Passports
5 “Must Have” Items for Day Trips
Most days on tour start the same. The alarm goes off early. Everybody takes turns showering and getting ready. People start heading down for breakfast. After some morning conversation and food, everybody returns to their rooms. With a few minutes to spare before the bus departs, students and chaperones alike pack their backpacks for a Read more…
Travel Gifts For The Holidays
When I was a child, I lived in Germany for several years when my father was stationed there with the U.S. Army. My family was introduced to a German holiday tradition that takes place on the night before Saint Nicholas Day on December 6. We would clean and polish our shoes and leave them outside Read more…
“110 Days Prior To Departure” Deadline
Preparing for a tour (and teaching) involves carefully planning and following all deadlines. In my high school history classroom, I train my students to pay attention to their deadlines. All of my assignments have a deadline. If a student misses a deadline even by one day, the penalty is an automatic 30 points deducted from Read more…
Worst Case Travel Scenarios On Tour
I love to read travel books and I often receive some as gifts. One book I enjoyed reading was The Worst Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Travel by Joshua Piven and David Burgenicht. The authors present 44 worst-case travel scenarios and explain how to deal with them. Their main message is “always be ready for the Read more…
Passport Tips – Part 2
In case you missed Part 1 of this post, Click Here Another Option I’ve met some group leaders who hold the passports for their entire group. I’m not sure I think this is wise. What if that person loses the entire stash of passports? What would be more difficult to handle, passport replacement for an Read more…
Passport Tips – Part 1
Sometimes when I am making a presentation at an international training tour, I will pause to have a “commercial” for a passport belt; wearing one is my top travel tip. I have had to deal with many situations on tour, but I have never had to deal with a lost passport (knock on wood!). If Read more…
Setting Tour Expectations – Part 2
If you missed Part One of this blog post, click here. Here’s Part Two: Standards Abroad Are Different From Home Make sure your students and their parents have realistic expectations about a group tour especially designed for students. This is extremely important if you have adult travelers in your group. These tours do not Read more…
Setting Tour Expectations – Part 1
The best things to pack for a tour are a good attitude, good manners, good grooming habits, and a lowered voice, especially on public transportation. A good attitude is my #1 item and it is only made possible when group leaders have done their job in setting the right expectations for their students and especially Read more…
Japan Student Tour: 99 Days to Departure
January 6th is my 99th day prior to departure leading a student tour to Japan. I can’t believe this number is finally under 100 days. It feels as if I have been preparing for this tour for ages. I began my recruitment in the spring of 2009. I have been communicating with my tour Read more…
Student travel guide from State Department
As we were surfing for passport information, we discovered a new website from the U.S. Department of State devoted to student travel. Launched in March, Students Abroad offers all kinds of helpful information about international travel for students, parents, educators and schools. The new site is primarily geared toward college students traveling and studying abroad, Read more…
