I recently participated in the 2026 YSA EUROPEAN ENCOUNTER trip and had a mixed experience. On the positive side, the hotels were clean, comfortable, and located in convenient areas. The bus transportation was also clean and well-maintained. The biggest area for improvement was the tour leadership. Communication from the guides was often unclear, and there was limited effort to interact with or engage the participants. At times, it felt more like we were accompanying the guides on a personal family vacation than participating in a professionally organized group tour. The group composition also created some challenges. Participants spanned nearly 15 years in age, there were significantly more women than men, and there did not appear to be any screening process to ensure participants were a good fit for a group travel experience. As a result, some social dynamics were awkward and made it more difficult for participants to connect. Overall, the accommodations and transportation were strong points, but improvements in communication, participant selection, activity logistics, and group engagement would significantly improve the experience.

Had a fantastic time! There were a few small things I wish I could’ve planned better for as I wasn’t aware we were responsible for tipping so I would’ve budgeted more but the accommodations were great along with the company! There was always a group down to anything which made it more fun!

This was a once in a lifetime experience for me! I had the BEST time with an amazing group of people!! I loved the itinerary and appreciated the balance of scheduled activities and time to ourselves to wander the cities we were visiting. If you are considering booking, DO IT! Worth every penny! I’m so grateful I will get to have these memories for the rest of my life!

Excellent trip with excellent optional activities and fantastic group activities! You need a trip with beautiful locations and great people to go along with, hit up Jill!