you have questions.
we have answers.
Making the decision to travel internationally is a big one for many students & families, especially if it's the first time. We understand. Below are some commonly asked questions & answers. This is by no means an exhaustive list & we are quite confident you'll have a question or two that's not addressed here. If that's the case, let's connect! Whether it's via email or phone, we're here to provide you with the information you need to decide if a REBAVA venture is right for you.
is rebava a good fit for me?
Are you interested in making a difference in the world & discovering how travel can transform you while also positively impacting host communities? Do the words off-the-beaten-path excite you? Is an open mind something you regularly pack for your ventures abroad? Can you thrive & contribute meaningfully in communal living & learning environments? If you answered 'yes, yes, yes, & yes' chances are good that REBAVA is a great fit for you. If you're still unsure, please reach out to us & we'll do all we can to help you decide if a trip with REBAVA makes good sense for you. If you're a student currently struggling with conduct disorders, chemical dependencies, an inability to work collaboratively with peers & follow instructions, or an unwillingness to behave in a culturally sensitive manner, we ask that you consider a REBAVA trip when you are better prepared for the sensitive & rigorous nature inherent in them.
how old are rebava students & where do they come from?
While there is not a specific age requirement for REBAVA students, they generally fall in the 16-19 year old range. Our trips are best suited for mature & engaged learners. If your age falls shy of the range or exceeds it, let's connect. Perhaps we can brainstorm some good solutions together.
REBAVA students come from all over the world. While most are students in the US, a number of them possess citizenship elsewhere. We're excited to have diverse student groups as the various perspectives brought to the table add to the overall learning experience.
REBAVA students come from all over the world. While most are students in the US, a number of them possess citizenship elsewhere. We're excited to have diverse student groups as the various perspectives brought to the table add to the overall learning experience.
what are REbava trip leaders like?
Many student travel companies hire college students to lead trips. REBAVA refuses to adopt this model. We believe our students deserve more & that parents should have the highest level of confidence in the leaders responsible for their students' learning experiences & safety. With this in mind, we hire veteran educators with a proven track record. We pay them extremely well because we value their role in the success of our company as much as any other. Most will only lead one trip per summer. This means they are full of energy ... far from being 'burned out', 'so ready to get home', & 'sick & tired of students'. Our trip leaders are fun. They love to travel & are passionate about making the world a better place one trip at a time. On top of it all, they believe wholeheartedly that students have the capacity to do so, too. We love our trip leaders & think students & parents will as well.
are rebava trip leaders first aid & cpr certified?
Yes. Each REBAVA trip is staffed with two trip leaders possessing a minimum certification in First Aid & CPR. At times, additional certifications may be the case. In addition, our in-country partner provides two additional trip leaders. At least one of our in-country trip leaders will be First Aid & CPR certified. The group will travel with two extensive first aid kits at all times.
Is it safe for students to travel internationally?
Our short answer is YES! That being said, we know there's risk inherent in most activities students engage in on a daily basis (i.e.-driving in cars, playing sports, eating food, etc.). Traveling is no exception. And while we unequivocally support being an informed & smart traveler, we resist the temptation to let fear of the unknown stop us from venturing into our big & beautiful world with all that it holds in store for us.
Our travel insurance partner, World Nomads, recently shared the following article by Johanna Read (TravelEater). We think she does a nice job of providing helpful tips that can assist students, parents & educators contemplating whether they should 'stay or go'.
https://www.worldnomads.com/travel-safety/travel-and-terrorism
This is not a subject to make light of. We get it. If you have specific questions for REBAVA, let's connect. We'll do our best to respectfully help you determine if a trip with us is right for you.
Our travel insurance partner, World Nomads, recently shared the following article by Johanna Read (TravelEater). We think she does a nice job of providing helpful tips that can assist students, parents & educators contemplating whether they should 'stay or go'.
https://www.worldnomads.com/travel-safety/travel-and-terrorism
This is not a subject to make light of. We get it. If you have specific questions for REBAVA, let's connect. We'll do our best to respectfully help you determine if a trip with us is right for you.
do students need medical & traveler's insurance?
REBAVA requires our students to have international medical insurance coverage for the entirety of their travels with us. This should include coverage of emergency medical evacuation & medical expenses should you get sick or injured while participating on one of our trips. And we've traveled enough to know that the unforeseen occasionally comes up. For personal protection in these cases, we recommend that students & their families purchase a travel insurance policy that provides additional financial coverage. REBAVA's a fan of the simple & flexible plans offered by World Nomads. We also like that they take making a difference in the world seriously, too.
Are immunizations & medications required for travel with rebava?
This is undoubtedly a hot topic when considering international travel. And while we have our own opinions for sure, REBAVA is not in a place to legally provide medical advice on immunizations & inoculations. There are no required immunizations for travel to Cambodia. However, we always think it best to be as informed a traveler as possible before you step foot on foreign soil. We suggest you meet with your primary care physician & visit a local travel clinic, keeping in mind that some immunizations require a series of inoculations or medications. If possible, make appointments six weeks prior to scheduled trip departure. The following links could prove helpful.
- http://www.cdc.gov
- http://www.istm.org/AF_CstmClinicDirectory.asp
what about passports & visas?
A valid & current passport is required for all REBAVA trips. Your passport must be valid for six months beyond the time of travel. Tourist visas are required for all US travelers to Cambodia & REBAVA students are responsible for obtaining their tourist visa prior to the scheduled trip departure. The link provided makes acquiring an e-Visa quick & simple. Please take note of the countries with visa exemptions & those that are not supported by e-Visa. The need to expedite both passports & visas can be a stressful & costly one. We strongly suggest taking care of passport & visa needs as soon as you are able. Please contact us with any questions.
Get your e-Visa now:
https://www.evisa.gov.kh
Get your e-Visa now:
https://www.evisa.gov.kh
do you have a technology policy & Can i communicate with family while on a REBAVA trip?
REBAVA does not have a no technology policy & we do not expect our students to be completely 'cut off' from communicating with family during their trip.
However, REBAVA highly values being present in the moment & with our fellow travelers. Devices can pose challenges to both. For students who are easily distracted by devices, we encourage you to consider 'unplugging' for the trip. And for those who choose to travel with their devices, REBAVA reserves the right to monitor your use carefully with the best interest of the group in mind. At times, trip leaders will collect all student devices to assure that they are not a distraction. Please let us know, prior to the trip, if you can not comply with this.
REBAVA realizes most students rely on their phones for taking photos. When appropriate, students will have their phones for this use. Our itineraries are very full. However, when the circumstances & time allows, students will have 'free time' to connect with parents if they so desire.
Upon safe arrival at the trip's destination, parents will be sent an email by REBAVA staff. After that, no word from us is good news. Trip leaders do the best they can, provided the circumstances, to share the group's experiences with parents via Flickr & blogging. Please keep in mind there are several limitations to communication that are out of our control: wi-fi availability, signal strength, & time zone differences. This means that, regardless of REBAVA's thoughts on the use of devices, regular communication with family is likely impossible. If this is a reality that induces undesirable levels of stress for students & parents, a trip with REBAVA may not be the best fit for you. Please feel free to contact us with any questions.
However, REBAVA highly values being present in the moment & with our fellow travelers. Devices can pose challenges to both. For students who are easily distracted by devices, we encourage you to consider 'unplugging' for the trip. And for those who choose to travel with their devices, REBAVA reserves the right to monitor your use carefully with the best interest of the group in mind. At times, trip leaders will collect all student devices to assure that they are not a distraction. Please let us know, prior to the trip, if you can not comply with this.
REBAVA realizes most students rely on their phones for taking photos. When appropriate, students will have their phones for this use. Our itineraries are very full. However, when the circumstances & time allows, students will have 'free time' to connect with parents if they so desire.
Upon safe arrival at the trip's destination, parents will be sent an email by REBAVA staff. After that, no word from us is good news. Trip leaders do the best they can, provided the circumstances, to share the group's experiences with parents via Flickr & blogging. Please keep in mind there are several limitations to communication that are out of our control: wi-fi availability, signal strength, & time zone differences. This means that, regardless of REBAVA's thoughts on the use of devices, regular communication with family is likely impossible. If this is a reality that induces undesirable levels of stress for students & parents, a trip with REBAVA may not be the best fit for you. Please feel free to contact us with any questions.
is there a deadline for enrollment?
There is no deadline for enrollment. However, REBAVA aims at having all trips filled by April 1st. If you've determined REBAVA is a good fit for you, we recommend enrolling as soon as possible & paying the $100 one time non-refundable enrollment fee to secure a spot on your desired trip.
Are rebava trips only for students traveling with teachers?
While REBAVA trip leaders are most often teachers who actively recruit students from their schools to travel with us, each trip has an open enrollment unless otherwise noted. This means individual students from all over the country (& the world) are welcome to enroll for any REBAVA trip with available space. REBAVA will regularly update the status of each trip. If you have questions regarding enrollment, let's connect!
does rebava offer custom trips to non-student groups?
Are you intrigued by REBAVA's approach to travel & learning? Do you find yourself wishing you were a student again so that you could venture with us? While the majority of our trips will be filled with students, we're open to working with non-student groups to custom design the trip of a lifetime. Let's connect to see if your group's purpose is aligned with REBAVA's mission. After all, you need not be a student to hear venture beckon!
why is the cost of trips given as a range?
Quite simply, REBAVA doesn't believe students participating on a full trip should pay full price. With this is mind, the cost of each trip is presented as a range. The lower number represents the cost of a trip with twelve students (our maximum group size), while the higher number reflects the cost for eight (our minimum group size). While we could increase our profit by charging the higher rate regardless of group size, we prefer to do what's most fair. We hope you can appreciate that & welcome any questions you have about pricing.
Is international airfare included in the trip cost & does rebava book student's flights?
REBAVA does not include airfare in the trip cost. We do, however, handle all student ticketing to assure that groups fly together accompanied by at least one of their REBAVA trip leaders. We think traveling as a group is the safest option for all & increases the likelihood that everyone ends up where they are supposed to when they are supposed to be there. When booking international group flights, REBAVA strives to find the most affordable flights while also keeping connecting flights to a minimum. Cost of airfare is effected by several variables including (but not limited to): number of students on the trip, airline pricing, multi-destination bookings & taxes. We aim to keep all Cambodia airfare, for the summer of 2017, between $1800 - $2800. Please contact us with any questions about airfare & travel in general.
