Cheap Company Prior to the trip there were no issues. Upon arrival things seemed to be fine, however it was very rushed. We had issues with being early to events that needed less time and then many additional hours of sitting around in places that needed little time. We also encountered many issues with a specific Hotel. We were told that the hotels was in Switzerland and it is was actually in France. That wasn't as much of an issues as the fact that the hotel was dirty with bugs and small live animals. One room even had hair clippings in the sink and the bed. We were also not allowed any extra towels for the hotel because they were only a 2 star. The staff is extremely rude. The tour guide was stressed out what seemed most of the time and got lost. These things should never happen.

Stress Free, but they cut corners. As someone who used to plan students trips on my own, I loved the elimination of the stress. Everything is planned out and handled for you. But they are CHEAP and cut corners. Dingy hotels, only include tap water as drinks with dinner, awful breakfast options, and no food choices with dinner. For the amount we pay, I expect more.

Explorica arranged a return flight on a… Explorica arranged a return flight on a Friday that was canceled. It has been three days and the whole group is still stranded in Barcelona. There’s been no communication from Explorica and they have not arranged any flights as of yet… It has been three days of the girls just sitting in a hotel room waiting for a standby flight with no help.

Group size and the time dedicated for shopping were a downer I did not like the large group size. Traveling with a group of 48 in Japan is not feasible or fair to the tour leader and the rest of the group. Getting 48 people off a train in less than a minute is not feasible. I also did not like all of the time alloted to shopping. The trip to Odaiba felt like a wasted day. My students went to Japan to learn about Japan, not to attend a science museum and go to a mall and eat at an American buffet. On the positive side, the guide was very knowledgeable, the hotels and hotel breakfasts were perfect, and the visits to the gardens and temples and market were great.

Still waiting for refund, 31 days later After I paid the full balance of my Explorica account, over $2k+, 1-week before it was due, this company then took the same amount out of my bank account 7 days later, leaving my account at a negative balance. I did not authorize this transaction. I am now on day 31, still waiting for my refund via a mysterious check that I have been told was "in the mail". I have made multiple phone calls and emails trying to escalate this refund, only to be lied to. Their business tactics are shady and opaque.