Dillon
Group think at its finest
First let me say I have taken 15 overseas tours with Road Scholar. All were very good with the exception of 2. My issue is not with the programs themselves but with Road Scholar's lack of a clear policy requesting that participants refrain from discussing politics in a group setting. Because RS appeals to academic types the clientele skews ultra liberal, which is fine. What is not ok is when individual participants who have different views are ostracized. That situation has happened on more than one occasion on RS tours but it won't happen again to me as I will not travel with RS ever again. As I said, this is after 15 tours and spending nearly$100,000 with this company. There are too many other travel companies to choose from where participants have enough common sense to not discuss sensitive topics with a group of strangers. There's a very good reason for that old adage: "never discuss politics, sex or religion."
Response from Road ScholarAug 21, 2026
Dear Dillon, I am responding on behalf of Road Scholar. Fostering meaningful conversations is central to Road Scholar’s mission of lifelong learning, and civil discourse—even on challenging topics like politics—can be enriching for everyone. While participants are welcome to explore any topics of interest, we ask that all conversations be grounded in respect and openness. Our group leaders are prepared to support respectful, inclusive discussions when political subjects naturally arise, and they are also instructed to step in and redirect the conversation if the atmosphere becomes uncomfortable or discourteous. We are sorry to hear this has not been your experience. We continually review how our group leaders set behavioral expectations at welcome meetings, and we will consider whether there is a better way to establish boundaries around respectful and constructive dialogue during designated program time. We thank you for sharing your feedback. Sincerely, Road Scholar