Spring is well and truly upon us, and if you have the travel bug, then what better time to go and where better than Europe.

Not only are the air fares cheaper than in peak summer months, but the hotels offer discounted rates with greater availability. If you need any more incentive than this to jet off to the cultural capitals of the world, then what could be more beautiful than France’s fields ablaze with daisies, lavenders and poppies, or miles of unspoiled Dutch tulips spanning from horizon to horizon.

By May the cold blustery days have given way to warm dappled sunshine and the streets are once again filled with lively locals lingering in side walk cafes or strutting down the boulevards and promenades. There’s no better way to sample real European Culture than to mingle with these locals, something which just isn’t possible in summer months when the…

While overseas travel can be one of the most worthwhile educational investments, many families’ budgets are stretched to the limit by the cost of a typical trip to Europe. Knowing that students and parents are working hard to scrimp and save for the opportunity to experience Europe for the first time, it makes sense to design a high-impact itinerary.

High-impact itineraries cross multiple borders, sample various facets of several diverse local cultures, and do so on a restricted budget. You can feel free to choose the destinations that are best suited to your group, and we’ll help with strategies to reduce costs and make your dream trip a reality. The following are just a few tips to help you design a tour that maximizes your investment without minimizing your experience.

Plan a home stay. Particularly for foreign language students, home stays can be a terrific…

Fully customizable tours are one thing that we strive for here at TSA Tours. While others will offer you a catalogue of stock tours for you to choose from, we offer you three (count ‘em, three!) ways for you to custom craft your own tour experience. Because no two people and curriculums are alike, you should never have to settle for the experience of a lifetime! To get started, go ahead and click the “Design A Tour” tab at the top of the page.

Once there, you’ll see the three paths you can take to craft your very own tour experience. The first option, “Let us be your guide,” are for those who want to design their own tour but want some options to pick and choose from. We’ll talk more about that one later! The second option, “Start from scratch,” allows you to free form create…

They say it’s the little things that make a big difference. When you’re traveling in Europe for the first time, you’ll find yourself noticing lots of little differences – from the size of drinks and meal portions to the shape of electrical outlets. All these tiny differences combine to make European travel a stimulating, fascinating experience. When you return home, you’ll begin to notice things in your environment that you always took for granted.

Europe is larger than the U.S. in square miles, but we Americans tend to enjoy much more open space. Like goldfish, we have expanded to fit our environment. Common features of the American lifestyle, such as 44-ounce sodas, monster SUVs and sprawling walk-in closets arose out of an environment in which space seems unlimited. But in Europe, you’ll notice that everything is scaled down. Most people drive small hatch-backs because parking is scarce, fuel is…

A movement called ecotourism has been gaining momentum among Earth-conscious travelers and conservationists in developing nations since the mid-1980s. What is ecotourism? It isn’t just about treading lightly in nature. Environmental conservation, long-term sustainability and the preservation of cultural heritage are the central aims of this relatively young travel trend.

Among tourists who climb the Eiffel Tower, cruise the Thames or tour the Vatican, reducing environmental impact is probably not a top concern. After all, these destinations have been altered and developed over the course of several millennia, so not much about them is natural. But what about the Galapagos Islands or the Costa Rican rainforest? Should tourists be concerned about their impact on these fragile and unique ecosystems? According to ecotourism proponents, the answer is a resounding “yes.”

So how can a student group benefit from an environmentally friendly tour? For starters, ecotourism…

As you may have noticed we’ve updated our look. Not only this, but we have also added lots of new features that make browsing the site and booking your dream trip easier than ever.

We’ve decided that you’ve done enough by choosing us as your tour provider, so we do all the hard work for you! We have come up with three unique ways to find the right educational experience for you. It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3! Firstly you can let us be your guide and help you create your dream tour using our one-of-a-kind “Design A Tour” form. We give you all the options in the world. Literally! For all you Type A’s who know exactly where you want to go, then you can use our “Start from Scratch” option to tell us who, what, where and when. Then simply sit back and…

Why foreign language education has moved from important to imperative.

Many first-time travelers experience some pre-trip language anxiety. They wonder if a quick mid-flight course in French will be enough to let them successfully navigate the Paris métro or order a crêpe.

To American tourists’ delight, most Europeans are able to converse easily (though sometimes reluctantly) in English. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for Americans’ proficiency in foreign languages. According to the 2007 American Community Survey issued April 2010, more than 80 percent of Americans speak English only. Consequences of this fact are not simply limited to ease of foreign travel. A powerful current of change in the world’s economic makeup is testing the odds of getting by in business on English alone.

After decades of global economic supremacy, the U.S. may cede dominance to China within the next decade, according to the latest projections. Standard Chartered PLC, a leading…

TSA Tours is proud to offer our Tour Directors the opportunity to design their own study abroad curriculum. Students can earn college credits at a fraction of standard tuition costs, adding incredible value to your tour.

Seton Hill University’s College in High School Program lets high school teachers administer college-level coursework centered around your TSA Tours itinerary.

Here are just a few examples of standard catalog courses from Seton Hill University:

• AR101 – Western Art History
• FR100 – Introduction to French Language and Culture
• HU200 – European Humanities

You can also submit your own curriculum to Seton Hill University for approval and create your own tailor-made course.