Get more dollars for your travel Itinerary tips Packing tips and impacts

Get more dollars for your travel
As costs have been increasing for travel and the components of travel, there are some options you may choose to
manage your travel costs. And as an educator invested in travel as a means to enhance and enliven students
educational experience, choices you make may mean the difference between a successful trip or not being able to
travel at all. Our goal is to guide you to choices that help you design the trip you imagine. Here are some ideas:
1. Travel at night. This may mean taking a red-eye flight if one is available or spending a night on a bus, rather
than driving during the day. Or it may mean leaving on the evening of your last day rather than spending the night
and leaving the next day. This can save the costs of the hotel on the first or last day and the costs of some meals
while maintaining the content of the trip.
2. Make more in-depth visits to the top venues at your destination. Rather than visiting as many sites as you
can, look for special events at you top sites and spend more time there.
3. Trade a paid attraction for a free attraction at your destination; museum, beach or park.
4. Go to a matinee if you are going to the theater rather than to an evening production. Or choose weekday
rather than weekend nights for your theater experience if available.
5. Have an evening in or on a beach with pizza or food prepared by you
6. If your destination is within a reasonable drive, check the cost of bussing vs. the cost of flying. We don‟t
recommend school busses because they usually do not meet our standards for over-the-road travel and drivers are
not usually experienced on extended trips.
7. If your group is small, see if you can combine with another small group in your school or another school. A
bus with more filled seats will reduce the cost per person. These combinations can also be an opportunity for
friendships to form and students to increase their knowledge of other people
8. Start your planning early. With a group set in the spring, the best reservations are available.
9. Use our easy payment plan over the summer as well as once the school year begins.
10. Start your fundraising as soon as possible and enlist the help of parent organizers.
11. Have parents make payments even though you expect fundraising. Payments covered by fundraising may be
omitted once fundraising is allocated. Any overpayments will be refunded.
Itinerary tips
1. Determine what is most important to you and allow enough time to thoroughly immerse yourself in this activity.
2. Be sure to allow enough time in your itinerary to reflect on the days activities. We try not to schedule too much
in any one day. Besides making everyone overly tired, this does not make a schedule that allows everyone to get
as much as possible from the events scheduled.
3. Before travel, review the history of the destination where you are going. Incorporate this into pre-trip meetings.
Packing tips and impacts
1. Although packing tightly is encouraged, this can increase the density and weight of your luggage. Be sure you
can easily carry your packed bags and that they are not over the airline weight limit.
2. Currently weight limits for airline baggage is 50 pounds. Excess weight, quantity and oversized bags are subject
to additional fees charged by airlines which will need to be paid before the airline will allow you to board.
3. The airlines are now charging for overweight bags as well as for your first bags. Find out the weight limit
for your trip and weigh your bags. Leave a bit underweight to account for variances in scales
4. If you pack liquids, be sure they are in 3oz clear containers for carry-on bags. If you need more than 3oz, put
this in your checked luggage. Remember if you pack your checked luggage too heavily, it could be subject to
overweight penalties. If possible, schedule time to purchase toiletries after you reach your destination.
5. Carry all film with you onboard, as screening equipment for checked luggage can damage undeveloped film
6. If you have a choice, bring a digital camera, rather than a film camera. You will have more room for pictures
in your memory, and not need to bring or buy extra film.
7. Be sure your camera is fully charged and you have fresh batteries, plenty of film and a fresh memory card.
Bring an extra fully charged battery.
8. Use zip lock bags to organize your luggage. Place any packed belongings you don't feel comfortable with
strangers handling (undines) in clear plastic bags. Remove extraneous packaging from anything you bring; boxes
from toothpaste, wrapping on laundry and clothing, shoeboxes, etc. Just bring the items you need themselves.
9. Leave jewelry and valuables home. If you absolutely must bring something valuable, pack it in your carry-on
and check it in the hotel safe. Be aware that even things that are not valuable may appear valuable and become a
target for thieves while you travel. If at all possible leave it home.
10. Do not stack books and other documents on top of each other; instead, spread them out throughout your
bag. This evens the load and makes inspection easier.
11. If you must pack a guidebook, pack only one. Better yet, buy one at your destination and leave it when you
return. You can get chapters on your destinations from Lonely Planet, download and print them, then bring only
what you need, rather that everything about everything for your destination.
12. Leave unnecessary gadgets home. Remember you will be spending most of your time experiencing your
destination, not listening to your iPod. Leave yourself open to fully experience your travel. Sound tracks and other
distractions – not necessary.
13. What to pack. Remember you may be traveling to an environment that is different from where you live.
Check weather to determine your destination weather and pack accordingly.
a. Always pack layers of clothing so you can add or decrease what you wear according to the day
b. Always pack a light waterproof jacket
c. Pack as few clothes as you can, depending on mix and match for outfits and easily hand washable items for
things you need plenty of.
d. Keep your shoes to a minimum, specializing in comfort and versatility. Pack shoes in a plastic bag, so you can
separate them from your clothing.
14. Do not lock your checked bags except with TSA-approved locks; otherwise, if your bag is selected for
random screening, agents will have to break the lock to get inside.
15. Packing Methods. When packing your clothes, you don't want to neatly fold them individually as you would in
a dresser. If you do, they will crease when compressed. Here are a few alternatives:
a. Rolling Your Clothes. Rolling works well with pants, skirts and sports shirts. Lay the item face down, fold back
the sleeves and then roll from the bottom up. This increases the density of your clothes, so be aware of your bag
weight.
b. Fold Clothes Together, Take two or more garments, for example trousers, and lay half of one pair on top of
the other. Fold the one on the bottom over the pair on the top. Then take the other and fold it on the top. This
gives each pair some cushion where you've folded it so it's less likely to crease or wrinkle in the folds.
c. The Bundle Approach. You need luggage that opens up and lays flat to do this. You will also need a flat, soft,
pouch-like rectangular "core" with dimensions that are at least 1/2 to 3/4 the size of your luggage compartment.
This can be a pouch filled with underwear or something similar.
i. Start with your sports jacket or the longest, most wrinkle-prone item you have. With the collar or waistband flat,
place it against the bottom edge of the bag and drape the rest of the garment over the opposite side of the bag.
Take another garment and place it in the opposite direction, flattening and smoothing out both garments in the
bag and draping the remainder over the side. If you have trousers or other narrow items, do the same with them
in the narrow direction of the bag. Keep alternating your items, ending up with the most wrinkle-resistant clothes
you have.
ii. When you finish, place your "core" in the middle. Now you're going to start folding the garments over the core
and each other in the reverse order you put them in. If you fold something over and there's excess draping
over the sides of the bag, tuck it underneath the bundle you are creating.
iii. What you will end up with is a bundle of all of your clothes that looks like a pillow. You can pick it up in one
piece. It's compactly packed and doesn't waste an available space in your luggage. Plus, because of the way things
are folded, your clothes will wrinkle less.
iv. To find something in the bundle, lay it flat and unwrap until you reach the layer you want. Take the item out
and refold the remainder. If done properly each layer should result in a self contained bundle at each layer.
d. Tissue Paper. For delicate items, try tissue paper. Lay the item face down and place tissue paper on top. Fold
it up with the tissue paper inside. Use additional layers of paper as you fold the garment so it is completely
wrapped in and around paper. This is easy enough the first time you pack, but becomes a pain if you have to keep
repacking. This is good for evening clothes that you don't want to crush.
16. Start packing early. Lay your bags out and bring things to them as you think of them during the week before
travel. Then as you fill your bags, ask yourself “Do I really need this?” for each item before you pack it. If you
have a list, check it off as you pack.
Air travel tips
1. Get a good night‟s sleep for two nights before the day of departure
2. Make sure your electronics are fully charged
3. Be gentle with your tray and the seatback of the person in front of you and your seatback
4. The TSA changes the items restricted from airplanes regularly. This is a link to the restrictions,
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibiteditems.shtm
5. Liquids more than 3 ounces are prohibited from your carry-on bags. Check this link from
the TSA http://www.tsa.gov/311/index.shtm
6. Other TSA Travel links:
a. Know Before You Go Travel Card (pdf, 528Kb)
b. Bag And Zip For A Short Trip (pdf, 2.8Mb)
c. The Right Bag For Your Carry-on (pdf, 1.2Mb)
7. Airlines mostly charge for drinks and food now. Purchase drinks to bring with you after you pass the security
checkpoint.
8. You may either bring food for the flight or purchase food after the security checkpoint to bring along. You may
want to organize this before travel.
Fundraising Tips
Start your fundraising early. Have your parents pay for the trip using our easy payment plan. That way your trip
will remain viable even if your fundraising falls short of your expected results. After applying fundraising to a trip,
left over funds may be used for additional trip excursions, to help someone with a scholarship, buy music
equipment, or other items. If there are overpayments on traveler accounts, these are usually refunded to the
parents. Be creative with your fundraising. A fundraising event that involves the students as participants can build
enthusiasm and camaraderie for you group as well as teach students about economic realities. Such things may
involve working at sporting events, giving concerts or plays, selling flowers for Valentine‟s Day or Mother‟s Day or
anything that may involve travelers as a group.
Safety & Security tips
1. Get a wrist-strap or a neck-strap for your camera and use it. This prevents dropping,
2. Check your destination to see if any unusual events are scheduled for your time of travel. Consider if this will
impact your travel.
3. Be sure to know local traffic laws; does the traffic flow the same as where you come from. Should you look right
then left, rather than left then right.
4. Never allow someone you meet at the destination to travel with you to your room. Never tell anyone where you
are staying.
5. Be sure your friends and family know when to expect you back and have contact numbers for you when you
travel.
6. If you change your itinerary, notify your family and friends so they know your new arrival time and place.
7. Leave expensive things at home. Take only things you would not mind losing or having damaged.
8. If you must take expensive things, be sure they are insured.
9. Travel with a partner and stay with your partner.
10. Take a cell phone with you. If you travel internationally, get international service for the time you are
traveling.
11. Take travelers checks or an ATM card rather than lots of cash.
12. Carry your purse away from the street side of your body when walking. Have a purse with a strap and a zipper
closure. Carry it under your arm.
13. Leave things at home you do not intend to use; extra credit cards, ids you won‟t need, checks you won‟t need,
keys you won‟t need and anything else you normally carry that is unnecessary.
14. Be sure your home is secured, with deliveries stopped before you go. Have a friend check to see the outward
appearance remains as if you are home while you are away. Have them pick up papers, take any stray deliveries,
shovel snow or rake leaves to keep the house appearing occupied. Use a light timer to randomly turn your lights
on & off.
Travel Insurance
1. Purchase travel insurance, either as a group or individual
a. Group insurance costs less per person and everyone needs to purchase it
b. Group insurance may be requested through „‟Assist Card‟‟
c. Individual policies can be purchased by travelers
2. Coverage‟s may include:
a. Baggage loss or delay
b. Costs to incurred due to scheduling delays due to circumstances beyond your control
c. Health insurance for accidents, illness or injuries
d. Pre-existing condition coverage
e. Reimbursement of non-refundable cancellation fees due to a variety of causes
f. Trip interruption
g. Missed connection
h. Emergency medical transportation
i. Air flight accident
j. Travel accident
k. 24 hour emergency assistance service
l. Identity theft resolution service
m. Supplier bankruptcy or default
n. Cancel for business reasons
o. Cancel for any reason
Getting Yourself Ready
Most trips involve an increased amount of physical activity. They physical stress your body incurs on any trip is
different than your normal day to day activities. To help with this, start acclimating your body to the anticipated
activity level of your trip.
Six weeks before your trip:
Begin a walking regime. St art with 20 minutes per day. After one week increase to 40 minutes per day. After 2
weeks, increase to one hour per day. Continue with one hour per day or increase if you choose. This will increase
your stamina for the trip as well as help your legs adjust circulation while walking. In addition, it is advisable to
wear compression socks and use a small portable footstool on extended flights. This helps prevent deep vein
thrombosis.
Do a few sit-ups or crunches each day. Begin with 10 and add a few each week. This will strengthen your core
and make extended hours of sitting more comfortable. Sit-ups and crunches strengthen the muscles on the inner
side of your spinal column in addition to your abdominal wall.
Be sure your feet are in good condition. Attend to any ingrown nails early, giving them plenty of time to heal.
Abrade and soften any calluses. Be sure your shoes fit well. If you have new shoes, wear them for a day or two to
insure they fit well and won‟t cause any problems. Strengthen your feet by doing 20 or 30 foot lifts every day;
stand with your heels off the end of a stair, grasp the railing, ease your heels down until you feel a slight stretch,
slowly lift your heels until you are standing on your toes. Do this gently and slowly.
Do 8 to 20 push-ups or modified pushups a day. This will strengthen your upper body and allow you to carry all
those souvenirs with ease. Pushups will strengthen your shoulders as well as arms, increasing your entire upper
body capacity.
Start going to bed ½ to 1 hour earlier than normal and rise at the same time every day, getting a minimum of
8 hours sleep per night. This will allow your body to be well rested and you will have extra reserves should you get
less sleep on your trip.
Be sure you have all inoculations required for the destination where you are travelling. Get them at least six
weeks before travel as most don‟t become effective until 6 weeks after you get them.
Check with your doctor to be sure it‟s ok for you to do the pre-trip strengthening and that you are capable of
maintaining the itinerary you anticipate. If you have any special needs be sure your doctor has approved your
travel and you have notified anyone who may need to help you on your trip.
Get your eyes checked and be sure you have the correct prescription. Bring a spare pair of glasses. If you wear
contacts, bring a spare pair; bring your regular glasses as well. If your eyes become irritated, you can wear your
glasses. Bring your sunglasses.
Plan to stay well hydrated on your trip. Busses, airplanes and hotels can have extremely dry air which requires
you to drink more to maintain healthy fluid levels. In addition, should your destination be at a higher altitude than
your home, the decrease in air density can evaporate your fluids from your body without you sweating or noticing
it. This can make you headachy and tired. So keep drinking plenty of water before you feel thirsty. Bring a travel
water bottle so you can sip throughout the day.
By planning early to be in the best condition you can, you will have a more enjoyable trip.
Bon Voyage!
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