Travel Tips and Tricks
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Throw out the checklist! Roaming Buffs takes the guesswork out of planning your next vacation. With trips to destinations around the world and accommodations ranging from luxury tours and cruises to outdoor adventures, Roaming Buffs partners with tour companies that specialize in alumni groups.
Wherever you go, you’ll be able to sample distinctive cuisine, one-of-a-kind vistas and cultural and historical sights. Best of all, you'll be joined by like-minded travel companions who share the adventurous, bold nature that comes with CU Boulder spirit.
Please note that starting in 2024, American travelers will require a "Visa" to visit Europe. Learn more about this change here.
Travel Health and COVID-19
When booking your trip, please be sure to ask the tour operator’s protocols regarding COVID-19, as well as the general health and vaccine requirements for the countries you are visiting. Most tour operators are now following the COVID-19 and health protocols outlined by each individual country. For more information on travel health tips and regulations, please visit the CDC Travelers' Health website.
If you have further questions, please email us, or contact your tour operator directly.
Contact Information
Tricia Essenpreis: 303-492-2879
Roaming Buffs Travel Director
AHI Travel: 877-223-9274
Gohagan: 800-922-3088
Go Next: 1-888-918-8954
Odysseys Unlimited: 1-888-370-6765
Orbridge: 866-639-0079
World War II Museum: 877-813-3329
How to Book
The Roaming Buffs staff do not take trip reservations. You will need to reach out to the tour operator running your trip. Please contact one of the numbers in the gray box above to start your reservation.
- Some of the tour operators offer online reservations, you will find these links on the trip page, by clicking book here.
- If you are not sure what tour operator to contact please call 303-492-2879, and you’ll be connected to a tour operator to reserve your trip.
- Fill out the form on the back of the brochure you received in the mail and send it to the corresponding tour operator.
- If you still have questions about booking, you can email Tricia Essenpreis.
Brochures with a detailed itinerary and reservation information for each trip are printed five to eight months prior to a trip’s departure. But you often are able to pre-register before the brochure is printed.
Who Travels with Roaming Buffs
As a Forever Buff, you and other friends of CU Boulder are eligible for the Roaming Buffs Travel Program. Your family is also welcome, so you can celebrate, explore new destinations and revisit favorite spots together.
Travel groups range in size from two to nearly 50 people, but typically you’ll have eight to 24 travel companions.
The age range of Roaming Buffs participants tends to be from 45 to 90 with the median range 55 to 75. But, you can also expect small groups of friends and families. If you opt to travel alone, you will be welcomed into the travel group.
About Group Travel
Group travel does not mean that you are being herded from one place to another like a bunch of buffaloes. It does ensure that you’ll be traveling with people sharing similar interests and with a common bond — the University of Colorado Boulder!
Depending on the number of CU travelers registered for a tour, a CU faculty or senior staff member may travel with you. If a professor attends, he or she usually will provide two or three lectures throughout the trip.
Whether or not there is an alumni staff escort, you’ll always be accompanied by a tour or cruise director who is responsible for all trip logistics. They make certain your room is ready, that your luggage gets delivered promptly, that transportation is ready when needed and that the group stays on schedule.
Solo Travelers
All trip pricing is based on double occupancy, meaning two people sharing a room or cabin.
Most tours offer a limited number of single rooms if you wish to travel individually. A supplemental fee may apply.
We do have a select amount of trips that have waived the Single Supplement fee. It will state Single Supplement fee waived on their trip page.
Tour Schedules and Cancellation Policies
Occasionally a tour operator must change some of the trip details, dates or pricing after the catalog is printed because of circumstances beyond its control. Please confirm trip details with the CU Boulder Alumni Association team or with the tour company prior to booking a reservation.
Trip departure dates are often shared with other institutions, usually (but not always) other alumni associations. This provides the added assurance that a trip will not be canceled due to a low number of travelers. Some of our trips are exclusive for CU travelers.
Each tour company sets its own cancellation and refund policies. Please consult the individual trip brochure for cancellation policies or call the tour operator directly.
Airline Information
Every effort will be made to secure the seats you request. However, the final decision on seat assignments rests solely with the airlines, and in some cases with the gate agent. All airlines have guidelines on seat assignments that favor persons paying unrestricted fares and high-level frequent flyer members. Each carrier holds a large percentage of window and aisle seats in coach for these preferred travelers. Group travelers are paying discounted fares and are not first priority to the airline. Group seat assignments are made near the time of departure and depend on availability at that time. Your understanding is appreciated.
Flight schedules for group air travel may NOT be the most direct routes and/or most convenient times. If direct routes are very important to you, please ask about receiving airline credit for the trip and making your own air reservations.
If you book your own flights, you are responsible for making connections with the main group.
Medical and Travel Insurance Coverage
All confirmed passengers receive travel insurance information through USI Travel Insurance Select. Check with your medical insurance company to determine whether you are covered when traveling outside the United States. Pre-existing conditions can be covered through the insurance we offer. Please note that there is a 21-day window from the date of your deposit to receive coverage for pre-existing conditions.
Call 800-937-1387 or visit Travel Insurance Services on the USI Travel site for questions on the value of travel insurance and what it covers.
For more details on coverage and benefit amounts see the USI Travel protection document.
Accessibility and Travelers with Special Needs
Any travelers with physical and/or medical restrictions must communicate special needs at the time of the reservation. Participants requiring assistance must be accompanied by a helper capable of and totally responsible for providing the required attention and assistance. Most trips involve walking, and some destinations will bring you to a high altitude. Please check with the CU Boulder Alumni Association team or the tour company to determine if a trip is right for you.
Activity Levels
In an effort to make the tours safe, comfortable and rewarding for all travelers, each trip is assigned an activity level, so that you can choose the trip that is right for you and your abilities. Please keep in mind that all trips involve group activities, and your level of preparedness and ability will have an impact on the other participants. Those requiring special assistance must be accompanied by someone who can and will provide all required assistance. Travel to and from the tour is not factored into activity-level ratings. You should take into account your stamina when traveling long distances, and factor in multiple flight changes as well as handling personal luggage independently throughout the itinerary. If you have questions about trip accessibility, please contact the tour operator directly.
One Buffalo
What to expect: These trips often involve travel by motor coach. Travelers should be able to stand and walk during group activities, board transportation and climb one flight of stairs without handrails or assistance. Elevators are not always available. Outings last one to two hours on most days.
Suitable for: Travelers who are able to comfortably walk up to two miles, or 4,600 steps, each day.
Two Buffaloes
What to expect: These trips often travel by motor coach, ship or train. Touring days may include full-day motor coach excursions or extended periods of standing and walking during city tours, museum visits and/or outdoor activities. Travelers should be able to board transportation, walk over sometimes-uneven terrain and climb a few flights of stairs, occasionally without handrails or assistance. Elevators are not always available. Outings last two to four hours most days.
Suitable for: Travelers who are able to comfortably walk two to four miles, or 4,600–6,900 steps, each day.
Three Buffaloes
What to expect: These trips feature long touring days with travel via motor coach, ship, zodiac, all-terrain vehicle or train. Travelers are required to board transportation without assistance as well as stand and walk over uneven terrain for extended periods of time. Some tours may include optional higher-intensity activities and travel at higher altitudes with steep ascents and descents. Outings last four to six hours most days.
Suitable for: Travelers who are able to comfortably walk four to six miles, or 6,900–9,200 steps, each day.
Four Buffaloes
What to expect: These tours feature longer touring days and many full-day excursions, plus full, active itineraries that move at a faster pace to cover longer distances. Travelers are required to stand and walk over uneven terrain for extended periods of time, and should be comfortable at higher altitudes with steep ascents and descents. Outings last more than six hours each day.
Suitable for: Travelers who are able to comfortably walk six to eight miles, or 9,200–11,500 steps, each day.
Five Buffaloes
What to expect: These programs are very active with demanding daily schedules of physical activities, such as hiking, kayaking, rafting or bicycling. Travelers should expect walking or hiking tours to be across uneven terrain with limited leisure time (sometimes only in the later evenings). Accommodations may vary from camping tents to deluxe lodges.
Suitable for: Travelers who are able to comfortably participate in more physically demanding activities covering distances of eight or more miles, or 11,500+ steps, each day.
Important responsibility and tour participant contract
The CU Boulder Alumni Association and its agents act only as agents for the suppliers of transportation, accommodations, food and other goods and services provided to the tour participant. All arrangements for transport, accommodations and services are made upon the express condition that the CU Boulder Alumni Association shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, consequential or incidental damage, injury, loss, accident, delay or irregularity of any kind occasioned by reason of any act or omission beyond its control, including, without limitation, any act of negligence or breach of contract of any third party such as an airline, cruise line, train, hotel, restaurant, ground handler, etc., who is or does supply any goods or services for the tour. Without limiting the foregoing, the CU Boulder Alumni Association is not responsible for any losses or expenses due to delay or changes in schedule, overbooking of accommodations, default of any third parties, sickness, weather, strikes, acts of God, acts of terrorism, force majeure, war, quarantine, criminal activity or for any other cause beyond its control. The CU Boulder Alumni Association reserves the right to change the itinerary of the tour without prior notice. If the tour is cancelled by the CU Boulder Alumni Association for any reason, CU Boulder shall have no liability beyond the refund of all tour participants’ deposits received by it. CU Boulder Alumni Association may increase the tour price in the event of cost increases. The CU Boulder Alumni Association may decline to accept or to retain any tour participant as a participant on the tour at any time. If any tour participant leaves or is removed from the tour, a refund only for refundable unused services shall be made. These tours may be sold in conjunction with the services of any airline. The passenger tickets in use by the air carriers, when issued, shall constitute the sole contract between the carriers and the passenger; the carriers are not responsible for any act, omission or event during the time tour participants are not aboard their conveyances. Any litigation concerning this tour must be brought in the state of Colorado. Changes in the RESPONSIBILITY clause can be made only in writing signed by an officer of the CU Boulder Alumni Association. Deposits paid by tour participants indicate acceptance of the above terms and conditions.
