Alumni Home > Learning & Travel > Travel > General Information

General Travel Program Information

About the Travel Program
How to Register
Eligibility
Single Travelers
Refund Policy
Physical Activity Ratings

About the Travel Program

The MIT Alumni Travel Program offers more than 30 trips each year to destinations all over the world. Members of the MIT faculty or lecturers from other institutions lead our trips and share their knowledge to further enrich the travelers' experience.

We work closely with U.S. tour companies who specialize in deluxe educational travel to ensure delivery of a superb product to our travelers.

Some of our programs are cruises, which allow passengers the convenience of unpacking once and the ability to visit many places at a relaxed pace. Our cruises range from intimate deluxe vessels, to small expedition ships, to nuclear-powered ice breakers. We also offer many land programs, train journeys, and occasionaly, programs geared toward the entire family, and active trips for young alumni.

Our Alumni Campus Abroad programs are one-week stays in one location. These trips provide an in-depth enjoyable learning experience at a value price and therefore are in high demand. If you are interested in one of these programs, we suggest you contact us as soon as possible to reserve your space.

Our train journeys are very popular as well. There's nothing quite like rail travel -- the unhurried pace, the congenial atmosphere on board the train and the spectacular sites visited are special indeed!

For that once-in-a-lifetime travel experience, our private jet programs offer travelers the chance to visit remote areas of the world in "5 star plus" comfort. We also occasionally offer programs on private planes (coach class seating), and on the legendary DC-3 aircraft.

Our Young Alumni Travel Program got off to a strong start with our March 2003 Costa Rica Rainforest Adventure selling out within a few weeks! Successful programming continued in 2004, and we plan to offer more exciting destinations in 2006.

How to Register

Eligibility

Our trips are open to all MIT alumni, their families, MIT current and retired staff and faculty and their families, Emma Rogers Society members, Technology Review readers, and members of the MIT Community.

So that all involved may enjoy their travel experience, participants on MIT trips must be in good physical and mental health and be able to keep up with the pace of the group. All tour members are expected to enjoy traveling as part of a group, and be tolerant of occasional changes or delays that are a part of any kind of travel. Please refer to the Physical Activity Rating assigned to each trip that describes the level of activity you can expect.

Traditional MIT trips are designed for adults who are interested in the educational and cultural aspects of travel. Some of our programs may be suitable for children who have the necessary curiosity and interest. On our traditional programs, regardless of age, each traveler must pay the advertised price.

Single Travelers

Our cruise, train and land programs offer single accommodations; however, many times the availability of these accommodations is limited. A single supplement applies to those wishing single accommodations; customarily the supplement is lower for land programs as compared to cruise programs.

To avoid this supplemental charge, you may request to share with another traveler who is also looking for a roommate. We make every effort to find a compatible roommate and usually have the two parties talk on the phone first and get to know one another before deciding to room together. We have had much success making these arrangements and many friendships have been made.

Refund Policy

Refund policies vary depending on the program. Generally, written cancellations received at least 90* days prior to departure will receive a refund less an administrative fee, which can be anywhere between $100 to $500 (held by the tour company). This administrative fee is usually not covered even if insurance is purchased. Within 90 days of departure and as the departure date approaches, increased penalty fees apply with fees of 100% just a few weeks prior to departure.

*Please read the Cancellation/Refund section of your trip brochure to learn about the refund policy for your particular trip. We strongly suggest that you purchase trip cancellation insurance, which will be sent to you upon receipt of your deposit.

For more information, please contact the MIT Alumni Travel Program at 1-800-992-6749, or send email to compass@mit.edu. Our fax number is 617-258-6211.

Our address is: MIT Alumni Travel Program, Room W59-200, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139