There’s no question that student travel presents outstanding educational opportunities. Students learn in a whole new way when you take them out into a world full of possibilities. But before you get them out there, you need to find the right student travel company. There are so many to choose from, with a variety of focuses and service levels. Finding the right one is key to the quality of your student travel experience.
Here are 5 questions to ask before selecting a student travel company.
- Will my kids be safe?
It’s normal for parents to worry about sending their children off into the great unknown. It’s not that they don’t trust educators and chaperones. But they’re not going to be there. If it’s the first time they’ve sent a child on a student tour, they may be apprehensive.
That’s why it’s key you find a student travel company with clear guidelines concerning security and support. Will your group get 24-hour support, on tour? Does the company have policies governing student conduct, with their safety in mind?
- Is the itinerary flexible?
A quality student travel company tailors your tour to your group’s interests and learning objectives. Cookie cutter models are rarely satisfying for anyone.
Choose a student travel company that’s biddable and flexible concerning your itinerary, to ensure that your students get the learning experience you envision.
- How’s the hotel?
It’s key you ensure that your student travel company selects accommodations which are both secure and comfortable. A good company should enjoy relationships with high quality, reputable vendors. You should also be able to work with your tour company to select accommodations that put parents at ease.
Look for a tour company that works with centrally-located facilities with excellent reputations. The quality of vendors and their relationships to your tour company tell a story.
- What’s included (or not)?
Be sure to discuss pricing with your student tour company to ensure that what you see is what you get. Are there hidden costs? Are taxes included? Are there optional “add-ons” and what do they cost?
Pay special attention to ticketing for attractions like museums and historical sites. These can make a huge difference to the ultimate cost of your tour. If students will be required to pay for tickets over-and-above the cost of the tour, you need to know in advance.
- Lots of bus time?
You’re taking your students on a tour to provide an educational experience they’ll remember all their lives. Make sure they’re not going to be sitting on a bus for large portions of it.
A quality student tour company will carefully plan your itinerary to give you the maximum educational bang for your buck and reduce time spent moving from place to place on a bus.
These are 5 questions to ask before selecting a student travel company. Junior Tours is a family-owned business that’s being taking students places since 1967. Contact us for a quote and sample itinerary. Let’s talk about your student travel vision.