Frequently Asked Questions

Booking a trip with Cross Cultural Discovery is easy! Simply contact us to begin the process of designing your cultural experience, select your desired travel dates, and submit the paperwork and required documentation to complete your booking.

At Cross Cultural Discovery, we prepare cultural immersion experiences for individuals as well as small groups. We typically do not run programs for groups larger than 10, but if your group is larger, please contact us to see if we are able to prepare a program that fits your needs. Whether it's a group of students with their teacher, an individual interested in improving his/her language skills, or a family wanting to have a unique cultural experience together, we handle all of the logistics to ensure a smooth and enjoyable cultural discovery. We will be able to finalize a price once we know the number of people participating in the program, as some of the expenses can be shared if more than one person is traveling (such as transportation).

Incoming and outgoing flights are not included in our cultural immersion programs and must be purchased by the traveler. Please confirm your travel dates with us and ensure that your flight itinerary arrives to and departs from the Juan Santamaría International Airport in San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO) for Costa Rica programs OR the Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) for USA programs before purchasing your flights. All arriving and departing flights should take place on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday and can arrive or depart at any time on those days. Please send us a copy of your flight itinerary as soon as you book your flights so we can ensure that private transportation is reserved for you. 

Cross Cultural Discovery offers flexible cancellation policies for most of our cultural immersion programs. Because each program is customized, there may be experiences or services that we have to prepay and which may not be refundable. Please refer to  your personalized itinerary for additional details.

Our host families and their homes have been thoroughly vetted by us, going through a rigorous selection process and background check. Each home offers you a private bedroom and wifi, and the host family provides breakfast and dinner daily while you are staying in their home. Please be sure to let us know about any dietary restrictions on your cultural travel application. Remember that this experience is about discovering a new culture and a different way of living and seeing the world. Please be respectful of the family's routines and customs, as they will most likely be different than your own. Seek to understand and lean into your curiosity - don't be afraid to ask questions, but please remember to do so respectfully.

Dare to Be Bold: Traveling to a different country and immersing yourself in a different culture and language is courageous and bold, so be proud of yourself for considering this opportunity! We strongly believe that these “out-of-our-comfort-zone-experiences” are the ones that shape our lives in incredibly meaningful ways and can even change the entire trajectory of our futures. Because of that, we take these programs very seriously! Our request is that you enter the cultural immersion experience full of curiosity, with an open-mind and a desire to learn from others. Ask lots of questions and try out your language skills, even if the words flow out a little more awkwardly than you would like. It is normal to feel shy or unsure of yourself in new situations - we have all experienced that! We know that an 8-day immersion goes by quickly, and we want you to make the most of this amazing experience and all that it has to offer your current and future self. 

Communication and Feedback is Key: We carefully design each personalized program and plan every part of your itinerary to make it the very best experience possible for you. In order to provide open lines of communication and establish expectations for everyone involved in the program, we provide a pre-travel orientation meeting, and we also check in with you several times during your program to ensure that everything is meeting or exceeding your expectations. If there is something we can do to improve your experience, please let us know before or during your program so we can make it right! Also, all of our participants receive a post-travel survey at the end of their cultural program. We ask that you please provide as much feedback as possible on that survey and be honest with every aspect of your experience to help us continue to provide high-quality service and life-changing programs for future travelers.  

Yes!  We understand that every traveler is unique. That's why we offer tailor-made travel experiences designed just for you. Whether you're traveling by yourself or with a small group, our team works closely with you to craft the perfect itinerary that aligns with your interests and preferences. We have a base program that we offer, but you have the ability to add or subtract from the program to make the experience exactly what you're looking for.

At Cross Cultural Discovery, we prioritize your safety and peace of mind while traveling. That's why we offer travel insurance options to protect you against unforeseen circumstances. Whether it's trip cancellations, medical emergencies, or lost luggage, our insurance plans provide you with the security you need to enjoy your travels without worry.

One of the most interesting parts of traveling to a new place is trying the typical food of the region. You will have the opportunity to try a variety of local foods as you share with your host family during breakfast and dinner, and lunch will also be provided while you are out enjoying your cultural activities during the day. While all three main meals are provided, you are responsible for purchasing additional snacks or drinks if you choose to do so. If you have any type of dietary restrictions, please be sure to note them on the program application so we can be sure to accommodate them.