rhode scholar travel

The Scoop: What to Know About Road Scholar

This nonprofit tour company has an inspiring educational focus..

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Part of what we do here at TourScoop is use our (human) travel expertise to vet tour companies so you have an easy way to get a bunch of trustworthy information all in one place. Today we’re digging into Road Scholar, a popular tour company that’s been around for nearly 50 years. Read on to find everything you need to know to confidently make the decision about whether it’s a good fit for you.

Road Scholar (previously known as Elderhostel) is a tour company with a difference: Since 1975 the company has been run as a nonprofit organization with an educational mission as its primary focus. That means a few things: since it’s a nonprofit, Road Scholar offers excellent value (tours aren’t priced for profit). I also like that it’s unusual among tour companies because it offers both financial aid and caregiver grants. And since it’s education-driven, the tour operator attracts a particularly curious and educated group of travelers, including many retired educators. 

Road Scholar’s 4,000 offerings include small group tours, grandparent-grandchild trips, cruises, private jet adventures, and tours focused on passions including birding, food and drink, and history.

TourScoop Takeaways: Road Scholar

• Continents Covered: 7
• Tour Size Average: Road Scholar’s small group programs max out at 24 travelers, but the company also runs larger programs with hundreds of participants who are then broken into small groups for activities. 
• Tour Types: Coach, ship, plane, train

How to Book

Road Scholar tours can be booked directly through Road Scholar ; here are all the ways you can contact the organization for information about trips.

Credibility Check

Road Scholar is a BBB accredited charity that meets the standards for charity accountability, and has a low complaint number and a high response-to-issues ratio. It has a rating of 4.2 out of 5 on Facebook . Tour-focused online travel agency TourStride past guests gives Road Scholar a 4.4 out of 5.

Tour Destinations

Road Scholar operates tours on seven continents and to nearly 100 countries. In the U.S., it offers itineraries to most states, and internationally, its most popular destinations include Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, and Italy. 

Road Scholar offers hundreds of programs on a variety of topics, with thousands of departures annually. Since it’s a nonprofit organization with an educational mission, everything it does is about learning, and it weaves in educational visits, lectures, and events into every trip.

On the website, you can filter trips by hobbies or what you want to learn about, from Military History to Native American Studies, Birding, Pickleball, or another topic. You can also filter the course catalog by activity level, from “Easy Going” to  “Outdoor: Challenging.”

Road Scholar also offers Adventures Afloat (cruises), skip-gen programs geared to grandparents and grandchildren traveling together, and virtual tours that range from one-hour lectures to multi-day online adventures. 

Tour Guides

As an education-focused tour organization, Road Scholar refers to its group leaders and instructors as faculty . Faculty members–many of whom have been working with Road Scholar for a decade or more–are local experts with years of experience in travel and academics. Group leaders receive initial training and receive yearly professional development to ensure they’re at the top of their game. 

In addition to faculty, tour participants meet a broad range of experts on tour, experts that range from shrimp boat captains to award-winning authors. 

Inclusions/Extras

Road Scholar programs are all-inclusive and have no optional extras or hidden expenses. The price of a tour includes: 

• Accommodations, 
• Experienced Group Leader
• Expert-led lectures and field trips
• Most meals (some meals during free time not included)
• Gratuities throughout the program, including group leader gratuities
• Road Scholar Assurance Plan   (24-hour assistance in the event of an emergency during a program and insurance for emergency medical evacuation)

Flights to and from the tour are not included in base program prices, but Road Scholar will book flights for participants traveling internationally. Flights booked through Road Scholar also include complimentary airport transfers.

Typical Travelers

If you don’t count kids in the mix on the Grandparent and Family programs, the average age of a Road Scholar participant is 72. But trips generally include a wide range of older travelers from people in their 50s through 90s. About 30% of participants are solo travelers, and of that 30% about 85% are women traveling on their own. Road Scholar trips are generally reported to be very welcoming to solo travelers. 

Communication 

Once you’ve booked a tour with Road Scholar, the company sends regular emails leading up to trip departures. You can also access your trip information online: once you’re enrolled in a program, all trip information is accessible via your online account.

Road Scholar’s U.S.-based contact center (800-454-5768) is open 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. (ET), Monday through Friday. Monday is the contact center’s busiest day, so to avoid long wait times, call midweek or at the end of the week if you can). Road Scholar has callback feature, which allows you to save your place in the queue without having to wait on the phone–a representative calls you back as soon as it’s your turn in line.

Loyalty Program

Because Road Scholar is a nonprofit organization, discounts are not offered, including for repeat travelers. But the company is dedicated to making travel affordable for more travelers, and offers financial aid and caregiver grants . 

Private Options

Groups made up of between 18 and 24 people can reserve private departures of existing itineraries with Road Scholar. If you organize a group of 20 or more, you can take advantage of group discounts or free travel for one person. 

Sustainability Efforts

Road Scholar offsets some of the carbon emissions created through travel on its programs. It invests in projects including rainforest preservation in Brazil, methane gas recapture in Florida, and reforestation in Kenya. The company also tries to use sustainability certified hotels, locally owned services, and restaurants that serve locally sourced meals whenever possible.  

Health and Safety Practices

Road Scholar has partners on the ground worldwide who monitor all areas visited by the company. If concerns arise, Road Scholar will find replacement content or cancel the program, depending on the severity and location of the issue.

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How to Become a Rhodes Scholar

Recipients of this prestigious award must exhibit academic excellence, leadership and a commitment to service.

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To become a Rhodes scholar, students are typically encouraged to apply during their junior year of college.

Because of its prestigious reputation, the Rhodes scholarship draws applications from thousands of the world's top college students each year. But only a select few who best demonstrate academic excellence, a commitment to others and character traits like courage and kindness are chosen for the scholarship, which allows students to study at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.

There's a level of cachet that comes with being a Rhodes scholar, but that's just one aspect that draws students to apply.

"It's an honor that will be mentioned in every introduction to every speech they give for the rest of their life, and will be mentioned in their obituary decades from now," Doug Cutchins, director of global awards at New York University Abu Dhabi, wrote in an email. "It means being connected to other extraordinary young people at Oxford for several years, and then being introduced into a global alumni community of amazing people who are working for the common good. It can open doors that they don't even know exist right now."

What Is a Rhodes Scholarship?

The Rhodes scholarship is managed by the Rhodes Trust, a British charity created to honor the wishes of Cecil Rhodes, a British businessman and politician who established the scholarship in his will. The first scholars arrived at Oxford in 1903, making it the oldest international scholarship.

Each year, the Rhodes Trust selects roughly 100 students from around the world, including 32 Americans, through an intensive application and interview process. The organization doesn't reveal the number of applicants.

The scholarship covers tuition and fees for at least two years of study at Oxford, where scholars can earn a second bachelor's degree, a master's degree or a doctorate degree in one of various subjects.

Scholarship winners must still apply for admission to Oxford, and the scholarship covers application fees. The scholarship also covers the fee for a student visa, flights to and from the U.K., health care coverage and an annual stipend for living expenses – nearly $25,000 for the 2023-2024 academic year.

The total amount of the scholarship varies but can reach about $250,000, representatives at the Rhodes Trust say.

Eleanor Wikstrom, a senior at Harvard University in Massachusetts and winner of a Rhodes scholarship to begin studying at Oxford in fall 2024, says the value of the Rhodes goes beyond the doors it will open. A social studies major with a focus on colonialism, she plans to earn a master’s degree in global and imperial history at Oxford. The ability to study that period of history in the U.K. with students from around the world was a major draw for the scholarship, she says.

“I also think that Rhodes offers this really amazing cohort that is not quite as prevalent with any other scholarship,” Wikstrom says. “Of course, you’re going to be part of an amazing legacy no matter what you do, but the Rhodes scholarship being expressly global and also having this locus at Oxford allows you to interact with scholars from other backgrounds, and it facilitates that much more fluently than the other scholarships would.”

Who Can Apply for a Rhodes Scholarship?

Requirements vary by country, but in the U.S., students must be at least 18 years old and not have passed their 24th birthday on Oct. 1 of the year in which they are applying.

In some instances, older applicants who completed their undergraduate degree later than usual may apply up to age 27, according to Babette Littlemore, director of communications at the Rhodes Trust. Applicants also must have completed or will have completed a college or university undergraduate degree with a GPA of 3.7 or higher.

The scholarship's eligibility requirements for U.S. students have been expanded in recent years to include legal permanent residents and DACA recipients, which refers to an immigration program called Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.

The list of countries from which students can apply has expanded, as well. "With the arrival of the Global Rhodes Scholarships, individuals from any country across the globe are now able to apply," Littlemore wrote in an email.

Applicants are chosen by "constituency," which is the country, region or district where they live. Applicants who have dual citizenship or have lived in multiple countries should choose the country they have the strongest connection to, such as where they have citizenship or where they've lived the longest, according to the Rhodes Trust website.

U.S. states and territories are grouped into 16 districts. U.S. applicants typically choose the district in which they have a permanent residence or have spent the most time.

Who Should Apply for a Rhodes Scholarship?

Because of the competitive nature of the applicant pool, successful applicants typically possess at least a 3.9 GPA, says Kyle Mox, associate dean of national scholarship advisement at Arizona State University . But strong academic chops are just one part of the equation, experts say.

The scholarship has continued to promote largely the same values and qualities over the course of its existence, including leadership and public service. The selection committee is looking for applicants "that are going to provide value to the world," Mox says.

“It is intensely service-driven,” he says. “Any students that I’ve worked with who have succeeded, progressed and have been offered the award were passionately motivated by a desire to serve the world. They were high-achieving but not for the sake of being high-achieving. They were high-achieving because they had things they wanted to fix. That’s got to come through in the application."

Because applicants must still apply to Oxford after being awarded the scholarship, the committee looks for well-rounded students who would be easily admissible, Cutchins says.

"They have to have excelled in multiple areas, and at least ticked the box in most if not all of the major facets of student life: athletics, service , the arts, etc.," he says. "Someone smarter than me once said that Rhodes scholars are 'well rounded with a bump.' They are good at everything, and exceptional in one or more dimensions."

Students should take an honest look at their achievements and determine if they meet the criteria, he says. He encourages students who are on the fence to apply, even though "the vast majority of students who apply for the Rhodes – 98%+ – are not going to win."

The application and interview process can be an immensely beneficial experience for students as they embark on their professional life, he says.

"I usually set a low bar, asking students if they are feasible, realistic, plausible candidates," he says. "If a student wants to be a Rhodes scholar, then I think they should make someone else say no to them, rather than them saying no to their own goals."

Rhodes Scholarship Application Process

To become a Rhodes scholar, students are typically encouraged to apply during their junior year of college , experts say. The online application opens in early July each year and closes in early October.

Individual schools often set varying internal deadlines for different checkpoints within the application. While students are explicitly prohibited from receiving help on the personal essay, many schools help guide them through various aspects of the application, such as interview preparation.

1. Required Application Materials

While several pieces of the application are consistent across all constituencies, some details among them change, Cutchins says. All selection committees require a 750-word, original personal statement and a 350-word academic statement. Applicants must also supply an official transcript, a full resume and five to eight letters of reference.

"All constituencies ask that some of the letters are written by people who can comment on the student's academic ability and others serve as character references," he says. "Some constituencies detail the exact number of each kind of letter that should be submitted."

The personal essay should be an incredibly strong and original piece of writing, experts say.

2. University Endorsement

To be considered for the scholarship, applicants must first be nominated and endorsed by their university. Then applicants compete with others within their constituency, or district.

During the endorsement round, many universities organize a nomination committee, which typically consists of faculty members, staff and, if possible, Rhodes scholar alumni, Mox says.

When students are nominated, the university produces an endorsement letter signed by the university president or a high-ranking dean. This endorsement should include confirmation that the student has satisfied or will satisfy the requirements to receive a bachelor's degree in the year following the submission of the application, if the student is an undergraduate.

3. National Round and Interviews

Shortlisted candidates must attend a district reception and interview in November, after which each district committee selects a maximum of two winners.

Wikstrom says she was alerted roughly two weeks prior that she was selected for an interview. In that interim, several fellowship advisers at Harvard conducted intense mock interviews and held a mock reception.

Though the reception is not an official part of the selection process, “if you say something during that reception, it is fair game during the interview,” Wikstrom says, so it's worth preparing for.

The Importance of Being Authentic

While it's wise to prepare, experts say the selection committee values authenticity. Wikstrom says some of the feedback she got during mock interviews was to be less "canned" and show her natural personality more. She spent the final days leading up to the interview re-reading her favorite books, pieces she wrote and essays she wrote in class.

"I wanted to steep myself in those materials that meant a lot to me and were really formative for the way I thought about things. There’s nothing that you can do in that last week or last two weeks that will save you. There’s no new fact you’re going to learn. There’s no new method that’s going to save you. You are the sum of everything you’ve done up to that point. You just kind of have to trust the muscle memory will be there when you need it to be there."

- Eleanor Wikstrom, Harvard University Class of 2024, Rhodes scholar

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Road Scholar   Reviews

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Reviews 1.9.

Most relevant

Road Scholars' website posts only the "good" reviews.

I went on a RS tour to Costa Rica and although the experience was good, our guide was not very friendly. A bit mean, actually. But the real reason I'm leaving a review is because Trust Pilot has guest satisfaction at 80% 1-2 stars and only 20% 4-5 stars. The Road Scholar website lists ALL of their guest reviews at 4.5-5 stars. So I asked a RS agent if they posted ALL their reviews and I was assured they did, but this cannot be true.

Date of experience : July 17, 2023

Reply from Road Scholar

Dear Anne, I am responding on behalf of Road Scholar. We post all program reviews that are submitted by program participants on our website. Everyone is welcome to leave a program review through their online account by going to their Past Trips. The star rating displayed on the Program Review page is an average of all evaluations submitted for that program. We read all program evaluations and those who submit an evaluation that does not meet our expectations will receive a follow-up call or message from Road Scholar, so we can better understand the situation and see where improvements can be made. We appreciate the impact a group leader can have on an adventure and would be glad to have a conversation with you. If you haven’t already, we encourage you to contact us directly to provide us with further details. Please email us at [email protected] or call us at 1-800-454-5768. Sincerely, Road Scholar

Roads Scholar charges more than anyone, non-profit? I don't think so.

I have taken 12 safaris in many African countries over the years. I wanted to do Roads Scholars Botswana trip but the single cost without airfare is over $12,000. This pretty much does single for profit not matter what they say. Last year's safari to 4 countries included international and in country air fare and everything else. I'll go with another company.

Date of experience : February 26, 2024

Dear Pat, I am responding on behalf of Road Scholar. We are sorry to hear you will not be taking advantage of a Road Scholar adventure. We are not profiting off of solo travelers. We are a not-for-profit organization. We do not charge anything more than what is charged to us by the hotels. The cost of the single supplement covers only the cost of accommodations. In a double occupancy, the cost of the room is split between two people; in a single, the room cost is the same but only one person is paying. You will also find that on average, you save 20% per night compared with comparable trips offered by commercial tour companies. That’s because every Road Scholar learning adventure includes most meals and all lodging, tips and taxes, behind-the-scenes experiences, expert lectures, group expeditions, and listening device, as well as, 24/7 emergency assistance. Sincerely, Road Scholar

Better to watch the travel channel.

When you call the number, you get ads for services. Have you tried calling your own number? There are certainly up sell ads. Especially one for an alert alarm. Frustrating to get through. No people. And no refunds if you have to cancel. You would be better off staying home, looking at You Tube and visiting your local restaurants. Maybe non profit, but someone is making money.

Date of experience : December 17, 2023

Dear Daniel, I am responding on behalf of Road Scholar. It sounds like there may have been a misdial, as we do not offer any ads while calling our Contact Center. We are open Monday through Friday from 9 am to 6:30 pm ET with advisors ready to assist you. If you are unable to wait on the line we have an option to request a callback as soon as someone is available. Our cancellation and transfer fees are not meant to be punitive. They cover the commitments we have made on your behalf with our providers. We try to be as transparent as possible and explain our cancellation and transfer policy on every enrollment call, describe it on our website and include it in our program materials. We highly encourage participants to purchase the optional trip protection plan to help protect their investment, so if they do need to cancel they can file a claim to receive cash reimbursement, for a covered reason, or depending on when the plan was purchased, a credit towards a future program, for a non-covered reason. We see that you were successful in reaching us and someone will be following up with you soon. Sincerely, Road Scholar

Roadscholar travel department nightmare…

In dealing with Roadscholar travel department, it has been a nightmare. Hours on hold, and twice the dates were wrong. They had us arriving two days early, when we clearly stated we wanted only one day early. Itineraries were not given to us until just before the final payment was due, and so there was much tension until we could get it straightened out. Hours on hold with the travel department was nerve racking as their times are limited in that department. Next time we will do our own travel plans, if we use them again.

Date of experience : August 29, 2023

Dear Cherilyn, I am responding on behalf of Road Scholar. We appreciate that it can be frustrating to wait on hold and offer a callback option to help. We call on every callback request the same day it was received. We are also continuing to hire and train our staff to improve our level of service and help reduce wait times. We do apologize for any confusion regarding your departure days and see that we were able to get this straightened out for you. Sincerely, Road Scholar

no response to refund question

We enjoyed out trip to Portugal, but air travel was a nightmare! Road Scholar arranged flights. Of the planned flights, one was cancelled and two were downgraded from business class to economy class. I asked Road Scholar for help in getting a refund and have not received any response, despite multiple emails over multiple weeks. I realize Road Scholar is not responsible for airline schedules. But, I do believe they have a responsibility to respond to customer queries.

Date of experience : May 06, 2023

Dear Mike, I am responding on behalf of Road Scholar. We are happy to hear you enjoyed your recent Portugal adventure. We understand how frustrating flight disruptions can be and apologize for the time it has taken to respond to your inquires. We are actively working on this and will be reaching out to you directly to discuss this in more detail. Sincerely, Road Scholar

Deposit is not refunded or transferred. Be careful

I booked a trip with road scholar and had to put a $500 deposit down. I thought I was told that if I had to cancel, that deposit could be used for another future trip as as I canceled within a certain timeframe .I need knee replacement surgery and I had to cancel the trip .turns out that the $500 was nonrefundable. I’ve never worked with the company that did not allow you to either refund or transfer the deposit as long as you met their cancellation guidelines be careful

Date of experience : January 10, 2023

Dear Mary, I am responding on behalf of Road Scholar. We are sorry you needed to cancel your program. As a not-for-profit organization, our cancellation and transfer fees are not meant to be punitive. They cover the commitments we have made on your behalf with our providers and the administrative costs associated with your enrollment. Transferring at no cost is a possibility for some programs, but not all, depending on the adventure and the time of the requested transfer. Our transfer and cancel policy is reviewed during enrollment before the deposit is requested, and is included in the enrollment confirmation notice/email. We also offer an optional trip protection plan for one to purchase to help protect themselves if they find they have to cancel. We wish you the best with your surgery. Warmly, Road Scholar

Stay away from this company

Stay away from this company. We had booked a trip with Road Scholar but after reviewing the trip with my Doctor, the Doctor said it would be much too strenuous with our physical limitations. We informed the company more than 3 months prior to the start of the trip but they refused to return our refund.

Date of experience : July 14, 2022

My mother in law purchased a trip with insurance. She cancelled the trip 8 months before because of medical issues and has since passed away. We called road scholars to see if we could go on her trip , get a credit or receive the money back from the scheduled trip that she had insurance on. Road Scholars was totally useless. The trip could not be transferred and we received no money back! Do not get insurance on a trip that you are using vouchers for… total waste of money! We weren’t even able to use her several thousand dollars that she had in credits. Shame on them for lack of customer service.

Date of experience : July 27, 2022

Don't book if you might get sick!!! No pity

I booked a trip for self and partner, and as we are older, I booked the insurance offered. We were not able to take the trip, as my partner found that his neuropathy deteriorated to the point that he could not keep up with the activity level that Road Scholar required. Unfortunately, Road Scholar was only willing to refund half the fees, and the rest was only available as a credit to future trips. Since we cannot take a future trip I asked to be able to transfer the fees to someone else. They refused. The insurance company, AON, for reasons best known to them refused any compensation. Shame on both companies. BYW, they also do not have any links on their site to this trip or the previous one we took, so I cannot leave a review there.

Date of experience : June 19, 2022

I am responding on behalf of Road Scholar. We are sorry to hear you were unable to attend your adventure. As a not-for-profit organization, our cancellation and transfer fees are not meant to be punitive. They cover the commitments we have made on your behalf with our providers and the administrative costs associated with your enrollment. There are costs associated with every enrollment, no matter how early someone enrolls. These include administrative costs and reservations we have begun making in your name for the different components of your program. Because of these costs, our fees apply from the moment you enroll in the program, and are charged regardless of the reason for cancellation. Having had the optional trip protection plan you were able to file a claim and received a credit towards a future program. Unfortunately, this credit is not transferable to someone else, but we do have options. If you are not able to travel in person at this time we do have some wonderful online adventures. Please feel free to contact us at 877-426-8056 for further details. Sincerely, Road Scholar

Road Scholar flight bookings

I booked a trip and arranged my air travel through Road Scholar. I just discovered that Road Scholar travel never paid for my flight although I paid in full already. I am in danger of having my flight reservation canceled. Trying to speak to anyone at Road Scholar is a nightmare. Their travel agency is only open 3 days a week and you have to go through Road Scholar to get through to them on those other days. I have been on hold for 1 hour. I will never use them again.

Date of experience : September 05, 2023

Dear Kathleen, I am responding on behalf of Road Scholar. The day after a holiday can be very busy for our Contact Center, which can contribute to increased wait times. To try and help, we do provide a callback option so you don’t have to hang on the line. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused and see that we were able to connect with you to help get your airfare finalized. We hope that you enjoy your upcoming adventure. Sincerely, Road Scholar

Spent over $1100 on deposit and trip…

Spent over $1100 on deposit and trip insurance. We had to cancel because the trip was too strenuous for us. We got nothing back. Probably our fault for not doing due diligence but beware.

Date of experience : December 08, 2022

Dear Kevin, I am responding on behalf of Road Scholar. We are sorry your selected adventure was not a good fit. Our cancellation and transfer fees are not meant to be punitive. They cover the commitments we have made on your behalf with our providers and the administrative costs associated with your enrollment. Transferring at no cost is a possibility for some programs, but not all, depending on the adventure and the time of the requested transfer. Our transfer and cancel policy is reviewed during enrollment before the deposit is requested, and is included in the enrollment confirmation notice/email. Since you purchased the optional trip protection plan you can file a claim to seek reimbursement for your cancellation fees. Depending on when you purchased the optional trip protection plan you may be eligible for the cancel for any reason benefit, which provides a credit towards a future program if your claim is not approved for cash reimbursement by Aon Affinity. Please feel free to contact us with any questions at 877-426-8056. Sincerely, Road Scholar

Excellent experience

We are very experienced travelers, and this was our first time with Road Scholar. We recently completed a trip to Israel, Jordan and Egypt in March 2023 and it was wonderful. The hotels were first class and much better than I anticipated. The guides were excellent in each country. The group was 23 people. The buses they used were all exceptionally clean, very spacious comfortable and safe. A couple of days prior to the end of the trip many of us learned that our flights home had been cancelled by the airlines, due to a labor strike in Germany on Lufthansa. Road Scholar immediately rebooked everyone who had arranged their flights through RS. We are looking forward to our next trip on RS.

Date of experience : March 27, 2023

Road Scholar is GREAT for seniors!

I went to France for 6 weeks with Road Scholar and everything about this trip was perfect! Lovely, caring tour leaders, incredible support, and so many amazing educational adventures! Of course, this was PARIS, so beauty was everywhere, but be aware that Paris is a big city, with all the problems and quirks of urban life. Nevertheless, the HISTORY and ART of Paris are mind-bending-ly wonderful. I plan to travel again in 3 months with Road Scholar. My only warning is that if you are over 70 and have mobility issues, some trips are not for you. Road Scholar rates every trip for mobility so PAY ATTENTION if you can't walk far, or need a walker!!

Date of experience : November 30, 2021

Road Scholar is 100 tops in every way

Road Scholar is 100 tops in every way! My PRAGUE experience was so gr8, I immediately booked another trip and eyeing another 4 next year! Their offer & promises surpassed all expectations! It was an overall fantastic trip! My first booking had 2 B canceled due 2 lack of enrollment. The organization did exactly what was promised: Keeping in touch in a timely manner & prompt refund! Margrit

Date of experience : May 10, 2018

We were scheduled for a hiking trip in…

We were scheduled for a hiking trip in August which was cancelled less than two months before the start of the trip citing they did not have the staff. Now I am out flights, shuttle fees and extra nights I booked for hotels. BEWARE

Date of experience : July 01, 2022

The key word above is “recent”

The key word above is “recent”. I have been on 4 RS trips and enjoyed each one. I would rate then 4.8 to 5 stars! My most recent experience with RS is less than 1 star, however. Reason: Covid vaccine mandate. 🤯

Date of experience : February 10, 2023

Dear Sandy, I am responding on behalf of Road Scholar. The health and welfare of our participants and staff are the most important considerations. We do have a team dedicated to safety around our adventures, who also consult medical professionals to ensure we are up to date on all information. Creating this policy was not an easy decision for us and we hate to disappoint anyone who wants to join a Road Scholar learning adventure. We do hope to relax this requirement at some point, but we do not know when that will be at this time. If there are any changes to this requirement we will be sure to inform all of our participants and update our materials accordingly. If you are interested, you can stay up to date on all requirements by going to our website to Travel Updates and COVID Information. We hope to see you on a Road Scholar adventure in the future. Sincerely, Road Scholar

Our trip to Egypt

Our trip to Egypt was cut short by a week because of the Covid-19 situation. I had purchased trip insurance through Road Scholar for that trip. Obviously, it had to be cut short, but Road Scholar assured us that we would be reimbursed for the part of the trip we missed. That did not happen. They have sent me many requests for donations, and nothing about reimbursement. After almost 2 months are requesting some remuneration, they finally offered a small credit toward another trip....but it had to be by June 5th. Um...we are still in the middle of a pandemic, so that's not going to happen. They have not offered one penny of my money back even though I bought my insurance from them. Yes, they're an educational travel group...and boy! did I get an education.

Date of experience : May 20, 2020

Road Scholar.org -Lots of travel options

Shopping and scheduling my May 2017 trip was easy, however there are so many options I had to choose my top 3 then go with only one. The trip was as advertised, well planned, good quality guide, lodging and food. We had some free time daily, at least one hour. The trip are rated by activity level, phone staff know the answers to questions and they have a repeat travelers.

Date of experience : May 29, 2017

False itinerary

We just returned from: Hawaii’s National Parks: Exploring Four Islands from Volcanoes to Pearl Harbor I am extremely disappointed that Road Scholar is publishing an itinerary they KNOW cannot happen. This trip has 3+ days on Molokai and almost everything on the agenda doesn't exist: the ferry has been closed for over 6 years, the National Historic Park has been closed to visitors since the pandemic, the Nene sanctuary is closed, the sugar mill isn't restored to operational, etc. Molokai itself is not conducive to tourism. The Sheraton has been closed for a long time, leaving an unappealing half star as the only option. The transportation was laughable - old/dirty passenger vans that BOTH broke down, or a school bus. The food was the worst on the trip and the lunches were terrible cold box lunches - largely left uneaten. The local guide made disparaging remarks about the United States, and there were signs for "no tourism" and "go home". Why road Scholar would continue to publish a fictional itinerary that has been inaccurate for 6 years is beyond me and insulting. Unfortunately, the poor treatment we received on Molokai has tainted my opinion of the entire trip.

Date of experience : February 14, 2023

Dear John, I am responding on behalf of Road Scholar. We are sorry to hear about your disappointment in your recent adventure. We understand there were some unexpected factors that impacted your experience including a storm, flight delays and a bus break down. It’s unfortunate that Kalaupapa National Historical Park is still not accessible and understandable that this was a disappointment too. At the same time, the reasons for the closure are understandable given the frail elderly population of patients that still live there and the Covid pandemic environment which still lingers on. We have been hoping with each season since we’ve resumed operating that Kalaupapa NHP would re-open to the general public. Moloka’i offers an experience of what Hawaii was like 50 years ago. It’s incredibly undeveloped compared to the other islands which is part of its charm and means hotel options are limited. Moloka`i and Kalaupapa NHP have been a highlight of this long-running program. We appreciate your feedback and are making some necessary improvements to this program. Our staff has been in direct communication with all participants and extended a goodwill gesture for the experience. Sincerely, Road Scholar

There is a nonrefundable deposit

Please know that Road Scholar will always keep a nonrefundable $100 deposit. I cannot find that buried in all the paper and fine print but they state it is there??? I paid for trip cancellation 170, it was under 10 days, and they agreed it was a valid health reason. I was verbally told all would be refunded. I guess that person made a mistake. That is not true. Cannot trust this company...if for UN coveted reason they will put that money on a future trip. But if you don't pay for another trip, they will always keep at least 100.. they will keep more rhe closer to your date. That is very clearly spelled out. Do not try to get them to answer phone. They will not Do not believe "they will hold your place and call you back" They will not Do not believe they will promptly answer emails. They will not I can imagine what adisaster it woukd be if I needed to contact while traveling

Date of experience : August 25, 2023

Dear Jane, I am responding on behalf of Road Scholar. We are sorry you had to cancel your program and for any frustration not being able to reach us may have caused. We do call on every callback request the same day it was received, as well as, try and respond to any emails in a timely fashion. We try to be as transparent as possible with our transfer and cancel policy. This is posted on our website, reviewed during enrollment before the deposit is requested, and is included in the enrollment confirmation notice/email. Our cancellation and transfer fees are not meant to be punitive. They cover the commitments we have made on your behalf with our providers and the administrative costs associated with your enrollment. Transferring at no cost is a possibility for some programs, but not all, depending on the adventure and the time of the requested transfer. Since you purchased the optional trip protection plan you can file a claim to seek reimbursement for your cancellation fees. Depending on when you purchased the optional trip protection plan you may be eligible for the cancel for any reason benefit, which provides a credit towards a future program if your claim is not approved for cash reimbursement by Aon Affinity. Please feel free to contact us with any questions at 1-877-426-8056. Sincerely, Road Scholar

Road Scholar

On the Home Front in Vicksburg, Key to the Confederacy

• In Jackson, learn how “Chimneyville” was burned four times by Federal troops in the 1860s, and visit the old capitol and The Oaks, two of only a few buildings to survive the fires
• Discuss the Vicksburg military campaign in antebellum Cedar Grove, built in 1840 and home to original furnishings and remnants of the siege, including a Union cannon ball embedded in the wall
• Explore the Vicksburg National Military Park, one of the largest such parks in the nation, highlighted by a field trip to the U

50 plus, Education / Learning

Spring Training Baseball with the Boston Red Sox

• Attend up to four practice games with a chance to see your favorite Red Sox players
• Meet with baseball experts, retired players and umpires as you discuss the rules, regulations, heroes and legends
• Explore baseball’s early beginnings, including the history of the former Negro League in the early 1880s

Ultimate Opera: Two Productions at the Met

New York, York

• Attend two performances of notable operas, and take a field trip to explore Lincoln Center
• Enjoy presentations by professionals such as singers, an opera director, conductor, chorus master or historian (as available)
• Study selections from great operas, and enjoy a private demonstration-performance with an outstanding professional singer

Researching Your Heritage: Genealogy and the Library of Virginia

• Begin the day with classes taught by an expert on genealogy and research at Virginia Commonwealth University, directly across the street from the Library of Virginia, then proceed to the Library for personal research
• Examine resources such as census, court and church records; land and military grants; tax lists; maps; manuscripts; personal papers; newspapers; slave records; and many other historical documents
• Enjoy evening presentations from history to musical entertainment, with free-time opportunities to visit nearby museums and cultural institutions

Five Days, Five Boroughs

• Walking is the best way to get to know a new place
• I’m energetic and enjoy a good physical challenge, so I’m always ready to spend the day on the move
• Whether it’s public transit, city streets or village cobblestones, I’m game

Culinary & Wine, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Relaxing Retreats, Yoga, Meditation & Wellness, Photography, Holy Land

Wildlife and Geysers in Yellowstone with Your Younger Grandchild

Yellowstone National Park

• Identify Yellowstone’s elk, bison, marmots, pronghorns and birds of prey using spotting scopes with the help of a naturalist
• A kayaking excursion offers insights into Yellowstone Lake’s natural history and fisheries
• Release your inner cowboy on a horseback ride and earn a Junior Ranger badge after completing naturalist-led activities

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Adventure on Two Wheels: History, Art and Culture in Venice Florida

• Explore 5,000 years of Florida history through prehistoric Indian mounds, pioneer-era buildings and the colorful gardens of Mrs
• Potter Palmer at the Historic Spanish Point
• Bike the Legacy Trail, built along a former rail bed of the Seaboard Air Line Railway, and delve into Florida’s railroad heritage at the historic Venice Train Depot
• Step aboard an air boat for a thrilling discovery of the ecology of Lake Myakka and have the chance to spot some its inhabitants including the American Alligator and Great Blue Heron

Spoleto Festival USA

• Be thrilled by symphonies and operas, exhilarated by jazz and bluegrass, electrified by dance and acrobatics and delighted by theater
• A horse-drawn carriage ride reveals more than 300 years of history, including antebellum mansions, churches and gardens
• Enjoy reserved seating for all performances as well as a significant amount of free time for exploring the festival on your own

50 plus, Education / Learning, Festivals & Special Events

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Our family of four, including two adult children, took the Bicycling: Day Trips to Paradise in Canada. This trip is entirely outsourced to the owners of the inn, th...

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I booked a tour to Italy for May 2024. I cancelled in Oct. for a lot of reasons. Before I enrolled, I asked if Road Scholar would book the flights so that on the las...

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There is a nonrefundable deposit

Please know that Road Scholar will always keep a nonrefundable $100 deposit. I cannot find that buried in all the paper and fine print but they state it is there???...

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Road Scholar is a not-for-profit organization that has inspired adults to learn, discover, and travel since 1975. Road Scholar programs include an extraordinary range of topics, formats, and locations in every state in the U.S., in 150 countries, and aboard ships and sailing vessels on waterways throughout the world. Road Scholar’s learning adventures feature engaging expert instructors, provide extraordinary access, and stimulate discourse and friendship among people for whom learning is the journey of a lifetime. In 1987, Holbrook Travel began a partnership with Road Scholar that continues to grow and evolve each year. Today, Holbrook Travel is considered to be one of Road Scholar’s top program providers and coordinates dozens of programs across Latin America and Eastern Africa. Visit  www.roadscholar.org for more information.

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Road Scholar

I am booked on the RS Best of Turkey in October and would also like to visit Greece while in the neighborhood. RS does not have a tour available but Road Scholar does have one two days after the end of BOT. Has anyone done a Road Scholar tour? I'd be interested in any reviews. I am a bit spoiled by the Rick Steves tour philosophy.

I've met a couple of people who have done both and described them as similar.

Once we were on a RS tour, heading out for dinner as a group. Walking down the stairs from our hotel to the street, we ran into another group of people going up the stairs that looked so similar to our group (American tourist-looking 🙂) that everyone stopped and asked if they were on an RS tour. They said they were on a Road Scholar* tour, and were staying at the same hotel. Rather than a Jets/Sharks moment, we all had a laugh at crossing paths and "recognizing" each other.

*just realized the initials are the same.

You may want to PM Pam. She has done several Road Scholar and several RS tours.

I did a Road Scholar tour of France in October and I absolutely loved it. Great itinerary, good hotels, and the best guide!!!! The people on the tour were fun, well-traveled and open-minded. I sent you a Private Message on this site.

I liked my tour so much, I signed up for two more for 2022!

I’ve done one Rick Steves’ tour and one Road Scholar tour, so far. Philosophy seems similar enough. I actually prefer the Road Scholar because their pacing is slower - they tend to stay more nights in each city and don’t do many one night stays, which I really try to avoid, even on a tour.

I've done 6 Rick Steves tours, and 2 RoadScholar. My preference is still Rick Steves, but RoadScholar is a good choice if it fits your time/destination better.

Yes! I'm here! Valerie and I did the same program a week apart last Fall.

I've done 12 Road Scholar tours and 11 Rick Steves tours. I choose which program based on the itinerary and would not hesitate to take either one. I've got a Road Scholar trip for this spring to Belgium and Holland - have already done the Rick tour of this area but this is specialized on Art History of the area. I also have the Rick Steves Best of Italy scheduled for late September.

For myself, I find the Rick Steves tour members to be a little more independent. Some Road Scholar tour members need a little more hand-holding and are sometimes reluctant to go out on their own for dinner, etc. Over the years I've seen Road Scholar have fewer meals included which suits me fine but it does bother some who are used to every meal being provided. They still have more meals than Rick's tours generally do.

I find their tour philosophies similar - Rick focuses more on teaching you to be an independent traveler. Road Scholar sometimes has some hour-long lectures and as Valerie says tend to stay in fewer places and do more day trips. I have not looked at their Greece trip so don't know if this holds true for this location or not. Both have all tips included and do not include any shopping stops (you can shop on your own time). Both include local restaurants.

TBH, I do trust Rick more on being on top of Covid rules. I was thoroughly exasperated with Road Scholar for my Fall trip as they were not sending out information regarding the need for France's Pass Sanitaire with enough emphasis on how and when to apply. The guide on the ground in France had an excellent grasp on what was needed but the staff in the Boston office did not. I would recommend you keep up with Greece's rules for entry from Turkey so you can stay properly informed. This forum will give you good guidance.

I'd go for the Greece tour with Road Scholar!

I have taken 9 RIck Steves tours and 4 Road Scholar trips over the past 6 years, and agree with Pam’s assessment. Similar philosophy, with the focus on education. I have found Rick’s tours to be somewhat more consistent and that remains my favorite company. I think Road Scholar uses local tour companies for many of their international tours, hence my comment on consistency. But RIck doesn’t go everywhere, while Road Scholar does. These are the only tour companies I will travel with now.

Thank you all for your input. It is quite helpful. Pam, I am in awe of your travel resume. Good for you. I will give Road Scholar's Greek tour a shot. I need to also spread my wings beyond Europe so this will be a good test. Travel well and stay safe everyone.

Let me jump in and suggest you look at Odysseys Unlimited's Greece tour.

https://odysseys-unlimited.com/tours/europe/ancient-greece/

Small groups, Professional guides. A little more incuded. Excellent customer service. Prices quoted include air. Call them for land only price.

I'm going on this tour in April. I've taken three tours with them already.

Deb, I'll also add to check to make sure of the group size for a Road Scholar tour. They used to include it on the Overview section of each program but have stopped doing that. Sometimes it will have a "Small Group" tag on it but ask to be sure. I signed up for a Garden tour for May and realized a few months ago that it was a 40 person tour. Nope, too big. Would have been too big pre-Covid as well. It takes too long to get 40 people fed, pottied and back on the bus/coach. I'm in the process of cancelling that tour.

I'll also say that the Road Scholar guides/leaders/instructors are awesome (as are Rick's). The Road Scholar office staff are undertrained and difficult to deal with.

I've never had issues with any Rick Steves office staff and in fact one time I called to ask a random question about a tour and the person said...wait a minute...let me look at something. She came back on and told me about a special exhibition at the Rijksmuseum that needed advance tickets and advised me on the timing for that. Awesome.

I was just about to suggest you PM Pam, but she's already here!

I have been on only one Road Scholar tour (Cuba, in the very early Obama era) and 5 with Rick Steves. I am a solo traveler and pretty introverted by nature. I also, pre- Covid, traveled extensively and independently because I move at a pretty fast pace (or dawdle forever if it's something I have always wanted to see/experience). I also get frustrated with group meals- I am on a fairly restricted diet and just really prefer doing my own thing. For safety, though, I really value a tour if there are locations where either the language or concerns about being alone could be problematic. I also so appreciate the deeper insight gained with the excellent guides of both "RS"-s. Because I only experienced the one Road Scholar tour I would never want to generalize. I was at least 20 years younger than my tour mates and definitely the most "spry". I found it so inspirational to spend time with older travelers with a wealth of life experience and insight and still deep curiosity about all we saw. It definitely was not a "tick the box" type of vibe. I actually suggested to the guide that she use the Rick Steves "buddy check" and "leave without you" methods! Each and every time we had to assemble to get on the bus was excruciating. Between waiting for people to be checked off the list of names (taking attendance as in school) and just waiting for people to get back ON the bus (after disembarking at a site) we lost so much time that could have been spent seeing things. I don't know if that was unique to my experience, but it would make me think twice for a post- pandemic next time. The point about making sure it's a small group is an excellent one- I think we were about 20. The last caveat is your own travel "style" and physical abilities. This was advertised as "moderately" active but it was nowhere near the level of activity of a Rick Steves tour. For me, were I to use Road Scholar again I would choose an itinerary at the "very active" level!

Each and every time we had to assemble to get on the bus was excruciating. Between waiting for people to be checked off the list of names (taking attendance as in school) and just waiting for people to get back ON the bus (after disembarking at a site) we lost so much time that could have been spent seeing things. I don't know if that was unique to my experience, but it would make me think twice for a post- pandemic next time.

Karen, whoever was leading your Road Scholar tour was inexperienced. It takes the same amount of time for people to get on the bus regardless of how a count is made.

I worked as a tour director. Most times, my count was done before everyone was even settled in their seats. If not, it took no more than 30 seconds to count everyone. (Not exactly wasting a lot of time.) In most cases, they didn't even know I was counting.

Other tour companies don't use the "buddy system" because the tour director is resonsible to make sure everyone is there. What if someone's buddy is pre-occupied and when a "buddy count" is done they don't respond and their "buddy" isn't there.

I saw it happen. One person was so pre-occupied putting her souvenirs in her bag she missed the call for the "buddy check." Their buddy wasn't on board. The bus started to pull away--early-- and I realized that person wasn't on board. I yelled out and the bus stopped. There was the missing passenger running for the bus.

So, if had not noticed that person missing, who would have been responsible for getting that missed passenger to the next stop? The missed passenger who was actually on time? The buddy who was so preoccupied she missed checking for her buddy? The tour company?

It sometimes takes longer to do the "buddy check" than a quick count by the tour director.

I’ll chime in as well to say that for our Road Scholar France tour the 18 of us got on the bus quickly - no buddies, no checking off names. It was quick and easy. The same has been true for my Gate 1 travels and my Smartours.

Regarding the Road Scholar activity level: They re-did the activity levels in about late 2016 or 2017 and they are more accurate now, perhaps a little overestimation on pace but not bad. They, in general, are not quite as active as Rick's tours and part of that is because they porter your bag for you so no pulling your suitcase over cobbles and hills, lol. I am pretty sure on the date because I'd done a walking program in England in 2016 that was WAY off - most days called for 5 miles and we did 8 solid, hilly miles most days. That program's level changed a good deal after they re-did the activity levels and separated out the Outdoor based hiking/walking/activity programs from the rest of the programs.

https://www.roadscholar.org/practical-information/activity-level-diet/

Since I usually choose based on the itinerary, if the pace is too slow, I just walk early in the AM or in the evenings after activities are finished. This last trip we stopped for a photo op in Rocamadour and I noticed a paved path signed to the Old City Center. I checked with the guide and told him I'd just walk back and was joined by another couple who wanted another mile or so for the day. Although the guide had not walked the path, the bus driver was a runner and had run it on previous tours so confirmed it was no problem to walk back on.

I'd agree with Frank about the guide having a bearing on how quickly the "count" is done. This last trip Laurent was very quick - usually came up 2 short which was the same couple every single time. By halfway thru the trip I could look and see who of the 21 of us were there and who was not. I will say if it had been a Rick Steves tour the guide would have pulled them aside and had a talk about being on time. This guide, although experienced with Viking, was new to Road Scholar and apparently didn't feel comfortable with that kind of intervention.

We did the two-week Cuba Road Scholar tour, the length of the island west to east. No trouble with dawdlers. Great guide and driver. Very, very experienced, down-to-earth travel companions.

This topic has been automatically closed due to a period of inactivity.

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Road Scholar has a rating of 1.9 stars from 113 reviews, indicating that most customers are generally dissatisfied with their purchases. Reviewers complaining about Road Scholar most frequently mention customer service, non profit, and trip insurance problems. Road Scholar ranks 6th among Student Travel sites.

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• Booked British Airways through Road Scholar $4,000 lost $1,700 on flight.
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“Enrollment in the program was quick and easy!”

Enrollment in the program was quick and easy! I was able to navigate in on the website without any problems.

“Terrible customer service”

Leaving for an Antartica expedition in 4 weeks and still don't have final packet with instructions. Have been getting conflicting info since we booked. This last call to ask about final packet took forever to get a response which was vague and unhelpful about when we would have materials, including what we need to bring. Completely unresponsive to our requests for medically necessary adjustments to accommodations and ignored our airplane seating requests. Do not seem to have any interest in customer satisfaction once they have your payment. Hope the tour itself will be better. It is handled by a subcontractor (Albatross) who has been responsive. This is our third booking with Road Scholar and are surprised and disappointed so far.

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Dear Betty, We are sorry to hear that your recent experience with us did not meet your expectations. Our Covid support and travel teams are available to provide guidance and assistance when the unfortunate situation of testing positive for Covid arises on one of our programs. Covid exposure remains a possibility during many daily activities, and unfortunately international group travel is not free of this risk. We can see that our office, Road Scholar’s travel team, and your group leader were in communication with you on several occasions to try and help address your questions and requests. We know how disappointing it can be when a planned adventure is disrupted and wish you well. Sincerely, Road Scholar

Dear Tim, We were so sorry to hear about the experience you and your wife had to endure and hope she is doing better. We include emergency assistance in the price of our programs for situations just like yours. We apologize the paperwork you were asked to complete seemed onerous, but when someone gets sick abroad, our emergency assistance provider requires as much information as possible so they are informed and able to provide the necessary help. Our primary concern in these situations is the health, safety and well-being of our participants. We’ll be in touch with you to discuss filing a claim for reimbursement of your travel expenses home. Again, we’re sorry to hear about the disappointing end to an otherwise positive Road Scholar experience and are glad you made it home safely. Sincerely, Your Friends at Road Scholar

What are the group sizes for road scholar new england fall tours What are the group sizes for road scholar new england fall tours

Hello Robert, the sizes of all our trips varies quite a bit. If you can give us the program number or title we'd be glad to check and see how many participants can attend a certain program you'd like to attend. We are also available by email -- [email protected] and by phone at 877-436-8056 during business hours Monday - Friday 8am - 9pm (EST). We hope to hear back from you soon!

We want rs to reserve our flights for two tours to costa rica that begin in oct. we were told there is a way to send an email re: flights. anybody?

If my travel partner cannot go on the trip, can she send someone in her place assuming the trip is fully paid for, can’t see your question ask to get answers from the road scholar staff and other customers..

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Road Scholar, the not-for-profit leader in educational travel since 1975, offers 6,500 educational tours in all 50 states and 150 countries.

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