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EF Go Ahead Tours Review 2024: Are their guided tours worth it?

EF Go Ahead Tours Review 2024: Are their guided tours worth it?

EF Go Ahead Tours is a world-leading guided tour company offering a comprehensive travel package with local guides and authentic travel experiences. You've likely heard of them before, but are they really worth it? What do they offer, and how do they stack up to other guided tours?

rate go ahead tours

Guided tours are a great way to travel, make new friends, and enjoy new experiences without the hassle of planning the logistics of the trip. 

While guided tour companies boast of convenience, they tend to fall short when it comes to flexibility and customization. Hence, many travelers resort to planning their trips by themselves using helpful apps like  Pilot .

But, if you still prefer a guided tour with some level of flexibility, EF Go Ahead Tours is definitely a choice to consider. 

EF Go Ahead Tours is one of the world's largest tour companies that host small group tours with unique, authentic experiences. A great benefit of joining an EF Go Ahead Tour is that they allow travelers the benefits of hosting a free private tour with larger groups. 

However, are the experiences they're offering for you? What are the pros and cons? Here's our review of EF Go Ahead Tours! 

EF Go Ahead Tours Logo.

What is EF Go Ahead Tours?

EF Go Ahead Tours  is a brand under the EF Tours group that offers both guided and fully customizable tours to destinations worldwide. It caters to young and older travelers, admitting anyone from age six and above (under-age travelers accompanied by adults). The number of travelers in each group is capped at 14-38, and small group tours only admit 10-22 people. 

EF Go Ahead Tours aims to provide you with meaningful tours with flexibility and personalization. It also promotes responsible travel by supporting local communities and adopting sustainable practices.

EF Go Ahead Tours mobile app helps you easily manage your bookings and view tour details. It is available for both Android and iOS devices. 

What does EF Go Ahead Tours offer?

  • Tour directors and local guides:  A tour director is assigned for each group to be in charge of all logistics of the trip. They will accompany you throughout, sharing insider knowledge and background information about places you visit.
  • Accommodation:  3-4 star hotels that provide comfortable amenities while being located in close proximity to the city. 
  • Meals:  Breakfast and some other meals are included in the pricing. Primarily, they focus on local food and beverage specialties. They will arrange meals meeting your dietary requirements if necessary.
  • Transportation:  Transport between airport and hotels and other transportation required during the trip are included in the package. While flights are not included, you can get EF Go Ahead Tours to arrange them for you at an additional cost. 

EF Go Ahead tour benefits.

How does EF Go Ahead Tours work?

You can browse for tours by  Destination  or  Travel Styles  on the website. Travel styles are further categorized as  Trip Type, Interests, Seasonal and Special Events , and  With Your Own Group . 

For example, all the related tours will appear if we pick Adventure Tours under travel styles. You can filter the results further by destination, dates, duration, price, and travel style. 

Check out its details, trip highlights, prices, reviews, etc. There's a list of FAQs below related to the trip and other similar tours for you to compare and choose from. 

What destinations does EF Go Ahead Tours cover?

EF Go Ahead Tours covers many of the popular destinations worldwide. Here's a list of where EF Go Ahead Tours covers:

  • Europe:  Ireland, Italy, Greece, Iceland, England, France, and Germany 
  • The Americas:  United States, Canada, Costa Rica, Peru, Ecuador, and Belize 
  • Africa & Middle East:  Egypt, Kenya, Israel, South Africa, Turkey, and United Arab Emirates
  • Australia & Asia:  Australia, New Zealand, Japan, China, India, and Thailand

Group food and wine tours EF go ahead tours.

Benefits of EF Go Ahead Tours

  • Worry-free guarantee

If you cancel the booking within 60 days from the reservation date, you are entitled to a full refund. EF Go Ahead Tours also allows you to change the date of tour or destination up until your final payment day. It helps you book with confidence knowing there's ample time to make changes. 

In addition to covering many destinations worldwide, the tour company also offers a diverse range of tours. Group trips for solo travelers provide ample privacy while facilitating socialization. In addition, there are cruise tours, rail tours, food & wine tours, battlefield tours, winter tours, and many more!

  • Fewer people 

The worrisome factor about large group tours is they can seem too crowded and noisy to have a quality experience. There's also less opportunity to get to know other travelers better. In this case, small group tours offer a more intimate travel experience. Guides can give individual attention and advice easily. Overall, it makes the trip more enjoyable and memorable. 

  • Flexibility 

If you like to travel with friends but don't have the liberty to plan, get EF Go Ahead Tours to plan one for you. You can explain your requirements and get a whole new itinerary done or choose one they offer. Invite your friends and/or family, choose your travel dates, and enjoy. There's also the option of organizing faith-based tours!

Adventure travel experiences.

Drawbacks of EF Go Ahead Tours

  • Increase the number of tours 

While there's a variety of tours, different trip options under each category are quite limited compared to other guided tour companies like  G Adventures  or  Contiki . For example, there's only one tour option for India. They can also add more countries to their list of destinations. 

  • Improve refund and cancellation issues

Customers had faced refund and cancellation issues for scheduled or booked tours during the pandemic. There were complaints of EF Go Ahead Tours not refunding the money as per its cancellation policy. But, it's a common problem that many tour companies dealt with their customers following the Covid outbreak. We hope they are resolved now. 

EF Go Ahead Tours vs. EF Ultimate Break

The most significant similarity between EF Go Ahead Tours and EF Ultimate Break is that they are managed by EF Education First Tours. This means that you'll most likely be getting a similar refund, cancellation, and customer service policies between the two tours.

EF Go Ahead Tours identifies itself as the 'older sibling' of EF Ultimate Break. Ultimate Break Tours is geared towards college students and folks aged 18-29, while Go Ahead Tours admits anyone 6 and above. So, the tours offered also tend to be different from each other. 

EF Go Ahead Tours has a wide variety of tours catering to all age ranges. It also provides both private and group tours. EF Ultimate Break only offers group tours and are tailored to suit youth's preferences. 

Read our  review of EF Ultimate Break  to learn more!

EF Go ahead tour app review.

Is EF Go Ahead Tours worth it?

Yes! We came across great GoAheadTours reviews online about the unique and immersive experience EF Go Ahead Tours offers. Go Ahead tours are a great way to travel if you prefer to join a guided tour.

Like  Flash Pack , it's an excellent choice for older travelers looking for trips that involve activities beyond partying and drinking. Overall, the tours are ideal for anyone, really. 

Our Rating: 4.5/5

  • Variety of tours
  • Smaller groups 
  • A limited number of tours 
  • Refund and cancellation issues

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Tour Scoop

The Scoop: What to Know About EF Go Ahead Tours

Affordable, experiential, and accessible tours are ef go ahead tours' focus..

Christine Sarkis

The Scoop: What to Know About Trafalgar Tours

  • Curious about EF Go Ahead Tours? Here’s our objective snapshot of what to expect from the tour company.
  • I’ve updated it for 2024 and verified that all the info is current.

The tour company EF Go Ahead Tours is owned by EF Education First, a company that’s been offering language, academic, and cultural programs for more than 50 years. The tour arm of the company focuses on being an affordable, experiential, and accessible way for travelers to connect with the world. 

TourScoop Takeaways

  • Countries: 87 countries on seven continents
  • Tour size average: The standard group size is capped at 38 guests. EF Go Ahead Tours’ small group tours range in size from 10 to 22 people. Private tours can be arranged with seven or more people, and custom tours with 14 or more people.
  • Tour type: Coach, ferries, trains, flights

Credibility Check

EF Go Ahead Tours is accredited by the Better Business Bureau has an A+ rating from the organization, though currently user ratings are low on the site. The company is an active member of the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA). Note that there are many more ratings and reviews of EF Educational Tours (the branch of the organization that operates academic programs) than EF Go Ahead Tours, but that they are operated separately and for different audiences. 

Tour Destinations

Tour group walking down a city street on an EF Go Ahead Tours tour

EF Go Ahead Tours has itineraries in 87 countries on all seven continents. Some of its most popular destinations include Italy, Portugal, Kenya, Costa Rica, and Ireland.

EF Go Ahead Tours has many different tour types . On the more traditional end of tours are its multi-country and grand tours, which bundle multiple destinations into a single trip. There are also city stay tours, which give travelers the chance to go deep in a single European city for a week of guided excursions. There are also special event tours that focus on special access to major celebrations like Oktoberfest, New Year’s Eve, and St. Patrick’s Day. Additionally, the company has history tours; national park tours; religious and spiritual tours; tours geared to families; and tours for solo travelers.  

It also operates small group tours that range in size from 10 to 22 people and focus on adventure travel, food and wine, or safari and wildlife. 

Tour Guides

Tour guide talking to guests on an EF Go Ahead tour

Tour leaders, known as tour directors, bring backgrounds in tourism, history, and/or education. Tour directors partner with local guides along the way to offer participants additional insights into specific destinations. Many tour directors have been with EF Go Ahead Tours for 20 years or longer. 

Inclusions/Extras

Itineraries are a mix of guided tours and group meals, plus free time so guests can explore at their own pace. Airfare isn’t part of the base rate, but EF Go Ahead Tours offers flight booking with airport transfers, plus help if flights are canceled. 

Typical Travelers

Guests walking down a path near Lake Como with a mountain in the background on an EF Go Ahead tour

EF Go Ahead Tours guests tend to be 35 and older, with most tours attracting a mix of solo, couple, and group travelers. 

Communication 

Travelers who have booked a tour can download EF Go Ahead’s mobile app to access resources and pre-departure information. Within three months of tour, the company offers a pre-departure information session that’s also available on-demand. 

The company regularly updates its FAQ Hub with frequently asked questions. It also has a dedicated expert team for urgent issues that may arise before or during a tour.

Loyalty Program

EF Go Ahead Tours’ loyalty program, Club Go , allows guests to earn tour credits to put toward future trips, collectible moment and milestone badges, flexible rebooking benefits, and an online hub. 

Private Options

Any of the company’s 175+ itineraries can be packaged as a Private Tour . EF Go Ahead Tours allows groups of 14 or more to customize their experience on a custom tour, and offers private tours on existing itineraries for groups of seven or more. 

Sustainability Efforts

EF Go Ahead Tours has partnered with Eden Reforestation Projects to create and conserve forests to plant 3 million mangrove trees. The company has been carbon negative since 2021, with the goal is to be historically carbon neutral (dating back to 1965).

The company collaborates with the communities it travels to in an effort to preserve local cultures and encourage sustainability. It also works with travelers to share how thoughtful travel choices can leave a lasting, positive impact on destinations, people, and the environment.

Health and Safety Practices

EF Go Ahead Tours puts into place health and safety protocols with its Travel-Ready Approach . As part of this, it operates both a crisis response team and its EF Global Safety Network, which constantly reviews national and international travel guidelines. It also offers 24/7 on-call support,  50,000 EF staff on the ground in 50 countries, and more than half a century of traveler support. 

Family Companies

EF Go Ahead Tours parent company EF Education First focuses on programs for students and teachers. It has language programs, university programs, and gap year offerings.

More from TourScoop:

  • Review: EF Go Ahead Tours’ Food and Wine: Piedmont & Tuscany Tour
  • 14 Best Group Travel Companies for Guided Tours
  • 9 Tips for Choosing the Best European Tour

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Vita, vino, e viaggio!

Review of EF Go Ahead Tours

Everyone has their own preference when it comes to how they travel and one of my favorites is with tour groups. I love that they coordinate transportation, hotels, and the agenda and I just get to enjoy the ride. I’ve done a couple of tours with EF Ultimate Break and this summer I brought Rick on his first group tour with EF Go Ahead Tours on their Barcelona, Southern France, and the Italian Riviera tour .

It was a whirlwind adventure and an unforgettable getaway that spanned four countries. After reviewing our countless photos, adding in our new souvenirs to our decor at home, and finally catching up on the right time zone, it’s time to write up how our experience went.

If you’re looking at doing a tour with them, here’s our review of Go Ahead and our first tour experience with them!

Go Ahead’s customer service

From our booking to our bon voyage email, Go Ahead’s customer service staff is excellent. We booked using one of their seasonal promotions and when it didn’t take right away, a customer support rep quickly made sure our discount was added to our invoice. We had a rep, Ashley, who was in frequent contact with us via email to make sure we had all of our questions answered, ensured we were ready for our trip, and wishing us a good time on our tour.

I can think of only one incident where I called to ask about something regarding our tour and the guy on the phone was curt and seemed eager to get off the phone. But for just one not great conversation compared to the other quality reps, I’ll take it.

Another fun surprise was the Go Kit they send prior to your tour which includes good info for your tour and a fun keepsake – that we’re definitely making use of at home!

Tour Director

I’ve loved all my tour directors that are part of the EF family and our TD for this trip, Valentina, was no exception. She was friendly, easy to talk to, knowledgeable, and always around if you needed her. Valentina was awesome at providing recommendations for things to do during our free time or tips for shopping and dining in each city.

She was great at making sure we all knew what was on the schedule for the day, the timing of the activities, and picking easy to find meeting spots to regroup after our free time in various cities. She made sure to check in with everyone in our group to make sure they were having a good time and enjoyed what was on the day’s agenda.

Accommodations

Since Go Ahead targets an adult and family demographic, it stands that their hotel choices should be a step above the ones we used on Ultimate Break that are designed for budget-friendly 18 – 28 year olds. My assumption was correct and all the hotels we stayed at were great.

The rooms were spacious, the furnishings comfortable, and they all had AC – which was pretty strong for Europe’s standards. The hotels ranged from charming boutiques to well-known brands. Some were older and had beautiful decor and older furnishings and some were more modern with upgraded in-room amenities. Most of the hotels had on-site gyms and a few even had pools – our hotel in Cannes used the pool area for breakfast each morning which had a nice ambiance to it and the hotel in Barcelona had a pool on the rooftop with a bar.

Each hotel stay included breakfast each morning and each hotel had a nice spread of cereals, pastries and breads, cold cuts and cheeses, hot items like fried eggs, potatoes, and pancakes, as well as coffee, tea, juice, and water. I think our hotel in Barcelona had the best food at breakfast but our hotel in Rome had the best view at breakfast.

Some of the hotels we stayed at on our trip include:

  • Hotel Catalonia Eixample 1864
  • Crowne Plaza Montpellier – Corum
  • Clarion Suites Cannes Croisette
  • Starhotels Michelangelo
  • Hotel Romanico Palace

Transportation

We used a coach bus for most of our transportation around the city and to the next stop on our itinerary. The bus was comfortable, the seats leaned back, there was overhead space for smaller day bags, and backseat pockets to hold books or water bottles. We had the same bus and bus driver from Barcelona to Florence and he was friendly, welcoming, and got us to our locations in good time and safely. We were all sad to say goodbye to Massimo in Florence but Peter, who drove us from Florence to Rome was also nice and a great driver.

Airport transfers

We added on airport transfers for an affordable rate so we’d be picked up at the start of our tour and dropped off at the end. If you buy flights with them, this is included in the price.

I will note that we can’t comment on how they organize flights for their tours as we opted to book our own flights. We were able to use credit card points and the affordable Norwegian Airlines to get over there and added a few days in London to our Europe getaway. I had no issues with having Ultimate Break coordinate flights on my other trips so I can only assume it was the same way for Go Ahead.

Local tours

At the major cities of our tour, we would meet with a certified local guide to take us on our sightseeing tours – like when we were in Barcelona, Nimes, Florence, and Rome. Some of them would be with us for two days or for our included city tour and an optional excursion.

All of our local tour guides were fantastic. They were all passionate about the cities they live in, they were knowledgeable, and spoke excellent English. I love that they use headsets for our local tours so you can listen to the tour guide but you’re able to wander off a bit and take some photos or admire a landmark or point of interest without a giant crowd.

The local tour guides knew how to share their stories and keep our group moving through the city at a decent pace. Our tour guide in Rome was exceptional at finding the shady spots in the Coliseum for us to stand in (and avoid the boiling heat) as she shared fun facts! I think Go Ahead has a good handle on finding the right local tour companies with great guides.

Itinerary & inclusions

The itinerary is what pulled me in and the inclusions are what pulled Rick in. I loved the idea of spending my golden birthday exploring the Mediterranean and discovering a variety of places we probably wouldn’t get to otherwise.

Our Barcelona, Southern France, and the Italian Riviera trip was 14 days, including our Rome extension – though more like 17 for us since we added in London on our own. The first and last day of the tour don’t really count as they’re travel days, but it was still a pretty decently long trip.

We started in Barcelona and had the most time there with three days total (really about two and a half after arriving and getting to the hotel). There were three optional excursions to add on to our time in Barcelona and we booked two of them – we decided to skip Montserrat. Then, it was off to France with a one-night stay in Montpellier before making our way to Cannes for a two-night stay.

After the French Riviera or Cote d’Azur, we had a few hours in Monaco before making our way into Italy to stay in Rapallo so we were near Cinque Terre. After two nights in Rapallo, we went off to Florence for two nights before finally making it to Rome.

I love the inclusions that come with Go Ahead’s tours! They include quite a bit in their rate like:

  • Full-time Tour Director
  • Hotels with breakfast
  • Local tours of cities
  • A few group dinners (multi-course and served with wine, one of my favorite meals on the whole trip was one of these group dinners)
  • Entry to select attractions (on our tour: Sagrada Familia, Carcassonne, the Arena of Nimes, Villa & Jardins Ephrussi de Rothschild, Pont du Gard, and the Coliseum)

Pace of Go Ahead’s tours

This was a fast-paced tour, but we went into that expecting it. If you’re really looking to explore a city, this itinerary might not be the best for you and they do offer tours that spend more time in dedicated cities. I wanted to to see a ton of places, which is why we picked a fast-paced tour that covered a lot of ground.

Overall, I think the pace was good and there was a balance of days that were go, go, go and days that were more relaxed and you could spend how you pleased. There was also a bit of downtime as we drove to our next location or back to our hotel after a day’s excursion.

Go Ahead Tours’ excursions

We really enjoyed many of the excursions offered on our European group tour! I think we booked almost all of the optional excursions and I’m glad we did. While the excursions do cut into your free time, I like to look at as we’re getting to see even more of the region while we’re there and why not spend a morning going out to another city we may not have the opportunity to get to again?

The excursions on Go Ahead are a bit pricier than similar excursions through Ultimate Break, but not outrageous. The excursions we booked on our tour included:

Casa Mila (La Pedrera) and Park Guell – Barcelona

This tour was in the afternoon after our guided tour of the city with a local guide. We started at La Pedrera, an apartment complex redone by Gaudi. It was cool getting up-close to his work and learning about the influences behind his designs and seeing into the past.

I thought I knew what to expect at Park Guell but I was still blown away by the tiny details and design of this park and intended residential complex. Unfortunately, part of the main part of the park (read where everyone takes that iconic Barcelona shot) was closed due to repairs so it was a bit more crowded than I think it normally would be.

It was still cool checking out the benches, seeing the unique buildings from above, and taking a few photos ourselves. I’d guess we had about an hour in the park to walk around, learn more about its design, and just enjoy some time wandering around on our own.

Flamenco dinner show – Barcelona

This was an amazing experience that I think we’d definitely book again if we go back to Barcelona with Go Ahead. The evening started with a buffet dinner, where everything was excellent, and sangria and wine at the table. I wished we hadn’t had some late tapas and had come a bit more hungry as the food was so good. Then, we moved into an intimate theater for the show where we were greeted with some cava.

The flamenco performance was incredible and very moving. You see how passionate the performers are and how much of themselves they give to their dance. The guitar players were just as talented as the dancers and it made for an unforgettable live entertainment performance in Barcelona.

St-Paul-de-Vence – Provence (hotel in Cannes)

After exploring Nice, we took off to visit Saint-Paul-de-Vence and explore its little alleyways, shops (purchased a great bottle of French wine), and enjoy a three-course dinner.

We popped into a shop to sample some tapenade and then our dinner included pastis – an interesting aperitif. The dinner was good and the servers were good about making sure our wine glasses were always full. It was a fun excursion to a cute town, making for a fun evening getaway. The pace was very relaxed and if I had a bigger travel budget I probably would have gone into the many art galleries that were full of amazing pieces.

San Gimignano and winery tour – Florence

This was another favorite excursion where we got to explore the town of San Gimignano which was fun and we even had some great gelato while there. Afterward, we went to Torciano Winery for some wine tasting and a lasagna lunch (with their truffle oil drizzled on top)! On my last group tour, I did a visit to a winery which was awesome and this one was right up there in quality. We sampled a white, several reds, and a decadent dessert wine. We’re looking forward to when our shipment from the winery arrives 🙂

I enjoyed all the excursions we did but I’d say our top picks were the flamenco show and the day in San Gimignano.

Price of Go Ahead Tours

We booked our tour with a Columbus Day sale and got $250 off our tour and with our Rome extension, excursions, and airport transfers, it came out to almost $7,500 or $266 per person per day. I think the value for the tour is excellent when you take into account all that’s included and not having to organize some of the finer details of the trip.

Overall, we had an excellent time on our tour with Go Ahead and are already looking at trips for future travel, perhaps somewhere a bit cooler and known for their beer for Rick (ahem, Germany, ahem). We had quite the group of people, from teens to older adults, and it’s always fun to get to know people on tours like these where travel brings you together and I’m sure the next group we get paired with will be just as fun as this group.

Create your own Go Ahead account and start browsing their amazing tours to find the right one for your next getaway to Europe, Asia, Africa, or anywhere in the world.

Hey, I'm Stephanie! I'm a copywriter living in beautiful Denver with my husband Rick, and our dog Rocco. I love traveling, writing, reading, and being outside as much as possible - unless I'm on the couch binge watching Stranger Things with a glass of wine! Thanks for reading and being a part of the adventure with Back to the Passport! ❤️

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Hi, Stephanie,

I read your review right after I’d read several negative reviews of Go ahead tours. So now I’m confused. The negative ones were such that I was deciding to ditch my plans for a tour to Oaxaca.

Can you help me out? Did the company know, for instance, that you are a travel blogger? Why is there such a dramatic difference?

I’ve been home bound for way too long and itch to get going again but how do I know what to believe. Any comments?

They did not know I was a travel blogger and I’ve done several tours with EF, both their Ultimate Break (formerly College Break), and Go Ahead. I don’t know what the negative reviews were pointing out, but our experience with them was good and we’ll be doing two tours with them in 2023, that we’ll be sure to recap and review on the blog. I do not get compensated for these reviews.

Our experience with Go Ahead was good and they were flexible in accommodating some changes to our itinerary, such as us doing London on our own and then meeting the group in Barcelona.

Again since I don’t know what the specific negative comments were talking about it’s hard to say why there’s a dramatic difference but I do know that group tours aren’t for every type of traveler. We like doing them when we’re doing multiple cities or countries as we like not having to worry about booking transportation between all of these cities. You are also on the group’s schedule, minus free days, which I know can also be frustrating for some travelers. We didn’t mind as the itinerary included things we wanted to see anyway and then we always had some free time in each place to explore on our own. So, if you prefer no structure or want a lot of flexibility with your travel plans, Go Ahead might not be right for you. But if you want a guided tour and the smaller details taken care of, then I’d recommend them.

I traveled with Go Ahead in Oct 2018 Venice, Florence, Rome, and had a great experience. Finally going again this month to Barcelona, Southern France, and the Italian Riviera.

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The. Best. Tour Leaders. Grab some friends, click the mouse and do yourself an adventure! You won't be sorry,

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Tour of Australia, June 2024 started off well enough in Sydney. Enjoyed the "Vivid" festival. After the transition to Port Douglas, the hotel that EF Go Ahead tours decided to put the group in, did not have an elevator or porter service. Then after dragging luggage up two flights of steps, down a long narrow walkway that all of the lights were burnout, found the air conditioning and TV not working. When I expressed my displeasure to the EF Go Ahead tour guide, his response was to let EF Go Ahead tours know. I complained to the hotel front desk that night and the manager moved my room in the morning. I received an email from the tour company reminding me to be nice and not yell at anyone. The tour company obviously did not care about the customer being taken care of.

Photo of Jade H.

I made a reservation last Thursday (11/16/2023) for a trip to Iceland from 12/02/2023-12/07/2023 and then I was told that I can't have my refund back. This entire situation has been a massive chaos. When I called on last Thursday (11/16/2023) to place my reservation, the agent (Kathy) I talked to stressed about she "cannot" guarantee that I will be able to go on the trip. Before I provided the payment information, I specifically asked if I will be able to get the refund because the trip is coming up so soon. The agent ensured that I will be able to get a full refund back within 60 days if I decided to cancel the trip. I was also told that I am basically on a wait list and someone will contact me once I can go on the trip. No one contacted me about whether the agency was able to process my information at all, so I've been left in the dark about this trip since the beginning. I called the help line this morning (11/20/2023) around 9:00 Eastern Standard Time to cancel my reservation. I was informed by the agent that I will not be able to get my full refund back since it's too close to the trip date. Basically I was told that Kathy gave me the wrong information, so I will have to pay the cancellation fee. The only reason I provided my payment information is because Kathy specifically stated that I will be able to cancel the trip and receive a full refund. I've never been so frustrated with a traveling agency. I made sure to ask this agent regarding the refund policy twice before giving her my payment information, and she still couldn't provide me with the correct information. It's unbelievable that such a big traveling agency cannot uniformly train their employees with the correct set of information.

Photo of Sandra Lee D.

I have yet to leave on this trip to New England, but thus far the customer service has been DISMAL at best. They have every device to discourage you from talking to an actual person. Additionally, be warned: there is a lot of FALSE ADVERTISING. Website indicates first two nights a hotel in Burlington, walking distance to many things, or close to public transportation. So, we booked a pre-stay for two nights in Burlington, Before we booked the extra nights, I was told by rep the hotel would be 'Delta Marriott in Burlington'. When the actual hotels were sent, I see we are at Hampton Inn in Colchester. Well this hotel is in the middle of nowhere, not walkable to anything, 30 minutes drive to Burlington. Their front desk informed me we 'really will need a car to go anywhere' (except Starbucks and Costco across the street). I have been on the line now 43 minutes as I type this to 'tour support' line. The rep when she finally came on tells me there is NO REFUND for the pre-stay hotel payment. It is 'close to public transportation.' Turns out she is referring to the Colchester bus station -- 13 minutes away!! Clearly, reputation and customer service are not important to this company. I will never book with them again.

Photo of Dree F.

This review is for the tour of London and Paris. This was my third tour with GoAhead in the past 10 years. My first two tours in 2011 and 2015 were both very good, but this one was a disappointment with a dramatic decline in customer service and quality. That pains me to say, but it's true. This was essentially a bargain basement tour with terrible customer service and a bad Tour Director, Reuben, who made the tour very stressful and unpleasant. He was unavailable to us, ignored messages, and made us feel like we were bothering him. The whole tour group was constantly talking about how Rueben the tour guide was ignoring them and acting put out, like he didn't want to be bothered with the group. The wait time to talk to anyone at GoAhead on the phone was consistently 45 min to an hour minimum leading up to the tour and after. That's ridiculous. For my past 2 tours I received a quality travel bag in the mail from GoAhead. This time, GoAhead mailed the travelers a cookbook. Like that will come in handy whilst on tour. It was an obvious attempt at some promotional collaboration that didn't serve the needs of its customers at all. The London portion coincided with the death of Queen Elizabeth. It was understandable that there might be some adjustments made, but we were told in the hotel lobby that our bus had been "cancelled" and we would be traveling on foot. This was a problem, because we paid for coach travel throughout our tour. GoAhead sent us travelers an email on 9/15 that said "London is experiencing severe road closures, which do not permit buses to operate in the city." This statement was untrue. There were plenty of buses operating in the city, and numerous buses were outside of our London hotel every day transporting people from other tour groups. We took photos and video of these buses with time stamps. I understand that transportation is more complicated with activities around Queen Elizabeth, but to tell us that buses are "not permitted" to operate in the city is just false. For the excursions, there was never enough time to enjoy. It was rush-rush-rush, never allowing an appropriate amount of time to see the site, with no consideration to factor in time for restrooms or gift shops. Reuben was a downgrade from previous tour directors. It is the Tour Director's job to be available and hold our hands through the travel. Reuben left my husband and me at a London tube station after we couldn't get on due to overcrowding at rush hour. When we caught up later, he had the nerve to snip at us for not getting on fast enough. I'm a former New Yorker and know how to deal with rush hour subway crowding. There was NO ROOM to possibly get on. Then, when the group had just arrived in Paris, he took us on the Metro and then abandoned us all at an unfamiliar location in the Latin Quarter, saying that he would "challenge us" to see if we could all find our way back without him. Wow. Travel was chaotic and disorganized in his hands. The Paris hotel location at Place de Republique was shabby and filled with a constant stream of loud motorcycles at all hours and loud skateboarders, making sleep a challenge. I was also disturbed that GoAhead made a point to say that all of us travelers absolutely MUST have COVID testing just before travel, and that the Tour Director would be checking these test results as soon as we arrived. Reuben never once mentioned this testing, and certainly never came around to check our test results. I feel really lied to about this. When I contacted GoAhead with the documented issues we experienced and the demonstrable lies we were told on the tour, the representative acted all concerned and told us we were surely owed a partial refund. I asked for a $400 per person partial refund ($800 total), which is peanuts compared to the total cost. Of course, GoAhead later came back and said NO. No refund of any kind would be given. So that ended our relationship with GoAhead after 3 tours for use over the last 10 years. They didn't care at all about losing our future business. So, BEWARE. This company is not what it once was. It's a great shame. We will not be traveling with them again. There are a lot of other choices out there, and they don't care about making things right -- just getting your money and nickel and diming you to death. You've been warned.

Photo of Cynthia V.

We booked a trip and took the more expensive cancel anytime insurance. After 2 months of trying to get someone on the customer service line, I finally spoke to someone who gave me incorrect information. I was eventually connected to a supervisor who told me that cancel anytime meant, I could cancel, but there was no refund only a future trip credit. If you are brave enough to book with them-read all the fine print. I will never deal with them again

Photo of Theresa G.

I originally booked a tour and paid the $300 fee. Things came up and had to put it on hold. I received an email stating that I needed to re-book or cancel by the next day. I cancelled it and they kept my $300 deposit. Why? I wonder how much they make off keeping customers deposits and they did not have to do anything for it. I will never book with them I'd rather take my chances and book my own tour. Buyer beware.

Photo of Barbara C.

Customer service is horrible. Almost non existent. Our Tour Director and Naturalist were wonderful and the tour itself was very good. However, two accommodations were terrible and when we talked to Go Ahead about it, they basically said too bad even though we told them what we wanted upfront. So we will never go with this tour company again.

Photo of Thomas N.

EF GoAhead Tours has a few good qualities but, their customer service and the ability to obtain refunds that they owe is the worst. We went on a European tour with them. We booked airfare, hotels and excursions through them. Total trip was well over $14,000. We paid all of this in advance by withdrawals from our checking account, as they require. They do not accept credit cards for payments except while on tour. To begin with, most of the booking part was a good experience. There were some challenges in getting and paying for the upgrade flight accommodations that we wanted but in the end, we did get those resolved. Now to the challenges and terrible parts. First, they cancelled our 3 day extension to Germany reportedly due to a lack of interest. The problem was, they did this after the cut-off date for us to cancel or reschedule. After pushing through to a Supervisor, that person did assist with booking our hotel and a return flight home, but nothing else regarding other travel or arrangements. Next, 4 days prior to the tour starting they canceled one of our excursions. This meant it was too late to book something else for that day. Then, they have refused to issue a refund for the entire amount we paid for that excursion. We are out $20 for this. Even though we have provided documentation of their error in the refund amount, no one at EF seems to understand and they refuse to address this issue. We then booked something on our own for that day. While on tour, they then offered another excursion for us for that day and were kind enough to credit us for the other excursion we then had to cancel. Problem here is they charged us an extra $10 per person for this excursion, citing their policy is that the price goes up once you are on tour. This is even though they canceled the other excursion just prior to the tour starting and did not offer us another option until we were on tour. We are out another $20 for this error or policy on their part. Next, they canceled two additional excursions while we were on tour. One was $198 for two persons and the other was $290 for two persons. They told us while on tour that they would refund these charges to us but, that it takes 8-10 weeks for them to process these refunds. Since the tour ended, we have been in constant contact with EF. Here are the problems related to this. First, you cannot speak directly to someone about these kinds of issues once the tour is over. You have to leave a message and then it usually takes them 3-4 days to call you back. The Customer Service reps are not empowered to do anything about this except to document it and then forward it on to someone else while you wait for a reply. I have asked several times for a Supervisor and each time I am told, they will ask one to call me but it also takes 3-4 days for them to call you back. They have asked for documentation of these issues and I have sent them emails, invoices, screenshots and all that there is. Unfortunately, no matter how clear the documentation is, nothing gets resolved. We finally established contact with someone we were told was a Supervisor. However, her title is Customer Loyalty and Engagement Specialist. We just can't seem to get to a Supervisor to assist us. This person has now told us several times that the initial $20 was refunded to our credit card. However, no refund has ever posted. Then, she told us an additional $238 was credited back to our credit card. That refund has also never posted and it has been over 2 weeks. She has also told us that the remaining $250 will be issued to us in a check. But, when asked when the check would be issued, were told they were completing their annual "audit" of finances and it would be another 3 weeks before the check would be issued. We are not confident at this time that this will ever happen. We were also recently contacted by another guest on our tour. Similar issue with a refund that was promised yet they have yet to receive theirs either. In summary, we had a pretty good tour experience with EF, it is the work on the back end and getting to talk to anyone or get refunds once we are off tour that is the problem. Their employees do not have any answers, they don't want to talk on the phone and want to try and handle everything by email and they are just plain difficult to work with. As of today, we are still waiting on $522 in refunds from EF with no understanding of when we might see our funds. Very disappointing!

Photo of Flo J.

Did a group tour of Ireland with these people. We were hauled around to every tourist trap in the country. Most of the people on my trip seemed to be Fox News watching Trumpers. The tour director didn't seem to know much about Irish history. Never visited a single site from the 1798 or 1916 rebellions. Total zero. Much regret it.

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Will Refuse to Refund

I made a reservation last Thursday (11/16/2023) for a trip to Iceland from 12/02/2023-12/07/2023 and then I was told that I can’t have my refund back. When I called...

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An awesome experience!

Excellent service by **************, our travel director, for our Canadian Rockies trip on May 27 to June 2, 2024. A most memorable and exciting experience to see t...

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About Go Ahead Tours

We're a company of passionate adventurers dedicated to creating the best journey for every traveler. As a proud part of EF Education First, we draw on 50 years of expertise to continue to add meaningful travel experiences to our portfolio of more than 100 tours.  

GLOBAL EXPERTISE

About Trafalgar

At Trafalgar, we passionately believe in the power of travel to broaden the mind and build bridges between people. By sharing with you the hidden places not mentioned in guidebooks, the local people you wouldn’t otherwise meet, and the traditions you may not have experienced by yourself, we ensure that you get the ‘insider’ view, an authentic and enhanced experience you simply could not have had on your own.

Money blog: New high street chain hit by E.coil fears - here are your refund and legal rights

The Money blog brings you personal finance and consumer news, plus all the latest on the economy. Let us know your thoughts on any of the stories we're covering in the comments box below.

Monday 17 June 2024 09:28, UK

  • Tesco insists online marketplace venture 'not trying to be Amazon'
  • New shop hit by E.coli recall - what are your rights?
  • 80 pubs shutting each month, data reveals
  • The supermarket olive oil that costs £5.19 and aced taste tests

Essential reads

  • Money Problem : 'My fence is damaged due to weeds on my neighbour's side - but they're not interested'
  • Holiday money - where to buy it, how to avoid fees, and one thing you must not do
  • Here are the best affordable rose wines for summer
  • Best of the Money blog - an archive

Ask a question or make a comment

Every Monday we put your financial dilemmas or consumer disputes to industry experts. You can find out how to submit yours at the bottom of this post.

This week, Sky News reader Steve  asks...

"My garden fence is starting to fall apart due to weeds and a lack of maintenance on my neighbour's side. The house is owned by the council. I have spoken to the neighbours who are disinterested and the council do nothing unless the tenant complains. What can I do?"

As part of our research into this answer, we spoke to Sean White, managing partner of Courtyard Solicitors , who said you should get your admin in order first.

"Start by thoroughly documenting the issue. Take clear photographs showing the deterioration of the fence and the encroaching weeds from your neighbour's side," he said.

"Review local regulations concerning property maintenance and fencing to understand your rights and responsibilities."

Next, draft a formal letter addressed to both your neighbour and the council - attaching the documentation you've gathered.

"Clearly explain the problem and its impact on your property and politely request prompt action to resolve the issue," said Mr White.

If direct communication with your neighbour fails, Mr White says consider utilising mediation services to facilitate a constructive discussion.

Mediation is when an impartial professional helps both sides work out an agreement. It's private and usually quicker and cheaper than going to court. Your local council should be able to advise on what mediation services are available near you - and you can find more information here .

If the council remains unresponsive, Mr White suggests escalating your concerns by contacting them again, emphasising any potential hazards or property damage resulting from the situation.

"If necessary, file a formal complaint with the council, providing them with comprehensive documentation of the issue and its effects."

Two avenues with your local council are:

  • The Environmental Health Department, who can be contacted if excessive weeds or rubbish in a neighbour's garden are causing problems on your property so as to be a nuisance;
  • Most council and housing association landlords specify tenants must keep their gardens to a "satisfactory standard".

"If you think the council is acting unreasonably you can complain to the Local Government Ombudsman," says Mr White.

As a final option, he advises, explore legal avenues by consulting with a solicitor specialising in property or neighbour disputes. 

"They can assist in obtaining copies of the title deeds to ascertain responsibility for maintaining the fence, facilitating a resolution to the issue."

The government has this information for those considering legal action against their neighbour.

Mr White says: "Throughout this process, maintain a composed and respectful demeanour, as it often helps achieve a favourable resolution for all parties involved."

Citizens Advice also has literature on how to deal with issues such as this - read it here .

This feature is not intended as financial advice - the aim is to give an overview of the things you should think about. S ubmit your dilemma or consumer dispute, leaving your name and contact details , in the form above. Alternatively:

By Daniel Binns, business reporter

London stocks are up slightly today ahead of a big week of economic data.

New inflation figures are set to be released on Wednesday, while the Bank of England will announce its latest interest rate decision on Thursday.

Investors are perhaps a bit cautious ahead of the publication of the key numbers, with no major movers in early trading.

Overall, the FTSE 100 is up 0.1% and the FTSE 250 is up 0.3% so far.

Telecoms firms are among the gainers on Monday, with BT Group up nearly 2% and Vodafone rising 1.2%.

Grocery delivery firm Ocado is down 2%, while mining giant Rio Tinto has slipped 1.1%.

On the currency markets, £1 buys $1.27 US or €1.18.

Meanwhile, the cost of oil is flat this morning, with a barrel of Brent Crude priced at just over $82 (£65).

It comes as motoring firm the RAC expressed concern this morning that fuel prices in Britain remain high despite a fall in wholesale costs in recent weeks.

Another company is recalling a product as a "precautionary measure" due to the possible risk of E.coli.

THIS! says customers who bought its vegan chicken and bacon wrap anytime up to and including Tuesday 18 June should not eat it and should return it for a refund.

The wrap is only sold at WHSmith.

It comes days after sandwich makers Greencore and Samworth Brothers Manton Wood, which supply UK supermarkets, recalled a list of products as a precautionary step.

Products from Boots, Asda, Tesco, Co-op, Aldi, Sainsbury's and Amazon are part of that recall.

The Food Standards Agency's head of incidents, Darren Whitby, said it was working with Food Standards Scotland and the UK Health Security Agency to "identify the cause of an ongoing outbreak" caused by the Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC).

Symptoms include "severe and sometimes bloody diarrhoea, stomach cramps, vomiting and fever", said Trish Mannes from the UKHSA.

However, some cases can cause serous complications that can lead to kidney failure.

People are being advised to follow NHS.uk guidance if they become unwell.

There were 211 cases associated with the STEC outbreak as of 11 June - up from 113 five days earlier.

What are you rights if you get ill?

Yorkshire-based solicitors Graysons advises that anyone who falls ill due to food poisoning generally could be due compensation - but only if negligence is at play.

The circumstances of these E.coli recalls are far from clear - but more generally, the firm says...

"You can sue a food company for compensation for food poisoning if the food poisoning results from their negligence.

"You can bring a food compensation claim against any food outlet or even a friend who negligently makes you ill at a dinner party.  

"You will be able to claim for your pain and suffering, as well as any financial losses, including the costs of treatment and any lost earnings. 

"If you want to make a food poisoning compensation claim, you should work with an experienced personal injury lawyer."

You can report any food hygiene concerns to the Food Standards Agency here .

Tesco's top boss has insisted the supermarket is not trying to copy Amazon with the online marketplace it launched last month.

The marketplace was launched to allow shoppers to buy third-party products like homeware and toys while ordering groceries.

"The primary focus of marketplace is to build out and extend the range of food, food related and home products available to customers – so to be very clear, we are not trying to be Amazon," said chief executive Ken Murphy.

"We are not trying to be all things to all people."

It will make available "niche products" that wouldn't necessarily appear on shop shelves.

He said the new venture was "much more integrated" than Tesco Direct, which was a separate platform launched in 2012 and scrapped in 2018.

On how the marketplace is going, Mr Murphy said: "I think it's really early days. It's very hard to give you any reaction because we're really a week in - I think we've had some very positive early signals in terms of the number of orders."

More than 80 pubs shut each month in England and Wales during the first quarter of the year, new government figures reveal.

Some 239 establishments were demolished or converted for other uses over the three months to 31 March.

It was a rate of closures 56% higher than the same period last year, when 51 pubs closed every month.

"It will be essential that the next government puts in place a fiscal and regulatory framework that makes sure that the sector does not survive, but thrives," said Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association.

She said the figures reflected high energy costs, food and drink inflation, weather conditions, and the tax burden on pubs.

The data, compiled by real estate company Altus Group, showed  the overall number of pubs in England and Wales, including those vacant and being offered to let, fell to 39,162 at the end of March.

The North West region of England lost 35 pubs, the most of any area.

We're back for another week of consumer news, personal finance tips and all the latest on the economy - and there are a few big moments ahead.

This is how the week in the Money blog is shaping up...

Monday: This week's Money Problem  focuses on a dispute between neighbours over a garden fence.

Tuesday : We're continuing our eight-part  Women in Business  feature - interviewing women who are bossing their industry. And this week's  Basically...  explains everything you need to know about interest-only mortgages.

Wednesday : We'll get May's inflation data, with some economists predicting it could fall from 2.3% to the target 2%. This week's Cheap Eats is with a Michelin-starred chef from North Yorkshire.

Thursday : The Bank of England will reveal its latest base rate decision - with another hold at 5.25% widely anticipated. Here in Money,  Savings Champion  founder Anna Bowes will be back with her weekly insight into the savings market.

Friday : We'll have everything you need to know about the mortgage market this week with the guys from Moneyfacts.

Running every weekday, Money features a morning markets round-up from the  Sky News business team  and regular updates and analysis from our business, City and economic correspondents, editors and presenters -  Ed Conway ,  Mark Kleinman ,  Ian King ,  Paul Kelso  and  Adele Robinson .

You'll also be able to stream  Business Live with Ian King on weekdays at 11.30am and 4.30pm.

Bookmark  news.sky.com/money  and check back from 8am, and through the day, each weekday.

The Money team is Bhvishya Patel, Jess Sharp, Katie Williams, Brad Young, Ollie Cooper and Mark Wyatt, with sub-editing by Isobel Souster. The blog is edited by Jimmy Rice.

By Brad Young and Katie Williams , from the Money team

UK residents spend billions of pounds abroad each year, but it can be difficult to know how to make sterling go as far as possible.

With summer fast approaching, so too are the opportunities to splash out on holidays, so the Money team spoke with three travel experts to find out when, where and how to pay abroad.

CREDIT CARD

"The cheapest way to spend overseas is often on plastic , if you've got the right plastic," said James Jones, head of consumer affairs at Experian.

"Using credit and debit cards can be a great way to get the very best exchange rates."

He said rates offered by currency exchange shops are usually "much less attractive" than those offered on some cards, which were much closer to the rates the banks use themselves.

Fees could wipe out any gains

But it's essential to be aware of things like non-sterling transaction fees, cash withdrawal fees and credit card interest.

So shop around for a card with travel rewards, Mr Jones said - and do this before your trip.  

"You probably need to give yourself, ideally, six weeks."

Extra protection

When you book a trip between £100 and £30,000, try and pay for some of it on a credit card to get "extra protection" under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act, said Mr Jones.

That means the card provider is jointly responsible with the retailer if something goes wrong, such as arriving at a hotel only to find it has closed down.

If you are using a credit card, make sure you are can pay it off in full to avoid interest charges, said Sean Tipton from the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA).

One trap you must not falling into

An increasingly common trap when paying with card (credit or debit) is being presented with the option to pay in the local currency or in pounds, said Mr Jones and Mr Tipton.

While paying in sterling might "seem like a wonderful convenience" you will ultimately be paying "quite a bit more for the purchase", Mr Jones said.

If you pay in pounds, the local retailer's bank sets the exchange rate, but if you pay in the local currency, your UK bank sets the rate.

DEBIT CARDS

"Some service providers don't apply fees for overseas use on their regular UK debit cards," says Moneyfacts - but you must always check as some incur big fees.

Alternatively, "some service providers offer specialist travel debit cards that don't impose non-sterling transaction fees and cash withdrawal fees".

PREPAID TRAVEL CARDS

If you're looking to avoid a credit check, prepaid cards can be loaded with multiple currencies and work like a debit card, without being connected to your bank.

"Typically, prepaid travel cards will offer competitive or even no charges for foreign usage, which can make them a cheaper alternative to using a normal credit or debit card while on holiday," says MoneyFacts.

One of the most popular prepaid cards, Revolut, uses its own exchange rates, which might not always be the best you can find - and while it is fee free on weekdays, there are charges at weekends, so do your research.

Also be aware - prepaid cards do not offer purchase protection like a credit card and aren't regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

"Don't rely solely on a card - it can backfire on you if you do," said Mr Tipton.

Some taxis only take cash, leaving you to face hefty charges withdrawing from an ATM.

In some countries, like Argentina, it can be difficult to get money out of ATMs without a local bank account, Mr Tipton said.

Mr Jones added: "If you're in a very remote part of the world that actually doesn’t have many ATMs and maybe where cash is king, then that might dictate what you need to do."

Where and when to get cash

"I'd strongly recommend [to] get some cash out in the UK," said Mr Tipton.

It can be difficult to find a bureau de change in some developing nations, and ATMs have "started introducing quite hefty charges" across the board, he said.

The exceptions are countries with really high inflation rates, where it may make more sense to get cash out when you arrive, he added.

When to exchange currency really depends on the destination, said Laura Plunkett, head of travel money at the Post Office.

"Exchange rates change frequently, so if you have time, do your homework and lock in a rate when it is good."

What is a good exchange rate for Europe?

Some 80% of British holidays abroad take place in the Eurozone, said Mr Tipton.

The rate has remained "fairly stable", but if you see the pound increasing in value that may be the time to buy a larger amount of Euros for a couple of years in advance, he added.

Mr Tipton said 1.2 to the pound is a "pretty healthy" time to buy, but "it is a bit of a lottery".

Every year the pound gets stronger against the South African rand, and the same in Argentina, where the peso is "unbelievably weak", Mr Tipton suggested.

In store or online?

"Most online suppliers will insist on a minimum order value that might be too high for some people, and you'll have to make sure that you're home for when it's delivered," said Ms Plunkett.

"But typically, rates are better online if that's an option for you."

As the election campaign continues, Rishi Sunak was likely hoping for signs of a strong economic bounceback this week to boost his efforts to win over voters.

But in what came as a blow to the prime minister, early official data released on Wednesday showed the UK economy has flatlined.

The Office for National Statistics said there was zero growth in April, after the economy recorded its fastest growth in two years from January to March.

Experts  blamed a negative impact from wet weather, knocking both retail sales and construction output - but despite the emphasis on the hit from rain, the numbers were still a setback for Mr Sunak's key election argument that the economy is improving after successive hits from the COVID pandemic followed by the cost of living crisis.

Read more here ...

The week also saw four major lenders hike their mortgage rates, with brokers declaring the market was "unseasonally bad" and its future was not looking bright 

Barclays  upped a number of deals by 0.15%, while  TSB  has increased rates across their residential and Buy to Let ranges by up to 0.35%. 

Smaller increases were announced by  Leeds Building   Society , including a 0.6% hike on selected residential products and a 0.20% rise on some shared ownership products. 

Clydesdale Bank  opted for similar increases, upping its 95% LTV Five Year Fee and other fee fixed rate deals by 0.20%. 

Taste testers have revealed which olive oils are worth spending your money on, as prices have soared in the past few years. 

Some premium olive oils cost as little as £2.50 for a 500ml bottle in 2022 - but now price tags have increased by up to 160%. 

Which? used a panel of four independent experts to blind-taste and rate seven premium extra virgin olive oils and five branded options. 

They picked out Aldi's Specially Selected Terra Di Bari Castel Del Monte Extra Virgin Olive Oil 500ml as a Which? Great Value product - meaning it offers great taste at a low price. 

The product, which is priced at £5.19, came third overall in the blind taste test. 

The consumer website also looked at how much olive oil prices have risen at supermarkets. 

The Money team dug into this in March and found bacterial disease, criminal gangs, changing weather patterns and Brexit were all to blame for the dramatic rises (you can read more on this below). 

Which? found the average price rise for premium own-brand olive oils was 57% between 2022 and 2024.

The highest increase was on Morrisons The Best Unfiltered Extra Virgin Olive Oil 500ml, which increased in price by 88% from £4.00 to £7.50. 

It also looked at price rises on branded olive oil over a three-year period. 

Napolina Extra Virgin Olive Oil (500ml) was previously priced at £2.50 at Ocado but jumped to £9.50 - more than a threefold increase. 

Meanwhile, Filippo Berio Extra Virgin Olive Oil (500ml) at Asda more than doubled in price from £2.50 to £6.50 - a 160% increase.

Each week, we sift through hundreds of comments left by our readers in response to features and news in the Money blog. 

This week, you were most interested in cinema advert wait times, healthy bread, Taylor Swift ticket prices and working from home abroad. 

Let's start with  news reporter Narbeh Minassian 's feature last weekend on what time you should actually arrive at the cinema... 

Here's what you had to say:

Here's all you have to do - look at the time the movie ends according to the booking site; subtract the actual length of the movie and viola - the time the movie actually starts. Top article on cinema ads. So irritating and getting longer Paul
As regards adverts in cinemas - if you choose to skip them, have consideration for those who've sat waiting and don't want to see heads going past the screen or a herd of elephants marching up stairs after it's started. It's bad manners. Tlise
Not only parking fees are a consideration about timing, but also factoring in going to the toilet beforehand, as some films are very, very long these days, without adding on an extra half hour before one can reach the toilet! Carol

We also had this question on our regular health feature, which runs on Fridays. 

Is wholegrain seeded bread good for you or still high in sugar? Does sourdough come out better? Snips

By way of an answer, check out Sunna Van Kampen's piece for the Money blog earlier this year...

Now on to Taylor Swift - with some punters disappointed after paying just under £700 for a ticket only to find their view... somewhat obstructed. 

I've just seen the post regarding Taylor Swifts concerts in Edinburgh, with some prices going up to £680. In the current cost of living climate, why do companies still feel that it's OK to rip customers off with prices like that. MK Mark
Is it not about time that people stop being so deluded? The performer is only a singer, a human, making money to fund her expensive lifestyle while others are suffering. Stephen

Finally, a word on working from home... from Thailand. 

A glowing endorsement from one of our readers... 

I used to work in there in 2019. It's awesome to live and work there, weather is beautiful and money is good. As a foreigner from Britain you get special treatment everywhere you go, rent, food etc is all dirt cheap, you pretty much live like a king and £1 goes a long long way. Tom herns

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Where to watch College World Series: TV channel, bracket, schedule, game times, stream NCAA baseball online

The eight-team college world series got started on friday in omaha.

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The 2024 College World Series is here. Action continues Saturday in Omaha as eight teams remain in the fight for the 2024 NCAA baseball championship. The NCAA Tournament started with 64 teams, but only Florida, Tennessee, North Carolina, Florida State, Texas A&M, Virginia, Kentucky and NC State have made it to the CWS. Tennessee and North Carolina were victorious on Friday.

The College World Series format features two double-elimination brackets with four teams in each pool. The winners of the two brackets meet in the Finals, a best-of-three series which begins June 22. Tennessee, Florida State, North Carolina and Virginia are in one bracket. NC State, Kentucky, Florida and Texas A&M are in the other.

Tennessee entered the tournament as the top overall seed. There will be a new college baseball champion this year as LSU was ousted from the NCAA Tournament by North Carolina in the Regionals.

Here's a look at scores and the upcoming schedule. All games on ESPN and ABC are available on fubo (try for free).

College World Series schedule

(All games in Eastern Standard Time)

Friday, June 14

  • North Carolina 3, Virginia 2
  • Tennessee 12, Florida State 11

Saturday, June 15

  • Kentucky 5, NC State 4 (Final/10)
  • Texas A&M 3, Florida 2 

Sunday, June 16

  • Florida State 7, Virginia 3
  • Tennessee 6, North Carolina 1 

Monday, June 17

  • Florida vs. NC State, 2 p.m. (ESPN)
  • Texas A&M vs. Kentucky, 7 p.m. (ESPN)

Tuesday, June 18

  • Florida State vs. North Carolina, 2 p.m. (ESPN)
  • Game 10, 7 p.m. (ESPN)

Wednesday, June 19

  • Game 11, 2 p.m. (ESPN)
  • Game 12, 7 p.m. (ESPN)

Thursday, June 20

  • Bracket 1, if necessary (TBD)
  • Bracket 2, if necessary (TBD)

Saturday, June 22

  • Finals, Game 1, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Sunday, June 23

  • Finals, Game 2, 2 p.m. (ABC)

Monday, June 20

  • Finals, Game 3, if necessary, 7 p.m. (ESPN)

Super Regional scores

  • Florida State 24, UConn 4
  • Tennessee 11, Evansville 6
  • North Carolina 8, West Virginia 6 
  • Virginia 7, Kansas State 4
  • Evansville 10, Tennessee 8
  • Florida State 10, UConn 8 -- Florida State wins series 2-0
  • NC State 18, Georgia 1
  • Florida 10, Clemson 7
  • Texas A&M 10, Oregon 6
  • Virginia 10, Kansas State 4 -- Virginia wins series 2-0
  • Kentucky 10, Oregon State 0 
  • North Carolina 2, West Virginia 1 -- North Carolina wins series 2-0
  • Georgia 11, NC State 2 
  • Florida 11, Clemson 10 (13 innings) -- Florida wins series 2-0
  • Tennessee 12, Evansville 1 -- Tennessee wins series 2-1
  • Texas A&M 15, Oregon 9 -- Texas A&M wins series 2-0
  • Kentucky 3, Oregon State 2 -- Kentucky wins series 2-0
  • NC State 8, Georgia 5 -- NC State wins series 2-1 

Regional Round schedule

Athens regional scores.

(Hosted by No. 7 national seed Georgia)

  • No. 1 Georgia 8, No. 4 Army, 7
  • No. 2 UNC-Wilmington 9, No. 3 Georgia Tech 0
  • Georgia Tech 4, Army 2
  • Georgia 11, UNC-Wilmington 2
  • No. 1 Georgia 8, No. 4 Army 7
  • Georgia Tech 3, UNC-Wilmington 1
  • Georgia 8, Georgia Tech 6 (10) (Georgia advances)

College Station Regional scores

(Hosted by No. 3 national seed Texas A&M)

  • No. 1 Texas A&M 8, No. 4 Grambling 0
  • No. 3 Texas 12, No. 2 Louisiana 5
  • Louisiana 12, Grambling 5
  • Texas A&M 4, Texas, 2
  • Louisiana 10, Texas 2
  • Texas A&M 9, Louisiana 4 (Texas A&M advances)

Chapel Hill Regional scores

(Hosted by No. 4 national seed North Carolina)

  • No. 2 LSU 4, No. 3 Wofford 3
  • No. 1 North Carolina 11, No. 4 Long Island 8
  • Wofford 5, Long Island 2
  • North Carolina 6, LSU 2 
  • LSU 13, Wofford 6
  • LSU 8, North Carolina 4
  • North Carolina 4, LSU 3 (North Carolina advances)

Charlottesville Regional scores

(Hosted by No. 12 national seed Virginia)

  • No. 1 Virginia 4, No. 4 Penn 2
  • No. 2 Mississippi State 5, No. 3 St. John's 2
  • St. John's 10, Penn 9
  • Virginia 5, Mississippi State 4
  • Mississippi State 13, St. John's 5
  • Virginia 9, Mississippi State 2 (Virginia advances)

Clemson Regional scores

(Hosted by No. 6 national seed Clemson)

  • No. 3 Coastal Carolina 13, No. 2 Vanderbilt 3
  • No. 1 Clemson 4, No. 4 High Point 3
  • High Point 10, Vanderbilt 9
  • Clemson 4, Coastal Carolina 3
  • Coastal Carolina 6, High Point 5
  • Clemson 12, Coastal Carolina 5 (Clemson advances)

Corvallis Regional scores

(Hosted by No. 15 national seed Oregon State)

  • No. 2 UC-Irvine 13, No. 3 Nicholls 12
  • No. 1 Oregon State 10, No. 4 Tulane 4
  • Tulane 3, Nicholls 0
  • Oregon State 5, UC-Irvine, 3
  • UC-Irvine 17, Tulane 7
  • Oregon State 11, UC-Irvine 6 (Oregon State advances)

Fayetteville Regional scores

(Hosted by No. 5 national seed Arkansas)

  • No. 1 Arkansas 17, No. 4 Southeast Missouri State 9
  • No. 3 Kansas State 19, No. 2 Louisiana Tech 4
  • Southeast Missouri State 9, Louisiana Tech 3
  • Kansas State 7, Arkansas 6
  • Southeast Missouri State 6, Arkansas 3
  • Kansas State 7, Southeast Missouri State 2 (Kansas State advances)

Greenville Regional scores

(Hosted by No. 16 national seed East Carolina)

  • No. 4 Evansville 4, No. 1 East Carolina 1
  • No. 3 VCU 1, No. 2 Wake Forest 0 
  • East Carolina 7, Wake Forest 6
  • Evansville 17, VCU 11
  • East Carolina 10, VCU 7
  • East Carolina 19, Evansville 6
  • Evansville 6, East Carolina 5 (Evansville advances)

Knoxville Regional scores

(Hosted by No. 1 national seed Tennessee)

  • No. 3 Indiana 10, No. 2 Southern Mississippi 4
  • No. 1 Tennessee 9, No. 4 Northern Kentucky 3 
  • Southern Mississippi 6, Northern Kentucky 0
  • Tennessee 12, Indiana 6 
  • Southern Mississippi 15, Indiana 3
  • Tennessee 12, Southern Mississippi 3 (Tennessee advances)

Lexington Regional scores

(Hosted by No. 2 national seed Kentucky)

  • No. 1 Kentucky 10, No. 4 Western Michigan 8
  • No. 3 Illinois 4, No. 2 Indiana State 1
  • Indiana State 6, Western Michigan 4
  • Kentucky 6, Illinois 1
  • Indiana State 13, Illinois 2
  • Kentucky 5, Indiana State 0 (Kentucky advances)

Norman Regional scores

(Hosted by No. 9 national seed Oklahoma)

  • No. 3 UConn 4, No. 2 Duke 1
  • No. 1 Oklahoma 14, No. 4 Oral Roberts 0 
  • Duke 6, Oral Roberts 2 
  • UConn 4, Oklahoma 1
  • Oklahoma 4, Duke 3
  • Oklahoma 6, UConn 4
  • UConn 7, Oklahoma 1 (UConn advances) 

Raleigh Regional scores

(Hosted by No. 10 national seed NC State)

  • No. 2 South Carolina 8, No. 3 James Madison 7
  • No. 1 NC State 9, No. 4 Bryant 2 
  • James Madison 8, Bryant 1
  • NC State 6, South Carolina 4
  • James Madison 2, South Carolina 0
  • NC State 5, James Madison 3 (NC State advances)

Santa Barbara Regional

(Hosted by No. 14 national seed UC-Santa Barbara)

  • No. 3 Oregon 5, No. 2 San Diego 4 (11)
  • No. 1 UC-Santa Barbara 9, No. 4 Fresno State 6
  • San Diego 7, Fresno State 5
  • Oregon 2, UC-Santa Barbara 0
  • UC-Santa Barbara 4, San Diego 2
  • Oregon 3, UC-Santa Barbara 0 (Oregon advances)

Stillwater Regional scores

(Hosted by No. 11 national seed Oklahoma State)

  • No. 3 Florida 5, No. 2 Nebraska 2
  • No. 1 Oklahoma State 19, No. 4 Niagara 7 
  • Nebraska 7, Niagara 5
  • Oklahoma State 7, Florida 1
  • Florida 17, Nebraska 11
  • Florida 5, Oklahoma State 2
  • Florida 4, Oklahoma State 2 (Florida advances)

Tallahassee Regional scores

(Hosted by No. 8 national seed Florida State)

  • No. 1 Florida State 7, No. 4 Stetson 2
  • No. 3 Central Florida 8, No. 2 Alabama 7
  • Stetson 4, Alabama 0
  • Florida State 5, Central Florida 2
  • Central Florida 5, Stetson 2
  • Florida State 12, Central Florida 4 (Florida State advances)

Tucson Regional scores

(Hosted by No. 13 national seed Arizona)

  • No. 3 West Virginia 4, No. 2 Dallas Baptist 1
  • No. 4 Grand Canyon 9, No. 1 Arizona 4
  • Dallas Baptist 7, Arizona 0
  • West Virginia 5, Grand Canyon 2
  • Grand Canyon 12, Dallas Baptist 10
  • West Virginia 10, Grand Canyon 6 (West Virginia advances)

Here's a link to NCAA.com's full bracket , which includes region vs. region pairings for the super regionals.

Expert Team Coverage on 247Sports

Local reporters at 247Sports are providing college fans with insider access and pre- and post-game analysis. Follow the fun on our message boards, too, so you don't miss a moment of your favorite team's NCAA tournament run. 

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France tours

Discovering the icons in Paris, soaking up the sun on the French Riviera, visiting the châteaux of the Loire Valley—see every side of this France on one of our escorted tours.

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That’s all it takes to secure a spot on one of our group tours when you sign up for AutoPay . Plus, you can pay in interest-free, monthly installments.

While you’re deciding what to take, we’ll be busy arranging your hotels, meals, tickets, and more tour essentials. That’s what going guided is all about .

Take off on your big adventure— but why stop there? Every trip you book with us earns rewards that you can use to keep expanding your horizons.

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What travelers say about their trips to France

Travel tips for france trips.

While it's a relatively temperate country, France's weather ranges significantly from region to region. Many consider the best times to travel to France to be spring and fall, when temperatures are more moderate. In Paris for example, spring and fall temperatures are in the 50s, 60s, and 70s F, perfect for walking around sites like the Tuileries, Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower, and Versailles. The comfortable weather paired with smaller crowds, more relaxed locals, and seasonal festivals and flavors make these in-between seasons particularly lovely times for a trip to France.

In the warmer summer months, parks, picnics, farmers markets, and outdoor festivals are especially lively. In winter, the weather gets colder and wetter (though there's not much snow in major cities like Paris), but there's still lots to do! You'll find festive holiday decorations, great museums, and more.

France is a diverse country, from the historic beaches in Normandy and Brittany on the northern coast, to the foodie-favored wine regions of Champagne and Burgundy, to the lavish châteaux of the Loire Valley. Plus, as you travel east, the influence of Switzerland and Germany can be felt in the food, architecture, and history in Alsace.

When picking which of our France guided tours is right for you, let your interests help drive your destination selection.

  • Want to experience art, romance, and culture? Paris should be on your itinerary, so you can take in the icons like Notre-Dame, the Eiffel Tower, Luxembourg Gardens, and more.
  • If you’re a foodie who counts food and wine as a top traveling priority, check out our guided tours that visit Burgundy, Lyon, or Bordeaux.
  • History buffs, your must-visits include Normandy and Paris.
  • For those who love to be outdoors soaking in the scenery, be sure to check out Provence in the south, where medieval towns and artistic cities are sandwiched between the mountains of the Alps and the sea breeze of the Mediterranean.

In France, eating is an art form. Meals are meant to savored—shared among friends, enjoyed with local wines, and made up of fresh, seasonal ingredients. While the cuisine ranges throughout the country, you’ll always find a focus on local, in-season ingredients. Here are a couple of things to know when sitting down for a meal during your trip to France.

  • Breakfast, called le petit déjeuner, is generally light, like a croissant or bread with jam and coffee.
  • Lunch, or le déjeuner, was traditionally a two-hour, several-course affair where people took time to relax and unwind with friends. In today’s society, something quicker and more casual—like soup, salad, or sandwiches at a cafe—is very commonplace.
  • Dinner, or le diner, is served around eight or later and can be made up of several courses. Typically, it starts with the appetizer, or l ’entrée , followed by the main course, or l e plat principal , followed by a cheese course and dessert. And remember, be sure to ask for your check when you're done—it's considered rude for wait staff to bring it to your table unrequested. Bon appétit!

The French are famous for their style, so deciding what to pack for a trip to France requires some consideration. Our escorted tours to France incorporate a fair amount of walking as local guides take you around their hometowns, so comfortable walking shoes are a must.

For the building blocks of your France vacation wardrobe, pack easy-to-layer pieces that can be mixed and matched in various ways—neutrals or a cohesive color palette helps a lot! Add in a versatile scarf—perfect for staying warm on flights and afternoon walks, as well as adding a pop of color to simple outfits. Beyond that, we’d recommend your camera, a notebook to jot down any fun facts or book recommendations your Tour Director might share, and a sense of adventure. Once you book one of our France guided tours, you can find a packing list for that specific trip in our easy Tour Companion App.

Need help narrowing down our France tours?

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  1. Go Ahead Tours Reviews

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  2. EF Go Ahead Tours Review 2023: Are their guided tours worth it?

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  3. Go Ahead Tours Reviews

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  4. Go Ahead Tours Review For Young Travelers

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  5. What to Know About EF Go Ahead Tours Before You Book (2024)

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  6. What to Know About EF Go Ahead Tours Before You Book (2024)

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COMMENTS

  1. EF Go Ahead Tours Review 2024: Are their guided tours worth it?

    Ultimate Break Tours is geared towards college students and folks aged 18-29, while Go Ahead Tours admits anyone 6 and above. So, the tours offered also tend to be different from each other. EF Go Ahead Tours has a wide variety of tours catering to all age ranges. It also provides both private and group tours.

  2. The Scoop: What to Know About EF Go Ahead Tours

    TourScoop Takeaways. Countries: 87 countries on seven continents. Tour size average: The standard group size is capped at 38 guests. EF Go Ahead Tours' small group tours range in size from 10 to 22 people. Private tours can be arranged with seven or more people, and custom tours with 14 or more people. Tour type: Coach, ferries, trains, flights.

  3. Is Go Ahead Tours a sham operation?

    6 years ago. As stated in the 2nd reply Go Ahead Tours has been around for years and is not a sham what so ever. Go Ahead Tours is part of EF Tours that has been used by schools throughout America and other countries for years. I and my wife have used them 5 times over the past 10 years.

  4. Go Ahead Tours Reviews & Complaints

    Go Ahead Tours is a travel company specializing in customizable tours to "the most interesting places in the world", including locations in Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Americas.. Though there are many different travel tour companies around, like Trafalgar, which fully arrange travel itineraries from hotels to meal plans, Go Ahead Tours claims that their service is different ...

  5. EF Go Ahead Tours

    I have traveled as a group coordinator with Go Ahead on 20 tours. They provide the complete travel experience. 175 destinations, all transportation, accomodations, excellent guides, and a global ...

  6. Go Ahead Tours Profile [2024]

    Average Tour Price: $2,000-$4,000. Average Tour Duration: 8-18 days. Travel Style: Cultural immersion and education with active experiences. The world's largest private education travel company, Go Ahead tours are designed for curious, adventurous travelers.

  7. Guided Tours & Group Travel Tours

    Travel on a group tour with Go Ahead. Discover the 200+ guided tours we offer across 6 continents. Talk to our knowledgeable staff today to request a quote. ... Tours. Go private and enjoy any of our immersive, expert- planned trips exclusively with your group. Find out how it works. Ready, set,

  8. anyone ever use EF go ahead tours? : r/travel

    The price was unbelievably good, even though we only booked 2 1/2 months in advance. Two months later, we paid almost triple what wing-buddy would've charged but we were going with friends who had already selected EF Go ahead tours and it was a terrible tour company all around except the hotels were western high-rises which some people ...

  9. Review of EF Go Ahead Tours

    Review of EF Go Ahead Tours. July 21, 2018. Everyone has their own preference when it comes to how they travel and one of my favorites is with tour groups. I love that they coordinate transportation, hotels, and the agenda and I just get to enjoy the ride. I've done a couple of tours with EF Ultimate Break and this summer I brought Rick on ...

  10. EF/GOAHEAD TOURS

    45 reviews and 3 photos of EF/GOAHEAD TOURS "March 7, 2022 RE: complaint about EF/GoAhead tours To whom it may concern: On April 2, 2021 we booked a 17 day tour of Peru with an extension to Bolivia. We inquired about doing our own airfare and was told that we would also have to do our own transfers. After considering that, we elected to have EF/GoAhead book our airfare.

  11. Tours & Travel Packages

    Pick your perfect trip. We offer 200+ immersive, guided tours around the world. Wherever you choose to go, you'll enjoy lots of advantages that make traveling with us different. Put just $99 down. That's all it takes to secure a spot on one of our group tours when you sign up for AutoPay. Plus, you can pay in interest-free, monthly ...

  12. Summer Tours

    Group travel made easy. Pick your perfect trip. We offer 200+ immersive, guided tours around the world. Wherever you choose to go, you'll enjoy lots of advantages that make traveling with us different. Put just $99 down. That's all it takes to secure a spot on one of our group tours when you sign up for AutoPay.

  13. Go Ahead Tours Reviews

    2,534 reviews for Go Ahead Tours, rated 1.00 stars. Read real customer ratings and reviews or write your own. Share your voice on ResellerRatings.com

  14. EF Go Ahead Tours

    905 posts. 38 reviews. 19 helpful votes. 2. Re: EF Go Ahead Tours. Feb 9, 2024, 6:11 PM. I did 3 trip with them, France, Bulgaria and Rumania, Brazil . Itinerary of all 3. were good, very interesting. I did book these tours with air and flights schedules were from bad to really terrible.

  15. Completing tour evaluation

    Your evaluation will become available to fill out once your tour begins and you can rate your experiences as you go. The evaluation will save your answers and selections as you complete them, but you can still go back and make changes if needed. If there are multiple people in your travel party, you'll each be able to fill out your own ...

  16. Go Ahead Tours vs EF Educational Tours Compared

    About Go Ahead Tours. We're a company of passionate adventurers dedicated to creating the best journey for every traveler. As a proud part of EF Education First, we draw on 50 years of expertise to continue to add meaningful travel experiences to our portfolio of more than 100 tours. GLOBAL EXPERTISE. Thanks to the global EF network, we have ...

  17. USA Tours

    Thank to you so much EF go ahead tours and Our Tour Director Frank. Hawaii: Oahu, the Big Island & Maui. AMAZING EXPERIENCE. 10/14/21 by 3rd-time traveler Edgardo. We traveled in family. I recommend this trip because you do not have to worry of anything. Goahead and the tour director take in charge. This trip was long, many hours in bus, but ...

  18. EF Go Ahead Tours

    EF Go Ahead Tours, Cambridge, Massachusetts. 592,150 likes · 29,365 talking about this. We make adult group travel personal. With 200+ guided tours, we help you see the world with ease!

  19. Go Ahead Tours vs Tourradar Compared

    About Go Ahead Tours. We're a company of passionate adventurers dedicated to creating the best journey for every traveler. As a proud part of EF Education First, we draw on 50 years of expertise to continue to add meaningful travel experiences to our portfolio of more than 100 tours. GLOBAL EXPERTISE. Thanks to the global EF network, we have ...

  20. EF Go Ahead Tours opens bookings for all itineraries through 2023

    By Jeri Clausing. |. Feb 04, 2021. |. Citing strong demand for longer-view travel planning because of the pandemic, EF Go Ahead Tours, today announced it has opened up bookings for all of its ...

  21. The Go Ahead Difference

    Free time for on-your-own exploring. Going guided takes the guesswork out of travel, but we don't think convenience should come at the cost of your independence. We make sure each itinerary includes a just-right mix of guided tours and group meals, plus plenty of free time so you can explore your own interests at your own pace.

  22. Go Ahead Tours vs Trafalgar Compared

    About Go Ahead Tours We're a company of passionate adventurers dedicated to creating the best journey for every traveler. As a proud part of EF Education First, we draw on 50 years of expertise to continue to add meaningful travel experiences to our portfolio of more than 100 tours.

  23. Money blog: Drivers 'losing £112m a year' due to this one mistake

    The Motor Ombudsman said that with the most commonly seen tyre sizes averaging £85 a tyre, the total bill for the nation's drivers is at least £112m every year. Its survey of 1,000 UK car ...

  24. 2024 NCAA baseball tournament bracket, scores, schedule, how to watch

    The 2024 NCAA baseball tournament is well underway, and the field for the College World Series is finally set. Eight teams have punched their tickets to the 2024 CWS. On Monday, only one spot ...

  25. France Tours

    Save up to $500. Don't miss out on some of the best travel deals of the year! Book your 2024, 2025, or 2026 tour by June 28.†. Shop the sale. A Week in France: The Riviera, Provence & Paris. 9 days | 12 days with Normandy & Paris extension. 133.