Alumni Travel Program
The 棉花糖直播 University Alumni Association is thrilled to re-launch our travel program! Explore destinations around the world with 棉花糖直播 alumni, family and friends.
We invite the entire 棉花糖直播 community to join us as we celebrate the University鈥檚 traditions and values through our alumni travel program. Our trips provide a rich travel experience thanks to their educational character, unique access to special events and, most importantly, traveling with your fellow Wildcats.
For more information, please contact our Travel Program Coordinator, Sarah Doody, at alumnitravel@villanova.edu or 904-432-3141.
Upcoming Tours
2024 Programs
Antarctica: Journey to the White Continent
December 1-8, 2024
Price: Cabin prices from: $8,978* per person (based on double occupancy). Airfare not included.
*Reflects a 10% discount for all travelers with the VU group
Trip Status: At capacity; please email alumnitravel@villanova.edu to join the waitlist.
- Join VU on this new itinerary where we bypass the traditional crossing of the Drake Passage both ways on a 2-hour flight from Puerto Natales.
- The flight provides us with a shorter program that is less expensive for our travelers.
- Hike on magnificent mountains; see huge glaciers; and watch for gentoo, Ad茅lie, and chinstrap penguins.
- Kayak in protected waters, paddling as penguins swim nearby.
- Early December departures offer the possibility to cross-country ski or snowshoe across the frozen sea ice, conditions permitting.
The final brochure is in production now, for more information, please contact our Travel Program Coordinator, Sarah S. Doody at alumnitravel@villanova.edu.
2025 Programs
Essential Thailand
February 13-25, 2025
Price: $2,699 per person (based on double occupancy; $410 single supplement). Airfare not included.
Trip Status: .
*Shared departure with other universities.
- An expert travel director and professional driver.
- Cherry picked hotels, all tried and trusted.
- Breakfasts, five lunches and four dinners included.
- City orientation tours.
- Audio headsets provided throughout your holiday to enhance your included sightseeing experiences.
- Luxury air-conditioned coach buses, most with WiFi.
- Extensive variety of choice optional experiences.
Highlights:
- Visit Wat Rong Khun - the White Temple.
- Visit the Hall of Opium, take a boat trip along the Mekong River, visit a local market in Laos.
- Visit the Night Market and the temples of Wat Phra Singh and Wat Chedi Luang.
- Visit Sukhothai Historical Park.
- Visit the Thailand-Burma Railway Museum, the War Cemetery, the infamous Death Railway and the Bridge on the River Kwai.
- Visit Wat Pho, the Grand Palace and observe local life along the canals during a khlong tour.
Variety of Optional Experiences you can choose from to customize your trip. (additional costs apply)
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2025: Free Day in Bangkok
- Ayutthaya with Lunch Cruise: travel to Bang Pa, the Summer Palace used by the Thai Kings
- Bangkok Cycling Discovery
- Visit to the Jim Thompson House
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2025: Free Day in Chian Mai
- Khantoke Dinner and Show
- Chiang Mai Night Ride
- Hmong Nong Hoi Village and Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden
Not Included:
- Airfare
- Porterage is not included; guests will be required to handle their own luggage throughout their tour.鈥嬧�嬧�嬧�嬧�嬧�嬧�嬧�嬧�嬧�嬧�嬧�嬧�嬧��
- Recommended gratuities per person per day (subject to change) - cash only: USD $3.50 drivers, USD $6.00 travel directors鈥嬧�嬧�嬧�嬧�嬧�嬧�嬧�嬧�嬧�嬧�嬧�嬧�嬧�嬧�嬧�嬧�嬧�嬧�� 鈥嬧�嬧�嬧�嬧�嬧�嬧�� 鈥嬧�嬧�嬧�嬧�嬧�嬧��
For more information, please contact our Travel Program Coordinator, Sarah S. Doody at alumnitravel@villanova.edu
Irish Elegance
April 5-13, 2025
Price: $4,499 per person (based on double occupancy; $1,500 single supplement). Airfare not included.
Trip Status:
- Eight nights of accommodations.
- Specially selected hotels.
- Coaches buses with WiFi.
- Eight breakfasts and 4 dinners.
- Airport transfers.
Highlights:
- In Dublin: See Custom House, the Guinness Brewery, Christchurch Cathedral and St. Patrick's Cathedral.
- In Cashel: See the Rock of Cashel where St. Patrick preached.
- In Blarney: Visit the lush gardens of the Blarney Castle estate with a senior gardener and see the famous Blarney Stone
- Travel through the Ring of Kerry: Venture into a world of towering cliffs, lush lakelands and remote villages, as you journey the magical Ring of Kerry.
- See the Cliffs of Moher: Stop by the Exhibition Centre and look out over the Wild Atlantic Way from these majestic cliffs.
- In Galway: Visit the stunning cathedral of the City of Tribes. Admire its Renaissance style dome and unique rose shaped window.
- Kylemore Abbey & Victorian Walled Garden: Visit the turreted Neo-Gothic Kylemore Abbey. This monastery was founded in 1920 for Benedictine Nuns who fled Belgium in World War I.
- Ashford Castle: On arrival to Ashford Castle, you are escorted over the drawbridge by a lone piper for a majestic entrance fit for royalty.
Not Included:
- Airfare
For more information, please contact our Travel Program Coordinator, Sarah S. Doody at alumnitravel@villanova.edu
Canyon Country Showcase
October 5-11, 2025
Price: $2,250 per person (based on double occupancy; $414 single supplement). Airfare not included.
Trip Status: .
- An expert travel director and professional driver.
- Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted.
- Six breakfasts and one lunch.
- Audio headsets provided throughout your holiday to enhance your included sightseeing experiences.
- Luxury air-conditioned coach buses with WiFi.
- City orientation tours.
Sightseeing Highlights
- Las Vegas - visit the entertainment capital of the world.
- Grand Canyon - experience this stunning UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Horseshoe Bend visit - one of the most photographed areas on the Colorado River.
- Monument Valley - explore the treasures of the Navajo people with a guide in a 4-wheel drive tour.
- Bryce Canyon National Park - stare in awe at the multi-coloured hoodoos.
- Zion National Park - revel in one of the most scenic canyons.
- Wupatki National Monument - visit the ancestral lands of the Hopi native people.
Variety of Optional Experiences (additional costs apply)
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2025: GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK SIGHTSEEING
- North Canyon Tour Helicopter Flight. Bell Aircraft - 25 min.
- Grand Kingdom - 40 min. EcoStar Helicopter Flight
- Grand Discovery Air Tour South Rim - 45 min. Fixed-Wing Aircraft Flight
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2025: BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK SIGHTSEEING
- Ebenezer's Dinner and Show
- Ruby's Horseback Adventures
Not Included:
- Airfare
- Gratuities for the driver and travel director. Recommended gratuities per person, per day: driver USD $6.60 - $8:50 and Tour Director USD $7.50 - $9.50
- Porterage of luggage
- Airport Transfers
- Recommended that guests bring a reusable water bottle
For more information, please contact our Travel Program Coordinator, Sarah S. Doody at alumnitravel@villanova.edu
Completed Tours
Thank you to all the 棉花糖直播ns who joined us on recent journeys!
Please note that in this ever-changing travel climate, all prices, itineraries, dates and departures are subject to change.
Required International SOS Membership
All travelers on 棉花糖直播 University-sponsored international trips who are not current University employees or students are required to purchase an individual International SOS (ISOS) membership before departure. ISOS provides important pre-departure services, including guidance on vaccination requirements, necessary medications, and travel security information. While abroad, ISOS offers extensive support such as global assistance, medical and security evacuation services, access to physicians by phone, and referrals to over 68,000 vetted providers worldwide. Each traveler is required to purchase their ISOS membership directly from ISOS at and provide the policy number to Sarah Doody, our 棉花糖直播 Travel Coordinator. If a traveler is ineligible for ISOS membership for any reason, please reach out to Sarah Doody to discuss options. *棉花糖直播 faculty and staff traveling with employment responsibilities are automatically covered by the University and will not need to purchase the ISOS.
ISOS vs. Travel Insurance: Please note that ISOS membership is mandatory for all travelers on 棉花糖直播-sponsored trips, as it provides essential medical and security assistance. Travel insurance, which covers issues such as cancellations, missed connections, and baggage delays, is separate from ISOS, optional, and does not replace ISOS benefits. For more details on ISOS coverage, please visit our FAQs page.
For more information, please contact Sarah S. Doody at alumnitravel@villanova.edu or call (904) 432-3141.