Connecticut College - Alumni & Parent Travel Program
We don’t stop learning once we leave CONN - the world is one big classroom, let’s explore it together!
Started in 2024, Connecticut College has partnered with the world renown Collette Travel to kick off a new opportunity to Connecticut College alumni and parents. Travel together to explore new cultures and continue learning about the world around us.
Including airfare, hotel accommodations, transportation, select meals and special guided experiences, these expertly planned trips will introduce travelers to must-see iconic sights while immersing them into the culture of each destination. These guided trips also allow for independent exploration and free time to customize your itinerary.
UPCOMING TRIPS:
Iceland's Magical Northern Lights
October 24 — October 30, 2025
7 Days • 11 Meals
Book by April 25, 2025 to save $250 per person off your trip experience!
Experience the “land of fire and ice” and chase the aurora borealis across an ethereal wonderland. In the dark of the night, search for the northern lights as you drift along on an evening starlit cruise. Travel the “Golden Circle,” home to renowned natural wonders, and spend time at Thingvellir National Park, gaze at Gullfoss waterfall, and see the explosive geothermal fields at Geysir. Explore Skógar Museum and see traditional turf-built homes. Walk on a black volcanic sand beach. See Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon filled with floating icebergs. Relax in the warm, mineral-rich water of the Blue Lagoon. Spend your days surrounded by natural wonders and your nights in search of the elusive dancing lights.
Greece Island Hopper featuring Athens, Mykonos and Santorini
April 24 — May 4, 2026
11 Days • 14 Meals
Book by August 25, 2025 to save $1050 per person off your trip experience!
Begin your journey in Athens, the immortalized capital of Greece. See the best of Athens with a local expert who highlights the city’s ancient roots on a comprehensive panoramic tour. Make your way along the world-renowned monuments, including the Temple of Zeus, the Parliament, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Olympic Stadium and the legendary Acropolis to visit the illustrious Parthenon. Then head to Mykonos which offers limitless opportunities to kick back and enjoy the island’s irresistible lifestyle. Your journey continues to Santorini, the Eden-like island where blue-domed rooftops and gentle ocean waves complement the bright white buildings and rocky hillsides. A picturesque landscape and iconic destination, Santorini’s charms reveal themselves during your 3-night stay.
Tropical Costa Rica
October 12 — October 20, 2026
9 Days • 14 Meals
Book by April 25, 2026 to save $300 per person off your trip experience!
Lush forests and stunning waterfalls… rumbling volcanoes and endless coastlines… Costa Rica is a paradise teeming with exotic plants and incredible animals. Enjoy the tranquil views of Arenal Volcano from your hotel. Explore part of the 20,000-acre nature preserve of Cano Negro on a riverboat adventure. Spend two nights in Monteverde’s lush cloud forest. Experience the forest canopy on your choice of a hanging bridges nature walk or an exhilarating zip lining tour. Luxuriate at a resort for two nights at Playa Carrillo, Guanacaste, known for its breathtaking beauty and fine sandy beaches. You will find a slice of paradise and so much more.
PAST TRIPS:
Tuscany & the Italian Riviera - 2024
Thoughts from Betsey Schmidt '64 and Carl Schmidt
"Carl and I thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Tuscany and the Italian Riviera offered by the Connecticut College Alumni Office in conjunction with Collette Tours. The trip was well-organized and paced. We were very fortunate to have had an excellent tour guide, a native of Italy, whose enthusiasm and good humor brought the group together and made for many memorable and fun times. Our bus driver was excellent, very friendly and helpful, and negotiated the narrow winding roads of Tuscany effortlessly. The local guides in Turin, Lucca, and Florence were excellent! They were very knowledgeable, spoke English fluently, mixed facts with colorful stories, and made helpful suggestions for shopping and dining. Our guide to Cinque Terre was with us for the entire day as we traveled by ferry to see the whole area and visit two of the villages, returning to La Spezia by train. This day was definitely the highlight of the trip for us."
British Landscapes featuring England, Scotland and Wales - 2025
A few reasons you will love traveling with Collette:
- Expertly crafted itineraries
- 4-star accommodations
- Attraction entrance fees with preferential access
- Unparalleled sightseeing
- Enriching cultural experiences
- Comfortable on-tour transportation
- Hotel-to-hotel baggage handling
- Many meals full of local flavor
