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About MIT Alumni Travel

Widen Your World with MIT Peers

About the travel program

The MIT Alumni Travel Program offers more than 35 trips each year to destinations all over the world. Members of the MIT faculty or lecturers from other institutions lead the programs and share their knowledge to further enrich the travelers' experience.

The travel program works closely with U.S. tour companies that specialize in deluxe educational travel to ensure delivery of a superb product to the MIT traveler. Some trips are co-shared with other prestigious institutions. Over 600 alumni and guests from all over the world travel with MIT each year. Many come back year after year to travel again with MIT. You can join them!

  • Cruise programs allow passengers the convenience of unpacking once yet visit many places at a relaxed pace. Vessels range from deluxe ships, to sailing yachts, to small expedition ships, and nuclear-powered ice breakers. Many times on cruise programs the MIT group makes up a part of the entire group of passengers on board.
  • The programs that are conducted on land are usually exclusive to the MIT community, and some are customized for MIT. Please review the trip descriptions for more information.
  • Alumni Campus Abroad and Village Life programs are one-week stays in one location. These trips provide an enjoyable learning experience at a value price and therefore are in high demand.
  • 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 a once-in-a-lifetime travel experience, the private jet programs offer itineraries that visit remote areas of the world in five-star-plus comfort. The flights are not tied to commercial routes and schedules, and the group flies during the day in a custom-fitted Boeing 757, arriving at each destination rested and ready to explore. Superb lecturers and local experts enrich the experience.
  • An array of active programming is offered as well, and, like the other trips, these active trips are open to all members of the MIT community. Please refer to the Physical Activity Rating assigned to each trip that describes the level of activity you can expect.

Eligibility

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

So that everyone may enjoy the 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 common during trips.

For the most satisfying experience, and in fairness to your fellow travelers, please note that the tours require that participants be able to walk without assistance, some times over rocky terrain with uneven footing; climb sets of stairs without assistance; walk and stand for up to one hour at sites noted on the itinerary; keep pace with an active group of travelers; and be on time for all scheduled activities. Please refer to the Physical Activity Rating assigned to each trip for more information. Tour managers are responsible for the whole group and are not able to assist individuals with special needs.

MIT trips are designed for adults who are interested in the educational and cultural aspects of travel. Some programs may be suitable for children who have the necessary curiosity and interest. Occasionally there is special pricing for children; please refer to trip pricing pages for more information.

Participation in trips sponsored by MIT Alumni Travel Program (“ATP”) is a privilege. All members of the MIT community who participate in MIT Alumni Travel Program trips must abide by MIT’s Policy on Harassment. See complete text on MIT’s policy. (http://web.mit.edu/policies/9/9.5.html) In the event that any traveler violates MIT policies, including, without limitation, harassment or discrimination, or whose behavior is offensive, disruptive, or otherwise threatening to the safety or welfare of the group, including MIT staff, tour staff, fellow travelers, local citizens, and/or others involved in the trip, such traveler may not be permitted to participate in any subsequent MIT ATP trips, at MIT’s sole discretion.

Contact us

Questions? To reach the travel program, call (800) 992-6749 or email compass@mit.edu. The travel program office is open during regular business hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., EST. The mailing address is MIT Alumni Travel Program, 600 Memorial Drive, W98-2nd Floor, Cambridge, MA 02139. To request a brochure, hold space on a trip, or sign up for the mailing list, you may complete the respective online form(s).

How to register

Complete the reservation form included with the trip brochure and mail it to the MIT Alumni Travel Program, 600 Memorial Drive, W98-2nd Floor, Cambridge, MA 02139, fax it to (617) 258-6211, or call the travel program at (800) 992-6749 and make a reservation over the phone with a credit card deposit. You may also email the travel program at holdmyspot@mit.edu to reserve a spot.

Hold my spot

Some trips do fill up quickly so reserve a spot (or two). Complete the Hold My Spot form and let the travel program know which trip(s) you are interested in. You will receive detailed information about the trip(s) prior to the brochure mailing so you can confirm your reservation with a deposit. Please note that the travel program cannot guarantee space on a program that has already been advertised to the MIT community. Once the travel program contacts you, the no-obligation courtesy hold is valid for two weeks.

Single travelers

All programs offer single accommodations; however, often the availability is limited. A single supplement, which applies to those wishing single accommodations, is customarily lower for land programs than cruises.

To avoid this supplemental charge, you may request to share with another traveler who is also looking for a roommate. The travel program will make every effort to find a compatible roommate. Typically the two parties talk on the phone and get to know one another before deciding to room together.

Refund policy

Refund policies vary by program. Generally, written cancellations received at least 90* days prior to departure merit a refund, less an administrative fee. This fee, held by the tour company, can range from $100 to $800. This administrative fee is usually not covered, even by travel insurance. Within 90 days of departure-and as the departure date approaches-increased penalty fees apply. Penalties may total 100 percent within a few weeks of departure.

* Please read the Cancellation/Refund section of your trip brochure to learn about the refund policy for your particular trip. Please consider purchasing trip cancellation insurance; information will be sent to registered travelers upon receipt of the trip deposit.