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My children have a planned school trip with this organization. We will be going from San Diego to Sacramento on a Saturday. For one day, the cost is $399 per child. Since there are 3 of us going and I have family in Sacramento, I asked to know the airline so that I could change my trip home to a later date. They stated that no changes were possible and if I should change it the date they would not refund me any portion of the fare home. I asked what airline would be used. They didn't know since the trip hadn't been booked yet. So, I asked what airline would probably be used. They didn't know this either. Then I asked well, what airlines have you used in the past, so that I could call and find out the likelihood of cost to change the ticket. They refused to even give me this information, stated that they did not know what airlines had been used in the past. (Our school goes every year.) They refused to let me speak to someone in the travel department who could provide me this information. "The travel department doesn't speak to the customers."
Very difficult to work with, very expensive for a field trip service. I am going to recommend schools do not use this service. In fact, I am going to see about replacing them for next year.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
You think that's a complaint? Worldstrides charged me an additional 200 insurance above the price the teacher had quoted me. They suckered the students into going to on the trip and they profit from unsuspecting parents! they're a scam, dont use them.
Ripped Off Parent, Jane Dickson - Portland Oregon...
I agree. A trip to Washington DC cost $200o for 6 days ( One day was wasted on travel) They have a ridiculous letter sent out begging relatives for money. I remember complaining about the price after they quickly got me to guarantee my child's place for a $100 deposit, following a slick presentation that is hard to resist( especially living in an age where parents feel guilty for not being able to be more a part of their children's lives.) Their answer has a wonderful PR spin: using Worldstrides reduces the liability so that chaperones have less stress etc. It makes life easy with their turnkey gimmick, but at about 2x the cost of planning the trip themselves.
They spent 45 minutes at the Smithsonian Institute and one half hour at another museum. I was amused at how many war memorials were visited and of course the mandatory trip to the Holocaust museum- nothing like a little sensationalism even though the holocaust has little to do with American history. So the kids will at least be able to say " Oh well, I have been here and there", While they inevitability enjoy the experience, they will never really learn about where they went.
Worldstrides counts on the kids coming back smiling with glee and rattling off all the places they can brag about visiting, but with a little deeper inquiry parents will learn it was all for show. Worldstrides is a made for profit enterprise but they hit on a very easy market. One PT Barnum would envy. "Sucker born every minute"
Marvin Rosenberg, Santa Rosa, California
Just returned from my second trip to Washington D.C. in 2 years with my second daughter. Absolutely INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE! Yes, it's a long way from California to D.C., which means a long flight - but my kids both had the trip of a lifetime. AMAZING COMPANY! Wish I had more chldren so I could go again!
Good to read this. My daughter came home with information about a trip to DC and I was shocked that it was $1500 for 3 nights! And, the sample itinerary shows them going to 5 museums on the day they arrive in DC! You could spend one full day at the Air and Space Museum alone. Thanks for taking the time to post this.