Travel For Teens: France

This was my second year attending a travel for teens trip and I have loved every moment of it. This past trip to Barcelona and Paris was truly an incredible experience that I will never forget. Not only did I love the friendships I made with people who I still talk to to this day but I also just love the opportunities that I was able to have because of this trip. These were two places that I had never been to before and after this trip, I want to go back immediately. I loved how we got to immerse ourselves in the culture of both places while still being able to have fun and experience life away from home. This trip was the perfect balance of learning and gaining new knowledge along with enjoying a relaxing summer and a beautiful country. My favorite thing that we did in Barcelona was the Bike Tour because I loved being able to see a lot of the city at once and learn from a local about the incredible history of the area. While in Paris my favorite thing was visiting the Eiffel Tower and trying all of the incredible food pastries and desserts. The staff was amazing and truly helped make this experience one of a kind, Not only were they light-hearted and funny and kind but they were also intelligent and knew a lot about travel and about different areas, therefore They were able to teach me lots of new great information.

The Travel for Teens program gave me an opportunity to begin exploring the world. I began looking for a program march 2023 and found the france explorer trip. My trip went from Paris to normandy then Aix-en- Provence and finally Nice and I ended up in a very small group of 6 girls. With such a small group it was very easy to get close and by the third day of the trip we were like a family. The trip itinerary was perfect, starting in a big city and ending on the coast. One thing my parents worried about before sending me on the trip was safety which turned out not to be an issue. My phone even broke on the last few days of the trip and my counselors made sure that I had a safe trip home by printing out my boarding passes for me and ensuring I know where I need to be. In all the Travel for Teens program is amazing and I plan to attend another trip next year.

In France I was able to practice my basic French that I have been learning in school. Many people of the locals were happy that I was trying to speak their language and I got to learn and practice new things. many times, I had the Parisens correct me on my French and it was amazing. We went bike riding throughout Paris, visited the Palace of Versailles, and the louver. I tried so many different kinds of food some of which I have never heard of before and they were all so good. I also got the opportunity to learn more about the French culture such as the Battle of Bastille and claim the Eiffel tower.

Travel for teens was such an eye opener for me! It showed me a whole part of the world that I had previously been ignorant to. My counselors, friends and experience were amazing and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to travel and see the world. My favorite part was how we got to alter the trip slightly to fit what our group most wanted, which makes it more fun on top of the already amazing squedule. If you want to meet new people, see the world and have the best summer ever, travel for teens is for you. Thank you travel for teens for this experience!

Travel for Teens provided me with the opportunity to not only explore new cultures and sights, but also allowed me to experience life as a local not a tourist. My trip to Italy, Switzerland, and France completely changed my life by instilling an appreciation for other languages, foods, and traditions. One of my favorite parts was traveling with a group of students my age and the extremely knowledgeable and passionate counselors who I still communicate with to this day. Each day gave me the chance to do a varied array of activities from hiking, going to museums, the beach, shopping, eating, and even paragliding. This trip made me want to study abroad in college and continue traveling throughout my life. I look forward to continuing to travel with Travel for Teens next summer and in the future!

This past summer, I had the pleasure of going on TFT’s Ultimate Europe 30 days trip. For some, 30 days can feel like a lifetime away from home. Yet, the environment I experienced with my counselors and fellow participants became my new home. There was never a dull moment and every minute was spent experiencing the world around us and making it our own personal adventure. From surprise trips to Disneyland Paris to canyoning in Interlaken, I broke out of my comfort zone so many times that I lost count. I was greatly mentored by our counselors and I not only returned as a more self-actualized young adult but am able to articulate what I want in my own life: new experiences, adventures, and friends to last a lifetime, the true Travel for Teens experience.

Barcelona and Paris: two AMAZING cities and 10 days. What an adventure! This trip was so much fun, exploring the cities and immersing ourselves in the culture. The itinerary was full every day with different activities for us to participate in, as well as having some built-in free time to explore the cities. The counselors were super supportive and amazing people to have on the trip with us. This trip and TFT gave me the opportunity to explore yet another country in the world and learn the art of being a traveler and NOT being an artist! 10/10 would recommend

I aboslutley loved my trip from TFT. The Trip directer and Senior counciler were just wonderful. They were always considerate and good friends. Put our enjoyment and safety above anything else. I'm naturally a very timid person and they brought me out of my shell and I have become more sociable since I have traveled with them. I would love for more people to get this opportunity and to enjoy the world. It is honestly an amazing journey that should be taken if possible.