Summer Travel FAQs
Can I invite friends and family who aren't SMC alumni?
Yes! Please do. Your friends are our friends!
Why is airfare not included?
Our trips are designed to give you maximum flexibility. Some people may want to make reservations with a preferred carrier or have miles to use toward their travel. Others may want to arrive early or stay after the trip. Each trip will have a location, date, and time when the trip begins. To get the best prices, please make your reservations as soon as you receive final trip confirmation.
When is payment due?
$1,000 deposits are due March 4, 2024. Full payment is due April 29, 2024. There's likely to be a lot of interest in these programs. We encourage you to register as soon as possible. Payment in full will be due at the time of registration.
Why are these trips so inexpensive? Is any of my trip cost a donation?
We want all of our alumni to have the opportunity to travel with us. We keep prices lower by planning the travel in-house. We hope that this will encourage you to come back for another adventure and perhaps even donate to a January Term scholarship fund to create more travel opportunities for current SMC students.
What are the group sizes?
Most groups will be between 10-25 travelers, which is considerably smaller than other alumni travel experiences. Just like in the Saint Mary's classrooms, we are striving for a small group experience with a dedicated faculty member so that we can really get to know one another. We also believe that smaller groups leave a lighter footprint on host locations and create more opportunities for engagement with other cultures.
What happens if I have to cancel my trip?
Our booking policy allows you to withdraw from the program prior to trip confirmation should your situation change and you are no longer able to travel. Unless otherwise listed in the trip’s terms and conditions, any registrations may be changed or canceled up to 30 days after confirmation and receive a partial refund of the registration fee for all unused funds. Remember, once we confirm your trip, we begin securing all the components of the trip that will make it an experience to remember! All payments become fully non-refundable 30 days after confirmation.
What happens if Saint Mary's needs to cancel the trip?
For most programs, there is a minimum number of participants required to operate. On the rare occasion when enrollment has not reached the minimum group size, we may need to cancel the program. You will receive a confirmation once your trip has received the required number of registrations no later than April 8th and refund your registration payments in full.
Do you provide travel insurance?
While every effort is made to ensure that your vacation is a safe and happy one, unexpected events can occur — before and after your trip begins. Therefore, we encourage the purchase of travel insurance. We don't provide insurance directly but there are many reputable companies that do so.
Have another question?
Additional questions may be directed to: summertravelseries@stmarys-ca.edu