After amazing YSA experiences in 2023 and 2024, we are thrilled to announce our YSA trip for 2025!

On this unique and exciting 6-country tour, designed just for LDS Young Singles, you’ll experience the thrill of coming to know the cultures of Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Slovenia, and Italy!

We will start in Krakow, Poland and end in Venice, Italy with additional stays in Budapest, Hungary and two amazing cities in Croatia. 

Traveling by private coach, we will enjoy the convenience and fun of personalized experiences, opportunities to get to know other participants in the group and to be taught by one of the most loved YSA speakers and teachers in the church.

This experience is designed to give you the opportunity to travel through Europe with other young single adults, make new friends, enjoy exciting group experiences and have your testimony strengthened all at once.

This experience is created primarily for LDS young singles between the ages of 20 and 32. If you are outside this age range you may still be able to participate, but please reach out to us before applying.

Ryan and Angie Eggett love being with the young adults of the church! Ryan worked as an institute teacher for 21 years, and was recently released after 22 years as an MTC choir director where he led over 100,000 missionaries. He loves to discuss all things music, dating, young adults, and the gospel. He has presented frequently on these topics at BYU Education Week over the past 15 years. He is also the co-creator and host of the popular podcast “The Art of Dating, with Ryan Eggett”, and soon to be released podcast “The Young Adult Survival Guide”. For the past 5 years Ryan has been serving on the committee to create a new hymn book for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Jill Knapp, and her late husband, Stan, spent much of their married lives teaching and interacting with young adults. Together they led groups of young adults through Europe--as study abroad directors for BYU--where they created life-long memories and relationships they cherish. Jill now honors Stan's legacy as she takes the reigns alone, drawing upon her 30 years of BYU geography teaching experience and 5 years of owning her own travel business. Jill loves the young adults of the church and feels blessed to be able to share her love of Europe with you!

The Knapp's are the parents of 5 children and 10 grandchildren and reside in Mapleton, Utah. Jill is thrilled to be joined by the Eggetts for this amazing and exciting experience!

"My European encounter trip exceeded all my expectations! I absolutely loved the variety of places we got to stay in, from bustling cities to charming little towns. Surprisingly, even the smaller cities that didn't seem extravagant at first ended up being my very favorites. The rich culture, friendly locals, and unique experiences in each location were truly unforgettable. Moreover, the trip was very affordable, making it accessible for many travelers. This experience was so amazing that I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a memorable adventure. I am looking forward to booking another incredible journey next year!"   - Kaitlyn B.

"The part that I don’t love about travel is all the planning, and that’s exactly why I loved booking with LDS Group Travel with Jill Knapp. It was well-planned, very organized and an overall unforgettable experience. I loved the opportunity we had to sign up for optional activities, as it gave me the chance to participate in things I might not have signed up for on my own. I also felt like we had a great balance of scheduled and free time, and that I was able to see and do all that I wanted. Jill and Cassie were helpful in answering all of our questions pre trip, and were always available to us while we were abroad. This trip was everything I wanted it to be and more; I would 100% go on any trip Jill Knapp plans."     - Michaela K.

"This trip was a perfect way to satisfy the itch to travel and meet new people at the same time! Jill and Cassie planned it out so well. Didn't have to worry much about planning the trip. Traveling around on a charter bus was amazing! The activities they planned were excellent, but never compulsory. They allowed for a lot of freedom, which is important to me. Great two weeks overall!!"     - Derek L.

"I had a goal to travel throughout Europe but was overwhelmed and didn’t know where to start or how to plan a trip. Thankfully, I came across the European Encounter trip for summer 2024. I loved that everything was planned out and I just had to show up! There was variety in the cities and places we visited and the activities we participated in. It was obvious that there was lots of intentional planning of the trip behind the scenes. And it was fun to meet and travel with YSA from all over the country. I had a blast and would highly recommend this experience. I am looking forward to participating in future trips!"    - Miah H.

"The 2024 European Encounter was a total blast. It was crazy not only how much we were able to see but how many friends were made through the course of just two weeks. It was very easy and convenient to book with hotels, transportation between our locations, and activities booked for us and for the most part included in the price. There was also the perfect balance between structure and freedom of our day to day plans, where some must-sees were arranged for us far in advance with room for spontaneous adventures peppered in. I can’t recommend it enough. It is such an amazing experience to travel through some of the most amazing places in the world with some of the most amazing people."    - Hunter G.

"This experience blew me away! I didn’t know what to expect going into this journey, but I was pleasantly surprised with how amazing and unique the whole experience was! It was so much fun and reminded me a lot of my study abroad. You get to experience so many cool things off the beaten path that you’d never know about traveling on your own. Some of my favorites were glamping in the Dolomites and the pedal boats in Prague! This tour was organized so beautifully and I loved that I never had to worry about anything. I knew everything was organized and anything such as tickets were already booked for us. It made traveling Europe so easy and way more enjoyable then if you were doing it all yourself. Not only was it easy, you get to experience Europe with people your own age in a similar stage of life. I loved traveling with this group. I had the opportunity to meet so many new people on this trip I never would have met otherwise. You spend so much time together on the bus, at hotels, etc. that you all become very close. I gained new friendships that continued on even after we got home. This is truly a one of a kind experience for young single adults. I will be attending again and I would highly recommend it to anyone!"    - Sarah B.

What makes me the right fit for this experience?

• You are not just excited about traveling, but particularly excited about the idea of traveling with other young single adults.
• You want to strengthen your faith and love the idea of having not only a fun experience, but one that will build your testimony too.
• You are someone that wants to make friends, build relationships and contribute to an accepting and kind group culture.
• You are interested in traveling with a group of leaders who will guide the trip and seek to keep you safe.

From past experience we strongly anticipate that we will have more interest in this trip than the space we have available. Because of this, we have established an application process that we hope will facilitate the creation of a group of participants that will enjoy one another and where each will seek to positively contribute to the experience of others in the group.

If you are interested joining this experience, please continue through the "booking process" so that we can get to know you better and collect your needed contact information!

If you have a question that is not answered in the FAQ's, you can reach out to the organizers:

Jill Knapp is the organizer and tour director for this trip. You can reach out to her via email at jill@tripsandships.com to answer any questions.

Her assistant, Cassie Bowcut, is also available to answer questions at groups.luxurytravel@gmail.com

Once we receive your initial application, we will review your application to make sure that everything is in order and send you an acceptance email. In the event that we have concerns or questions about your application, we will reach out to you for clarification.

After you receive your acceptance email you must make your initial deposit immediately in order to secure your spot in the program. If your deposit is not received within one week of acceptance, you risk losing your spot. 

Why Purchase Travel Insurance?

Travel Insurance. Travel insurance is almost always a good idea.

When considering travel insurance, most people think primarily of protecting their investment in the event that they need to cancel or change their travel plans.

While that is important, one of the biggest benefits of travel insurance is to cover medical expenses or other unforeseen emergencies, even evacuations, while on a trip.

Personal Example:

In 2019, I was happily driving a Segway through the streets of Krakow when I swerved to miss a family that was stepping up onto the sidewalk. I'm a pretty experienced Segway-er, but I didn't see the post on the opposite side of the sidewalk. After hopping up and reassuring everyone that I was perfectly fine (I knew I wasn't), and finishing up the tour, we spent the next 6 hours Ubering all over Krakow trying to navigate an unfamiliar and complicated medical system in a language we don't speak. Fortunately, Ubers are super cheap in Krakow and we had some help figuring things out from our travel insurance company. But the best news:

Total cost for 2 doctor's visits and 2 x-rays for my broken elbow with travel insurance? ZERO DOLLARS!!

Just a few things to know about travel insurance:

1) Travel Insurance will refund you for many travel costs in the event that you have to cancel your trip for an emergency or illness, but not because you suddenly found out that you have to work, because you got engaged, or because you discovered you can't afford to go. Make sure that you read through the "covered reasons" when you look at the policy.

2) You can pay for insurance to cover just the cost of this tour, or you can add in flights and additional travel expenses as well. If you don't know what those costs are right now, and do not have a pre-existing health condition, you are probably safe waiting a couple of months until you do (but don't wait too long). Since most airlines offer travel credit if you have to cancel, I typically do not include the price of my flights in the travel insurance, as it drives up the price. Alternatively, the airline itself offers insurance just to cover the cost of the flights.

3) As a general estimate for most of you in the early - mid twenties age range, you can expect to pay right around $100 for your insurance. This will partly depend on which state you are from and how much coverage you are getting, and the type of insurance you are getting.

If you decide to purchase insurance:

You can get a quote using the link below to buy directly from our preferred insurance provider, Allianz Travel. This will add me to your insurance booking and give me access to help you in the event that you need to use it.

In order to get the best coverage, it is strongly recommended that you purchase travel insurance at the time of deposit. This is particularly true if you have any pre-existing conditions that may interrupt your trip.

If you opt to purchase, please email me a copy for my file to jill@tripsandships.com

Purchasing Travel Insurance

You can get a quote from this link and buy directly from ALLIANZ, our preferred insurance provider.

When will I know if I have been accepted for this trip?

We will make every effort to let you know your acceptance status as soon as possible! Depending on the number of applicants, this will take anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks.

When do I need to arrive in Krakow?

We will be having a meeting the night of May 26th around 7:00 PM and we would like for everyone to be there if possible. 

Do I need to purchase my own flights?

Flights are not included in the price of the trip. You should book flights that will arrive in Krakow on or before May 26, 2025 and depart Venice on or after June 8, 2025 (unless you plan to do additional travel on your own). Your first hotel night is May 26th and your last hotel night is June 7th.

Please describe the accommodations.

We work really hard to book hotels and/or apartments that are as close to the center of the city as possible. This makes it much easier to have easy access to a lot of fun things to do and see! We always request twin beds at any hotels or apartments that we book. However, there will be times when there are not enough twin beds available and you may be required to share a queen bed with a roommate. If you are uncomfortable with that possibility, please let us know and we will try our best to accommodate you. In some places a sofa bed will be available that can be used by anyone not wanting to share a bed. Additionally, because we often book multi-bedroom accommodations, you may be in an apartment with more than just one other person. 

Again, please let us know if you have any concerns about your accommodations and we will do our best to accommodate your needs.

If I have a friend or family member traveling with the group, can I room with them?

Yes, you can request to room with a specific person for some of the nights. However, because this trip is designed to develop new friendships and build group unity, we will rotate who you room with in each new city. If this is concerning to you, please feel free to reach out to us for discussion.

How will we travel from city to city?

We have chartered a nice private coach (bus). These are the best busses in Europe and we have had great experiences with them. Our previous groups consider the bus time some of their favorite moments of the trip.

Will we have free time?

Yes, we will typically have one planned group activity a day and the remainder of the day will be free time to do things you want to do with others in the group. Remember when planning your free time you must stay in a group of 3+.

Are there any type of rules or restrictions in place on this trip?

In an effort to encourage inclusion, safety, and a wholesome experience, we will have the following rules in place:

• Modest clothing
• Adherence to the Word of Wisdom
• Clean language
• Midnight curfew (safety)
• Spending your free time in groups of at least 3 people (safety & inclusion)

If these rules sound too restrictive to you, you should not apply.

What if I am married or get married before the trip?

We are open to taking young married couples. If you are already married, or engaged to get married before this trip, please let us know in your application. If you are not yet married but end up getting engaged and/or married before the trip, we will do everything we can to add your (prospective) spouse on the trip if they want to go. If you want to cancel instead, please refer to the cancellation policies.

What is the age limit for going on this trip?

Though we do not have a specific age limitation, the trip is designed to bring together single adults between the ages of 20 and 32. 

Do I have to participate in every activity?

We hope that you will choose to contribute to the group by fully participating in all activities. Plus, you would be crazy to miss out on the fun things we have planned! ;) You never know what activity will end up being your favorite.

What additional costs can I expect?

• Flights
• Transfers to/from airport
• Food
• Any additional activities not included on the itinerary

Can I travel to another city not on the itinerary while on this trip?

No. For safety reasons, you are required to stay in the city we are visiting while on the tour.

Can I travel before or after this trip?

Of course!

Is there anything else I need to have to enter Europe?

As always, you will need to have a valid passport. Please make sure your passport is valid for 6 months after your return date. Additionally, beginning in May of 2025, you will need to get an ETIAS travel authorization.  Please see this link for more information.

What is the cancellation policy? 

Application fee ($35) - non-refundable, even if you are not accepted into the program.  

Deposit - ($500) Refundable (minus a $50 processing fee) until January 5th; after this time all payments are non-refundable (unless we can fill your spot; subject to a $50 processing fee). 

All remaining payments - including optional excursions - Non-refundable (unless we can fill your spot; subject to a $50 processing fee). 

Can I make monthly payments? 

Yes, you are welcome to make as many payments as you would like provided you are meeting the amounts that are due for each payment due date.

Do I have to select my "add-on options" when I apply and are these the only options?

No! Please wait until you have been officially accepted into the program and then you can come back and purchase any optional activities offered that you would like to do. You are always welcome to arrange your own "free time" activities. These are the ones that we have selected to offer to the group and for which we will make the arrangements. If you have another activity that you want to offer to the group, reach out to me and I will see if there is a way for me to arrange that!

We will begin our 13-day 6-country trip in Krakow, staying right in the heart of the UNESCO-Heritage site of Old Town. Highlights of our stay will include trips to Auschwitz Concentration Camp and Weiliczka Salt Mine, an incredible experience deep below the earth's surface. Eat amazing food, and explore this beautiful city built in the 13th century.

Budapest, Hungary's capital, is a dynamic city divided by the majestic Danube River. Buda, with its historic Castle Hill and panoramic views, contrasts with Pest's bustling boulevards and vibrant cultural scene. Rich in Gothic and Art Nouveau architecture, Budapest also offers iconic landmarks like the Parliament Building and rejuvenating thermal baths, creating a unique blend of historical grandeur and modern vitality at the heart of Central Europe. The largest city we will visit, a 48-hour pass will let you see all of the important sites!

For a change of pace, we will spend three nights immersed in one of the most beautiful locations of all of Europe. A day devoted to wandering through the beautiful Plitvice Lakes National Park and another floating down the turquoise waters of the Mreznica River (and yes, going over some waterfalls!), will be the perfect break from city life. We will stay tucked in the forest surrounding the park, where breakfast and dinner will be included in our stay.

Our elegant Adriatic resort stay in Opatija will be the perfect beach town for our introduction to the stunning Adriatic Sea and the famed Mediterranean culture and beauty found along its coastline. Along the way we will stop in a serene Slovenian town to visit the most visited cave in all of Europe and the fairytale world of Predjama Castle (with lunch!) 

Venice--with its labyrinthine canals and rich cultural heritage--will be the perfect end to our European Encounter. Our stay in one of Venice's famed Benedictine monasteries will set the perfect stage for immersing us in the history of the world-renowned city. With lots of time to explore its small winding streets and canals, we will end our trip by rowing our own gondolas on the Grand Canal.