Wellness travel is about much more than spas and retreats. It can be as simple as stepping away from your usual routine, spending time in a beautiful place, trying something new and giving yourself space to reset.

From the laid-back beaches of Santa Monica to the scenic coastline of Malibu, you’ll explore how travel can support your overall well-being. Through mindful moments, photography and shared experiences, you’ll have opportunities to relax, reflect, connect with others and see both Los Angeles — and your own experience in America — from a fresh perspective.

Your journey begins with a flexible, self-paced online module that will be available starting this month. Designed to fit easily around your schedule, you can complete these activities and shared assignments at your own speed in about 12 total hours.

By completing the online portion before your trip, you'll have more free time to explore the places you’ve come to see!

3 p.m. to 6 p.m. — Live “Know Before You Go” Zoom class

4 p.m. to 8 p.m. — In-person Los Angeles touring experience

9 a.m. to 4 p.m. — In-person Los Angeles touring experience

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. — In-person Los Angeles touring experience

9 a.m. to 12 noon — In-person Los Angeles touring experience

The highlights of the in-person experience include Santa Monica, Venice Beach, Malibu and a guided tour through Hollywood and Beverly Hills. This experience combines learning, mindfulness, and exploration for an unforgettable West Coast adventure.

Please keep in mind that plans are subject to change in light of factors such as the weather, time constraints, road closures and events taking place in the city during the time of your visit.

Accommodations are not included in the tuition price, but you may choose to take advantage of the accommodations we’ve arranged at HI Santa Monica Hostel for the nights of Friday, Saturday and Sunday, September 25-27, for $169 including all taxes and fees. Each student will have their own bed in a shared room. The room’s occupants may be of mixed gender, with both female and male au pairs.

 Please consider the benefits of booking your accommodations with our group rather than on your own.

• You’ll only share your room with other au pairs.

• Quicker check-in when you arrive.

 Since we’ll start and end each day at HI Santa Monica Hostel, staying at the hostel is the easiest option if you need accommodations.

 If you choose to stay somewhere else, please keep travel time in mind, as Los Angeles is very spread out. Before booking other accommodations, we suggest checking the commute time to HI Santa Monica Hostel.

Our live Zoom session is an important part of the course and gives everyone a chance to meet, connect and share ideas before the in-person experience. Attendance is required, cameras should be on, and we ask everyone to participate in the conversation.

Before registering, please take a moment to check the dates, class times and time zone for your course. Be sure the schedule works with your responsibilities to your host family.

Because some courses fill quickly, we recommend registering and waiting for your enrollment confirmation before making nonrefundable travel arrangements.

As the course gets closer, we’ll also invite you to a private WhatsApp group. It’s a convenient way for us to share updates and for students to connect with one another about travel plans and the upcoming experience.

Once you successfully complete the course, you’ll earn 6 credits / 72  credit hours.

If you have questions about how those hours apply to your individual au pair education requirement, we recommend checking with your au pair organization.

You’ll have up to three weeks after the course to complete and submit your post-course assignment.

Once your course requirements have been successfully completed, your certificate of completion will be issued by Towson University, typically within 10 days. And there’s no need to wait the full three weeks — the sooner you submit your assignment, the sooner we can begin processing your certificate.

We understand that plans sometimes change. Your refund or course-credit options depend on how far in advance you cancel.

If you cancel . . .
― 22 or more days before the start of the first class, you will receive a full refund.
― 21 to 11 days before the start of the first class, you will receive a full refund less a $50 cancellation fee.
― 10 to 6 days before the start of the first class, you will not receive a refund. You will instead receive a credit that can be applied toward the tuition price of any Learning Across America course. The credit will be in the amount of the tuition you paid, less a $75 cancellation fee. The credit is good for one year from the date of issue and is transferable.
― 5 or fewer days before the class begins, no refund or credit is available.

As an alternative, should you need to cancel we offer the ability to transfer your enrollment in the same course to another au pair without penalty, provided we receive notice at least 3 days before the start of the course.

To cancel, simply email Learning Across America directly. Please send the request from the student who is enrolled and use Attention: Cancellation of Course as the subject line.

If you wish to cancel your HI Los Angeles Santa Monica Hostel reservation, you must do so on or before Saturday, July 25, to receive a full refund. To cancel you must send an email to Learning Across America. There will be no refunds in connection with HI Los Angeles Santa Monica Hostel after July 25.

If your plans change and you’d prefer to move to another Learning Across America course, you may be able to transfer your enrollment. Any applicable fee depends on how close you are to the start of your original course:
— 22 or more day before the start of your original course, you may transfer without penalty.
— 21 to 11 days before the start of your original course, a $25 transfer fee will apply.
— 10 to 6 day before the start of your original course, a $50 transfer fee will apply.
— 5 or fewer days before the class begins, there is no transfer permitted.