<p>Has anyon ever done this program. Its a travel/adventure/community service type organization. I did it last year and was wondering if anyone had any to say. Thanks.</p>
<p>How was it? I'm leaving for a trip with them in 5 days.</p>
<p>I'd like to know more about this organization for a trip for my daughter this summer. Does anyone have any details?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>I had a negative experience. I have reserached a lot of traveling companies and it really all depends on what you want out of the experience. Feel free to PM me and i'd be more than happy to give you more of the details.</p>
<p>Just a few general points:</p>
<p>1) check out visions <a href="http://www.visionsserviceadventures.com%5B/url%5D">www.visionsserviceadventures.com</a> This is the first program I went on and I went to Peru and had an AMAZING experience. </p>
<p>2) Rustic Pathways is a different companies because their programs do not last as long. You can mix and match different programs. But a lot of problems arise out of this. First of all, you don't make the friendships and bonds that you would have if you were with the same group the entire time. Also, the switching is VERY COMPLICATED. They make it seem like it is so easy but it is simply not the case. By complicated I mean there is a lot of traveling and down time and its very hectic. I went to the Costa Rica trip by the way. </p>
<p>Let me give you a summary of what happened.</p>
<p>First of all, they book your flights for you. They booked me a flight that included a 9 hour layover in Houston. So we didn't arrive in Costa Rica til about 10 that night (tuesday). Now we all went to San Jose and stayed in this cool hostel they rent out. But everyone is going on separate trips so everyone there will not be in your group. Something like 100 kids were at the hostel that night. In the morning you leave to your respective sights. Lucky me mine was 8 hours away....I know the surfing one is about 9 hours from San Jose. SO when we got to our area that day was shot(wednesday). Then the next day we just had orientation about where we were which is thursday. Then friday and saturday we actually did community service. We leave on sunday...and traveled back to the hostel which takes ALL DAY. So that day i shot. Then we get to the hostel sunday night. Some kids leave Monday to go home and others who have a connecting trip have to stay all day at the hostel. You ahve 3 options 1)go to the mall for free 2) go to the beach which costs 50 bucks and is a 5 hour ride 3)go on a private yacht for a day which is 125. Anyways, so that day you really arent doing much either
(or at least what you thought youd be doing on yout trip). Monday night the new kids arrive. Tuesday you head back for a long drive to your site.. As you can see there is a lot of traveling involved which may not be so apparent in how they advertise it.</p>
<p>Also the kids in rustic pathways seem much younger, especially in Costa Rica. The leaders and people running the program are very nice and helpful. </p>
<p>I noticed that many kids brought friends along with them in rustic pathways which is definitely a downfall because they tend to cling together. Also, if you know that you are only going to be with a group for (it ends up being 5 days not 8 or whatever they advertise) they really don't make an effort to make friendships.</p>
<p>There are many GREAT summer programs out there. I would seriously look into all of them and try to contact people who have been on the trip to get the real idea of what the program is like. Many other people complained about Rustic Pathways. For me, Rustic Pathways was not a good experience, especially compared to my Peru trip.</p>
<p>Again, if you have any questions, or want more clarifications I would be happy to answer any of them.</p>
<p>I went on a Rustic Pathways trip to India over the summer, and while I agree that the kids are clique-y and clingy, the trip itself was amazing.</p>
<p>Rustic is special because it has so many connections to people all around the world, so we got to stay in the local peoples' homes and really be immersed in the community in a way you never could if you were traveling by yourself. </p>
<p>I'm going back this summer, but I'm taking a friend.</p>
<p>I went on the visionsservice website you had recommended, and I can understand clearly why rusticpathways is low standard in comparison. That other program is asking for $3,330 in tuition for a trip to vietnam, so it is expected to be well organized. Rustic only offers $995, not counting the air fee and other cost. Now a week long abroad studies program may seem kind of pointless to some people who are really active in global traveling. However, to a high school junior, its affordable, its short and convinient, and it is 36 hours of community service out side of the country. It seems very appealing.
But I cannot just make an assumption. After all you have been in a rusticpathway program before and I haven't. Could you help me with my research on this program. I need detail about it. What are accomedations like? If you go to a country that they say has no in door plumming, will you expodes to that environment the whole trip? Are there any hidden fees or additional expenseses on the trip? If so what are they and how big are they?</p>
<p>I know I'm asking a lot of questions, but I feel that you would be much more honest and helpful than any Rustic Pathway representative or salesman or whatever.</p>
<p>I know that a lot of this was written a long time ago, but for the sake of other people who might read this who potentially want to go on a trip with Rustic i thought i would reply. I have been on two Rustic Pathways trips, and let me tell you they were some of the best experiences of my life. My first summer i went to Costa Rica and the second i went to Fiji. One thing that i read above which i have to extremely disagree with is the "not being able to make friends". I did my costa rica trip 3 years ago, without knowing anybody, and some of the people i met on that trip have become some of my best friends (even though we live on different parts of the country). Same thing goes with Fiji. I recieved a star alumni award (for the people who did really well on the trips they give 50% off next years trip and 20% off for a friend which is not uncommon for them to give). Anyways, i brought a friend to fiji but it was not weird and awkward at all and we made soooo many friends. When you say the people who go on the trips are young... they are all in grade 11 and 12 and sometimes going to college. If you do a gap year they are all in college, or taking a break from one. An awesome part of rustic is the counselors. They are all about 21 and are some of the coolest down to earth people there is. I think an awesome thing about the experience is that you can go to places like costa rica and fiji (places that normally might not be safe if you were to travel alone when 15 or 16) have such a sense of freedom, but at the same time feel safe. I dont think there are many other companies like rustic that give you the opportunity to go to places like india, burma, fiji etc. and be so young, and do the things they do there. I truely would reccomend Rustic for anyone, i know the prices can get a little bit steep, but my family worked hard to send me there, but the outcome of everything was amazing, and i would do it all again.</p>
<p>Rustic Pathways Review:</p>
<p>I have gone to India and to Thailand during two different summers. One program in India, two programs in Thailand. About a month total with Rustic.</p>
<p>Pros:
-Amazing connections. This is something RP has that no other company does. I have been able to stay in hilltribe villages just because Rustic personally knows a member of the tribe, for example. They have been in this business for much longer than their competitors (especially in the cases Thailand, Fiji and Costa Rica), and these connections come with time.
-Price. The plane fare makes things expensive, but I think the programs themselves are priced really reasonably, when you add up food and activities and accommodations.
-Options. There's so much to choose from in the catalogue, and the combinations of activities are endless.
-Communication/organization with parents. They give you a nice big "master document" with all the numbers and info to have, and all the kids wear the Rustic T-Shirt on flight day so they can be kept track of, and my parents get calls when I arrive places. They're really on top of things (the people running the company, at least).
Cons:
-If you aren't a social butterfly, you might want to take a friend. Everyone is in "I must make friends" mode for the first few days, so if you don't find a friend quickly you're kind of out of luck for the trip. Everyone is really nice though, it's just high school clique-ish-ness that's at fault.
-The trips are NOT as advertised. The itinerary is total crap. The trip will still be amazing, but it will be because of the few special moments you have and bonds you form with the local people, not because of all the picturesque things described in the itinerary. The days of the trip will likely be more repetitive than described. For example, on my Service in the Clouds trip, each day during the first week in our first village we taught English in the morning and built a playground in the evening. It didn't feel at all mundane, but it wasn't the shiny list of different activities every day that was described in the itinerary. Don't get your hopes up for one particular event described in the itinerary, just read it for the general feel/focus of the trip, which IS maintained.</p>
<p>Counselors: What you get as a Rustic counselor is a young adult who is a very experienced traveller but wants to enjoy the trip just like you do. You don't get a teacher or a mom. This can be a pro or a con. For example, I am kind of a worrier so when I got a weird-looking bug bit in India I freaked out and got kind of hypochondriac. My counselors were nonchalant about it, and they were correct because it turned out to be nothing and they are experienced enough to know it, but they didn't take me to the doctor or anything which was a bit disconcerting to me, being the worrier I am. It has also been great, though, because the students get a lot of freedom during their trips because the counselors can relate to the students and the counselors seem approachable and fun to the students. They are not at all unqualified, just young and wanting to enjoy travelling along with you. It's as if you are going on a trip with a slightly-older friend who can show you the ropes and stuff.</p>
<p>Besides getting hypochondriac on my India trip, which is pretty much my own fault (kids should remember to relax. If you don't go chasing a bear or playing with snakes, you'll be fine), then I've had a great experience with Rustic.</p>
<p>My boyfriend and I are planning on going on the fiji island trip or the costa rica trip, and I had a few questions… first off has anyone went on a trip with their boyfriend/girlfriend or does everyone just bring the same sex friend? second where do you stay on the trip? hotels, tents, houses? Thanks</p>
<p>There was a couple on my last trip. Sometimes people bring a friend along, but the majority of the kids come alone. No worries, either way. Everyone gets along.</p>
<p>You stay in different places for different trips – if you go to the Rustic Pathways website and click on the program you’re doing, there will be an FAQ tab at the top that probably answers that question.</p>
<p>I’ve stayed in villages, cabins, teak huts, hostels, snazzy hotels, houses… You name it.</p>
<p>A couple RP programs have “base houses”, which are big complexes built and owned by RP with all sorts of modern comforts. (I know there’s one in Thailand, and I think there might be one in Fiji too). I have never stayed in one, but I’ve heard from people that they’re REALLY nice, like resorts basically, and it’s hard to adjust to a regular program after doing a base-house program. Personally, I’d rather rough it like the locals – why go all the way to Thailand to stay in a resort with other Americans?</p>
<p>hey, so a rep came to my school and they were very nice. but they didnt really touch the subject of safety. does anyone know what happens on these trips concerning safety, (i.e. thailand) for my parents sake?</p>
<p>I am a fan of Rustic Pathways. D went with them to India and Thailand. Is considering returning to the Thai Orpahange this summer. A friend went with them to New Zealand. Loved it, she went alone and never found it clikey. I do know of a fabulous student who traveled with them throughout high school. As a senior he was accepted at a very prestigious Ivy and chose to take a gap year with Rustic Pathways. It was an amazing year and last summer he chose to work with Rustic Pathways in their China programs. Some of the programs are “traveling” programs and some are more rustic. Ask them. I always felt that my D was very safe. Sure, some fllight connections were a bit off, but the airlines they fly are the best. My daughter had been to several other summer programs in Europe but I think she will always remember first her time in India and Thailand with Rustic Pathways. She made long lasting friends.</p>
<p>Anyone else go on a Rustic Pathways trip to places other than India, Costa Rica and Fiji? I am concerned about getting care if you should get hurt. Is there a nurse available? My son is considering Thailand or Costa Rica. I would rather he stay in the U.S. and help here. There were some great reviews on RP though.</p>
<p>for visions [<a href=“http://www.visionsserviceadventures.com/index.htm][/url”>Teen Summer Programs: Personal Growth Adventures | VISIONS][/url</a>], is the initial flight over in a group?</p>
<p>also, does anyone know about the 2-week-long high school/teen special for projects abroad? [Volunteer</a> Abroad](<a href=“http://www.projects-abroad.org/projects/]Volunteer”>Volunteer Projects and Internships | Projects Abroad)</p>
<p>i’m really trying to find a good volunteer abroad program for the summer :/</p>
<p>smarteeangel,</p>
<p>I went in 2005, but then it was a group flight and I think it was out of NYC. The kids who were not from the area just directed their flight to NYC or some just met us in Lima. (We had a direct flight from NYC to Lima).</p>
<p>Anyways, I highly recommend Vision’s (definitely over Rustic Pathways. If you have any other specific questions about rustic pathways or visions, feel free to ask me. I definitely had a better experience at visions though, and I think the program was better overall. Rustic Pathway offers short week trips, while Visions trips are 3 weeks to a month.</p>
<p>Any feedback on hygiene and safety on Rustic Pathways programs in India? And what about the monsoons? RP downplayed this when I asked them, but I’d like my son to be forewarned.</p>
<p>i am looking into summer abroad programs in costa rica, rustic pathways seems really good. could someone give a really detailed description of the pros and cons?
thanks</p>
<p>i have never been on Rustic Pathways before but i am thinking of going this summer… but i am only 14 and I wanted to what the normal age was for this sort of thing?</p>
<p>Hey, i am planning on going on the Come with Nothing in Thailand and the Photography one in Inida. Has anyone been on those two/ will be going?</p>
<p>My son wants to go to Costa Rica on Rustic Pathway tours. Do you think it is a good tour company for him to go on and a safe company for him. I am trying to find out information on the teen tour ,which led me here. So if anyone can give me guidance I would appreciate it.</p>