Group Travel?

[rosalee]

Hi--

I've been looking around online and since this seems to be the most informative place for European travel thought I'd throw out a question for you.

I am a history teacher in an extremely underprivileged high school. I'm trying to find a way to take a small group of highly motivated students on a trip during the summer. (Not this summer, next summer at the earliest, but probably the summer of '07 would be the first trip) I'm trying to find the cheapest way of doing this, since the money for the trip will probably come from fundraising activities and local business contributions.

I've looked at the "educational travel" services, but they seem a bit overpriced.

Would it be feasible for six adults to take a group of 15-20 kids on a short trip(probably about two weeks), and stay in hostels along the way? More to the point, do hostels give group rates? What about Busabout? Railpasses are so expensive that it looks like Busabout would be a good option for our purposes.

Alright, fire away. I'm still in the way-early research stage of this, but want to figure out if it's feasible before school ends so we can start recruiting and interviewing interested kids, so let me know of any thoughts that pop in your heads.

Thanks for any help--RR

[Jocelyne]

My friend went to Paris and LOndon a couple years ago with the school they used car washes too raise the money (when it can time to go they justb had to bring spending money)they stayed in hostels I believe they did gave a discount but I guess its up to the hostel if they want to give one or not. They flew in to London took the tube to Paris and used local transportation to get around each city.They also did an exchange program with a school just outside of paris so that week they stayed with the person they were doing an exchange with(but everyone met up to see the sites) My friend loved it! They only had I think 2 or 3 teachers to a group of 15 I believe and everyone came back in one piece. Well goodluck with the planning!
Jocelyne

[dumbdiety]

rosalee,
While the 'educational trip' services DO seemed over price, many times it included EVERYTHING except souvineer (wow, I KNOW I spelled that wrong) money. Food, transport, hotels, tickets, EVERYTHING is paid for. They also provide you with a guide for the entire (or nearly entire) trip, and they're great fun!
As for doing it on your own, I'm sure some hostels will work with you on discounting large groups, moreso since you've got a good years lead time. However, because it'll be during summer, it might be harder to work it out since that's their busiest time.
Just a Q or two: Where would you be flying from? What places would you like to visit?

Note from Doug: Finally! An educational trip question! Something I can help someone with! Whoo hoo!

[Libby]

I went on one of those trips when I was in High School. We only went to London, but we daytripped to a number of other locations.

We worked our butt off raising money. Car washes, bake sales, we sold bottles of pop door to door over Christmas, we sold travel mugs and t-shirts. We worked about a year on the trip but it was worth it.

We got really good rates at a London hotel that had two twin beds and a cot in each room. We all had tube passes by the time we got there and we had group discounts on many of the attractions. It was really a great trip.

[WillTravel]

The group bookings at hostels might give you a little cheaper price, but not that much. Often airfare is not cheaper at all, because you can't get 10 tickets at a seat sale price (for example). But you can look at the figures for budget travel and use those as a starting point. I'd suggest against going to too many places. It's easier to get cheaper rates if you stay several days, and it starts to feel a lot like work if there are too many early starts to head off to yet the next place.

[rosalee]

Thanks for the responses!

Jocelyne--What kind of exchange program was that? I would love to give my kids the experience of living with a family! Oh, and I said six adults b/c there are two other teachers who are interested in doing this and I figure our spouses won't like being left at home!

Doug--We'll probably be flying out of New Orleans or Houston. I want to give the kids a say in picking their destination, but their choices will probably be between the UK, France, or Italy.

WillTravel--Do you think we would be able to get tickets cheaper on a charter flight?

Once again, thanks for the help. I'm trying to find a travel agent to help with this stuff, but all the ones I've talked to seem to have no clue on anything except Disneyworld, Caribbean cruises, and Grand Circle Travel. If anyone knows any good agents in the New Orleans area, let me know!!--RR

[WillTravel]

Do you have charter flights that leave from New Orleans or thereabouts? I am not sure how that works. We do have several charter airline options in Canada, but we don't charter the plane ourselves if we have a group trip.

I was just talking to a teacher tonight about school field trips (we're in Canada). She was saying it is almost impossible, since 9/11, to take a class from Canada to the US, because insurance rates have risen so prohibitively. I would sadly suspect the same might be true for a trip from the US to Europe. Insurance might be one of the first issues to look at.

[Carol]

I am taking a group to London, Paris and Switzerland later this year.

Here is what I have done
1. Find a good TA. We got pretty good prices for summer tickets $598 (into London out of Paris with departure over a holiday weekend in the US). She was able to get us 11 tickets at that rate.

2. Hostels do give group rates, but don't rule out the 1 and two star hotels. We have a one star hotel in Paris. In London, the Universities rent out dorm rooms. (See Lonely Planet guide books for details)

I am doing this trip for less then a simular tour that the same group took on EF Tours several years ago and I did not find it included "everything". It did not include any lunches and admissions were really limited. (For example, we drove by the Tower of London instead of going in!)

Fund Raising.
we have done all kinds of things.
If you do car washes go to an upscale neighborhood, they tip better.

[dumbdiety]

Well, for a two week trip that includes London and Paris, it ranges from $1600 to $2100. Obviously, it's cheaper from October through January, but prices are decent Feb till May. They skyrocket over June/July, however. This is all through EFTours by the way. You can click the link below to see more about it.
www.eftours.com/public/browse/browse_detail.asp?CTID=LPD%20B

As an aside, is this a European History class, or a general World History class? $1600 can be A LOT of money for the underprivileged students (I know, SoFla has many underprivileged sections), and that $1600 is travel during winter time. What about a US History Road Trip (pluggin my own favored method of trips)? They are MUCH cheaper, and many people (even in my college classes!) haven't even seen much of the United States!

[CuriousToronto]

I just wanted to wish you the best of luck with everything. Don't have any experience planning trips abroad for kids but I certainly commend what you are doing.

In terms of alternatives in case it doesn't work out -- I'd like to suggest a trip to Quebec City. To me it's the perfect half-way point in between Europe and North America. It's a blending of the two cultures. All the North American conveniences with the charm, history, language, and great food of the French.

I first visited Quebec City in grd. 7 and I can still remember thinking "Wow -- I want to live here one day!" I loved it!! To be honest I believe that was the beginning of my love-affair with the French language and culture.

Besides, then depending on where you are coming from you may even be able to GreyHound your way there.

Cheers!

[rosalee]

Carol--
That is an awesome rate! How long is your trip for? ould yu tell me your travel agent's name, or agency? Maybe they can recomend someone in my area, or maybe they can set up our trip.

Doug--
We don't plan on taking a specific class. We plan to have kids apply. Then using GPA's, teacher recommendations, and community service, we will select the students most qualified. By starting WAY ahead of time, we are trying to make the trip almost free for the students. So they only have to bring spending money. I've talked to a few local businesses, and most are willing to give charitable contributions to us, if they're asked far enough ahead of time to get it onto their taxes for the year. Without contributions and fundraising it would be practically impossible for the great majority of our students to take a trip anywhere, and I want to give students who are working hard to pull themselves out the chance to see what education can make available to them.

CuriousToronto--
We have a lot of that French culture in south Louisiana too!!

Thanks again for all the help--RR