For most programs, you can register in four easy ways:

• Register online at www.worldstrides.org/register.
• Contact our Customer Service Department at 1-800-468-5899. For participants traveling from Mexico, please call 001-866-458-8838.
• Fax the front and back of the Registration Form with your credit card information to 434-982-8748.
• Complete and return your Registration Form (attached to the letter given by the Program Leader of your child's program) to WorldStrides by mail to P.O. Box 9033, Charlottesville, VA 22911.

Account changes must be submitted in writing by the Responsible Party, or they can be made by logging into your MyTrip account, click MyAccount, and then click Update.

There is always a chance that space may still be available, and there is no risk to register if you are placed on a waitlist. For faster service, register online at www.worldstrides.org/register or call Customer Service toll-free at 1-800-468-5899. For participants traveling from Mexico, please call 001-866-458-8838. Otherwise, please contact your Program Leader for a paper Registration Form. We will do our best to accommodate you. If you register after the final payment deadline: (1) full payment is required with your registration, and (2) your child is automatically placed on a waitlist until it is determined whether a bus seat and/or airline seat can be secured. In the rare instance space does not become available, you will receive a full refund. If your child registers after the group's final payment deadline, a late registration fee (10% of the trip cost or a minimum of $30) will be added to the base trip price.

Waitlist status is indicated on all invoices and on your MyTrip account.

The Program Leader makes the decision as to whether parents may participate. All adults are automatically assigned to a double room. There is an additional cost for adults depending on the number of program participants per room. To ensure a quality educational experience for the students, some sites have strict student-to-adult ratios. Please ask your Program Leader for specific details.

• 5% of base trip price* per person for a quad (four to a room). This applies to Florida science programs only.
• 10% of base trip price* per person for a triple (three to a room).
• 15% of base trip price* per person for a double (two to a room).
• 30% of base trip price* per person for a single (one to a room).

• 5% of base trip price per person for a quad  (four to a room).
• 10% of base trip price* per person for a double or triple (two or three to a room).
• 25% of the base trip price per person for a single (one to a room).

• All participants are automatically registered two to a room. If WorldStrides is unable to accommodate adults in a double room because of group configuration and/or hotel availability, adults are then required to pay a 25% single-room supplement of base trip price.

*Base trip price=base trip price as stated in the Registration Letter or as revised per the Program Leader and his or her Account Manager, plus room upgrades/downgrades, group adjustments, personal baggage charges, energy fuel surcharges, or any additional charges or fees stated in the terms and conditions.

Please speak with your Program Leader, as he or she chooses the chaperones for the program.

Please contact your Program Leader to find out if your child can still travel with the group.

Yes. WorldStrides welcomes disabled participants and makes every effort to accommodate the student’s needs. Please have the Program Leader contact his or her Account Manager regarding any special needs so we may take care of the necessary arrangements.

Due to the nature of group travel, we are unable to offer land-only packages. Our programs are purchased as an all-inclusive package for group travel only. We do not offer individual arrangements.

The group leader, referred to as the Program Leader, is most often a teacher at your child’s school. The Program Leader is supported by other chaperones as needed, usually either parents or other teachers at the school. Please refer to the Registration Letter you received for the Program Leader’s name and further information about the program.

To ensure your child is properly monitored, WorldStrides requires a safe ratio of adults to students on each program. The Program Leader carefully assigns the chaperones. Please contact the Program Leader with any questions or concerns you may have about chaperones.

• Safety and security are the top priorities for WorldStrides. WorldStrides will not operate any part of a program if the safety of any participant is compromised. In order to protect the investment you are making, WorldStrides recommends our optional Full Refund Program.
• WorldStrides has never cancelled a program permanently. If we deem it unsafe for your group to travel we will postpone the program dates. If the new dates have changed more than three days or more and do not work for you, you have 14 days to notify us in writing, and we will issue a full refund less the applicable fees.

Call our Tour Central office at 703-933-6143. We have staff on call 24 hours a day so that we will be able to put you in touch with your child in case of an emergency. Please also note that all program participants carry a WorldStrides Identification Badge while traveling that provides a toll-free number to our 24-hour Tour Central office in the case of an emergency.

• All program participants are provided with accident, illness, and accident-related dental insurance coverage amounts up to $7,500 for accident, $1,500 for illness, and $750 for accident-related dental. Pre-existing conditions are not covered (full details are available by calling American Income Life at 1-800-849-4820).
• Any charges not covered by this insurance are the responsibility of the participant.
• For international program participants only: Medical and accident insurance coverage will be provided through Berkley Care. This insurance is underwritten by Virginia Surety, Inc. Please contact Berkley Care at 1-800-453-4063 for additional information.

Please check with your child's Program Leader for this information. He or she will have the most current participant counts.

All of our domestic hotels are nationally recognized chain hotels such as Ramada, Holiday Inn, Hampton Inn, Sheraton, or comparable.* Each hotel has been chosen for its cleanliness, hospitality, and safe location.

Students traveling on international programs (including Costa Rica) will stay in three-star properties that are chosen based on their service, location, and standards of operation. All of our hotels are “student friendly” and rated by the teachers leading programs every year.

*Please Note: Students on Our Westward Adventure programs experience life as an early settler, which includes activities such as camping in tent cabins, eating around a campfire, and learning to live in the great outdoors.

Most students get to choose their roommates at the discretion of the Program Leader. Ultimate approval of all roommate selections rests with the Program Leader.

Students enjoy full American breakfasts (full continental breakfasts for international programs) at the hotel or at a local restaurant. Groups eat fast food, food court, or cafeteria-style lunches while touring and are provided with sit down dinners. In some cases, lunches may or may not be included in the program price. See your Registration Letter for more details.*

*Please Note: Programs traveling to Europe typically do not include lunches.

While WorldStrides is not responsible for ensuring that participants with allergies are cared for and have specific meals while traveling, we do take a number of steps to facilitate participants’ food requirements or restrictions. Despite our best efforts, though, several factors make it impossible for WorldStrides to make a reliable commitment ahead of your program that a specific meal will be arranged according to the health requirements for a participant. Parents of children who suffer from complex or extreme food allergies are advised to pack adequate snacks and provide extra meal money for their child to purchase uniquely prepared foods, if necessary.

The specific itinerary will be chosen by your child’s Program Leader, based on his/her educational goals. For more information please check the sample itinerary available on the back of the Registration Letter and on our website, or contact your Program Leader.

Once finalized, the itinerary is sent directly to your Program Leader. It will be distributed at his or her discretion.

We use all major carriers. American, United, Delta, Southwest, and US Airways are our top carriers.

You will receive a Program Information Letter from WorldStrides or your Program Leader containing specific details approximately two to three weeks prior to departure. This letter covers the flight schedule, as well as hotel and sightseeing information. All airline tickets are sent directly to the Program Leader.

Due to the nature of group travel, we are unable to change any aspect of the flight, including departure and return flight times and destinations.

Due to the nature of group travel and discounted group rates, airlines do not allow the use of frequent flyer programs. Group travelers are not eligible to use or receive frequent flyer miles.

WorldStrides will reschedule the flight and cover hotel and meal expenses.

Airline regulations prohibit an individual from departing from the group at the connecting airport.

To view packing lists, please click here. Once you have accessed this page, select your destination and then select Packing List.

Comfortable clothes are preferable, and comfortable walking shoes are a must. Please consult the weather forecast while planning what to pack.

We recommend that students bring one suitcase and one carry-on bag. Please remember that students are required to carry their own luggage at times, so keep the weight manageable. The cost for checking baggage is not included in WorldStrides' program price, and travelers should be prepared to pay these fees upon check-in for both departing and returning flights. Please check your airline's website prior to travel for up-to-date information regarding these fees. If you do not yet know your flight arrangements for your program, you can find information regarding most major airline fees at www.sidestep.com/airline-fees.

Additionally, all travelers should be aware of the Transportation Security Administration's guidelines for air travel. For more information, please visit the TSA website at www.tsa.gov/travelers/index.shtm.

The medical and behavior forms can be found by clicking here. Once you have accessed this page, select your destination and then select Download More Information.

In accordance with new TSA regulations, all participants must provide their full legal name (first, middle, last) matching information on a government-issued ID, date of birth, and gender prior to ticketing.

Passports are required for our international programs and travel from Mexico. Students should make two black and white copies of their passport before travel in case their passport is lost or stolen; keep one in secured luggage and give one to the Program Leader. Passports must be valid for at least six months after the end of your program. You are responsible for obtaining your own passport, a process which can take several months. If you already have a passport, make sure that it will still be valid for six months after your return date.

If you are traveling to China - See info from the China Confirmation Letter.

We strongly recommend that you visit these websites for more information on required travel documents: www.travel.state.gov/passport and www.tsa.gov.

Non-U.S. citizens are responsible for obtaining all documents needed in order to enter the countries to be visited or connected through, and for reentry into the U.S. If you are denied boarding for the countries to be visited or connected through, you are not eligible for a refund for missed travel services. We urge you to contact the consular offices of the countries on your itinerary, as well as the U.S. Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services, for complete information.

Domestic Travel

• In most cases, all necessary costs are covered during the duration of this program. As a rule of thumb, $50 is a typical amount for souvenirs.

International Travel

• A typical allowance is $50 per day for lunch, snacks, soft drinks, postage, souvenirs, free-time activities, and optional excursions not already included in your itinerary.

We recommend you exchange at least some money (about $50) into local currency for our Focus on Europe and Focus on China programs before departing the United States, since you may not have time to go to a bank on the first day. While traveling, the most convenient way to obtain cash is with your credit card or local bank card at an ATM machine. ATMs generally give a wholesale exchange rate, which is as much as 5% better than banks.

Traveler’s checks are acceptable, but not recommended. Not all locations will accept a traveler’s check from a minor.

Registration for participants under the age of 15 is subject to individual review by WorldStrides. Students under the age of 14 should carry a Notarized Statement of Consent signed by both parents or guardians, just in case the student loses the passport while traveling. Even if the student is traveling with a parent, the form must also be signed by the second parent. This form can also be found on www.travel.state.gov/passport. Our programs are designed to experience the city life from a native perspective, and in most of the cities we will visit some streets and buildings that are hundreds of years old; therefore, a significant amount of walking and some narrow and steep stairways are expected. Special meals and/or medical supervision cannot be provided.

Most registrants are offered three payment options:

1. Pay the balance in full by the first due date indicated on the confirmation invoice payment coupon.
2. Spread the cost of the program into easy installments through an individualized payment plan structured by WorldStrides.*
3. Enroll in EZPay, an automatic monthly withdrawal of funds from your bank account based on your payment plan. Sign up on www.worldstrides.org or by calling Customer Service at 1-800-468-5899. For participants traveling from Mexico, please call 001-866-458-8838.

All registrants must have paid for their program in full at least 75 days prior to departure (105 for international programs).

*Please Note: Because each registrant has a unique payment plan, we strongly recommend that you review your confirmation invoice or go to mytrip.worldstrides.org.

All payments are required and must be submitted by the due date indicated on each invoice. A $15 fee will be assessed for each payment submitted after the date indicated on the invoice.

There is a handling fee of $6 for each installment that is invoiced. Partial payments are not assessed an additional charge. Please note that this fee does not apply to payments made through EZPay. We recommend that you consider EZPay in order to avoid the handling fee.

You can sign up for EZPay on our website at www.worldstrides.org, on MyTrip at mytrip.worldstrides.org, or by contacting a Customer Service Representative at 1-800-468-5899. For participants traveling from Mexico, please call 001-866-458-8838.

EZPay can be removed from your account by calling Customer Service at 1-800-468-5899 at least 72 hours prior to the next scheduled EZPay draft. For participants traveling from Mexico, please call 001-866-458-8838. The account will be subject to handling fees for each billing cycle and late installment charges if payment is not received by the indicated due date. After removing EZPay, you will also receive mailed invoices.

We are unable to change the date of the EZPay automatic draft from your checking account. If you need to make payments on a different day, we can remove the account from the EZPay option and you may manually make your payments via our standard invoicing procedure.

Unfortunately, when your bank returns one of your checks, we must require guaranteed funds for any further payments. We will accept a cashier’s check, money order, or credit card. There is a charge of $35 for returned checks.

No, we cannot accept postdated checks.

Yes, electronic payments are subject to returned and declined check fees of $35. Please confirm your account and routing number when entering information. Incorrect information can cause your payment to be declined.

Credit card payments are processed instantly.

Refunds are issued in the original form of payment on the account.

Refunds will be processed to the closed account. If the account has been closed, WorldStrides will process the refund to the credit card account; it is the credit card company’s responsibility to process any refund to the customer.
The only way to prevent the refund from being sent to the closed account is to provide a letter from the issuing credit card company on their company letterhead stating the account is closed. This letter can be sent via fax (434-982-8748) or email (customerservice@worldstrides.org) when the refund is requested.

To view your account balance or to make an online payment, click here and enter your account number and the traveler’s last name.

A $60 late fee is added to all accounts with an outstanding balance after the final payment deadline, which is 75 days prior to departure (105 days prior to departure for international programs). Please refer to your Registration Letter or Confirmation Invoice for your group’s final payment due date. Your child’s program space is not guaranteed if you do not adhere to the terms of the required payment plan. All payments received after the final payment deadline must be in the form of a credit card, cashier’s check, or money order (no personal or business checks). If you find it necessary to pay after the deadline, please contact Customer Service at 1-800-468-5899 to confirm the status of your child’s registration. For participants traveling from Mexico, please call 001-866-458-8838.

No, the deposit is nonrefundable.

Fundraising money from the school is due in our office by the final payment deadline, 75 days prior to departure or 105 days for international programs. WorldStrides recommends that you mail all fundraising proceeds at least 25 days prior the final payment deadline to ensure in-time delivery.

WorldStrides programs are all-inclusive packages. Please refer to your Registration Letter to view what is included in your base trip price.

The installment schedule and amounts are computer-generated and cannot be determined until you have registered.

Visit mytrip.worldstrides.org. Click the Parents, Students, and Adults Click Here to join MyTrip button. Select your user role (i.e. Student, Parent of a Student, Adult/Other) and your status information to determine what information is required to create an account.

• Traveler ID: the customer account number assigned at the time of registration for the program and found on confirmation messages and every invoice

• Trip ID: the code that identifies your program and is listed on your Registration Letter and each invoice

This is your Customer Account Number, which you receive after registering for a WorldStrides program on your confirmation messages. This can also be found on each invoice.

Yes. After successfully logging in to MyTrip, click MyAccount in the top right-hand portion of the screen.

Yes. After successfully logging in to MyTrip, click MyAccount in the top right-hand portion of the screen.

Yes. Login to your parent account and enter your child’s Traveler ID in the first section at MyAccount. Your child’s account information will appear in the last section of the MyAccount area.

Yes. Login to your parent account and enter your child’s Traveler ID in the first section at MyAccount. Your child’s account information will appear in the last section of the MyAccount area.

If you are interested in traveling on additional WorldStrides programs, you can add the corresponding MyTrip sites to your account. Enter the Trip ID number for the additional trip you would like to view on MyTrip via the MyAccount page.

Your Program Leader can add your finalized itinerary to your MyTrip site by utilizing the site’s customization capabilities.

Once successfully logged into MyTrip, click MyAccount at the top right of the screen, then click Pay at the bottom of the screen.

• Log in to your Student account on mytrip.worldstrides.org and register by filling out the simple form.
• Once you have registered, WorldStrides verifies the travel program and assigns the appropriate course and password.
• Students receive an automatic notification within 24 hours when the course is ready to begin.
• Students must be enrolled on a WorldStrides program in order to be eligible for the course. Credit will not be awarded until after the on-trip experience occurs and successful completion of the final exam.

• Every course varies, but on average, each Elective course (0.5) credit should take a student 60+ hours to complete (20 pre-trip hours + 20 on-trip hours + 20 post-trip hours).
• Each Academic course (1.0) credit should take a student 120+ hours to complete (40 pre-trip hours + 40 on-trip hours + 40 post-trip hours).
• Students may complete work at any time (pre-trip, on-trip, or post-trip) up to 6 months after their travel dates.
• Once registered, an online timer lets students know how many months and days they have left to complete course before time expires.

Since WorldStrides is an accredited travel study school, other public high schools are required, by reciprocity, to accept WorldStrides’ credit. This applies to students in grades 9-12. Students in grades K-8 are bound by district or local policy, many of which accept high school credit without question. Some districts or schools, however, have policies that prohibit middle school students from obtaining high school credit prior to entering high school. The school district determines whether a student is considered a 9th grader on the day he or she “graduates” middle school or the day he or she “enters” high school. We strive to communicate with the school district in these cases about the rigor of our programs. In the end, it is a local decision.

Discovery for Credit courses are free for participating students.

WorldStrides’ Director of Education develops and oversees the content and assessment for each course. As a certified teacher and administrator, our Director of Education has an extensive background in education.

We ask the Program Leader to promote Discovery for Credit to students by mentioning it at parent meetings or classroom meetings, and generally including it on correspondence sent home to parents and students. Program Leaders do not grade, write curriculum, or assess any student on this program. Program Leaders who choose to support their students’ Discovery for Credit efforts have the option to receive an “administration” password for Discovery for Credit, which allows them to view and track the progress of the students taking the courses. This is an option that is available through MyTrip or via WorldStrides’ Director of Education.

Contact our Education Team at discovery@worldstrides.org.

Please allow four to six weeks for delivery. Additional delivery time may be necessary for backordered items.

As long as the shirt has not been worn or washed, you may return it. Credit will be issued to your account once the shirt is received.

Merchandise can be returned to the following address, along with the participant’s name, account number, and new size requested.

WorldStrides
P.O. Box 9033
Charlottesville, VA 22906

All cancellations and requests for refunds must be addressed in writing and mailed to WorldStrides, P.O. Box 9033, Charlottesville, VA 22906-9033. Please include the registrant's name, account number, and complete address. The refund process takes approximately four to six weeks. Exceptions to our Standard Cancellation Policy are not made. Money is refunded to the Responsible Party listed on the Registration Form.

All refunds are processed within four to six weeks from the date of your written cancellation request.

The Full Refund Program (FRP) is offered to registrants on most WorldStrides programs for their convenience and protection.* The FRP provides a refund of all monies paid, minus the program fee and other nonrefundable fees, if it becomes necessary to cancel at any time prior to departure for any reason.** The program additionally protects against loss of employment by providing a refund, including the Full Refund Program fee, for participants who must cancel their program.

The program does not make refunds in the event that the program is canceled as a result of or following an act of God, war (whether declared or not), terrorism, civil unrest, or in the unlikely event of WorldStrides’ bankruptcy, insolvency, or cessation of business. All requests for cancellation must be made in writing and postmarked prior to the group’s departure.

The Full Refund program is offered for a fee (listed on the back of on your Registration Form). All registrants are automatically enrolled at registration and have the option to refuse enrollment. To opt out of the program, parents may either check the box on the back of the Registration Form or during online registration, or send a written request to WorldStrides within 15 days following the receipt of their first invoice.

*Please Note: The Full Refund Program is not available to participants traveling to international destinations, except for Costa Rica. Students can purchase travel insurance from Berkley Care.

**The non-refundable deposit, handling charges, merchandise fees, fees for returned checks, fees for declined credit cards or electronic drafts, or late payments and registration fees are not refundable.

First, we encourage you to wait to cancel until you are absolutely sure your child has decided against traveling. The Full Refund Program allows you to do this without penalty as long as you notify WorldStrides prior to departure. If you have waited and wish to cancel your registration, you will be provided a refund of all monies paid, less the program fee and other non-refundable fees, as long as your cancellation is received prior to departure. The program does not make refunds in the event the program is canceled as a result of or following an act of God, war (whether declared or not), terrorism, civil unrest, or in the event of WorldStrides' bankruptcy, insolvency, or cessation of business.*

*The non-refundable deposit, handling charges, merchandise fees, fees for returned checks, fees for declined credit cards or electronic drafts, or late payments and registration fees are not refundable.

If you (the parent), the Program Leader, school, or school administration cancel and you are not enrolled in the Full Refund Program, our Standard Cancellation Policy applies and is as follows. The Standard Cancellation Policy is based on the originally scheduled program dates. This policy does not apply in the event of WorldStrides' bankruptcy, insolvency, or cessation of business.

History or Science Travelers (excluding Costa Rica)

• If your cancellation is postmarked more than 75 days prior to the group's departure, WorldStrides will retain 25% of the base trip price.* There is a minimum charge of $120 if the program price is $400 or more.
• If your cancellation is postmarked 45-74 days before the group's departure, WorldStrides will retain 50% of the base trip price.
• If your cancellation is postmarked 44 days or less before the group's departure, WorldStrides will retain 100% of the base trip price.

Costa Rica or International Travelers (Including programs traveling from Mexico)

• If your cancellation is postmarked more than 105 days prior to the group's departure, WorldStrides will retain 25% of the base trip price.* There is a minimum charge of $120 if the base program price is $400 or more.
• If your cancellation is postmarked 45-109 days before the group's departure, WorldStrides will retain 50% of the base trip price.
• If your cancellation is postmarked 44 days or less before the group's departure, WorldStrides will retain 100% of the base trip price.

*The non-refundable deposit, handling charges, merchandise fees, fees for returned checks, fees for declined credit cards or electronic drafts, or late payments and registration fees are not refundable.

No, this cost is in addition to your base trip price.

No, the Full Refund Program fee is non-refundable.

No.

As stated in our registration brochure, reservations are not transferable.