Socaliforniamagistra

Posted on 10/28/09

On 10/27/09, You get what you pay for wrote:you

The reason I'm on this chatboard is because I had traveled with
other companies under the auspices of a colleague and was truly
upset with the price commensurate with the service.

I also had meetings with the parents of students who had traveled
in the past and asked them about their payment and service
experiences. Most teachres don't want to get involved with that.
I found that there was great disatisfaction with all the additional
fees and unrealistic cut-off dates. Some never received promised
refunds.

When I offered to take charge of my school's trip, I did a lot of
research, As I have posted before, I'm new to teaching, but not to
business.

I did get quotes from many other companies and compared their
services. I know that my students this year are paying $ 68. over
what one of the companies you mentioed quoted.

I also had meetings with the parents of students who had traveled
in the past and asked them about their payment and service
experiences. (Most teachres don't want to get involved with
that.) I found that there was great disatisfaction with all the
additional fees and unrealistic cut-off dates. Some never received
promised refunds.

The difference is that more money is going into the program than
into pockets.

And as for plugging a company...if teachers on this chatboard
request the names of companies, why should we not share our
experiences?

After all, you have.

That's what this is for.
> ...someone plugging their own company, or that of a friend. Can't
> be! You know the motto in life, "you get what you pay for,"
> well...its TRUE. DUH!!! If you want guides that should be working
> as history professors, due to their incredible knowledge and get
> paid $400 per day, then get ready to pay for their services. Ain't
> no such thing as a free lunch and Socaliforniamagistra seems to
> want to let everyone know that you can have your cake and eat it
> too. Contact the company he or she is plugging and get a quote.
> Then, when you realize that not every kid can afford such
> lavishness, contact EF or Explorica and get good value for
> money...and perfectly fine tours. Bit of a diva??? Me thinks so.
> Needs to get a life...definitely. The motto of the day is low
> maintenance, happy trails and CHILL.
>
>
> On 9/28/09, socaliforniamagistra wrote:
>>
>> After traveling with the other large tour companies, we are now
>> using a person who designs our trip especially for us according
>> to our curriculum, standards, and my personal 'wish list'. She
>> pointed us to a very good tour operator,which is owned and run
>> by a teacher. They work very well together.
>>
>> Their service is professional and efficient. But it is their
>> dedication to educational content which really attracted me.
>>
>> They are creative and put lots of hands-on discoveries,
>> reenactors, and other, 'goodies' into our trip. I can also
>> recommend their hotels and restaurants - especially the food.
>>
>> We get a 24 hour tour guide that meets us at the airport and
>> stays with us throughout the trip. Our tour guide is a
>> kid-friendly, fun, walking encyclopedia. She not only gives us
>> background, but also plays educational games, as well as
>> teaches us songs and poems that relate to the trip.
>>
>> Their travel insurance is the best I've seen.
>>
>> They advertise all-inclusive prices, without nickle and diming
>> you or raising the prices at the last minute. (Boy! Was I
>> burnt by two companies charging last minute fees.) As they
>> say, the only money your students need to bring is for
>> souvenirs! And there are no marketing plays; they're upfront
>> and easy to work with.
>>
>> Here are the websites: instructours dot com
>> leaddiscoveryusa dot com
>>
>> Good luck!
>>
>> Socaliforniamagistra
>> On 9/27/09, candy molina wrote:
>>
>> They are creative and put lots of hands-on discoveries,
>> reenactors, and other, 'goodies' into our trip. I can also
>> recommend their hotels and restaurants - especially the food.
>>
>> We get a 24 hour tour guide that meets us at the airport and
>> stays with us throughout the trip. Our tour guide is a
>> kid-friendly encyclopedia. She not only gives us background,
>> but plays educational games, as well as teaches us songs and
>> poems that relate to the trip.
>>
>> Also their insurance is the best I've seen.
>>
>> They advertise all-inclusive prices, without nickle and diming
>> you or raising the prices at the last minute. (Buy! Was I
>> burnt by two companies with all the last minute fees.) And
>> there are no marketing plays. They're very honest and easy to
>> work with.
>>
>> Here are the websites: instructours dot com
>> leaddiscoveryusa dot com
>>
>> Good luck!
>>
>> Socaliforniamagistra
>>
>> These are the websites
>>> Please send me any information on field trips suitable for
>>> middle and high school homeschoolers. Thank you

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