Tour Company Problems

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Fieldtrips Chatboard

Tour Company Problems

by socaliforniamagistra

Feb 25, 2010

As per the poor quality and problems that many seem to be having with international and domestic tour companies.

The reality is this: Because of the economy, there are less travelers and therefore, smaller groups.

Small groups are simply not cost-effective.

The US dollar is doing badly against the Euro and Pound, so the quality of meals and hotels is not as good as it cold be.

If you use companies where the guides rely on tips and commissions on optional excursions, then the smaller groups will not get the best guides.

It's difficult to travel with a small group because unless you are traveling during a break when there are a lot of groups traveling, you are taking a gamble as to whom you will be combining with. And there have been horrific stories as well as good ones.

I've heard that many companies don't even know if you can combine until a month or so before the trip and as a result many trips have been canceled as a result, or...See More

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Rose On 3/18/10, Trish wrote: > Ok, not sure if I am suppossed to do this. I DO work for LEAD > USA and have been watching this as we are looking at advertising > with this site. > I can assure you this "socaliforniamagistra" person DOES NOT > work for us!! And we can prove it. She is a sometime client, > that also does some traveling ...See MoreOn 3/18/10, Trish wrote: > Ok, not sure if I am suppossed to do this. I DO work for LEAD > USA and have been watching this as we are looking at advertising > with this site. > I can assure you this "socaliforniamagistra" person DOES NOT > work for us!! And we can prove it. She is a sometime client, > that also does some traveling on her own. > Come on, think about this if anyone has a business mind at all!! > Why would any travel company in thier right mind get on here and > talk about how to travel on your own. Geez...that would put us > all out of business. We serve a wonderful purpose for teachers > who beleive they should be teaching and not planning trips. > Anyone feel free to email me further to discuss, but I do not > want anyone getting the idea this person is an employee. > We have a great reputation for honesty and this site would not > be worth jeapordizing that! Thank-you. > > > > > > > On 3/09/10, Anonymous wrote: >> So, we finally discover which company "socaliforniamagistra" is >> plugging! It had to be revealed sooner or later. If he or she >> was truly trying to be a resource for other teachers, then no >> specific mention of any company would have been issued? It >> would have been just good advice, with pros and cons on all >> fronts. I find this person to be the epitome of a hypocrite. >> Beware any advice coming from them and please stay away from >> LEAD USA as a result. >> >> >> >> >> On 2/25/10, socaliforniamagistra wrote: >>> As per the poor quality and problems that many seem to be >>> having with international and domestic tour companies. >>> >>> The reality is this: Because of the economy, there are less >>> travelers and therefore, smaller groups. >>> >>> Small groups are simply not cost-effective. >>> >>> The US dollar is doing badly against the Euro and Pound, so >>> the quality of meals and hotels is not as good as it cold be. >>> >>> If you use companies where the guides rely on tips and >>> commissions on optional excursions, then the smaller groups >>> will not get the best guides. >>> >>> It's difficult to travel with a small group because unless >>> you are traveling during a break when there are a lot of >>> groups traveling, you are taking a gamble as to whom you >>> will be combining with. And there have been horrific stories >>> as well as good ones. >>> >>> I've heard that many companies don't even know if you can >>> combine until a month or so before the trip and as a result >>> many trips have been canceled as a result, or there is a >>> great increase in the cost. >>> >>> From the discussions I have heard, both in my district and >>> on various chatrooms, it might be better not to take the >>> group meals and have your students budget for their own > meals. >>> >>> Have any of you considered getting in touch with other >>> schools a year in advance or using this forum to find groups >>> to combine with? If you were able to use this chatboard to >>> find groups, you could plan the trip with other teachers, >>> get the 'rules' down, and even have the students develop >>> email relationships before meeting on the trip; a much >>> happier scenario. >>> >>> The teachers then could decide which company, if any, they >>> want to travel with, rather having the tour company deciding >>> everything. I think shopping around is a good thing and can >>> be used to lower costs and increase value. >>> >>> Two of my colleagues plan everything with the official >>> travel boards of the country they are traveling to and use a >>> travel agent to make the air, bus, and train arrangements as >>> well as collect all the payments. They contend that they >>> save a few hundred dollars per person doing it this way.. >>> >>> I actually use a professional service to plan my trip >>> (aligned with standards and my teaching plan) and then turn >>> it over to the tour operator. >>> >>> The tour company I currently use domestically, LEAD USA >>> leaddiscoveryusa.com (although LEAD also conducts >>> international trips) will make all sorts of inquiries to >>> combine groups well ahead of time. >>> >>> My numbers dropped dramatically this year because of the >>> after-effect of the floods, and they found schools we could >>> combine with so we could have a full bus. They had a lot of >>> small, east coast-bound groups get in touch with them >>> through their website and I then got in touch with those >>> schools to see which were 'good fits'. There were two >>> schools of under fifteen students that were perfect. In >>> fact, these two schools had traveled with another tour >>> company (the same one)last year and their respective trips >>> were canceled. >>> >>> The best part is that we got a reduction in price since we >>> had a nearly full bus rather than the original 35 we had >>> planned on and I still got my upgraded meals and hotel >>> within walking distance of the Smithsonians and White House. >>> >>> Why can't you do that with international trips as well?

Mar 20, 2010

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Anonymous Oh please Trish...we're not stupid. You can go on here 100 x and call your self different names. Nobody would plug a company to the degree they have been, if they didn't work for you, or are in fact YOU. Competition is a good thing. Smart people will not let anyone's comments on here LEAD them astray. The golden rule is always...shop around, get te...See MoreOh please Trish...we're not stupid. You can go on here 100 x and call your self different names. Nobody would plug a company to the degree they have been, if they didn't work for you, or are in fact YOU. Competition is a good thing. Smart people will not let anyone's comments on here LEAD them astray. The golden rule is always...shop around, get testimonials, do research, and cross your fingers. Icelandic volcanoes can disrupt the best laid plans.

On 3/20/10, Rose wrote: > On 3/18/10, Trish wrote: >> Ok, not sure if I am suppossed to do this. I DO work for LEAD >> USA and have been watching this as we are looking at advertising >> with this site. >> I can assure you this "socaliforniamagistra" person DOES NOT >> work for us!! And we can prove it. She is a sometime client, >> that also does some traveling on her own. >> Come on, think about this if anyone has a business mind at all!! >> Why would any travel company in thier right mind get on here and >> talk about how to travel on your own. Geez...that would put us >> all out of business. We serve a wonderful purpose for teachers >> who beleive they should be teaching and not planning trips. >> Anyone feel free to email me further to discuss, but I do not >> want anyone getting the idea this person is an employee. >> We have a great reputation for honesty and this site would not >> be worth jeapordizing that! Thank-you. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> On 3/09/10, Anonymous wrote: >>> So, we finally discover which company "socaliforniamagistra" is >>> plugging! It had to be revealed sooner or later. If he or she >>> was truly trying to be a resource for other teachers, then no >>> specific mention of any company would have been issued? It >>> would have been just good advice, with pros and cons on all >>> fronts. I find this person to be the epitome of a hypocrite. >>> Beware any advice coming from them and please stay away from >>> LEAD USA as a result. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> On 2/25/10, socaliforniamagistra wrote: >>>> As per the poor quality and problems that many seem to be >>>> having with international and domestic tour companies. >>>> >>>> The reality is this: Because of the economy, there are less >>>> travelers and therefore, smaller groups. >>>> >>>> Small groups are simply not cost-effective. >>>> >>>> The US dollar is doing badly against the Euro and Pound, so >>>> the quality of meals and hotels is not as good as it cold be. >>>> >>>> If you use companies where the guides rely on tips and >>>> commissions on optional excursions, then the smaller groups >>>> will not get the best guides. >>>> >>>> It's difficult to travel with a small group because unless >>>> you are traveling during a break when there are a lot of >>>> groups traveling, you are taking a gamble as to whom you >>>> will be combining with. And there have been horrific stories >>>> as well as good ones. >>>> >>>> I've heard that many companies don't even know if you can >>>> combine until a month or so before the trip and as a result >>>> many trips have been canceled as a result, or there is a >>>> great increase in the cost. >>>> >>>> From the discussions I have heard, both in my district and >>>> on various chatrooms, it might be better not to take the >>>> group meals and have your students budget for their own >> meals. >>>> >>>> Have any of you considered getting in touch with other >>>> schools a year in advance or using this forum to find groups >>>> to combine with? If you were able to use this chatboard to >>>> find groups, you could plan the trip with other teachers, >>>> get the 'rules' down, and even have the students develop >>>> email relationships before meeting on the trip; a much >>>> happier scenario. >>>> >>>> The teachers then could decide which company, if any, they >>>> want to travel with, rather having the tour company deciding >>>> everything. I think shopping around is a good thing and can >>>> be used to lower costs and increase value. >>>> >>>> Two of my colleagues plan everything with the official >>>> travel boards of the country they are traveling to and use a >>>> travel agent to make the air, bus, and train arrangements as >>>> well as collect all the payments. They contend that they >>>> save a few hundred dollars per person doing it this way.. >>>> >>>> I actually use a professional service to plan my trip >>>> (aligned with standards and my teaching plan) and then turn >>>> it over to the tour operator. >>>> >>>> The tour company I currently use domestically, LEAD USA >>>> leaddiscoveryusa.com (although LEAD also conducts >>>> international trips) will make all sorts of inquiries to >>>> combine groups well ahead of time. >>>> >>>> My numbers dropped dramatically this year because of the >>>> after-effect of the floods, and they found schools we could >>>> combine with so we could have a full bus. They had a lot of >>>> small, east coast-bound groups get in touch with them >>>> through their website and I then got in touch with those >>>> schools to see which were 'good fits'. There were two >>>> schools of under fifteen students that were perfect. In >>>> fact, these two schools had traveled with another tour >>>> company (the same one)last year and their respective trips >>>> were canceled. >>>> >>>> The best part is that we got a reduction in price since we >>>> had a nearly full bus rather than the original 35 we had >>>> planned on and I still got my upgraded meals and hotel >>>> within walking distance of the Smithsonians and White House. >>>> >>>> Why can't you do that with international trips as well?

Apr 17, 2010

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Trish So my guess to everyone reading this is a competitor. Here is my e mial if you want to verify. I, unlike, anomynous, have nothing to hide. [email removed]

On 4/17/10, Anonymous wrote: > Oh please Trish...we're not stupid. You can go on here 100 x and call > your self different names. Nobody would plug a company to the degree > the...See MoreSo my guess to everyone reading this is a competitor. Here is my e mial if you want to verify. I, unlike, anomynous, have nothing to hide. [email removed]

On 4/17/10, Anonymous wrote: > Oh please Trish...we're not stupid. You can go on here 100 x and call > your self different names. Nobody would plug a company to the degree > they have been, if they didn't work for you, or are in fact YOU. > Competition is a good thing. Smart people will not let anyone's comments > on here LEAD them astray. The golden rule is always...shop around, get > testimonials, do research, and cross your fingers. Icelandic volcanoes > can disrupt the best laid plans. > > > On 3/20/10, Rose wrote: >> On 3/18/10, Trish wrote: >>> Ok, not sure if I am suppossed to do this. I DO work for LEAD >>> USA and have been watching this as we are looking at advertising >>> with this site. >>> I can assure you this "socaliforniamagistra" person DOES NOT >>> work for us!! And we can prove it. She is a sometime client, >>> that also does some traveling on her own. >>> Come on, think about this if anyone has a business mind at all!! >>> Why would any travel company in thier right mind get on here and >>> talk about how to travel on your own. Geez...that would put us >>> all out of business. We serve a wonderful purpose for teachers >>> who beleive they should be teaching and not planning trips. >>> Anyone feel free to email me further to discuss, but I do not >>> want anyone getting the idea this person is an employee. >>> We have a great reputation for honesty and this site would not >>> be worth jeapordizing that! Thank-you. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> On 3/09/10, Anonymous wrote: >>>> So, we finally discover which company "socaliforniamagistra" is >>>> plugging! It had to be revealed sooner or later. If he or she >>>> was truly trying to be a resource for other teachers, then no >>>> specific mention of any company would have been issued? It >>>> would have been just good advice, with pros and cons on all >>>> fronts. I find this person to be the epitome of a hypocrite. >>>> Beware any advice coming from them and please stay away from >>>> LEAD USA as a result. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> On 2/25/10, socaliforniamagistra wrote: >>>>> As per the poor quality and problems that many seem to be >>>>> having with international and domestic tour companies. >>>>> >>>>> The reality is this: Because of the economy, there are less >>>>> travelers and therefore, smaller groups. >>>>> >>>>> Small groups are simply not cost-effective. >>>>> >>>>> The US dollar is doing badly against the Euro and Pound, so >>>>> the quality of meals and hotels is not as good as it cold be. >>>>> >>>>> If you use companies where the guides rely on tips and >>>>> commissions on optional excursions, then the smaller groups >>>>> will not get the best guides. >>>>> >>>>> It's difficult to travel with a small group because unless >>>>> you are traveling during a break when there are a lot of >>>>> groups traveling, you are taking a gamble as to whom you >>>>> will be combining with. And there have been horrific stories >>>>> as well as good ones. >>>>> >>>>> I've heard that many companies don't even know if you can >>>>> combine until a month or so before the trip and as a result >>>>> many trips have been canceled as a result, or there is a >>>>> great increase in the cost. >>>>> >>>>> From the discussions I have heard, both in my district and >>>>> on various chatrooms, it might be better not to take the >>>>> group meals and have your students budget for their own >>> meals. >>>>> >>>>> Have any of you considered getting in touch with other >>>>> schools a year in advance or using this forum to find groups >>>>> to combine with? If you were able to use this chatboard to >>>>> find groups, you could plan the trip with other teachers, >>>>> get the 'rules' down, and even have the students develop >>>>> email relationships before meeting on the trip; a much >>>>> happier scenario. >>>>> >>>>> The teachers then could decide which company, if any, they >>>>> want to travel with, rather having the tour company deciding >>>>> everything. I think shopping around is a good thing and can >>>>> be used to lower costs and increase value. >>>>> >>>>> Two of my colleagues plan everything with the official >>>>> travel boards of the country they are traveling to and use a >>>>> travel agent to make the air, bus, and train arrangements as >>>>> well as collect all the payments. They contend that they >>>>> save a few hundred dollars per person doing it this way.. >>>>> >>>>> I actually use a professional service to plan my trip >>>>> (aligned with standards and my teaching plan) and then turn >>>>> it over to the tour operator. >>>>> >>>>> The tour company I currently use domestically, LEAD USA >>>>> leaddiscoveryusa.com (although LEAD also conducts >>>>> international trips) will make all sorts of inquiries to >>>>> combine groups well ahead of time. >>>>> >>>>> My numbers dropped dramatically this year because of the >>>>> after-effect of the floods, and they found schools we could >>>>> combine with so we could have a full bus. They had a lot of >>>>> small, east coast-bound groups get in touch with them >>>>> through their website and I then got in touch with those >>>>> schools to see which were 'good fits'. There were two >>>>> schools of under fifteen students that were perfect. In >>>>> fact, these two schools had traveled with another tour >>>>> company (the same one)last year and their respective trips >>>>> were canceled. >>>>> >>>>> The best part is that we got a reduction in price since we >>>>> had a nearly full bus rather than the original 35 we had >>>>> planned on and I still got my upgraded meals and hotel >>>>> within walking distance of the Smithsonians and White House. >>>>> >>>>> Why can't you do that with international trips as well?

May 6, 2010

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Christine Wilder There are a few great tour companies and too many horrible tour companies to keep up with. The best way to find the great tour companies is to ask around. If you are in a school district that currently has groups that travel then ask them who they use. I have found a great company this way and it has worked wonders! They treat me my students, and m...See More

May 12, 2010

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False Re: Anonymous I just read this because I am looking for new student tour companies in the US to work for and this seemed to be a good place. It just goes to show that people who sign themselves as 'Anonymous' usually are nasty or trolls. A lot of teachers on this board, as well as companies, are plugging companies. This is supposed to be a place to...See More

May 12, 2010

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