|
8/19/2009 1:20:55 PM
|
topic:
During the Trip
admin
Posts 10
|
You may request that a tour guide or tour leader is not included into your package price. However speak to your representative. Depending on your destination and the number of people in your group the cost may not be as much as you think. Another thing to keep in mind is that although you've visited the destination on your own and you are familiar with it, it is not the same when you are on a bus getting around with 50 people or so. Just something to think about. . . . musicaprimero wrote:
Do I really need a tour guide or tour leader during my trip? I'm trying to keep cost down and I am familiar with the city we are visiting. Can I just request that this service is not provided?
|
|
8/19/2009 1:18:07 PM
|
topic:
During the Trip
musicaprimero
Posts 5
|
Do I really need a tour guide or tour leader during my trip? I'm trying to keep cost down and I am familiar with the city we are visiting. Can I just request that this service is not provided?
|
|
8/19/2009 1:15:06 PM
|
topic:
Trip to Washington DC
admin
Posts 10
|
This trip should be about the parade experience. The city is so overwhelmed with visitors that trying to do much sightseeing can be a challenged. If you want to do this trip in lieu of a spring trip do a 2 night stay in DC and maybe head to NYC or Maryland for a night or two. Combine two destinations instead of one. If you are busing this is very easy to do.
mweber wrote:
Hello we're taking a band from Seminole County, FL to the innaugaruation festivities and to compete to march in the parade. Has anyone done the inauguration thing before with a band? Any tips? Things to think about?
|
|
8/19/2009 1:13:25 PM
|
topic:
Trip to Washington DC
admin
Posts 10
|
This is definitely a great experience. And for many groups worth every penny. The challenge for groups is getting the funds to make this trip happen in such a short amount of time. For many groups they have about 30 days to make this happen and with the Christmas Holiday to consider this can be a challenge. It's not for everyone.
musicaprimero wrote:
This year the Inaugural parade was terrible. Many of the groups stayed 2 hours outside of DC and still paid a lot of money for hotel rooms. Parade day is just sitting around waiting for hours at a time. You don't see anything. Basically it's an experience if you don't mind waiting a long time before stepping off in the cold weather. You be the judge! It sounds wonderful but its really hard, especially for parents.
|
|
8/19/2009 1:11:00 PM
|
topic:
Cost of Trip
admin
Posts 10
|
You can keep cost to a minimum by not adding to many expensive meals. For example, use a hotel that includes Continental Breakfast, do meal coupons, buffet or cash allowances to use in fast food restaurants. This will save a lot of money!
musicaprimero wrote:
We are so concern with the overall trip costs nowadays. We are keeping cost to a minimum by making sure our buses are 95% full to keep cost down, but how else can we keep cost to a minimum?
|
|
8/19/2009 1:05:03 PM
|
topic:
Cost of Trip
musicaprimero
Posts 5
|
We are so concern with the overall trip costs nowadays. We are keeping cost to a minimum by making sure our buses are 95% full to keep cost down, but how else can we keep cost to a minimum?
|
|
3/10/2009 11:49:50 AM
|
topic:
Trip Directors & Chaperones
admin
Posts 10
|
With a group of 90 students you can do the trip with only one guide. Most trip directors have the same responsibilities as the chaperones. Only if you have a tour company take care of the details do they not have the same responsibilities due to liability reasons. If you are part of the school/organization your responsibilities would be the same as the chaperones in addition to taking care of the travel plans themselves.
The ratio of chaperones to students varies from group to group. This is based on the age of the students and the students themselves and whether or not you feel you need to have more chaperones. The average ratio is 1 chaperone for every 15 or 20 students.
|
|
2/4/2009 8:19:23 PM
|
topic:
Trip to Washington DC
musicaprimero
Posts 5
|
This year the Inaugural parade was terrible. Many of the groups stayed 2 hours outside of DC and still paid a lot of money for hotel rooms. Parade day is just sitting around waiting for hours at a time. You don't see anything. Basically it's an experience if you don't mind waiting a long time before stepping off in the cold weather. You be the judge! It sounds wonderful but its really hard, especially for parents.
|
|
11/24/2008 8:58:49 PM
|
topic:
Trip Directors & Chaperones
chaperonemom
Posts 1
|
I have 90 high school students on a trip, do I need more than one trip director? Should I hire 2 guides (one for each bus)? Other than trip planning, what differentiates the trip directors' responsibilities from the chaperones'? What is a typical ratio of chaperones to students? If I'm the trip director, should/can I also assign myself students to chaperone?
|
|
10/8/2008 4:15:55 PM
|
topic:
Is insurance something I need to worry about?
admin
Posts 10
|
Yes. Information should be provided to parents for travel insurance. Some companies now even offer “Cancel For Any Reason” coverage which is great if you have a no pass, no play policy. If you are in a district that has this policy you may just want this coverage to be part of your price. It will save everyone a lot of headaches. If you are planning a trip to Europe it is very important to include travel insurance since your medical coverage will probably not be accepted oversees. There are many types of travel insurance coverage so as the tour operator what they recommend and whether or not you should purchase it for the entire group.
|
|
10/8/2008 4:15:28 PM
|
topic:
Are there specific things that I should consider?
admin
Posts 10
|
Ask your tour operator about a night watch guard. Hiring a dedicated night watch guard will ensure that the kids stay in the room overnight. This avoids having to have the chaperones/parents stay up all night to monitor the rooms. It makes for a much better trip for everyone. The additional cost involved is worth every penny! Something that is also very helpful is having a tour guide during the trip. Having a company representative present to distribute tickets, assist with the check-in process and assist with meals is wonderful. This allows you to concentrate on the performance or festival competition, if applicable.
edited by admin on 10/17/2008
|
|
10/8/2008 4:13:40 PM
|
topic:
What to look for when booking a bus company?
admin
Posts 10
|
First, check with your district to see if they have an approved vendor list. Many districts have a vendor list of Bus Companies that have already been pre-screened and approved. If you don’t have an approved vendor list make sure that the price you receive includes tolls and parking fees. Also ask about driver rooms. Who is paying for the driver room? How much should I estimate for driver gratuity? Once you decide on the company you want to book coaches with ask for a copy of their liability insurance and on your contract request that they are specific about the equipment that will be provided to your group. You need the size of coach, year and model of the vehicle.
|
|
10/8/2008 4:12:48 PM
|
topic:
Festival company versus tour company?
admin
Posts 10
|
Festival companies are focused on the festival or adjudicated performance aspect of a trip. Their priority is not to take care of the details of your trip, but the festival experience itself. As a result, they may not be the best source to put an entire trip together for you. A Tour Company focuses on ALL aspects and details surrounding your trip. From your transportation, meals, accommodations and even your performance or festival experience. It’s a one stop shop for everything you are looking for. Tour Companies also have the flexibility to customize a package for your group!
|
|
10/8/2008 4:12:08 PM
|
topic:
What should I look for in a travel company?
admin
Posts 10
|
The most popular answer is price, but the integrity, experience and insurance for travel companies is often forgotten. Yes, price is important, so when comparing price make sure that all of the components are the same and the quality of the hotel is similar. You don’t want to have any surprises during your trip. Some companies even offer medical insurance as part of doing business with you. Always ask how long the company has been in business and ask for a copy of the company’s liability insurance. If the company has nothing to hide this will be readily available to you. Also, check if they are members of an association. Companies that are members of the Student Youth Travel Association are recognized as leaders in the student travel industry and have met strict membership requirements.
|
|
pages:
1
|