Travel FAQs

The World Affairs Council of Philadelphia organizes all the Travel the World trips for the national association of Councils and has been doing so for 35 years. Because of our reputation as one of the nation's leading forums, the Council has established connections around the globe that allow us to offer members access that they can't get when traveling alone or on other tours. Many trips include lecturers drawn from across the World Affairs Councils of America leadership—from the fields of diplomacy, journalism, or academia—and offer "meet the people" opportunities for our citizen diplomats.

We welcome anyone interested in educational travel. We encourage membership in World Affairs Council of America system, but do not require it.
 

To book a tour, contact the Travel Department at 215-561-4700 x 231 or x 209 or 1-800-942-5004 or email us at travel@wacphila.org. You can also book a reservation online by going to your trip's webpage and clicking on the "Reserve Here" button. Once you are registered, we will email you a confirmation letter and information on travel insurance.

Trip size varies. Check the trip brochure for more information. Most of our land tours are capped at 25 travelers.  Cruises are shared with other like-minded organizations and institutions and accommodate no more than 200 passengers.
 

For tours, we select and partner with the most professional and experienced Tour Operators based on their destination expertise, reputation, and specialization.  All itinerary and flight details are handled by the tour operators with whom the Council has long-standing and trusted relationships. 

 

We work with a variety of Operators, offering a variety diverse of travel tastes: from small-group, land-based tours, to luxurious, scenic cruises and small-ship adventures. Learn more.

On most programs we welcome travelers over the age of 15. While there is no maximum age, all participants must be physically fit, active, and in good health.  For most programs, the average age of our travelers is 65. 

Look for the "What to Expect" section in our brochures for more information on the rigors of individual trips. More detailed information, with health and medical recommendations, will be provided in informational mailings sent to confirmed participants.

The World Affairs Council recommends USI Travel Insurance Select. You can purchase a policy by telephoning T.I.S. at 800-937-1387 or by visiting their website. Have a question on what insurance to buy? Watch this informative webinarWe highly recommend travel insurance.

Most countries will not permit a traveler to enter their country unless the passport is set to expire at least six months after the final day of travel. You can learn more about fees and the application process here

We check state department travel advisories and utilize our extensive network of embassy staff and travel experts to assure we are taking all necessary precautions. The safety of our travelers is our number one priority.

Trip prices are per person, based on double occupancy and in most cases do not include airfare. For single travelers, a single supplement may apply. We do have some tours with a no single supplement option. On most of our programs, tours and excursions are included in the price of the trip. A professional tour director will travel with you on all programs to ensure worry-free travel.

Each of our travel partners offer special discounts throughout the year. In most cases, these special discounts are an EBD (Early Booking Discount) price. Book early to get the best price!
 

The U.S. Department of State is the best source to check regarding whether you will need a visa. Type a country's name into the "Learn about your destination" search box and look under "Quick Facts" for the tourist visa requirement. The World Affairs Council works with G3 Visas to help facilitate the process of acquiring a visa.

Confirmed participants will be sent information on whether there are required vaccinations for a trip. Visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention site for the latest information. 

Use this currency converter to find out the exchange rate and prepare accordingly.

Travelers can share their photographs over on our Flickr Page!

The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is a free service to allow U.S. citizens and nationals traveling and living abroad to enroll their trip with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. You can update this for all of your future trips.

 

You can check the weather of your destination here. 

Use our carbon calculator to mitigate the climate impact of your trip.  We've partnered with Sustainable Travel International to offer this carbon footprint calculator. Enter your travel activities to calculate your emissions, then balance out your footprint by purchasing carbon offsets from Sustainable Travel International. You’ll receive a personalized certificate verifying your offset.  When you purchase carbon offsets via this calculator, your dollars support Sustainable Travel International's portfolio of verified climate projects around the world. These projects are carefully vetted to ensure they truly reduce emissions and create added benefits, such as local jobs, improved hygiene, or endangered species protection. Click here to learn more about the types of projects that your offset will support.