Shopping for travel programs online doesn't have to be sketchy!
Don't get scammed by illegitimate travel programs. Shopping for travel abroad programs is a multifaceted endeavor: You want to find something fun and (more importantly) fulfilling, but you want to avoid scams and wastes of time. With so many options out there between providers, programs, and locations, what should be an exciting research process can quickly turn into a daunting task that you can’t quite figure out how to tackle.
Luckily, it doesn’t have to be that way! If you know what to look for, you’ll be able to quickly weed out the bad apples from the legit travel programs abroad worth your time and effort. Simple actions such as reading reviews and contacting past program participants can go a long way and ultimately save you from a world of trouble.
We’ve created a breakdown of four steps for finding travel abroad programs (and avoiding common travel scams) that you should be taking during your research process. Once you’ve got the steps down, you’ll be a pro at distinguishing between the heroes and zeroes in no time!
Download the 4 Steps to Confirm a Program’s Legitimacy Now
4 steps to verify travel abroad programs
1. Read reviews
An easy way to check the legitimacy of travel programs abroad is by reading program reviews—so simple, but so helpful! Reading reviews is absolutely the best way to know what the deal is with the programs you’re interested in, and the most basic way to find reputable travel abroad programs. There are a few factors in reviews that are especially important:
What is the overall rating?
Is the overall rating of the program over a 7? If so, great! If not, that could be a definite red flag, and an indicator that more than a few people had a poor experience with that particular program. When it comes to meaningful travel abroad and avoiding travel abroad program scams, we recommend shooting for higher than mediocre!
When was the most recent review?
Check review dates to make sure they were left in the last year at minimum.
While choosing legit travel programs abroad and reading reviews, check to see if any reviews have been posted within the last year. If not, that’s another major red flag. It could mean that the program is no longer being offered, that the operation went bankrupt, or that the entire office has been abducted by aliens (probably not….but maybe).
Is there a range of experiences represented?
Do the reviews for your chosen travel program provide evidence of a good mix of experiences? If every review is vague, or says the exact same thing about the program, it could be an indicator that the reviews are not genuine (writing fake positive reviews is one of the most common travel scams run by dishonest companies in order to drum up business). Lack of a mix of experiences could also be an indicator that the program is suuuuuper boring.
How does the organization respond to negative reviews?
If there are any, check to see how the organization responds to negative reviews. Rude, defensive replies are not ideal—you don’t want to get mixed up with a company or organization that is bad at handling criticism, as it could be an indicator that management is unprofessional. When it comes to legit travel programs abroad, honest and gracious is what you should be on the lookout for.
Responding to critical reviews shows tact, transparency, and goodwill. Give providers the benefit of the doubt when they genuinely respond to participant concerns.
2. Submit an inquiry
So the reviews look good? Hallelujah! You’ll still have to dig a bit deeper to make sure you don’t get scammed by travel programs abroad—a general summary of the program and positive reviews only show you one part of the travel abroad programs picture! The next step will be to submit an inquiry.
Request more information
Requesting more information from travel abroad programs that you are interested in is easy to do. Most of the time, there will be a link on the webpage for the program, or a button to click at the top of the provider’s website. Usually, you’ll have a choice between receiving more information via email or post. We love a good brochure!
Prompt responses rule!
How long does it take the organization to respond?
Being ghosted is a part of life, but being ignored by your potential travel abroad program provider is bad news. The best providers will respond to you via email within 24 hours, and if you request a paper brochure, it should take no longer than five business days to reach your mailbox. If you’re receiving less attention than that, we recommend cutting that organization from the running. Adios!
Is the organization’s response professional?
Responses to your inquiries should not only be professional, they should be helpful as well. Additional resources and recommendations, or a request to chat via phone call/Skype should be a part of the organization’s follow-up to your inquiry, and any additional questions you may have should be answered promptly and accurately.
3. Give them a call
Your mom might still be calling to make appointments for you, but this is a phone conversation you’ll have to handle on your own. Fortunately, the conversation shouldn’t be anything short of awesome! Plus, getting in touch directly will help you avoid common travel scams and efficiently find the good guys of travel programs abroad.
Who answers the phone?
When following up with a travel program organization via phone, pay attention to who answers your phone call. If it’s an answering machine or answering service, that’s not necessarily a red flag, but it also shouldn’t be difficult to get in touch with a real live human being. After all, a pre-recorded message isn’t going to be able to tell you if your host family’s flat has WiFi or not.
Hello, it's me.
How do they answer the phone?
Talking to a friendly voice who can accurately direct your call is crucial, since it’s a big indicator of how the company or organization operates overall. If someone rude picks up the phone and can’t give you the information you need, do you really want to put your travel fate in their hands?
Who are you talking to?
You should absolutely, positively be directed to a program advisor when reaching out to travel program organizations. Acting as first contact, program advisors are the people who will help organize your entire trip for you, and give you advice on visas, accommodation, transport, and all other logistics. If you don’t talk to a friendly, helpful advisor, you run the risk of missing out on important information that you may need later on.
Do they give you more information?
Program advisors should be more than salespeople. Most of the time, part of their job will be talking up the program and trying to convince you to do it, so make sure to look beyond that. Are they helpful outside of trying to sell you something? Are they quick to give you the information you’re looking for, especially when it comes to program fees? Do they seem keen to help you with the steps that come after paying your deposit? If you want to avoid travel abroad program scams, make sure to choose a program that sees you as more than just a bank account.
4. Get in touch with past participants
Reading reviews and speaking directly with travel program providers will shed a lot of light on what you’re getting yourself into, but you may still be missing parts of the story. One surefire way to get all the dirty details and easily check the legitimacy of travel programs abroad? Getting in touch with past program participants.
Talk to past participants to get the inside scoop.
Does the program put you in touch with alumni?
If your chosen program puts you in touch with alumni, that’s a homerun! This means that they have previous participants who are willing to vouch for them, and that’s definitely a good sign.
Do alumni respond to your calls and emails?
Program alumni may be quite busy with work and their own day-to-day lives, so don’t freak out if you’re not promptly hearing back from them. If it’s been more than a week with no response, feel free to send a follow-up email or leave another message.
Do they give you a realistic picture of the program?
If alumni are willing to speak with current program participants, it goes without saying that they most likely enjoyed their experience. They will surely be talking up the program and all the cool things it has to offer you, but make sure to dig deeper than the frilly face value. Ask questions about whether or not they felt safe, if they have any regrets, or if you can do anything to improve upon the experience.
Did they love it?
Of course they did, and you will too! Isn’t networking fun?
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All of the above seems like a lot to consider, but if you take all the necessary steps for finding travel abroad programs, ask all the right questions, and remain patient, there is no reason why you shouldn’t find a travel program that is worth your time and money.
The reality is, while there are a lot of really great people in the world, there are some rotten apples in the bunch, too. It's up to you to take your due diligence and research seriously, to gather as much information as possible, and to follow through with the steps outlined in our checklist for checking the legitimacy of a program abroad. Then, and only then, will you be able to travel meaningfully with confidence. We know your dream program is out there—you just have to find it. Bon voyage!
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