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Fieldtrips Chatboard

Mariden

by Ann

May 12, 2009

Be aware of the difference between Mariden USA and Mariden Canada. Expect problems if booking through Canada. They are totally disorganised and will leave you regretting you ever booked with them.

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Cari I wish I could take a survey concerning how much preparation these complaining teachers did for their tours. How many meetings do they have with their students and their parents? How much do these teachers actually know about international travel? Do these teachers & students actually know a foreign language?...or has the extent of their intern...See More

May 14, 2009

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Jean On 5/14/09, Cari wrote: > I wish I could take a survey concerning how much preparation > these complaining teachers did for their tours. How many > meetings do they have with their students and their parents? > How much do these teachers actually know about international > travel? Do these teachers & students actually know a fore...See MoreOn 5/14/09, Cari wrote: > I wish I could take a survey concerning how much preparation > these complaining teachers did for their tours. How many > meetings do they have with their students and their parents? > How much do these teachers actually know about international > travel? Do these teachers & students actually know a foreign > language?...or has the extent of their international > experience just been to Disneyworld? > I have been on some tours where football coaches were the > chaperones. On other tours, some of the teachers recruited > random students throughout the school for a "senior class > trip". Those teachers and students had no business going on > educational tours like these. These students were not > prepared one bit for what they were about to see in Europe. > They were better off going on a cruise ship vacation > somewhere in the ocean. Europe is NOT Disneyworld. Europe is > old and crowded, and American students need some proper > orientation in order to appreciate international cultures. > > My trips are called educational tours NOT SUMMER > VACATIONS. The key to a successful trip is preparation. I > spend literally years getting my students ready for these > trips. Language acquisition, videos, meetings, and research > play an important part in preparation. My students must prove > to me that they can speak the language and appreciate the > European culture for what it is, not for what they want it to > be. After all, isn't that why we travel in the first > place....to see another culture for what it truly is?! > > I alert my students, in advance, that there will be > frustrations, delays, rain, uncooperative "foreign people", > and hotels that are different from ours. And, Europeans don't > necessarily speak English. That is why it is > called "international travel"...so get over it. > > > Yes I agree but what do you do when there is no meal booked for you for dinner as has happened with Mariden or the hotels are not 3 or 4 star as advertised and you get a roll and coffee for breakfast. > > > > > > > > > > > On 5/12/09, Ann wrote: >> Be aware of the difference between Mariden USA and Mariden >> Canada. Expect problems if booking through Canada. They >> are totally disorganised and will leave you regretting you >> ever booked with them.

Jun 29, 2009

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Cari Hello Jean:

Have you ever traveled with student travel companies? yes...There are going to be bumps in the road. However, you sound as if you are not speaking from personal experience with Mariden. You sound as if you are talking about someone else's experience....I think. Your words are so general that it is difficult where you got your ...See MoreHello Jean:

Have you ever traveled with student travel companies? yes...There are going to be bumps in the road. However, you sound as if you are not speaking from personal experience with Mariden. You sound as if you are talking about someone else's experience....I think. Your words are so general that it is difficult where you got your info. About the failure to "book" a restaurant....All I am saying is that any company tour guide worth his/her salt always telephones the restaurants in advance of the meal...sometimes 12 to 24 hours notice. This practice assures everyone that the meal will be ready when the group arrives. Your vague references sound fishy to me. By the way, some travel companies are so large (EF for ex.)that they herd about three or four student groups into one restaurant every evening from 6 to 8 p.m.....then, I have heard about(and experienced) major delays in seating and eating times. In addition, there are plenty of travel companies out there who advertise that their hotels are 3 and 4 star, but sadly these hotels seem barely 2 stars. Please remember, European hotels may say 3 and 4 star, but they are NOTHING like the rating system here in the U.S. My advice to you is to go with ACIS and NETC ( the $$$$ companies), because you will be assured of better hotels and center city locations, but you will also PAY for those perks. I wish you would be more specific about your comments "as has happened"...too vague for me. Finally, a continental breakfast in Europe is exactly that...roll OR croissant,coffee,tea. Occasionally you get juice, cereal, and cold cuts/cheese. For ex., in Paris it is difficult to find "buffet" anything....the French don't eat like Americans and stuff themselves silly at every meal....it is called portion- control. Have you traveled with any of these student companies before?

On 6/29/09, Jean wrote: > On 5/14/09, Cari wrote: >> I wish I could take a survey concerning how much preparation >> these complaining teachers did for their tours. How many >> meetings do they have with their students and their parents? >> How much do these teachers actually know about international >> travel? Do these teachers & students actually know a foreign >> language?...or has the extent of their international >> experience just been to Disneyworld? >> I have been on some tours where football coaches were the >> chaperones. On other tours, some of the teachers recruited >> random students throughout the school for a "senior class >> trip". Those teachers and students had no business going on >> educational tours like these. These students were not >> prepared one bit for what they were about to see in Europe. >> They were better off going on a cruise ship vacation >> somewhere in the ocean. Europe is NOT Disneyworld. Europe is >> old and crowded, and American students need some proper >> orientation in order to appreciate international cultures. >> >> My trips are called educational tours NOT SUMMER >> VACATIONS. The key to a successful trip is preparation. I >> spend literally years getting my students ready for these >> trips. Language acquisition, videos, meetings, and research >> play an important part in preparation. My students must prove >> to me that they can speak the language and appreciate the >> European culture for what it is, not for what they want it to >> be. After all, isn't that why we travel in the first >> place....to see another culture for what it truly is?! >> >> I alert my students, in advance, that there will be >> frustrations, delays, rain, uncooperative "foreign people", >> and hotels that are different from ours. And, Europeans don't >> necessarily speak English. That is why it is >> called "international travel"...so get over it. >> >> >> Yes I agree but what do you do when there is no meal booked > for you for dinner as has happened with Mariden or the hotels > are not 3 or 4 star as advertised and you get a roll and coffee > for breakfast. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> On 5/12/09, Ann wrote: >>> Be aware of the difference between Mariden USA and Mariden >>> Canada. Expect problems if booking through Canada. They >>> are totally disorganised and will leave you regretting you >>> ever booked with them.

Jul 2, 2009

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