This depends upon the complexity of your travel program. For instance, a basic coach tour can easily be arranged 3 to 4 months prior to the departure date provided that flights are available at the time of booking. Flights often fill up well in advance for periods of peak travel such as Easter week. We recommend you begin recruiting your students for basic travel programs at least 6 months prior to the departure date and at least 9 to 12 months prior to the departure date for travel programs requiring more specialized components such as performance venues, guest lectures and practical workshops.

This also depends on the complexity of the travel program. Generally, we can quote on a basic tour within 1-3 days. Language programs and other detailed, special-interest programs may take 1+ weeks to quote.

Ten full-paying participants.

There are many factors that affect the cost including the season of travel, size of the group, length of itinerary, standard of accommodation, number of meals, entrance fees and other included services, so there is no average cost. Our program fees range anywhere from $1000-$4000+. Starting with a minimum of 10-full paying participants, we quote in increments of 5, decreasing our program fees for every 5 full-paying participants added to the tour.

The program fee will increase. Students will have the option of paying the increased program fee or dropping certain services from the tour (i.e. meals) to absorb the cost differential. Conversely, if your group increases and qualifies for the lower program fee, we will rebate the cost differential to the group prior to departure.

Tell us! There are a number of ways we can fine-tune an itinerary to bring down the overall cost. Give us your maximum budget, and we'll advise you if it's feasible.

We negotiate favorable group fares with a variety of regularly scheduled carriers including Air France, Alitalia, British Airways, Continental, Delta, Lufthansa and USAirways.

We use tourist (2-star), superior-tourist (3-star) and moderate first-class hotels (3+ and 4-star) as rated by local country standards. Our hotels are centrally located, meaning they are within reasonable walking distance of major attractions (generally a 5-15 minute walk), and have private bath facilities. Our hotels are usually smaller, individually-run properties or part of small European chains rather than large-scale, American-style tourist hotels.

We view the development of each travel program as a collaboration between our staff and our group leaders. If you have colleagues or contacts at colleges, museums or other organizations abroad, we will gladly network with them to meet your goals and facilitate the program.

We do not directly arrange academic credit but will provide all the necessary documentation to group leaders who wish to do so through their college or university.

Many groups choose to travel with a full-time, bilingual tour director who oversees all aspects of the travel program from the time of the group's arrival overseas until the conclusion of the tour. Groups which choose to travel independently are monitored regularly by our London team and may receive 24-hour emergency assistance by contacting London or Philadelphia directly. Independent groups are also given local emergency contacts stationed throughout the itinerary.

A $400 deposit is accepted on a rolling basis. A second payment of $350 is due 30 days after the deposit date, but this payment is not due until September 15 for travel programs departing in the next calendar year. The final balance is due 90 days prior to departure. Students who make a deposit by June 30 for travel programs departing in the next calendar year receive an automatic price guarantee and a $50 program fee reduction to be credited toward his/her departure taxes.

Participants may cancel their place on a travel program up to 181 days prior to departure without any penalty whatsoever. All moneys paid minus a $250.00 cancellation fee are refundable from 180 - 121 days prior to departure. All moneys paid minus a $450.00 cancellation fee and any airline penalties are refundable from 120 - 61 days prior to departure. All moneys paid minus 50% of the program fee and any airline penalties are refundable from 60 - 31 days prior to departure. No refunds can be made 30 days or less prior to departure.

Yes. We accept VISA, Mastercard and Discover. You may charge a deposit of up to $750, and a 1.5% surcharge will be added.

No. We cannot apply frequent flyer miles to our group fares. However, participants wishing to use their frequent flyer miles may purchase a land-only tour from Culture Quest and redeem their frequent flyer miles directly with the airline.