2015 student travel planning guide by Premier Travel Media

9.95

2015 EDITION

A Premier Travel Media publication â&#x20AC;˘ www.studenttravelplanningguide.com

VOL. 6 • 2015 EDITION

contents 4

Planning the Great Adventure

Editor’s message to travel organizers

Toward a Paperless Travel Experience BY

LANCE HARRELL

Mobile apps and tech tools ease the burden

I Love a Parade

VANESSA DAY

Orchestrating a school band trip

14 Traveling with Food Allergies

LAUREN REINIGER

An experienced traveler shares stories and advice

20 Going Where the Language Lives BY

HÉLÈNE VINCENT

Immersion programs in Costa Rica and China

26 Teaching Responsible Tourism

LANCE HARRELL

Ways to minimize your group’s impact on the planet

30 Top Picks Listing top attractions in America, by category

©iStock.com/DragonImages

SPECIAL SECTION Student Groups Love Branson, Missouri Making music in the Ozarks

42 Tracks Across Europe

RANDY MINK

Rail Europe’s group department smoothes the way

46 70 Tips for Student Trip Planning 50 One Name: Many Faces

©iStock.com/skynesher

Student Travel Planning Guide’s extensive website ON THE COVER: American teens touring London pose for a group photo in Trafalgar Square. (Photo courtesy ©iStock.com/davidf)

studenttravelplanningguide.com

©iStockphoto.com/gchutka

From selecting chaperones to chartering a bus

14 Student Travel Planning Guide

Randy Mink

Planning the Great Adventure

Vol. 6, No. 1, 2015 Edition

Editorial Office

raveling with more than 700 students

the uniforms and instruments. I recall my

on a train from London to Paris this

son’s band trip to Disney World and how

past spring, I was impressed how the

his high school band directors had every-

whole movement went off without a hitch.

thing in marching order. See “I Love a Pa-

Thanks to the staffs of Eurostar and stu-

rade” in this issue and all that’s involved in

Publisher – Jeffrey Gayduk

dent tour operator EF, every detail of the

having your music group perform in a dis-

jeff@ptmgroups.com

rail charter, including bus transfers on both

tant city or state.

621 Plainfield Road, Suite 406 Willowbrook, IL 60527 P 630.794.0696 • F 630.794.0652 info@ptmgroups.com

ends, had been taken care of months in

Having students with food allergies can

advance. The middle school students were

also test the travel planner, as our own

extremely well-behaved—and I had been

staff writer, Lauren Reiniger, explains in an

expecting a chaotic scene with a lot of

article based on her personal experiences

Contributing Writers

crazy teenagers.

coping with conditions she’s battled since

Lance Harrell Lauren Reiniger Vanessa Day Hélène Vincent

We hope this guide will provide inspiration, practical tips and just some reassurance that you’re not alone

Managing Editor – Randy Mink randy@ptmgroups.com

childhood. Also in this issue, Lance Harrell, our online media director, suggests time-saving tech tools for tour leaders in “Toward a Paperless Travel Experience” and ways for your group to travel green in

Director, Design & Production – Robert Wyszkowski rob@ptmgroups.com

“Teaching Responsible Tourism to Students.”

Advertising Sales Office

International features include a report

Phone: 630.794.0696 advertising@ptmgroups.com www.PtmGroups.com

on the trend in language immersion programs to countries beyond Europe, with

The publisher accepts unsolicited editorial matter, as well as advertising, but assumes no responsibility for statements made by advertisers or contributors. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information published, but the publisher makes no warranty that listings are free of error. The publisher is not responsible for the return of unsolicited photos or manuscripts.

EF’s Hélène Vincent discussing high school students’ heightened interest in studying in Costa Rica and China. If

If moving an adolescent army of 700+

you’ve considered incorporating train

is a piece of cake, then a simple busload

travel into a European itinerary, see my

should be a snap. But you know that a

article on what Rail Europe can do for

smooth-running trip doesn’t just happen.

student groups.

Whether you’re putting together a day trip,

We’re confident this guide, combined

weekend outing or multi-week trip to Eu-

with our online resources, will help you

rope, it all takes a lot of forethought—se-

plan a trip to remember. We do appreciate

curing chaperones, charting itineraries,

your feedback, so let us know how we can

setting up meals, dealing with students and

make Student Travel Planning Guide an

parents. We hope this sixth annual edition

even more useful tool in helping you lay

of Student Travel Planning Guide, aimed at

the groundwork for A+ trips.

Student Travel Planning Guide (ISSN 2154-4905) is published annually by Premier Travel Media, Inc., 621 Plainfield Rd., Suite 406, Willowbrook, IL 60527. Postage paid at Willowbrook, IL and Lebanon Junction, KY. The magazine is distributed free to youth group travel organizers and travel suppliers catering to the market. Single copies for all others is $9.95.

Send Address Change to: Premier Travel Media, Inc. 621 Plainfield Rd., Suite 406, Willowbrook, IL 60527

publication

educators and other youth leaders who want to plan the best possible trip, will pro-

vide inspiration, practical tips and just some reassurance that you’re not alone. Talk about a complicated trip—consider the logistics of a school band trip with all

Student Travel Planning Guide

Randy Mink Managing Editor

studenttravelplanningguide.com

There’s something for everyone in your group, including you. From our homestyle cooking that satisﬁes the pickiest eaters to our country store ﬁlled with gifts and games for everyone. With our designated tour bus parking*, dedicated group phone line, and large party seating accommodations, it’s like we were custom built just for you. And as always, a meal for your driver and guide is on the house. It’s just one of our ways of making sure everyone on the road is taken care of.

crackerba el.com/tourgroups • 1-800-576-7693 Sunday–Thursday 6 a.m.–10 p.m., Friday & Saturday 6 a.m.–11 p.m. All locations company owned and operated. *DESIGNATED TOUR BUS PARKING AT MOST LOCATIONS. ©2014 CBOCS PROPERTIES, INC. “CRACKER BARREL OLD COUNTRY STORE” NAME AND LOGO ARE REGISTERED TRADEMARKS OF CBOCS PROPERTIES, INC., REG. USPTO.

Toward a Paperless Travel Experience Mobile Apps and Tech Tools Ease Your Burdens and Enhance the Trip By Lance Harrell he days of lugging around bulky files full of itineraries, backup records, emergency contact information and the like for your group while on tour are long since over. Today’s group leader has a varied arsenal of tech tools at her disposal to reduce paper clutter, streamline the travel process and assist in numerous other ways. Here are a few of our favorite tech tools and tips for the student group travel leader:

Air Travel

©iStock.com/JackF

Although getting there can be half the fun, when you are attempting to coordinate a large group of students, navigating airports, customs and immigration can be more than a little chaotic. To help you streamline the process and reduce the headaches involved in flying internationally with your group, we invite you to check out these three tech tips:

High-tech solutions make students’ travel experiences more enjoyable.

Student Travel Planning Guide

©iStock.com/piart

Global Entry is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection program that allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States. Though intended for frequent international travelers, there is no minimum number of trips necessary to qualify for the program. At airports, your students can proceed to Global Entry kiosks, where they use their machine-readable passport and fingerprint to gain entry and make their customs declaration. The kiosk issues the traveler a transaction receipt and directs them to baggage claim. It is important to note that your students must be pre-approved for the Global Entry program. All applicants undergo a rigorous background check and interview before enrollment, so planning ahead is important. Application fee is $100. Simply Declare is a wonderful app for keeping track of all your declarable purchases while abroad. You can quickly add new items, attach photos of the receipts and maintain separate lists. The app even automatically applies currency conversion so you can easily see the total value of all your items. Having your students use this app can prevent uncomfortable and time-consuming delays. Never be caught off guard by the question “What do you have to declare?” Whether you are traveling internationally or domestically, if your group is traveling by airplane, Gate Guru is an essential app. From the Home Screen you can add or manage current and future trips or enter the JourneyCard of a specific trip to see expanded information such as the security checkpoint wait times, departure time delays, gate changes and layover time adjustments. Unfamiliar with the airport or just looking for a good rally point or quick lunch spot? Under the AirportCard area, you can access information on restaurants, shops, maps and airport tips to provide you and your group everything you need to navigate and enjoy your time in the airport. studenttravelplanningguide.com

Health & Safety

Give Me More!

No matter the amount of planning, crises can occur while on tour and in case they do, we recommend having two apps on hand. TravelSafe Pro provides crucial information fast by containing the common emergency numbers (police, fire, medical) for numerous countries as well as consulate and embassy numbers worldwide. iTriage Health will help you diagnose symptoms and find the nearest emergency room, physician or pharmacy. Besides bringing peace of mind, these apps can quite literally be lifesavers.

With the thousands of mobile apps and other tech solutions out there to help you plan and execute a great student group trip, we could never hope to cover them all here, and so the above list barely scratches the surface. Therefore, we will be adding a new tech tip twice a month online at tinyurl.com/mx7buhj and we would love for you to join the conversation and contribute your own to our community as well. Also, don’t forget that you can sign up for InSite on Student Travel (signup@studenttravelplanningguide.com) and get tech tips and much more delivered right to your inbox. ■

Virtual Tour Guides

©iStock.com/shutter_m

It is likely that your group will not always be under the guidance of a tour guide. The following apps will allow your students to consume and digest valuable information about where they are when exploring solo. HearPlanet provides a virtual reality audio layer across the entire globe, giving you all the Points-of-View on all the Points-of-Interest. Covering hundreds of thousands of locations, it is like having a tour guide whispering to you from inside your phone. Give it a try and you might be surprised by what you discover. History Here is another useful app for learning about your local surrounding, by providing articles, images and video of nearby historic points of interest within the United States. Last in this category is the UNESCO World Heritage app, which allows you to browse or search World Heritage sites to view information and photos about them.

Communication Chances are you and your students already use Skype, but if not, it is arguably the best way to keep in contact with those back home. Besides being an instant messaging service, the free version allows you to make audio and video calls to other Skype users over any internet connection, which is an excellent way to avoid costly long distance or international calling fees. Also, for a small annual fee, Skype users can purchase a plan that allows them to call non-Skype numbers so your group members can reach those back home even if they aren’t Skype users. studenttravelplanningguide.com

Student Travel Planning Guide

Organizing a parade trip for your school band calls for plenty of hard work, but the rewards outweigh the challenges

I Love a P a By Vanessa Day

Student Travel Planning Guide

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heering crowds. Colorful floats and balloons. Heart-pumping music and entertainment. There’s nothing quite like a parade, especially if you’re performing in one. For marching bands and performance groups, parades are a culmination of practice, hard work and pure passion, and some serious planning. It takes a lot of preparation to get to a parade. From the selection and application process to the day-of transportation and dropoff, parade trips can be difficult to organize. Throw in some unpleasant weather conditions or unforeseen issues, and it becomes even more challenging. However, with the right tools, advice and assistance, directors can plan a successful parade trip for their band.

rade

Parade Selection When band directors decide they want to do a parade, the first thing to do is to determine the wants and needs of the group. “We are always trying to find out the directors’ expectations, the goals, their budget, a destination they want to go to and the kind of parade experience they are looking for,” said Todd Rogers, vice president of sales at Bob Rogers Travel. It’s important to know what you want to get out of the trip, and the kind of parade that will allow you to reach that goal, he explained. “There's something for every band,” said Michael Grueninger, president of Grueninger Music Tours. “If it's a smaller band just starting out, there are parades out there that need you and want you and can nurture you.” (See a list of parade opportunities on page 12)

The Big Bay Balloon Parade is part of National University Holiday Bowl festivities in downtown San Diego.

San Diego Bowl Game Association

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Student Travel Planning Guide

Transportation

Another helpful tip is to schedule flights one to two days in advance of the parade, which provides bands a bit of a buffer in case Transportation depends on the location of your selected parade there are weather delays or mechanical issues. and distance your band or performance group must travel to get Transportation to and from the parade route can be tough to coorthere. Renting a motorcoach is highly recommended for shorter trips dinate, especially with so many bands, spectators, floats and performto nearby regions or states. Many parade experts suggest driving ance groups congregating in the same area. It’s a good idea to work even for longer trips to avoid the hassles and high costs of flying. with the parade director or a tour operator who knows For larger bands, additional trucks might be neces“There's the best places to drop off and pick up band members. sary. Mark Arslanian, director of sales at Brightspark, something for said, “We suggest having equipment trucks…to take [band] instruments for a parade because there is a lot every band. If it's a of equipment, lots of uniforms and auxiliary equipment.” In case you didn’t know, parades take place outsmaller band just Getting a truck is also a good idea when a band has side, which means weather is always a concern. starting out, there Bands know best what they need in order to perform to fly to a destination. Grueniger said, “For equipment, are parades out it’s best to put it on a semi-truck and ship it. That helps well, but some key advice from tour operators is to reduce the cost of flying because airlines charge so there that need you stay hydrated and nourished, bring extra layers or rain much [for baggage], or luggage can get lost in transiand want you and protection, wear lighter uniforms or monogrammed tion.” shirts in hot weather, and bring a nurse if possible. can nurture you.” Flying also presents other issues that band direc“Weather dictates the uniform,” said Michael Embrey —Michael Grueninger tors and performers need to be aware of. Instruments of FunMe Events. “Some groups, not all, have rain gear. President of Grueninger could get damaged on the plane or lost all together. Or they’ll march without their hats or their plumes” if it’s Music Tours “In the airport, check if the instrument still works raining. In extreme cold or heat, keep bands protected properly,” said Bruce Rickert, president of Peak Performance Tours. “If either on the bus or in a heated or air-conditioned area, and have peoit gets damaged, it’s better to know right when you get there.” ple on hand to help if members faint during the parade. In addition, be It’s wise to implement an instrument check for your band upon arsure bands get plenty of practice beforehand. rival and to have contact information for music stores or local band di“We encourage them to do rehearsals prior to get in shape,” said rectors in the area in case pieces or whole instruments need to be Rogers. “Make sure the kids are used to marching for however long replaced. the [parade] is.” That way, the chance of injury or exhaustion is reduced.

Inclement Weather

whole crowd has never been so easy. With Planning a group tour that will please the the world along with exciting attractions in arks waterp the largest concentration of is one place everyone can agree on. Dells nsin and ﬂexible accommodations, Wisco om | (800) 223-3557 dells.c MeetInTheDells.com | groups@wis

Student Travel Planning Guide

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Apply Now for 2015! Space is limited.

Highlights of the Event • “Thanksgiving Day Spectacular” - an exciting mass band performance in Disney’s Hollywood Studios® at the Sorcerer Mickey hat icon, with special guests, the Boston Brass • Live broadcast of the performance on banddirector.com • Rehearsal & breakfast at Disney’s Hollywood Studios®, before park opening • Thanksgiving Dinner at Epcot® featuring a performance by the Boston Brass • Additional marching band and choir performances available • A high-energy, after hours, private event in Dinoland U.S.A.® at Disney’s Animal Kingdom®! A DJ, dancing, games and rides are available exclusively for participating groups

Call Bob Rogers Travel at 800-373-1423 to learn more, or visit bobrogerstravel.com/tpob

• Pre-trip clinic at your school with a distinguished clinician • The opportunity to work closely with the Boston Brass, collegiate and DCI directors

Bob Rogers Travel is a Disney Youth Programs PremEar travel planner and the nation’s top producer for Disney Performing Arts OnStage programs at the Walt Disney World® Resort in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

The Boston Brass appear in cooperation with Jupiter Band Instruments.

bobrogerstravel.com

Parades Across the Country

Hotels, Food and Fun

arades. A beloved pastime celebrated all over the world. Who wouldn’t want to be part of one? For many marching bands, parades represent achievement; for others, they are a stepping stone to the next big thing; and others just find them fun. Just as each band is different, so is every parade, and there are hundreds all over the country—and the world—from which to choose. Here is just a sampling:

Bob Rogers Travel

Thanksgiving Parade of Bands, a premier event at Florida’s Walt Disney World Resort

West Big Bay Balloon Parade, San Diego. A National University Holiday Bowl production, this wintertime parade brings together first-rate marching bands, impressive floats and enormous balloons. Hollywood Christmas Parade, Los Angeles. A long-standing holiday tradition, this parade has been held for over 80 years and runs through the heart of Hollywood. Carnaval San Francisco, San Francisco. Cultures and traditions come together in this beloved event that features a grand parade, hundreds of performance groups and a diverse selection of bands. Fiesta San Antonio, San Antonio. Starting in 1891 as a one-parade event, Fiesta San Antonio has grown into a premier festival and now features three parades.

Northeast New York City Veterans Day Parade. A popular and meaningful parade that marches along Fifth Avenue past famous landmarks and is cheered on by enthusiastic crowds. South Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Boston. One of the largest St. Patrick’s Day parades in the country, this event dates back centuries and is a time-honored tradition any band would be lucky to march in.

South Thanksgiving Parade of Bands at Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando. A prestigious event dedicated exclusively to marching bands, this event features performance groups from all over the country, as well as special guests the Boston Brass. Citrus Parade, Orlando. One of the largest sportsaffiliated parades in the country, the Citrus Parade features floats made of fruit and high-spirited bands from all over the nation.

Midwest IPL 500 Festival Parade, Indianapolis. Held the evening before late May’s Indianapolis 500, the parade draws 300,000 spectators from across the country to watch larger-than-life floats, costumed characters and dozens of marching bands. The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival, Chicago. This parade is the nation’s largest evening holiday celebration, with a procession that lights up Michigan Avenue as it goes by. Republic Bank Pegasus Parade, Louisville. The oldest event in the Kentucky Derby Festival, this parade marches down Broadway showcasing some of the finest equestrian units and bands in the country. Valley of Flowers Parade, Florissant, Missouri. The First Festival of Spring has been held for over 50 years and includes a beloved parade that highlights the weekend event.

Mid-Atlantic Cherry Blossom Parade, Washington, D.C. A treasured springtime celebration with lavish floats, giant helium balloons, family entertainment, and, of course, marching bands. Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade. This 1.4-mile procession is the oldest Thanksgiving Day parade in the country, making its way through the streets of Philly for thousands to enjoy. Parade of Nations, Norfolk. A salute to NATO nations, this parade has been attracting marching bands from all over the U.S. since 1952.

Betty Boop at the Big Bay Balloon Parade in San Diego

Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Atlanta. Another New Year’s Eve parade, this Georgia event serves as the kickoff for game day with colorful themed floats, classic cars, marching bands and dynamic dancers. Dogwood Festival Parade, Winchester, Tennessee. This parade is part of a highly anticipated annual event, drawing nearly 30,000 people every year. 12

Student Travel Planning Guide

San Diego Bowl Game Association

Outback Bowl New Year’s Eve Parade, Ybor City/Tampa. A festive evening party in eclectic Ybor City, with floats, bands and non-stop fun to welcome in the New Year.

After the parade itinerary is built, the next important element is finding the right accommodations. When researching hotels, be sure to inquire about their experience with students, as well as how much space and parking they have. Location also plays a role, especially when thousands of people are in town for the parade. “Most student groups are willing to spend an extra 20 minutes on a bus and stay outside the city,” said Grueninger. “Staying in the suburbs is much cheaper.” Rickert suggests asking about the kind of breakfast served and if there is private event space for storing equipment or hosting pre- and post-parade meetings. Dining arrangements outside the hotel can be difficult, especially with a band of 300 people. If there are restaurants with that capacity, then you can arrange a lunch or dinner for the entire band all at once. More often than not, bands may have to be split up for meals, especially if members want to experience more of the city. In that case, have plenty of chaperones that can be with each group at different locations. Some directors may want to add a few activities and educational elements to the trip, and that is highly encouraged by experienced tour operators. “We actually like to create a whole trip around [the parade],” said Rickert. “For instance for the Virginia Arts Festival, we might do a trip to Busch Gardens or a standing performance in Colonial Williamsburg.” Seasoned organizers strongly suggest working with the host city, convention and visitors bureau or a tour operator that specializes in parades. Embrey said, “If you don’t know the city, you don’t know where to go. Using a good resource makes it a better experience for the kids.” Organizing a parade trip for a marching band or performance group is a challenge, there’s no denying it. However, with plenty of preparation—and multiple backup plans—it can be rewarding for all participants. Because, let’s face it, there really is no stage quite like a parade. ■ studenttravelplanningguide.com

Everything You Need to Know About Traveling with Food Allergies

Pizza is a popular lunch, dinner or latenight treat on student trips, but it contains ingredients that can spell trouble for tour members who suffer from food allergies.

An experienced traveler with severe food allergies shares her stories and advice By Lauren Reiniger hen I was a young student, I was one of maybe two students in the entire school with food allergies. But these days, roughly two students in every classroom are physically unable to consume certain foods. In fact, from 1997 to 2011 there has been an approximate 50 percent increase in children and adolescents (under 18) with food allergies. The condition affects nearly 15 million people in the United States. I was born with severe allergies to milk and tree nuts—so severe that my doctor told my parents I was “off the charts” and he had never come across anyone with food allergies “this bad.” Despite my mom’s apprehensive—and in retrospect, understandable—concerns, I’ve been quite the traveler. Almost every other weekend of my life, from sixth grade to my final year of college, I was in a different city with a travel volleyball team. I’ve also been fortunate enough to enjoy the perk of having a commercial airline pilot for a dad: flying for free. So trust me, I know what I’m talking about when it comes to traveling with food allergies.

Knowing Your Students’ Allergies First and foremost, you must know all of your students’ allergies. There are eight common food allergens: peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, shellfish, milk, soy, wheat and gluten. Your students should carry an “allergy card” with them at all times. This card lists all the student’s allergies—not just to food, but to medications for paramedic use in case of an emergency. Keep in mind that your students aren’t restricted to these eight allergens alone, but to all the meals and treats containing them and their byproducts. Congress in 2006 passed the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA), which states that all food products regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must be labeled in a specific way to identify the eight major food allergens. These allergens are bolded on a product’s ingredient list. However, be sure to read all of the ingredients, not just those listed in bold font, if you’re buying snacks for your group. I once ate breakfast cereal containing whey, a byproduct of milk, which was not listed in bold. Since I was in a rush, I skipped the step of carefully reading all ingredients. Let’s just say I didn’t make it to any of my classes that day. 14

Student Travel Planning Guide

What to Watch Out For: Symptoms Okay, I’ll tell you what really happened to me, along with all the other symptoms of an allergic reaction. Within seconds of my first bite, my throat started to itch and swell. My face was flushed with what is known as the “butterfly rash,” which spans the edges of your nose to your cheekbones in the shape of a butterfly. Then, I started to wheeze. Before I go on with my story, allow me to tell you about my best friend, Benadryl. Benadryl becomes a close companion for anyone with a food allergy; it’s the first line of defense in case of a minor reaction. If the reaction is severe, you may need to administer an Epinephrine autoinjector, more commonly known as an EpiPen (other brands include Adrenaclick, Twinject and MedihalerEpi). In my cereal incident, Benadryl kept me from having to use my EpiPen (even if it left me groggy and bedridden for most of the day), but I had my EpiPen on hand in case I took a turn for the worst. Other common symptoms of an allergic reaction include itchiness, watery eyes, abdominal pain, hives, and swelling of the lips, eyes, face, tongue or other parts of the body. Severe symptoms include nausea and vomiting, dizziness and fainting, and wheezing and trouble breathing. The most severe, life-threatening symptom is anaphylactic shock, which results in the throat closing, blocking all airways. If one of your students is experiencing any of these symptoms, minor or severe, you must take immediate action. studenttravelplanningguide.com

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Take Action During an Allergic Reaction

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Recognize symptoms. Ask your student what she is feeling; some students are very quiet and even embarrassed by their allergies, so (although you may feel like you’re pestering) it’s a good idea to keep an eye on her for a few hours after a meal. Reactions can occur within seconds to several hours after eating. Keep the student calm. Reassure him everything will be all right. Anxiety can worsen a reaction and cause panic, which is the opposite of what you want. If symptoms are mild, have her take Benadryl. In my case, my parents had to authorize my schools to administer Benadryl (and the EpiPen) as needed. When I turned 18, I had to provide authorization. Schools have varying policies, and it’s important to be well aware of yours. Be sure to know where your student keeps her Benadryl and EpiPen, or, as my school teachers did, keep the medication on your person. If symptoms persist or if the reaction is severe, use the EpiPen. Epinephrine autoinjectors have instructions on the pen itself and on the box. While directions may vary slightly, it is usually a simple process of removing the safety cap and stabbing the pen into his upper thigh, holding for 10-15 seconds. Remember: epinephrine is first-line treatment for anaphylaxis. If you use an EpiPen, immediWhen an allergic reaction occurs, the trip leader should keep the student calm and give reassurance. ately seek emergency medical care. studenttravelplanningguide.com

Inspire the imaginations of your students by planning a field trip to the world’s most magical aquarium. GeorgiaAquarium.org Atlanta, GA | 404.581.4000 |

Student Travel Planning Guide

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The trip leader should call the group together and discuss the allergic student’s situation so that all realize the seriousness of the situation.

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Do Your Best to Prevent the Worst Although you can’t guarantee safety to someone with a food allergy—not that you can guarantee safety to anyone on a student group trip—you can take preventative steps. Communication is the first step in prevention. Not every food allergy is the same—they range from mild to severe. You have to communicate with the student (and her guardians if she is a minor) on what precautions to take. Communicate with the entire group; they all may not be aware of anyone’s food allergies or the seriousness of the situation. Unfortunately, children and adolescents can be bullies or simply not understand. In junior high, one of my classmates didn’t believe me when I said I had food allergies, so she rubbed a piece of cheese on my leg. When I was younger, someone poured a glass of milk over my head just to see what would happen. Provide your student group with preventative steps: don’t share your food with someone with a food allergy, keep your hands to yourself during a meal and wash your hands after eating. Most student group trips call for snacks or meals. Have a student with a food allergy pack her own snack. If you’re stopping at a

store for snacks, you can bring the student with a food allergy in with you to help read ingredients. I can’t tell you how many times I bonded in the grocery store checkout line with my volleyball coaches. If students pack their own lunch, you may have to either request students not to bring the allergen or keep that student away from students who did bring it. Either situation quite frankly is a lose-lose situation for everybody, as students don’t want to be told what to eat and no student wants to eat alone. But, it would be worse if someone had a reaction. You might want to run your ideas by the student or guardian beforehand. If you’re having your meal catered, communicate with meal providers well ahead of time. Name the student with the allergy, what he is allergic to and what dish will be prepared for him. You may even want to put the caterer in direct contact with the student or guardian. Know your surroundings. Before you embark on your trip, know where the closest hospitals and medical clinics are located. Don’t take risks, and do your best to keep students from taking risks. A simple taste of an unlabeled snack may lead to a sick student, putting a screeching halt to your carefully planned activities for the day. studenttravelplanningguide.com

Make Room for the Memories.

jazz at lincoln center new york city

take your group on a swingin’ adventure. reserve your seats today. An adventure of historic proportion is waiting for your groups—at two living-history museums that explore America’s beginnings. They can board replicas of colonial ships. Grind corn in a Powhatan Indian village. Try on English armor inside a palisaded fort. And join historical interpreters at a Continental (YT` LUJHTWTLU[ MVY H ÄYZ[OHUK SVVR H[ [OL 9L]VS\[PVU»Z LUK ;HRL WHY[ PU guided tours and hands-on programs. Tell them not to forget their cameras. Because the history here is life size. And their memories will be even bigger!

1-888-868-7593

WYNTON MARSALIS BY WHIT LANE

212-258-9875

jalc.org/groups

International Travel Tips Traveling internationally with food allergies? Have your student’s allergy card available in that country’s language. If you’re flying, learn the airline’s policy on serving peanuts and other common allergens on the plane—some airlines are happy to accommodate your wish to withhold a certain snack or meal. It never hurts to ask. Carry a prescription or doctor’s note allowing EpiPens and Benadryl (especially if it’s liquid) on the plane. Similar products in one country may have different ingredients in another country, not to mention ingredients may be listed in different languages. Pack sufficient food ahead of time or plan out where you will buy food. With food allergies becoming more and more common, this is not an issue that can simply be swept under the rug. It must be addressed and handled accordingly. Remember, communication with the students and guardians is always the first step you should take. Traveling is an experience that should be enjoyed by all. Did I ever permit my food allergies to stop me from traveling? I answer with a resounding “no,” and so should your students. ■

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Going Where the Language Lives

Trends in language immersion programs point to destinations beyond Europe, with Costa Rica and China grabbing the spotlight By Hélène Vincent n a globalized society, the ability to speak a foreign language is becoming more than a hobby or a line at the bottom of a resume. There is no doubt that the demand for bilingual employees has been steadily rising over the past decade. Some studies even estimate that over 30% of businesses want people specifically because of their foreign language ability—and many companies will pay more for these skills. With this in mind, language immersion programs for high school students have become increasingly important, and therefore increasingly popular.

Language Immersion vs. Language Travel Language travel has been popular for decades and traces its history back to some of the first American study abroad programs in the 1920s. High schools have since picked up on the trend, and many high schools across the US take language students abroad during their breaks. These high schools—and the teachers—understand the importance of traveling to a country where a language is spoken. It’s now becoming more important, both for students’ linguistic ability and global competency, to experience how a language lives. It’s impossible to understand a language fully without understanding the culture that goes with it. One aspect of language immersion that language travel can overlook is setting students up for success. American students typically excel at reading and writing in a foreign language, as these skills are easier for non-native speakers (who represent the vast majority of foreign language teachers in the US) to teach. They also happen to 20

Student Travel Planning Guide

Photos by EF Educational Tours

Students on EF language immersion programs in China see sights like the Summer Palace in Beijing and Oriental Pearl Tower in Shanghai.

be skills that are a larger focus in many classrooms and on many exams. To this end, one way to set students up for success during a linguistic and cultural immersion is to give them access to “rehearsal space.” At EF Education First, we’re lucky to own and operate international language schools around the world, where students can live in a foreign country and study a foreign language for two weeks, up to nine months at a time. Combining tours from the US with lessons at these schools gives students a place to practice vocabulary and oral skills with teachers native to both the language and the culture of the destination. Students can then use what they practice in class while they’re interacting with the life around them. We recognize that not everyone has access to these resources, but the idea is still important. Students need a way to practice certain words and phrases that they are then encouraged to use throughout the day. Setting them up with this scaffolding builds their confidence as they interact with local people. studenttravelplanningguide.com

Just as important as language immersion is cultural immersion— living and breathing the local culture. A student immersed in a language without discovering a culture will never understand a language’s deeper meaning—much like reading the lyrics to a song without hearing the music. Cultural immersion includes everything from learning to live like a local, to learning to cook like a local, to learning what it means to be part of a local family. It also includes understanding the history of a town or country, along with its passions. Cultural immersion is being able to understand the intricate intertwining of a language with its respective culture, allowing for communication that extends deeper than words. But immersive activities and local interaction are not the only things that students and their teachers are looking for. They are also starting to look at another important piece of the language immersion puzzle: destination.

Costa Rica on the Rise The popularity of language immersion has been growing for decades. But what surprises many people is the rapidly increasing popularity of non-European destinations. As world economies and dynamics are shifting, young American students find themselves drawn to languages and destinations that previous generations never considered. While France and Spain have long held their places as the most popular destinations for language immersion tours, over the past five years that interest has shifted away from these countries and towards a much smaller, more inconspicuous country to the south: Costa Rica.

Since the global recession in 2008, Costa Rica has bolstered its economy and made large steps toward becoming a more environmentally sustainable society. But it’s Costa Rica’s distinct culture that has attracted more and more attention from language learners in recent years. Appreciation for wildlife, family life and coastal life has made Costa Rica synonymous with its epithet, ¡Pura Vida! Spanish learners in the US who choose to go abroad for their spring vacations are looking for more than a place to speak Spanish; they’re looking for an adventure. Costa Rica is just the place. Learning how to say montar a caballo is much more powerful when you can take those words into the sunset on the back of a horse. Likewise with learning about the different landscapes of Costa Rica: the words mean much more when you’re ziplining over a bosque seco. By the end of a trip, students greet locals with the phrase pura vida, which a foreigner might never understand as a form of greeting because the translation in English is “pure life.” Alternatively, Spanish teachers in the US want a destination that is fun, safe and culturally relevant. For years, this has meant Spain. But with Costa Rica’s political and economic stability, it is more often becoming the destination of choice. It also happens to be much closer to the US, making it a more affordable option for many teachers and their students. According to the International Institute of Education, Costa Rica’s dramatic rise in popularity is not limited to high school students. Costa Rica ranks eighth on the IIE’s list of top college study abroad destinations and has a growth rate of well over double any of the seven destinations ahead of it. It remains to be seen whether this dramatic upward trend will continue in the coming years.

China: The Next Frontier There is another country whose growing economy, political power and overall global presence have attracted interest as a new language destination: China. The demand for language immersion trips to China has followed an increase in Mandarin programs in high schools across the country. Over the past 10 years, Chinese teaching in schools has been steadily on the rise. In a 2010 New York Times article entitled “Foreign Languages Fade in Class — Except Chinese,” it is estimated that the number of Mandarin programs has risen over 500% since 2000. One Chicago Chinese language administrator, Robert Davis, went so far as to say, “Chinese isn’t the new French—it’s the new English.” In 2011, the number of students taking the College Board’s Advanced Placement Chinese exam grew 25%. In 2012, it grew by

another 17%. In 2013, over 1,400 schools offered AP Chinese courses and more than 10,000 students took the exam. With one-fifth of the world’s population speaking Mandarin and over 10 percent of the world’s economic activity taking place in China, the ability to communicate in Mandarin is more important than ever. Moreover, language immersion is especially important when it comes to Mandarin because of the extreme differences in culture from the Western world. As instant, automated translation technology continues to develop, the true distinctions for students around the world will be in cultural understanding. Manners, etiquette, behavior, traditions, lifestyle—all of these are necessary for true communication.

What Does Chinese Language Immersion Look Like? With such a long history and such deeply ingrained traditions, China has woven its language tightly with its art, hobbies and customs. Students participating in a language immersion tour to China should expect to experience true Chinese heritage in the form of performances and ceremonies. Chinese martial arts trace their origins back over 4,000 years to self-defense, hunting and military training in ancient China. One discipline, Kung Fu, slowly evolved into a method of health maintenance and then eventually into a method of self-cultivation. Kung Fu performances include storytelling, acrobatics, modern dance and original music to celebrate the philosophy and skill of martial arts. Another discipline, Taiji, is an internal martial art, meditation system and health practice. In fact, medical research has shown that Taiji can improve both balance and psychological health. Taijiquan (太極拳 ), the full Mandarin name, translates to “supreme ultimate fist.” Without experiencing these cultural traditions first hand and participating in them with locals, students miss a whole section of Chinese life and philosophy. True Chinese language immersion is a step outside of the comfort zones of most American students, and because of this, it’s also a huge opportunity for personal growth. With EF Educational Tours, eating dinner with Hutong families, joining in a tea ceremony or meeting pen pals at a local school are all small parts of a larger goal: understanding. As one Chinese proverb says, “Without ascending the Mountain, we cannot admire the height of heaven; without descending into the valley, we cannot admire the depth of the earth; without listening to the maxims left by the ancient Kings, we cannot know the excellence of wisdom.” And without living the language, we can never hope to understand those who do. Hélène Vincent is Manager of Language Immersion Programs at EF Educational Tours, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Welcome to a place where the classroom is as fun as the playground. A destination that inspires wonder and challenges curious minds. Where students look forward to every moment with wide-eyed enthusiasm. And never want the lessons to end. Welcome to the destination with fun, more mountain views, more silly science and more lifelong learning experiences for your students.

PigeonForgeTours.com â&#x20AC;˘ 1-800-285-7557

Group Travel Video App Enables Groups to Capture and Share Memories ince 1997, PhotoVision has produced more than 1.25 million videos for all types of travel groups. From 8mm home movies, pictures and slides to

digital images, the company has stayed one step ahead of the curve as technology has advanced. So it’s no surprise that in May 2012 when

Teach Your Student the Value of Memories We’ll Make Them into Something Worth Keeping

The Group Travel Videos App makes it easy to capture the memories of your special event using photos uploaded by your travelers to be preserved on a keepsake DVD. Ask your tour operator to include it in your tour package.

IMAGES COURTESY OF

Call 1-888-533-7637 for more information

www.grouptravelvideos.com 24

Student Travel Planning Guide

company president Dave Martinson traveled to Washington, he noticed that almost everyone was taking pictures with their mobile device and knew it was time to create the Group Travel Video app. The app allows students to privately share photos in one place that they’ve taken during their trip. Group members can access and upload images and videos on the same account through a unique username and password, and family and friends at home can log in to see trip photos. Furthermore, travelers receive a DVD copy of the photo video post-trip, preserving a lifetime of memories. A new and improved version 2.0 allows students to upload up to six photos at once. Notifications remind them to share photos and tell them when the video is ready to watch. Plus, a new “info” button tells them how much time they have left to share photos and how many more photos the group can upload. If you don’t consider yourself tech-savvy, the improved app features a demo video to explain functionality to travelers. Group Travel Video distributes app cards to the group leader to distribute to its members. One side of the card explains the app and what it does. The other side provides unique QR codes for iOS and Android as well as a username and password specific to your group. And keeping up with social media trends, the app allows its users to upload a 90 second highlight video to Facebook or Twitter. The next version of the Group Travel Video app is expected to debut soon. One of the potential improvements to be added in the next version is to allow travelers to write captions for each uploaded photograph. Martinson said, “For now, we want to keep it as simple as possible.” You can watch the videos by visiting http://tinyurl.com/ksekb49. ■

studenttravelplanningguide.com

he world is vast yet small. Over the last 50 years a continual stream of exotic and once unreachable destinations have come within the traveler’s grasp, but not always with the best of results. Over-trafficking and loose regulations of pristine natural areas are resulting in damage and pollution. Once beautiful, quiet little beach towns are collapsing under the burden of rapid overdevelopment, causing a “use them up and move on” wave of destruction sliding along the coastlines. Local customs and cultures are being replaced by a homogeneous whitewash designed to please tourists. However, all is not lost. As group travel leaders, we are not only responsible for the im-

pact of ourselves, but for our entire group, and therefore we carry the extra responsibility of ensuring that the choices we make when planning and executing a journey are environmentally and socially conscious. As student group leaders, we also are entrusted with providing those in our care an educational experience and setting a good example for them to emulate. We have all borne witness to the rapidly increasing options for eco/sustainable tourism, but you may not be fully aware of what is available to you or what steps you can take to ensure minimum impact. Here we provide you with some useful guidelines to follow while on tour with your students, as well as some examples of sustainable activities and tour options.

TEACHING

RESPONSIBLE TOURISM TO STUDENTS

Student travel leaders can take meaningful steps to support sustainability and minimize their group’s impact on destinations and cultures By Lance Harrell

Student Travel Planning Guide

What is Sustainable Tourism? Put simply, it means traveling in such a manner as to preserve the environmental, cultural and economic integrity of the destination while promoting the well-being of the local people. Don’t worry, this is not as complicated or difficult as it might sound.

How Can I Make My Group Trip More Sustainable? There are far too many tips and guidelines in this regard to be contained within the confines of this publication. In fact, our community would love to hear your suggestions and experiences as well, so we invite you to visit the digital version of this article and leave them in the comments (tinyurl.com/nnf5rdx). However, here are a few to get you started: Move Your Group Greenly • When traveling to and from a destination, consider taking a train or bus instead of a plane, and if traveling by plane, try to use only non-stop flights as the majority of an airplane’s fuel is used on takeoff and landing. • When at your destination, consider walking or cycling tours instead of tour buses.

Students install solar panels during GRID’s Solar Spring Break program. Community and sustainability are the core of GRID’s philosophy.

Students on Greenheart Travel’s India program enjoy a cultural outing.

• When choosing a transportation operator, try to find those that use hybrid, electric or natural gas-powered vehicles. Spend Your Dollars Locally • Try to seek out where the locals shop and eat and spend there. By doing this you will support the local economy without driving their infrastructure toward the development of tourist-only vendors. • Only stay in locally owned and operated accommodations, and look for those that have environmentally friendly policies, such as not giving you fresh towels every day. Calculate and Offset Your Carbon Footprint • You can build in the cost of purchasing carbon offset credits from organizations like Carbonfund.org right into the cost of your journey. • Have your students start a carbon footprint reduction campaign six months or a year in advance of the trip. Think of it like a carbon savings account that you can spend on your trip. Make it into a competition, get the community involved. Hopefully the habits picked up for the campaign will become lifelong ones. Choose Green Tour Operators • Many tour companies have policies regarding environmental and socio-economic impact of their tours. Look them over. If they don’t have them, move on. An excellent example of a responsible tour operator that I have had personal experience with is G Adventures. Their stance and policies on sustainable tourism can be seen plain as day (gadventures.com/about-us/sustainable-tourism) • Many destinations now offer eco-certification to tour guides. For example, Eco Tourism Australia has several programs (ecotourism.org.au). Let’s try to encourage this trend by asking for and only using eco-certified tour guides. Reduce, Reuse and Recycle • Make sure not to forget the basics. Write up policies for your students to follow regarding consumption and recycling while on tour. • Have your students pack a reusable water bottle so they don’t have to repeatedly buy bottled water. • Use rechargeable batteries, have your students each pack a reusable canvas bag for carrying purchases and keep a weather eye on littering. Student Travel Planning Guide

Eco-friendly Travel Equipment Now that we have covered some conceptual advice on how to make your group trip more sustainable, let’s turn our attention to the gadgets.

SOLARGO PACK Another slick way to power up in an environmentally friendly way is using this backpack with a solar panel and battery system built right in. It also comes with adapters for most types of devices, so this is a great way to charge up your iPad or phone while you are carrying it around on tour. (solargoproductions.com)

FREELOADER SOLAR CHARGER Not only is this great for everyday use at home, but bringing a solar-powered charging unit along on your trip for the whole group to use allows you to reduce your local power consumption, and also saves money and waste on batteries. (poweryouradventures.com)

To power up your electronic devices on the road, carry the SolarGoPack (left) or the handy Freeloader Solar Charger.

Great Examples of Sustainable Tourism The best practices we have discussed so far can be used regardless of your destination or the purpose of your student trip. However, if the purpose of your trip is to directly contribute to making the world a better place, there are numerous green options for your student group. The following are some of our favorites: G Adventures Considered by many as the archetype for sustainable tourism, G Adventures has built its entire company structure around ensuring that “travel is an exchange, not a commodity” and that by traveling with them, you will give back as much as you receive. Through its Planeterra Foundation, G Adventures sponsors projects that ensure that the communities touched by tourism benefit in sustainable ways and work to minimize the impact tourism has upon the destination. G Adventures’ tours work with small, local businesses that not only keep your travel dollars within the community but provide you with a more authentic cultural experience. To help minimize impact and make sure that everyone receives adequate attention, they normally work with smaller groups (20 or less), although larger, private groups can sometimes be arranged. (gadventures.com) GRID Alternatives Dedicated to “bringing solar technology to communities that would not otherwise have access,” GRID Alternatives has numerous projects running within the United States and internationally. Through a partnership program with the World Wildlife Fund called “Solar Spring 28

Student Travel Planning Guide

Break,” students can help further this mission by learning how to install solar panels to families in need. This is a great way to combine environmental awareness and sustainable social development. (gridalternatives.org) GreenHeart Travel The mission statement of Greenheart Travel makes its goals clear: “Through travel and cultural exchange, we help individuals reach their full potential, leading to a more tolerant, peaceful and environmentally sustainable world.” Their “India Education Adventure” program for teens is a four-week experience broken into two parts. The first two weeks students are placed in an Indian household where they experience the education system, enjoy sightseeing and participate in cultural activities. Then they are off to Palampur in the Himalayas to participate in various volunteer activities, such as conducting awareness campaigns and working with children at a school, day care or orphanage (greenhearttravel.org).

Pulling it All Together You are reading our guide because you are planning a group trip, which means that traveling is important to you and how you seek to educate your students about the world. If we as student group travel leaders hope to maintain this opportunity for future students, we need to be aware of the impact we are having on the destinations to which we love to travel, and take measures to limit any negative impact. We are also accountable for teaching our students how to travel, and embedding the concepts of sustainability into the core of our programs is key to shaping their worldview and producing responsible, caring adults. ■ studenttravelplanningguide.com

STERIPEN ADVENTURER OPTI WATER PURIFIER Ultra-portable and chemical-free, this water purification system is an eco-friendly alternative to buying bottled water on your travels. The UV lamp is powered by two rechargeable AA batteries that can provide 8,000 water treatments.

studenttravelplanningguide.com

ECO ORBIS If any students in your group are in the market for new luggage for the trip, this is a great opportunity for them to make a sustainable purchase. Heys makes a series of luggage sets called Eco Orbis, made from 100% recycled plastic that come in lots of shapes, sizes and colors. (shop.heys.ca)

2C SOLAR LIGHT CAP These are perfect for groups heading into the wilderness for nighttime nature walks or camping trips. Two solar-powered, ultra-bright, warm white LEDs shine down from the capâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s brim for three hours at maximum intensity or eight hours at lower levels. (solarlightcap.com)

Student Travel Planning Guide

TOP ® PICKS water park or living history museum seems like a natural part of a student group trip. So does a safari park or an iconic shrine that reminds students of their country’s roots and its moral fiber. Such attraction categories represent just a few ways of enlivening an itinerary and keeping students talking about the trip for months to come. To provide educators and other tour planners with ideas on freshening up their itineraries, Stu-

dentTravelPlanningGuide.com compiles lists of top attractions in various categories, four of which we feature in the following pages. We don’t rank these sights in any order; our goal is to showcase some of the more notable ones, always with a geographical spread in mind. You may not agree with every item on our “top” lists, but we know they will provide fun reading and food for thought. Perhaps the following listings will spur you to create your own “top” lists.

Top Patriotic Places There are certain icons of freedom that every American should visit at least once in his or her lifetime. No matter how many times you’ve seen pictures of these shrines to our nation’s heroes and heritage, it’s a star-spangled thrill to witness them in person. They appeal to our patriotism and remind us what it means to be an American.

Student Travel Planning Guide

studenttravelplanningguide.com

Events at Baltimore’s Fort McHenry inspired Francis Scott Key to write the national anthem.

Fort McHenry National Monument Baltimore Situated at the entrance to Baltimore’s harbor, the brick fort was the home of the flag that inspired lawyer Francis Scott Key to write the lyrics to “The Star-Spangled Banner” in 1814. A flagchanging ceremony takes place at the beginning and end of each day.

Freedom Trail Boston Marked by a red-brick or painted red line on the sidewalks, the 2.5-mile route snakes from centrally located Boston Common to Charlestown Navy Yard, passing historic sites that recall America’s fight for independence before and during the Revolutionary War. Way stations include the Paul Revere House, Old North Church, Faneuil Hall and USS Constitution.

Mount Rushmore Black Hills, South Dakota

The Liberty Bell Philadelphia In Philadelphia, the birthplace of our nation and its capital from 1790 to 1800, the bell rang out July 8, 1776, to call citizens to the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence. Visitors enter a glass chamber where they are encouraged to observe the 2,080-pound bell in silence.

Arlington National Cemetery Arlington, Virginia Overlooking the Potomac River, just across from Washington, D.C., rows and rows of simple white headstones sweep across the wooded hillsides of our nation’s burial ground, the resting place of soldiers who served their country. A must-do is the solemn guard-changing ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns,

South Dakota Dept. of Tourism

The Alamo San Antonio The former Spanish mission became permanently etched in the annals of American history when 189 men fighting for independence from Mexico turned it into a fortress and for 13 days in 1836 held off some 4,000 troops. All defenders paid the ultimate sacrifice for freedom, but the cry “Remember the Alamo” became the rallying call of the Texas Revolution. The iconic sculpture at South Dakota’s Mount Rushmore depicts four of the greatest presidents.

Carved into a granite peak in western South Dakota, the iconic “Shrine of Democracy” features the chiseled faces of Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt.

National September 11 Memorial & Museum New York City Occupying the site of the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers, the poignant memorial features pools of water embedded in the footprints of the buildings that fell in the 2001 terrorist attacks. The new museum chronicles events of that day.

Pearl Harbor Honolulu Hawaii’s most visited attraction has museum galleries, a waterfront memorial park and movie showing footage of the destruction caused by the Japanese bombings on Dec. 7, 1941 —“a day that will live in infamy,” to use the oft-quoted words of Franklin D. Roosevelt. A Navy launch takes visitors to the USS Arizona Memorial, the final resting place of 1,177 sailors.

Statue of Liberty New York City A beacon of freedom for generations of immigrants who arrived in New York Harbor, this colossal figure remains a symbol not only of New York but of America. Liberty Island ferries depart from Lower Manhattan’s Battery Park. Student Travel Planning Guide

Top Water Parks In the sizzling summer heat, student groups can cool down at a water park. Besides waterslides, wave pools and lazy rivers, some parks offer educational programs that allow students to learn and have fun at the same time. Here we feature 10 great water parks to consider.

The two-passenger Master Blaster, a roller coaster-style ride propelled by jets of water, is a favorite at Schlitterbahn in New Braunfels, Texas.

Noah’s Ark

Disney’s Blizzard Beach

Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin

Orlando, Florida

“America’s Largest Waterpark” is located in the heart of Wisconsin Dells, the “Water Park Capital of the World.” Noah’s Ark offers 49 waterslides, two giant wave pools and two endless rivers, plus mini-golf, a 4D movie theater and a surfing ride. Students enrolled in Ark-ology 101 learn about the physics of how wave pool waves are created.

Blending ski resort and tropical themes, the Disney World water park features Summit Plummet, one of the world’s tallest and fastest free-falling waterslides and side-by-side racing waterslides down Mt. Gushmore.

Kalahari Resorts Sandusky, Ohio America’s largest indoor water park features the Swahili Swirl, a bowl raft ride; the Zip Coaster, an uphill roller coaster waterslide; and plenty of other slides and pools inside and outside. African-themed Kalahari also has a Wisconsin Dells location. 32

Student Travel Planning Guide

Wet ’n Wild Orlando, Florida This Orlando favorite features a six-story, free-fall speed slide, wave pool, lazy river and the four-lane Aqua Drag Racer. For student groups, the STEM Aqua Lab Education program showcases the science and engineering behind the thrills, while the Sun ’n Sounds performance program lets school groups and choirs take the stage. studenttravelplanningguide.com

Water Country USA

Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells offers vast indoor and outdoor water playgrounds.

Williamsburg, Virginia The Mid-Atlantic’s premier water park, located near Busch Gardens, has acres of rides and slides, including Vanish Point, a 75-foot vertical drop slide, and Meltdown, a high-speed toboggan race.

Six Flags White Water Marietta, Georgia With more than 60 attractions including the Cliffhanger, which plummets nine stories, this Atlanta-area splash kingdom is Georgia’s largest water park.

Water World Federal Heights, Colorado Nearly 50 aquatic attractions await groups at this Denver-area water park, including Jetstream, which shoots the rider down twisting dark tubes, two wave pools and a lazy river. An all-you-care-to-eat buffet option is available for groups of 15 or more.

Schlitterbahn New Braunfels, Texas The 70-acre water park features more than 40 rides in six areas including two uphill water coasters, nine tube chutes, the world’s longest tubing adventure, 17 water slides, the Boogie Bahn body boarding ride, a family wave pool, five swimming pools, five heated pools, seven children’s water playgrounds, and water and sand volleyball courts.

Raging Waters San Dimas, California At California’s largest water park, float down the Amazon River, catch a wave on the Flowrider surfing simulator and plunge into total darkness on a four-man raft in Neptune’s Fury, which includes a 60foot drop at 30 miles per hour. Raging Waters also has Sacramento and San Jose locations.

Splish Splash Calverton, New York At this 96-acre Long Island water park, drop eight stories in three seconds on the Cliff Diver extreme body slide, get drenched by fourfoot waves in the wave pool and experience a 40-foot drop in total darkness on Dr. von Dark’s Tunnel of Terror tube slide.

Living History Museums Living history museums engage students in a fun and educational way, usually featuring costumed interpreters doing everyday chores and demonstrating old-time crafts. Many offer programs just for school groups.

Williamsburg Area Destination Marketing Committee

Colonial Williamsburg’s fife and drum corps serves as a musical ambassador for the Revolutionary city.

Colonial Williamsburg

Conner Prairie

Williamsburg, Virginia

Fishers, Indiana

Costumed townspeople go about their everyday life in the world’s largest living history museum, which features hundreds of restored and reconstructed buildings. Exhibits, craft demonstrations and dramatizations portray the story of 18th century Virginia’s capital, a short drive from Jamestown and Yorktown.

In this 200-acre park along the White River, students go back to 1836 as they experience life in a town on the Indiana prairie through role playing, making crafts and meeting costumed interpreters.

Old Cowtown

Grand Island, Nebraska

Wichita, Kansas More than 40 buildings, including a train depot, blacksmith shop, school, general store and Wichita’s first jail, recreate a thriving cattle town in the 1870s. A working farm depicts agricultural history. 34

Student Travel Planning Guide

Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer Students experience life on the Nebraska frontier in this 200-acre museum, best known for the 1890s Railroad Town alive with townspeople conducting business. See hundreds of Western and Native American treasures on display. studenttravelplanningguide.com

Frontier Culture Museum Staunton, Virginia

Old World Wisconsin Eagle, Wisconsin The worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest museum of rural life tells the story of ethnic groups that settled the state through 10 working farmsteads with animals, fields and gardens, and the 1870s Crossroads Village.

Reconstructed working farms at this Shenandoah Valley museum from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries showcase European influences on Appalachian cultural traditions. Costumed interpreters portray rural life in West Africa, Ireland, Germany and England.

Old Sturbridge Village Sturbridge, Massachusetts

Living History Farms

Old Sturbridge Village depicts 1830s New England complete with a rural village, a working farm, water-powered mills and costumed staff who demonstrate skills like pottery making, hearth cooking and blacksmithing. It includes more than 40 restored buildings that were moved from various parts of New England.

Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill

Urbandale, Iowa Focusing on Midwestern rural life from the 1700s to early 1900, the 500-acre agricultural museum features working farms, an Indian village and Walnut Hill, an 1875 frontier town with a mansion, general store, schoolhouse and other buildings. The past comes alive at Old Sturbridge Village in Massachusetts.

Harrodsburg, Kentucky More than 30 original buildings preserve the memory of the Shakers, a communal religious society in the 19th century. They were admired by the outside world for their craftsmanship, particularly furniture making.

LSU Rural Life Museum Baton Rouge, Louisiana This outdoor museum is a re-creation of an 1800s Louisiana plantation, with thousands of artifacts and more than 30 buildings divided into three areasâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the Exhibit Barn, Plantation and Louisiana Folk Architecture. Included are a grist mill, schoolhouse, country church and slave cabins.

Top Safari Parks Student groups can get up-close to mammals from North America, get a taste of the African plains and encounter exotic fauna of other continents at safari attractions across the United States. Besides tours of open countryside teeming with animals, these parks may offer walk-through wildlife exhibits, zip lines and other amusements. They mix outdoor adventure with lessons in biology, zoology and wildlife conservation.

The exclusive Wildside Tour at The Wilds gives guests a chance to interact with animal management specialists at the Ohio conservation center.

San Diego Zoo Safari Park Escondido, California In what is probably the best-known safari park, an open-air tram affords views of elephants, giraffes, zebras and 300 other species that roam freely on vast expanses that simulate their natural habitats. Also visit the walking safari area and the aviary with California condors.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Orlando, Florida One of four theme parks at Walt Disney World Resort, this one includes not only rides and shows but open-air Kilimanjaro Safaris expeditions that take riders through a savanna teeming with antelopes, cheetahs, lions, elephants, giraffes, rhinos, ostriches and other African animals. 36

Student Travel Planning Guide

The Wilds

Lion Country Safari African Adventure Loxahatchee, Florida America’s first drive-through safari park abounds with lions, wildebeests, rhinos, zebras and other exotic animals from Africa, India and South America. It’s divided into seven sections with names like Serengeti Plains and Kalahari Bushveldt, and there’s also a walkthrough amusement park.

Six Flags Great Adventure & Safari Jackson, New Jersey Besides 13 roller coasters, guests at this theme park can ride allterrain vehicles through a 350-acre wildlife preserve for views of lions, giraffes, elephants, rhinos, bears and other animals. studenttravelplanningguide.com

Northwest Trek Wildlife Park Eatonville, Washington

Lee G. Simmons Conservation Park and Wildlife Safari Ashland, Nebraska A four-mile drive through this park affiliated with Omahaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s famous Henry Doorly Zoo highlights such animals as elk, bison, sandhill cranes and other North American species. See gray wolves and bears in Wolf Canyon, which has hiking trails. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a picnic area for groups.

San Diego Zoo Safari Park

A naturalist-guided tram tour showcases animals native to the Pacific Northwest, including moose, caribou, bison, elk and mountain goats. Students also will enjoy the walk-through habitats and a zip line park.

View exotic animals on a Cart Safari at San Diego Zoo Safari Park.

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

Virginia Safari Park Natural Bridge, Virginia

Tampa, Florida

A menagerie of animals, from buffalo and elk to giraffes and zebras, roams this 180-acre drive-through zoo. Observe more exotic creatures in the Safari Village walk-through area. Wagon rides and a picnic area are available.

See cheetahs sprint across the plains and marvel at the freeroaming zebras, giraffes, rhinos and ostriches on the open-air Serengeti Safari tour at this African-themed fun park. Other wildlifeviewing areas include Myombe Reserve, where chimpanzees and gorillas rule.

The Wilds Cumberland, Ohio More than 9,000 acres provide plenty of room for the camels, rhinos, cheetahs, wild horses and other inhabitants to stretch their legs at this conservation center affiliated with the Columbus Zoo. In addition to bus, open-air tram and pick-up truck tours that last just over two hours, there are horseback rides and zip line tours. The grounds include a bird-watching station and butterfly habitat.

Out of Africa Wildlife Park Camp Verde, Arizona The narrated African Bush Safari Tour, by tram or trolley, provides close-up looks at zebras, sable antelope, gemsbok and other game on the Serengeti preserve. Also entertaining visitors are the Giant Snake Show and other wildlife presentations.

2014/2015 BRANSON GUIDE TO STUDENT SHOWS & ATTRACTIONS Shows & Attractions

Contact

Phone

Email & Website

Programs

#1 Hits of the 60’s

Amber Campbell

417-339-1968 877-339-1960

amcamproductions@yahoo.com www.1Hitsofthe60s.com

Critique of performance by professional entertainers; simulated “audition” using show material; preshow performance opportunities.

Acrobats of China featuring Lovely Fish the New Shanghai Circus

417-336-8888 877-212-4462

SalesDirector@AcrobatsOfChina. com www.AcrobatsOfChina.com

Learn Chinese culture durin Q&A with acrobats and how laws of physics govern human physical performances. Preshow performances available.

Ayo starring Voices of Angie Harris Glory at Hughes Brother Theatre

417-334-0076 800-422-0076

GroupSales@HBTBranson.com www.BransonAYO.com

Performance opportunities. Q&A with young America’s Got Talent Top 5 finalists who write, produce, market and star in their own show.

Branson Zipline Canopy Tours at Wolfe Creek Preserve

Wes Stoner

417-561-0699 800-717-0998

GroupSales@BransonZipline.com www.BransonZipline.com

Authentic World-Class Eco-Adventure. Guided tours include Ecological, Topographical, Historical, and Cultural info. Zipline & Hiking tours. Private meeting space.

Buck Trent Country Music Show

Jean Trent

417-335-5428 800-764-9324

GroupSales@BuckTrent.com www.BuckTrent.com

Pre-show performances. Clinic & music history from two-time CMA Instrumentalist of the Year, Buck Trent and All-Star cast.

The Butterfly Palace and Rainforest Adventure

Brittney Braden 417-332-2231

brittney@thebutterflypalace.com www.thebutterflypalace.com

Thousands of live butterflies await your group on this interactive adventure! Customized educational tours available.

Clay Cooper Theatre

Pat Veach

417-337-7123 888-222-8910

pat@claycopper.biz www.claycoopertheatre.com

Educate, encourage, and inspire your students with professional performance opportunities at Clay Cooper Theatre!

Doug Gabriel #1 Hits Tribute

Teresa L Bangma

417-337-8300 800-954-8554

Tbangma@aol.com www.douggabriel.com

Pre-show performances available. Then enjoy #1 Hits from music to movies and comedy. Great Fun!

The Dutton Family Theatre Judith Dutton

417-332-2772 800-400-9343

judith@theduttons.com www.theduttons.com

Perform on the same stage as NBC’s America’s Got Talent Stars, The Duttons! Work with their tech crew, and have an opportunity to meet the performers themselves. Master classes and clinics available.

Hamners’ Unbelievable Variety Show

Vance Hebblethwaite

417-334-4363 888-335-2080

sales@HamnersUnbelievable.com

Magic, music, dance. We offer clinics, pre-show performances and an Educational Veterans Tribute.

The Haygoods

Krista Jeffries

417-339-4663 Ext. 306

krista@thehaygoods.com www.thehaygoods.com

Unique performance and educational programs available through Branson On Stage Live! Come and be a STAR!

Hughes Brothers Theatre - “it”

Angie Harris

417-334-0076 Ext. 2206 800-422-0076

angieh@hughesbrothers.com www.itbranson.com

This is your opportunity to perform “with” music professionals as you become a part of “it”.

Kayak Branson

Carla & Rodney 417-336-2811 Wright

info@kayakbranson.com www.kayakbranson.com

Fun and informative adventure down Lake Taneycomo or Table Rock Lake with our experienced guides and learn about the lakes ecosystem.

King’s Castle Theatre

Lisa Martin

417-336-7910 888-462-7267

lisasalesbvt@aol.com www.kingscastletheatre.com

We offer pre-show performance opportunities, vocal and dance clinics, as well as technical clinics.

Legends In Concert

Jennifer Rodgers

417-339-3003 800-374-7469

jrodgers@legendsinconcert.com www.legendsinconcert.com

Showcase your talent on our stage! Special educational programs and performance opportunities are available.

For a complete list of shows and attractions, visit ExploreBranson.com

PERFORMANCE & EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES Marco Polo

Jennifer Mayfield

417-335-2396 Ext. 226

jennifer@thewhitehousetheatre.com International cast of 66. Travel with Marco Polo on his www.thewhitehousetheatre.com journey through China. Learn about Chinese culture.

Ride The Ducks

Sarah Hammons

417-266-7607 800-335-2279

shammons@bransonducks.com www.bransonducks.com

Branson’s only historical sightseeing tour! Teacher Resource Guide available for pre and post activities.

Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! Odditorium

John Dixon

417-337-5300

dixon@ripleys.com www.ripleys.com/branson

We offer awesome scavenger hunts, crossword puzzles, word searches, geography worksheets and mini workbooks.

Showboat Branson Belle

Teina Woodburn

417-336-7411 800-618-9283

twoodburn@silverdollarcity.com www.showboatbransonbelle.com

Opportunity for performance on stage and on the White River Landing dock area.

Sight & Sound Theatres

Michael Pitman 417-335-7900 Ext.7150 800-377-1277

mike.pitman@sight-sound.com www.sight-sound.com

Experience Sight & Sound Theatre’s epic production, and enjoy an actor-lead educational behind-thescenes tour.

Silver Dollar City

Teina Woodburn

417-336-7411 800-618-9283

twoodburn@silverdollarcity.com www.silverdollarcity.com

Performance opportunities on park.

SIX

Connie Floray

417-230-5546 877-SIX-SHOW

connie@thesixshow.com www.thesixshow.com

SIX Voices, ZERO Instruments, ALL Music! Add to your “SIXPERIENCE” with optional Performance Opportunities, Q&A, industry education or coaching.

Titanic Museum Attraction Ruthann Crust

800-381-7672

ruthann.crust@titanicattraction.com Students search for knowledge at Titanic Museum www.titanicbranson.com Attraction. Plus offers student groups an opportunity to perform.

Welk Theatre

417-243-1227 800-808-9355

tslentz@welkgroup.com www.welkbranson.com

Tammy Slentz

Educational backstage tour showcasing the history and memorabilia of the most successful music show in television history! Pre-Show performance opportunities.

STUDENT TRAVEL PACKAGERS/MUSICAL EVENT PLANNERS Company

Contact

Phone

Email & Website

Programs

Branson Country Tours

Pam Burke

417-336-2220 800-841-2376

bctours@aol.com www.bransoncountrytours.com

We are experienced student group travel planners. Fun trips with optional performances and educational activities.

Branson On Stage Live! Greg Hoffman New Student Performance Management Company

417-334-5599 877-293-1612

greg@bransononstagelive.com www.bransononstagelive.com

Performances, clinics, festivals, other performance showcase opportunities that create educational and entertaining experiences for a lifetime!

Branson Tourism Center

800-268-4014

annettewood@ bransontourismcenter.com www.BransonGroups.com

Personalized clinics, preshow opportunities, and much more. All available for your students with just one call.

Ozark Country Vacations & Carl Wade Cruises, Inc.

417-335-2332 800-463-4254

bransonvac@aol.com www.bransonfuntravel.com

Providing student group travel and performance opportunities for 31 years.

Ozarks’ Kirkwood Tour & Travel

417-335-4668 800-848-5432

tickets@ozarkskirkwood.com www.ozarkskirkwood.com

Customized itinerary planning for educational performance or entertainment purposes. We are your contact for all of your Branson travel needs.

417-337-9500 855-793-3841

elaine@student-youthtravel.com www.sweetmagnoliatours.com

Easy, safe, affordable. Complete customized performance and educational tours. One call to plan all!

Sweet Magnolia Tours

Annette Wood, CTIS

Elaine Moulder

While we have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, we cannot be held liable if errors or changes have occurred.

M A K I N G

T R A C K S

Across Europe By Randy Mink

Rail Europe’s group department smoothes the way for student travel planners

hey started arriving at London’s St. Pancras International station—18 busloads in all—about three hours before their train departed for Paris. This was no ordinary train, the boarding process no everyday occurrence. As a journalist writing for Student Travel Planning Guide, I was there to report on how Rail Europe’s group department handled an exclusive charter for 734 students, teachers and guides traveling with EF Education First, the Switzerland-based student tour operator with offices in Boston and other cities around the world. Yes, EF took over the entire Eurostar train—not just a car or two—on a high-speed, London-Paris run

Student Travel Planning Guide

via the Channel Tunnel. If the logistics of organizing a one-day bus trip seem daunting, imagine what chartering a whole train entails. Yet the crack operation went off with military precision, thanks to months of advance planning and day-of-departure help from 20-plus Eurostar, Rail Europe and EF staffers. Every detail had been nailed down—from the lanyards and wristbands to the sack lunch and bus transfers. It probably helped that the students’ 1,255 pieces of luggage were shipped ahead to their Paris hotel; the luggage racks in the cars were almost empty. (When EF chartered the train last year, every student was schlepping luggage, which didn’t make the mass movement any easier.) A Eurostar train holds only 750, so the rest of the EF group was put on later, regularly scheduled trains to Paris. While a full charter is highly unusual, Rail Europe’s staff in White Plains, New York works with groups of all sizes—as small as 10—and provides other services in addition to issuing train tickets.

studenttravelplanningguide.com

I had been invited by Rail Europe to tag along for the day with the big contingent of middle school students from Mexico that had just completed a two-week, English-language session at the Bournemouth (England) International Qultural Fest. A few days in Paris, including a visit to Disneyland Paris, would round out their spring trip to Europe. Once I had entered St. Pancras station at around 9 a.m., I had no trouble finding the roped-off boarding area where the students were going through airline-style security. Pink was the color of the

studenttravelplanningguide.com

Student Travel Planning Guide

Osterreich Verbung/Ache

Europe’s high-speed trains provide a smooth, comfortable and quiet ride.

day. At the Eurostar gate dedicated to the group were EF stand-up signs and lighted overhead panels displaying the bright pink EF logo. Backpack-toting students and their chaperones were draped with pink lanyards bearing a tag inscribed with their name, car number and seat number, and a pouch for the passport. Each wore a pink EF bracelet that served as a rail ticket. As I mingled with students waiting in line outside the gate, a whole new busload would arrive. Many of the students, from all over Mexico, told me they had never been on a train before. Despite the size of the group, everything seemed to be orderly. Once past security, the students flooded the waiting area, many of them sprawling out on the floor. Some tore into their Caffe Nero bag lunches (sandwich, chips, cookie or muffin, water bottle) right away, not waiting for the train ride. Though it could have been a chaotic scene, the group was extremely well mannered, from the time they arrived at St. Pancras to disembarkation at Paris’ Gare du Nord. Onboard they slept, chatted quietly, played cards and attended to their electronic devices. On the two-hour-and-15-minute ride from London to the Continent, I sat in a car with EF staff and Fred Spagnuolo, director of Rail Europe’s group department, who told me that his office is not an impersonal call center. Rather, it’s a small team of highly experienced consultants who offer personalized service as it handles a group’s request from start to finish. Assisting more than 200,000 travelers a year, the group office in White Plains consists of 13 personnel, including seven sales consultants, two managers and support staff. “The Rail Europe group department works with all of the major student tour operators as well as directly with high schools and universities,” Spagnuolo said. “Because the student market is very cost-conscious, we always look for the most competitive rates. We will even provide alternate departure times if traveling an hour before or after their original request is less expensive.”

Randy Mink

A Eurostar train trip from London to Paris offered a relaxing interlude for Mexican students and chaperones traveling with EF Education First.

The staff in Rail Europe’s group department has worked for tour operators or have experience with itinerary planning, said Spagnuolo, who once worked for Globus. “This allows us to have a unique perspective when arranging rail transportation as we understand the logistics of touring and importance of scheduling within a day’s itinerary.” Incorporating a rail segment or two into a group tour of Europe breaks up the days of bus travel and adds a bragging-rights feature, especially if it’s a high-speed train like a TGV from Paris to Nice, an AVE from Madrid to Seville or Eurostar service via the Channel Tunnel. High-speed trains average 186 mph. Frequent departures, from city center to city center, make it easy to plug a rail trip into an itinerary. Also popular are scenic routes in the Alps, such as Switzerland’s Glacier Express. Rail Europe Inc., owned by the French National Railroads (SNCF) and Swiss Federal Railways (SBB), is the largest North American distributor of European rail products, offering point-to-point tickets and a variety of rail passes. Though train seats do not open for sale until a few months before departure, groups seeking to block space should request it from Rail Europe as soon as they know their exact travel dates, Spagnuolo said. Their information immediately is loaded into the system and will be ready and waiting once the seats open for sale. Eurostar seats become available 160 days prior; for other trains it’s 60 to 90 days. Since payment is not required until 35 days prior to departure, there is no risk in reserving space far in advance, Spagnuolo said. Besides booking blocks of train tickets, Rail Europe’s group department offers other travel services, which comes as a surprise to some tour planners. “They say, ‘oh, I didn’t know you could go that,’” Spagnuolo remarked. “It’s our job to educate them about what we can do for them.” Among those extra services are booking museum passes, metro cards and hop-on, hop-off city bus tours. Luggage handling, onboard catering, and airport or hotel transfers by coach or mini-van also can be arranged.

No matter the destination, passengers on European trains can expect a smooth, quiet ride on comfortable chairs with head, arm and foot rests, and a pull-down table. Being free to walk around—or just knowing that you can—is another highlight of train travel. On major routes there’s usually a snack car. First-class cars usually feature three seats across, four across in second class. There’s a bathroom every two cars, and I was impressed with the automatic hand dryers on my recent rail trip around Western Europe. On the Eurostar journey to Paris, EF students were split up between cars in three classes of service—Business Premier (premium first class), Standard Premier (first) and Standard Class (second). Normally, a warm, three-course meal is served in business, while first-class passengers get a cold meal and second-class customers have access to snacks in the bar car. Eurostar business and firstclass cars feature three seats across, with a pull-down table or seats facing each other (called Clubs 2s and Club 4s) with a table in between. Eurostar International, owned by British, French and Belgian railway companies, plans to have a fleet of 14 refurbished e300 trains and 10 brand new e320s ready by 2015. Moreover, it will introduce London-Amsterdam service in 2016, with two e320s daily making the four-hour trip with stops in Brussels, Antwerp, Rotterdam and Schipol Airport. Now the tunnel trains connect London with just Paris, Brussels (two hours) and Lille, France (one hour and 20 minutes). Traveling at speeds up to 200 mph, the new e320s will have a capacity of 900 passengers (compared to the current 750). The London-Paris jaunt will be trimmed to two hours, Brussels to 1.5 hours. (Until Eurostar began service in 1994, the London-Paris trip, with a ferry link, took more than nine hours.) The tunnel linking Great Britain with continental Europe is actually three interconnected tunnels—one rail track for each direction (northbound and southbound) and one service tunnel. Its length is 31 miles, of which 23 are underwater. The average depth is 150 feet under the seabed. Most in our EF group were so busy talking or reading that we were halfway through the tunnel before we knew it. And soon we were disembarking at Paris’ Gare du Nord, where students were led to waiting buses just outside the rail yard. Whether traveling underwater or through majestic mountain passes, to capital cities or small villages, student groups booked on European trains can look forward to a relaxing ride and a chance to experience the latest innovations in rail transportation. All aboard for the Old World! For help with arranging train travel in Europe, call Rail Europe’s group department at 800-462-2577, email groups@raileurope.com or submit a group request using the website, www.raileurope.com/grouptravel/group-travel.html. ■

TIPS

for Student Trip Planning A

nyone who’s ever organized a trip for their students know these adventures don’t just happen – they take hours of careful planning and a team of competent individuals ready, willing and able to assist. Whether it’s choosing a hotel, chartering a bus, selecting chaperones or mapping out a trip planning timeline, our editors chime in on how to keep your next student trip on track.

Negotiating with Hotels If you are not working with a tour operator, you will need to negotiate directly with the hotel sales department to get the best deal for your group. You’ll rest more comfortably by following these tips: 1 Provide the sales department with the approximate number of sleeping rooms needed, the types of rooms needed, and the dates you want 2 Book early to ensure your preferred dates and save money, and avoid national holidays unless your trip is based around it 3 Ask if free breakfast is included and whether it is continental, buffet or a full hot breakfast 4 Inquire about the hotel’s comp policy—free rooms provided for x number of reservations 5 Determine if the room rate includes all taxes, tips and hotel/resort fees 6 Ask about free meeting/party rooms and welcome receptions 7 Find out if there is free internet access 8 Inquire if the hotel has been used by other student groups 9 Use technology to your advantage; websites like grouptravel.hotelplanner.com allow you to post your group request and multiple hotels will bid on your business 10 Know the deposit and final payment date Before you sign on the dotted line, know the following: 11 Be aware of the last day to cancel without losing money 12 Find out if the hotel has an attrition clause on unused rooms 13 Get everything in writing, from total price to number of rooms to the smallest promised service 14 Research the safety of the neighborhood where the hotel is located using websites like spotcrime.com 15 Investigate the distance from the central city or major attractions using sites like Walkscore.com 16 Inquire about the hotel’s security program 17 Inquire about airport/mall transportation – if you have long days on the bus, this will help out the driver immensely ©iStock.com/DragonImages

Student Travel Planning Guide

studenttravelplanningguide.com

Choosing Great Chaperones Chaperones Should… 18 Have experience working with adolescents 19 Be willing to help plan and facilitate activities 20 Be able to attend all pre-tour meetings 21 Assist with documentation needs such as passports and visas 22 Prepare to spend money on items not covered in tour

OCEAN CITY, MD

A DIFFERENT KIND OF CITY. A BETTER KIND OF YOUTH TRIP. Your students and youth groups will love going to Ocean City, MD. And you’ll love what they take away.

23 Be able to chaperone small groups of students on flights or tours

• Action-packed sports venues • Amazing historical museums • 10-mile beach for hours of • Beautiful environmental parks • New performing arts center fun in the sand!

24 Follow all tour guidelines in respect to student expectations

PERFORMING ARTS

EDUCATION

ENTERTAINMENT

Roland E. Powell Convention Center

Assateague Island

FREE 3-mile Boardwalk

CVB DESTINATION SALES & MARKETING MANAGER

Norma Dobrowolski – 800.626.2326

On Tour Responsibilities Include… 25 Being on call 24/7 in case of emergency 26 Assisting with student disciplinary matters 27 Responsibility for small groups of students throughout tour 28 Helping facilitate curfews and room checks at night 29 Staying behind if a student is too ill to participate in the day’s activities 30 Accompanying a student home in case of severe illness 31 Making sure students are ready at the proper time 32 Monitoring activities during free time 33 Willingness to accompany students on free day excursions 34 Taking over the group if the lead teacher cannot complete the tour

THE OCEAN CITY, MD, CVB

Creating a Trip Planning Timeline 18-24 months prior 35 Determine purpose of trip – academic or sightseeing 36 Develop list of invitees 37 Make a list of potential destinations – domestic and international 38 Determine approximate length and dates of trip 39 Have an approximate cost in mind

peter_owens@emerson.edu

12 months prior 40 Choose location and dates 41 Choose tour operator or start making arrangements on own 42 Finalize itinerary and set price 43 Start chaperone selection process 44 Announce tour and start promoting it – snail mail, email, social media and in-school 45 Create fundraising plan

newseum.org ∙ Washington, D.C. ∙ 202/292-6690

6-9 months prior 46 Early participants should be signed up with deposits paid 47 Create a list of reading materials or study exercises to prepare students 48 If a passport or visa is required, now is the time to apply 49 Promotion, promotion, promotion 3 months prior 50 Contact students who have shown interest but not committed 51 Final payments start becoming due 52 Arrange group transportation to and from airport (if needed) 53 Have students choose roommates for hotels One month prior 54 Schedule a final meeting to confirm trip details and packing lists 55 Gather emergency contact, medical and allergy information 56 For overseas trips, ensure participants have passports, adaptors for electronics and spending money in proper currency

Tips for Chartering a Bus Before signing on the dotted line, ask these questionsâ&#x20AC;Ś 57 How long has your company been in business? 58 How many motorcoaches do you own? 59 What is the average age of your fleet? 60 What onboard amenities will the coach you charter have? 61 Are food and beverages allowed onboard? 62 When quoting rates, are taxes, tips, parking, tolls and driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hotel room included? 63 What are the deposit, final payment and cancellation clauses and dates? Safety and Financial Matters 64 Motorcoach companies must have federal operating authority if they cross state or provincial lines and should be able to offer you that proof 65 Ask for a current insurance certificate that provides a minimum of $5 million in liability coverage 66 Ask for the US DOT number which allows you to view the carrierâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s safety and insurance information 67 Ask the company about safety and inspection policies 68 Long or quick turn-around trips may require an extra driver to adhere to federal hours of service safety regulations 69 Ask if the operator is a member of bus industry associations ABA or UMA 70 For customer service ratings on bus companies, contact www.bbb.org

Holiday Traditions Live Here! November 7, 2014 - January 4, 2015

Book Today! (800) 733-2077 cincymuseum.org/groups

One Name: t Student Travel Planning Guide, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve created one consolidated platform that connects you with inspirational and actionable information to help you through the planning stages of your journey. The perfect companion resource, StudentTravelPlanningGuide.com is a community-focused website featuring hundreds of destination reviews, student itineraries, insider advice and planning tools, updated year round. We understand that time is a precious commodity, so when designing the website, two concepts were paramount: First, our fully responsive design provides you with the best possible user experience regardless of whether you are on a pc, tablet or smartphone. Second, we aimed to provide a variety of information so that you can pick what best suits your needs. Within every piece of content we will provide you the means you require to take the next step, whether it is booking a hotel, contacting a destination, inquiring about travel insurance or buying tickets for a Broadway play. We also know that on occasion you may not have the time to come to us, so through our InSite on Student Travel newsletter and social media, we provide the latest updates and happenings from our community and trends in student travel.

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Many Faces What You’ll Find Inside We make it easy for you to find all the information you need with our locationbased architecture. Using our dedicated search page, enter the location you are interested in, for example, New York or Italy, and instantly be delivered relevant information on ONLY that location. If you happen to already be reading one of our articles on, let’s say, Birmingham, the sidebar of the website will provide you with the latest content we have on Alabama, such as Site InSpections, Itineraries, Company Profiles, etc. So just what ARE all these content types we keep talking about?

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In depth and focused, Site InSpections provide you with critical and timely information about a destination, attraction or tour operator.

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Top Picks

From presidential museums and performance parades to shopping centers and water parks, we provide you with the best of the best.

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Itineraries

Provided by experts on the destination, these day-by-day guides lay out well timed and interesting excursions for your student group.

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Planning Tips

Coming from the best and brightest in student travel, these pieces will help you avoid common pitfalls and streamline your planning process.

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Company Profiles

Snapshots of student travel suppliers, Company Profiles provide you short, quickly digestible summaries of tour operators, transportation providers and the like.

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Sometimes you just want to get a feel for a location to see how it might suit your group; our destination articles give you a taste of what could be.

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Advertiser Name ❑ America’s Premier Shopping Places ❑ Bob Rogers Travel ❑ Branson Country Tours, Branson, MO ❑ Branson Lakes CVB, MO ❑ Brightspark Travel ❑ Celtic Tours World Vacations ❑ Cincinnati Museum Center, OH ❑ City of Lewisville, TX ❑ Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, Williamsburg, VA ❑ Country Music Hall of Fame, Nashville, TN ❑ Cracker Barrel Old Country Store ❑ Denver Art Museum, Denver, CO ❑ Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede Dinner Attraction ❑ Earl Enterprises Family of Restaurants ❑ EF Educational Tours ❑ Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta, GA ❑ Globus Family of Brands ❑ Goodtime III, Cleveland, OH ❑ Group Travel Video ❑ Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, VA ❑ Jazz at Lincoln Center, New York, NY ❑ Mall of America, Bloomington, MN ❑ Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament, Myrtle Beach, SC ❑ Mount Washington Cog Railway, NH ❑ Music Festivals To You ❑ New York Water Taxi, NY ❑ Newseum, Washington, D.C. ❑ Oak Alley Plantation, Vacherie, LA ❑ Ocean City CVB, MD ❑ Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism, TN ❑ Ripley's Believe It or Not! Times Square, New York, NY ❑ Ron Jon Surf Shop, Cocoa Beach, FL ❑ Smithsonian, Washington, D.C. ❑ The House of the Seven Gables, Salem, MA ❑ Twin America Sightseeing Tours & Cruises, New York, NY ❑ Visit Knoxville, TN ❑ Visit Norfolk, VA ❑ Wisconsin Dells VCB, WI ❑ WonderWorks

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