About Us
Discover • Experience • Learn
At TripU Tours, we believe some of life’s most meaningful learning experiences happen outside the classroom. We specialize in customized educational student tours designed to help middle school and high school students explore new places, strengthen connections, and create lifelong memories through travel.
Founded by an educator and built with teachers in mind, TripU Tours helps schools plan affordable, flexible, and stress-free educational trips to destinations like Washington, D.C., New York City, Boston, and beyond.
From transportation and lodging to meals, attractions, and personalized support, our team handles every detail so educators can focus on what matters most — creating meaningful experiences for their students.
Our Mission
TripU Tours was created with one simple belief:
Educational travel should be accessible, flexible, and impactful for every student.
We understand that every school, teacher, and student group is different. That’s why we build customized tours around each school’s goals, budget, schedule, and educational objectives — not fixed travel templates.
Our mission is to help educators create unforgettable learning experiences while making the planning process easier, more affordable, and more rewarding for students and teachers alike.
Why Schools Choose TripU
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TripU was built by educators who understand the challenges of planning student travel. Our team works closely with trip leaders every step of the way to simplify the planning process and provide personalized support from start to finish.
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Unlike many large tour operators with fixed travel schedules, TripU builds trips around your school calendar and preferred travel dates.
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Trips that switch to TripU save travelers an average of 20%, helping make educational travel more affordable for more students and families.
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Every itinerary is personalized to fit your group’s goals, interests, curriculum, and travel style.
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Each group works with a dedicated TripU coordinator to ensure every detail is organized and every question is answered throughout the planning process.
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Student safety is always a top priority. TripU partners with trusted transportation providers, hotels, and attractions while providing ongoing support throughout the entire travel experience.
Meet Our Founder
Otto Verhulst
Founder & CEO, TripU Tours
For more than 20 years, Otto Verhulst taught middle school Spanish in the Dallas–Fort Worth area while also serving as the group leader for his schools’ educational trips to destinations like Washington, D.C. and New York City.
Over the course of his teaching career, Otto personally led more than 50 student trips involving thousands of students. Through those experiences, he gained firsthand knowledge of what teachers, students, and families truly need from an educational travel company. While organizing and leading trips, he saw an opportunity to create a company that could be more flexible, teacher-friendly, and focused on delivering a better overall experience for students.
Driven by a lifelong passion for travel and education, Otto founded TripU Tours in 2022 with the belief that some of life’s greatest learning opportunities happen outside the classroom. He believes educational travel gives students the chance to build confidence, expand their perspectives, and create experiences that stay with them long after the trip ends.
Today, TripU Tours continues to help schools create customized educational tours designed around each school’s goals, schedule, and students — while making the planning process easier and more affordable for educators every step of the way.
“The best learning experiences don’t just happen in a classroom — they happen when students experience the world firsthand.”
— Otto Verhulst, Founder & CEO
What Makes TripU
Different
At TripU Tours, we believe educational travel should feel personal.
We know teachers are balancing busy schedules, students have different needs, and families want affordable opportunities for their children to travel and learn. That’s why we focus on building strong relationships with our trip leaders and providing a higher level of flexibility and support than many larger travel providers.
Our goal is not simply to plan trips — it’s to create experiences students will remember for the rest of their lives.
Whether students are walking through the monuments of Washington, D.C., exploring the museums of New York City, or discovering history, culture, science, and leadership through travel, TripU Tours helps bring learning to life.
Start Planning Your Trip
Whether you are beginning to explore educational travel for your school or looking for a better experience for your current trip program, TripU Tours is ready to help.
Ready to get started?
Request a Free Quote
View a Sample Itinerary
Speak with a TripU Coordinator