Voyageurs International Ltd

My wife and I are accompanying our granddaughter and about 200 others for a trip arranged by VI to Europe, leaving June 18, 2020. Our Prepayments were made months ago, and are subject to an ambiguous cancellation/refund policy. After May 1, about 40 days from now, and 45 days before the trip leaves, there are no refunds. Along comes the Corona Virus Pandemic, and you might expect that the cancellation clause in the contract would be modified to recognize the uncertainty this global crisis has created. You would be wrong. Instead, earlier this week I received a brief, unsigned, undated letter that said, in part, "Since we have 3-4 months before departure, we are hopeful that the situation will improve. It is your decision how much risk you wish to take, as VI must follow our cancellation policy." Really? Really! Not only is VI intransigent regarding their Draconian refund policy (unlike almost every other company, including airlines, in the travel industry, but when one parent asked "what would they do if the children got quarantined somewhere ...(he) ...was told that it would be the parents responsibility to get them home." I was able to reach a manager at VI a couple days ago. He said another letter would be going out soon. I found out it was dropped in the US mail on 3/17. I called their office on 3/19 to get clarification about the cancellation fee and got the most ironic electronic message. ""We cannot take your call. The entire staff has been sent home, due to the Corona Virus Pandemic." You can't make this stuff up. more

Please read. I’m writing as a member of the band. I recently went this year and got back about a month ago. I have read and have been astounded (not good) by some of the reviews on this trip. First off with the camp at NDSU. Wonderful staff, everyone was willing to help a bunch of rowdy teenagers and they directors were wonderful people who got 250 kids into concert shape in just 3 weeks! (We got music about 2 weeks ahead of time but our first full group rehearsal was at NDSU) The food was extremely good at the dining hall and the campus staff was nice as well. The rooms where we stayed were nice. They were community dorms where there were smaller rooms with 2 beds with an area with a sink and shower and then there was a sitting room outside. Then the bussing and airports. The chaperones were extremely helpful in getting everyone on a schedule and to places on time. (2 of them got engaged on this trip!) On the trip, each color had its own bus/bus driver that stayed with them the entire (main) trip and that’s a comforting thing. You know one more person hat can help you out (and provide drinks for 1$€£ etc.) It is true that one of the chaperones had her backpack stolen from her during this trip and that is extremely unfortunate. She has taken the appropriate steps including getting the police. I have not heard how this has turned out. The hotels were really nice! Free/5€ WiFi was extremely nice so we could contact parents! The food at the hotels was all local so there was some outstanding food being served! Concerts! The concerts did really well, especially the band ones. I think that’s just because we’re so loud and that we weren’t indoors. (Except Crans Montana) The crowds were good and some sat through the heat with us and that meant a lot! Shopping was really cool! In some areas, we got discounts because of the tour group and that was very nice of them to do for us. In Germany, there was this music store that knew we were coming so they put up a sign for us! The only thing that I would’ve liked more of is deeper cultural immersion but the purpose of this trip was to let kids experience a bit of culture who otherwise wouldn’t have left the town/state/country! Thank you for reading! If you’re given the opportunity and if you’re able to, please go in this trip! It’ll be worth your while plus a mile and a half! The friends you’ll make and the experience you’ll have is non-compared. Where else will you get to meet 200+ people who all come from different areas all interested in music? Collage maybe? Not even then! So take me advice and go for it! more

From the very beginning, kids and parents are told to keep their personal information on their person at all times. Identity theft and pick pockets are everywhere in Europe. If a child loses their information, the child and parents are responsible to pay for any and all expenses related to getting replacement documents and all expenses for the chaperone that has to stay behind with them. Which is understandable. BUT.....when the opposite is true, they do nothing! A head chaperone from VI left a backpack with personal information, under a chair at breakfast. It was stolen before she realized it was gone. We know for sure copies of passports were in it, but have not been contacted by anyone to inform us of what else was there. Medical records, social security numbers, emergency contact information? We have no idea. Our child was the one who informed us the backpack was stolen at the very beginning of the trip. I called Voyageurs immediately and spoke with a guy who really wasn't interested in what I had to say or seem to understand the urgency of the situation. he just said they believe they were looking for money and when they didn't find any they probably just dumped it. Probably doesn't answer our questions. When trying to contact Voyageurs once everyone was home, they have a v.m. stating they're on vacation until 9/1/2019. No way to leave a message. No emergency contact information. NOTHING. We are hoping we do not have to hire a lawyer to find out what was stolen, or for them to make this right for the kids whose identities could be compromised for the rest of their lives. more

It is not an honor. The trip is billed that way, but it's not really true. The scheduling is horrible. It was a terrible waste of time, money and as my daughter said, if she had never travelled outside this trip, she would forever be a homebody thinking travel was miserable. Layovers and poor scheduling are the final straw. AVOID this trip at all costs! more

As with anything else in life, the trip is what you make of it. Been on this adventure 2x, once with son and then again with grandson. Absolutely fabulous both times. Food was GREAT, rooms were small but comfortable, and spending 2 weeks traveling around Europe with these wonderful students was enlightening, as you get to witness Europe through their eyes, as well as your own. Scheduling is tight sometimes, but free time is available also. Price does NOT increase if you pay full amount up front. If you are open minded, love to travel and see new things, ( and old things too) this is a wonderful trip. If you like to b.g. and complain about everything, stay home, as you will probably ruin it for the other travelers. more

I agree with Judy more. We just returned from this trip July 2017, and it is hard to believe that this organization can stay in business and take advantage of these kids and parents the way they do. If you can afford to take this trip an not be in this group you will be better off to do it yourself. There was not a single hotel I would have stayed at with my family if I had been booking this trip. The food was horrible and very cheap to provide. I guess all they think kids eat is French fries because they were served at practically every meal that was at a restaurant. 4 bus loads of people pulling into a rest stop all at once. Approximately 190 people trying to go to the bathroom and get something from the store all at once. Busses didn't allow you to use the bathroom and our bus driver wouldn't even turn on the air conditioner half the time. I just can't even start to explain how miserable it was. This is not an honor for your child. It is a way for this company to make big money and a way for some of these teachers to take a free trip to Europe by being sponsors. more

My review is from a parent’s perspective after traveling with the Ambassadors of Music (your mileage may vary depending on the chaperones, but most other aspects will be the same or similar). At the initial meeting the trip is hyped-up to our kids (and adults) but then we learn the price (almost $7000 ea.). It would be helpful to know about the cost up front. Flight – our group had a very early flight. We had to arrive at the airport a very early three hours ahead! After we arrived in Atlanta we have a 10 HOUR layover until our flight to London. This is the first indication of poor planning. The students are tired before they even arrive in Europe. Overall – The tour follows an itinerary set up and scripted by the Voyageurs International. The scripts are so outdated that they refer to using travelers checks. Obviously, they have not been updated in many years. The same exact tour was done by fourteen other groups this summer (one every three days). As a result, there are not many opportunities for unique experiences. Our group went to London, Paris, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Venice, and Germany. We saw a lot but everything was very brief. The Thresholds handout makes it seem like you will see much more than is possible given the group itinerary. You could see more on your own as an adult as long as you are willing to pay for your own transportation. The concerts were very enjoyable and the local people seemed to really enjoy them. Cannot use the restroom on the bus. They have no ability to service it in any of the locations! There is a fair amount of waiting around during the entire trip. Wi-fi is available at all hotels but very spotty at some (Crans-Montana). If it’s hot outside, it will be hot everywhere bus, hotels, restaurants (most). May want to bring (or purchase) a small folding fan. Bathtubs are all very deep in all hotels. . No opportunity to go to the hotel to change before show in London! more