We only use centrally located three- and four-star hotels in safe, comfortable neighborhoods, near sights and local transportation. We are constantly evaluating the hotels we use and researching new hotels to make sure that they are up to NETC's Critical Quality Parameters.

Our Tour Directors are carefully selected and intensively trained by our faculty of professional educators and travel experts. NETC has the best Tour Directors in the student travel industry. We can make this claim because our teachers say so, and because we put our Tour Directors through a rigorous, extensive screening and training process. NETC’s Tour Directors are highly experienced in our interactive LEAP! approach and are very engaging, energetic, and educationally focused with the groups. They are supported 24/7 by our international management team. In general, our Tour Directors are in their late 20s and 30s, have university degrees, are well-traveled, and are fluent in more than one language.

The welfare of our students is always our first concern, and we follow the advice of the Federal Government on all matters of travel safety. NETC regularly monitors the US Department of State advisories for travelers and follows their recommendations.

How much you are refunded depends on why you are canceling, how close to departure you are, and whether you have selected upgraded coverage with cancellation protection. NETC offers choices to help protect you from cancellation fees.

The most comprehensive cancellation protection is the Total Surety Plan*. Participants can cancel for any reason at any time. For a covered reason, participants receive a cash refund less the non-refundable fees (registration fee, airport taxes, etc). For an uncovered reason, participants receive a cash refund plus a voucher, less the non-refundable fees (registration fee, airport taxes, etc).

*Please refer to the Agreement in the Student Enrollment Guide for more information.

Payment for insurance should be included at the time of enrollment.

NETC carries $10,000,000 in professional liability coverage. Teachers leading groups with NETC are automatically covered by this policy. A certificate of insurance naming a teacher and/or a school is available upon request.

NETC has a 24-hour presence: While trips are in progress, NETC can be reached 24 hours a day, both in the United States and overseas. An NETC Tour Director accompanies each NETC program at all times and has been specifically trained to deal with emergencies from sickness to a lost passport. If the matter is serious, every effort is made to contact the parents. The Tour Directors are in constant touch with our local offices abroad as well as our Regional Operations Managers. We are able to reach any Tour Director at any time. NETC’s senior US staff regularly visits programs in progress to meet the groups and evaluate the programs.

Yes! A copy of the NETC Rules and Regulations is sent to each student prior to departure. If a Head Teacher/Group Leader has extra rules of their own for students, they must be discussed with the students and parents. Ask your Tour Consultant for an example of behavioral travel guidelines that a NETC teacher has developed. The Head Teacher, students, and their parents sign it as a contract so everyone understands what constitutes proper behavior while traveling.

Confirmed flight information will be sent to the group leader at least 45 days prior to departure. You can pay a reduced program fee and book your own flights, but you will be responsible for making your way to and from the airport and meeting up with the group. We would recommend you don't book flights until we have finalized the flight itinerary for the group.

If you would like to credit your NETC flight to your frequent flier account, please remember to contact the participating airline before departure for qualification guidelines. NETC cannot provide copies of your ticket after your return.

No. Choose the No Airfare Option if you want to pay for your flight with points and book the flight directly with the airline. NETC does not recommend this option as it will usually involve flying on different flights from the rest of your group.

Round trip airfare and any internal flights, hotel accommodations, a 24-hour Tour Director, breakfast, dinner, entrance fees, bus transportation, any train/ferry transportation, and basic insurance.

Yes, but Europe is not like the US where most things are made handicap accessible. There may be some sites or activities where the traveler is unable to participate.

Gratuities to your NETC Tour Director and Coach Driver are not included in the tour price. For a job well done, recommended tipping guidelines are as follows:
• Europe: 3 Euros per day for your Tour Director and 2 Euros per day for your long-distance coach driver.
• UK: 2 Pounds per day for your Tour Director and 1 Pound per day for your long-distance coach driver.
• Latin America: $3 per day for your Tour Director and $2 per day for your long-distance coach driver.

You may bring one medium sized suitcase (20" length X 28" height) and one carry-on bag (backpack, small suitcase) for the airplane. Please contact the specific airline for exact restrictions on carry-on luggage.

Please choose the country to which you are traveling from the list below and you will be taken to a country specific packing list:
Argentina
Australia
China
Costa Rica
European Countries
Japan
Mexico
Peru
South Africa
Vietnam

NETC recommends students obtain an international cell phone or activate their NETC eKit card through our partners at Piccell and eKit. Phone rental and incoming calls are free. For more information please visit www.piccellwireless.com/netc. Each traveler is also given a free NETC eKit phonecard that has voicemail and can be activated before departure. For more information please visit www.NETC.ekit.com. If you opt not to rent a phone or activate the free NETC phonecard, you may call the hotel where the group is staying that day. Please remember to check the local time first!

In case of an emergency while on tour that occurs outside of NETC's office hours (9 - 5:30 EST), please call NETC's 24-hour Emergency Service at (617) 292-4588. An NETC Representative will call you back. If the emergency occurs during NETC's office hours, please call (800) 771-2323.

NETC recommends you sign up for the NETC TRAVELCARD This provides students with secure and easily accessible funds while enabling parents to limit spending! Alternatively you may take a credit card or bankcard that can be used at international ATM machines. Remember to check with your credit card company or bank to make sure your card will work overseas and you are aware of the fees.

It is always difficult to decide how much spending money to bring on a trip. That is why NETC suggests that you decide before you go what you will be buying. NETC recommends a minimum of $30 a day for spending money to cover lunches, drinks, snacks, and small souvenirs.

NETC recommends obtaining at least $50 worth of currency for each country you will be visiting prior to departure. This will help you avoid long lines and the possibility of banks / exchange bureaus being closed upon your arrival. NETC also recommends using an international-network ATM card to obtain the best rate while you are in your destination countries. Be aware of fees and commissions when exchanging money. It is usually best to check with your Tour Director to find the nearest exchange booth or bank.

A valid passport is required to travel overseas. If any traveler (student or adult) does not have one, please make arrangements to acquire one immediately. NETC will notify the Head Teacher if a visa is required for entry by US citizens to any of the countries that you may be visiting. Non-US citizens must check about visa requirements with the consulate of each country that they are visiting. Please be aware that the time required to process visa applications can be several weeks for each country. Non-US citizens should therefore begin the application process as early as possible.

Your local post office will have the forms to fill out or visit http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html on the web for all the information and forms you'll need. Receiving a passport can take several weeks, so please make arrangements to acquire one immediately

NETC will notify the Head Teacher if a visa is required for entry by US citizens to any of the countries you may be visiting. Visit http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1765.html on the web for additional helpful information.

Non-US citizens must check about visa requirements with the consulate of each country that they are visiting, including those they are passing through. Please be aware that the time required to process visa applications can be several weeks for each country. Non-US citizens should therefore begin the application process as early as possible. Visit http://projectvisa.com/ on the web for additional helpful information.

All questions regarding trip logistics, billing, and other specific trip-related information, please call 1-800-771-5353 or email ACCOUNTS@EDUCATIONALTRAVEL.COM

Confirmed hotel information will be available at least 30 days prior to departure.