On Tour
Hotels
A good night’s sleep is important, so you can count on safe, clean and comfortable hotels with private bathrooms. And rest assured, we inspect every hotel personally. Please keep in mind
that groups may not all be roomed next to each other and may be on different floors, and some hotels may be located outside the city centre. Also, some common differences from North American hotels include:
- Rooms are usually smaller and have multiple single and/or shared double beds.
- Rooms seldom have air conditioning or televisions.
- Not all European hotels have elevators.
Meals
You should expect food and portion size to be different than what you are accustomed to at home. Breakfast typically includes cereal, bread or rolls, jam, juice, coffee and tea. Lunch is your chance to make culinary discoveries of your own. Your tour director can provide recommendations. Included dinners will be a mix of familiar dishes and local specialties. You will be expected to pay for soft drinks and other beverages at dinner. Table water is always provided free of charge; bottled water is provided only in those countries where deemed necessary by locals (e.g. Egypt).
Transportation
On most EF Tours, groups typically travel by motor coach between destinations as well as on EF-included sightseeing tours and excursions. However, some itineraries include internal flights or travel by train, cruise ship or ferry.
To travel to local activities or free-time options, EF groups generally find it easy to use public transportation. Your EF Tour Director will help you learn the maps and routes.
Punctuality
No matter where you travel, there is a tremendous amount to see and do – and a limited time in which to cover it! For that reason, most EF itineraries are packed with activities. It is crucial that everyone makes punctuality a priority, for wake up calls, sightseeing tours, meeting times etc. It takes just one person showing up late to throw off a whole day’s schedule.
Free time
Most itineraries offer some free time for you to explore the city with friends and your group leader. Options include a visit to a museum, sitting at a café to people-watch, buying souvenirs, taking pictures, listening to local music … your EF Tour Director will offer suggestions
Travelling with your phone
Save on roaming rates when calling home by using a long-distance calling card. You can also connect using Wi-Fi to avoid expensive roaming charges. Before you depart, you should contact your cellular provider to check your calling and data plans.
Phone cards
EF ekit phone cards are a really great way for you to keep in touch with your parents while on tour. EF will mail you a calling card about a month before departure. All you have to do is add money and activate it. Find out more and purchase an ekit phone card. Students should always check with hotels to see if they charge any connection fees, since they can be very expensive. It is usually better to use public phones.