FAQ’s

Answering your questions

In addition to questions you may have as a Group Leader/Advisor, the following questions may come up in parents/students meetings.

What is my role as Group Leader / Advisor (etc)?
TSA Tours will make all the overseas trip arrangements, but it is YOU who will assist your participants in developing positive attitudes, interests, and excitement about the places you’ll be seeing. It is YOU who will set goals to be attained during your trip so that there is real learning. Help your participants to be adventurous in trying new foods, meeting local people, and understanding what they are experiencing during their trip.
What happens if I become ill and cannot lead my group?
TSA Tours will assign your group to another qualified group leader / advisor. You may want to recommend someone who will maintain your standards of care and concern. The new group leader / advisor will be responsible for all remaining aspects of your planned trip.
What happens if a participant becomes ill overseas?
In case of an accidental injury, the most important is to immediately assist the participant. Call for local emergency medical service, and do whatever it takes to get emergency medical assistance. Communicate with your local courier or local representative. Call TSA Tours emergency 24 hour number; call the medical insurance carrier for assistance. They will communicate with the hospital, medical staff, and TSA Tours.
In the case of an illness, ask the local courier or representative for the name / phone number of a recommended doctor. Contact TSA Tours, and let the local medical staff care for your participant. Once the participant is under good medical care, return to your responsibility as the group leader / advisor of the remaining participants in your group.
Is there a specific enrollment deadline?
No, we do not have a specific enrollment deadline. However, every year we are unable to accept participants on a specific itinerary for two main reasons. The group capacity is controlled by the number of seats available at the group rate with the airline, and the number of seats available on the motorcoach. This problem can be avoided by applying as EARLY as possible. Please check with your group leader as to the status of available spaces for your planned trip.
What is TSA Tours payment plan?

Our normal payment schedule is based on the following formula

  • $400.00 deposit is due with registration.
  • $600.00 is due 30 days after receipt of the initial deposit.
  • $500.00 is due 45 days after receipt of the $600.
  • Final balance due in full 60 days prior to departure for Spring tours (March & April) and 90 days prior to departure for Summer tours (May thru Sept).

Click here to download more information.

When are Group Leader / Advisor payments and stipends paid?
TSA Tours wants you to have any personal funds available to you BEFORE you depart on your itinerary. A check will be sent to you in plenty of time so that your financial preparation for the trip is not a last-minute item.
Do we get a final itinerary for our particular tour?
All participants will receive two copies of the airline flight schedule and the hotel list approximately 3 weeks prior to departure ,(one copy remains at home with family and/or relatives). Group Leaders will be sent a “Pocket Itinerary” which includes a general list of events on a day-by-day basis (including their hotel addresses and phone numbers) to pass out once they reach their destination. May individuals provide their own air transportation? If participants wish to provide their own air transportation, these “Land Only” participants must inform TSA Tours in writing. TSA Tours will indicate the “Land Only” price for their tour. Please keep in mind that “Land only” participants are responsible for making their own way to/from the airport/hotel on their arrival and departure days.
May individuals leave the tour to visit relatives or friends while overseas?
Yes, but participants under the age of 21 must obtain a Letter of Authorization form from TSA Tours and submit it BEFORE departure from the U.S. Student participants must have the approval of their parents/guardians. Even with a completed form, the final approval remains with TSA Tours and the Tour Director.
How do I design my own itinerary?
If you are going to travel to one of our suggested destinations, why not see and do what YOU want to see and do. This is our commitment to you. We want to allow you to develop your own itinerary….one that is meaningful to you and your participants. You don’t buy groceries that you don’t want when you shop at your local store. So, why buy excursions and field trips that you don’t want or need. See our “Design a Custom Tour” on our web site (www.tsatours.com) where you can modify an already popular itinerary or create an itinerary from scratch. We have an extensive list of available excursions and field trips to assist you in designing your own itinerary. And, we have Travel Counselors to assist you every step of the way.
Can I accumulate additional frequent flyer miles while traveling with TSA Tours?
Yes, in many cases your airline will grant you frequent flyer miles for your group travel air ticket, but you should confirm this with your air carrier. You need to apply EARLY to the airline’s Frequent Flyer Program, and you will need to present your frequent flyer ID card / number to the airline upon check-in. If you forget, then a copy of your Boarding pass and a copy of the ticket can be mailed directly to the airline’s Frequent Flyer Club, and they will usually then credit you with the proper number of miles. Although this requires a personal effort on your part, TSA Tours is also willing to assist you and your participants if needed.
Can I redeem my frequent flyer miles and use them for my ticket?
No, we’re sorry, but the airlines do not allow us to redeem individual frequent flyer miles for group airfare.
How can I apply for a passport?
If you are a United States citizen, to obtain a passport for the first time, you need to apply in person. You will need to visit one of the thousands passport application centers. Locations may include many Federal, state and probate courts, post offices, some public libraries and a number of county and municipal offices. There are also 13 regional passport agencies, most of which serve only those who are departing urgently. Appointments are required in such cases. You may also visit the following web site for additional information: http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport When applying in person, you will need two photographs of yourself (Passport size photos), proof of U.S. citizenship, and a valid form of photo identification such as a driver’s license. You will also need to apply in person if your expired U.S. passport is not in your possession; if your previous U.S. passport has expired and was issued more than 15 years ago; or if your previous U.S. passport was issued when you are under the age of 16.
How late may I add someone to my trip?
Although it is not impossible, but usually within 30 days of the departure date, it becomes very difficult to add participants. Nevertheless, we are always willing to try. Every year we are unable to accept participants on a specific itinerary for two main reasons. The group capacity is controlled by the number of seats available at the group rate with the airline, and the number of seats available on the motorcoach. This problem can be avoided by encouraging your potential participants to apply as EARLY as possible.
How much cash should I or my participants bring?
Determining the amount of spending money to give a young adult for a specific itinerary is certainly a personal decision. Over the years, it has been verified that whatever spending money parents give to a teenager, it will be entirely spent. Determining a spending fund or budget should be a family decision and based on trip length, the type of itinerary and destination (hotel stay versus homestay), the amount of “gifts” that you expect the young adult to purchase for relatives, etc. Students will probably need to pay for lunches, some public transportation, soft drinks with meals and a host of other items (including a fee to use the toilet). No matter what amount you agree upon, you certainly want the participant to have access to ATMs throughout the tour. This is the ideal way of “replenishing” the supply of funds without having to take a lot of cash on the trip. (Note: Pin numbers should only be 4 digits maximum, and ATM cards can only be connected to a checking account – not a savings account.) Travelers Checks are NOT recommended.
What are the baggage restrictions?
The current standard airline policy is 1 carry-on piece (size not weight related) plus a maximum of 2 checked pieces weighing 70lbs each. This is changing as airlines review their policies so we suggest checking with us or direct with your airline to avoid additional charges on check-in. One way to help regulate the amount of baggage students take is to advise them no porters are included and they will be carrying it themselves!
Do adults pay more to travel with me on a TSA Tours itinerary?
In our young adult groups, additional adults traveling (parents, colleagues, friends) are often very helpful to you, the group leader. To encourage this, we do not have an “adult surcharge” even though there are often “adult charges” for many of the entrances on your trip. Our programs are based on multi-bedded rooms, and adults requesting twin accommodations will be charged for twin accommodations (which on most land itineraries is usually in the $50 - $90 range per week). (Twin accommodations are required for married couples, and a reasonable supplement will be added to their invoice.)
May my participants pay with a credit card?
TSA Tours allows all participants to pay their invoices with three major credit cards: American Express, MasterCard, and Visa. There are no additional service fees for using a credit card, and participants have the added financial protection offered by the credit card companies.
On a homestay program, how are the local families selected?
All host families are carefully selected. A local representative interviews each family and inspects their home. Host families are generally those with an eagerness to share their family life and local culture, while also learning more about our way of life, our activities, and customs. The family provides three meals a day, a separate bed, and a safe, hospitable environment. Students are placed two to a home, except in total immersion programs where they are housed one student per family. There is always at least one English-speaking person in a home. The Group Leader also stays with a host family in the same community.

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