By: MacKenzie Taylor
If you want to travel the world and are between the ages of 18 and 29, then EF Ultimate Break might be an option for you. EF Ultimate Break is a group travel company that offers 69 different trips to locations all over the world. The price for each trip includes plane tickets, accommodations, transportation, and more. You can travel with a group of friends or on your own. Almost half of EF’s travelers book solo. Even if you choose the second option, however, you still won’t be completely alone. The group sizes vary by trip, but you can be joined by up to 44 fellow travelers. Your trip consultant sets up a Facebook group so that you can get to know the other people on your trip before you meet them. If you decide to go with a friend or friends, you and your friends can request each other as roommates when you book your trip. You can request roommates up until 60 days before your trip. After 60 days, tour directors will randomly assign roommates.
The first step to planning a trip with EF is browsing the website to decide where you want to go and for how long. One of their most popular trips is the Ultimate Europe option which lets you explore 14 cities over a duration of 35 days. Other popular trips include: The Greek Islands, Costa Rica Adventure, and Germany, Italy & Switzerland.
The next step is booking your trip once you’ve chosen a destination. EF suggests that travelers book as soon as they select their trip because the trips fill up on a first come, first serve basis. You should book at least 99 days in advance to avoid the $125 late enrollment fee. At the time of booking, any traveler has the option to pay the full amount of the trip, but EF also offers two payment plans for people who choose not to pay it all at once. The first option is an automatic payment plan, which includes a $150 deposit when you book and automatic monthly or bi-weekly payments. You choose your preferred payment method, and then make sure that your final payment is paid 30 days before you leave for your trip. This is EF’s most recommended and popular payment option. The second option is a manual payment plan. With this plan, a minimum of $450 is due at the time of booking and then you’re free to pay at your own pace. Your final payment is due 99 days before you leave for your trip, and there is a $50 service fee that covers the costs of processing each payment.
The price for each trip is based on the location, duration, and where you’re flying out of. This cost includes your flights with airport transfers, accommodations, tour director, city transfers, metro passes, iconic attractions, city walks, guided sightseeing, personal trip consultant, and welcome/farewell meals. Each accommodation you stay at will provide a daily free breakfast. Additional costs for travelers include meals that are not covered, any shopping, transportation on free days, additional excursions, and tips for drivers and tour guides.
Each trip comes with an itinerary for each day, but travelers are also allowed free days to explore on their own or pay for additional excursions. The itinerary includes the excursions that are available for each trip and notes that these excursions cost extra. You can view the itinerary for all 69 trips on the EF website.
