EF Educational Tours is a leading provider of student travel programs, specializing in educational tours designed to inspire and engage young learners. The company offers a variety of curated itineraries that focus on experiential learning, allowing students to explore new cultures and environments while participating in hands-on activities. With a commitment to safety and value, EF Educational Tours aims to make travel accessible to all students, enriching their educational experience beyond the classroom. Targeting educators, parents, and students, EF Educational Tours collaborates with subject matter experts to create immersive travel experiences that align with educational goals. Their offerings include popular tours, STEM-focused itineraries, and new travel options that cater to diverse interests and learning objectives. Through their network of experienced professionals, the company ensures that each journey is not only safe but also transformative, unlocking new potentials for students as they discover the world.
EF Educational Tours receives high praise for its well-organized trips and exceptional tour guides, with many reviewers highlighting the enriching experiences their children had during various tours. Customers frequently commend the professionalism and knowledge of the guides, noting their ability to engage both students and adults effectively.
However, some negative feedback emerges regarding specific trips, particularly concerning issues with accommodations and unexpected delays, such as a child spending 24 hours in an airport due to flight issues. Additionally, there are complaints about unclear charges and refund processes, particularly related to cruise experiences. Overall, while many people celebrate the quality of the tours and the support provided, concerns about logistics and customer service persist.
Summary generated with AI from recent reviews
Each source counts by its number of reviews. Only reviews written by people are scored.
| Source | Rating | Reviews | Weight | 6-mo | Fake risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Trustpilot Imported Trustpilot reviews | 4.4 | 1,060 | 100% | ● Medium |
Monthly average rating from reviews written by people · latest review Aug 2025.
| Month | Average | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 25 | 4.4 | 271 |
| Jul 25 | 4.4 | 729 |
| Aug 25 | 4.3 | 60 |
Share of positive (4–5★) and negative (1–2★) reviews mentioning each topic · based on the 500 most recent reviews.
“Our tour guide made all the difference”
“Greece trip -buyer beware”
Same method for every company: overall rating, legitimacy checks, the average rating of reviews mentioning each area and the 6-month trend · Travel Agencies.
| Company | Overall | Legit | Service | Value | Delivery | Trend | Reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.4 out of 5 (good) | 100 out of 100 | 4.1 out of 5 (good) | 3.1 out of 5 (fair) | 3.5 out of 5 (good) | — | 1,060 |
| 4.9 out of 5 (good) | 100 out of 100 | 5.0 out of 5 (good) | — | — | — | 1,109 | |
| 4.6 out of 5 (good) | 100 out of 100 | 4.5 out of 5 (good) | 4.6 out of 5 (good) | 4.5 out of 5 (good) | — | 1,069 | |
| 4.8 out of 5 (good) | 100 out of 100 | 4.9 out of 5 (good) | 4.6 out of 5 (good) | 5.0 out of 5 (good) | — | 1,050 | |
| 4.8 out of 5 (good) | 100 out of 100 | 4.8 out of 5 (good) | 3.4 out of 5 (fair) | — | −1% | 1,014 |
Bottom line: EF Educational Tours is #5 of 5 on overall rating in this group. On delivery, Audley Travel scores higher (5.0 vs 3.5).
500 reviews of EF Educational Tours. Filter by what matters to you.
The overall trip was great! However the only down sides were our tour guide, Lawrence, couldn’t answer some of our historical questions about places he was taking us. Along with not informing us of much to do during free time. Our bus driver was also late and going constantly much slower than the speed limit making us later to things than already. Other wise things were friendly with people we interacted with.
EF is organized and supports the tour director, group leader, and travelers' needs. My group had a grand adventure that was not free from small obstacles, but even though we had some frustrations with a hotel and a bus company, the tour director was able to navigate the issue and ensure my group got to see everything we were promised. This specific tour is a lot of walking, particularly in Rome. I would recommend asking if you can add a night either in Rome or Florence to break up the sightseeing in Rome across two days. Other than that, the free time suggestions and arrangements were excellent and engaging. My students and adult partners were thrilled to have this opportunity!
I rarely write reviews, but I feel compelled to share my terrible experience with EF on our recent trip to France. After nearly 16 hours of exhausting travel without sleep, we were immediately taken on an all-day tour with no chance to rest or freshen up. This set the tone for what would become a completely unacceptable experience. The hotel EF booked for us was absolutely horrible. It was run-down and filthy. The brown foam mattresses were so old they were cracked and cut in places, offering little comfort or hygiene. The bathrooms were dirty and poorly maintained, leaving us feeling uneasy about even using them. It was clear this hotel hadn’t been updated or properly cleaned in a very long time. Faced with such conditions, I had no choice but to search for another hotel at my own expense – costing me over $500 out of pocket. This was not what I signed up for and completely unacceptable given the price of the EF trip. As if that wasn’t enough, the food was another disappointment. We were served terrible meals and weren’t allowed to order off the menu, even though we offered to pay for any upgrades ourselves. The inflexibility and lack of care for travelers’ comfort was shocking. For a company that markets itself as a provider of enriching and seamless travel experiences, EF completely failed. I would never recommend EF to anyone and deeply regret trusting them with what was supposed to be a memorable trip.
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What an exceptional experience. I was an accompanying parent on my son's trip to SE Asia. EF did a great job keeping 22 high school students/parents/chaperones quite busy for 10 days. The trip gave everyone plenty of opportunities to experience the food, culture, history and people of each respective country. The EF guides were all knowledgable, entertaining and accommodating, and we were sad to leave each one behind as moved forward with our itinerary. My son is looking forward to participating in future EF tours.
The EF Japan tour was an excellent international travel experience for my 12-year-old son, Owen. Traveling abroad with school friends was truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—fun, unique, and deeply memorable. The itinerary was thoughtfully curated to balance cultural immersion, sightseeing, and age-appropriate adventure. The sights we visited were both special and eye-opening. Highlights included the Todaiji Buddhist Temple in Nara, Fushimi Inari, Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Nijo Castle, the Golden Pavilion, Nishijin Textile Center, a thrilling bullet train ride, Mount Komagatake via cable car, Hakone Open Air Museum, the Great Buddha of Kamakura, Hachimangu Shrine, Meiji Shinto Shrine, Asakusa Kannon Temple, and iconic shopping districts like Harajuku, Akihabara, and Shibuya. The group dinners, especially the sumo-style hot pot and karaoke night, added a fun and memorable bonding experience. While Owen has traveled to Japan before and had seen some of these sights, he found it extra special to revisit them alongside classmates, seeing everything from a new perspective. Sharing this journey with peers made all the difference. That said, we did encounter a few challenges. Two of the three hotels were quite outdated, and in one case, we were placed in smoking rooms with no non-smoking alternatives. We had to keep the sliding doors open and the air purifier running through the night. This was not ideal for a school group. Additionally, while the local guides were very knowledgeable, their heavy accents made it difficult for many of the students to follow along. At one point, my son gave up on using the headsets altogether, which was a missed learning opportunity. A special note of appreciation goes to our tour director, Steven, a Tokyo native. He was incredibly knowledgeable about Japanese culture and history and showed exceptional patience working with a large group of young students. He consistently went out of his way to make sure everyone’s needs were met and helped make the experience smooth and enjoyable for both kids and parents. Despite a couple of concerns, the overall experience was fantastic and enriching. Owen returned home with wonderful memories, greater independence, and a desire to travel again with his school in the future. We are grateful for the opportunity and would absolutely recommend this tour, with just a few improvements, to other families considering it.
While I have traveled outside of the US many times, this tour was my daughter's first international trip. The trip met the needs of both novice and experienced travelers. I would have preferred a smaller group size, but my daughter enjoyed her time with the other students and the new friendships she made. We had the opportunity to see and experience so much throught the country!
Working with EF was very easy. Questions were answered right away and there were multiple people checking in with me to make sure we were ready for a trip of a lifetime!
I recommend this tour to whomever wants to learn about Portugal and Spain. The cultural input received was outstanding. Having the Flamenco show included is definitely an A +.
Excellent communication, safety, and value for our money.
The tour was amazing. We were saw all the sights and learned about more than the history of the area. The few issues we did have had nothing to do with EF, they had to do with the hotels and the people working there. Overall I will use EF again.
Awesome tour guides bus drivers and sites and experiences visiting Japan, this was my granddaughter and I’s 4th trip with EF, priceless memories, thanks so much EF!
The trip was well planned out. Information was disseminated in a timely manner. Our daughter had a great time.
I am a parent that tagged along with my son on the High School EF tours. I think I saw him across the room at meal times (full transparency: I did not go to have quality time with him)! I will tell you that I am now booking an EF Go Ahead tour for the rest of the family. I LOVED it! The attention to detail was perfection. The kids blossomed over the course of the trip and new friendships were made. Only one out of the many hotels we stayed in was less than pristine. What I loved most was that the teens were (without complaint) exploring museums and listening to guides talk about architecture and history. Our tour guide (with the group 24/7) was the best. It was like having a traveling concierge. The reason I am now looking at future EF trips is the fact that on the itineraries are areas/towns/tours that I would never include when planning my own trip.
Good news, Bad news Our tour to Perú was absolutely phenomenal - an unforgettable adventure. Our Tour Director, Rolando Paz was amazing. The hotels, food and activities were extraordinary! So, no complaints with regard to the tour experience. I wish more of my students could have enjoyed this opportunity. Unfortunately, the model of scheduling too many trips simultaneously in a small community meant that only 4 of my students ended up going.
EF runs a first class experience for all. It is so comforting that everything is taken care of. When traveling, things will change. When things change, EF is there to make things right or give alternative experiences. Been very impressed with how EF always steps in to take care of our travelers.
Carlos, our tour director was nothing short of amazing. He truly made the trip great with helpful insight, humor, and tons of fun! It would not have been the same without him. Our schedule was packed, but we got to see so much that we would not have seen if we were traveling without EF!
My son had an incredible time in Costa Rica. I was impressed with the activities the group did and also the quality of the accommodations. Amazing work!
Our son is the quiet quiry guy who is loner who is people avoidant but his trip with EF Tours and fellow pupils opened him up. He loved all the tours and the local areas and communities he experienced. He connected with some of his fellow students & chaperones. When he arrived home he had so much to share and said many times how much he loved the trip and can’t wait to hear what the next trip is.
EF Educational Tours is a leading provider of student travel programs, specializing in educational tours designed to inspire and engage young learners. The company offers a variety of curated itineraries that focus on experiential learning, allowing students to explore new cultures and environments while participating in hands-on activities. With a commitment to safety and value, EF Educational Tours aims to make travel accessible to all students, enriching their educational experience beyond the classroom. Targeting educators, parents, and students, EF Educational Tours collaborates with subject matter experts to create immersive travel experiences that align with educational goals. Their offerings include popular tours, STEM-focused itineraries, and new travel options that cater to diverse interests and learning objectives. Through their network of experienced professionals, the company ensures that each journey is not only safe but also transformative, unlocking new potentials for students as they discover the world.
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