Watch CBS News

High School Grads Out Thousands After 'Senior Trip' Site Failed To Pay For Airline Tickets, Resort Stay

June 19, 2018 / 10:49 PM PDT / KCAL News

WHITTIER (CBSLA) — A group of recent high school graduates were left holding their bags, literally, after a celebratory trip that was bought and paid for fell through, and now they're demanding answers and their money back.

Zachary Chavez was "excited" about the trip he was about to take with his fellow grads from La Serna High School in Whittier.

Iris Aguilar, the mother of classmate, booked the 5-day trip to Cancún, Mexico on the Senior Grad Trips website. She asked CBS2 News not show her face on camera.

"I Googled senior trips. This company came up," said Aguilar. She said she did her due diligence, reading reviews, asking for referrals, and even speaking to the owner of the company George Barragan.

"He, you know, picked up my phone, texts us all the time," said Aguilar.

The embarrassed mother said she received confirmation numbers for the trip, and everything looked good to go.

However, when the students arrived at LAX Sunday, they found out neither the airline tickets nor the resort stays were actually purchased.

A photo shows the students sitting around the airport terminal with nowhere to go.

A GoFundMe campaign started by Aguilar said the students " eft crying, upset and truly disappointed not about the money but because they were looking forward to experience Cancun with their friends. They're all great kids attending college this fall with hefty tuition to pay parents are unable financially to rebook."

They're now out thousands of dollars.

"Sad, mad, upset," Chavez told CBS2 News.

Reporter Jo Kwon emailed the site, called their toll-free number, send a text message to the number listed, and finally called the number.

The outgoing message said Barragan is currently out of the country and asked to leave a reply, but the voicemail inbox was full.

Barragan did send a message to the students' parents, saying they would be receiving a full refund within the next 30 days.

Zachary's father Chuck told CBS2 he isn't holding his breath. "People are scammers," added Zachary.

For her part, Aguilar said, "I just want this gut to get caught, so that it's not gonna happen again to some other kids.

As of Tuesday, the GoFundMe campaign had raised $25 of the $40,000 goal.

Featured Local Savings

More from cbs news.

3 juveniles arrested for vandalism, burglary at Riverside elementary school

Juvenile arrested for shooting at Anaheim police officers

Pedestrian hit and killed by semi-truck in Los Feliz

Souplantation-style restaurant brings comfort food to Rancho Cucamonga

Notice: Our website and its third party tools use cookies to manage and track usage to enable us to deliver the best possible service and customer expectation. By closing this banner and continuing to browse the site, you agree and consent to our use of cookies. If you want to know more, please refer to our Cookie Policy .

We noticed that you have disabled your Cookies which may affect certain functionalities. FundMyTravel requires your browser cookies to be enabled to operate. Please enable your browser Cookies and try again.

Start Fundraising

How it works, fund meaningful travel experiences, featured campaigns.

  • Recent Campaigns
  • People You Know

Medical Mission in Vietnam / Ultrasound

Medical Mission in Vietn...

This mission's goal is to improve access to quality healthcare in Ho Chi Minh City.  There is a need for medical ultrasound training and...

First Art Gallery Showing in New York

First Art Gallery Showin...

Hello and welcome to my campaign! As you know, my name is Jeralyn Merideth and I am an artist.  I currently live in Missouri. I have drawn all my...

Help me to help save our animals

Help me to help save our...

Hi everyone, My name is Kady and I live in the UK. In February 2024 I will be leaving my home comforts behind and swapping my heels for walking...

£ 2195

Eco Agriculture Conservation in Costa Rica

Eco Agriculture Conserva...

After almost 10 years of visiting and enjoying the culture of Costa Rica I have been accepted to the Eco-Agriculture Conservation program with...

Oliver Goes to France!

Oliver Goes to France!

Bon jour! My name is Oliver and I am a 7th grader at Jefferson County Open School in Lakewood, Colorado. This year I have been participating in a...

Iggy travels 101

Iggy travels 101

I'm going to Costa Rica and I am so excited! My trip is organized by Global Works Travel. I'll have a chance to help out a different community by...

Volunteering in Tobago:   Working with rescue animals

Volunteering in Tobago: ...

To mark my 50th birthday I am going to Tobago to volunteer at an animal rescue facility for a week. I will be working with cats and dogs and my...

Help me study abroad in Melbourne, Australia this fall!

Help me study abroad in ...

Hi everyone!! My name is Ernest Romero and I am a sophomore studying Communications and Marketing at Boston College. I'm super excited to announce...

It’s simple to start your fundraising page - tell people your story and get them excited about your trip!

Spread the Word

Easily share your campaign on through built-in social media and email buttons.

Donations are automatically sent to your account - no waiting till you hit your full goal.

Success Stories

senior trip gofundme

Alice Turner, SLV.Global

Many of our volunteers have used FundMyTravel to help make raising the funds for their placements a simple and easy process. Volunteers can personalise their fundraising page and provide information about what donations will be going towards as well...

senior trip gofundme

Reynolds Whalen, Performing Arts Abroad

FundMyTravel provides a valuable resource for our participants to raise money for their programs with us. Our participants have raised over $12,000 for their programs! It also gives us an additional platform to promote our programs, as each campaig...

senior trip gofundme

Yesmeen Scamahorn

When I started to research campaign platforms, I sought out platforms that supported those embarking on a volunteer/service based project. I stumbled upon Fund my Travel and knew it was going to be the perfect fit. Although there wasn't a customer se...

senior trip gofundme

Crowdfund meaningful travels

Send feedback.

By checking this box, I consent to FundMyTravel collecting and storing my data through the submission of this form. I understand that FundMyTravel will use the information collected to provide me with a response. Furthermore, I verify that I am 16 years of age or older and do not need parental consent. By submitting this form, I agree to FundMyTravel’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service .

Fundly

18 Fundraising Ideas for Trips and Adventures

  • #1 Fundraising Idea
  • More Fundraising Ideas
  • Getting Started
  • Fundly Benefits
  • Click to Launch a Fundraiser
  • Successful Fundraising Campaigns
  • Best Practices
  • What Others Say
  • Run a Successful Crowdfunding Campaign
  • Start a Peer-to-Peer Campaign
  • Complete List of Fundraising Ideas
  • For Adoption
  • For Animals
  • For Breast Cancer
  • For Clubs and Organizations
  • For Creative Projects
  • For Fraternities and Sororities
  • For Individuals
  • For Medical and Health
  • For Memorials and Funerals
  • For Military and Veterans
  • For Church and Religious Organizations
  • Complete List
  • For Politics and Public Office
  • For Run/Walk/Rides
  • For Schools and Education
  • For Sports and Teams
  • For Trips and Adventures
  • For Weddings and Honeymoons
  • Crowdfunding Websites
  • Top GoFundMe Alternatives

#1: Raise Money from Friends and Family Members with a Crowdfunding Campaign for:

Airfare and travel expenses.

Whether you’re taking a train, a plane, an automobile, a bus, or another form of transportation, getting to where you need to go during your adventure might get expensive.

If you need help paying for travel costs, look into starting a crowdfunding campaign!

Accommodations and Housing

While many foreign countries have inexpensive accommodations for travelers, it can become costly if you plan on staying in one place for an extended period of time or traveling to many places.

To cover your housing costs, you can set up a crowdfunding page and ask your friends for support.

Adventurous Experiences

If you’re a thrill seeker, you know the rush of adrenaline anytime you have an adventurous experience. You also know that these experiences can cost you more than a pretty penny.

If you need help funding your next awesome adventure, set up a crowdfunding campaign.

Mission Trips

If your church or youth group is planning on taking a mission trip overseas, you’ll likely need some financial help to get where you need to go.

Your religious organization or group can easily set up a crowdfunding campaign to raise money to fund your mission trip!

You and your betrothed might opt to raise money for a luxurious honeymoon in lieu of asking for traditional gifts from a store registry.

If that’s the case, you can use a crowdfunding platform (like Fundly’s!) to ask for donations from your friends and family members.

Study Abroad Trips

Any college student that’s participated in a study abroad trip knows how impactful the experience can be. They also know how expensive it can be.

If you’re looking to travel to another country to study for a significant amount of time, use crowdfunding to raise money!

Use Our #1 Fundraising Idea — Crowdfunding

Other Fundraising Ideas that go Perfectly with a Crowdfunding Campaign for Trips and Adventures

BONUS: Get 99 fundraising ideas for trip and adventures in a free PDF!   Download our resource to raise funds for the trip of a lifetime!

Host a location-setting event to raise money for your trip or adventure

Geography Bowl

If you have a few geography buffs in your friend group or family, you can host a game of geography bowl to put their knowledge to the test and raise money for your trip!

A geography bowl is essentially a trivia night, but with only geography questions! You can host the event in your home, or you can reach out to a local restaurant or bar.

Charge a small admission fee and encourage people to make donations throughout the night. Everyone will have fun guessing the answers to tricky geography questions, and you’ll have a way to raise money for a mission trip or other travel adventure!

Sell t-shirts to raise money.

Sell T-Shirts

No one can say no to a comfortable t-shirt, which is why this is the perfect fundraising idea for your travel costs.

Work with an online t-shirt fundraising service to create t-shirts you know your friends and family will love to purchase. You can offer multiple product options, too, so that everyone receives something they’ll actually wear again and again.

Bonus points if you can tie your t-shirt designs into your upcoming trip. You can make your apparel as unique as you want, so be creative!

Writing letters is an effective fundraiser for cancer research and awareness.

Write Letters

Writing letters is a great way to raise money for your trip or adventure. You can send letters to family, friends, and anyone else who would support your endeavor.

Your letters should be genuine and personal . Always start with your recipient’s first name and thank them in advance for their generosity.

You can use letters to direct people to your online crowdfunding page, but you should also include a self-addressed envelope within your letter to encourage people to send in checks (make sure you tell donors not to send cash!).

' title=

Hold a Used Book Sale

If you’re a recently graduated college student (or even someone who just loves books!), you likely have stacks of publications that you won’t read or have read too many times to count!

If you need to raise money for an upcoming trip, you can try to sell some of your gently used books for some extra cash.

If you have used textbooks, you can sell them back to your college or university bookstore or to other students who will need them for classes.

Host a color walkathon to spice up your event!

Do Artistic Commissions

If you have an eye for art, you can take artistic commissions in the weeks leading up to your trip or adventure to help pay for airfare, lodging, and other expenses.

Advertise your artistic services on social media and let people know what your rates are for different works of art.

Just make sure that you stay on top of all of your requests. You wouldn’t want to leave on a plane only to remember that you forgot to complete a painting for your biggest supporter!

Host a cultural cuisine night to raise money for your trip or adventure

Cultural Cuisine Night

A cultural cuisine night is perfect for the adventurous and food-loving traveler looking to raise money for a trip. All you’ll need are some friends who like to cook and eat!

Invite people to submit their unique and exotic dishes with a small donation attached. You can keep the meal specific to a country or region or just cook whatever you want.

People can then vote on their favorite dishes with their dollars. Whoever has the most “votes” at the end of the night can walk away with the pride of being the best exotic chef in your friend group.

Hold a geography bowl to raise money for your trip or adventure

Location Selection Party

If you haven’t picked a location for your trip yet, you can host a location-setting party to help you choose a destination  and  raise money for your upcoming adventure!

Invite your friends and family members over and have them donate a dollar or two to write down the name of a country or city to visit. They then place the piece of paper in a container.

After everyone has made their suggestions, you pull a piece of paper out of the container. Whatever is written on the piece of paper is where your destination is (within reason, of course!).

Create luggage tags to sell as away to raise funds for travel.

Luggage Tag Fundraiser

Selling luggage tags is a fun and simple way to raise funds for your upcoming trip. You can opt to create your own luggage tags or buy them from a wholesale provider.

Whichever route you decide to take, make sure that people have different designs to choose from. The more unique and creative your designs, the more people will want to buy them!

Make sure to let your friends and family know that you’re selling luggage tags and post about your fundraiser on social media.

Collect ink cartridges to recycle and collect a fee for what you bring in.

Collect Ink Cartridges

Recycling ink cartridges is not only environmentally friendly, but it’s also a simple travel fundraising idea you can use to earn money for your next trip.

Start collecting cartridges from your own printer as well the ones at work (if your boss lets you). Ask your friends and family to donate their ink cartridges as well.

Gather as many as you can and send them to a recycling place that pays for cartridges. You can try this fundraiser with batteries, too!

Have a spa day to treat your family and friends while earning money for travel.

Host a Spa Day

Everyone could use a day to relax and unwind, and you can give your friends and family some spa treatment and raise funds. Creating a spa day can be a fundraising idea for mission trips, vacations, and other travel expenses.

The spa day fundraiser works best with you and a few volunteers to help with the facials, pedicures, and manicures. 

You can charge donors per spa service and offer food and drinks for an additional fee. This a fundraiser that can help your supporters relax as you raise funds for your next trip or adventure.

Another fundraising idea for travel is to sell coffee to your friends and family.

Sell Coffee

Coffee is enjoyed by many people all around the world, and selling it can be a great travel-inspired fundraising idea.

Connect with a local coffee shop or a wholesale coffee bean distributor and sell bagged coffee beans or grounds to your local community. You could even sell cups of coffee in the mornings.

Make sure that you explain where the coffee comes from and how buying it will help you raise funds for your next excursion aboard.

If you're looking for fundraising ideas for trips and adventures, you can run errands to raise money.

Run Errands

Often, between work and our personal lives, we have too many tasks to accomplish. You can help your community members by completing some of their errands in return for donations.

If your next-door neighbor needs help finishing their laundry or you have a friend that needs you to walk his dog, you can complete all these tasks and raise some extra money for your trip. 

To start earning money, you’ll need to promote your services around the community. Put up flyers, tell your friends and family, and post on social media to spread the word.

Sell photos for your past trips to raise money so that you can travel again.

Have a Photo Sale

As an adventurous traveler, you’ve probably taken some unique pictures of your experiences abroad. Why not use those photos and sell prints to raise funds for your next journey?

For this fundraising idea, pick some of your favorite pictures, print them on nice photo paper, and sell them around your community. You can even frame a few and charge a little extra.

You can ask your friends and family if they’d like to purchase a photo, but you should also ask local businesses as well. Restaurants and offices could always use new artwork to put on their walls.

Raise money for your trip by hosting a themed party.

Host a Themed Party

What’s better than hosting a party to create excitement for your upcoming trip? Raising money while doing it!

You can host a party that’s themed to match your upcoming travels. Include food and decor that reflects the places you’ll be visiting and invite your friends to enjoy the festivities with you.

To add a fundraising component to the fun, you can charge a small door fee or set up a donation jar inside. When your peers get a glimpse of the culture you’re about to enjoy, they’ll be happy to get out their wallets.

You can sell custom calendars to raise money for your trip.

Create Custom Calendars

No matter how convenient a phone or laptop calendar may be, everyone enjoys having a physical calendar hanging on the wall or sitting on their desk.

You can give your friends and family a taste of your trip year-round by creating custom calendars that highlight your favorite destinations. 

Put your calendars up for sale before you leave. Then when you return, send your travel photos off to an online calendar creator and present them to your generous supporters. Talk about a creative (and useful) souvenir!

Try a charity auction as a fundraiser for cancer research and awareness.

Charity Auctions

Charity auctions can be a fast-paced and energetic way to raise more money and interact with your supporters face-to-face. You also have the opportunity to form some solid business connections!

Ask for charity auction items from local businesses; try to get as many items donated for close to nothing. That way, you can put your budget into creating a great atmosphere for your attendees.

Hire an auctioneer, send out invites, and cater in food and drinks. Make sure that everyone is aware of the rules of your charity auction beforehand . People will walk away with some unique items and experiences, and you can raise more money!

Silent auctions bring people together, making them an effective fundraising idea for fraternities and sororities.

Silent Auctions

Silent auctions are a fun way to get a little more face time with your donors while they bid on unique and appealing items up for grabs. Plus, if you find the right auction items, you have the potential to raise a lot of money!

Ask local businesses and individuals if they would like to donate items to your silent auction. Common items include gift cards to restaurants, signed memorabilia, lessons from a professional of some kind, gift baskets, and more!

You can enlist the help of a mobile bidding tool to create a tech-enhanced bidding experience for your attendees. Mobile bidding software also makes checking in, checking out, and item monitoring easier on your auction volunteers and staff.

Walkathons make great fundraising ideas for fraternities and sororities.

Walkathons are perfect for active supporters who like to show their passion for a cause. Walkathons are well-suited for healthcare-related issues and causes, but they can technically be used for any type of fundraising effort!

You’ll need to determine a location and time for your walkathon. Choose a season that is a good temperature with minimal risk of rain. Make sure you have a backup location just in case!

Then, send out invitations and design some merchandise like t-shirts and water bottles. You can sell these for an extra fee to raise money above any entrance costs you charge. Make sure you have medical and first-aid supplies nearby in the case of an accident.

Getting Started With Your Fundraising Campaign

Fundly Makes it Easy to Raise Money for Your Upcoming Trip or Adventure

It’s Fast & Simple Quickly raise money for your trip or adventure with your personalized and completely unique crowdfunding campaign. Get up and running in five minutes and start accepting donations from your friends and family members.

It’s Personalized Create a beautiful fundraising page for your adventure or upcoming trip with simple tools to upload images and videos. You can tell your story and let people know why traveling is so important to you.

  It’s Free You shouldn’t have to invest money to raise money for your trip or adventure.   With Fundly, there are no start-up costs! We charge a small fee on donations only if you raise money.

Start Your Fundraiser

With Fundly , you’ll be up and running in minutes. You can start accepting contributions for your upcoming trip or adventure almost instantly.

Add Images and Tell Your Story

Starting a crowdfunding campaign for your trip or adventure is a great opportunity to let those around you know about your passion for travel and excitement. You can use your campaign page to talk about your upcoming trip and the other experiences that have shaped your worldview.

Share Your Fundraiser

With just a few clicks, you can instantly share your crowdfunding campaign with your social networks via Facebook, Twitter, and email. As you share your campaign, you increase the chances that people could see your fundraising page and contribute to your project or cause!

Let your supporters know just how much you appreciate them! Post regular updates to highlight your fundraising milestones, and upload more pictures and videos to connect even more people to your campaign.

Benefits of Using Fundly to Raise Money for Your Trip or Adventure

Create a crowdfunding campaign for your upcoming trip or adventure for FREE. Pay absolutely no fees until you receive your first contribution.

Keep it All

There’s absolutely no need to raise a minimum amount, meet a deadline, or pay penalties if you don’t reach a goal. You get to keep whatever funds you raise, minus any fees.

Excellent Customer Service

Get set up quickly and easily, whether you’re tech-savvy or not. Our interface is super easy to use for you and  your supporters, and our team is always here to help if you run into any problems while raising money for your trip or adventure.

At only a few cents for every dollar you raise, Fundly is one of the most affordable ways to raise money for a trip, adventure, or other awesome experience!

Instant Fundraising

Create your fundraiser in a few minutes and start raising money quickly and easily. You can reach out to friends and family members and ask them for donations to help fund your trip or adventure.

Deep Social Integration

With Fundly, you can reach out to your social networks via Facebook, Twitter, and email! This means that your campaign appears in more people’s newsfeeds and inboxes, maximizing your fundraising efforts.

Fundraising Campaigns for Trips and Adventures

' title=

Fundraiser for a Mountain Adventure

This adventurous woman started a crowdfunding campaign after being accepted into a hiking program that challenges women to hike three mountain peaks in three weeks across three South American countries. The money raised went to an organization that supports impoverished women and girls.

This campaign succeeded because of the story that the organizer told with words, images, and videos. She created a YouTube video that explained her cause and why she was raising money, which helped supporters connect with her campaign.

Fundraising Ideas for Trips and Adventures: England Calling

Crowdfunding Campaign for a Mission Trip to England

This crowdfunding campaign was started to help a young woman travel to England for a mission trip. She still has three days left in her campaign timeline, but luckily, her supporters have already helped her reach her goal of $2,500! Even though she only had 13 donors, this campaign is very successful.

One of the best things about this campaign was the update that the organizer posted that let people know about the increase in the price of a plane ticket. By keeping people in the loop, she was able to meet her fundraising goal!

Best Practices for Your Trip or Adventure-Related Crowdfunding Campaign

Share visuals.

Your supporters want to know more about the location you’re raising money to travel to! When you set up your crowdfunding campaign, make sure that you upload multiple images and videos of your destination to give donors an idea of what they’re contributing to.

Learn more about shooting and posting great crowdfunding photos .

  • Tell Your Story

Whether you are traveling to Africa for a mission trip, backpacking through Europe for a summer, or just looking to take a vacation, people will want to know your story! Let them know why your trip is unique and why they should contribute to your crowdfunding campaign.

Check out these examples of great crowdfunding descriptions .

The best way to raise money and awareness for your crowdfunding campaign is to share it on social media. You should regularly share the link to your crowdfunding campaign on Facebook and Twitter and via email to increase the chances of reaching your goal before your trip!

Learn more about sharing your crowdfunding campaign with your network .

Share Updates

Keep your supporters updated throughout the duration of your campaign and once it’s over. People will be excited to help you reach your fundraising goal and send you on your trip! Let them know how much you appreciate their support by posting regular updates, photos, and acknowledgements.

Check out these tips for writing crowdfunding updates .

See What Others Say:

senior trip gofundme

After I graduated college, I wanted to take a year and travel through India to learn more about the culture. I knew that it wasn’t going to be cheap, so I started a crowdfunding campaign on Fundly and asked my friends and family for donations. They helped me fly overseas and experience the trip of a lifetime!

senior trip gofundme

My school’s study abroad program is great, but when I found out that they didn’t cover airfare, I was devastated! I thought I wasn’t going to be able to spend the summer studying in Spain. When I found Fundly, I immediately started a campaign and within weeks had enough money to pay for a round trip ticket to Barcelona!

senior trip gofundme

My husband and I decided to skip a registry and asked our wedding guests and family members to donate to our honeymoon crowdfunding campaign instead. We were able to spend three weeks in Europe thanks to the generosity and support of our friends and family!

Over $330 Million Raised To Date

Start Raising Money For Your Trip or Adventure Today

Additional Resources for your Fundraising Success

Get 7 tips for fundraising success to help you raise more money.

7 Tips for Fundraising Success

Every crowdfunding campaign can use a little help every now and then!

Whether you need advice about shooting and uploading crowdfunding photos, writing descriptions and updates, or sharing your fundraiser with your friends and family members, we’ve got your back.

Click below to learn more about the top seven crowdfunding tips that can be used for all types of fundraising efforts and campaigns!

senior trip gofundme

10 Fundraising Examples

You’ve heard the stories about fundraisers surpassing their goal, but how often does that really happen?

The answer? More frequently than you might think! In fact, individuals and organizations often meet  and  exceed their goals when they use Fundly to set up a fundraiser and share it with their friends and family members.

Check out these ten crowdfunding campaigns that all exceeded their fundraising goals by sizable margins in just a matter of weeks!

Before your start fundraising, understand the basics with this ultimate crowdfunding guide.

Understand Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding has been used to raise money for everything from creative projects to medical costs and more!

Why is it so popular? Well, it might have something to do with the fact that a crowdfunding campaign is insanely easy to set up and share with your friends, family members, coworkers, and other peers.

See for yourself! Take a look at our Ultimate Guide to Crowdfunding and learn how you can make the most of this fundraising craze!

Raise Money for Any Cause - Start Your Fundly Fundraiser

Are we missing your fundraising platform, nonprofit service, or fundraising idea on this page?

Shoot us an email and let us know, crowdfunding resources.

  • Crowdfunding (Beginner’s Guide)
  • Success Stories

Fundraising Types:

  • How to Write a Fundraising Letters
  • How to Ask for Donations
  • Peer-to-Peer Fundraising (Nonprofit’s Guide)

Latest Posts

  • Using Your Pet Business to Fundraise: 9 Ideas to Give Back 
  • Fundraising Ideas | 150 Easy Campaigns for Any Cause
  • 30+ Standout Crowdfunding Websites [Updated for 2023]

Fundly - Fundraising For All

Fundly is dedicated to providing you with the tools you need to raise money for whatever your cause may be.

Your Name (required)

Your Email (required)

Your Message

DPS teacher raises money to help fund student trip to Washington DC

DURHAM, N.C. -- Jahara Davis, the Durham Public Schools teacher of the year, is on a mission to celebrate the achievements of her students-with a trip to Washington DC.

Davis, who is an English teacher at Hillside High School, started a GoFundMe .

The goal is to raise nearly $30,000 still needed for the trip. The money will be used to pay for hotel accommodations, a charter bus and food.

The money will also help purchase tickets for a Washington Wizards basketball game and to see the Washington Monument.

Davis said the trip would be a memorable experience for the students.

"To have this as a transitional event in our lives, to build ourselves up and to know that our high school career is ending," Aya Jackson, a senior at Hillside, said, "we have made something so beautiful in this time. And it's worth celebrating, and it's worth coming together."

The students will also visit the National Mall and African American Museum.

SEE ALSO | Durham Public Schools classified staff react to latest pay decision: 'A punch in the stomach'

Related topics.

  • DURHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS
  • WASHINGTON D.C.
  • DURHAM COUNTY NEWS

Top Stories

senior trip gofundme

3 juveniles in custody following stolen vehicle chase, shootout

senior trip gofundme

Local organization head to Raleigh to bring attention to poverty

  • 11 minutes ago

senior trip gofundme

North Carolina brother and sister heading to Hollywood

senior trip gofundme

Cumberland Co. Animal Services quarantines dogs due to risk of virus

senior trip gofundme

Garden near Raleigh aims to inspire and educate the public

Nikki Haley wins the DC Republican primary, gets 1st 2024 victory

NC's first marijuana dispensary near Asheville opens next month

Award-winning ESPN NFL reporter Chris Mortensen dies at 72

  • Search Please fill out this field.
  • Manage Your Subscription
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Sweepstakes
  • Senior Travel

9 Best Vacation Destinations for Seniors

Whether you're looking for a relaxing retreat or an active getaway, I have a resort for you.

senior trip gofundme

You're retired — and vaccinated — and it's time to treat yourself to a well-deserved and probably long-awaited vacation. With no time constraints, you can plan a stay of a few weeks, and you might appreciate the convenience of a destination resort that lets you arrive, unpack, and enjoy dining and most activities on site.

Like many retirees, you're game to try something novel or pick up a new hobby, and you want to continue (or start) focusing on your well-being and health. The right mix of relaxation and activities, opportunities for time outdoors, pampering, and fun should complete the picture. A place designed for adults might be ideal, and perhaps a (short) visit and some entertainment for the grandkids and family would work well, especially if your get-togethers have been limited over the past year.

We've searched for a few places based on these amenities, and we have suggestions for you here. We hope at least one will spark your vacation imagination and get your planning started.

Suncadia Resort: Cle Elum, Washington

Set in Washington's Cascade Mountains and the Wenatchee Washington National Forest, this picturesque resort offers rich scenery, crisp mountain air, and a variety of outdoor activities. Choose The Lodge for panoramic river and mountain views or The Inn, an elegant lodge with golf course views.

Play golf, try your hand at archery, or grab an axe and heave it at the target. (Yes, axe throwing is a popular new activity!) Hike or stroll along deer and elk trails, rent a bike, canoe, or kayak, or find your inner artist with a resort-provided acrylic painting kit or a tie-dye lesson. Begin the day with guided meditation or a full-body outdoor workout class. Fit in a spa treatment for some pampering. Should the grandkids arrive for a visit, there's a pool, stuffed bear factory, and plenty of ways to play at Suncadia.

Big Cedar Lodge: Ridgedale, Missouri

This wilderness resort in Missouri's Ozark Mountains is set on 4,600 acres of natural beauty. A wide variety of accommodations lets you choose the perfect place to stay, whether you decide on one of the three grand lodges, a cozy private log cabin, luxurious cottage, or a glamping unit at Camp Long Creek.

Five golf courses and practice facilities include the new Payne's Valley course, driving range, full-swing simulator, and the Tom Watson putting course. Sharpen your aim at the Bass Pro Shops Shooting Academy with sporting clays, American Skeet, and more. Hike, bike, take a scenic nature walk, or journey to Top of the Rock Lost Canyon on an electric cart for waterfalls and lake views. Fitness classes, exercise equipment, and a personal trainer are available. If the grandkids visit, they'll love the Kids Adventure Club and Nature Discovery Center.

Lone Mountain Ranch: Big Sky, Montana

Just 18 miles from Yellowstone National Park, the ranch is set in the Montana Rockies about 40 minutes from Bozeman Airport. Stay in one of 27 historic log cabins, ranging from one to six bedrooms, each individually named and offering wood stoves, cozy rustic furnishings, full baths, forested settings, and stunning views.

In true ranch style, there's horseback riding, with backcountry trails and experienced wranglers to ensure a memorable experience for riders of all levels and ages as well as naturalist guided hikes, mountain biking, and fly fishing, for first-timers or seasoned anglers. Paddle a canoe or kayak or spend a day floating down the Madison River in a tube. Take an excursion to Yellowstone National Park, curated by an experienced guide. Start your day with an outdoor yoga class, and then have some fun with archery or axe throwing. Adventure programs for youth are available as well.

Mission Point: Mackinac Island, Michigan

This waterfront resort boasts the longest lakeshore on the island, and guests can stay in the Main Lodge or the more secluded Straits Lodge with dog-friendly rooms. Guest rooms and suites in both lodges feature comfortable furnishings, and the Bois Blanc Suite offers 1,500 square feet, full kitchen, and laundry facilities — ideal for longer stays.

Relax on the expansive lawn in an Adirondack chair, stroll downtown for shopping (Don't miss the famous Mackinac Island fudge), play golf, swim in the pool, or soak in a hot tub to your heart's content. Treat yourself to an afternoon at the Lakeside Spa and Salon. The vintage feel of the island, a National Historic Landmark, is enhanced by its ban on motor vehicles as well as its historic architecture and relaxed pace. Take a horse-drawn carriage ride to learn about the island, and you'll be transported to another era.

Montage Palmetto Bluff: Bluffton, South Carolina

Guest rooms, suites, cottages, and residences are available in the 20,000-acre community that encompasses a nature preserve, two picturesque villages, a riverfront marina, and Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, making it easy to choose accommodations for your visit. In fact, should you fall in love with the Lowcountry lifestyle, moss-draped oaks, and natural beauty, you might make a permanent home there as many visitors have over the years.

Play golf at the May River Golf Club, kayak, canoe, or take a boat tour and spot dolphins cruising along with you. Sporting clay stations wind through a 40-acre forest for shooting practice and games. Tennis, bocce ball, and pickleball courts are offered for both play and instruction, if you want to improve your skills. Stroll or take a leisurely bike ride among tree-lined paths. When the family comes to visit, the youngsters will enjoy Paintbox for games, crafts, movies, scavenger hunts, nature walks, and outdoor activities, and they'll thrill to the treehouses as they climb to the observation deck.

Cavallo Point: Sausalito, California

Located at the foot of San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge and set among 75,000 acres in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Cavallo Point offers stunning scenery, world class dining, and a variety of experiences. Historical architecture blends with contemporary design, giving guests the choice of historic or contemporary-style rooms, many boasting views of San Francisco Bay, in a serene setting just minutes from the city.

Hike, bike, run, or walk during the day, and spend the evening around an outdoor fire pit. Take a guided hike, yoga class, sunset cruise, or an exciting Seaplane or Helicopter tour. At the Healing Arts Center & Spa, guests can choose from a variety of wellness experiences. Cooking classes and demonstrations are offered, and the Cavallo Point Oyster Experience features chef Tony Adams shucking and grilling fresh oysters to be served with expertly paired wine and cocktails. Camp Cavallo for Kids keeps them busy with nature hikes, art, games, and historic exploration.

Arizona Biltmore: Phoenix, Arizona

If classic luxury is the vacation style you're after, the newly renovated Arizona Biltmore , a Waldorf Astoria Resort, should be high on your list. Built in 1929, the 39-acre estate at the base of the Phoenix Mountain Preserve is reminiscent of old Hollywood glamour with 701 accommodations (including 36 suites, 28 cottages, 54 villas) and Frank Lloyd Wright-influenced design.

Closed for more than a year for major renovations, the resort reopened in May 2021 with new restaurants, a day spa, and seven pools including an adults-only pool and family pool with a 65-foot water slide. Play golf, tennis, or pickleball or take advantage of concierge arrangements for hot air balloon rides, stargazing, biking, hiking, and more. At Tierra Luna Spa, select from a range of curated therapies or join a yoga or aqua aerobics class. Be sure to order a Tequila Sunrise at the Wright Bar where the cocktail was invented.

Bungalows Key Largo: Key Largo, Florida

This all-inclusive, adults-only resort is a tropical oasis where you can choose from a variety of activities or just relax in a poolside cabana. Stay in a waterfront bungalow or one set among the lush gardens with a soaking tub and outdoor shower.

Water sports include kayaking, paddleboarding, snorkeling, and swimming in the protected bay where you might see manatees and dolphins glide by. Don your snorkel gear to float among colorful native fish. Join a beachfront yoga class or do your own workout at the full-service Fitness Tiki Hut and then head to the Zen Garden Spa's steam room, sauna, or outdoor treatment cabana for a soothing massage. Find your spot at the Sunset Pool, and sip frozen drinks while you work on your tan. Watch the sun go down on a catamaran cruise with a cocktail in hand.

Rancho Bernardo Inn: San Diego, California

Guest rooms, suites, and specially designed accessible rooms are set among lush gardens for a secluded feel. Private patios and balconies offer garden, spa, or golf course views. The resort 's 250 acres and San Diego's perfect weather provide opportunities for al fresco dining and outdoor activities.

Play golf at the pristine 18-hole course, relax by the pool, or have fun with lawn games like cornhole, croquet, or oversized Connect Four. Tour the Chef's Garden to see the source of the restaurants' fresh ingredients or get some ideas for your home garden. Spend some time at the spa, take a sunset yoga class, or arrange a private session. You can interact with a trained bird of prey with a private falconry encounter. If young ones visit, they'll love the "dive-in movies" at the family pool, the well-equipped game room, and San Diego's nearby attractions.

The Atlantic

GoFundMe Is a Health-Care Utility Now

G oFundMe started as a crowdfunding site for underwriting “ ideas and dreams ,” and, as GoFundMe’s co-founders, Andrew Ballester and Brad Damphousse, once put it, “ for life’s important moments .” In the early years, it funded honeymoon trips, graduation gifts, and church missions to overseas hospitals in need. Now GoFundMe has become a go-to for patients trying to escape medical-billing nightmares.

One study found that, in 2020, the number of U.S. campaigns related to medical causes—about 200,000—was 25 times higher than the number of such campaigns on the site in 2011. More than 500 campaigns are currently dedicated to asking for financial help for treating people, mostly kids, with spinal muscular atrophy, a neurodegenerative genetic condition. The recently approved gene therapy for young children with the condition, by the drugmaker Novartis, costs about $2.1 million for the single-dose treatment.

Perhaps the most damning aspect of all this is that paying for expensive care with crowdfunding is no longer seen as unusual; instead, it is being normalized as part of the health system, like getting blood work done or waiting on hold for an appointment. Need a heart transplant? Start a GoFundMe in order to get on the waiting list . Resorting to GoFundMe when faced with bills has become so accepted that in some cases, patient advocates and hospital financial-aid officers recommend crowdfunding as an alternative to being sent to collections. My inbox and the Bill of the Month project (run by KFF Health News , where I am the senior contributing editor, and NPR) have become a kind of complaint desk for people who can’t afford their medical bills, and I’m gobsmacked every time a patient tells me they’ve been advised that GoFundMe is their best option.

GoFundMe itself acknowledges the reliance of patients on the company’s platform. Ari Romio, a spokesperson for the company, said that “medical expenses” is the most common category of fundraiser it hosts. But she declined to say what proportion of campaigns are medically related, because people starting a campaign self-select the purpose of the fundraiser. They might choose the family or travel category, she said, if a child needs to go to a different state for treatment, for example. So although the company has estimated in the past that a third of the funds raised on the site are medical-related, that could be an undercount.  

Andrea Coy of Fort Collins, Colorado, turned to GoFundMe in 2021 as a last resort after an air-ambulance bill tipped her family’s finances over the edge. Her son Sebastian, then a year old, had been admitted with pneumonia to a local hospital and then transferred urgently by helicopter to Children’s Hospital Colorado in Denver when his oxygen levels dropped. REACH, the air-ambulance transport company that contracted with the hospital, was out-of-network, and billed the family nearly $65,000 for the ride—more than $28,000 of which Coy’s insurer, UnitedHealthcare, paid. Even so, REACH continued sending Coy’s family bills for the remaining balance, and later began regularly calling Coy to try to collect, enough that she felt the company was harassing her, she told me.

Coy made multiple calls to her company’s human-resources department, REACH, and UnitedHealthcare for help in resolving the case. She applied to various patient groups for financial assistance and was rejected again and again. Eventually, she got the outstanding balance knocked down to $5,000, but even that was more than she could afford on top of the $12,000 the family owed out-of-pocket for Sebastian’s actual treatment.

That’s when a hospital financial-aid officer suggested she try GoFundMe. But, as Coy said, “I’m not an influencer or anything like that,” so the appeal “offered only a bit of temporary relief—we’ve hit a wall.” They have gone deep into debt and hope to climb out of it.

In an emailed response, a spokesperson for REACH noted that they could not comment on a specific case because of patient-privacy laws, but that, if the ride occurred before the federal No Surprises Act went into effect, the bill was legal. (That act protects patients from such air-ambulance bills and has been in force since January 1, 2022.) But the spokesperson added, “If a patient is experiencing a financial hardship, we work with them to find equitable solutions.” What is “equitable”—and whether that includes seeking an additional $5,000, beyond a $28,000 insurance payment, for transporting a sick child—is subjective, of course.  

In many respects, research shows, GoFundMe tends to perpetuate socioeconomic disparities that already affect medical bills and debt. If you are famous or part of a circle of friends who have money, your crowdfunding campaign is much more likely to succeed than if you are middle-class or poor. When the family of the former Olympic gymnast Mary Lou Retton started a fundraiser on another platform, *spotfund, for her recent ICU stay at a time when she was uninsured, nearly $460,000 in donations quickly poured in. (Although Retton said she could not get affordable insurance because of her preexisting condition—dozens of orthopedic surgeries—the Affordable Care Act prohibits insurers from refusing to cover people because of their prior medical histories, or charging them abnormally high rates.)

And given the price of American health care, even the most robust fundraising can feel inadequate. If you’re looking for help to pay for a $2 million drug, even tens of thousands is a drop in the bucket.

Rob Solomon, the CEO of the platform from 2015 to March 2020 , who was named one of Time magazine’s 50 most influential people in health care, has said that he “would love nothing more than for ‘medical’ to not be a category on GoFundMe.” He told KFF Health News that “the system is terrible. It needs to be rethought and retooled. Politicians are failing us. Health-care companies are failing us. Those are realities.”

But despite the noble ambitions of its original vision, GoFundMe is a privately held for-profit company. In 2015, the founders sold a majority stake to a venture-capital investor group led by Accel Partners and Technology Crossover Ventures. And when I asked about medical bills being the most common reason for GoFundMe campaigns, the company’s current CEO, Tim Cadogan, sounded less critical than his predecessor of the health system, whose high prices and financial cruelty have arguably made his company famous.

“Our mission is to help people help each other,” he said. “We are not, and cannot, be the solution to complex, systemic problems that are best solved with meaningful public policy.”

And that’s true. Despite the site’s hopeful vibe, most campaigns generate only a small fraction of the money owed. Almost all of the medical-expense campaigns in the U.S. fell short of their goal, and some raised little or no money, a 2017 study from the University of Washington found. The average campaign made it to just about 40 percent of the target amount, and there is evidence that yields—measured as a percent of their target—have gotten worse over time.  

Carol Justice, a recently retired civil servant and a longtime union member in Portland, Oregon, turned to GoFundMe after she faced a mammoth unexpected bill for bariatric surgery at Oregon Health & Science University.

She had expected to pay about $1,000, the amount left in her deductible, after her health insurer paid the $15,000 cap on the surgery. She didn’t understand that a cap meant she would have to pay the difference if the hospital, which was in-network, charged more.

And it did, leaving her with a bill of $18,000, to be paid all at once or in monthly $1,400 increments. “That’s more than my mortgage,” she told me. “I was facing filing for bankruptcy or losing my car and my house.” She made numerous calls to the hospital’s financial-aid office, many unanswered, and received only unfulfilled promises that “we’ll get back to you” about whether she qualified for help.

So, Justice said, her health coach—provided by the city of Portland—suggested starting a GoFundMe. The campaign yielded about $1,400, just one monthly payment, including $200 from the health coach and $100 from an aunt. She dutifully sent each donation directly to the hospital.

In an emailed response, the hospital system said that it couldn’t discuss individual cases, but that “financial assistance information is readily available for patients, and can be accessed at any point in a patient’s journey with OHSU. Starting in early 2019, OHSU worked to remove barriers for patients most in need by providing a quick screening for financial assistance that, if a certain threshold is met, awards financial assistance without requiring an application process.”

This particular tale has a happy-ish ending. In desperation, Justice went to the hospital and planted herself in the financial-aid office, where she had a tearful meeting with a hospital representative who determined that—given her finances—she wouldn’t have to pay the bill.

“I’d been through the gamut and just cried,” she said. She told me that she would like to repay the people who donated to her GoFundMe. But so far, the hospital won’t give the $1,400 back.

GoFundMe Is a Health-Care Utility Now

IMAGES

  1. Fundraiser by Denise Mays : Senior trip

    senior trip gofundme

  2. Fundraiser by Tiffany Calender : Breanna's Senior Trip to DC

    senior trip gofundme

  3. Fundraiser by Moffat Schools : Class Of 2023 Senior Trip

    senior trip gofundme

  4. Fundraiser by Tanny Leo : Senior Trip!

    senior trip gofundme

  5. Fundraiser by Tom Sagers : Senior Trip

    senior trip gofundme

  6. Janet Goeske Foundation

    senior trip gofundme

COMMENTS

  1. Fundraiser by Nate Lucia : Senior Trip GoFundMe

    Dear friends and family, the senior class of 2022 needs your help! We have lost of fun events planned and we would love to see you there. However, as a class we are asking if you would be willing to support us financially! Every penny counts! Thank you so much for your love and support and stay tuned for more information on upcoming events!

  2. Fundraiser by Vicki Short : Hannah's Senior Trip

    Vicki Short is organizing this fundraiser. I am raising money for my daughter Hannah's senior trip, which is a cruise. She will be graduating in May 2024. Hannah as worked really hard all through school and I would like nothing more than for her to be able to celebrate with her classmates. As her mother I am very proud of how she has grown up ...

  3. Fundraiser by Christian Frias : Help us get a Senior trip

    2 d. Become an early supporter. Your donation matters. Christian Frias is organizing this fundraiser. January 25th, 2024. Education. Hello everyone, I understand we all have our problems and are probably dealing with something. But do you remember having your senior trip?

  4. High School Grads Out Thousands After 'Senior Trip' Site ...

    Parent Iris Aguilar says she thought she did her due diligence researching reviews for the Senior Grad Trips website before she booked the trip to Cancun, Mexico. ... the GoFundMe campaign had ...

  5. Help Center

    Help Center - GoFundMe How can we help? is a webpage that provides answers to common questions and issues related to crowdfunding on GoFundMe. You can learn how to start, manage, or donate to a fundraiser, request a refund, contact customer care, and more. Visit the Help Center to find the information you need or browse the topics and categories.

  6. FundMyTravel

    It's simple to start your fundraising page - tell people your story and get them excited about your trip! Spread the Word. Easily share your campaign on through built-in social media and email buttons. Get Funded. Donations are automatically sent to your account - no waiting till you hit your full goal.

  7. 18 Out-of-the-Box Fundraising Ideas for Trips and Adventures

    18 Fundraising Ideas for Trips and Adventures. Raise Money For Airfare and Travel Expenses. Raise Money For Accommodations. Raise Money For Adventurous Experiences. Raise Money With Crowdfunding. Start Your Free Fundraiser for Trips and Adventures. #1 Fundraising Idea. More Fundraising Ideas. Getting Started.

  8. Gofundme: trying to raise money for my senior trip! : r/gofundme

    138K subscribers in the gofundme community. GoFundMe allows regular people to accomplish extraordinary things with easy-to-use personal donation…

  9. 14 Best Senior-friendly Travel Groups

    YMT Vacations. In business since 1967, YMT Vacations designs all-inclusive trips with mature travelers in mind. Prices cover hotel accommodations, guided sightseeing tours, baggage handling, and ...

  10. Murdered Ohio teen was in Myrtle Beach area for senior trip

    Eighteen-year-old Natalie Martin was in Myrtle Beach for a senior trip when she was killed in her hotel room. Another Ohio teenager has been charged with her murder. GoFundMe. An Ohio teenager ...

  11. Hillside High School DC Trip

    Davis, who is an English teacher at Hillside High School, started a GoFundMe. The goal is to raise nearly $30,000 still needed for the trip. The money will be used to pay for hotel accommodations ...

  12. Fundraiser by Axel Ortega : Senior trip!

    Hello, my name is Axel, I am fundraising for my senior trip! I am a hard working student whose grades consis… Axel Ortega needs your support for Senior trip! Hello, my name is Axel, I am fundraising for my senior trip! ... GoFundMe protects your donation. We guarantee you a full refund for up to a year in the rare case that fraud occurs. See ...

  13. Chase's Senior Trip 2019 GoFundME CrowdFunding Exposure Campaign

    Chase's Senior Trip 2019 GoFundME CrowdFunding Exposure Campaign. Gaile Curtis October 9, 2018

  14. WSSU senior uses GoFundMe to help pay for medical trip to Portugal

    Breanna Dixon, a senior biology major and captain of the varsity cheerleading team at Winston-Salem State University, has set up a GoFundMe campaign to raise money to travel to Portugal this ...

  15. Fundraiser by Scarlet Lawrence : Senior Trip for Cory

    Hello, we are raising money to send Cory on his senior trip. Please help if you can. Thank you… Scarlet Lawrence needs your support for Senior Trip for Cory

  16. 9 Best Vacation Destinations for Seniors and Retirees

    Cavallo Point: Sausalito, California. Courtesy of Cavallo Point. Located at the foot of San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge and set among 75,000 acres in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area ...

  17. Help me go on a Senior Trip : r/gofundme

    Help me go on a Senior Trip I am doing a gofundme to raise the money that I need to go on an amazing European tour in June. I really could use some help getting the money, and if you want to donate, anything will help.

  18. gofundme.com/josh-senior-trip We are trying to raise money for his

    Watch. Home. Live

  19. Fundraiser by John Coffey : me go to DC for senior trip.

    Rene Floetke. $20. 28 d. John Coffey is organizing this fundraiser. Hi my name is John and my school wants my class's senior trip to be in DC but neither me nor family have the funds to pay for me. I have reduced the amount I need for the trip. The money will go to the trip and money for 1 meal a day that is not included.

  20. National Lampoon's Senior Trip

    National Lampoon's Senior Trip is a 1995 American comedy film for the National Lampoon magazine franchise, directed by Kelly Makin. It marked Jeremy Renner's film debut. Plot. At Fairmount High School, Ohio in the suburbs of Dayton, a group of teenage students begin their school day with an assembly featuring a band called "High on Life". As ...

  21. [Wishes] Senior Class Trip : r/gofundme

    136K subscribers in the gofundme community. GoFundMe allows regular people to accomplish extraordinary things with easy-to-use personal donation…

  22. Fundraiser by Aarlet Hermosillo : Senior Incentive Field Trip

    My name is Aarlet Hermosillo, a senior student and a member of Deming High School MESA program. I am thrilled to inform you that I have been selected to represent the New Mexico Southwest region and the DHS MESA (Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement) program on an exciting field trip to Charleston, South Carolina, scheduled to take place from April 2nd to April 5th, 2024.

  23. GoFundMe Is a Health-Care Utility Now

    One study found that, in 2020, the number of U.S. campaigns related to medical causes—about 200,000—was 25 times higher than the number of such campaigns on the site in 2011. More than 500 ...

  24. Fundraiser by Savannah Kapfhammer : Spring Break Senior Trip ...

    See our GoFundMe Giving Guarantee. Savannah Kapfhammer is organizing this fundraiser. Created February 19th, 2024. Travel. Hello! My name is Savannah and I'm trying to fundraise a Spring Break Trip to Orlando Universal this upcoming March! As a member and captain of the band, and a full-time student, I'm not able to work a full-time or part ...