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The Texas Exes Flying Longhorns and Go Next are pleased to offer exceptional travel opportunities available to you, your family, and your friends. Join fellow alumni and experience the camaraderie of exploring the world with like-minded travelers. Each Go Next trip has been thoughtfully selected with you and your alma mater in mind. We take care of the details, so you can relax and enjoy the company of your fellow alumni.

Because of the exceptional value and limited space, we encourage you to make your reservation as soon as possible.

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Purchasing travel insurance is highly recommended to protect you, your belongings and your travel investment. The Texas Exes Flying Longhorns will send you information regarding travel insurance.

Texas Exes Group Programs

Lose yourself in the wonders of the Mediterranean on this 10-night cruise aboard Oceania Cruises’ Marina .

Explore the history, charm, and majestic waters of the Aegean Sea for 10-nights aboard Oceania Cruises’ Vista .

Immerse yourself in the history and culture of Greece and Turkey on this 7-night cruise from Athens to Istanbul.

Explore the “Last Frontier” on this riveting 10-night cruise aboard Oceania Cruises’ Regatta .

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The expertise and knowledge to put your mind at ease., when you join us, your job is to enjoy yourself. our experts are trained to make your trip as seamless and carefree as possible. whether it’s a key ready for you as soon as you walk into a hotel or a beginner lesson in the local dialect, we go the extra mile to make sure you have every need met along your journey., who is ahi.

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University of Texas at Austin

Trips for Grads & Young Alumni

Dear Longhorns:

Want to see the world with fellow Longhorns? The Flying Longhorns Young Alumni Travel Program offers well-designed, hassle-free tours that will broaden your horizons—think Peru, Italy, France, Egypt, and the Azores, just to name a few. They’re also a great opportunity to bond with old and new friends who share your burnt-orange pride. Travel the world with recent graduates and friends of peer institutions, who graduated within the last 10 years. These programs provide social, cultural, and recreational activities and many opportunities for learning enrichment and enjoying a connection back to the University of Texas at Austin.

They are an awesome value, operated by a travel company, AESU, with over 45 years of experience in the young professional travel market. Click on the buttons below to find detailed itineraries, travel dates, and pricing. You can also book online! These outstanding itineraries are brought to you by the Texas Exes Flying Longhorns travel program, which supports the association's mission of promoting and protecting The University of Texas at Austin and uniting its alumni around the world. While you do not have to be an alumnus of UT to travel with us, we do ask that all Flying Longhorns travelers have an active membership in the Texas Exes; memberships start at just $5 per month. If you have any questions about our young alumni travel program, please contact AESU Alumni World Travel by emailing: [email protected] or call 800-638-7640.

What do past travelers say about our trips?

Really liked how everything was planned for us – the main things we wanted to see, yet still a lot of free time to do what we wanted.

The tour was a fantastic introduction to Europe and I had an amazing time seeing new places and meeting new people.

It was my first time taking a tour like this. It was a great experience and fellow travelers made things even better!

Not only was this a vacation, it was a wake-up call for me to see the world!

This trip was phenomenal! I loved visiting both large and small towns, sampling the local cuisine, and meeting fellow alumni on the trip. I have made some lifelong friends and look forward to my next trip with AESU!

10/10 would recommend!

The tour was phenomenal. I felt like I got more than my money's worth. The logistics were planned perfectly. This is exactly what I dreamed of but could never plan myself.

I loved this trip! The tour was phenomenal!

I really enjoyed this tour! The mix of scheduled and free time was just right for people like myself that came in without any prior plans.

It was the most fun I’ve ever had!

This trip was the most amazing and rewarding experience!

I loved this trip! The tour was phenomenal

2024  Grad Trip

Essential Europe Grad Trip

23 days • 9 countries May 24 - June 15, 2024 • from $4,965

Watch tour video

2024  young alumni trips.

Egypt: Valley of the Kings

Land package per person in 2-share: $2,998 New tour dates: April 28 - May 5, 2024

Riviera Magic

Land package per person in 2-share: $3,298 tour dates: June 29 - July 7, 2024

Land package per person in 2-share: $2,598 Tour dates: August 31 - September 8, 2024

Azores Paradise Found

Land package per person in 2-share: $2,225 Tour dates: June 8 - 15, 2024

Flavors of Ireland

Land package per person in 2-share: $2,856 Tour dates: August 3 - 11, 2024

Peru's Inca Trail

Land package per person in 2-share: $1,998 Tour dates: October 5 - 11, 2024

Discounts & Info

The Early Bird catches the worm: Book early and snag the biggest discounts of the season.

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Loyalty Program

Thank you for traveling with us again.

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The Big Layover: A Frequent Flyer Stays Grounded When Everything Is Up in the Air

By Shelley Norton in Nov | Dec 2020 , Travel on October 29, 2020 at 11:26 am | No Comments

As told to Dorothy Guerrero

I remember exactly when I first caught the bug. Travel has always been a major part of my life, ever since my dad’s career moved our family to Singapore when I was 6 years old. With our white-blonde hair, my brother and I were an oddity when we walked down the streets. People would approach us with shy smiles wanting to touch our hair and show us off to their friends. We were welcomed with open arms and I fell in love with the richness of the culture. Since then, returning to Singapore has felt like coming home.  

Decades later, I have the best job in the world as the director of the Flying Longhorns travel program at the Texas Exes . In the five years I’ve been here, and for much of my life, my calendar has been full of circled dates, confirmation numbers, and reminders of things to pack. My career in the travel industry has meant I’m always just a few weeks or days away from a new adventure. But life in the pandemic has meant my suitcases are collecting dust in the attic and I’ve been grounded at home. In between catching up with travelers, rescheduling trips, and planning for 2022, I’m even doing things that people who tend to stay in one place get to do—like growing plants, trying new recipes, and fostering a cat. Things are different and strange and sometimes scary, but I know we’ll be on the road again soon.   

And this unexpected delay has also had another silver lining: It has given me time to think about the moments and emotions I’ve had abroad that have made me who I am. When I was 16, my dad’s job brought the family to Hawaii. During one of our summers there, I managed to get a plum spot as a youth counselor on a cruise ship sailing the Hawaiian Islands. As part of the entertainment staff, we ran a hula school for the passengers. Week after week I learned traditional dances and immersed myself in the world of hula, practicing night and day so I could master all the finer points. When I close my eyes now, I can remember the feeling of dancing in front of the crowd during our regular Thursday night performances as we floated past the backdrop of Kilauea, the most active of the five volcanoes that form the island of Hawaii, and its gleaming lava flowing into the ocean. Every Thursday night.  

After college, my first job was as a cruise director on a small ship with about 100 passengers. Since The Love Boat was popular, being a cruise director has become a sort of jokey nickname for chipper people who can handle anything. But that’s the real-life job that truly started my travel career. I did everything from managing guests’ shipboard accounts to their shore excursions, being an ideal dinner companion, and giving the farewell toast on behalf of the crew. I knew I liked to travel, but that’s when I saw it could be a career—and an extremely fulfilling life.   

I’ve also been thinking about Europe a lot as I write this in Texas’ August heat. I typically love exploring the immensely varied continent of Asia the most, but because I’ve been going to Europe two or three times a year, and often in the summer, I’m feeling the loss of it. So, let’s pretend I’m not at my laptop right now. I’m sitting at a wobbly table at a sidewalk café in Sorrento. Our group of Longhorns just toured the ruins of Pompeii for hours. My feet need a rest, and my soul needs an Aperol spritz and some homemade pasta. You can be there with me too, slipping a few sugar packets under the leg of the table while you order a glass of wine. We’ve got nowhere else to be.   

I’m an optimist. I’ve probably always been that smiling cruise director who’s excited for the day ahead. But even when I’m feeling pessimistic in this limbo of 2020, I know we’ll get back to where we were. Most of us who have had the privilege of crossing an ocean on an overnight flight recognize how life-changing a journey can be. Some of us are ready to grab our passport the moment we get the green light, many are already booked, and others want to wait and see. Things will look a little different to keep us safe, but I know the people who are working to figure it out and I trust they will make things happen. They’re my kind of people.  

Portrait of Norton, Matt Wright-Steel

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Texas Exes Custom Travel

Vacation planning, private groups, international air.

Texas Exes Custom Travel advisors have the experience, connections and resources to arrange amazing vacations.  Via an exclusive affiliation with Austin’s Departure Lounge travel agency and its status in the Virtuoso luxury travel network, we are able to provide you with complimentary upgrades, perks and amenities at nearly 1,100 top hotels and resorts worldwide, plus perks and complimentary shore excursions on more than 1,000 cruise sailings per year.  We also have special access to business and first class air deals on more than 50 airline carriers.  Those extras and values tend to cause happiness . . . glee even.

Orchestrating a trip for a private group takes skill and precision. Let us help you. Texas Exes Custom Travel has Group Travel Specialists who are great at negotiating, reserving and arranging everything. From corporate group trips or conferences to multi-generation family trips and destination weddings, we have travel advisors who can handle everything and allow you to focus on the real purpose of the getaway, whether that is group productivity or group fun, but hopefully a big dose of both.

Ready To See The World At Its Best?  That’s What We Do

Imagine a world that revolves around you.  we will., we listen & collaborate.

We listen to your dreams, expectations and preferences for your trip, and we involve you as much or as little as you want to be.  Travel research is fun for some and stressful for others.  We understand that, and you will decided how involved you want to be.

Your Schedule Is Our Schedule

Unlike traditional travel agencies of old, we are not a 9-5 business.  Want to talk in the evening or a weekend to discuss your plans?  No problem.  Our travel advisors will make the planning process fit your schedule.  Talk over a glass of wine?  Even better.

We Add Value & Happiness

We don’t charge planning fees, and we often times secure valuable upgrades and perks for our clients via our membership in the Virtuoso network.  Plus, we can steer you away from making mistakes that the Internet won’t warn you about or help you with.  

So Where Would You Like To Go?

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Ready To Let Us Put A Great Trip Together For You?

OUR TRAVEL ADVISORS

Make plans to meet with one of our talented travel advisors, who have the experience and connections to arrange fantastic vacations for you.

SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT

Schedule an appointment to meet with a travel advisor, and we’ll pick the perfect advisor who knows your destination and preferred travel providers.

OUR PARTNERS WORLDWIDE

We work with the best.  Discover our more than 2,000 preferred travel partners in the Virtuoso international network that we meet with annually.

What Type Of Traveler Are You?

Our proven travel advising process — orchestrating great vacations, 1. discover.

We get to know your travel style and preferences, using some fun visual tools and old-fashioned conversation (sometimes with wine).

Based on your input and preferences, we design trip options and present them to you with pricing for your desired travel dates.

Once you select the travel options you want, we reserve all the elements and provide you with confirmations and documents.

4. EXPERIENCE

This is the fun part.  You travel and have a great time.  We check in on you and the selected travel providers to make sure all is going well.

5. SHARE/RECAP

When you return, we talk with you about what was great and what could have been better, so we make each future trip awesome.

Le rovine dell’abbazia di San Pietro di Jumièges, Normandia, Fr

By Janice Garcia

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From our favorite swag to class rings, the Texas Exes pulled together a guide to delight any Longhorn celebrating a milestone, holiday, or simply their burnt-orange pride. Plus, these gifts give back!

New Year. New Gear. Same Purpose.

Give back with these gifts..

GET GIFTING

Commemorative Tiles

Give a gift that lasts a lifetime! Honor the Longhorn in your life with a commemorative tile and give back to the Forty Acres. The Etter-Harbin Alumni Center tile pavilion is a picturesque, on-campus testament to the proud legacy of the university’s alumni.

Life Membership

Show your Longhorn pride with our famous car decals, keytags, and license plate frames, benefits for people who love UT, exclusive sports ticket presales, access to UT resources, and more! Kit included with new Life Memberships and available for purchase by current Life Members.

Life Member Luggage Tag

Travel in style with this high-quality leather luggage tag made in the USA, debossed with Life Member logo and Texas Exes logo interior fabric.

Life Member License Plate Frame

Our specialty metal license plate frames are exclusive for current Texas Exes Life Members. Order a replacement or additional frame today. Call 1-800-369-0023 or purchase online.

$25 More info

Auto Emblem

Add a symbol of pride to your ride, and do it in style. An auto emblem is a great way to show your support.

Cade Oxidized Sterling Silver Beaded Bracelet in Burnt Orange Mix

20% of proceeds benefit the Texas Exes’ Longhorns Helping Longhorns Fund.

Kendra Scott Class Pendant Necklaces

Discover modern designs featuring Kendra Scott’s signature flair.

Pricing varies

Diploma Frames from the Texas Trees to Treasures Collection

Own a piece of the Forty Acres with an artisan frame made from wood sourced on campus.

$399+shipping

UT Official Ring

A physical reminder of your time on campus, the hard work put in to earning your degree, and the indelible impact UT has made on your life.

Shop Longhorn

Support longhorn businesses this holiday season and shop longhorn!