Resources for first-time travelers

It depends on the kind of traveler you want to be! Essential tours are made for social butterflies. You’ll stay at boutique hostels with 4+ per room, so if other people jazz you up, you love getting ready for a night out together, and you consider a room just a place to crash after a day of exploring, then Essential is for you. (Wanna learn more about prepping for an Essential trip? Head over here.) 

Plus tours are designed for travelers who love their alone time and prefer to recharge in their own space. You’ll stay in hotels or hotel-style accommodations with only one other roommate, so Plus trips are perfect for couples or anyone looking to unwind in a more chill environment.  

Traveling with a group is a great way to ease your nerves about traveling alone. Not only do you get built in travel buddies, you have the peace of mind that you’re never really alone. Don’t believe us? Ask 60% of our travelers who travel solo! 

Safety is our #1 priority and we take it very seriously. With a global network dedicated to supporting you, we’ll help you see the world safely. Read more about our safety commitments here. 

First-time international travel can be nerve wracking, but don’t worry! We have a dedicated on-tour support team who are available all day, every day. In the event of the unexpected, we're available 24/7 to help. Call us at 1-800-766-2645 from inside the U.S., or (617) 619-1411 if you're overseas. Someone is always standing by. 

Easy! If you’re 100 days or more away from your departure, you can change to any other tour and date within the same travel season. If you have a Travel Protection plan, you can rebook up to three times for free! If you don’t have Travel Protection, you’ll get one free rebooking still before incurring fees. Check out the nitty gritty here. 

A group chat for all members of your trip will open 60 days prior to departure in the Ultimate Break app. But don’t keep all that excitement bottled up until then, join our EF Ultimate Break Facebook group and see if anyone else is on your trip, get tips and first-hand reviews for other trips, or even meet a someone else to book a trip and travel with.

Booking flights through Ultimate Break gives you great value and ultimate convenience. If you’re a first-time traveler, you can rest easy knowing that you have the support of our 24/7 on-tour support team available should you run into any issues with your flights. You’ll also receive transfers to and from the airport upon arrival and departure (in addition to intra-trip transportation between cities and countries) so no need to stress about how to hail a taxi in Japanese. 

You can also book flights on your own, but make sure to read our article to make sure you’re prepped on when to arrive. 

If you choose an Essential trip, you’ll be assigned a room with 4+ travelers of the same gender in dorm style beds with shared bath facilities. Roommates are chosen at random unless you request a specific roommate. If you’re traveling for the first time alone, Essential trips are a great opportunity to get to know other people on your trip.  

If you are on a Plus trip, you’ll only have one other roommate. You’ll be paired randomly with a traveler of the same gender, unless you request a specific roommate. You also have the option to upgrade to a single room for an additional cost.  

We encourage you to let us know about any dietary or medical needs ahead of time so that we can let your Tour Director know. While we will do our best to accommodate dietary restrictions during included meals, restrictions common here in the United States may not be familiar abroad and options may be limited and/or repetitive. It’s our recommendation that travelers bring snacks.  

Purchasing Travel Protection is a great asset in handling unexpected on-tour issues. Read more about our Travel Protection plans here, including our Enhanced Travel Protection Plan, which includes our Cancel for Any Reason cancellation fee waiver provided by EF Ultimate Break, which may protect you should you need to cancel your trip up to 24 hours prior to departure.  

While our tours are packed with awesome included activities, we offer extra experiences for you to make the most out of your travels. Excursions are a great way to do a unique activity (hello, hot air ballooning!), explore another part of the area you’re in, or try some yummy food. Excursions are completely optional, so if you don't want to participate, you'll just have more free time. But we encourage you to go all in! 

As for securing your place on optional excursions, add on one (or all hint hint) during the booking process. You also have the option to add excursions later in your online account or contact your Trip Specialist to chat it through. Most excursions can be added up to 3 days before your departure date, and some you can even add while you’re on your trip.