New itineraries in the Baltics, Thailand, Spain, Japan and Costa Rica, plus additional departures for Ultimate Murder Mystery and Camp Ultimate give young travelers more reasons to turn their travel plans into reality
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Oct. 28, 2026 — EF Ultimate Break, a leader in experiential, guided travel for Gen Z and Millennials, today launched its Black Friday Early Access sale, offering up to $1,000 discounts and up to 35% off select tours worldwide. With $99 down payments and interest-free monthly payment plans, the brand’s biggest savings event of the year makes it easier for travelers ages 18–35 to commit to their next adventure.
Alongside the savings, EF Ultimate Break is giving travelers more ways to explore new regions, connect over shared interests and make friends abroad. New itineraries span Europe, Asia and Central America, including a Baltics trip through Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Following its first sold-out departure, the Ultimate Murder Mystery: London to Ashridge House returns with a new 2028 departure, while Summer in Switzerland: Camp Ultimate adds new departures for 2027.
“Travel can change how you see the world and what you believe is possible for yourself, and we want more young people to have access to that experience,” said Shane Steffens, President of EF Ultimate Break. “Making travel attainable means recognizing that people have real budgets and responsibilities, even when exploring the world is a priority. We’re excited to pair our biggest savings of the year with flexible ways to pay and more trips that give travelers something to look forward to—and people to share it with.
Black Friday savings and booking details
Early Access runs October 28–November 18, 2026, followed by the Black Friday Sale from November 19–27, 2026. Travelers can visit efultimatebreak.com/deals to unlock offers, reserve a trip for $99 during the promotional period and choose from flexible payment options, including interest-free monthly installments and buy now, pay later plans
Select departures on the following tours feature $1,000 of
| Tour | Description | Tour Details | Savings |
| Ultimate Europe | A 35-day odyssey with 11 local-guided city tours — champagne on the Seine, a gondola through Venice, a Munich beer hall and the Acropolis before ferrying to the Greek Islands. | 35 days, 14 cities | $1,000 off |
| Unlock Japan: Tokyo to Osaka | Sleep at a traditional ryokan in Hakone, dress in a yukata for a kaiseki dinner, ride the bullet train and walk the 10,000 torii gates of Fushimi Inari. | 14 days, 5 cities | $1,000 off |
| Safari Kenya: The Maasai Mara & Beyond | Track the Big Five on four game drives through Amboseli and the Maasai Mara, meet Maasai artisans in Nairobi and share a Farewell Dinner under the stars in the bush. | 10 days, 4 cities | $1,000 off |
| Uncover Athens & the Greek Islands | Climb the Acropolis with a local guide, then island-hop to Santorini, Paros and Mykonos for cliffside wine tastings, sunset-clapping in Oia and beach clubs until dawn. | 11 days, 4 cities | $1,000 off |
| Experience Italy, France & Spain | Kayak Provence’s Lake of Sainte-Croix, hike the Cinque Terre, marvel at La Sagrada Família and eat your way through tapas and sangria in Barcelona. | 16 days, 8 cities | $1,000 off |
| Explore London, Paris & Amsterdam | Afternoon tea in London, a champagne cruise down the Seine beneath the Eiffel Tower’s light show and a bike ride past windmills in the Dutch countryside. | 10 days, 3 cities | $1,000 off |
Land only prices on tours include accommodations, planned excursions, some meals, and a tour director to support logistics and teach travelers about the destination they’re visiting. For an additional fee, EF Ultimate Break also offers flight packages (airport transfer included) and “cancel for any reason” insurance.
More reasons to go, more ways to connect
The sale is also a chance to plan a trip around what makes travel personally meaningful, from discovering an emerging destination to connecting over a shared interest. EF Ultimate Break’s new Baltics itinerary arrives as the region gains tourism momentum, drawing travelers who want a destination that still feels like a discovery, with walkable capitals, a growing food and design scene, and history around every corner.
Beyond the Baltics, the new Iconic Thailand: Bangkok, Chiang Mai & Phuket itinerary takes travelers from Bangkok’s temples to an elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai and Phuket’s beaches. New additions to College Break, EF Ultimate Break’s collection exclusively for travelers ages 18–24, offer more ways to explore Spain, Japan and Costa Rica with peers. Together with returning favorites, these trips offer something for every travel style, from ziplining through a Costa Rican rainforest to solving a mystery at an English estate to reliving summer camp in the Swiss Alps.
New itineraries
- NEW: Baltics: Tallinn, Riga & Vilnius: 10 days, three countries; up to $300 off! Three countries, three capitals and one of Europe’s most distinctive corners: the Baltics are drawing attention as affordable, cooler escapes with culture and character to spare. Travelers wander medieval Old Towns on guided walks through all three capitals, explore Tallinn’s Telliskivi Creative District, graze their way through Riga Central Market, cross the water to Trakai’s island castle and stand among thousands of crosses at the Hill of Crosses. They also roll up their sleeves in a cepelinai cooking class, learning to make Lithuania’s beloved national dish alongside locals.
- NEW: Iconic Thailand: Bangkok, Chiang Mai & Phuket: 11 days, three cities; up to $400 off! From Bangkok’s Wat Pho and a floating market to an overnight train north, travelers observe elephants in their habitat at Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai, then fly south to Phuket for Patong Beach and an optional starlit Phang Nga Bay cruise with kayaking through limestone caves.
- NEW: College Break Spain: Madrid, Ibiza & Barcelona: 10 days; up to $500 off! Part of the College Break collection for travelers ages 18–24, this trip pairs guided sightseeing in Madrid leads into three nights in Ibiza with beach days and a sunset stop, then on to Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter and Gaudí’s Sagrada Família. Optional add-ons include a catamaran cruise and a sunset cruise with live music.
- NEW: College Break Japan: Osaka to Tokyo: 11 days; up to $500 off! Part of the College Break collection for travelers ages 18–24, this trip has travelers taste takoyaki in Osaka’s Dotonbori, walk through Fushimi Inari and visit Kyoto’s Golden Pavilion. They also see Nagoya Castle, ride the Hakone ropeway for views of Mt. Fuji, cruise Lake Ashi and end in Tokyo’s Harajuku and Asakusa neighborhoods.
- NEW: College Break Costa Rica: Sarapiqui to Puntarenas: 9 days; up to $200 off! Part of the College Break collection for travelers ages 18–24, this trip sends travelers ziplining above the Sarapiquí rainforest, kayak Lake Arenal beneath the volcano, swim at La Fortuna Waterfall and soak in hot springs. The trip ends on the Pacific coast near Manuel Antonio, with a coffee plantation tasting on the way back to San José.
New dates for fan favorites
- NEW 2028 DATE: Ultimate Murder Mystery: London to Ashridge House: 7 days; up to $200 off! After a sold-out debut, the real-life whodunit returns. Three nights in London, including a dark-history walking tour, lead into the Cotswolds and the Gothic Ashridge House estate. There, murder mystery dinners and team sleuthing turn fellow travelers into partners in solving the case. Departs February 4–10, 2028.
- NEW 2027 DATES: Camp Ultimate: Summer in Switzerland: 8 days; up to $500 off! Summer camp nostalgia meets Lausanne and Engelberg. The trip pairs friendship bracelets, camp games and lakeside s’mores with Swiss wine tasting, a chocolate-making workshop and time in the Alps. Departs July 24–31 and July 31–August 7, 2027.
Meet EF Ultimate Break
With affordability one of the biggest concerns for Gen Z and Millennial travelers, EF Ultimate Break has travelers covered with stress-free booking.
EF Ultimate Break offers travelers:
- Low $99 down payments to secure spots on tour
- Interest-free monthly payment plans
- Worry-free booking with 30-day cancellation period and protection plans
- Special $100 first-time college traveler discounts and $250+ repeat traveler discounts
And no one cares for travelers like we do at EF Ultimate Break, where traveler safety is a top priority.
From our EF Global Safety Network to our crisis response team, we lead the way in safety and support, with 24/7 on-call support, a full-time trained Tour Director on every trip, regular quality and safety checks on all accommodations, on-the-ground support across all destinations, and 60+ years of experience supporting travelers on tour.
Benefit from our Referral Program!
How it works: Give $100. Get $100 – with $1000 earned at your 5th referral!
- Refer a friend: Any traveler who has taken a trip with or is currently booked on tour with EF Ultimate Break, Go Ahead Tours, or EF Adventures can share a personal referral link via email, text, social media, or their EF World Journeys mobile app. Friends must be new to EF World Journeys, 18 or older, and have a valid email address to qualify.
- Both travelers earn $100: When the referred traveler books, both receive $100 in travel credit. Rewards are issued 60 days after booking confirmation, and referrals must book within six months.
- Earn $1000 on every fifth referral: Referring travelers receive a $500 bonus for every fifth successful referral – resulting in $1000 of travel credit in total! There is no limit to how many referrals can be made, and rewards NEVER expire!
Visit to learn more: https://www.efultimatebreak.com/traveling-with-us/refer-a-friend
For more travel features visit:
Going Places @ longislandpress.com
www.longislandpress.com/category/vacation-travel/
goingplacesnearandfar.wordpress.com
travelwritersmagazine.com/TravelFeaturesSyndicate/
goingplacesfarandnear.tumblr.com/
instagram.com/going_places_far_and_near/
instagram.com/bigbackpacktraveler/
‘Like’ us on facebook.com/NewsPhotoFeatures
X: @TravelFeatures
Threads: @news_and_photo_features