Shades
DirectED

DirectED

With decades of experience in student travel, DirectED is a trusted global education partner. We create customized, short-term travel experiences that have a lifelong impact on the students we serve.

Our solutions are seamless and affordable to better allow our clients to focus on content and accomplish their educational goals. With the negotiating power of Direct Travel behind us, we enjoy priority access and rates from many of our preferred partners to ensure your students get the most out of their experience.

We recognize that every program has unique needs. Our advisors excel at giving you the very best experiences possible. We recommend the most creative and practical approach for your student travel programs, and we establish safeguards to reduce risk before, during, and after travel.

Services

DirectED offers one-stop shopping for the following:

Man at the airport

Group Air Reservations

Our advisors coordinate connections, research the best fares and routes, void and refund tickets, manage seat assignments, accommodate special requests, work airline schedule changes and coordinate deviation requests.

Hotel Reservations

We recommend the safest, best-located hotels possible depending on your group’s needs and can coordinate both group block contracts and individual room reservations.

Tours

Our guides have degrees and expertise in the fields of study that match your students’ interests, allowing us to design custom tours to complement the educational focus of your program.

Branding

How you market your program is important for meeting your goals. We white-label our programs to suit your school or organization’s unique marketing needs.

Professional Connections

We arrange connections between the professional world and the educational world to give students first-hand knowledge of the areas they are studying.

Ground Transportation

We can provide a variety of ground transport options, including motor coaches, rail tickets, public transportation passes, and even bikes.

Group Meals

Group Meals

Our advisors understand that communal eating can be a logistical requirement, and we can arrange any type of dining experience to bring the group together while addressing diverse dietary needs, allergies and restrictions.

Classroom Space

We know that many programs require classroom or rehearsal space to enhance the travel experience with more traditional instruction. Our advisors can arrange spaces suited to unique needs.

Safety and Security

Our advisors and tour leaders have the required background checks and clearances. We contract with motor coach companies that adhere to strict USDOT standards, and overnight security is available to every group upon request.

Destinations

Insurance

Our advisors can recommend insurance solutions to protect your students and their investment, including basic medical coverage, cancellation/delay options, bodily injury liability, and umbrella liability.

Payment Solutions

We know one size does not fit all when it comes to payment solutions for groups, and we offer options to suit any group’s needs.

After Hours Support

After Hours Support

We equip our group leaders with local support during travel. Our advisors are on call 24/7 to support group leaders.

Choice Music Tours Logo

Performance Opportunities

Our Choice Music Tours team specializes in creating custom travel plans for student music performances of all sizes. Our advisors can arrange performance venues, coordinate with music festivals, and offer classes and workshops.

Learn more
“As the senior international administrator for a university that values high-impact, global education, I give my highest recommendation for DirectED. Their leadership, their level of professionalism and expertise, and their support have provided hundreds, perhaps thousands of our students to enjoy learning about other cultures.”
University Administrator and Group Leader
“I lead students annually on short-term study trips to Italy, France, Spain, Ireland and the UK. Our programs are bespoke, and DirectED is the only education partner I use, assisting me as a university professor in meeting the unique educational goals of each trip. Students return with increased cultural competency, having been impacted with life-changing experiences. You will not find a more professional, creative, and engaging partner for your travel programs.”
University Faculty Leader
“The team at DirectED has worked for years to make the Ireland program a magical learning experience. They are responsive, patient, enthusiastic and knowledgeable. We’re glad to work with them.”
University Faculty Leader
“DirectED was able to customize each of the trips to meet all of our needs. Our school’s trips are very unique and customized for our curriculum—working with DirectED made everything much easier. ”
School Administrator
“There was no hesitation in choosing DirectED because [they] have always taken good card of us when things beyond our control go wrong and always flexible to our needs in planning to make sure things go right. DirectED has always kept up with us and our needs.”
Teacher/Group Leader
“The level of service, quality of hotels, choice of attractions, and choice of restaurant providers were far superior to what we were accustomed to in the past. Our trip was wonderful and offered students a wide variety of educational and cultural experiences.”
School Administrator
“We are comforted to know that they are still kind, caring, and honest people willing to provide a quality product at an affordable price. Thanks to DirectED more of our students can now attend and share in this rewarding experience than ever before.”
Teacher/Group Leader
“DirectED is reliable, flexible, and over all great listeners. DirectED will put in place any suggestion you make in order for your educational trip to be productive and successful. My experience with them has been nothing, but extremely positive and satisfactory.”
Teacher/Group Leader
“Your willingness to help us start from scratch, to design our itineraries entirely according to our needs and interests and your amazingly efficient procurement of everything from reservations to tickets to directions has made our trips a pleasure.”
Assistant Principal
“Thank you! And please let everyone at the office know how much we appreciated your professionalism, compassion and words of encouragement. I would certainly recommend DirectED to those needing travel services.”
Parent
“Just want you to know as well that we were very pleased with all of the service that we got from DirectED. [We] agreed that we would do almost everything exactly the same way – good planning and good services….. When we see the students they are all so thrilled to talk about the trip and have terrific memories.”
Faculty Leader
“We are beyond grateful for all the help and support that the DirectED team provided. In a moment of stress, anxiety, and maybe a little bit of panic we knew that we could count on the DirectED team and they delivered. Thank you from the [University] team and thank you from our faculty member.”
Study Abroad Office Personnel
“We want to thank each of you for the wonderful communication and expertise in getting [our daughter] and her group home safely and with a solid plan. We have traveled a lot and know how difficult this can be. Many thanks—we were not really worried at all, once you got the solid plan together to get them to London. Wow—EPIC! Way to go. Hope you never have this one again!”
Parent of a student traveler
“This is just a follow up to say THANK YOU! Travels the day before yesterday would have been much more challenging without all of your help. [The student] had the seats and wheelchair access that he needed and we were so grateful for the help along the way. Thank you again for your care, quick action, and for keeping us informed about the changes.”
Teacher/Group Leader
“Thanks again for all of your hard work and how thorough you have been with our faculty working with you. It is not lost on us that customer service (and patience) is needed when working with a lot of faculty members and your hard work is shining through.”
Study Abroad Office Personnel
“Thank you again for calling me back a moment ago! It was a boost to my morale to have you pick up the late night emergency line as we all work through this together. We appreciate your support and help through this challenging event. I know we are not the only school you are helping, and yet we feel as if you are giving us your full attention. Thanks for the flight details. We will be in touch as this progresses.”
Study Abroad Office Personnel
Previous
Next

Our Approach

We believe that travel is transformative and enables students to step out of their comfort zones, opening their minds to new ideas, opportunities, cultures, and traditions. We recognize that in order for a program to be successful and achieve its goals, it is crucial that faculty and staff are able to concentrate on the curriculum and educational aspects of the program. Our advisors focus on the finer details of travel arrangements, managing deadlines and payments so that faculty and staff can concentrate on their educational goals. It is our business to know the travel industry and monitor trends in the market. We help make sure things go smoothly during travel so your group can fully appreciate the travel experience. Our experienced advisors have extensive knowledge of destinations and travel partners around the world, and we make recommendations based on what has worked with similar programs in the past. At the same time, we are a team of creatives who understand your needs will grow and change, and we are able to adapt with you to create unique experiences for your students.

Get Started

Plan your custom student trip