Traveling with your students doesn’t have to break the bank.  At Junior Tours, we know everyone’s price-sensitive these days, especially when it comes to travel.  But we know our way around the travel business and have some tips for big savings on student airfare, lodging and everything in between, to sweeten up the bottom line.

Read on to discover some key strategies to help you save.

When are you going?

You can save a bundle on airfare by choosing to travel during certain time periods and on certain days.  For example, flying after 8 pm, or between the hours of 5 am and 7 am will save you a lot of money.

Also choose days people usually don’t fly.  The least common days for air travel are Saturdays, Tuesdays or Wednesdays.

Also choose times of the year people are less likely to fly to your destination.  Peak pricing can vary from location to location.  For instance, no one wants to visit the tropics in high summer, or Denmark in the middle of winter.  Find out what the peak visitor season is for your destination and get the best rates.

Uber it

Using this ride-sharing application can save your group money.  All drivers are vetted and if you avoid calling for rides during “surge pricing” times, it’s an even better deal.

But don’t stop at Uber.  Ride-sharing apps are popping up all over.  Investigate the options at your destination to find the one best suited to your group and be sure to check the reviews for reliability and reputability.  Everybody can’t be number one, but if you’re not using Uber, be sure to know who you and your students will be riding with.

Public transit

If you really want to save money and provide you students with an opportunity to see a side of daily life in your destination that locals see every day, try public transit.

Of course, it’s necessary to know about the quality of public transportation before you go, but if the system in question has a good reputation for being safe and efficient, this option puts an even smaller dent in your tour budget than Uber.

Accommodations

One of the most important aspects of a student tour is your accommodation provider.  You’ll need a safe, reputable, clean place for everyone to lay their heads.

That’s where Junior comes in.  If you’re taking your students on an overnight adventure, you’ll want access to the best room rates possible.  Because we’re a seasoned tour provider of more than 50 years’ standing, we get you the best deals for block room rates.  We also send you on your way with a dedicated tour support person who makes sure your charges are all tucked in comfortably for the night.

If you’re ready to go, we’re ready to support you with 50 years of student tour expertise.  Junior knows where to find the deals, so you stay within budget, while having the time of your lives. Contact us for a free sample itinerary and quote.

No city on earth is more redolent of history and political intrigue than Washington, DC.  A source of fascination, awe and sometimes trepidation for people all over the world, what really goes on inside the Beltway is known to only a privileged few (White House leaks aside).

Taking your students to Washington, DC requires intensive planning.  You want your students to experience this nexus of power and history in the most profound way possible. So, we’re offering this selection of great sites to consider in Washington, DC.

White House

An international symbol of the global power of the USA, the White House is the center of that power and the historical home of all US Presidents after the tenure of John Adams.

Touring the White House is a truly amazing experience, walking in the footsteps of giants like Dwight D. Eisenhower and Barack Obama.  Appointments can be booked through your Member of Congress.

The Capitol

If the White House doesn’t satisfy your students’ need to experience the American legacy of world leadership, a trip to the Capitol will certainly add to their experience.

This is where our laws are made by people elected to make them, from all over the nation.  Visit the Rotunda, Statutory Hall and the Old Supreme Court Chamber.  Bookings can be made via the Capitol Visitors online portal, or with your Congressional representative.

The Pentagon

The formidable military strength represented by this five-sided epicenter of strategic might is becoming more popular with visitors to Washington, DC, lately.

Students will marvel at the vastness of the most secretive building in the world, as they hear echoes of the hushed voices of the past and the conflicts they conducted.  A special reservation is needed to take the tour.

Washington Monument

Named after the first President of the USA, the Washington Monument soars over the Reflecting Pond, offering inspiring views of the city.

The tallest obelisk in the world, the monument is 555 feet tall, giving your students a thrilling experience and lessons in the work of the USA’s first political leader.

National Archives

Here’s where the Declaration of Independence, the founding document of the USA, is preserved.  Students will see the signatures of John Hancock and his contemporaries; signatures that established our national identity.

At the Archives, students will view historical displays not found anywhere else and which people travel from all over the globe to see.

MLK Jr. Memorial

Opened to the public in August 2011, this memorial remembers the hero who interrogated America’s soul.  It’s the culmination of two decades of fundraising and planning.

This is the ideal location for a lesson about Dr. King’s sacrifices and triumphs in pursuit of full status for Black Americans. Considering the work of this Civil Rights giant, your students will be inspired and perhaps find in themselves the makings of a leader.

Junior Tours

Junior Tours brings educators over 50 years’ experience in crafting extraordinary learning adventures for their students.

From Washington, DC, to New Orleans, LA and beyond, we create exceptional learning opportunities. Contact us.

History is one of the greatest of all humanity’s instructors.  In its annals, one finds the full depth and breadth of the human experience and lessons left by those who walked the earth before us. That’s why Junior Tours loves organizing exciting educational travel in the best historical destinations for your students.  We’ve worked with educators all over the United States, looking for personalized, professionally-crafted educational experiences to bring their students the thrill of discovery.

In this post, we’ll talk about some of our favorite historical destinations and what your curious students can learn there.

New Orleans, LA

The Crescent City is one of the most culturally unique and vibrant cities in the USA.  Its long history has created a cauldron of cultures as disparate as Irish, African, French and Spanish Creole and Cajun.

Discovering New Orleans is like peeling back the lawyers of an onion, beneath each layer is another legend, another culinary treat, another musical genius.  And all around, history calls in locations like the Laura Plantation, offering visitors an experience of the infamous institution of slavery, once the area’s economic driver.

On historic Bourbon Street, be wrapped in the sounds of New Orleans and its Jazz traditions.  Here you’ll find the Preservation Hall, where traditional New Orleans Jazz is still played before delighted audiences.

London, England

One of the most storied cities in the world, London, England is a bustling metropolis you could spend a lifetime exploring.

Westminster Abbey’s venerable precincts is where every monarch has been crowned since the Abbey’s construction, 800 years ago.  Here you’ll see the throne of Edward the Confessor, still used in the coronation ceremonies of ascending monarchs.

The parliament buildings and Big Ben are just a stone’s throw away, rising over the Thames in internationally-recognized majesty.

A visit to London wouldn’t be the same without a stop at the reconstructed Globe Theater, where the nation’s greatest man of letters once staged his brilliant plays.  Originally constructed in 1599, some of the Bard’s greatest masterpieces were penned for this venue.

Quebec City, Canada

One of the oldest cities in North America, Quebec City offers students both a walk through early Canadian history and an encounter with French-Canadian (Quebecois) culture.

Basse-ville offers a quasi-European experience in its narrow streets and ancient houses.  The Place Royale is ringed with 17^th and 18^th Century homes one might see in Brussels, Belgium or Paris, France.

The Plains of Abraham offer your students the opportunity to experience the battlefield on which the fate of North America was irrevocably changed.  Host to multiple skirmishes between the French and English, this is where the Conquest of 1759 transpired.

These exciting educational destinations are just the beginning of where Junior Tours can take your student group.  Once there, we offer finely-curated itineraries to support on-tour learnings with site and museum visits.

Founded by a teacher in 1967, Junior Tours is a boutique agency offering personalized attention for your group and a tour focused on your objectives as an educator.

Ready for a historical adventure?  Contact us.

They’ve worked hard and now, the moment has come.  They’ve been dreaming of it and achieving great things along the way, since the moment they walked through the front doors of the high school you teach at. Graduation is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and a portal to the world beyond childhood.  This is the jumping off point to adulthood and a world of responsibility.

Why not celebrate graduation with sensational senior class trips?  When you go with Junior, you go with a professional student tour company with more than 50 years’ experience taking your students where they most desire to go.

The Junior edge

A Junior Tours educational experience can be anything from an overseas adventure, to on-site guided tours in a destination rich in educational interest.  Our tours are tailored to educator vision and personalized to your group, so you get the tour you want to share with your students, every time.

While you prepare your students for the experience they’re about to enjoy, we set you up with hotel accommodations with reputable vendors and organize meals your students will love.  We also organize transportation (air and ground).  We curate every detail of your trip, ensuring that curricular imperatives are met in an exciting way.

When you go with Junior, you go with a boutique operator that works with you on an individual basis.  We’ll even send you with a tour guide to ensure that your trip goes off without a hitch and that educators enjoy it as much as their students do.

With Junior Tours, you’ll know that you’re going with an operator that was founded by a teacher, so we know what teachers need to mount an excellent tour experience.

Itinerary planning

Educators come to us for our intimate knowledge of destinations.  Our professional planners know all our destinations inside out, giving educators expert input on sights to take in and learning opportunities.

Our people have the skinny on everything from museums to galleries to historical sites and special events.  We can finely curate every aspect of your educational tour to make it the best it can be.

It all starts with educator vision.  From there, Junior takes the wheel and helps you build a unique itinerary your students will never forget.  We specialize in educational tours for students, so we know how to make your vision come to life, with expertise that makes your tour one-of-a-kind.

Every step of the way, we consult with you to ensure our concept matches your vision.  We also work with you to stay within the tour’s budget, assisting you with online fundraising resources that ease the financial burden.

Leave the details to Junior

With Junior Tours, it’s fun to celebrate graduation with sensational senior class trips, because we handle all the details, from room assignments to packing ideas to security considerations.  We get you there, then we stick with you to smooth the journey and make it truly enjoyable – for teachers too!

Graduation demands a special celebration.  Make it truly sensational, with Junior Tours.

Contact us.

In 1967 retired school teacher, Marty Abrams, had a vision.  He wanted to create a resource for educators to ease the work of taking students on trips, tours and excursions. And Junior Tours was born.  Since then, we’ve been leading students and teachers on extraordinary educational adventures.  We create custom educational trips that perfectly fit your curriculum and budget.

Because we were founded by a teacher, we understand what teachers need.  We’re a supportive resource that makes it easy to take your students on trips that show them the world outside the classroom and a whole other side of learning – the fun side!

We’re different

Personal service is rapidly becoming a thing of the past, as large corporations absorb small, independent outfits like Junior Tours.  We’re committed to being a boutique student tour operator, because we know we can provide better service and affordability to students and teachers on the move.

When you call us, you’ll be warmly greeted by a human voice, not an automated system.  We won’t define your tour dates either, like some of the big tour companies do.  You select your dates, because you’re in charge.

And  Junior’s not about to put you on a bus with a bunch of people you don’t know.  Your tour group is independent and autonomous, so you know exactly who’s on board.  And while you’re out there, you’ll have the support of one of our expert guides.  They don’t jump on and off.  They stick with you for the duration of your tour.

We’re different, because we know that teachers, parents, chaperones and students value the personalized service we’ve been providing for over 50 years.

We’re helpful throughout the process

We know you’re going to be facing administration to approve your school trip, so Junior Tours provides credentials to prove to your administrative leaders that we’re a reputable, proven operator.  That’s just part of how our tour planning process starts.

Our online planning resources include everything you need to support your plans, with fundraising resources that even show you how to set up a tour website, so you can keep everyone in the loop and build excitement, while raising funds.

We know that fidelity to the school curriculum is of paramount concern, so we work with you to create an itinerary which answers that need, while helping you stay within your budget by providing resources to make your trip more affordable.

Junior Tours thinks of everything, because we understand the unique needs of education professionals.

The right fit

Junior Tours is committed to planning custom educational trips that perfectly fit your curriculum and budget.  Giving educators the right fit is why we’re still here, 50 years after Mary Abrams first founded this company, rooted in his unique vision as a professional teacher.

Small really is beautiful, when you’re planning a learning adventure with your students.  We know that you need what you’re taking your students out there to learn to stick, so we provide custom tour solutions that answer that need.

Ready to go?  Contact us!

Everyone wants to take photographs of their vacations and excursions.  Since the invention of the camera, it’s been part of the fun. But with the rise of now-ubiquitous selfie, the game has changed.  There is really is a selfie etiquette.

Especially among young people, taking selfies is a way to capture moments with friends, a new hairdo, getting up in the morning, eating lunch, tying one’s shoelaces, etc.

You get what we’re saying.

Every moment, apparently, is a selfie moment.  The Facebook pages of the nation, in some quarters, are crowded with images of the person the page belongs to in various stages of “duck face” (lips pursed coquettishly, whether male or female).

So, it’s time for us to talk about selfie etiquette while traveling.  Being aware of the rules of the road will make our selfie habits less intrusive and perhaps breed better relationships with the people we find ourselves among.

Eyes on the prize.

A key strategy for educators when discussing with students the fine points about selfie etiquette while traveling is that the trip they’re going on is educational.

It’s not about bragging rights, or Instagram or Facebook likes.  It’s about learning.  Instilling this in your students is the cornerstone of getting them to put their devices away while you’re visiting sites they’re supposed to be taking something important away from.

You know.  Something more important than a photo of them pretending to comb the hair on a bust of George Washington.

Being aware of other people.

Especially in venues where people have paid to come and view antiquities, works of art, or displays, it’s crucial that your students understand that clowning it up in front of a Jackson Pollack, or a Civil War-era uniform is the highest level of unconscious buffoonery imaginable.

Many museums and historical sites are banning selfies, for this very reason.  It’s distracting, it’s rude and it detracts from the experience of other visitors.

Respect for history.

Being in the presence of history is exciting.  But when that history is one of tragedy, or sacrifice, or communal suffering, a selfie is about the most disrespectful thing anyone can do at the historical site in question.

In a pervasive technological culture, many may feel entitled to pretend that their right to photograph themselves in this way somehow trumps the decorum inspired by sites like the Ground Zero monument in New York City.

That will never be the case.

It’s a pity that teachers often need to play the “bad cop” on tours and trips with their students, but your students are there to learn.  You are the teacher and it’s on you to ensure that part of your students’ education enshrines values of respect, decorum and the dignity of the places they’re visiting.

Above all, respect for other people is part of the effort to contain the selfie phenomenon.

If that means quarantining student mobile devices, so be it.

Junior Tours.

Founded by a teacher in 1967, Junior Tours is committed to crafting tailored educational itineraries that put educator objectives first.

Ready to go?  Request a sample itinerary and quotation.

There are plenty of reasons to love the Big Apple.  People who live in New York City may tell you differently when they’ve been navigating the renowned fickleness of the subway, or trying to get a taxi, or dealing with the fast pace of life.  But ask the same people if they’d ever want to live anywhere else.

No way.

New York City is a smorgasbord of cultures, world class entertainment, international business, fashion and the arts (among many other things).  Let’s review some of the lesser known reasons why New York City is always a good idea.

The people.

New Yorkers have a reputation for being rude, pushy and arrogant.  Some of them may well be, but the truth is that under every prickly exterior lies a soft center.  It’s in the very brashness of the city itself that you find the heart and soul of the people who live there.  They’re survivors and warriors, living in a challenging metropolis.

And New York City is living proof that diversity is beautiful.  Its ethnic neighborhoods, while having undergone key transformations, continue to bear testament to the power of the human spirit.  And that spirit is infused into every street corner, restaurant and corner coffee shop.

A visit to New York City is a visit to the unique micro-cultures with thrive in this city and gift resident and visitor alike with unique experiences that enrich and inform.

You can visit MOMA for free.

One of the greatest museums on earth, the Museum of Modern Art is a wonder, featuring unrivalled collections of contemporary art.

Since 2013, the UNIQLO apparel brand has partnered with MOMA, creating clothing which features selected works from the museum’s collection.  In return for the right to use this imagery, UNIQLO sponsors Free Friday admission to MOMA, between the hours of 4 pm and 8 pm.

With accessibility to art being one of the museum’s missions, this key partnership opens the doors of contemporary art to the city and the world.

Fancy a little cruise?

Exploring Brooklyn or Queen’s is easier when you hop aboard one of the East River ferries.  Not only is the ride inexpensive, it provides a unique view of the NYC skyline, seen from the water.

A single ride is only $4 and a day pass is $12, so you can spend your time exploring what the unique boroughs of New York City have to offer, see the skyscrapers from a different perspective and enjoy a little cruise on the East River, all at the same time!

Go with Junior Tours.

Junior Tours has been creating exceptional educational experiences for students since 1967.  Founded by a teacher, our goal is to create tailored itineraries reflecting educator goals, while optimizing the teaching opportunities of your student trip.

This post shares some of the lesser known reasons why New York City is always a good idea.  But we could share about a million more.

Ready to take a bite out of the Big Apple?  Contact us for a free sample itinerary and quote.

You’ve got the approval of your Board.  Now, you’re busily planning your Junior Tours trip, with the aspiration of creating an excellent learning adventure for your students.

But with Junior, you’re never alone.  We stick with you from inception, through planning to on-the-ground tour support.  We make sure your students are having the experience of a lifetime and deriving maximum benefit.

Here are some key ways to make the most of your Junior Tours trip.

Work with us.

Whatever the focus of your trip, or your destination, Junior Tours is your window to the world.  We offer you finely-tailored itineraries which speak directly to educator objectives, while supporting learning with a sense of adventure and fun.

Because we’re not a corporation, or a subsidiary of corporation, we’re here to serve you with exceptional service that provides you with a framework.  We’re a family owned operation, staffed by student tour professionals with a thorough knowledge of all our destinations, their attractions and accommodations.

When you work with us, we provide all you need to make the most of your Junior Tours trip.

Your professional profile.

There’s a reason we’re the “go to” student tours company for teachers from all 50 states.  We strive to make educators look like the teaching pros they are, by delivering exceptional tour experiences for your students.

Teachers come back to us year after year, because they know that their professional profile is bolstered by successful, detailed tours like the ones we provide.  Teachers need all the support they can get and we know that, because we were founded by a teacher.

Use our resources.

One of the best ways to make the most of your Junior Tours trip is to take full advantage of all the online resources we offer to make your trip a resounding success.

Our resources page is where you’ll find everything you need to make your student trip a well-oiled, smoothly-realized success.  We lay out a plan for you, with step-by-step resources that guide you through the planning process, fundraising, assembling an itinerary and prepping students and chaperones.

With Junior Tours, we make student trips easier for educators, so they can enjoy doing what they do best – teaching.  Meanwhile, we ensure that your students are safe while you’re out there, with 24/7 on-tour support from our professional guides.

We’ve even got an app for sending your group reminders about crucial things to think about before leaving for their trip.  That means less stress for you and a trip that will bring your students and chaperones home, raving about the experience they’ve enjoyed with Junior Tours.

At Junior Tours, we’ve thought of virtually everything.  We’ve created a system which is coherent, thorough and easy to follow so that teachers are free to teach and enjoy the ride as much as their students.

Making student trips easy.

At Junior Tours, we’ve been making student trips easy since 1967.  We invite you to explore our website and then, to contact us for a sample itinerary and quotation.

A trip to New York City isn’t complete without seeing a show on the Great White Way, where the lullaby of Broadway rings across the footlights to embrace delighted audiences.

2018 promises more of Broadway’s famed extravaganza of superior talent in music, dance and acting.  Here are our picks for top Broadway shows for students in 2018 (so far).  Feast your eyes on this dizzying array of spectacles to be enjoyed over the coming year, with your students in mind.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.

At the top of our list is the 8^th installment of the Harry Potter franchise to hit Broadway.  Now that Harry’s grown and has graduated from the famed Hogwarts, he’s working in the Ministry of Magic.

Married with three school age children, his magical past hasn’t just earned him a high-level position with the government.  It’s following him around.  His youngest, Albus, isn’t anxious to follow dad into the family vocation, but he may have to, as darkness rises around them both.

Mean Girls.

We all know at least one, so this Broadway adaptation of the popular Tina Fey film promises to entertain those of us who are sometimes the targets of girls like “the Plastics”.

Watch the Queen Bee get stung in the end, as a newcomer to the Illinois high school the story unfolds in locks horns with the meanest girls in town.  Rejoice, as nice triumphs over nasty.

The Prom.

This brand, new musical is making waves and that’s exactly what it’s about – disturbing the placid waters of a small town with small minds.

When Emma’s prom is cancelled because she wants to take her girlfriend as a date, all heck breaks loose.  News of the cancellation reaches a group of well-meaning celebrities who descend on the town, billowing clouds of justice.  Naturally, they make matters worse.  In the end, though, inclusion triumphs over ignorance, peace is restored and Emma gets her corsage.

King Kong.

From his days of clutching Fay Wray in his hairy paw while scaling the Empire State Building, this massive, wayward gorilla has been a cultural icon.

Now appearing on Broadway, the eye-popping new production features theatrical innovations as diverse as robotics, stagecraft and puppetry.  This sensitive reimagining of the epic tale so familiar to us recasts the role originally played by Fay Wray as the story’s heroine, as she strives to save a 20-story tall gorilla.

Hamilton.

The story of Alexander Hamilton concerns an ambitious man, determined to rise to the top of a burgeoning nation’s fledgling government.  And rise he did.

As the confidant and aide of the USA’s first President, George Washington, Hamilton went on to shape the foundation for the international fortunes of our nation.  This passionate retelling of his story gives shape and texture to history, while offering exceptional performances.

Junior Tours.

Founded by teacher Marty Abrams, Junior Tours has been taking students places since 1967.  Committed to offering your students exceptional educational experiences, we tailor your tour to educator objectives.  Contact us to find out more.