Academic Experiences Abroad (AEA)Reviews of aeastudyabroad.com

I participated in Academic Experiences Abroad’s August 2026 faculty-led program in Phuket, Thailand, and the experience exceeded my expectations. What impressed me most was how much depth and variety AEA was able to incorporate into a relatively short program. We experienced Thai culture through visits to Old Phuket Town and Wat Chalong, meditation, beach yoga and sound-bowl meditation, Muay Thai, a Thai cooking class, the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary, the Phi Phi Islands, and cultural performances. I came away feeling that I had experienced aspects of Thailand that I likely would not have encountered—or understood as deeply—if I had planned the same amount of time abroad independently. Our guide, Patrick, was one of the greatest strengths of the program. He was extraordinarily knowledgeable, patient, humble, attentive, and kind. He answered what sometimes felt like endless questions about Thai culture and everyday life, shared his own experiences with us, and took genuine pride in helping us understand his country rather than simply showing us tourist attractions. He was also an impeccable listener and remained remarkably calm and compassionate under pressure. I always felt that he genuinely cared about our safety and well-being. The meditation program was particularly meaningful to me. It created an environment where I could be vulnerable and reflective and helped me look at my everyday experiences from a different perspective. I still remember our meditation instructor, Toby, describing our slow walking meditation as “kissing the earth.” His lessons about mindfulness, our thoughts, and how we respond to our experiences are things I intend to take home with me. The logistics were also handled very well. Our drivers were consistently punctual, safe, friendly, and thoughtful, and the itinerary balanced structured programming with enough independent time to explore Phuket on our own. There are individual activities I loved—especially meditation, yoga, Muay Thai, and visiting the elephants—but what made the program exceptional was how those experiences worked together. I did not feel as though I had simply visited Thailand; I felt that I had been given an opportunity to learn from the people, culture, traditions, and perspectives around me. I am leaving with memories, knowledge, and lessons that I expect to carry with me long after I return home.

Patrick was able to add to the class material with his knowledge about sustainable tourism. He often enhanced excursions or daily experiences by sharing restaurant recommendations, ocean and street safety reminders, and fun facts about the culture and sights that we visited. He was always positive and friendly, encouraging when the group was tired and firm when certain members wanted to split up or do something dangerous. I got to see and every major thing on my wishlist and itinerary included in the trip, besides just the one: Simon Cabaret. Because of the size of our group (10+) and varying skill levels, some activities moved slowly or felt rushed: one being the island hopping, which was cut short due to two members' seasickness and disappointed the rest. An alternate option for return, or allowing time for the sick members to recover between each sight would have been preferred. Another being the visit to the temples and big Buddha, which was time limited due to closely scheduled meetings and a late start. The driver Martin was incredibly friendly and helpful, offering waters, opening doors and moving seats at every arrival, and making conversation during the rides. He drove smoothly and safely, allowing me to fall asleep even when I am typically motion sickness prone. The hotel did not exchange clean towels often enough, once every three days or so, and they would get unusable. I was also interrupted by a knocking and a phone call while sleeping in my room in the late afternoon for multiple staff members to enter with a later and conduct a fire alarm test. We were I interrupted frequently by the pool and at breakfast to verify our room number.

The tour guides were wonderful and so helpful. The activities were so much fun, although i would have loved more hands on learning experiences or volunteer experiences. MEXICO 2026 - Jessica O

I had an absolutely amazing time in Indonesia. It was the most beautiful place I’ve ever visited and nothing else in the world was like it. It didn’t even feel like a class, even though we learned a lot it was so immersive I didn’t feel like I was taking a class. The best experience ever. -Marley A

I think being able to do a study abroad is a fantastic experience in itself, but getting lucky with a group like I did makes the trip TEN TIMES better. Bonding over the same “awe” moments, getting stuck in the rain in the middle of who knows where, trying to pass the time with random card games, etc really creates that picture perfect experience. Going on all the tours and being able to talk about such a once and a lifetime experience with people you just met but have such a strong friendship with is truly indescribable.

Everyone was so nice

The 3 weeks I spent with my host family were amazing. It felt like vacation—but I got to improve my Japanese through real life situations AND make lifelong connections?! My host family was so fun to be around—we shared lots of laughs, and they were always supportive and helpful. The program managers also checked in frequently. The school was also a blast, and I made a bunch of friends (some of whom I even saw outside of school). I wouldn’t hesitate to do this again.

Our university has been working with AEA for at least 4 years now. We have had consistently exceptional experiences working with them. It is at a point now where our faculty members almost exclusively work with AEA, even after getting multiple proposals from other providers. What sets AEA apart from other providers is their care for their customers (universities, faculty, etc.) and their innovative and affordable program design. AEA’s team goes above and beyond to ensure that the programs they create are affordable for students, but not at the expense of a high-impact learning experience. AEA also has a stellar team. Catherine, Hanna, and Jamie go above and beyond every single time.