High School Study Abroad in Interlaken, Switzerland

Best month of my life, by far. The only word I can think of to describe this past summer is “unreal”. Nothing can compare to sipping tea at Kensington Palace, climbing the Arc de Triomphe and eating pastries atop the Eiffel Tower, sailing down Amsterdam's canals, visiting a giant German castle overlooking a stunning alpine lake, paragliding and whitewater rafting in the Swiss Alps, having brunch in a rotating restaurant on top of a nearly 3,000-meter-tall mountain, negotiating at an Italian leather market, relaxing at a gorgeous villa on a winery, exploring the Roman Colosseum, hiking in the beautiful Cinque Terre, swimming in the crystal-clear waters of the French Riviera, and partaking in a Spanish Tapas Masterchef-esque tournament, all within a month. This is just a small taste of what this trip has to offer. The amount of meaningful memories I’ve made is endless. I met new friends, tried new foods, experienced SO many things for the first time, and had an absolutely surreal amount of fun. 10/10 across the board.

My summer with TFT is one that I will never forget! I was super nervous to travel with people I didn't know, but the kids I went with were absolutely amazing. The counselors did fun games with us to get to know each other. By the time we felt Europe all of us were sad because we had to leave our friends. Overall an amazing experience, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking to travel.

This past summer I got to travel through Europe. We started in Florence where we explored magnificent art museums and got a feel for the Italian city life. Next we hopped on the train to Monterosso. Here we hiked the Amafi Coast and got to make our own pesto. Our next stop was Interlaken, Switzerland where we got an adrenaline with paragliding. We also filled up on fondue and chocolate! Our adventure ended in Paris, France. We got a beautiful view of the city from the top of the Eiffel Tower. For dinner I tried escargot and rabbit! One day we got to tour the city via bike and even got to see the Mona Lisa up close! This trip has been such an amazing experience and I have made life long friends. If I had the chance to do it again I would.

My experience traveling with TFT was nothing but extraordinary. In the summer of 2017 I set off, by myself for the first time, to travel abroad in Europe. Not only did Travel for Teens place me in a group with amazing people that I grew to be very close with, but I was guided through this trip with knowledgeable group leaders who cared about giving us the best experience possible. Through TFT I was able to visit the countries of Italy, Switzerland, and Paris. Each day was jam packed full of different activities including museums, hiking, eating delicious local cuisine, and creating new relationships with my group. My leaders, Taylor and Holden, knew facts regarding each area we ventured to, which made the trip so much more interesting and thoughtful. My favorite part about this trip, and the TFT company as a whole, was that travel, accommodation, and each experience was local and unique. We never loaded onto a tour bus, did not wait in long lines, stand in big crowds, or follow someone with a giant sign to each destination. Travel for Teens was personal, giving chief importance to an authentic experience abroad. I felt so secure with my team throughout the whole trip, with each activity being very well researched and planned, so there was never any confusion or worry. It was through this safe environment I was able to experience the true beauty of travel, which has inspired me to go out of my comfort zone, not to be timid, but to run towards any new opportunity in my life with an open mind!

My experience going on an adventure with Travel For Teens was incredible and unforgettable. Last summer, I went on the two week trip to Florence, Cinque Terre, Switzerland and Paris with Older Teens. My trip had a rough start, since I did not go on the group flight, and my flight missed a connection in Portugal. I was scared that I would be missing out on activities and that it would be difficult to make friends if I joined the trip after it started. It was such a relief when I finally arrived in Florence and was greeted by my counselor Mike at the airport. He made me feel comfortable right away. It turned out that multiple people on my trip had problems with flights and TFT was able to keep track of everyone and collect them one by one from the airport. Once I got over the sleep deprivation from the long overnight flight, all of my worries went away and I had the best time travelling around Europe with people from all over the country, none of whom I had met before yet all of whom I became friends with. From Italy to Switzerland to France, we saw all of the famous sites and tried all of the amazing food. Just a few of the memorable experiences included learning how to make delicious homemade pesto in Cinque Terre, sampling fondue in Interlaken, paragliding through the Alps, and climbing up the Eiffel Tower in Paris. I must have taken over two thousand pictures over the span of the trip, and I look at them all the time to keep the memories of the trip intact and to put a smile on my face. I had the best summer of my life, and I couldn’t have done it without TFT.

For all four years of high school, it was my dream to go on a Travel for Teens Trip. After begging my parents and working for a majority of my senior year, my parents allowed me to go on a trip right before I went off to college. I was so nervous leading up to it, as I had never been on a flight alone and I didn't know anyone else going on the trip, but as soon as I landed in JFK and met the people on my trip, my anxiety disappeared. I met some of my best friends on this trip that I still talk to on a daily basis months later even though we are across the country from each other. The itinerary that was planned enabled me to push myself out of my comfort zone and face my fears through things such as canyoning in the rivers Switzerland, paragliding over the Swiss Alps, and hiking through the trails through the cities of Cinque Terre. I am so thankful that I was able to go on a Travel for Teens trip as it not only prepared me to live on my own in college, but it made me so much more confident and sure of myself. I recommend going on a Travel for Teens trip to people of any age but especially older teens about to go off to college because it will change your life and make your transition to college much smoother and easier.

I have been so fortunate to experience two unbelievable TFT trips, including TFT Older Teens: Florence, Cinque Terre, Switzerland and Paris. I have visited destinations in Europe that were so beautiful that words cannot describe it. Through these trips I have gained many stories that I look forward to sharing, I have gained confidence in myself to be independent, and I have tasted food that can only be dreamt about. I was able to go paragliding through the Swiss Alps, go canyoning in Slovenia, island hopping in Croatia, visit the Louvre, and climb the Eiffel Tower. The opportunities that were provided through TFT were amazing and I would recommend any of their trips because you will have a once in a lifetime experience.

This trip was one of the best weeks of my life. The cities we visited were beautiful and the itinerary had a perfect balance of learning and adventure. There is a mix of activities from visiting museums, trying new foods, going paragliding, hiking, sight seeing, and the list goes on. There is a great amount of time to break off from the group (obviously within a certain area and are still close by to staff) and explore the city, eat, shop, and more. I created lifelong friends on this trip who I still stay in touch with. The staff is amazing; they are well trained, they know what they are doing, and are seen not only as staff but another friend made on the trip. They always make sure we are safe but still having fun. This trip is something I will never forget and is an amazing choice!

To see all these countries in the span of a couple weeks is amazing. This allowed me to be more immersed in the culture, relax, and have a good time. The cooking classes were a blast, and even though it was only my second time with the company I instantly felt at home with my group. Being a Counselor In Training for TFT is fun and gives you the opportunity to meet new people, enjoy great cuisine, and see awesome sights around the world. Every day of my trip was a once in a lifetime adventure that just kept getting better. This is a chance to explore some of the coolest, most diverse spots in Europe. The Alps, London, Rome, Barcelona, the south of France, and a chocolate factory in Paris were a few of the highlights for me. And seeing the cities firsthand with a local guide, good friends, and one of a kind counselors is so rewarding. I could not have asked for a more special treat because each stop is incredible and filled with excitement. Thank you Travel For Teens you have made a trip I will never forget.

This past summer, I had the pleasure of going on TFT’s Ultimate Europe 30 days trip. For some, 30 days can feel like a lifetime away from home. Yet, the environment I experienced with my counselors and fellow participants became my new home. There was never a dull moment and every minute was spent experiencing the world around us and making it our own personal adventure. From surprise trips to Disneyland Paris to canyoning in Interlaken, I broke out of my comfort zone so many times that I lost count. I not only returned as a more self-actualized young adult but am able to articulate what I want in my own life: new experiences, adventures, and friends to last a lifetime, the true Travel for Teens experience.

I went on this trip as a graduating senior and it honestly changed my life! I made so many incredible memories with people who were recently complete strangers. After coming back, I realized how important travel is to me in my life and I've decided to attend college in Paris! I would never have the guts to do this without Travel for Teens. On the trip, I ate the best food, saw the most incredible views, and met some of the best people I will ever meet. The staff is easily the best compared to any other student travel company I've ever traveled with. They were so qualified and made everything so easy; I never felt unsafe or unsure whether they knew what they were doing. If you are looking for a trip with the best staff, most amazing kids, and most beautiful destinations, you will not be disappointed with Travel for Teens! I can't wait for my next trip!