Frequently Asked Questions

The name pretty much sums it up. We started For The Love of Travel, for the love of travel - for the incredible, life-changing experiences, the magical moments, the forever memories, and the endless smiles that traveling creates. And we wanted to make it easier for busy young people to do more of it in an authentic, sustainable way.

Travel isn't something you can only do on a gap year or when you're retired. We see it as an integral part of life- a necessary and continuing education that deserves as much devotion as academia.

We curate fun, well-rounded itineraries and take care of the major details to give you more time to explore, experience, learn and connect with the people around you and places you're in. That way, you can have an authentic cultural experience and a vacation.

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You will be traveling with other folks who are similar in age and like-minded. We also prioritize putting our money back into the hands of the local community.

Fun. You'll be spending a week or more exploring a foreign country while getting to know a bunch of cool people your age. It's a blast.

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Hassle-free. We've already taken care of the logistics so you don't have to spend hours planning or waste your vacation time dealing with unforeseen issues, spending money you didn't budget for, or stressing about, well, anything.

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Insider knowledge. We already know the best spots, how to get there, and what's cool about them. This means you don't have to spend your time abroad on your phone looking up Yelp reviews and reading Wikipedia.

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A crew. Solo travel is great but it's a blast to travel with a group of fun people. At the same time, we know how hard it is to plan international travel with friends. Between varying work schedules, budgets, and personalities, it can be super frustrating to try to organize trips with multiple people. Going on an FTLO trip means you'll be traveling with up to 16 people around your age, all open to meeting new friends, trying new things, and having a good time.

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No pressure. FTLO allows you to travel with a group of people without the pressure of feeling like you have to do everything together. You can spend the whole day wandering around by yourself and still have people to get dinner with at the end of the day. Even if you sign up with friends, it's easier for you to break away on your own for a bit in a group setting like this.

Our trips are designed for individuals aged 25-39 who are looking to travel more and meet like-minded people along the way.

We get a lot of questions about who goes on our trips so here is breakdown of what to expect:

• Average age: 30 (most fall between 27 and 34)

• 80% go alone

• 70-80% women, 20-30% men (Note: the ratio really doesn't affect overall trip enjoyment!)

• 60% say they are single and looking to mingle

• 75% live in big cities

• 100% want to travel and meet new people

• The most important thing to know is that everyone on our trips chooses to be there, so you already know they are most likely outgoing, open to new experiences, looking to meet new people, and ready to have a good time.

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We welcome folks from all around the world but the majority of our travelers are from the US.

We do this for rooming planning purposes and to strive for a balanced mix on our trips, which is why we hold a certain number of spots for those who tends to book later (ahem, guys). That said, we have little control over the final ratio and do open up guy spots to gals (and vice versa) the closer we get to the departure date. If spots are sold out, we definitely recommend signing up for the waitlist!

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Note: We welcome all genders on our trips. For anyone who doesn't fall into the guy/gal categories, please know this distinction is mainly to help us plan accommodations so just select the option you would feel more comfortable rooming with.

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Note: At the end of the day, the gender makeup really doesn't affect trip enjoyment. There are always locals to flirt with if that's what you're looking for :)

Our trips are right for you if:

• You're social, independent, curious, and fun-loving

• You're interested in getting out of your comfort zone and trying new things

• You can go with the flow, even when the unexpected occurs

• You’re inclusive and enjoy meeting new people

Our trips are not right for you if:

• You're difficult, rude, or mean

• You complain a lot

• You’re disrespectful or dismissive of other cultures

• You have severe social anxiety

• You're not open to new experiences

No, our trips are not luxury, but they're not budget either. We're right in the middle, with enough experience to know when it makes sense to save and when it's worth it to splurge. (i.e. we might stay in a more basic hotel for a couple of nights so we can include a Michelin worthy meal and a private catamaran ride).

FTLO trips run with between 4 and 16 people and have an average group size of 10. We cap the number of people on each trip to cultivate a sense of community without making you feel like you're part of a herd. Plus, smaller numbers allow us to assimilate more easily into the local community.

At FTLO, we believe that acceptance and inclusivity are paramount when it comes to travel. We appreciate that our diverse community of travelers includes individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, and we want travelers of all sexual orientations and gender identities to feel comfortable and respected throughout their journey.

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With that said, we encourage you to stay informed about LGBTQIA+ rights in the destinations you plan to visit, as they may differ from one country to the next. The unfortunate reality is that not every region of the world is as welcoming as we would like. We recommend visiting Equaldex for information regarding LGBTQIA+-related laws around the globe.

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On trips, FTLO has a zero-tolerance policy towards discrimination, verbal or physical abuse, and sexual harassment. If you encounter any inappropriate behavior during your trip (from fellow travelers, leaders, or partners), please immediately inform your trip leader or FTLO HQ through the pre-departure hub our operations email - support@ftlotravel.com.

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For roommate pairings, we pair you based on the spot type you select in your booking form (gal or guy). We also have single room supplements available for each trip (except the South Africa trip) if you would prefer a single room. This can be added to your order during the checkout process. If you have specific questions about rooming before you book a trip, please reach out to one of our community managers at hello@ftlotravel.com.

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We believe that by fostering an environment of respect and understanding, we can enhance the joy and connection that comes from exploring the world together.

Great! Once you've decided which trip you want to join, click the "book" button on the trip page or calendar page. This will take you to a secure embedded booking page run by Rezdy, a booking software company. Here you can select your dates, enter your info, add an upgrade, add optionals, and submit your booking.

All bookings are submitted on a conditional basis, meaning your trip is not confirmed until we have approved you and received your payment (deposit or full). Once you're confirmed, you will receive an email from us with next steps.

If you pay in full, your spot and price are guaranteed and you're set! If you only want to pay the deposit initially, you will receive automatic payment requests at 90 days, 60 days, and 30 days before the trip. If you don't pay in full up front, your trip price is not set in stone and we reserve the right to increase the cost up to 3% of trip total to account for changes in the exchange rate of the places we visit.

Do NOT book your flights until you get a green light from us, and make sure to check the trip details to see if you need to arrive by a certain time.

We'll be sending you lots of reminders leading up to the trip so you're well prepared.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to send us an email or text. If you'd like to talk with someone before booking, let us know and we'll schedule a call!

While FTLO no longer requires travelers to test negative for Covid before a trip, we do ask all travelers to fill out the Health Declaration Form, the goal of which is to help us as we try to ensure a healthy environment not only for our travelers but also for our Trip Leaders and the local communities visited.

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The Health Declaration Form asks you to acknowledge that you are not currently exhibiting symptoms of illness and that you recognize the potential for contracting an illness while traveling. It states that you have not been exposed to Covid or Influenza recently nor exhibited any symptoms that are typically associated with them. We encourage you to read the Health Declaration Form before booking and contact us with any questions you may have.

As of July 1st, 2023, FTLO no longer requires travelers to take Covid tests before their trips begin, nor do we require travelers to be vaccinated against Covid. Please check each trip page on our website for specific requirements in the "Trip Notes" section.

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As vaccinations are no longer required, we can’t guarantee that your roommate will be vaccinated. If this is of concern to you, you may consider booking a single room for the duration of your trip.

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Please note: in certain destinations, while a vaccine may not be required for entry, it may be required to participate in certain activities. We will try to offer alternatives to the best of our ability but cannot make guarantees and cannot provide refunds for any activities you are unable to participate in because of your vaccination status.

While no longer considered a serious threat in most countries, Covid still exists, and there is a chance that you could contract it during your trip, just as it’s possible you may catch the flu or another contagious virus.

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​If you do get sick during your trip, we ask that you be respectful of your fellow travelers and do what you can to prevent them from also getting sick. This may include turning away when you sneeze, not sharing food or silverware, wearing a mask, and practicing regular hand hygiene (washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or using hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available). Failure to take the necessary precautions may result in you being asked to leave the trip.

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If you become seriously ill while on a trip, your trip leader will work with FTLO HQ and our emergency services providers to get you the proper medical care. ​

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Depending on the local regulations, you may be required to quarantine at a hotel if you test positive for COVID-19. We will do our best to assist you with this process and provide whatever documentation is required by your travel insurance provider. While we cannot guarantee a certain accommodation or length of stay if you fall ill, we do want to stress again that we will do absolutely everything we can to support you even if you are unable to continue the trip.

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Although we are not currently offering refunds for missed activities, hotel changes, or early departures, we will help you put together whatever documentation is needed to request compensation from your travel insurance.

If you cancel a trip before departure, our regular cancelation terms apply. We will help you put together whatever documentation is needed to request compensation from your travel insurance.

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We recommend purchasing a policy that covers Covid-related cancellations (not all of them do).

We require that all travelers purchase travel insurance. Make sure that you double-check with your provider and carefully read your policy before purchasing to understand exactly what is covered, as all policies are different. We still recommend purchasing a policy that covers Covid-related cancellations (not all of them do).