People to People

Stop complaining. If you can't afford it and you can't fund raise, then do without it. Soon, my daughter will be on her 3rd journey. Her first journey was almost three weeks in China and she was only 13 years old. If she had the option, she would have stayed another week. She came back with tons of knowledge, videos and more than 1,500 pictures in her first two journeys. This organization is so well organized and safety is their #1 priority. If you decide to make the same trip yourself, it would cost at least the same, but you would basically be lost on trying to find places that you think you should visit. The cost of this journey is all inclusive and you get to stay at very nice hotels. I could go on and on but I am not much of a blogger, and I have no affiliation with People to People!

First thing's first, let's get something straight, the program is not run by Eisenhower or his granddaughter. Do some research and you'll figure out that it is a for-profit company based in Spokane, Washington, who simply bought Eisenhower's non-profit company's logo and such for their letter that they will send to you (forgot what it was called).

The trips are quite pricy. However, I believe that if you send your child, you will not regret it. In no way are they forcing you to participate in this program, nor do they even say you should. It is simply a choice, so don't complain that they are forcing you. I do however believe their marketing tactics are a little fishy but hey, they are a business trying to make money just like every other company out there. Their meetings that they have once a month are extremely disorganized, the kids don't get time to bond at all, and the videos they show are completely and utterly irrelevant to traveling to these different countries. They have many areas to improve upon.

However, I do believe this will be an educational trip for my son to take and will expand his knowledge about the world. In my honest opinion, if you have the money, like we do (approximately $6,000+), then send your child if you believe that they are mature enough (don't send middle-schoolers half way around the world). It will be a great eye opening experience for them and my son is very excited to go this summer in just a little over a month.

It is always interesting to view all of the comments and opinions written. Most of the negative comments posted are from people who have never toured with People to People. They are the skeptics. It is reasonable to be skeptical when it comes to our children; however, it is another to base opinions upon assumptions and information that is not true. Reading reviews on the Internet is not "researching" any program and gaining valuable and reliable facts. It is not an expensive travel agency. The students do go on tours, most of which are tours that the average family will never take their children on. Additionally, the students participate in leadership meetings/events. They learn about the culture and children their age in the country visited.

People to People is run by the Dwight D. Eisenhower foundation (now by his daughter). If you want to know about the program, contact People to People directly. In fact, contact real participants (teachers, students, and athletes) of the program. There are teachers in every school district that travel with the program. The participants are reliable consumers.

How do I know? I am an educator that knows other educators that have worked with the program and oversee the local trips and every age level. Further, my oldest son traveled with the program 5 years ago (before I was a teacher). This program changed his life. He was a shy, unsure, academically-advantaged student. He transformed into a responsible, confident, and gregarious teenager. He came out of his shell and learned that nothing in life is gained by not working hard and taking chances for what you want. Four years later, he graduated with and advanced honors diploma, Student Body Vice President, a varsity soccer player, a speaker/presenter at the National Student Council/Leadership Conference, with several scholarships. I know that without this experience, he would have been a very different high school student and a young man.

The trip was a 22-day altering experience. Was it expensive? Yes, but it is a choice. You can attend the meeting and choose not to participate. After the initial information meeting, the students must go through 2-3 interviews. Not all students pass the interview process. Only a certain number are invited to attend the trip. The students must attend monthly information and leadership meetings in preparation for the trip. Additionally, the students are highly encouraged to earn their money for their trip. Our son had to pay for 1/3 of the costs.

Again, this program is not a scheme or scam. Perhaps they obtain names from a database, so what? That does not guarantee that your child will be selected to go after the interview process. We would send any and all of our children with People to People again in a heartbeat. Don't bash what you really don't know.

I received the letter for the England, France, and Italy trip this summer. I went to the orientation meeting and set up the interview. I got accepted! I have been to 5 meetings and love it! This is no scam! If it were, there is something wrong with you. Unless you have been on a trip with them, you have no right to criticize the program. And I paid $7,000 for my trip and it's worth it for meals, hotels, rides, airfare, activities, and 22 days! Not that bad if you ask me! And the program was founded by Eisenhower so I wouldn't think that would be a scam if you ask me. So until you've gone on the trip and experienced what goes on, don't go on complaining until you have proof.

My son was "nominated" by a teacher, and we received a letter in April 2012 to join People to People. I carefully read the letter that appeared to come from an official government office. However, I quickly realized that this was creative marketing by People to People, a for-profit organization. People to People's approach raised a red flag for me, and with carefully placed wording, appeared to promise without really promising results to help children succeed. And with their aggressive marketing style, I started to research People to People before letting my child get too excited.

There is nothing wrong, in my opinion, with a "for-profit" organization. However, in my opinion I believe that their marketing approach is very deceptive and immoral. As young people, especially with gifted, or honors students, they are constantly receiving offers to advance, etc. In my opinion, People to People are targeting these students, and through offering benefits to the teachers who nominate and work with them, they are getting help with their marketing ploy.

In my opinion, People to People is nothing more than an overpriced travel agency. Whether travelers have a good experience or not, they should be aware that they will only get their experience out of it, nothing more as implied. Consumers should be aware that they are not going to be any closer to getting into Harvard, Yale, or any school for that matter just by hiring People to People.

I chose to use this as a teachable moment to my son, as sometimes things are not as they appear. And sometimes, companies have great marketers and advertisers to lure potential clients, that he should carefully read all claims, find out how these claims would be fulfilled, do extensive research, etc. I'm not saying that anyone will have a bad experience with People to People. However, for what they charge, you may be able to have the whole family go on a fun, educating vacation. Do your homework. There are a lot of travel agents out there, and if you need help with your college path, there are many choices, even "life coaches" who can help you with your college/ life path.

I am sorry that all these people are complaining. We have had all great experiences with People to People. My stepdaughters went in 2009, both honor students, and it was the adventure of a lifetime for them. Now my son was invited. We were so excited. The cost is high, but for 22 days, the cost is not bad. We promised my son we would fundraise and he just needed to be positive and work hard. We are almost there! I would encourage all parents who get invitations to talk to the leaders, go to the meetings and you will be amazed by People to People and their leadership of teachers who are on the program. We are excited. He leaves in 2 months! Thank you People to People for this awesome adventure!

I'm very disappointed because People to People will not refund the 400.00 dollars that I paid as a registration into the program. I'm a low income person and it was very difficult to get that money. Now I need it to put food on my table and they just won't return it. Please don't let them get away with this. I'm not the first one and I'm sure I won't be the last one, someone has to stop them from stealing from disadvantaged families.

Madeline ** ** - Attended a meeting for above, as her parents were out of town. Put down payment of $400 with the promise it would be returned if she didn't take the trip. Notified Josh at ** in January. Madeline's parents couldn't come up with the money. He said he would try to get us reimbursement. The second call, February 28, 2012, he promised my husband, Karl, that they would be sending us a credit of $305 due to enrollment fee of $95 (never received notification of any enrollment fee), no payment credit was made on our account. Please Help, we need this money.

I'm going to travel this summer to England and France with People to People. This is going to be my first time. I've been in two meetings already and I'm so excited about it. I'm learning so many things about other cultures, history, famous people, etc. The program is very expensive, but I'm very positive about this travel. I let you know when I come back, how was it.

Okay, all of you that are complaining are ridiculous! Why complain if you did not even go or really look into it. You cannot say the children in the videos are marketed because my friend was in one and they did not pay her anything, just simply asked. Second of all, if they send your child a letter and you do not like where they are going, you can switch trips. You do not have to be nominated or get a letter. I found out from my friend who had went who, by the way, had the time of her life and will never forget and now I am going to Australia, Fiji and New Zealand because I applied and had to go through a interview process which took almost an hour.

Now I have meetings every week that my mom has to attend. Also, if your child gets injured in anyway, they fly you out for free to be with them and if they get sick it's the same but it is not like they control when your child gets sick. If you watch videos on people that went on these trips, they say you're only alone once and that is when you go to the bathroom.

Yes, it is expensive but I get to go to three amazing places and get to know others ways of life and do things not a lot of people get to do like repel down a cliff, meet native tribes and the ways the were taught for generations, eat new foods, swim in the great barrier reef, hold a Koala bear, go to the Sydney opera house, meet the leaders of Australia, go to high school in all these places and stay at amazing hotels.

We have to write a journal and answer questions every night and it's graded every other night by our leaders. Also the teachers going for free is a lie because my teacher nominated my friend and wrote me a recommendation letter and they asked her information and all she simply got was a thank you letter. If you get a letter, stop complaining about the information on the letter because first of all, you do not need to go to that trip and you do not have to even go. They just send them to all areas to advertise just like a commercial. Also I'm paying for the whole trip myself with my saving bonds, volunteer firefighter check, my job, birthday and fund raising and I am 17. I also have the most expensive trip which is $9000. It's not a scam.

People to People is not a scam. I have been scammed before, so after a friend led me to this site and read a years worth of complaints I was very upset. I went to the first orientation meeting with printouts of the complaints. Talking with my child's leaders, who have gone on trips before and with parents whose child has gone in past years, I felt much better. My daughter will get a lot from this trip.

It is something I don't think I will ever experience in my life but I think my child deserves the world and I would like to give it to her. I am a single parent and she is my world. I will comment on this site again after she has gone on this trip. If you get a letter, go to the informational meeting and ask questions. This is free and you will find out the cost, which is high. But if you were to do the same trip on your own research, how much it would cost? You might be surprised.

I have been working with the People to People program since 2007. At first I was like many of you and thought this was a total scam. I began by traveling to Washington, D.C. and leading a group of twelve 6th graders. These students were amazing leaders in our country and throughout the world. This was an eye opener for the students as they had to learn to accept each other, work as a team to present skits and complete team builders. Of course, we also traveled throughout the nation's capital. After finishing the first program, I too felt like a stronger person and had much respect for the program. I have traveled on five additional programs across the United States and two international programs. Out of these 8 programs I have never had a student go missing or who was unaccountable.

The international programs offer once in a lifetime experiences for most students. How many people can say they have rappelled down a castle wall, explored the dungeon of a castle, stayed with a host stay family in foreign country, and watched the sunset at Ubirr Rock? And the list goes on. The students come home not only filled with knowledge but so much more confident to take on the world. Ask any of my students who have ever traveled on a program and they will tell you how the program changed their life forever. And the parents will tell you how much more confident and responsible their student is.

From my experience the program office has always been on top of issues, especially when we had to take a student to the emergency room in Amsterdam because she was so sick. We are also with a delegation manager when we travel abroad who speaks the languages of the countries we visit and can support us in all incidences. Another bonus this program has is a country leader who visits all the hotels, restaurants, and sites ahead of time to make sure they are safe for the students. This program has thought of everything. I have several teacher friends who travel with other programs, but let me tell you I would not want to be a leader on those programs or allow my children to travel on them. Next time you have a question about the program, please ask to speak to a delegation leader or an area director. They can answer your questions best about this wonderful program.

I just had to address some of the comments that I found on this website. I find it very interesting that so many people are upset and complaining about People to People when they have never traveled with the organization. Apparently, every one is up in arms with the fact that they purchase mailing list. Guess what people: it is a business. So are Honda and Bank of America and Starbucks and millions of other organizations in the world, like the Boys Scouts of America, etc.

So you are upset that it cost you, the parents, something to send your children to travel to another country? Why wouldn't it? Here is the reality: you aren't going to get something for nothing and if this is something you can not afford or choose not to be able to afford, then so be it and move on. So what if the CEO of this corporation made $4 million. The CEO of Star Bucks made $8.2 million. Yet people don't stop buying a $4 cup of coffee and milk.

My point is this. People to People is a business that offers a safe environment for kids to travel to another country and experience another culture. They offer a product and one can choose to buy it or not. Some students are nominated, others are contacted from a mailing list, and others, such as myself, contact the organization because they want their child to have an opportunity like this. My son has been fundraising and has almost half the cost of his trip paid for with 6 months still to go. I have 4 children, 3 under the age of 6 and I'm working class like many of you. However, this was important to me to have my child be able to go, so I scrimp, save, and budget. It is called prioritizing.

I'm not going to rip this organization because they expect me to pay for my child to travel. Does anyone rip Microsoft for the cost of an X-box? Or Sony or Nintendo for their gaming systems? No, either you buy one or you don't. And we all know how much the CEOs of those companies make. Why is this organization so different? I get mailers from every business under the sun, it is called marketing. My son is traveling this summer and he is excited about it and working his butt off to fund as much of it as possible. God willing, I will send my son to Europe this summer, prayed up and paid up, and he will get to experience Europe with other peers.

Looks like a great program and opportunity for high school teens. However, they indicate with certain clarity during the presentation that a full deposit refund is available, but do not indicate in any way, that they'll keep nearly 25% of the deposit ($95 of $400), if you don't request for a refund within 72 hours. They don't even get you all the information within that amount of time. They didn't even contact me to interview my daughter for more than a month, after the deposit was made. I find this type of practice to be plainly unethical.

Like others here, we received a letter in the mail for our child. I started to do some digging and found out that Jeff Thomas, the CEO of Ambassadors Group, the publicly traded company that runs the Student Ambassador Program, made over $4 million in compensation over the past three years (see: http://***.gov/***.htm). His wife, who also works for the company, made almost $2 million. This is why we are supposed to have our kids run bake sales and other activities-- to make more money for the Thomases. This is repugnant and reprehensible in my opinion.

I received a letter also. However, it did not state that my daughter was nominated by anyone. It just states that she was being offered a life-changing opportunity to travel and study in Canada in the summer of 2012. She would be joining 5th- and 6th-grade students from the South Baltimore area. My daughter is in the 9th grade, and we don't reside in the South Baltimore area.

When I first received the letter, I was excited, because I thought this was a program that prior acquaintances had their child participate in. I thought it was a legitimate organization. I did recall a former co-worker who sent her son to Australia many years ago. I would have to confirm that this was the organization that he traveled with.

As many others have stated, we were excited to receive the letter and quickly went online to register for the meeting. When we entered the PIN, the Canada invitation was for 9-12th graders traveling to Australia. We reviewed the videos, which, I must say, are very convincing. Then I found the cost. It was over $8,000 for 22 days. 22 days in Australia with people I don't know and I can't attend? It is not happening.

I think we will not go to the meeting. After reading these reviews, especially the ones that actually let their child participate, I am appalled that an organization would go to these lengths to scam hardworking parents by using false advertising about an opportunity of a lifetime.

I would like to know where they got all of the students from that appear in the videos. The marketing is very convincing and sounds legitimate.

In 2001, I was sent a letter by People to People to participate in this program that summer which was going to my senior year of high school. Yes, my parents had to pay for the deposit, but the price and experience was well worth the investment. I considered going on this trip and participating in this program one of the most exceptional experiences of my life. I met some wonderful people and got to travel the East Coast of Australia (chaperoned) for 3 weeks during the summer. The highlights were climbing the Sydney Harbor Bridge, seeing a symphony concert at the Sydney Opera House, staying on a farm in the outback and swimming in the Great Barrier Reef. Most of our meals were paid for and all of our accommodations were taken care of. It was truly amazing.

There was also an option for students to earn credits for school! I found this complaint site searching for People to People to send a link to my mother so that perhaps my younger brother can go. I was horrified to see these complaints. If you can't afford it, maybe your kids can work a job, or fundraise if they really want to go. My mother was a single mother with three children when I got this letter, but I worked and saved to get a chance to have this experience which was part of what I learned participating in this program. Maybe their marketing techniques are questionable but the company and their product is stellar, in my personal opinion.

In the past few years, we have gotten no less than 5 letters from P2P. One was about my son and 4 of them were to the "parents of" either my husband or myself. They all claimed we were nominated by a teacher and were selected to participate. Well, since my husband and I are not students at all, that is not possible. My son was too young at that time to participate in the program he was "nominated" for.

This company is a fraud, plain and simple. They buy names from the American Student List at www.studentlist.com. They buy names and then get parents to spend unheard of amounts of money for trips. Their slick side business, Student Ambassadors, is a for-profit travel agency masked as a non-profit organization. I can't wait until someone puts these con artists under a jail!

I have read here that some students really are nominated by teachers. It is easy, I just nominated my dog. But the teachers are chaperones on the trips they travel for free, so it is beneficial to them to nominate lots of kids, especially affluent ones. The more they nominate the more likely they are to get to chaperone.

I received a letter in the mail sent to parents of A.P., who is my 13-year-old cousin who resides in South Florida. Although she visited my home when she was under the age of 2, she has never resided at my address. The last name on the envelope isn't even her last name. She has her father's last name. I was going to just put the letter in the mail and send it to her and her mother, but something told me to research this "business" first. So glad I did. I don't want her anywhere near this, and I will be contacting her and her mother to look out for any letters that may come their way.

It's sad when people use children to make a dollar. If they are truly partnered with the National Teacher of the Year Program, then I feel even sadder about the state of our education in the U.S.

People to People is 100% not a scam. I was a student ambassador to Western Europe through PTP when I was a teenager and the experience changed my life forever. I had a wonderful time. I learned a lot. I feel sad that so many of you are too cynical to take the 30 seconds to google the ** program to find that much out for yourselves. You should have taken your child to the information meeting instead of balking. Your kid would have the learning experience of a lifetime. I would do it again in a heartbeat if I am not in my late 20's already.

We received a letter in June saying our son had been "nominated" by one of his school teachers to take part in the Student Ambassador program for the Western Canada trip. After reading all these negative posts on the internet, I decided to call the lady in charge of the trip to find out which teacher had "nominated" him. She told me that she didn't have that info but someone at the main office would be more than happy to give that info to me.

So I talked to a lady at the main office in WA and after looking up my son's name, she said they got his name from the American Student List, and not from a teacher. Next, she told me that to be on that list, the child had to have good academic performance and achievements. I called the American Student List in NY and asked them how my son's name got put on their list and she told me it could've been from contests, questionnaires, sweepstakes or even if my wife or I had subscribed to a diaper service when he was born. She said there are no ties to their academic performance whatsoever. And she was really disappointed that People to People would lie like that to parents and their kids. Both of the ladies at People to People said they were truly sorry and can't believe this has happened. I told not to apologize to me, but apologize to my son who cried himself to sleep because I will not let him go to Canada now. They said they would like to but neither one called back to do so. So if they will lie to us right off the bat, they will lie to us every step of the way.

We also received a letter (10/2011) stating our son was invited to travel and study in Italy, France, etc... I might add that the letter is very professional and official looking. It even had an embossed seal on the back flap of the envelope.

Definitely a scam. Can anyone say "class action lawsuit"?

We wanted to inform you (People to People and its official partners) that we, the people, are doing our homework and researching about what a despicable company you are! You are sending these letters to our children, (some don't even have children, others are 52 or 56 years old) and playing with their emotions. How dare you and shame on your official partners as well.

I received a letter from People to People inviting me to join high school students in the Indianapolis area for an "educational exploration program" founded by former President Dwight D. Eisenhower. I am 35 years old, and neither a high school student nor in the Indianapolis area. My parent has never lived at this address. They even gave me my very own website (not valid) and pin (useless). Personally, I can see all kinds of wrong with this. Although I'm sure there is some educational value to the trips they offer, a company that solicits travelers through misleading mass mailings isn't one based in education.

We originally received a letter from this organization with a envelope addressed to the parents of ** and her correct last name. Our daughter, of course, became very excited and as her parents we were too. We went online and typed in the PIN to reserve a spot at their meeting. Two days later another letter arrived and we believed it was the confirmation for the meeting and couldn't believe it had arrived so soon. Turns out it was another letter inviting our daughter to participate and this time it was addressed to our daughter with my maiden name!

I became suspicious and started researching online. Turns out that it is not a recognition program, nobody nominated her for this and it was just a fishing tournament to see how many students they can recruit to the meeting. It is my understanding that once they get you to the meeting they show a video which of course makes all the experience sound wonderful. Then they hit you up with the cost. Parents are asked $400 up front but don't worry, you can do some fundraising to come up with the $5000-$8000 more than you will need!

Our daughter was invited on the England-France-Italy trip which has been her dream to do after graduation. Imagine if we took her to this meeting and then watched her disintegrate into tears after we heard the price tag! I had told my parents proudly that our daughter was chosen to be an ambassador and they had never heard of the program so they started researching online. I encourage all who read this to go to: Eisenhower Student Program Invitations Questioned - CBS News! This is a real organization and not for profit. It is run by Dwight ** granddaughter, but the Ambassador Travel group paid a lot of money to use the People to People name!

If it's not considered a scam then it is certainly a scheme! We will not be attending their meeting!

I got an invite from these guys saying "Junior High Students" were invited to a special thing and it mentioned that their expenses would be paid for. I'm in High School. After some research, I found that they don't pay for your trip, or anything there. It seems to me that the people here just try to get money, and they don't care what happens to you as long as your parents are paying them. I wouldn't do it if I were you.

I received a letter stating that my son, Zachary, was nominated to participate in this program. I was devastated because my beautiful little boy died in 2000. It was a very painful letter to receive. I was sharing this experience with my brother who recently lost his son at the age of 13. To our horror, my brother also received a letter stating that his son was also nominated for this program. The tragedy our family has experienced is tremendous. This company's lack of sensitivity was tantamount to rubbing salt in our gaping wounds.

I didn't receive all my money back from them. I only received $255, and I paid them $1000 to go on this trip this past summer, but I had to pull out because I couldn't raise enough. They are money making scam, and not giving the kids money back.

Our daughter received a letter saying she was nominated to go to Costa Rica. Day 2 of a new school, who nominated her? The company seems fraudulent.

Today, we received another letter from these scammers. They are inviting my child to Australia! What a joke! Two years ago, my child who was in fifth grade at that time got invited to Washington, DC for a mere $3,500.00 plus. We were so elated that I could not even sleep that night. My child, an "ambassador" - wow!

These people really played with our emotions!! Thank goodness my child knows her worth without counting on these people's lies as motivation!