Road Scholar

The Primary Group Leader was excellent. The secondary group leader introduced politics 3 times during the trip then sent this email after the trip. This was our 14th and probably final trip with RS. I don't want political commentary on vacation!

Hello Road Scholars once again,
During our Great Deserts tour, I spoke briefly about issues w e face concerning water. Attached is a 1-page digest of what 4 other scientists and I have proposed. I ask that you read it and that you then contact your State and National Representatives and Senators asking that they work to implement advanced technology pilot plants so that we as a nation can address the current human and environmental health issues associated with synthetic compounds in our water. I recommend to your reading Dr. Shanna Swan, 2020 Countdown. Most of the chemicals she talks about are already in our water and our water infrastructure is not able to destroy and/or remove them.
Take care and please contact NAU Road Scholar (aka Bruce Banker) if you'd like to do another tour with me or any of our other exceptional leaders.
Bryan

Avoid tour if Bryan is involved!

I have always heard wonderful things about road scholar and was excited that I was finally going to have the chance to experience one of their trips. However I have been trying to contact them for over a week and a half with no success. Last week their website just spun and spun when I tried to sign into my account and when I tried to call their message said they had SHUT DOWN their phone to incoming calls in order to catch up on their backlogged calls and referred you to use their website! This week the website it working better but it doesn't allow me to make a change I need to do, so again I've tried to call. On Monday the recording stated the wait time was approximately 2 1/2 hours which I couldnt do, so today I've tried the callback queue option, it's been over 3 hours and still no call. I've also noticed an increased numbers of donation solicitations from them over the last several months. My concern is how easy they make it to give them money but how difficult they are making it once they have your money, thus is a big red flag to me.

Our trip to ST. Augustine was canceled after a few weeks. Did not want to take a later trip on account of price increases of already purchased airline tickets, insurance would not cover what i presumed it would. Road Scholar refunded the deposit and the insurance company refunded the full policy in a timely manner. WILL USE ROAD SCHOLAR AGAIN but will rethink about the insurance that i feel was overprice and what it doesn't cover.

Back in 2015, we started the process to reserve one of the first circumnavigation trips of Cuba scheduled to embark in March 2016. We experienced one example of chaos after another with Road Scholar not following through with promises, mailings to us which never occurred, and phone calls which never resolved the problems. Biggest concern is that they booked the cruise with a cruise line which was BANKRUPT and did not even know that fact till we apprised them of this early in the process. They then tried a bait and switch to get some of the circumnavigation transferred to air flights to and from Cuba. We finally cancelled and did ultimately get a full refund of the approximate $12,000 but even that took a while to process.

We decided to give them a second chance and applied for a Florida trip in March of 2019. (Maybe their March trips are jinxed?) Again, problems surfaced right at the outset. After paying the $200 deposit, and trying to complete the participant information form, we were immediately directed to a site which advised us that the connection was not private and information was NOT secure and then we were told to click on a "privacy policy" which would have meant having to change MANY settings we had with our browser. When we called to complain, we were advised they were having "technical issues" and assured us the credit card info was secure. Yeah, right. We wisely decided to cancel again and was verbally told the refund would be processed in 24-72 hours and then in a confirming email told it would take as long as "7 to 10 business days". Although it turned out that it was refunded in 24 hours, how can anyone trust this level of incompetence? You are reading negative reviews cause you want to be sure about this company. Despite lots of glowing reviews you may see elsewhere, we advise you to consider a different company. Shame never feels good.

My wife and I recently signed up for a trip to Mexico this fall and Road Scholar was supposed to be making travel arrangements for our travel to and from Mexico. On the Friday before the Monday that payment for the entire trip was due, there were no travel arrangements made, and there is a fee to change any travel plans after the final payment due date. I made three separate calls before the final due date, and was assured that travel arrangements would be made before that time. On the final call, Road Scholar would not refund our deposit, despite failing to make the travel arrangements as promised. I asked to talk to a supervisor, but none were available. I was promised a return call/email from a supervisor but never received one.

In brief, this is a company which refuses to make a refund and does not keep its promises. The communications from the company between the time of the deposit and the final due date were almost non-existent. They do not return phone calls as promised.

I suspect that some of these problems are due to COVID, but there is no excuse for poor communication, not returning phone calls, or refusing to return a deposit after they fail to deliver on their promises.

Considerable pressure was put on me to change dates for the trip. Even though I did not want to, I thought that the most economical thing was to do so as part of an attempt to get the trip insurance fees refunded. If I can do so, I think that we will just sacrifice our deposits. I do not believe that this is a trustworthy company at this time and would be concerned whether they actually are planning ahead for the trip itself, or whether we could expect more of the same treatment that we have already experienced should we actually go on a trip. I would not recommend this company to anyone and am extremely disappointed by the way we were treated.

My wife and I were scheduled to take a Road Scholar trip departing on March 14 to Israel. This was the time Covid 19 was breaking out all over the world. Since my wife and I were of an age where medical authorities were warning against travel, we decided to cancel the trip on March 5. We thought by that time Road Scholar would have canceled the trip as there were clear indications that Israel was going to close its borders. When I spoke with RS, I was told because it was so close to the start of the trip I could expect no refund but that I had purchased Trip Insurance and should file a claim. We did this and after 6 weeks were told that their trip insurance did not cover Covid 19 but that RS would provide a credit for future travel and I would receive a letter confirming that within a week. Three weeks later after hearing nothing I called RS. I discovered that they did indeed cancel the trip as of the 9th of March and that all people still registered received a full refund but because I cancelled 4 days prior I could not receive a refund. I was told I would still get a credit for future travel and that would arrive shortly. It is now June 3 and I still have not heard anything from RS. While I realize Covid19 has been very difficult for travel companies, its now 3 months since I cancelled and I have not heard a word from RS. Frankly I am very disappointed given there reputation. If indeed I ever receive a credit (which at this point I not confident I will) I would be hesitant to use it given my experience with this booking. Buyer beware!

Keep in mine that once RS has your money, almost no force on earth can get it all back for you. We had a cruise around the coast of Italy planned for the first 10 days of June 2020. Beginning in mid-March, we and scores of other registered participants were in a panic about being elder on-board participants during the Covid-19 pandemic, so we contacted Road Scholar and said that we had looked on the web site and were stunned that the trip had not only not been cancelled, but that RS was still looking for sign-ups! Finally, RS cancelled the trip -- but because it was cancelled in April, not in June, RS kept our $1800 down payment sent in the fall of 2019 and refunded the rest of this $10,000+ trip. RS had astronomical liability exposure -- imagine its attempt to defend wrongful death suits. I wrote a letter to the CEO, James Moses, sent it certified mail return receipt requested. But, in the end, the technical terms of the trip meant that RS got $1800 for providing NOTHING and we got holding the bag.
We have been on several trips with RS over the years, but we have vowed that RS is a bunch of mealy-mouthed goniffs who will NEVER get any of our money again.

Many good reviews and prompting by RS that it is now time to travel again are flooding the internet. Let my review be a WARNING! First, RS is being totally irresponsible pushing travel during the surge of the Delta variant. We had our first trip to Rome, Greece, & Italy, with AON insurance, cancelled in September 2020 and were reimbursed. We rebooked the Italy portion, but learned they had removed important components (watered it down) of the program; we were informed it was easy to transfer that money to another program in September 2021, which we did. We thought it was too dangerous to travel so now we are booked on the original 2 trips to Greece and Italy for spring 2022. We were newly vaccinated and the Delta variant had not yet made its appearance. Now that it is spreading rapidly around the world, and we are both in our 80s, we called RS to cancel. NOW we learned to vacant meaning of "cancel for any reason." That is duplicitous advertising on steroids. And RS refuses to reimburse us--we can only transfer to another program. We are both retired, living on social security and are stuck with a loss of $8601 that we have paid into Road Scholar through transfers and deposits over these sets of trips, including $4208 paid to AON. That's a total of $12,409! Apparently, we can claim $4800 from AON for the cancellation fees--yet to be seen. But AON & RS are adamant that refunds can only be made via transfer "vouchers." AON and RS are co-conspirators in making money off of our misery. We are devastated. I've now read dozens and dozens of similar complaints and now understand that this "non-profit" organization and lying "cancel for any reason" insurance company are bilking everyone they can to make up for the loss of revenues during the pandemic. It seems there is no way to fight this. Is anyone interested in a class-action lawsuit?

We were extremely dismayed and surprised to find out that - after paying over $1800 for Cancel for Any Reason travel insurance from AON / RS for a 3 week Road Scholar trip scheduled in Sept / Oct 2020, and after cancelling our trip in this unprecedented Global crisis in March - we have not been given any kind of prorated rebate on the insurance premium we paid, essentially for services unrendered.

We had the policy for less than 3 months and it was well in advance of the trip. It is certainly not fair or reasonable for AON / RS to take such advantage of this Global crisis to make a profit because of something that we couldn't control.

All we ask for is a significant rebate on the Insurance premium, not unlike many other Insurance companies actions that have been taken voluntarily in support of their customer base. For example, If I had paid my annual auto insurance in advance and then sold my auto a few months later I would be given a prorated rebate. I don't understand how Aon / RS can think to do otherwise.

If this can't be resolved fairly then we will never agin book any travel with ROAD SCHOLAR.

I did the San Miguel Allende (SMA) trip and it was just okay. It started out bad when no one was at the airport to meet us at the time we were told to be there. The airport was about two hours from SMA so this was not a small issue. I finally called RS and the person showed up an hour late with the attitude of "I'm here now!" The lectures were old and canned from a US expat who screamed in a small room. I am hard of hearing and had to remove my hearing aides because of the pain caused by his large lecture room voice. I asked the tour director to ask him to moderate his voice and she said there was nothing she could do. Less than a third of the people went to the lectures because there was so little content. This was during the entire immigration and border detention problems! What a wonderful opportunity for current events. Why aren't lectures done by real locals - it would be so much better than hearing it from a US perspective. That is all we get at home. Essentially there was little education on what was billed as an educational tour. The tour director was very disorganized to the point of walking us a couple miles to the wrong restaurant and then walking us all back. It was very hard on the elderly participants. You were on your own if you had food allergies in spite of the fact that RS asks about this in advance and I also informed the tour director. She showed up at my table almost hysterical about 10 minutes after I was served something I was allergic to. Luckily my travel companion tasted it before I did and took my dish away. One local guide mentioned the plays he was in, and recited from them, ad nauseum, while we sat in the hot sun and learned almost nothing. RS could not even manage to send me a review form and finally just took my review over the phone. This was not what I had expected and it turns out others were very disappointed too as everyone was give a $200 credit toward a future trip. I will give them one more try and am hoping the tour is not cancelled due to COVID-19. I had heard such good things about RS. I was very disappointed.

Scheduled WINTER IN SICILY trip. Program #*******. We were ready to go, received an email of final preps, not a call. Both of us were covid tested on Wednesday, received our negative results Thursday
Email said to be tested 72 hrs ahead. To us that was 3 days, we leave Saturday, felt good. Upon arriving at airport, we were told we had been out of compliance testing by a couple of hours. NO BODY TOLD US THE AIRPORT COUNTS 72 HOURS AS TO THE EXACT HOUR WERE SUBMITTED OUR TEST! We panicked with only about 1.5 hours tobe tested again. Left airport, went to 3 locations - all closed. So, we missed our flights. Tried to contact roadscholar, called, offices closed for weekend due to being short handed. As seniors we felt betrayed. Days later roadscholar contacted us. Eventually they gave us some credit for another trip. Not near what we shelled out for the trip Plus loss of thousands of dollars in air flights. They contend it is our fault, nobody told us how airlines count the test hours.
Leery of another trip with roadscholar after this huge disappointment.

I have traveled with Road Scholar, formerly called Elderhostel, since 1998. I have done 48 programs both in the U.S. and internationally. I can't say enough great things about traveling with Road Scholar. I have always been pleased with their staff, the group leaders and most of all my fellow travelers. I have attended solo, with friends and with my spouse. As a solo I have always felt welcomed and included. I am still in contact with many people that I have met on trips. The educational quality is very good. I enjoy programs that make me think. I have seen a number of negative comments about Road Scholar not refunding deposits. The penalties for cancelling or changing a program are CLEARLY spelled out on their website, when you register by telephone and once you have registered, they are on the confirmation sheet. It is necessary to have these penalties so that folks don't sign up for trips and not take them, preventing those of us who would like to go an opportunity to attend. Many of Road Scholar trips fill quickly and have waitlists. Almost all of the programs have reviews which can be read before signing up for a program. These are reviews by people who have taken the trip. Most of the programs have great reviews or list caveats for a trip. I have traveled with other tour operators but keep returning to Road Scholar for the educational components and the great travel companions. In recent years the hotels have been upgraded, meals have greatly improved and a lot of programs have a meal or two that are "on your own" to experience someplace special or to visit with friends. I really like this option. I have found that my fellow travelers are well-educated and well-traveled and are some of the most interesting people to travel and learn with AND they are FLEXIBLE. Occasionally itineraries have to change due to weather, absence of a speaker, etc. Most of the attendees are mature but in my experience very active. I have done 6 intergenerational programs with grandkids and the experience takes being with the younger generation to a new enjoyment level both for me and for them! Road Scholar is TOPS in my book.

We just returned from our second Road Scholar trip
First was last year to Cinque Terra- no problems and no change in flights and/or itinerary
This most recent trip was from Antarctica- fabulous destination, largely run by a different company on the ship = antarctica 21
However, we were fogged in for 2 extra days
R. S. rebooked us from what was a non-stop to a 3 -stop trip home from Santiago, Chile
Initially we were told by our guide they wouldn't retry
However, when we prevailed and said we would pay ourselves AND showed them that our original flights were available, they changed them
This took 24 hours of wrangling and was upsetting obviously
HOWEVER, our upset was compounded by the lack of any interested response when I tried to speak with upper management once we returned home
The insular culture of this company is frightening and akin to an inbred fraternity.
Customers have no ability to accurately verbalize their frustration
We were not seeking renumeration, but rather simply attempting to understand why the so-called "custom travel" department was so insensitive to the individual traveler
We'll never travel with them again nor would we recommend them

This was a "craft" camp experience and I went just to have a vacation and do my own rug hooking with like minded people. The instructor was poor and ended up lying to the class, insulting me in front of two groups of students, and reducing me to tears. She even did it to the Program Director.

The camp is advertised as an "easy" activity but if you have any mobility issues and do not have a car, you cannot get to meals since it is a 3-4 block walk each direction for any meal. No drinking water was provided in our two classrooms. We could walk to find a soda machine which sold water for $1.50 or get our water from the bathroom sink. We did complain because it was hot and the camp brought a few bottles once.

Worst part, if the above was not bad enough, were all the meals. I think the kitchen was being run by untrained servers/bus people because no cooking was going on. Heard that maybe there was no food manager. Every thing (but some tasteless rolls and bisquits) was precooked prepackaged frozen food that was reheated and served. No serve yourself. Belgian waffles were put on the steam table and soggy when served. Amazingly tasteless. Greens on my first salad were slimy. No salt or seasonings of any kind were used in the food served. No condiments provided. Dessert was either brownies 3X, or pie filling a sprinkling of oatmeal or pumpkin pie filling with a grainy sugar struesel topping and zero whipped topping or anything to add. Rancid taco shells. Sigh. I think I threw away more food than I ate.

I am waiting to hear what RS and the camp are going to do. The program directed said refund. RS emailed me that someone would call yesterday and they did not.

We recently traveled to Madeira for a medium rated activity level trip. Our guide was fantastic, providing enthusiastic and knowledgable information about the natural features and flora of the region as well as sociological and political contexts of present day life on the island.

Unfortunately, my wife became ill the morning of our scheduled return flight to Lisbon, from where we were to make connections to fly home (U.S.). Our guide was extremely helpful and communicative regarding our circumstances, but the process he was instructed to use to support us in this situation was seriously flawed.

He gave us an 8 page Road Scholar instruction sheet outlining the process by which we would be covered for expenses of our delayed and rebooked travel. The process is administered by something called "On Call." It turns out that this outfit is the same as "Emergency Assistance Plus", a travel insurance company.

We were required to seek medical care and have the attending physician fill out FOUR of the pages (in English) with results of medical examination, including vital signs, blood test results and a medical diagnosis. One form was essentially an affidavit requiring the physician to assert that the patient was unfit to travel. All four required signatures, email and telephone contact numbers.

Our guide advised us to go to the local public hospital emergency room, which we did. The situation at the hospital was chaotic to the point of nightmarish. My wife on a gurney with an I. V. in a hallway with other patients, most of whom were in much more serious medical issues. We observed one poor soul not 5 feet away who suffered a seizure and was bleeding from his mouth, probably from biting his tongue. It took fully 5 minutes before any medical staff intervened and attempted to navigate his gurney through the maze of other beds in the hallway.

Needless to say, the likelihood of ever even being examined by a Dr., let alone having him fill out a 4 page form, was an impossibility. We left the facility and ultimately made our own arrangements for return travel to the U.S. at considerable $ expense to us.

Upon contacting "On Call" upon our return, their response was to again send us the Road Scholar 8 page form originally presented to us. It seems that it is necessary now to get a Portuguese doctor whom we never saw and who didn't examine my wife to my wife to provide 4 pages of information from our home in Colorado.

We admit to our naivety in going to a public hospital in a foreign country, but given that many Road Scholar trips take place abroad, the process they've contracted for through "On Call"/Emergency Assistance Plus is a joke. We were hung out to dry with zero returned communication for hours. The communication we received was useless at best, and if it weren't so insulting, it could be considered ironic.