FAQ's : European Guided Tours : Student Educational Tours : TeachByTravel.com


	Frequently Asked Questions
	TEACH BY TRAVEL Here are some answers to some of the most frequently asked questions we hear from students and parents about our trips. Your group leader will be able to answer questions about your specific tour and the places you will be visiting. Our Educational Material page also offers a wealth of information, guides and resources to help you prepare. Which airlines do we use? How many people travel in a group? What does a tour manager do? Where do we stay? What will we have to eat? How much spending money should I bring? What should I pack? How do I call home on my trip? Do I have travel insurance? I am signed up for a TEACH BY TRAVEL tour. How do I get information about my trip? Which airlines do we use? TEACH BY TRAVEL groups travel on scheduled flights, using all the major carriers. These include American Airlines, Air France, Aerolineas Argentinas, Alitalia, British Airways, British Midland Airways, Easyjet, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Aer Lingus, Icelandair, Iberia, Spanair, Lufthansa, Swiss International Airlines, Northwest, Air New Zealand, Olympic Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Scandinavian Airlines, TAP Air Portugal, United Airlines, US Airways, Air Europa, and Virgin Atlantic. You'll receive full flight information as your departure date approaches. How many people travel in a group? TEACH BY TRAVEL groups average anywhere from 15 to 40 participants traveling together on a bus, led by a TEACH BY TRAVEL Tour Manager. Small groups can be combined into a larger bus group. What does a tour manager do? "Tour Manager" is an important term in educational travel. It refers to your bus group leader, who is rigorously trained and specially selected to assist your group while overseas. TEACH BY TRAVEL Tour Managers provide both educational and logistical support, and most of them are fully licensed guides. A TEACH BY TRAVEL Tour Manager is part commentator, counselor, troubleshooter, advocate, and stopwatch! He or she supervises hotel check-ins, directs the bus driver and leads educational activities. Most importantly, TEACH BY TRAVEL Tour Managers thrive on sharing their passion and love for the cultures of the world, giving you the opportunity to see the world through the eyes of those who live and work there. You'll receive more information about your tour manager as your departure date approaches. Your TEACH BY TRAVEL Tour Manager maintains a professional relationship with the group but is not directly responsible for enforcing discipline or the TEACH BY TRAVEL behavior guidelines. That is the responsibility of the group leader. It is your responsibility, however, to report to your group leader any infractions and to be sure that TEACH BY TRAVEL behavior guidelines are adhered to. Where do we stay? TEACH BY TRAVEL groups stay in three- and four-star centrally located hotels. We place a priority on booking hotels in good locations and safe areas, with convenient access to both local attractions and public transportation. Check-in time at most hotels is early to mid-afternoon. If you arrive overseas early in the morning, you will likely have time to change money and do some exploring before you check in. What will we have to eat? You will enjoy a variety of meals en route, mixing both native and familiar cuisines depending on your area of travel. Keep an open mind and be willing to sample everything-that's what travel is all about! Most days you will be served a buffet breakfast that includes at least a variety of fresh rolls, cereal, pastry, butter and jam, coffee, tea or hot chocolate, fruit juice, cereals. In Australia and China, you will be served an American-style hot buffet breakfast. In some hotels in Britain, eggs or other items may be included. On most TEACH BY TRAVEL trips, you will enjoy lunch on your own. Many travelers do what the locals do; instead of having an expensive restaurant meal, they buy fresh ingredients at a local market, then put together a sandwich and have a picnic lunch in a park. On most tours, beverages at dinner are not included except for tap water. Please be aware that any drink you consume that isn't tap water will be charged to you. Although TEACH BY TRAVEL will try to accommodate special-needs meals including kosher, vegetarian and low salt, we cannot guarantee all requests. How much spending money should I bring? Spending needs vary depending on personal habits, but a typical allowance is $50 per day. This allows for lunch, snacks, soft drinks, postage, souvenirs, local transportation during free time, and free-time activities. Most TEACH BY TRAVEL participants carry cash, ATM cards, and credit cards. All of your banks MUST be notified that you are going to be out of the country or your cards may not work. TEACH BY TRAVEL has compiled all the information you need to know in Money Matters on our Educational Material page. What should I pack? Our advice is to pack light-you won't regret it! You will be responsible for carrying your own luggage on and off the bus, in and out of your hotel, and onto trains. Bring comfortable, practical clothes that you can wear more than once, with a few nice pieces thrown in. Remember to pack clothes that you can layer, and never bring new shoes! Our sample packing list provides excellent guidelines : Packing list The bottom line is: Pack light! Keep in mind you'll be carrying your own luggage around at the airports, railway stations, ferry terminals and to and from your hotel room in each city. So bring what you need and nothing you don't. To sort it out, see the following packing list example : Clothing - Keep in mind that some religious sites require that shirts cover the shoulders and arms, and do not allow shorts, short skirts or flip-flops. - Comfortable walking shoes and one pair of nicer shoes - Shirts (short and long-sleeved) - Socks - Underwear - Shorts / pants / jeans - Pajamas - Bathing suit (if needed) - Raincoat and/or umbrella Toiletries - Toothbrush - Toothpaste - Shampoo / conditioner - Deodorant - Hairbrush/comb - Sunscreen Please see www.tsa.gov for the latest government guidelines and restrictions. Money - ATM card (call your bank prior to departure to alert them of the trip - foreign purchases sometimes result in a hold on bank accounts) - A personal credit card - At least $100 in cash - A pouch for storing money and passport under clothing Electronics - An alarm clock (many hotel rooms won't have one) - An adaptor/converter specific to the country that you are visiting (available at all travel stores or electronic stores) - Camera with ample batteries (batteries can be expensive abroad) Documents - Passports are required on all TEACH BY TRAVEL Tours. Remember to bring a couple photocopies of it (in case it is lost) and leave one copy at home. - Visas (if applicable) - A copy of the tour itinerary - A list of important phone numbers and addresses to send postcards home - Copy of any medical prescriptions (Customs officials may want to verify that a container's contents match its label, so all medication should be carried in its original container.) Carry-on bag Here's a short list of things travelers might need on the first day of the trip. These should be packed in the carry-on in case the checked luggage is delayed. - Passport - Money - Airline ticket - Toothbrush and toothpaste (remember, toothpaste needs to go in a one-quart Ziploc bag, and can't be bigger than 3 oz) - Hairbrush - Contact lens case/glasses - A change of clothes - Medication - Any valuables How do I call home on my trip? TEACH BY TRAVEL offers overseas calling options through eKit. Information about eKit cell phones/SIM cards/Calling cards is provided to group leaders and all participants before their departure. Do I have travel insurance? TEACH BY TRAVEL provides limited overseas coverage under the TRAVEL GUARD Protect Assist Plan as a Seconday Insurance after your Primary Insurance has been initiated on a claim. TEACH BY TRAVEL highly recommends purchasing the full policy, including Pre-Trip Cancellation insurance, which also covers baggage loss/flight delays/missed connections, etc. Where can I get information regarding my trip? Your group leader will have all pertinent and up to date information regarding your trip. When hotel/flight information becomes available, it will be conveyed to your group leader. Should you have any questions regarding your invoice or account information, please contact TEACH BY TRAVEL.