When you work at EF College Break, you become an expert on our trips. So when I left for my first EFCB tour last week, I figured I knew exactly what I was getting into. Nope, I was wrong. I learned 5 things that made me love our tours even more. 1. Tour Directors are everything. We always talk about TDs and how they help you in each city, but I had no idea how completely lost I'd be (literally and metaphorically) without my TD. Our amazing TD Adam kept everyone in line, made sure we all knew where we... Continue reading

It's that time of year again-- we've got beaches on the brain. Here are some great seaside spots that our travelers are visiting this summer! 1. Nice, France 2. Sirmione, Italy 3. Noosa, Australia 4. Saronic Gulf, Greece Continue reading

It was May of 2010 and Jack was preparing for his first trip across the ocean. He’d stumbled upon EF College Break online, and decided to spend a few weeks traveling on European Panorama. He signed up solo and was looking forward to making new friends during his 25 days traveling, and knew that traveling would change his life. He didn’t anticipate was meeting a woman would completely change his life. From that very first day they arrived in Dublin, he noticed Marissa, a grad student from Pennsylvania. Jack (a Kentucky native) and Marissa quickly hit it off, and started... Continue reading

Time is running out to plan an epic summer trip. The clock is ticking. But where can you go on such short notice? Our recommendation: The Greek Isles. Why you ask? 9. Because how can you say no to these views. 8. Because that water is crystal clear. 7. Because wow. 6. Because boats! 5. Because this is your playground. 4. Because it's not all about the beaches. History is awesome. 3. Because we're not kidding. Athens is badass. 2. Because you get to stay at sweet places like this. 1. Because in Greece, this breathtaking sunset is just the... Continue reading

Everyone at EF Boston appreciates the support we’ve received in response to the events that took place yesterday at the Boston Marathon. Thankfully, all staff in the Boston area are safe. Our thoughts and hearts are with all of the families affected by this tragedy. Continue reading

Today's March Madness City Showdown is Sydney vs. Dublin! We chatted with one of our great Trip Consultants, Carley, about why Sydney has her vote. "When a city has two iconic structures in the same view, you know it’s special. Sydney is not only architecturally stunning but the city is overflowing with natural beauty as well. The cliff walk from Bronte to Bondi beach is gorgeous and watching the sunset over the Sydney Harbour is unforgettable. Not to mention the CBD is crawling with Australian men in business suits. And let’s not forget their accents…" Continue reading

This month on Facebook we're running an epic City Showdown... a faceoff of the world's best cities. We're getting down to the Final Four and our staff is sounding off on their favorites. First up, the leprechaun-lovin' Trip Consultant Morgan makes her argument for Dublin- "Dublin is hands down my favorite city I have ever traveled to! It’s the perfect mixture of a modern city with an old-time twist. It’s awesome to walk down the street and see a historic cathedral or castle amidst restaurants, stores, and pubs. Not to mention, the people are some of the friendliest I have... Continue reading

Recently, we asked past travelers on our Facebook page to give their advice for first time travelers. A lot of people gave similar recommendations, but there were a few we never would have guessed. Top 4 pieces of advice we heard over and over again: 1. Pack Light/Smart "Bring good walking shoes." -Meghan "Pack light--only two bags and not big." -Val 2. Go out of your comfort zone. "Take a chance and do something that makes you uncomfortable. Those experiences can make some of the best and most treasured memories." -Alyssa "Go with the flow. If you want to do... Continue reading

You already know Dublin is home to the biggest St. Paddy's Day party in the world...but what does that really mean? Here's EF College Break's St. Paddy's Day Survival Guide for those of you headed to Ireland. 1. On March 17 the entire city of Dublin transforms into a massive party... a party SO BIG people travel from all over the world to attend. Festivities officially kick off at noon for the parade, but the streets start filling up much earlier than that. Definitely claim your spot by 11 a.m at the latest. We reccomend going to bed early the... Continue reading

This week in Dubai, plans were announced to build the tallest ferris wheel in the world. The Dubai Eye will top all other roller coasters at 689 feet. Let's put that in perspective. Washington Monument (555 feet, 5 inches) visitingdc.com London Eye (443 feet) The Dubai Eye will be over TWICE as tall as Big Ben (316 feet) The Leaning Tower of Pisa is TEENY in comparison. At a mere 183 feet, you could stack three of these buildings on top of each other, and still be shorter than the Dubai Eye. While the Eiffel Tower WILL still be taller,... Continue reading

It's pretty easy to offend people here in the U.S. Just talk about politics, religion, or a variety of topics and someone's bound to get offended. But what about in other countries? Check out these five easily-avoidable ways you be offensive around the world. 1. In China, it's considered extremely disrespectful to let your grimy shoe-bottoms be shown, even when crossing your legs. When in doubt, keep the feet on the floor. 2. Quickest way to insult your chef in Egypt? Put some salt on their food. In that culture, you might as well slap them in the face. 3.... Continue reading

Ok, we get it. There's always a reason not to travel. But come on, is staying home this summer really a better option than travel? Let's look at this carefully. You could be checking out this view of the Swiss Alps- Or you could be checking out the last 5 seasons of your favorite TV show on Netflix. You could be cruising around Capri- Or you could be cruising your neighborhood pool. You never know who you'll meet while traveling. You COULD meet the love of your life underneath the Eiffel Tower. Or you could hang out with the same... Continue reading

This winter has been pretty intense already, and it's not even February. There's been record breaking cold and snow across the U.S. and around the world. Here are some of the best images of snowy moments around the world this winter. 1. This month, Paris was covered in roughly four inches of snow...a rare sight for the gorgeous city. More photos here. via Buzzfeed via Buzzfeed 2. Right now in Russia, it's cold. Like end of the world type cold. Like cold enough to turn boiling water into snow in under 5 seconds. Don't believe me? Check it out. 3.... Continue reading

Over the last few weeks, we sent three of our New Year’s travelers to Europe armed with iPhones to document all their experiences. We got to follow along with their amazing sight seeing, delicious meals, and even the little silly moments on tour. Ever wanted to see what the day-to-day of life on an EFCB tour looks like? Now’s your chance. Here are some of the memorable moments straight from Jeff (London and Paris), Rolando (Berlin, Prague, and Munich), and Roseanne (Spanish Fiesta). To see their complete journeys, visit www.efcollegebreakstories.tumblr.com. This was Rolando's first sight upon arriving at the airport... Continue reading

It's that time again. We're halfway through January and almost everyone is heading back to school. In the midst of all the unpacking, catching up with friends, and readjusting to campus life, New Year's Eve seems like a distant memory. It was only two short weeks ago we were proclaiming over a glass of champagne that "this year will be DIFFERENT!" We made great claims of getting into shape, getting organized, being nicer to our parents. But now here we are eating cheese puffs in our sweats while watching endless Law and Order marathons. But not anymore. It's time to... Continue reading

Ever wonder what the day to day life of an EF College Break traveler looks like? Follow our bloggers as they fill you in on everything from the food, to the sights, to the tour group shenanigans. Check out their stories here! Continue reading

So you’ve all undoubtedly heard our world is heading toward certain peril today... Or maybe not. Here in the U.S., this inevitable end has sparked many celebrations, including wild parties, taco nights, and our personal favorite, a “last chance to dance costume party.” But our humble American Doomsday parties pale in comparison to the historically relevant celebrations happening this weekend in Mexico and South America. The JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa in Cancun, Mexico is running an end of the world special for guests. Travelers can treat themselves to Maya-inspired couple’s spa visits including “body exfoliation incorporating honey and... Continue reading

Think back to last New Year’s Eve. Did you have high expectations of spontaneity, romance, or just plain excitement? Were you devastatingly let down? Don’t worry, it happens to the best of us... every. single. year. It’s not too late to plan an amazing New Year’s and avoid the routine. You know what routine I’m talking about...a few bottles of cheap champagne and hanging out watching the ball drop on TV in someone’s basement. Check out some of our favorite cities to spend NYE... guaranteed more fun than that party you go to every December 31st. Berlin: New Years celebrating... Continue reading

It’s been a busy year in one of our favorite cities, London. News about the royal family has been all over the tabloids all year. Earlier this year Prince Harry and Duchess Kate both had their moments of...shall we say... overexposure. And as you know (unless you live under a rock, or in a remote location with no access to internet, TV, or human contact of any kind), the Duke and Duchess are expecting a royal baby. While England has created its fair share of gossip this year, let’s not forget all the other countries with royal scandals of their... Continue reading

We're all addicted to our apps while home in the U.S., but did you know there are some amazing apps that are even more helpful while abroad? Check out these five apps to save you money and keep you out of some super embarrassing situations. WhatsApp Messenger: Have you ever taken a trip and come back home to a $100+ phone bill just from texting? Before you leave the country have your friends download this app and you’ll be able to exchange text, photo, and audio messages from wherever you are, free of crazy international charges. Boingo: While many hotels... Continue reading

We were excited to see two of our favorite EFCB travel destinations, Amsterdam and Beijing, featured in Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2013- Top 10 Cities. While Amsterdam is celebrating some major anniversaries next year, Bejing is holding steady as a center of culture in China. It looks like 2013 is shaping up to be a sort of “perfect storm” of celebrations in Amsterdam. The Canal Ring is turning the big 4-0-0. The Artis Royal Zoo is turning 175. The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, arguably the best orchestra in the world, is celebrating 125 years of music. And last but certainly... Continue reading

It’s that time of year again! It’s time to pack up your mountains of dirty laundry and travel home for Thanksgiving break. Some of you may be hopping in the car and trying to beat the traffic, but many will be battling the record breaking crowds at the airport or transportation center. Here are 5 tips to arrive at Thanksgiving dinner with your sanity still intact. 1. Bring a snack. It’s Thanksgiving week, which means nearly every resident of this country is traveling somewhere this weekend... which means outside forces may prevent you from picking up your pre-travel snack. Plan... Continue reading

I came across this site a little while back, but I haven’t yet gotten around to blogging about it. Today I am. It’s called They Draw and Travel, and it’s essentially a collection of hand-drawn maps of cities all over the world (with "map" being loosely defined, in some cases). The maps are submitted by regular folks, folks who like to travel and like to make art. When I say map, I don’t mean something you take with you and rely on to navigate a city (unless you are visiting cartoon land). These works are more like artistic expressions of... Continue reading

I was just on Google’s homepage, and their logo of the day is The Thinker sculpture by Auguste Rodin. (Today would be Rodin’s 172nd birthday.) This reminded me of a great time I had visiting Paris's Rodin Museum (a.k.a. Musée Rodin), where The Thinker sculpture lives. I’m a big fan of the statue, for a few reasons. First of all, I like thinking, so I can relate to this man. Second of all, I like thinking about what the sculpture is thinking about. And finally, I like sculptures. The Thinker is made of bronze and marble, and it was sculpted... Continue reading

Apparently French people love chocolate bears. I didn’t know that. This is why I love traveling (or, when I’m not traveling, it’s why I love writing about traveling). Because you learn about all these little quirks and qualities in other cultures. Now, about these chocolate bears in France. Like many countries around the world, France is in tough shape economically. That, however, hasn’t stopped French people from devouring confectioneries—the sweets industry in France continues to grow at 8% a year. And they especially love their chocolate bears. Specifically the ones known as “oursons guimauve,” which is loosely translated as bear... Continue reading