Most teen travel comparison pages rely on user ratings and marketing claims. Rustic Pathways took a different approach: we reviewed 14 teen travel company websites using a 25-point disclosure framework, documenting what each publishes before families pay a deposit.
This page shares what we learned about the industry — and how we apply the same standard to ourselves.
Disclosure: Rustic Pathways publishes this research and also operates teen travel programs. We applied the same 25 criteria to our own website and publish the results below.
What 14 teen travel company audits reveal
Between December 2025 and January 2026, we audited 14 teen travel company websites using the same 25-point framework. Here's what the data shows:
| Finding | Detail |
|---|---|
| Industry average disclosure | 72% of criteria met |
| Publish staff-to-student ratios | 4 of 14 companies |
| Publish emergency protocols | 6 of 14 companies |
| Publish leader qualifications | 8 of 14 companies |
| Full cost breakdown available | 11 of 14 companies |
The pattern: Companies are more transparent about price than child safety. Cost and cancellation policies appear on most websites. Supervision details — ratios, protocols, staff credentials — often don't.
This doesn't mean undisclosed companies are unsafe. It means parents can't verify safety claims without calling, emailing, or paying a deposit first.
What the 25-point framework measures
The audit evaluates disclosure, not quality. Each criterion asks a simple question: can a parent find this information on the company's public website?
| Category | Criteria | What Parents Learn |
|---|---|---|
| Company Trust | 4 | Is this a legitimate, accountable organization? |
| Supervision & Safety | 8 | How will my child be supervised? |
| Program Structure | 8 | What will my child's daily experience look like? |
| Cost & Policies | 5 | What am I actually paying for? |
Safety carries the most weight (8 points) because supervision details are what parents most often search for and least often find.
How Rustic Pathways scores on its own audit
We applied the same 25 criteria to our own website. Here's what we found:
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Company Trust | 4/4 |
| Supervision & Safety | 8/8 |
| Program Structure | 6/8 |
| Cost & Policies | 5/5 |
| Total | 23/25 |
Two gaps identified:
- Combined groups policy: We didn't clearly state when programs combine participants from different enrollment groups.
- Learning difference support: We didn't publish our accommodation policies for students with learning differences.
Both gaps are documented in the full self-audit, along with how we're addressing them.
10 questions to ask before paying a deposit
Use this checklist when evaluating any teen travel company. If the answer isn't on their website, ask for it in writing.
Trust (verify the company is legitimate)
- Is there a working phone number you can call?
- Is there a street address — not a P.O. Box?
- Are company leaders named with titles?
- Is there a published child safeguarding policy?
Safety (verify supervision claims)
- What is the staff-to-student ratio?
- What background checks do leaders undergo?
- What happens in a medical emergency abroad?
Cost (verify what you're paying for)
- What's included in the program fee?
- What's excluded — flights, insurance, spending money?
- What's the cancellation and refund policy?
A company that publishes all of this is telling you something. A company that doesn't is telling you something too.
How we conducted the audits
Rustic Pathways staff manually reviewed each company's public website between December 2025 and January 2026.
For each of 25 criteria, reviewers documented whether the information appeared on any public-facing page accessible without login or enrollment.
Included: Homepages, about pages, safety sections, program pages, pricing, terms and conditions, parent guides.
Excluded: Information shared only via phone or email, private enrollment portals, materials sent after deposit payment, social media, third-party review sites.
The rule is simple: if a parent researching programs can find it without calling, clicking "enroll," or paying — it counts. If it's behind any barrier, it doesn't.
Ready to explore programs? Browse Rustic Pathways 2026 programs or read our full self-audit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Teen Travel Transparency Audit?
A 25-point framework that evaluates how much information teen travel companies disclose on their websites before collecting deposits. It scores companies on binary criteria across four categories: company trust, safety, program structure, and cost transparency.
Why does Rustic Pathways audit its own programs?
To demonstrate accountability. We apply the same 25-point framework to ourselves and publish the results, including gaps we've identified. The self-audit found two disclosure issues (combined groups policy and learning difference support), both documented in the full review.
How do I know if a teen travel company is legit?
Check four trust indicators before paying a deposit: a working phone number, a street address (not a P.O. Box), named leadership with titles, and a published child safeguarding policy. If any are missing, ask why.
What should I ask a teen travel company before enrolling?
Ask for the staff-to-student ratio, emergency protocol documentation, leader background check policy, group size limits, and a full cost breakdown including what's excluded. If any of this isn't on their website, request it in writing before paying.