You asked:

I’ve heard about these group tours for college students, and I’m thinking of doing one this summer. Are they good deals or total rip-offs?

Well, some group tours for college students are legit, and others … maybe not so much. It will require some digging on your part to figure out if your vacation is a good choice. One heuristic I’m fond of is the information request: Did you seek out the information, or did they find your address from some other source? It’s not a hard-and-fast rule, but if I didn't ask about that European vacation package, I'm not going to trust it -- they are trying to sell a product. The safest programs are usually ones that go through a college. Here are some points to consider:

• If you want an opportunity to see a lot of countries, a tour might be a good idea. I did a trip with ACIS tours in high school, and it was a good tour experience. They did the legwork for us, making sure we got to the highlighted tourist attractions and skipped the rest.
• Everything on a tour will be guided, often even the restaurants you go to and what you order if your group is large. You might like this kind of regimented trip, but it wasn’t really for me. I'm a picky eater, and having someone else order my food for me was tough. I ate a lot of bread and missed out on some local food.
• Check out the element of freedom you will have along the way. If local color is important to you, you should consider other options. While on a two-week backpacking trip around Europe with my sister, we got up when we felt like it and went wherever we wanted each day.
• If the thought of not having an itinerary is a source of stress for you, a tour will take that stress away and leave you free to relax. Otherwise, you’ll probably have a great time if you and a few friends just head to Europe and go with the flow.
• Sometimes, tours get good group rates on flights, tourist attractions and hotel accommodations. But they usually don't go to hostels, where you will save money if you choose to travel alone or with a few friends. Do your research to find out how cheaply you can get airfare and how much hostels will cost. Add in food and admission to the sights, and see what you get.
• If you’re worried about meeting people if you go by yourself, don't be. We met people who were traveling alone at each hostel we stayed at in Europe. If you’re open to new friends, you’ll find them.

Name: Liz Cruger
School: College of William and Mary
Year: Senior
Major: Psychology and English lit
Her deal: This is Liz’s second year as an R.A. for freshmen. She is also involved in several campus activities, including pep band and the belly dance club.

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