must first purchase a membership by clicking on “Get Started” in the upper right hand corner of your screen. Once you have paid for the membership and have received your receipt, you can click on “Courses” or “Excursions–local excursions” to make your selection. Use the search engine (see the magnifying glass icon) to search for the titles of the courses you desire, or use the drop down menu under courses to search by category. Under each course, you will find a description and a tab for “additional information” that gives you day, time, date, and instructor. Once you have added all the courses you want to your cart, go to your cart and pay, and you will receive a receipt that lists the courses in which you are enrolled. Then, 24 hours before your course, you will receive an emailed invitation to your Zoom session. Be sure to check your spam folder in case your computer’s filter is super sensitive.

Local Excursions with SALT

We can take a minimum of 10 passengers and a maximum of 13 on each trip. Because room in the van is limited, especially if we reach the maximum number of passengers, participants are only allowed to bring one small backpack or purse on each trip. If you need to travel with additional items (e.g., walkers or wheelchairs), we ask that you drive separately (provided there is room at the venue). If the cap of 13 van passengers is reached and you would like to drive and meet us at the destination, we will also add you to the roster (provided there is room at the venue). Email us at [email protected] if you wish to drive separately.

Please pay close attention to the activity level for each excursion:

• Level 1: Easy —minimal level of physical activity, minimal walking and limited stairs or standing.
• Level 2: Moderate —some walking and standing.
• Level 3: Active —walking a mile or less, climbing stairs, standing for periods.
• Level 4: Moderately Challenging —difficult or extensive walking, sometimes over uneven terrain, stairs, and/or standing for extended periods.
• Level 5: Challenging —demanding programs for seasoned outdoor enthusiasts and/or extremely active adults.

Liability waivers should be printed out and signed and presented to Kelli or Carol at the start of the trip. (We will have copies with us if you do not have access to a printer.) You will receive a full itinerary with departure times and locations (and estimated return times) at least two days before the date of the excursion. No refunds unless we are able to fill the seat.

Affordable, convenient, and safe

Varied topics of interest

Engaging social interaction

[salt_instructors_slider]

SALT Newsletter

Subscribe to the salt newsletter, local excursions.

Click here for our Local Excursion Page

P. Thursday, May 9, Seewee Shell Ring with Jim Luken, Awendaw, SC, $50

U. thursday, april 25, bald head island, nc, $95 deadline for registration 3/14., v. friday & saturday, april 26 & 27, fused art (yard birds) with suz mole, pawleys island, sc, $80, w. sunday, april 28, mount pleasant blessing of the fleet & seafood festival, mount pleasant, sc, $65, x. monday, april 29, artfields, lake city, sc, $40, y. thursday, may 2, hasty point, waccamaw national wildlife refuge, georgetown, sc, $55, z. friday, may 3, fused glass class (dishes) with suz mole, pawleys island, sc, $65, z1. monday, may 6, waccamaw river with jim luken, $105.

Legacy Student Travel

Group travel for student education.

When the world is your classroom, learning has no boundaries.

• Lead a Tour
• Find Your Group

Take your students anywhere in the world for a life changing experience.

World Language Tours

Experience first hand a different language and culture. Our World Language Tours will get your foreign language students hearing and practicing their skills as they take in the sights and tastes of cultures they’ve studied.

• Popular Destinations: Mexico, France, Italy, Germany, Spain
• Sample Itineraries: Spain World Language Tour , Germany World Language Tour

Music & Performance Tours

Transcend language, culture, and geography with Legacy’s Music & Performance Tours. Journey into the concert halls and music venues of the USA and Europe, or embark on a performance tour your group has dreamed of. Whatever your goals and budget, we can create a custom musical group travel experience for your music group’s needs.

• Popular Destinations: Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Germany, Switzerland
• Sample Itineraries: Ireland Instrumental Music Performance Tour , Europe Vocal Music Performance Tour , Disney World Orlando Music Performance Clinics

History & Culture Tours

Our History & Culture Student Tours are more than a field trip; they’re a learning vacation! Your students will walk in the footsteps of those who made history, and see the sites, art, and culture that define the past and present. Choose between both domestic and International itineraries.

• Popular Destinations: Washington DC, New York City, Philadelphia
• Sample Itineraries: Washington DC Heritage Discovery Tour , Philadelphia and NYC Heritage Discovery Tour

Why Legacy for Student Travel

Life-changing experiences.

Travel changes lives. Our itineraries provide experiences that students will remember and cherish for a lifetime.

Its not uncommon for students to reach out to their tour leaders and guides years after their experince to tell them how much their travel experince continues to mean to them.

Tour Promotion

We provide you with tools to successfully market and sell your tour. This includes print materials, travel presentations at your school, and your very own mini website.

We do everything we can to help you promote your tour to administration, community members, parents, and students.

All necessary printed material is provided, and travel presentations at your location can be conducted. We can also help set up your very own mini website.

Customizable Itineraries

Chose one of our popular itineraries, or customize one yourself! With both domestic and international travel, you can go anywhere and do anything.

Our itineraries are unmatched in our industry and provide a travel experience packed with information and demonstrations that leave a lasting impression on our travelers.

Tours are designed to supplement and tie into the local school’s curriculum, supported by thousands of hours of research into the stories behind the stories and the people behind the people.

Online Registration & Payment

With our web app, Travel Connections, you can register travelers, accept payments, promote the tour, and post announcements all in one place.

Through our Travel Connections web app, your group will have its own website to help you manage many aspects of your tour: gather your group, promote the tour, post announcements, register travelers, and accept payments.

Keeping your group connected and energized for the upcoming trip is easy to do with the help of this tool provided to you by Legacy Tour & Travel.

Learn more about Travel Connections.

The Best Guides

We hand pick the best tour guides with the understanding, experience and passion for working with young people. Our guides engage them in the history and significance of each tour destination.

Interpretation makes all the difference. That’s why we hand pick only the best guides (often current or retired teachers) who have the understanding, experience and passion for working with young people, while engaging them in the history and significance of the tour destinations.

Our motorcoaches are turned into moving classrooms, preparing travelers for each and every enlightening stop to come.

A Travel Leader

Legacy Tour & Travel has been sending student groups on safe, educational trips for over 35 years. We have the knowledge and experience to make your trip safe and fun.

Legacy Tour & Travel has been sending student groups on safe, educational trips all over the United States for 60+ years.

We work with student groups throughout the Midwest, providing life lesson experiences that our youth will carry with them for years to come.

We take great pride in providing student travel opportunities that go far above and beyond what other companies offer.

Lead a Student Tour

Educational student tours in three simple steps

Choose an adventure

Where do you want to take your students? We’ll work with you to choose your tour destination and plan an itinerary to create an unforgettable adventure. We also have pre-made, time-tested itineraries to choose from as well.

Promote your tour

We make it easy to sell your tour by providing everything you need to promote it — print materials, tour presentations, and even online registration and payments!

Travel, learn, grow

Handpicked guides, exciting itineraries, and over 60 years of travel experience come together to make this tour unforgettable for you and your students.

Find your group, sign up for tours, and make payments on our site Group Travel Connections.

Covid-19 Update

In these coronavirus (COVID-19) challenging times, we want to provide an update on what the Legacy Travel Group (LTG) team is doing to support you, our valued travelers, and your future travel dreams.

Due to the exceptional conditions we are currently facing around the world that continue to evolve, we are closely monitoring the latest developments from the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and local health agencies along with following the advice of our government along with public health officials.

To provide you with more peace of mind, we have been making adjustments to our group tour offerings and cancellation policies. Please feel free to call us at 800-323-3368 with specific questions regarding your current booking or any future bookings with us.

Thank you for your past travel adventures with us! We look forward to traveling with you again in the future!

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Families Make the World A Classroom Through Group Travel

Expert Advice , Magazine Features

Family travel expert Nancy Schretter spotlights the trend in learning-oriented vacations for family groups in destinations around the world. She quotes representatives of cruise lines, resorts, and tour operators such as Austin Adventures, Abercrombie & Kent and Natural Habitat Adventures.

Today’s parents and grandparents want to have fun and create lasting memories with their families when they travel as a group. Increasingly, though, their travel goals are including something else – education. Travel is being viewed as a key way to supplement children’s schooling and help them learn about the world in an experiential way.

According to American Express, the vast majority of parents surveyed believe it’s important to take an educational family vacation. Last year’s Virtuoso’s survey also confirmed this trend, calling it the “Journey to Global Citizenship.” According to Virtuoso Chairman and CEO Matthew Upchurch, parents and grandparents are utilizing travel as a way to help children learn and get ahead.

“Kids who have the insight into these cultures, who learn to adapt in unfamiliar surroundings early on, and who gain an understanding of the world around them, will have a certain advantage when it’s time to enter the workforce,” said Upchurch.

Rainer Jenss, founder and president of Family Travel Association, has also observed this trend. “Grandparents, in particular, are aware of the fact that travel is not just recreational, but transformational,” he said. “They have the time and resources to plan vacations for their extended families that focus not just on having fun, but sharing quality time together – which includes opportunities for education and learning.”

Leisure group travel providers are responding to increased market demand for educational family travel. Austin Adventures has noticed this trend building over the last four to five years. The company’s levels of interest and 2015 bookings have shown double-digit increases over last year, according to Dan Austin, president of Austin Adventures.

“Hands down, Yellowstone is our #1 most popular destination for family and multigenerational learning vacations for a lot of reasons,” said Austin. Alaska, the Canadian Rockies and Costa Rica round out Austin Adventures’ top four family learning vacation destinations. Top guides make all the difference on these kinds of educational group trips.

Destinations from Grand Junction, Colorado to Costa Rica are detecting this family and multigenerational group travel trend, too. One of the keys to success for these educational trips is offering a wide range of unique and authentic activities for all ages and interests, something at which Costa Rica excels.

“From volcanoes to howler monkeys and sea turtles, Costa Rica offers families a myriad of opportunities to explore, learn, and get close with nature,” said Alejandro Castro-Alfaro, the Costa Rica Tourism Board’s director of marketing. Some of Costa Rica’s many family-friendly educational activities include rainforest hikes, whale watching, visits to coffee and cacao plantations, and trips to volcanoes.

Gaining Global Understanding and New Skills

The fact that adults now want to leave their children with enriching experiences – not things – may be contributing to the stronger interest in learning-oriented family travel.

“Many of our guests talk about the educational value of travel and a desire to share the life lessons of travel with their children and grandchildren using the world as their classroom,” said Pamela Lassers of Abercrombie & Kent USA . Some of the company’s top spots for educational family group vacations include the Galapagos, Africa and Antarctica. College and university alumni travel programs and affinity organizations such as National Geographic also offer these kinds of family-friendly learning expeditions.

Conservation, wildlife biology and ecology are strong areas of interest for family and multigenerational groups, according to Natural Habitat Adventures . The company’s journeys attract families with teens and young adults – and some of these trips have been life-changing. says Ben Bressler, founder and president of Natural Habitat Adventures. “We’ve had parents send us letters about how the polar bears inspired their kids to become climate change advocates.”

Family reunions, milestone multigenerational celebrations and heritage trips can also be triggers for group family learning vacations. Destinations can range from Colorado’s YMCA of the Rockies to halfway around the globe.

“I have never seen such a huge increase in family and multigenerational trips to my homeland Uzbekistan and Central Asia Stans before,” says Zulya Rajabova, founder and president of Silk Road Treasure Tours .

Other family groups choose their destination to acquire specific skills.

“Everyone has a different reason for choosing a ranch vacation, but learning is a big part of it,” said Tyler Beckley, owner of Three Bars Ranch in British Columbia, Canada. Learning together gives family and multigenerational groups something memorable to bond over and share.

“Learning is how we grow, but how we learn is what we’ll remember,” said Beckley. “Ten years from now guests won’t remember what I taught them about riding a horse, but they’ll remember who they learned it with – and anything special that happened along the way.”

Cruise and Resort Opportunities

Almost every sector of the travel industry, both on land and sea, has noticed and responded to this educational family travel trend. Due to strong demand, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises has almost tripled their multigenerational family-friendly dates and itineraries for 2016. CroisiEurope is seeing more demand for group bookings and does not have age minimums for children on its river cruises.

Based on its research, industry giant Carnival Cruise Lines is adding more learning experiences to its fun family programs.

“One item that consistently shows up is that parents want their kids to have a good time during their cruise but at the same time learn something new,” said Sarah Reno, vice president of entertainment for Carnival Cruise Lines. “Our Camp Ocean program is a result of this research with more than 200 fun, educational games that immerse children in the wonders of the sea.”

Resorts and hotels are noticing growing interest in educational group family travel as well. The Four Seasons Resorts Lana’i has developed enriching experiential programming, such as its Ho’okipa Cultural Program, complimentary Kids for all Seasons program, and a wealth of family activities so families and multigenerational groups can learn about Hawaiian culture and the history of the island of Lana’i, said Lori Holland, director of public relations. Since art education in the United States has become more limited, Windjammer Landing in St. Lucia has responded with a unique educational program that introduces renowned local St. Lucian artists to families and multigenerational groups.

Educational enrichment for families can be also gleaned through an appreciation of history, nature and service. Nisbet Plantation on the Caribbean island of Nevis offers Heritage Trail tours and excursions to historic points of interest and an active voluntourism program in concert with local schools. Jeanne Pena, social gathering specialist at New York’s Mohonk Mountain House , said the property’s designation as a National Historic Landmark and its Junior Naturalist program also attracts families and multigenerational groups.

Educational family group travel can take place across the globe or around the corner through visits to Washington, D.C., Colonial Williamsburg or top-ranking children’s museums. The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis , the world’s biggest children’s museum, engages family groups with enriching exhibits on China, dinosaurs, and even the impact of children in shaping history.  No matter where they happen, families have discovered that these educational group travel options create stronger family bonds, memorable experiences and transformational learning opportunities that last a lifetime.

Recent Leisure Group Travel Magazine Articles

Cultural travel

Not all classrooms have walls

TRAVEL CONTENT BY EXPERIENCE

Are you a travel enthusiast looking to immerse yourself in the cultural and natural identity of each place you visit? 

Well, look no further! 

As a history enthusiast and biologist, I believe that understanding the history and nature of a destination is key to truly appreciating its value. Travelling can be so much more , as it offers to expand our horizons forever. 

Check out some ideas of cultural travelling in the sections below. For each section, click on the picture to know more!

Travel destinations with a focus on culture and history

Explore the culture and history of several destinations

(or also click on the picture of the pyramids!)

Here is a list of all destinations I've travelled to, ordered by continent:

Switzerland

Northern America

Washington DC, USA

Central and South America

Spending few days in a city and wondering what to do, need tips and ideas for a road trip.

City breaks

Road trips 

Spending a few days on and island / sea-side destination and want to explore what to do to make the most of your time, .. or would you like to admire a destiny's nature with a biologist's perspective or get tips about outdoor activities.

Seaside paradise

Wildlife and nature

I made a concise list of my spendings in each trip!

Want to know more of how much you will spend in your trip?

Any other comments or ideas?

Contact me!

Stress-Free Student Travel

Where do you want to go?

Our Featured Destinations

Washington D.C.

Washington, DC, our nation’s capital, is not only the best place to learn about our nation’s history, but is where history truly comes alive.

Universal – Stars Performance Program

Come take the stage! Universal Orlando STARS Performance Program offers a variety of performance options and theme park adventures!

Spain is an international student travel destination that is unlike any other. Walk in the footsteps of Gaudi as you marvel at the La Sagrada Familia.

Where do you want to go to next?

Adventure and learning is exciting in a new city! From Orlando to Boston, Washington DC to Chicago, we know the best student destinations! Looking for something truly unique for your student trip? What about Puerto Rico or Italy? Group Travel Network has you covered to GO! SEE! DO! Chances are, we’ve been there…..

From unique marching band competitions for middle school and high school bands to senior class trips or simply booking incredible cross country travel for Special Olympic Athletes, we’ve done it all. We work with hundreds of vendors around the globe who welcome student groups, offer unforgettable travel experiences and provide world-class service! Let us cater to your vision and bring your dream itinerary to reality. So, where do YOU want to play?

There is no place like Spain to offer a student performance opportunity or cultural student trip.

Myrtle Beach

All students love the beach! Especially a beach known for its 60 miles of pristine coastline.

Have your students experience colonial charm in the city that is considered the hub of New England.

Provide your student group with the “Royal” treatment! One of the world’s most recognized cities.

Relax with our Student Travel Expertise .

We deliver stress-free student trips backed by an exceptional array of services you won’t find anywhere else:

• Stress-free, creative planning of customized itineraries
• Dedicated GTN Service host on every trip
• Extensive travel protection plan options
• Online, individual registration system
• Flexible payment plans and online payment options
• Bulk buyer discounts for great trips that cost less

Inclusion into #MyGTNFamily for life! (you don’t even have to remember our birthday!)

See What People Are Saying

“What wonderful trip we had to NYC! Our group of 51 never missed a beat because of Group Travel Network and our wonderful guide, Tim. It was truly a theatre trip to remember! If you are looking for a travel company who really cares about the details, Group Travel Network is for you!”

“It has been my privilege to use Group Travel Network as the exclusive travel coordinator for my band for over 10 years. I can say, without doubt or hesitation, that GTN is, by far, the best travel company for student groups currently in existence. I have often said that I wouldn’t take my band across the street without GTN and that’s not far from the truth!”

“This was my first time using a company to plan our band trip. It was so easy working with Justin and Group Travel Network. We had to make several changes along the way, but they were accommodating changes and worked everything out for us. I would highly recommend using Group Travel Network.”

Where would you like to GO – SEE – DO?

See Our Most Popular Student Travel Destinations

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Email: [email protected]

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How a group tour changed my whole approach to travel

I 've always considered myself a fiercely independent traveler. I've navigated more than 50 countries on my own, and while I have sometimes booked short excursions, usually for a day, it had never occurred to me to book a group tour. That changed when I decided to take two of my children on a family tour with Intrepid Travel . 

I had planned on spending our winter break in the Middle East but changed my mind at the last minute due to safety concerns . Because of the abrupt change, I knew I wouldn't have time to plan an itinerary, book hotels and arrange transportation before our departure date. However, I didn’t want to let that stop me from having an adventure. I'm glad I took a chance on a group tour because it changed the way I travel. Here's how.

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The trip planning was stress-free

I spent a little time comparing tour companies but quickly honed in on Intrepid. The company offers a variety of itineraries for families at different price points, and a few of my friends had been on its tours and had a good experience. I also liked that Intrepid offers specialized tours for different types of travelers, including family tours . 

At first I planned on an "original" style family tour but upgraded to a "comfort" tour, which included more activities and meals along with upgraded accommodations. Although it cost more, the company's 10-day Morocco Family Holiday tour was still within my budget and looked like a good value. 

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Once I committed to a tour, my planning was essentially done. That was a huge relief. I normally spend hours searching for hotels , figuring out some must-do activities in every location along with some off-the-beaten-track attractions, researching transportation options, and gathering restaurant recommendations. Although I often find it's fun, it’s also time-consuming and can become draining for trips that involve several stops.

Even though a group tour was not exactly what I would have planned on my own, Intrepid's Morocco itinerary was fairly close. I thought giving up some control was well worth the trade-off of not having to do all the planning on my own. Because Intrepid uses local teams based at its tour destinations to plan trips, I also hoped having a local involved would bring me to places I never would have found on my own. 

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Instead of reading hotel reviews and booking entry tickets, I spent the weeks leading up to my family vacation learning more about Moroccan culture. I knew this would enrich my experience more than figuring out all of the details for a trip abroad to run smoothly. I'm usually a mix of excited and stressed in the week or two leading up to a big trip. This time I was mostly excited, and my stress was at a minimum. 

Though I won’t stick exclusively to group tours in the future, this trip taught me to not sweat the small stuff so much. I don’t need to spend so much time finding the perfect hotel or restaurant to have a great trip.

Group trips are fantastic for solo travelers and parents traveling on their own

Before I had a family, I often traveled on my own. Though I enjoyed solo travel , it was lonely at times, even more so when I stopped staying at youth hostels and lost access to the fantastic communities they provide. Now I frequently travel with my two younger children. They are fantastic travel companions, but on longer trips I sometimes find myself longing for adult interaction or an extra pair of hands. Additionally, even though my kids usually get along well, they sometimes get sick of each other in the absence of any other playmates. 

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On my Intrepid trip, I had other adults to talk to throughout the day. That was a refreshing change from my usual experience of going a week or more without speaking to another adult for more than five minutes, usually for transactional matters like checking into a hotel. My kids also quickly made friends with the other children on the trip. Not surprisingly, all of the families on the trip had similar interests and an adventurous spirit. My children and I were the only Americans in the group, and it was interesting learning more about life in New Zealand, Canada and Australia from the other families.

The parents in the group quickly started leaning on one another for support. One mom, also traveling alone with her children, asked me to take one of her daughters on an outing so she could get some one-on-one time with her other child. I asked a different mom to keep an eye on my son while I packed our things for the next day. It was nice not feeling as if I was on my own. 

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This "it takes a village" spirit is something I want to bring with me in my future travels. Although it’s not possible to replicate the experience of traveling with other families, it is possible to seek out connections away from home. For example, on a recent trip, my son wanted to play soccer with local children who lived near our hotel. Instead of rushing him away so we could squeeze in another activity, I let him play. He wound up meeting up with the other kids every night we were there, sharing candy and communicating with an app. The nights playing soccer were a highlight of that trip for him and something I probably would not have let him do before my experience with a group tour.  

I appreciated a slower pace

I have serious FOMO and often pack too much into my days when I travel. When I first reviewed the itinerary, I noted right away that it had downtime and even an entire free afternoon built into the trip. Though I know many people enjoy that balance, I was worried I would feel bored and come away feeling as if I had traveled halfway around the world and missed seeing all there is to do. 

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The reality is it’s impossible to do everything. Trying is exhausting and impossible. There is always something left on the to-do list at the end of the trip. It was refreshing to go into a trip not trying to see an entire country in two weeks and being OK with that from the outset. 

Though there were a couple of other things I would have liked to have squeezed in, I was very happy with the balance of activities and downtime. Other than all-inclusive family vacations and trips to family resorts , I normally don’t schedule time to just relax while I am traveling. It was really nice to have time to read and play UNO with my kids. I also liked that Intrepid had a couple of optional activities for those of us who didn’t want quite as much downtime as others. 

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I do still feel pressure to see and do everything when I travel, but going on a group trip helped me see the value in traveling at a slower pace. Some of my favorite moments from my Intrepid trip happened during scheduled downtime; they gave me and my children time to just enjoy being with one another without the pressures of work and school. It’s a lesson I’ve tried to carry with me as I’ve planned future trips. 

Learning from a local is invaluable 

One reason I chose Intrepid is the company uses all local guides, and most tours use the same guide throughout the trip. It may sound obvious that learning from locals is the best way to get to know a country, but I had underestimated just how valuable traveling with a local guide would be. 

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I learned much about Moroccan culture through our tour guide, who was always willing to answer questions about his life and traditions. He even brought us to his family home to meet his parents and niece, which was a very special experience. Aside from being able to share the history of everywhere we visited, I also liked that our guide warned us about scams to watch out for, shared the tipping culture and gave advice on bargaining. He was also helpful when it came to practical matters like finding an ATM.  

For future trips, I will be more open to taking guided tours with local guides, even if it’s just for a few hours. I will also make it a point to try to talk to more locals, as long as I can do so without bothering them too much. 

Even though it wasn’t what I had originally planned, not only did I have a great experience on my trip with Intrepid, it has also forever changed the way I plan to travel.

How a group tour changed my whole approach to travel originally appeared on FamilyVacationist.com .

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The views and opinions expressed in this column are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect those of USA TODAY. FamilyVacationist.com and TourScoop.com are owned and operated by Vacationist Media LLC. Using the FamilyVacationist travel recommendation methodology , we review and select family vacation ideas , family vacation spots , all-inclusive family resorts , and classic family vacations for all ages. TourScoop covers guided group tours and tour operators , tour operator reviews , tour itinerary reviews and travel gear recommendations .

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How a group tour changed my whole approach to travel

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• The First MICHELIN Key Hotels: All the Keys in the United States

The MICHELIN Guide announces top honors for U.S. hotels in 2024.

Hotels NYC California Washington D.C. MICHELIN Keys

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On April 24, 2024, the MICHELIN Guide revealed the brand new list of One, Two, and Three Key hotels in the United States. In this first ever announcement of MICHELIN Keys in the United States, hotels in Atlanta, California, Chicago, Colorado, Florida, New York, and Washington DC were eligible for the distinction. This announcement of the most outstanding hotels in the country comes four years into a comprehensive refresh of our hotel selection. The MICHELIN Guide now includes over 5,000 hotels across the world, and not a single one is simply a room for the night. These are places that significantly add to your experience as a traveler, each vetted and judged excellent in five categories: architecture and interior design, quality and consistency of service, overall personality and character, value for the price, and a significant contribution to the guest experience in a particular setting. Which brings us back to the Keys. The culmination of countless hours of evaluation by our team of experts, the Key hotels below represent the highlights of our broader selection. Like the MICHELIN Stars for restaurants, the MICHELIN Keys are our most outstanding hotels. In total, the 2024 MICHELIN Guide hotel selection in the United States includes 11 Three Key hotels, 33 Two Key hotels, and 80 One Key hotels. Want to know more about the MICHELIN Key? Here’s everything you need to know . Or, head below to look at all the Keys.

How To Look Through the List

Jump straight to the list or take a deeper dive into select key hotels..

Take a peek at SingleThread, the five room inn with Three Keys and Three Stars. Explore the one street in Chicago that leads to seven Key hotels. Or find out more the Cliff House suite at our only Three Key hotel in Big Sur, California. Subscribe to our newsletter for more like this.

Highlights of the United States 2024 Key Hotel List

The Three Key Club in New York City

Expect: The highest luxury and impeccable design in Soho, Midtown, and the Financial District. Within the small club of Three Key hotels in the United States, four make their home in New York City. The Aman New York (Midtown) and Casa Cipriani (the Financial District) both make use of glamorous Beaux Arts buildings, the former a gold-crowned skyscraper in Midtown, the latter a glamorously restored ferry terminal at the very southern tip of Manhattan. Each is a refuge: an elegant, painstakingly designed escape from bustling city life. Meanwhile, two Firmdale hotels round out the list of Three Key hotels in New York City. Each is a quintessential example of the style and execution of the group’s co-owner and interior designer, Kit Kemp. Click the links here to explore the whirl of colors and collage of art that define the Crosby Street (Soho) and the Whitby Hotel (Midtown). Also read: Every Three Key Hotel in Paris

Jewels on the Coast: Up and Down California

Its sheer breadth of size and variety means it’s no surprise to announce California as the state with the most Key hotels in America. Here, we’ll point you towards coastal gems like the sublime architectural achievements in Big Sur ( Post Ranch Inn and Ventana ), beachside luxuries in Santa Monica (in particular: the newly opened Georgian ), and wine country favorites like SingleThread and the Madrona . What we love: how each one of these hotels opens the door to the very best of their locations — and gives us a look at each setting through fresh eyes.

Across America: The Golden Age of Celebrity

Our French Keys bask in the tradition of ancient vineyards, stone chateaus, and historic palaces. In the United States, we see a different tradition. In Los Angeles, places like Chateau Marmont , the Paramour Estate , Sunset Tower , and the Charlie date back to guests and residents as illustrious as Clark Gable and Marilyn Monroe. These are spaces that play ingeniously with their history, even as they forge ahead with cutting-edge amenities and experiences. But it’s not just California. New York’s historic artist hotspot, the Hotel Chelsea , once hosted Bob Dylan and Andy Warhol. Today, it decorates every space with art donated by former residents. Look too to the Chicago Athletic Association , a former member’s club for 20th century business magnates and athletes — now among the city’s most impressive and vibrant hotels. Also read: Hollywood Glamor at the First Key Hotels in Los Angeles

Click below to jump to each distinction: 

The three key hotels.

California (Beverly Hills):  The Beverly Hills Hotel, Dorchester Collection California (Big Sur): Post Ranch Inn California (Healdsburg): SingleThread Inn California (Los Angeles):  Hotel Bel-Air, Dorchester Collection California (Rutherford):  Auberge du Soleil, Auberge Resorts Collection California (St. Helena):  Meadowood Napa Valley California (Woodside):  Canyon Ranch Woodside New York (NYC):  Aman New York New York (NYC):  Casa Cipriani New York New York (NYC):  Crosby Street Hotel, Firmdale Hotels New York (NYC):  The Whitby Hotel, Firmdale Hotels

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The two key hotels.

California (Beverly Hills): L'Ermitage Beverly Hills California (Beverly Hills): The Maybourne Beverly Hills California (Beverly Hills): The Peninsula Beverly Hills California (Carmel Valley): Bernardus Lodge & Spa California (Big Sur): Ventana Big Sur California (Guerneville): The Stavrand California (Healdsburg): Montage Healdsburg California (Healdsburg): The Madrona California (Laguna Beach): Montage Laguna Beach California (Montecito): Rosewood Miramar Beach California (Napa):  Milliken Creek Inn & Spa California (San Francisco):  Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco at Embarcadero California (San Francisco):  The Battery California (Sausalito):  Cavallo Point Lodge California (West Hollywood): Chateau Marmont California (West Hollywood):  Pendry West Hollywood California (Yountville):  Bardessono California (Yountville):  North Block Washington D.C.:  Rosewood Washington, D.C.   Washington D.C.:  The Jefferson Florida (Miami):  Mayfair House Hotel & Garden Florida (Miami Beach):  Faena Hotel Miami Beach Florida (Miami Beach):  Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club Florida (Miami Beach):  The Setai Miami Beach   Illinois (Chicago): Pendry Chicago Illinois (Chicago):  The Langham, Chicago Illinois (Chicago):  The Peninsula Chicago New York (NYC): Hotel Barrière Fouquet's New York New York (NYC):  Nine Orchard  New York (NYC):  Pendry Manhattan West New York (NYC): The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel New York (NYC): The Fifth Avenue Hotel New York (NYC):  The Mark Hotel

The One Key Hotels

Washington D.C.

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The Guilty Pleasures of the Chicago Athletic Association

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5-day Climbing Course (all inclusive) 2024

La Roche-en-Ardenne, België

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About this trip

Up for a new sport? Learn how to leadclimb and get your indoor lead-climb certificate! We'll be climbing on different outdoor climbing spots the Ardennes in Belgium.  

On this 5-day climbing safari trip you'll learn everything to start lead-climbing. The rope techniques, how to belay a lead climber, how to lead climb yourself and how to read a topo. Since our accommodation has wheels we will show you a couple different climbing spots in Belgium. You'll learn about rope techniques, how to belay, knots and (if you want) we will do single pitch lead-climbing as well! If you prefer toprope climbing that's fine as well. Everything will be outdoors. 

It's ideal for any climber with some top-rope climbing experience or boulderer who would like to start lead climbing outdoors on single-pitch sport routes. During the course you will develop the confidence to become competent in leading exciting sport climbs outdoors. The lead climbing skills you learn on this course will also enable you to get your indoor lead climb certificate. 

For this trip you need to be(come) a member of the NKBV, the Dutch climbing foundation. It's obligatory to go climbing in Belgium to be a member and have the 'klimjaarkaart', but you can enjoy it the entire year: there are a lot of advantages like discounts, good & cheap travel insurance and you'll get the inspiring 'Hoogtelijn-Magazine' 5 times a year. You can become a member here .  Make sure to add the 'klimjaarkaart' as well! 

Please note: our meeting location will be around Namen, Belgium. During the trip you'll travel around in our bus. We'll set up a whatsapp group for people to carpool to us if they wish.

Welcome around 19h (CET) around Namen (specific location will be shared later)

- We'll discuss the planning & theoretical information 

DAY 2- DAY 5: Climbing Safari to different climbing areas, with lessons every day

DAY 5: Goodbye drinks & back home

A list of the things we'll work on: 

• Lead belaying
• Lead climbing
• Correct use of sport climbing equipment
• Threading anchors
• Using a guide book
• Climbing calls and communication

Werrie, our certified guide, will make sure you feel comfortable and share all his knowledge with you in four full days of climbing!  Interested in other trips? These are coming up too!

12-14 May 2023: Surf Crash Course - learn to surf! 

19-21 May 2023: Girls surftrip - meet other surfgirls! 

July : Norway Roadtrip - preregister now

August - Sept: Scotland - preregister now

www.lakaravana.nl <-- for all info Also, you can rent the bus with a group of friends as a group accommodation or let us make you a personalised trip! More info check out our website.  

What’s included

• Certified climbing guide Who knows all the best climbing spots in the region
• Climbing lesson +/- 5-6 hours a day
• Climbing certificate Depending on your level & progress, you can get your official single pitch top rope or even your lead climb certificate.
• General climbing gear
• All meals Breakfast, lunch, dinner (vegetarian)
• Accommodation 4x We'll find cool camp spots but sleep on our bus of course!
• Cofffee, tea, water
• Transport during trip

What’s not included

• Drinks Other than coffee, tea, water (we do offer drinks for a friendly price)
• Helmet We can help you to rent though
• Climbing harness We can help you to rent though
• Climbing shoes Bring your own
• Transport to Ardennen We'll set up a Whatsapp-group so you can carpool if you wish.
• NKBV membership Necessary to climb in Belgium
• Klimjaarkaart Necessary to climb in Belgium. Deze kun je bestellen bij je NKBV lidmaatschap

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A group of WWII-era scientists used themselves as guinea pigs to learn to breathe underwater. Their experiments helped make D-Day possible.

• During WWII, scientists experimented on themselves to help divers and submarine crews.
• The scientists conducted over 600 experiments on themselves, breathing CO2, oxygen, and more gases.
• The British Admiralty used their data for recon missions, including before D-Day .

On January 18, 1944, a miniature sub known as an X-craft made its way from the English Channel to French waters undetected. For four nights, the sub surfaced every 12 hours to let in fresh air.

The submariners were on a reconnaissance mission. Two British Army officers aboard the sub swam to shore to mark landmarks and recently dug mines, gathering intel for troops who would invade the beaches of Normandy on D-Day , five months later.

The small group of scientists aboard the sub performed hundreds of experiments on themselves to figure out how long the X-craft could stay submerged with the occupants breathing their own expelled carbon dioxide .

They locked themselves in hyperbaric chambers, where they breathed carbon dioxide, pure oxygen, and other gases to figure out how best to breathe underwater .

These scientists meticulously documented the dangers of inhaling regular air and pure oxygen at different depths — helping pave the way for modern divers, who often use different gas mixtures depending on how deep they are going.

In her new book, "Chamber Divers: The Untold Story of the D-Day Scientists Who Changed Special Operations Forever," Rachel Lance tells the story of the many injuries and near-death experiences the researchers endured, from a broken spine to a collapsed lung .

The British Admiralty, which was in charge of the Royal Navy, used the scientists' data to help troops pilot miniature submarines, dismantle underwater obstacles, and perform other reconnaissance missions. All these tasks were vital for the D-Day mission .

The many dangers of diving

By the 1940s, diving was common but required bulky suits and large helmets. Anyone going underwater for lengthy periods needed a cable to attach them to a boat and provide a constant supply of air.

Experts had already known about the dangers of decompression sickness , also known as the bends, for decades. When a diver surfaces too quickly after a deep dive, the change in pressure can cause nitrogen bubbles to flood the bloodstream. A buildup of bubbles blocks blood flow and, in the most serious cases, can lead to death.

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But that wasn't the British Admiralty's only concern with underwater travel. In 1939, the Thetis submarine sank during a dive test. While four people escaped, the other 99 trapped aboard died of then-unknown causes. Having breathing apparatuses on board wasn't enough to save them.

An engineer investigating the disaster asked John Burdon Sanderson Haldane, who worked in the genetics department at University College London, for help figuring out what happened. Haldane had participated in his physiologist father's experiments on decompression sickness and breathing various gases in their at-home lab since he was a child.

Haldane and a handful of members from his lab, quickly got to work conducting experiments in hyperbaric chambers . They were the guinea pigs.

Pure oxygen could be poisonous

Haldane and his fellow scientists breathed different levels of carbon dioxide and oxygen to see how their bodies responded at different levels of pressure. CO2 would give them headaches, make them tired, and cause them to hyperventilate.

It was excessive CO2 that had killed those aboard the Thetis, Haldane figured out, and future crews would need a way to absorb the gas .

Pure oxygen could be just as poisonous. It caused violent seizures, vomiting, and impaired vision. The researchers would see flashes of color they called "dazzle." Haldane injured his back during a seizure, and another researcher dislocated her jaw.

The seizures were bad enough in a dry hyperbaric chamber, but one of the researchers nearly drowned breathing oxygen while submerged in water.

Breathing regular air — which is mostly nitrogen — at increased pressure caused a phenomenon known as nitrogen narcosis during the researchers' tests.

It was potent enough that "no great trust should be placed in human intelligence under these circumstances," Haldane and Martin Case, another researcher, wrote. While the phenomenon wasn't new, the fact that the scientists struggled to do math problems while under its effect showed that it could be deadly for divers trying to complete simple tasks.

Finally, the researchers started mixing oxygen and air to find an ideal composition that would allow divers and submarine crews to breathe without side effects like seizures or vision loss.

Haldane and the other members of his lab conducted over 600 experiments on themselves in total. The British Admiralty used their data when outfitting its X-craft submarines and handing out custom mixes of oxygen and air based on the depth of their dives.

The documents chronicling the work of Haldane and his fellow scientists were declassified in 2001, well after many of them had died. Their dangerous experiments not only contributed to the D-Day invasion, but also contributed to the science behind modern-day scuba diving.

Watch: How Navy sailors train to work on $2 billion submarines

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