EF TOURS VS PASSPORTS TRAVEL
We know that there are other tour providers available. But you won’t find our combination of quality, price, customer service and attention to detail in any other company.
COMMON COMPLAINTS FROM
EF TOURS REVIEWS
Hotels outside of the city centers
Cheap and low-quality meals
Chaotic and inconvenient flight routings
Inexperienced Tour Directors
Inexperienced Sales Representatives
Punitive and inhumane cancellation penalties
Sources: Trustpilot, Yelp, Blogs
SO, WHY PASSPORTS THEN?
Better Hotels
3-or 4-star, centrally located hotels, right near the sights you came to see. With EF, you could stay up to an hour's drive away, wasting hours of sightseeing time per day! Or, you could pay a bit more to upgrade with Passports.
Better Meals
Authentic, satisfying meals at local restaurants. With EF, staying an hour away from the city often times means eating familiar American food in your hotel.
Better Flights
Preferential flight routings, getting you to your destination faster so you can enjoy the sights. No adding connections or changing flights last minute to get the cheaper deal, like with EF.
Guaranteed Prices
Once a student enrolls with EF, their individual program price will not change - but it will increase incrementally for the rest of your group! With passports, your entire group has one, simple, guaranteed price.
Exceptional Tour Directors
The best tour directors want to travel with a high-quality company like Passports because they know the group will stay in better hotels, eat better food, and simply be happier customers.
More Inclusions
passports provides better quality inclusions, and more of them. EF has on-tour "black" optionals - places your tour director will happily bring you, for a price.
Included Overseas Medical Coverage
Vital overseas health and accident insurance is included at no extra cost on all Passports tours. EF offers optional Global Travel Protection for $155.
No Adult Supplements
If you are an adult, you don't need to pay extra to join a passports tour. With EF, payees 20 or older are charged a $125 fee, plus $30 per night for double rooms.
Unsurpassed Service
You work with one expert Passports representative from start to finish, year to year. No getting shuffled between departments.
Family-Owned
Passports is family-owned and cares about every client. With huge budget companies like EF, it’s easy to get lost in the shuffle.
OUR TEACHERS LIKE US … A LOT!
WE MAKE THINGS RIGHT
WHEN THEY DON’T GO AS PLANNED
How Did Passports Handle Travel in 2022?
2022 was a challenging year. We had destination-imposed vaccine mandates (until they removed them), return tests (until the US removed it), the craziest year with air delays/cancellations, and in rare instances, Covid quarantine. So, what did we do?
Exhaustive Communication
Communication is everything! We prepared our traveling groups in advance for what would be required. We worked with participants who couldn’t/wouldn’t get vaccinated, in many cases, offering full refunds if they let us know well enough in advance. We sent lengthy, detailed country-by-country departure documents laying out covid/vaccination/mask rules so that there were no surprises. We instituted monthly status reports including updated destination requirements.Flexible Vaccination Policy
Passports exists to be the hands that make international travel possible for as many groups as possible, not to be the enforcers of vaccination policy. We made no mandates about vaccination for our tours in 2022. However, we made sure that all groups abided by the rules and regulations of the countries that they were visiting. So, in effect, we did have to make sure that our travelers were vaccinated, or at least knew the rules, prior to travel. Later in the summer, when vaccination wasn’t required throughout Europe, we consulted with the group leaders and enforced vaccines for travelers if that was what the group leader or school administration required. In summary, we support travel and we support our group leaders.Return Covid Tests
In the spring of 2022, the United States required a negative Covid test within 24 hours of return to the country. This was a particularly complicated logistics problem because our tours are often on the road on their final day and getting Covid tests for a large group of travelers in an efficient manner was not easy. Passports provided Covid tests to the groups which were completed online so that the group was minimally interrupted. We sent specially-trained representatives to assist on the testing day with the technology and testing. It was stressful. It was one of the least fun things we’ve ever done. But we were there, on the spot to make sure it all went to plan. It wasn’t always smooth, but we did it.Air Delays and Cancellations
It has been widely publicized that 2022 was a very difficult year for international air travel and Passports tours were no exception. What do you do when a group is at the airport and they find out that their flight is delayed and they’ll miss their connecting flight to Europe and will have to spend a night in Newark? We are on-call, 24-7 ready for this call. We tell the group leader exactly what to do and how to get the most out of the agent that they are talking to. We have a team at the ready to contact the airline group desk to assist in getting better flights. Sometimes this is possible, sometimes it isn’t. We assist in getting our groups accommodations if they need them. You would think that the airline would do this, but sometimes they don’t! We coordinate with overseas to move services around to minimize the amount lost on tour. In one instance, for a group that missed two days of the start of the tour, we arranged an extra two days at the end of the tour at our cost. Passports provides and pays for an overseas travel protection program for all travelers, and so if participants were out of pocket, we assisted them in getting a refund from the insurance company.Quarantine
In some instances, travelers got Covid on tour and had to quarantine. Passports had an operational team at the ready to handle this situation. Because each group provided a unique set of circumstances, the solution was not one-size-fits-all. We worked with every group to determine the best outcome for their particular situation. In every instance, Passports arranged for accommodations for the impacted participant and a chaperone. We created What’sApp chat groups with the group leader, chaperone and a Passports representative to keep the communication tight. We arranged for repeat tests until the participant was able to travel again and assisted in getting the chaperone and participant to rejoin the group. Sometimes this was by train, private transfer or a flight. Passports absorbed all costs and no participant or chaperone was out-of-pocket for quarantine expenses. Passports made all of the arrangements. We treated our quarantining participants like we would want to be treated ourselves. They stayed in in excellent hotels, in good areas and had the support of a team of people helping them through a difficult situation.
We are proud of how we supported our groups in 2022.
Please, read our TrustPilot and you can see that there is only PRAISE from our group leaders of how we handled it.
Best Refund Policy in the Industry
Passports refunds 75% until 30 days prior to departure as our default policy. Early cancellations have fixed, low cancellation penalties. We would love for you to compare our cancellation policy to our competitors. Passports acts as the best partner we can, for every traveler, on every tour. That’s our promise.
In 2020, when refunds were due, Passports paid them immediately.
Additionally, we have offers for participants to upgrade the cancellation policy to cancel for any reason to receive either 75% or 100% back, up to 2 days prior to departure, depending on the program they choose.
Full Refund for Small Groups
Worried that you might not get enough participants to make the trip viable? Passports refunds 100% for groups that don't get six paying participants.
Included Overseas Medical Coverage
Passports provides and pays for a post-departure travel protection plan that helps protect you while on your trip with coverage for trip interruption, trip delay, baggage loss, theft or delay, emergency medical expenses, evacuation, quarantine and more. To put this into real-life terms, groups that require repatriation can be reimbursed for missed tour services. Passports includes Post-Departure Travel Protection for all travelers, as part of the program cost.
Outstanding Customer Feedback Especially in 2020/2021/2022
Please compare our TrustPilot reviews to our competitors. Passports TrustPilot, EF TrustPilot, Explorica (Worldstrides) TrustPilot, ACIS TrustPilot. TrustPilot is one of the few platforms where reviews can’t be removed for a fee, so it’s the best way to tell how a company really does. Pay attention to the reviews for each company that are invited vs. verified. All of Passports reviews are either verified or organic. Not so with our competitors, where many of their positive reviews are "Invited". We’re sorry to point this out, but it’s a big deal.
TEACHER TRAINING TRIP
First time group leaders with Passports receive a free, all-inclusive trip to Europe.
This teacher training conference will provide you with an opportunity to network with other educators, learn new techniques, and gain a better understanding of how a group tour works and what to expect on a Passports tour. In addition, you will have the chance to explore the city and immerse yourself in the local culture.
FIRST CLASS TOUR SERVICES
Amazing Hotels
City-Center Hotels
Passports participants stay in centrally-located, 3-and-4 star hotels, right near the sites they came to see. With a budget company, you could stay up to an hour’s drive away! This wastes time and money and provides extra on-tour expenses. Not with Passports.
Hotel Choice
Starting in 2022, private groups of 25 or more can select their own accommodations. In the months prior to departure, Passports will present you with a dossier of prospective hotels from which to choose. A little closer to the Eiffel Tower or closer to the trendy shopping district? You really can’t go wrong. Just another Passports Plus+.
Hotel options may be limited in smaller cities or with large groups.
Authentic Cuisine
Local, Authentic, City-Center Restaurants
Passports’ nightly meal budget exceeds $25 per person. This provides complete three-course meals in local restaurants, allowing travelers to experience authentic, local cuisine at each meal.
Georgina, Larry and Julian - just a few of our AMAZING Tour Directors
Industry-Best Tour Directors
The best tour directors want to travel with a high-quality company like Passports, because they know the group will stay in better hotels, eat better food, and simply be happier customers. Most of our Tour Directors have 20+ years experience and have led hundreds of tours with Passports. Don’t take our word for it. Watch some of our Tour Director Lecture Series. They are not only travel experts but also educators, like you.
UNPARALLELED STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE
Passports vs. The Other Guys
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION FIRST
Upfront and Honest Pricing
No On-Tour Upselling
With other companies, their Tour Directors are instructed to sell additional excursions to the group while on tour. When staying outside of the city centers, a group has little choice but to purchase the extra activities, lest they want to spend their free time in the hotel. You can expect that purchasing a day trip on the spot is going to be more costly than paying in advance.
More Inclusions
With Passports, our tours are filled with INCLUDED activities and excursions that were priced into the itinerary in the beginning. Our Tour Directors are instructed NOT to provide any additional excursions unless specifically requested by a group leader. In most cases, our tours are too filled with included activities that there is no time for on-tour upselling. Additionally, due to our hotels being in the city centers, there is always plenty to do.
Ample Food - Saves $$$
Passports meal budget exceeds $20 per person per meal. This provides a three-course meal. The budget is this high to provide an authentic culinary experience, but also to provide your group with enough sustenance so that they don’t have to stop for more food after dinner. That’s an expense that decision-makers don’t often think of, but it amounts to hundreds of dollars in savings.
Included Tour Director Tip Option
Tour Directors receive tips at the end of the tour. Including the tip in the up-front tour cost saves your group from carrying around extra money overseas or being surprised with an extra expense at the end of the tour. This is just another way that Passports is honest and up-front about all expenses. You can choose to include the tip ahead of time - or not to. Passports gives you the option.
No Hidden Charges
No adult fee. With Passports, adults pay the same as students. Oftentimes adults will opt for a double room as they can’t room with students, and there is a charge for the double room. But there is no charge simply for being an adult.
No hidden airline fees. No hidden tripwire fees. With Passports, what you see is what you get.
Customer Service
One Point of Contact
Our Tour Advisors are amazing people who work with the group leaders during the pre-sale, enrollment, pre-departure, on-tour and post-tour periods. They check-in when the group is overseas. They are the point of contact throughout the entire process to assist in all phases of the tour. This is more important than you would think unless you’ve been with another company and changed hands several times in the course of the tour. The point is: trust and accountability are critical in our relationship with a group leader.
Our Promise
Passports top priority is to operate with respect for our partner schools, the travelers, the community, and ourselves. Excellent customer service is a matter of personal and organizational pride and everyone in our organization is here to work with and for you. We don’t want even one dissatisfied customer and we will work with every single school district, school, group leader, and traveler to ensure that this is the case.
If you have any questions about this, you can speak with our President, David Markle, or our Vice President, Dale Davies, who work every day with school administrators and group leaders, on a one-on-one basis. We are here for you. We will work with you.
Optional School Recruitment Reimbursement
Enroll ten participants and get $500 to cover any expenses. For every 5 paying participants thereafter, get another $250. Payments can be to the school or to the main group leader. Treat your group to an extra gelato on tour, use it have pizza at a planning meeting or post-trip photo party, or use it for a travel scholarship. It’s up to you!
REASONS TO START NOW FOR 2026
Secure Exclusive Incentives Before October 15th Deadline!
$250 Early Enrollment Discount
Your group members get $250 off for enrolling by October 15, 2024, plus more time to pay off their balances. That means lower monthly payments, bringing the cost of travel down within reach of most families.
Extra Free Trips for Group Leaders
Enroll early to earn rewards points redeemable for cool stuff. It's that easy! Teacher Rewards.
Earn a free spot on a Passports International Teacher Convention.
Enrollment Bonus for Group Leaders
Sign up 10 participants and receive $500 to cover any expenses. For every additional 5 paying participants, earn an extra $250. Payments can be made to the school or the primary group leader. Use the funds for a special gelato treat during the tour, a pizza party during a planning or post-trip photo gathering, or even as a travel scholarship. The choice is yours!
Teachers Travel Free
You earn a free spot for every 6 full-paying participants. You travel free. Chaperones travel free.
Single Room
Group leaders enjoy the perk of a complimentary single room during their stay on our tours.
Training Trip
First-time group leaders with Passports receive a free, all-inclusive training trip to Europe.
Our Bottom-Line Guarantee
We are real people trying to do something good in the world. We will work tirelessly to earn your trust and to be the best partners we can be while offering a valuable service to you and your community.