SCHOOL TRIPS TO ITALY AND GREECE

Careful preparation

• compliance with school/LEA guidelines

• use reputable tour operators licensed by ATOL (Air Travel Organisers Licence)

• exploratory visit

• consult other schools

• compare the different tour operators

Staffing

• school will dictate this, depending on numbers, age and gender

• one member of staff should be able to speak the language

Preparing the pupils

• language

• money, food and drink

• phones

• emergency procedures

• code of conduct

• culture (dress codes, body language)

• alcohol usage, drugs

Briefing for parents 1

• purpose and dates of visit

• modes of travel

• accommodation

• details of cost

• insurance details

• health and safety, medical matters

• standards of behaviour

Briefing for parents 2

• remote supervision

• evening activities

• swimming

• kit list

• contact details

• special needs

Paperwork (to be taken)

• group list, photographs• travel tickets, passports, visas and copies• parental consent forms, medical forms,

European Health Insurance Card• contact details• accommodation details• insurance arrangements• details of local medical services, consulate

Paperwork(to be left at school)

• group list

• copies of parental consent forms, medical forms

• contact details

• accommodation details

• insurance arrangements

During the visit

• issue pupils with appropriate details of hotel, staff contacts etc.

• establish system for identifying pupils

• establish a clear emergency procedure

• issue clear instructions especially regarding free time

Budget

• tour price• transport (coach to and from airport in

England)• insurance (your school insurance may

cover this)• admission fees (if not included)

– (a letter on school headed note paper will get you free entry to sites in Greece)

• extra staff?• contingency, treats

NST TOUR PRICES INCLUDE

• one spouse or child concession of 50% for the party leader with a minimum group size of 30 full paying persons

• 1 free staff place for 10 paying persons• half board accommodation • 24 hour emergency assistance• insurance• all airport taxes and security charges

• hotel voucher for a 2 day inspection visit

EF TOUR PRICES INCLUDE

• ‘all-inclusive prices with no hidden extra costs’• 1 free staff place for 6 paying persons• half board accommodation in 2* or 3* hotels, en

suite rooms• a full time Tour Director available 24 hours a day• guided sight seeing tours• free inspection visit• comprehensive insurance

STS TOUR PRICES INCLUDE

• leader’s spouse and child 50% concession

• 1 free staff place for 8 paying persons (coach); 1:10 (air)

• half or full board depending on the tour

• some entrance fees

• comprehensive travel insurance

• all airport taxes

Tips

• sight see in the morning, travel in the afternoon

• negotiate with tour operator (all three companies claim that tours can be tailor-made to suit the specific needs of individual groups)

• see something new each time

Questions

• how big should the party be?

• single sex or a joint venture?

• how easy is it to organise the tour myself?

• should I take girls to Italy?

• to guide or not to guide?

WHERE TO GO IN GREECE

• Athens• Delphi• Olympia, Bassae• Mycenae, Tiryns, Nemea, Argos, Epidauros• Corinth• Cape Sounion, Eleusis• Saronic Islands (Aegina, Poros, Hydra)• Sparta, Pylos, Sphacteria

EVENINGS IN GREECE

• meal out

• Greek dancing

• son et lumière

• diary writing

• Easter celebrations

• slide show

Sample itinerary for Greece

• Day 1: depart 17.50, arrive Athens at 04.25 on day 2.• Day 2: transfer to Delphi via Ossios Loukas (Byzantine church) and

Arachova. • Day 3: visit Delphi museum and site; transfer to Olympia. • Day 4: visit Olympia; transfer to Pylos. • Day 5: boat trip to Sphakteria; visit Nestor’s palace and Oxbelly Bay

(ancient Pylos); transfer to Tolon. • Day 6: visit Mycenae, Nemea (and Nauplion if time); free afternoon

in Tolon.• Day 7: transfer to Athens via Epidauros; Athens National Museum.• Day 8 visit Theatre of Dionysus, Acropolis and Agora. Depart hotel

at 16.00 arrive 1.00am on day 9.

WHERE TO GO IN ITALY

• Rome:• Ostia Antica• Tivoli (Hadrian’s villa, Villa d’Este)• Bay of Naples:• Pompeii, Herculaneum, Vesuvius• Naples (museum)• Paestum, Amalfi coast• Cumae, Pozzuoli, Solfatara• Island of Capri

Sample itinerary for Italy

• Day 1: flight to Rome; visit Colosseum• Day 2: Rome: imperial fora; Capitoline and Palatine;

Pantheon• Day 3: Hadrian’s Villa & Villa d’Este, Tivoli • Day 4: leave for Bay of Naples via catacombs: lunch

near Monte Cassino; arrive Sorrento• Day 5: Herculaneum; Mount Vesuvius• Day 6: Pompeii• Day 7: Naples Museum and Pozzuoli/Solfatara/Cumae• Day 8: fly home