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Have questions about your upcoming trip, or want to know what it's like traveling with Road Scholar?
What are the payment terms?
When you first enroll, we’ll ask you to pay a deposit. Each program on our website has a clearly stated deposit amount, as well as cancellation and transfer terms and information on when you’ll need to make the rest of your payments.
I noticed the cost of a program may vary in price depending on the date. Why is that?
Depending on the time of year, the cost of lodgings and other parts of your program may change. If it’s a busy tourist season, then hotels may cost more than in the off-season. Some dates may take place during a festival or include some special activities, which could also affect the price.
Are gratuities included in the cost of a program?
Yes, gratuities are always included in our program costs as part of our value promise. Road Scholar provides tips to Group Leaders, drivers and restaurant staff. You're welcome to discreetly give additional gratuities for situations when someone has gone above and beyond, but we ask that participants do not solicit other participants to do a group tip (i.e., "passing the hat").
Do I have to pay a deposit?
When you first enroll, we’ll ask you to pay a deposit. The deposit amounts vary, beginning at $100. Each program on our website has a clearly stated deposit amount, as well as cancellation and transfer terms and information on when you’ll need to pay your balance.
Can I pay by credit card?
Sure. However, we do encourage you to pay by check. In 2019, we spent more than $8 million on credit card fees. You can help us reduce this expense by paying by check or paperless check, available online or by giving us a call. Since we’re a not-for-profit organization, you can really help us by using these options.
ACH/eCheck: Our Preferred Payment Method
Absolutely! ACH/eCheck is the preferred method of payment at Road Scholar. We spend more than $8 million on credit card fees annually. Every dollar we save on fees allows us to invest more in broadening the scope of our programs, providing Caregiver Grants and Scholarships, assisting in running low-enrollment programs — and overall helping us fulfill our mission of providing lifelong learning opportunities for adults.
ACH stands for “Automated Clearing House,” which is an electronic network that allows people to directly transfer funds between two bank accounts. If you have direct deposit, or automatic bill pay, you’re taking advantage of the ACH network.
ACH/eCheck payments don’t require mailing or processing time. Which saves time, postage fees and the possibility of delays from the post office. They also cut down on errors and are more environmentally friendly.
ACH/eCheck payments are actually less subject to fraud! When mailing, a paper check is handled by several different entities and is vulnerable to signature forgery or tampering. The full account and routing numbers and the check-writer’s name, phone and address are all plainly visible on the check, leaving the information susceptible to fraud.
It’s as simple as reading the routing number and account number off the bottom of the check, or reading the routing/account numbers from your savings account.
Absolutely. As we’re taking the routing and account information only, and not the check number, that check is available for any other transaction.
You can choose to pay with either your checking or savings account.
Monies must be drawn from US banks. Canadian bank accounts (even ones denominated in USD) are not part of the ACH system. You can, however, use a bank that has both a US and Canadian presence that gives free wire transfers between your USD accounts in the US and Canada.
Unfortunately not. Those financial institutions are not part of the network (ACH) that would allow us to transfer money on your behalf.
Protecting Your Investment
The optional Road Scholar Trip Protection Plan helps protect your investment if you must cancel or interrupt your program for specified, covered reasons, such as illness or injury to you, your traveling companion or an immediate family member of you or your traveling companion. Plus, if you need to cancel your program for any reason not covered by insurance, you will receive a credit good for future travel with Road Scholar for the full amount of the Road Scholar cancellation fee. The plan also provides benefits if you are delayed getting to or returning home from your program and protects your investment should you have an emergency during your program that causes you to miss program days or return home earlier than expected. Your airfare, whether purchased through Road Scholar or independently, is covered at no additional cost— an exceptional benefit and value offered exclusively to Road Scholar participants.
You will receive information about this optional travel insurance plan when you enroll in a program. Click here to learn more →
The Road Scholar Assurance Plan is purchased on behalf of every participant and paid for by Road Scholar. The plan provides 24-hour assistance in the event of an emergency during your program and insurance for emergency medical evacuation. This plan includes insurance benefits underwritten by Arch Insurance Company and emergency assistance services provided by LiveTravel Assist.
Do you have gift certificates?
Yes! Inspire your friends to embark on an educational adventure with a Road Scholar gift certificate! To purchase one, just give us a call at (800) 454-5768, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET.
When do I pay the balance?
Depending on if you are enrolled in a U.S., International or Adventures Afloat program, there are different payment schedules. Each program on our website clearly states when you’ll need to pay your balance. In general, you’ll need to pay your final balance 8-10 weeks before your program departs.
What happens if Road Scholar cancels a program?
Very rarely, we may need to cancel your program prior to departure. If we do, we’ll notify you as far in advance as possible, and you’ll get a full refund on the cost of your Road Scholar program payment, or you can transfer your money to another program. If you incur penalties for canceling or changing transportation arrangements, we’ll help defray those costs by giving you a Road Scholar voucher, up to a maximum value of $300, which you can use toward the cost of your next Road Scholar program.
What if I want to cancel my enrollment, change the date of my program, or transfer to another one?
If you’d like to make any changes to your order, just give us a call. Depending on how close to the date of your original departure, you may have to pay a fee to help us cover the costs of arrangements already made on your behalf. Each program on our website clearly states the terms if you need to cancel or transfer from your program.
Avoiding online scams is crucial to protecting your personal information, financial assets, and overall online security. Here are some general guidelines to help you stay safe:
As a Road Scholar Participant You Should
know that we will never ask you to provide your credit or debit card information, bank account number, Social Security number, or account password via email or text. We will also never ask you to send money via PayPal, Apple Pay or other online payment methods. All financial transactions with Road Scholar will be through our website or over the phone.
Notify us immediately if you receive a suspicious call, email or text from someone claiming to be from or representing Road Scholar, especially if they ask you for personal, financial or other sensitive information.
Notify us immediately if you see webpages or links to websites that look like Road Scholar’s (www.roadscholar.org), but aren't Road Scholar.
Stay informed about common online fraud schemes and tactics used by cybercriminals. Be aware of common phishing techniques, such as fake websites and deceptive emails.
Be cautious when asked for personal, financial or other sensitive information, especially if it seems unnecessary or unexpected. Avoid sharing sensitive information such as your Social Security number or financial details online, unless it is absolutely necessary and with a trusted source.
Be cautious about what you share on social media, as fraudsters may use this information to impersonate you.
Be skeptical of unsolicited emails, text messages, or phone calls asking for personal or financial information from unknown senders. If you do receive such a message, do not respond and do not click links or open or download attachments in the email. Delete the email or message to be safe.
Verify the legitimacy of communications by contacting the organization directly using official contact information, especially if they are requesting personal or financial information.
Be cautious of urgent requests or demands for immediate action. Scammers often impersonate trusted people to trick you into sharing personal information.
Avoid clicking on pop-up ads or windows, especially those that claim you've won a prize, have a computer virus, or prompts you to install software on your device.
If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Exercise caution if an offer or deal seems too good to be true, especially if it requires upfront payments or personal information.
Regularly review your bank and credit card statements for any unauthorized transactions. Set up account alerts for unusual activity.
Create strong, unique passwords for each of your accounts.
If available, enable multi-factor authentication on your accounts for an extra layer of security.
Keep your operating system, antivirus software, and other applications up to date to patch security vulnerabilities.
By staying vigilant, being cautious about sharing information online, and keeping your software up to date, you can reduce the risk of falling victim to online scams. For additional information on how you can keep safe when online, please visit: https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/news/4-things-you-can-do-keep-yourself-cyber-safe