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Belize tours

Relaxing on white-sand beaches, snorkeling alongside tropical fish in barrier reefs, exploring ancient Mayan ruins—the tiny nation of Belize is sure to wow you with its nature and culture.

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What travelers are saying about their trips to Belize

Belize travel inspiration.

Find travel tips for your Belize tour, planning advice, and more from our team of travel experts!

There are so many hidden gems in Belize—from Mayan ruins that date back to 800 B.C, to the lush rainforest, to one of the biggest coral reefs on the planet, to a chocolate factory worth melting over.

Travel tips for Belize trips

If you ask anyone on our Go Ahead staff, they’ll tell you: Belize is an underrated vacation destination not just in  Latin America , but the world. There are so many hidden gems to experience in Belize. A few things you can do on Belize escorted tours, like our  A Week in Belize: Ruins, Reefs & Rainforests tour , include:

• Exploring Maya ruins that date back to 800 B.C.
• Snorkeling along one of the biggest coral reefs on the planet
• Visiting a local orange farm
• Touring a Mayan chocolate factory
• Participating in an interactive Garifuna drum lesson, a UNESCO-recognized art form

For more things to do, check out  6 hidden gems to visit on tour in Belize  →

To enjoy warm temperatures and clear skies, consider booking one of our Belize guided tours that departs between late November and mid-April, which makes up the country’s dry season. You might encounter larger crowds this time of year, but the pleasant, warm weather will more than make up for it.

Whether alongside your tour mates on a guided excursion or on your own during free time on one of our trips to Belize, here are some of the top attractions to check out on tour.

• Great Blue Hole.  One of the world’s most sought-after Scuba-diving sites, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to underwater tunnels, rock formations, and caverns—and a can’t-miss for adventurous travelers on trips to Belize.  
• Hol Chan Marine Reserve.  Wildlife enthusiasts won’t want to miss a visit to this sanctuary for stingrays, eels, sharks, and other creatures.
• Jaguar Paw Park.  Adventurous travelers on tours of Belize love visiting this spot for guided cave-tubing tours.   
• Ambergris Caye.  This 25-mile-long island off northern Belize’s coast is a popular spot for snorkelers, divers, and outdoor enthusiasts.
• The Cayo District.  Located west of Belize City, this district is home to a grouping of ancient Mayan sites, butterfly gardens, and San Ignacio, a small town that’s home to restaurants and hotels.

Trips to Belize typically include outdoor activities, so pack accordingly.

• A swimsuit.  For snorkeling, diving, sunning, and swimming at any of the beaches or reefs you might explore when you visit Belize.  
• Sun protection.  Travelers on Belize tours typically spends lots of time outside, where the sun is strong and reflects off the water. Sunglasses, hats, and sunscreen (reef-safe, ideally) are essential for all Belize trips.
• Comfortable walking shoes.  A pair of sneakers or boots will keep your feet comfortable for city strolls and rainforest walks alike.
• Light layers.  Though days in Belize can be warm, nights can be cool when sea breezes kick in. Take a light jacket, wrap, or cardigan along for boat rides and alfresco meals.
• An underwater camera.  To snap pictures of turtles, rays, and other aquatic life you spot while snorkeling or swimming.

One of the most exciting things to do on our Belize tours is trying local cuisine. Our Belize tour packages include visits to local restaurants, plus free time so you can follow your taste buds to local restaurants of your choice. Here are a few dishes to try.

• Beans and rice.  A staple of the Belizean diet, this duo is often served with lobster, shrimp, or spiced meat, plus sides like potato salad and plantains.
• Belize fruit cake.  This sweet and boozy Belizean treat is soaked in rum, packed with preserved fruit, and commonly served during holidays.
• Johnny cakes.  Made with flour and coconut milk, these small cakes are often served for breakfast or lunch, along with toppings like refried beans, cheese, and meat. 
• Seafood.  If you travel to Belize and don’t eat fresh seafood, did you really go? You can’t go wrong no matter what you order, but conch and ceviche are high up there on the must-try list of Belizean dishes.  
• Soursop.  A fruit high in healthful properties and bursting with a sweet-tart flavor, the soursop is widely available in Belize and makes for some pretty delicious ice cream.
• Belikin beer.  Though it’s not exactly a must-try food, locally made Belikin beer is a point of pride for Belizeans. It pairs equally well with spicy dishes—and spectacular sunset views. 

Home to the world’s second-longest barrier reef, and some of the most sought-after snorkel and dive sites in the world, Belize is a playground for outdoor enthusiasts and adventurers. But daredevils and adrenaline junkies aren’t the only travelers who can enjoy Belize escorted tours. Here, there’s something for travelers of all abilities and interests, from exploring Mayan ruins to spotting birds and other creatures in the country’s rainforests and reserves.

When it comes to spending money, remember that while credit cards are widely accepted, using them often comes with an extra fee. Conveniently for American travelers, both Belizean and U.S. dollars are accepted; just remember to clarify which currency prices are listed in. By law, the Belizean dollar is tied to the U.S. dollar at a fixed rate of two to one, respectively. Happy shopping!  

See the latest from our travelers @goaheadtours

Before I get into it, I wanna add a quick hello!

My name is Alex! I've been traveling with EF Ultimate Break for several years now and have done a ton of their trips. I've heard nearly every question in the book about traveling with EF, and if I don't know the answer, I'll gladly find it for you!

I've been to over half of the US states and 20+ countries and counting. I love planning my own trips when I'm not traveling with EF, so I have lots of other resources here that you're more than welcome to pick through. 

I'm a backpack die hard, coffee and craft beer lover, adventure seeker, and just here to see as much of this big beautiful world that I can!

Belize is tied for my favorite trip EVER, but it's also the most relaxed and go-with-the-flow one that I've done. This'll be my smallest trip guide, but this is because I strongly encourage you to just go check out shops and restaurants that stick out to you! Belizean people are the kindest I've ever met, and I hope you all have this same experience there!

Packing Essentials:

• Carry on or checked luggage? In short -- this is really up to you and your personal travel style. I'm a carry-on backpack only girlie, but I know not everyone loves that life! You know yourself best!

If you do check a bag, I would suggest taking precautions/keep these things in mind:

    • Keep at least 1-2 changes of clothes in your carry on bag in case of your checked luggage getting lost. I will say that on 4/6 of my group trips abroad, there was always at least one person who lost their luggage and had to wait 1-3 days for it to arrive.

    • Always keep medications and essentials in your carry on.

    • Be aware that you may have to lug your suitcase up flights upon flights of stairs, a ton of sand, and who knows what else. Nothing wrong with this, just something to keep in mind. 

• Adapter? My recommendation always is to use a universal adapter! This way, you can use and reuse in many places across many different countries without worry. I have one recommended that is a tried and true for me on my Amazon Essentials list, linked below!

• Outerwear? one very light waterproof jacket (if any jacket at all), emphasis on waterproof (not water resistant - I learned from experience that this is not the same jacket rating). Taking a jacket would be for the purpose of staying dry here, rather than staying warm. So, make sure it's light and packable! Columbia is a really good brand for waterproof jackets, and I have my favorites listed in my Amazon storefront below. 

• Do I need hiking boots? In my opinion, no. In fact, this is the one and only trip that I would actually recommend bringing a really reliable pair of sandals, and nothing else for footwear. Chacos are my lifetime choice of sandals. They're durable and good across a variety of landscapes. There’s a huge Chacos VS Tevas ongoing debate in the travel and outdoor communities, but it can be summed up, for the most part, by this: Chacos are more expensive, more durable, and have a high arch. Tevas are more affordable, may not last as long but are lighter-weight, and they’re flat footed. Buy according to YOUR foot’s comfort, not what’s “in.” Most importantly — try any sandal on and make sure they’re broken in before wearing them on a long trip! In Belize, we constantly went from sand to ocean to mud to water, etc. I would have personally been miserable in boots, or even in sneakers for that matter. 

• Things for a tropical trip? Multiple swimsuits, waterproof phone case, underwater camera (if you have one already - if not, I wouldn't say it's a "necessity"), lightweight clothing. If you carry a camera with you, you will likely want a waterproof backpack cover/bag cover, a plastic cover for your camera itself just in case, a dry bag for goods, and a waterproof jacket in case you get caught in any rain without your bag. A small dry bag may be good for any traveler to bring as well, especially for boat days and excursions. 

• Don't forget to bring mosquito repellent and reef safe sunscreen!

• General packing? For a 10 day trip, you're most likely going to want 7-9 base outfits, though you could always pack more. As a general carry on tip, I like to pack clothes that are often interchangeable as tops/bottoms. This way, you're able to mix it up if you need to re-wear anything. Another option and way of packing I like and find helpful is to pack specific for each day and plan ahead. You know you want to wear your Gymshark outfit on day x, so that outfit is already planned for you. You know you want to be comfy on the plane perhaps, so that day is done. Etc, etc, day by day. 

To list it all out, I would recommend bringing (minimum) 7-9 outfits (pants/tops combo or dresses/rompers), 3+ swimsuits (seriously! If this sounds like a lot, it is. And this is because you're likely in the water nearly everyday), 1 plastic bag or dry bag to store swimsuits during travel days, 9+ underwear and socks, toiletries, prescriptions, chargers and adapter, 1 jacket maximum, and a trusty reusable water bottle. Of those outfits, most travelers like to wear something nicer for the Welcome Mixer and the Farewell Dinner. "Nice" in this case is totally up to you! Truly, whatever you're comfortable in will be just fine. If this means a full gown, so be it. If this means jeans and a nice top, that's absolutely okay too! I will say that Belize tended to be a bit more on the casual side, at least for my group. 

Because this trip is 10 days long, I'd personally recommend packing for that full amount of time, so that there's no worry of the hassle of doing laundry. 10-11 days is right about at the max I'd pack for in full. If you're short on space in your bag, I'd suggest packing for 6-7 days worth and be sure to do laundry around your halfway point. Once you receive your list of accommodations from EFUB at 30 days prior to departure, you'll be able to check out your accommodation's website and see which ones offer laundry services. If you decide to do laundry, I recommend taking detergent sheets with you. I have a pack listed on my Amazon essentials at the end of this guide. 

Free Time Suggestions:

• Optional Add-on Excursion: San Pedro Food Tour

    This itinerary has changed quite a bit since I went on this tour in 2017, so bear with me here. We had a lot more time in San Pedro, and it was my FAVORITE place. For this reason, I would honestly skip the food tour and explore as much of the island as you can. My entire group broke off into smaller groups and rented golf carts - the main way of getting around the island! This was the absolute funnest day, and that's saying a lot because this is my overall favorite EFUB trip as it is.

    We drove around and found so many cool local spots. Honestly, I can't tell you most of the names because it was truly a "stop because we see a shop" sort of thing. I CAN tell you we had amazing ice cream, stopped at a roadside grill/food stand, found a good dinner spot where we had tables right on the sand and some of the best fish, found a big park area, and miraculously did not crash or fall off anything!

    So to reiterate, the food tour was not offered on my dates. I have also heard via other travelers that they didn't find it totally worth it for the price. I can't agree or disagree with that point, but I do say skip it for the sake of exploration in this one case (and I'm usually one to book EVERY excursion)!

• The Beach Bar & Grill (formerly Amber Beach Bar): This was our hotel's bar! It was one of my favorite stays, and was a great hang out! If you're looking for a beachside stop, I'd definitely recommend stopping!

• Secret Beach: The name speaks for itself, right? It's unbelizeable!

• Visit the Blue Hole: This one may be a stretch on your time, so be sure to discuss your options with your Tour Director beforehand. You have many options to see the Blue Hole, either from above via aviation, or right in it via snorkeling and scuba tours. 

REMINDER: Do NOT touch marine life - including corals. In addition, wear reef safe sunscreen for the duration of your trip. 

Southern Coast:

• What is the Southern Coast exactly? This part of the trip has also changed quite a bit, but a good friend of mine recently went on the updated tour and gave me all of the details. While my tour was a bit more north towards Hopkins, the current version stays closer to Placencia, Belize. This is where the larger majority of your free time will be!

• Umaya Resort is a common hotel that EFUB has recently been using, however, accommodations are always subject to change (Ultimate Plus trips also vary).

• Optional Add-on Excursion: Snorkel at Turneffe Atoll

    If you're loving the marine life, join in on a second snorkeling excursion! If you'd rather explore by land, you'll have a fully free day to do as you please. 

• Belikin Beer: If you haven't already had a few too many, be sure to try at least one! The local beer of Belize, it's a staple! 

• Book a catamaran for the day!

• Relax at the spa: your hotel will most likely have a great spa, but others are available on the peninsula as well!

Belize City:

• Is it SAFE? Belize City is known to be... not that safe. I will say that I never once felt unsafe or even unwelcome at any point in my trip with EFUB, including during our overnight in Belize City. Our Tour Director (Efrain, or EZ as he went by with us) did an amazing job of reassuring us as well as directing us to places that would allow us to make the safest choices. In our time in BC, he was with us 95% of the time, even taking us to a reputable tattoo shop. We did have dinner on our own (still in a large group), but it was very close to our hotel, and we did not stray from what Efrain suggested to us.

    I will note that there was a military/police presence in BC. This is fairly common in many countries across the world, so this is not to say it as a negative or positive aspect: it just is. I'm personally noting it so that you're aware and not surprised upon arrival. 

Okay, ONTO THE FUN:

• Stingin' Scorpio Tattoo Family: The aforementioned tattoo shop. It is family owned, the father is the main tattooer, and his daughter was his apprentice when I visited. I would assume that she has now had a lot more experience and has become a full time artist!

• Get your photo at the colorful Belize sign! You should walk by this with your entire group more than once, but in case you don't, be sure to check it out!

One Final Note:

I don't have a lot of info and tagged places on this guide, and this is because of the nature of this trip. I highly highlyyyy recommend you embrace the way of island life and taking things as they come. Stop on the side of the road at the broken building serving tacos. Buy the homemade slushy in a plastic bag from the beach vendor walking around. Just do it. Roll with the punches. 

If you're an over planner like me, I know this is soooo hard to do. I get it, trust me. But just let go and WING IT, my friends. Belize will treat you well and with love. I truly hope that this trip can impact you as much as it did for me. Stay tuned for my guide when I inevitably return to Belize. 

Save $100 below:

DISCOUNT LINK FOR ALL TRIPS | EF ULTIMATE BREAK:

DISCOUNT LINK FOR BELIZE RAINFORESTS/REEFS/RUINS:

Thank you for using my link, and make sure you get that extra $100 discount at check out! If it doesn't add automatically, please feel free to reach out to me directly, and I'm happy to help get it sorted!

You can reach me via Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok by searching my handle: @alexdeanmedia

Amazon: Travel Essentials

Here you can find all of my packing and travel essentials! I personally use almost all of these, and those that I don't use myself have been recommended to me by a variety of seasoned travelers.

Map Points List:

For more travel inspo, be sure to check out our social channels:

@alexdeanmedia across all platforms

Interested in another EF Ultimate Break trip guide?

Visit the other trips I've done here:

Mexico & Belize: Tropical Adventure

Pick your vibe: rest and rum punch? Non-stop doing stuff? Geeking out over ancient ruins? From beach days to jungle action, this trip’s got it all. Pack your SPF, your sneakers, and your spontaneity—you’re in for one gran aventura .

Picture yourself

Sunning like a mermaid on white-sand beaches

Marveling at the majesty of ancient Maya ruins

Snorkeling at the world’s second largest barrier reef

Canoeing through soaring underground caves

Gorging on tamales, fry jacks, and ceviche

What you'll get

Round-trip flights & airport transfers (or book 'em yourself)

9 nights in handpicked accommodations

9 breakfasts

An expert Tour Director

24/7 support

Entrance to Tikal National Park

¡Bienvenido a México! Paradise—sorry, Playa del Carmen—is a coastal Caribbean haven on the Yucatán Peninsula dripping with palm-lined beaches, ancient Maya ruins, nightlife for days, and traditional Mexican culture.

Today's highlights:

• Meet an EF representative and fellow travelers as they arrive at the airport.
• Transfer to your hotel to check in and check out your room.
• Enjoy a Welcome Dinner with fellow travelers at an authentic local spot.

Stroll through Playa (as the locals call it) with your Tour Director. Then bask in el sol on one of the area’s beautiful beaches for the afternoon.

• Join your Tour Director for a local tour of Playa del Carmen.
• Check out the shops, bars, street vendors, and performers on La Quinta Avenida, the city’s pedestrian-only main street.
• Laze the rest of the day away on the sand—and slather on the SPF, pls!

Rise and shine, time to ruin the day! If you’re up for it, you’ll set out for a full day tour to Chichén Itzá, where some of Mexico’s most well-preserved Maya ruins date back well over 1,500 years. If you wanna hang back, you’ve got yourself a free day in Playa del Carmen.

Experience the grandeur of Chichen Itza, home to many Maya temples including the iconic El Castillo.

Put on your adventure pants (i.e. bathing suit) for a morning visit to El Cenote Abierto, a beautiful natural swimming hole near Playa del Carmen. Then it’s on to Tulum’s Mayan ruins before finishing the day in the southern Quintana Roo region.

• Snorkel and swim your heart out at El Cenote Abierto.
• Marvel at one of the most famous archaeological zones in Mexico.
• Continue on to the southern Quintana Roo region for an overnight.

Remember the lazy water-park rivers of your childhood? Yeah, this is not that. Spend the AM floating through the turquoise waters of Los Rapidos. Then cross another country off your bucket list—you’re headed to Belize, a.k.a the Jewel.

• Laze the morning away at Los Rapidos, a narrow freshwater channel of Bacalar Lagoon that’s flanked by rare mangroves.
• Wave goodbye to Mexico as you board a water taxi bound for the isle of Caye Caulker off the coast of Belize.
• Breathe in the salty air as you approach the island’s brightly painted buildings. Tomorrow, we snorkel.
• Enjoy an included dinner with your group.

Make an expedition to the warm waters of Hol Chan off Ambergris Caye for an AM snorkel sesh with a local guide. And don’t worry, everyone looks funny in goggles.

• Glide by the colorful coral formations Belize is known for as you snorkel through the world’s second largest barrier reef.
• See turtles, nurse sharks, sting rays, jacks, tarpon, and many other marine species you've prob only seen on the Discovery Channel.

Free time suggestions

The Split: Formed by Hurricane Hattie in 1961, this quirky geological accident is a popular spot to people watch, paddleboard, or play cornhole at the Lazy Lizard.

Beach it: “Ugh, more beaches” said no one ever. Grab a book, download a podcast, order a rum punch, and plop yourself down on the golden sand.

Trade easy, breezy island life for the inner-Belize region of Cayo, the country’s largest district, known for wildlife, national parks, and—oh look, more spectacular Maya ruins!

• Get one last look at Caye Caulker from your ferry to Belize City, where you’ll board a westbound bus.
• Watch from the window as the landscape shifts from coast to rainforest. Welcome to the jungle.

Belizean cuisine: The food in Belize is kinda like Mexican, with a unique twist from Mayan, Garifuna, Kriol, and other cultures. Try ceviche, conch fritters, fry jacks, whatever looks tasty!

Tikal, Guatemala, once rivaled ancient Rome in size and splendor. Today you’ll explore its impressive Maya temples, ball courts, and the many excavated buildings that housed over 100,000 people.

• Wake up to the sounds of the Belizean rainforest.
• Collect another passport stamp as you enter Guatemala.
• Join a local guide for a tour of Tikal’s six magnificent ancient pyramids.
• Fuel up with an included lunch—much needed after climbing 221 feet to the top of Temple IV.

Your last day in Belize is an epic one. If exploring the cathedral-esque splendor of Barton Creek Cave isn’t enough, you’ll also hike to a massive waterfall in the middle of the jungle. Casual.

• Catch a power nap on a quick bus ride to Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve.
• Canoe through Barton Creek Cave, a subterranean wonder once used for ceremonial Maya rituals.
• After an included lunch, hike through the rainforest to the magnificent 150-foot flume of Big Rock Falls.
• Share some laughs (and maybe shed a few tears) at an included Farewell Dinner with your group.

¡Adiós amigos! Translation: Goodbye, friends! Your next destination awaits—home. But this isn’t goodbye. It’s “See you later.” The only question is, where?

A hidden Gem. Book this trip!

An un-Belize-able Adventure!

This trip was amazing! Getting to check off 3 countries and a World Wonder was incredible. The local guides were all fantastic and our tour director, Dinziel, was phenomenal. This trip included snorkeling with sharks, ziplining through the jungle, climbing Mayan temples, going tubing in a cave, and swimming in several cenote's. I will never forget this exper... See more

Very Outstanding and Mesmerizing!

It was my first tropical vacation and I got to say I was not disappointed. There is a lot of nature to be discovered and very active! If you like nature’s beauty and very active, this one is definitely worth it. I loved the caves and beaches and the jungle altogether. Something to get away from the city. Our Tour director Roberto was so nice and outgoing! He... See more

Best trip ever!

This trip was amazing!! Our tour director Roberto was the best ever! He made this trip the best trip I’ve ever taking. Mexico and Belize was just so much fun! You get the eat and drink so many yummy things!!! The activities are so much fun!! Like the cenotes and caves!!! You should definitely do this tour! You won’t regret it!

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Date of experience : April 23, 2024

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Excellent tour overall, tour guides were kind and accommodating. I enjoyed the bus and the places we saw. I'd have liked a little more free time and less rush, though. Hotels were decent, similar to American ones, averaging eighty to one hundred dollars per night. In one of the hotels, the shower water was freezing cold and had absolutely ZERO hot water. A friend of mine said his room's shower didn't even work. Food was also excellent and our tour guides were good at recommending places to go. The only issue, which didn't affect me, but other group members, including chaperones, was our tour bus driver left the bus's doors open - and we were in the center of Rome. So, people seized the opportunity to take at least ten other kids' plus four chaperones' backpacks and belongings on the bus which included very valuable things, totalling upwards of five thousand dollars. While I understand that it wasn't the most wise decision to leave this on this bus, our bus driver/tour guide should have been more cautious. When we went to the police station to report this, they were closed! I understand this particularly wasn't EF's fault. However, the tour overall was very good.

Date of experience : April 02, 2024

Adventures Beyond the Horizon

Exploring Portugal, Spain, and France offered me and the students that I traveled with a transformative journey blending cultural immersion, adventure, and relaxation in equal measure. This was my first time traveling abroad and our EF Tour Director, Pablo, was amazing! He took the time to research every city, every place that we visited and was always on time. Whenever we had an issue, he was there to help us every step of the way. From a hotel/lunch inconvenience, Pablo and the EF team, were able to better accommodate us. Each destination was truly a wealth of experiences to enrich the mind, body, and soul. I wholeheartedly recommend this captivating itinerary for teachers, counselors, students and families seeking to create cherished memories and deepen their bonds through the magic of travel.

Date of experience : April 05, 2024

Education First with Multi-Lingual Guides

This trip was an amazing experience due in part to the knowledge and expertise of the EF Tour Guides. It was amazing to see Daniel and Lidija slip into different languages seamlessly at every stop. Our biggest critique was that the entry into Switzerland gave us no time to recover from the plane ride over. We were falling asleep in a café and church while we had over 2 hours to explore before heading to the hotel.

Date of experience : April 18, 2024

This was on the best trips I have ever…

This was on the best trips I have ever been on!Everyone was so respectful and welcoming.It was also beautifully planned out and I would definitely go again if I am ever given the chance!

Date of experience : May 02, 2024

My daughter had a great time in France.

My daughter had a great time on her France trip with Madame Chauvet-Martin. She always wanted to visit Paris, and also visited Strasbourg, Dijon & Lyon. The pictures and videos shared and all of the wonderful stories - she really enjoyed this experience. It was even an opportunity to make new friendships with others whom she may never have spoken to at school. She did wish for more time to shop. This travel experience without a parent or family did give her a sense of appreciation and maturity.

Date of experience : March 30, 2024

My daughter attended a school hosted…

My daughter attended a school hosted trip to Dominican Republic. She had a wonderful time! I felt that the trip was affordable and appreciated every aspect being planned and taken care of for me. Meals were included. They were "teenager" friendly; however, my daughter said she would have like to try authentic DR cuisine. They had a tour guide that stayed with them and he made sure the group was safe and comfortable. One of the hotel rooms they stayed at wasn't very clean, a change was made so that the students had a healthier room to sleep in. I would recommend EF Tours and will be happy to attend a future trip led by them.

Date of experience : April 15, 2024

Reply from EF Educational Tours

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. Reviews like yours help us to pinpoint where we can improve. We are glad your daughter was able to enjoy the Dominican Republic. Safe travels!

EF Tours Refund and Eligibility Issue: Unprofessional Experience

One of the worst and most unprofessional experiences I have ever had. My daughter goes to school in Boca Raton, and a few months before her trip to Japan, EF Tours offered a trip to Iceland. At the time we applied, my daughter was eligible, as we had received an offer. However, after she returned from the Japan trip, she was no longer eligible. I had already paid $350 towards the Iceland excursion, which my daughter could no longer attend. I called EF Tours customer service and kindly asked for my $350 back. They told me that I could not get a refund but could put the money towards another excursion, which I was willing to do. However, when I inquired about not wanting to send my daughter on any excursion, they said they would take the $350 as a cancellation fee and waive any other cancellation fees in advance. I was extremely disappointed that she was eligible earlier and now was not, and I could not get my money back. Instead, they charged me the money as a cancellation fee for something we couldn't use. It felt shady, unprofessional, and greedy. After I tried to resolve the issue, they blamed the school and said it was the school's fault. They advised me to reach out to the school chaperone to discuss my refund. I hesitated before sending my daughter on the excursion due to the bad reviews about the company. While my daughter had a great time, the incident and the company's unwillingness to help mean I will never use EF Tours services again.

Date of experience : May 16, 2024

The Japan Trip is my favorite

The Japan Trip is my favorite. We had a large group but the experience was amazing. Our tour guide was amazing and really delivered!I still can’t stop thinking about the trip!

Date of experience : April 11, 2024

Amazing! We're glad your student enjoyed their tour abroad with their classmates. Thank you for taking the time to share your experience and for being part of the EF Tours family!

Daughter’s Italy trip

My daughter recently went on the Italy tour with her high school and had an amazing time . She said she felt safe and the tour guides were so good and she learned a lot from them . Everything seemed to go seamlessly and that was a great relief for me . Thank you so much for giving her this once in a lifetime opportunity!!

Date of experience : April 28, 2024

Fun and Educational European School Trip

My kid had one in a life time experience traveled abroad with her peers from school using EF Tour. It’s exciting, educational and an eye opener. She learned a lot about the country and the places she had visited. Something that totally different seeing and experience it in person than reading a book or seeing it from social media. It totally gave her a new perspective about the countries. English First Tour had made an awesome itinerary for the school to get the most from their 10 days trip to Europe. They had fun and informative Tour Director who know how to entertain and engage with the teenagers . It’s a wholesome adventure from visiting palaces and castles, seeing beautiful arts and architectural buildings, classical movie spot, learning Waltz dance from the country of origin and to see in person where was Mozart hometown not to mention to visit Dachau Concentration Camp, and enjoying beautiful scenery of famous Elps Mountain and many many more. It’s awesome and worth it . I’m glad that my kid got a chance to join this school trip. She was having a blast to visit Austria, Germany and Switzerland. It’s such a great and wonderful memory.

Date of experience : May 07, 2024

Thank you for your fantastic review! We take immense pride in our professionalism, organization, and friendliness. Ensuring the safety and well-being of our students is our utmost priority, and we’re thrilled to hear that it contributed to a great tour experience. Your kind words mean a lot to us, and we look forward to welcoming you and your students back for more memorable adventures!

The guides were incredible and made…

The guides were incredible and made sure that everyone was getting to exeperience all the countries had to offer. Fabian, Gabo, Antony and and our bus driver Javier were kind, friendly and really wanted to make each person have the absolute best trip. They encouraged to try everything even if people were nervous or scared, and the trip was perfect!! I loved everything about this trip to the Galapagos Islands and Ecuador. Some day I hope to return again.

Date of experience : April 30, 2024

Thank you so much for sharing your kind words! We're glad you had a great time on tour. We hope to see you on another tour again soon!

France and Spain

The tour guide, Sonia, was absolutely amazing. She gave her all and made everyone feel comfortable, safe and awesome! The vibes of the whole trip were high, places were all engaging and interactive. Never a dull moment.

Date of experience : April 20, 2024

A trip to never forget! Everything ran smoothly, all the activities were engaging, and our tour guides were incredible.

Date of experience : April 06, 2024

Poor logistic. Money wasted.

The logistic could have done better with the good money with paid. Hotels were far away from cities, smalls with few accommodations; just comparable with Super8 here in the States. My daughter (16yo) shared bed with a friend from class at the 3 hotels, which was not my favorite idea of a trip abroad and was very uncomfortable not to mention awkward and inappropriate. Restaurants were around low quality and no options offered. My daughter was hungry all the time and had to spend extra money to feed herself the 9 days the trip lasted. Not easy either to get food as they stayed in the not safest neighborhoods in England and France. This was the most dreamt trip for my daughter and ended up being a disappointment.I would not recommend traveling with EF educational trips, at least I would not pay thousands of dollars for such bad experience.

Date of experience : May 04, 2024

We're sorry to hear about your disappointment with the logistics of the trip. Sharing beds is standard practice across group tours, but we do offer an option to upgrade to have your own bed if requested prior to the tour. Additionally, we choose hotels based on various factors, including capacity for the number of travelers and accessibility for our tour buses, which may result in hotels being located outside of city centers at times. Regarding the food options, we strive to provide a variety of dining experiences that showcase local cuisine and familiar dishes. We'll review your feedback with our restaurant partners to ensure that future meals meet our standards. We understand the importance of feeling safe and comfortable during the trip, and we apologize if the neighborhood locations didn't meet your expectations. Your feedback is valuable to us, and we'll use it to improve our future tours. If you have any further concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out.

South Africa, best educational tour ever

EF tours provides the best educational tours for students and families. My trip to South Africa was outstanding. My students and parents learned about the History of the country, the culture, the food and most import the nice local South Africans. Our stay in Johansburg and Cape Town was amazing. The hotel, the bus, the tour director, the tour Guides, the activities, the museums, the Safari and the food were excellent. Our trip was highly organized and we learned a lot about the country. It was very educational. We visited Nelson Mandela’s house and prison cell, the City of Soweto, several museums and the courthouse. Patricia was an excellent tour director and made our tour fun. I highly recommend EF tours and this trip to all educators and students. Try it!

Two for Two! EF Tours is Excellent!

Each of my children have now gone on an EF Tour - one in middle school and one in high school. Both experiences have been fantastic. EF does an excellent job outlining the timeline, providing appropriate and timely reminders, and the onsite tour guides have been excellent at their jobs, friendly and memorable. I would wholeheartedly recommend them and plan on taking more trips with them in the future.

Date of experience : April 29, 2024

Great communication and good people…

Representative (Millie) has been super helpful with all of my questions. She was easy to get a hold of and I have great interactions with her. Some of the information was hard to find at first but once I found it I was good to go. Having all the information in the same spot was helpful.

Date of experience : May 06, 2024

Memorable Experience

My son's trip to Costa Rica made such a huge impression on him. The activities were well thought out and the exposure to the local culture made lasting memories.

Date of experience : May 03, 2024

Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience with us! We’re thrilled to hear that EF Tours had a positive impact on your son. Connecting with fellow travelers, immersing yourself in different cultures, and discovering history—that’s what it’s all about! Safe travels, and we hope to see them on another tour soon!

I didn’t find some of the places they…

I didn’t find some of the places they were taken to eat were acceptable. A truck stop shouldn’t be a place they buy dinner at or taking them to a restaurant that told them they didn’t have money to buy hamburger buns. At one of the hotels some big bite him all over his arm.

We apologize if some of the dining experiences during the trip didn't meet your expectations. Sometimes, our food stops are more appropriate for travel days, similar to a road trip stop, but we understand that you may have had different expectations. Additionally, we're sorry to hear about the incident with the bedbugs at one of the hotels. We take cleanliness and safety very seriously, and we'll follow up with our hotel partners to address this issue. Your feedback is important to us, and we'll use it to improve our future tours. If you have any further concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out.