01. deciding where to go & booking with ef

First thing’s first, I have a link that’ll give you $100 off your first EF trip. Just tap here! You know I always got you with the good stuff!

I brainstorm a few places of where I want to travel to and see if it’s a trip I absolutely cannot go alone or wouldn’t even know where to start in the planning process. When going with a group of strangers, you want to make sure you travel light (so you don’t hold up the trip), you go to a place that maybe a friend might join you on (or even just go solo), and make it happen.

When you go on their main site, which they’ve opened NEW tours since April 2023 to travel to, they show the itinerary for each and what a good cost breakdown looks like. Their customer service is amazing and super helpful!!! So when you think you’ve found something you want to explore, take the chance to actually go! It’ll break your bank just a tad… but it will be worth it.

Also, they offer discounts every so often. Stay on the lookout for those. Once you book the trip, they offer payment plans as well.

02. what you need before a trip

I’m an information over-loader. I want to know what I’m doing, what tips & tricks I can learn, and what’s needed for a trip down to your toothbrush. Let’s take Australia & New Zealand.

First– their borders had to be open. You need approved visas. I used apps called- AustraliaETA and New Zealand ETA. You would then receive the visas through your email to use at the check in counter at the airport.

Second– planning for your phone to work? Reach out to your provider BEFORE the trip. I made that mistake, but didn’t even end up using data during the trip. I was the ONLY person in the 21-trip that survived off wifi. Some of my friends also used an app called Airalo, which I would not recommend because it didn’t work for me. It essentially allows you to purchase data per country.

Third– making sure your credit card companies are aware of your international travel. I would bring mastercard, amex, and visa because some countries don’t use either or. Apple pay on your iPhone also works, but not fully reliable. Ie: In Cananda, visa did not work.

03. Pack light & be resourceful

I literally packed a carry on and a book bag for my 21-day trip to Australia and New Zealand. I did not want the hassle of checking my bag in and getting it lost, like it happened to a few. Although, the process of getting your luggage from the airport wasn’t so bad in Melbourne. Major props to them! I just didn’t want to deal with it. Funny enough though, the weight for carry on INSIDE Australia and New Zealand was 7 kg, or 15 lb. That was just not fair. My book back weighed the 15 lb, but I was not about to put that through a conveyer belt. *Tricks by Mel* I did, on the other hand, had to sacrifice my carry on.

Helpful items my friends and I packed (each has a link), that you probably wouldn’t think of:

04. ONCE YOU STEP FOOT INTO THE NEW COUNTRy & after

It’s about having fun and living your life to the fullest! But also stay safe.

Once your trip is coming to an end, start thinking about how much you would like to tip. For 21 days, I tipped $100 USD, which would convert into much more in Australian or New Zealand currency for my tour director. While they get paid to lead us, after you’re in a trip that’s 25+ years old or more minimum, tips are not included.

To give a breakdown of the EF structure:

• EF Tours is for high school ages (14-18 years old): you need a chaperone per amount of students. Tips are included with the payment plan of the trip.
• EF College Break, recently rebranded to Ultimate Break is broken down into two age groups, but now one big trip for 18-35 year olds:
  • Age range of 18-24 years old: Parents are still somewhat contributing financially in their lives. Tips are included.
  • Age range of 25-35 years old: Adults living their best lives. Tips are not included and at your discretion.

To help with the cost breakdown- I met my new friends, Elizabeth and David on the trip. Hubby & wife duo breaks down the day to day cost and gives their two cents on the whole trip in their youtube channel. This is it!