Frequently Asked Questions

Why would I want to travel with UVa?
A key component of our programs is the UVa faculty who accompany each trip.
We offer the opportunity to study the region's people, culture, history, geography and ecology from some of UVa's most distinguished faculty. UVa has alum and connections all over the world which enables us to gain special access to various sites and meet with alum in the region of travel.  

Do I have to be Alum to travel on your trips?
Though UVa Alumni Travel is designed for UVa Alum, we welcome anyone interested in educational travel.

Can I bring my family on a trip?
Many of our programs are family-friendly and we encourage family travel with children aged 14 years and older. Call our office to inquire about those possibilities.

What are your physical and/or health requirements?
Our brochures will give information on the rigors of individual trips. Most of our trips involve some walking. Participants can “opt-out” of any particular excursion. More detailed information, with health and medical recommendations, will be provided in informational mailings sent to confirmed participants prior to departure.  

How large or small are your trips?
Trip size varies. Check the trip brochure for more information. Some of our walks and land-based trips accommodate just 15-30 people, while some cruises can take 100 people.

What type of trips do you offer?
We offer a variety of trips from land-based landmark and museum tours to All-inclusive luxury cruises, riverboat cruises and rail journeys.  

Wouldn't it be cheaper to plan the trip on my own? Traveling with UVa Alumni Travel offers many benefits that individuals could not reasonably get on their own. We often arrange visits to residences or gardens that are not open to the public. Most UVa trips are "all inclusive" and cover meals, internal transportation, entrance fees and gratuities. We provide the best in-country guides and lectures led by one of UVa’s top faculty. We look after the details so that you can relax and enjoy sharing experiences with like-minded people.

Is airfare included in the price of a trip? Some programs include discounted group airfare.
Unless specified, international and domestic airfare are not included in the price of a trip.

What's included in the price of a trip?
Most Travel with UVa Alumni Programs is all-inclusive. We provide a full program of tours and excursions with first-rate English speaking guides. On programs with group airfare, transfers and baggage handling for participants on the recommended flight itinerary are also included. All pre-program materials, travel information, lectures and tours are included.

Do you offer or recommend travel insurance?
We strongly encourage that you subscribe to optional baggage and trip-cancellation insurance. We do not offer trip insurance directly, but recommend that you contact your local travel agent. Trip insurance can be found online at tripinsurancestore.com and/or Americanexpress.com

You may want to purchase optional travel health insurance as well.

Some things to keep in mind:
* Medicare does not currently provide coverage for those traveling outside the United States. This restriction applies to passengers on board cruise ships that are registered in a foreign country (almost all cruise ships have foreign registry).
* Your credit cards may cover you in some areas. Make sure you find out exactly what they cover.
* It's a good idea to have your camera, jewelery, sports equipment or any valuable personal possessions specially scheduled on your homeowner's policy. Travel Insurance limits what you can claim for certain personal belongings.
* Many health insurance plans do not guarantee payment directly to foreign hospitals, may have a deductible nor cover the cost of emergency medical transportation. Deductibles or co-payments frequently apply outside most plan service areas.

Do you have a catalog that lists all of your trips?
We will begin offering a catalog in 2007. We do not currently offer a catalog of all of our trips but all of our latest program information can be found online at http://www.alumnitravel.virginia.edu  

How can I ensure I receive information about the specific trips that interest me? To ensure that you receive information about each trip that interests you, request the specific brochures in advance. Request brochures online or by calling us at 800-346-3882.

When are trip brochures available?
Brochures are generally printed six to nine months in advance. If you request a brochure before it is printed, one will be sent to you when available.

Will I automatically receive brochures for all of your trips? Not all brochures are automatically mailed to everyone. If you are interested in a particular program, please request brochures online or by calling us at 800-346-3882.