South Africa Tour & Trip Reviews

I have worked with ACIS for many many years (and have also previously traveled with other companies) and I can honestly say that ACIS is truly the best travel company out there. The support given to the group leaders is outstanding, from the earliest stages of planning a trip with fantastic Program Managers, to communications and check-ins during the tour from both your own program manager and those from offices overseas, plus follow-ups after the trip. With ACIS, your ideas and your voice really do matter, and they listen and try to accommodate whatever plans you may want to arrange for your group.

When weather delays or city strikes have ever affected plans, ACIS bends over backwards to make sure that alternative plans are activated so that your group has the best possible experience no matter what. When our return flight was affected because of a commercial airline strike, ACIS arranged for us to travel by train from Paris to London, and arranged an amazing city tour for us including theater tickets to a show of our choice and a fabulous meal at Covent Garden so that we could then fly home on a different airline from a different city without skipping a beat. When luggage was once delayed longer than usual because of major weather issues at the airport, ACIS met us with cash in hand for each of the travelers so that everyone could purchase toiletries and necessary items so that we could carry on a bit longer until our luggage caught up with us.

ACIS tours are educational in ways large and small! We have traveled to Central America, China, Russia, Australia + New Zealand and all over Europe and the UK with ACIS and each trip included a well-balanced itinerary with a trip that included really excellent hotels and restaurants that I would gladly return to if traveling to that destination again. The food is local, fresh, authentic and delicious, and mealtime becomes a cultural event. The points of interest selected on their itineraries are a combination of sites you absolutely must see plus sites you may not have been as familiar with, but are so glad you experienced!!! The tour managers make every effort to weave in stops at local markets, shops, concerts or shows that may be of interest so that you can experience more from each area you visit.

ACIS uses experienced tour managers and guides who not only know the history and culture of each destination, but who also know how to interact well with both students and adults. They are stellar additions to the ACIS team in every corner of the world we have visited, and I have repeat travelers who tell me that the ACIS tour managers and guides are one of the many reasons they continue to return. Experienced, knowledgeable guides make learning fun and fascinating, and we have never been disappointed in all the years we have traveled with this company.

We have an ACIS trip planned for Japan that was postponed because of COVID-19 travel restrictions, and I can’t wait to travel again. They have made very reasonable and flexible reservation arrangements in light of the world’s pandemic, demonstrating once again their ability to pivot and help the traveler as much as possible. It has been my continued experience that ACIS will be there for you when it counts, helping you plan for just about anything that may come up in as stress-free a manner as possible. We have had one awesome trip after another, every single time. This has not been my experience with other travel companies. You get what you pay for…and although ACIS may not be the least expensive travel company, they are truly, truly the best, and you will be SO glad you chose to travel with them!"

ACIS is a true 5-star company. I have had the pleasure to work with this company for over 25 years. The Boston Team is by far the best educational travel team. I have worked with two other companies and each one yielded a sub-par experience with so many problems and extra-hidden charges. This is never the scenario, from my experiences with ACIS, in fact, the total opposite. As a Group Leader, one does except planning and organizing, but I must say that Tom Heigham, facilitated my trip from start to finish that at times, I felt like I was a participant! Tom is the utmost professional, meticulous and ensures a smooth transition from each leg of the trip. As my last trip left prior to the pandemic last February, Tom and his team were able to defuse a dilema I was experiencing regarding an ill student. Due to my long-standing relationship with ACIS, my student was able to receive a full refund minus the initial deposit. I was extremely grateful for this gesture by ACIS. My Tour Manager in Span, Nil, was excellent and not only provided insightful recommendations for our free time, but also offered to arrange any extra activities for my students. Nil was knowledgeable and an expert in Spanish art, culture and history. I would definetly request Nil for my next trip! However, whomever I would be assigned, would be up to the exemplary standards of ACIS. I would highly recommend ACIS for a new teacher venturing out on a new trip or a returning teacher. I look forward to working with Tom and the Boston Team for my next trip in 2022.

Sincerely,
Liza Iolli
Woodward School for Girls
Quincy, MA

My first trip with ACIS was in 2019. It was during this trip that I became hooked on ACIS and would always use them as my travel company. That trip was not even with students yet, it was the Group Leaders trip to Barcelona. This company is amazing at putting together incredible experiences and giving us tools to be great group leaders. They are with you every step of the way. I would not travel with any other comapany.

Summer 2014 trip to France : We could not have dreamed up a better tour manager! Her suggested changes to our itinerary made the trip for us so memorable because not only did we get to see many more typical French villages that were lesser known to foreign tourists, but we also got to have a picnic on an authentic farm and even take advantage of the proximity of Italy by going there for a day. Our tour manager was so knowledgeable, positive, hilarious, engaging, and organized: a true diamond in the rough!


2016 trip to France: This entire trip honestly felt like a dream! We could not have asked for a better experience, and my kids learned and grew so much in just 9 days. I particularly love this itinerary because it allowed for three completely different views of France: city (Paris), mountains (Chamonix), beach (Nice). In addition, our group was elated to get to drive through Italy en route to Nice!

Feb 2019 to Quebec: This was an absolute dream trip, and I would not have changed anything about it! The kids raved about the experience, especially dog-sledding, snow tubing, and sugar shack dancing! We definitely plan to offer this exact same trip (hopefully with Tony!) every other year for our school.

I just can't say enough about how fortunate I've been to travel with ACIS. Touring Italy with Edouardo, the UK and Ireland with Libby-- these were trips that have stayed with me. In each case, our Tour Manager went above and beyond to make sure everything was seamless and professional. But it was the little extras that really added to the richness of the experience. In Italy, on his day off, when we were having a free day, Edo instead joined us and we took a side tour of the Appian Way and the catacombs. Amazing! In England, Libby would often ask our driver to detour-- "There's a castle down this road you must see!" and off we'd go. When we were scheduled to arrive at York on a Sunday, she arranged for us to attend Evensong. Picture being able to experience a cathedral as it was meant to be experienced! I sat in the ancient choir loft and added my voice to the worshipers as they sang. I have traveled with other companies, but no one compares to ACIS. Being able to walk to and from your centrally-located hotel adds an extra layer of customization and convenience. But the Tour Managers! Second to none. I cannot wait until we go out into the world again together!

Yeah so like many people I was going to France when the pandemic hit. The trip was canceled only got half of the money back. When we went to look at the insurance and contract information which was online; it could no longer be found. They closed our account before we had made a decision which means we had no access to any information including billing... we had no access to the money we payed. There first offer gave most students no money back... for a $5000 trip $1000 is not enough. I saved up my own money and I felt hurt it was all going to waste because they didn’t want to give peoples there money. They gave us low ball offers and tried to push us roll over the trip with the school. The problem was this was most students senior year and they would not be at the school anymore. I know a lot of people where excited for this trip and devastated that we could not go. But the refunds they tried giving ruined mine and my friends love for traveling. They really were not willing to work with us and made a uncertain time even more bleak. I would never travel with this company nor let anyone I know travel with them.

My daughter’s France trip was cancelled due to COVID. Told we could roll over to a new trip in 2021. My daughter is not comfortable traveling nor do we as her parents feel it will be safe so we cancelled. We were told $650 of the almost $4,000 paid was non refundable. We were told this was due to the many expenses they already incurred. Maybe ACIS needs to rethink their business plan or at least it seems like they are the ones that need insurance to cover these expenses they said they incurred and weren’t refunded. Instead they are keeping the money of many hard working families. Money paid for an experience our children NEVER received. So sorry I ever agreed to this trip and will NEVER consider another tour from this company for any of my children. These companies should not be allowed to practice business in this manner. Shameful.

When I signed my daughter up to go to France (in 2021) I was told that I would get a full refund as long as the trip was cancelled before 65 days prior to the departure date. With everything that has happened with the pandemic, it just isn’t feasible for my family to spend this amount of money.

Acis has responded that the cancellation fee is $350, AND it would only be a travel voucher for another date. (From the acis site- Given the uncertainties that may exist around international travel in the year ahead, we’re making an exception to our standard cancellation policies. We’ve extended our most generous cancellation/refund amounts that are usually in place until 130 days before departure all the way until 65 days before departure.“

Guess we won’t use this system again.

Please ask yourself why a bunch of recent four star reviews just happened to show up on the site all at the same time. This appears to be the result of a coordinated effort to manipulate what is being seen on the site and to push back bad reviews from those that had horrendous experiences with ACIS. Please don't be fooled.

ACIS is an amazing student travel company. We have used them for about 10 years and have never had a negative experience. They go to great lengths to make sure our students have a great experience. They are easy to work with and know how to plan a trip that holds each student's interest.

The ACIS representative that works with us (Jill) is AMAZING. She makes the trip planning (which could be an intimidating, tedious process) into something fun. In fact, I actually look forward to planning with her.

In March 2020, when we were on one of their student trips to Europe, travel was shut down and they managed the very complicated and tense situation perfectly. They juggled complex travel arrangements and connections for us and ushered us back to America quickly and safely. While doing that, they also made efforts to maintaining as much of the trip as possible so our students continued to get great experiences even as plans were being made to bring them back to the U.S.

ACIS might not be the cheapest student travel company, but you definitely get what you pay for...hotels close to the city centers (so you don't spend your precious trip hours commuting through traffic), very cool cultural experiences that are a great change of pace from all the major tourist attractions you see, and tour leaders who thoroughly know the countries you're visiting AND know how to hold a student's attention.

I can't recommend ACIS strongly enough!

My students, another teacher, and I took a trip to Spain and France that started at the end of Feb. and went through the first week in March around the time Covid 19 was just beginning to become a news topic. We were very lucky that everything went beautifully and ACIS handled it all very well. It ended up being one of the greatest trips ever, especially in Paris because many people were staying home and the crowds in Versailles and the Louvre were so small that we were able to easily do both in record time on the same day. We got a wonderful picture of our group in the hall of mirrors with just our group in the room! Our hotels were wonderful and so was all the food as usual. All of the sites we visited were interesting and the kids enjoyed enough free time to explore and shop everywhere we went. Our guide was absolutely the greatest. She worked so hard to make it a good experience for us. I can't wait until we can all get back to traveling the way we want to. ACIS is a great company and I plan to use them again as soon as I can.

Fantástico! ACIS is a 5-star travel company dedicated to bringing the classroom around the world. From my Boston Tour Consultant, Tom Hieghan, administrative support staff of Julie Fratarcangeli and Laura Smart, to my Tour Manager, Nil in Spain ACIS didn't disappoint at all. I have been traveling and referring ACIS for over 25 years and I can't be more pleased with the professionalism, expertise, personal touch and overall service I have received. It's outstanding! This past February '20, I lead my students to Spain and my students, chaperones and parents are still talking about it! In fact, a beautiful framed collage of our Andalucían Adventure is in my classroom. Superb would be the adjective to describe the entire experience with ACIS. I look forward to planning and working with Tom in the future. Gracias!

ACIS is an outstanding travel company. They truly have customer satisfaction at the forefront of their programs. They are especially responsive to the needs of the group. I have traveled with other companies in the past but have strictly only used ACIS for my last 8 trips with students and parents. ACIS is the best!

We had a spectacular adult trip to Costa Rica! The tour manager, hotels and meals were all outstanding, on par with all my many student and adult trips over the last 30 years with ACIS! But the best part Is how ACIS took care of my group when covid hit the world. We were in Costa Rica when President Trump called for European travelers to come home right away. No one was sure how this situation would affect us in Central America, and ACIS offered to send any or all of us home early at no extra expense. We had 2 adults leave early, and then a day later a group of 3 adults left early. The rest of us stayed and finished out our trip. ACIS even told my group that If any one or all of us got quarantined in our layover in Miami, ACIS would cover all costs during the quarartine. The group of 2 that left early missed their connecting flight due to the long lines at the airport, and ACIS reimbursed them for their meals and hotel! Now THAT is top notch service during a difficult time! Thanks to ACIS !

We were able to have our 19th annual spring break Europe Trip trip to Ireland and Paris last spring right before the Covid19 situation escalated. The numbers jumped up while we were in Europe but we were able to make changes to the itinerary--skip the Louvre, do the Musée D'Orsay at night after dinner when no one was there , we changed some things so the students could sleep in (more sleep to keep them well)
Our fantastic Tour Manager Angélique did an amazing job while everything around us started to go crazy. Heidi met us in Boston at the airport with snacks during our layover which was perfect timing--Middle School kids seem to eat every hour! We had an amazing trip--everyone stayed well. We felt taken care of every part of the trip! ACIS checked in with us--we felt we were getting good information each day. Every airport was very nice about the amount of hand santizer each student and adult carried. We just had to x-ray. Our bus drivers cleaned the bus each day and were wiping down and providing santizing moments. Ireland and Paris is an awesome combination--Irish dancing and music, exploring castles and ruins..Paris for pastries and shopping!