SCHOOL TRIPS TO ITALY AND GREECE

Careful preparation

• compliance with school/LEA guidelines

• use reputable tour operators licensed by ATOL (Air Travel Organisers Licence)

• exploratory visit

• consult other schools

• compare the different tour operators

• organise tour yourself

• a year’s work?

Staffing

• school will dictate this, depending on numbers, age and gender

• choose accompanying staff carefully

• allocate jobs carefully

• ideally, one member of staff should be able to speak the language

Preparing the pupils • background information

• language

• money, food and drink

• phones

• emergency procedures

• code of conduct

• culture (dress codes, body language)

• smoking, alcohol, drugs

Briefing for parents 1

• purpose and dates of visit

• modes of travel (approved coach firm)

• accommodation

• details of cost

• insurance details (school)

• health and safety, medical matters

• standards of behaviour

Briefing for parents 2

• remote supervision

• evening activities

• swimming

• kit list

• contact details a) away b) at school

• special needs

• collect on time

Paperwork (to be taken)

• group list, photographs• travel tickets, passports, visas and copies• parental consent forms, medical forms,

European Health Insurance Card• contact details• accommodation details• insurance arrangements• details of local medical services, consulate

Paperwork(to be left at school/with EVC)

• group list

• copies of parental consent forms, medical forms

• contact details

• accommodation details

• insurance arrangements

• risk assessment

During the visit

• issue pupils with appropriate details of hotel, staff phone numbers, etc.

• establish system for identifying pupils

• establish a clear emergency procedure

• issue clear instructions especially regarding free time, timings, meeting places

Budget

• tour price• transport (coach to and from airport in

England)• insurance (your school insurance may

cover this)• admission fees (if not included)

– (a letter on school headed note paper will get you free entry to sites in Greece)

• extra staff?, staff lunches• contingency, treats

What does the price include?

• spouse/child concessions• number of staff free places• full/half board accommodation• insurance• air/coach• airport taxes • entrance fees• rep or courier• free inspection visit

Tips• sight see in the morning, travel in the

afternoon

• negotiate with tour operator (all three companies claim that tours can be tailor-made to suit the specific needs of individual groups)

• be nice to coach driver

• see something new each time

• look at other schools’ itineraries

Questions

• how big should the party be?

• single sex or a joint venture?

• how easy is it to organise the tour myself?

• should I take girls to Italy?

• to guide or not to guide?

• what if they are not Classicists?

• how long should we go for?

EVENING ACTIVITIES

• slide show

• diary writing

• meal out

• Greek dancing/Roman soldier

• son et lumière

• Easter/local celebrations

WHERE TO GO IN GREECE

• Athens• Delphi• Olympia, Bassae• Mycenae, Tiryns, Nemea, Argos, Epidauros• Corinth• Cape Sounion, Eleusis• Saronic Islands (Aegina, Poros, Hydra)• Sparta, Pylos, Sphacteria

Sample itinerary for Greece

• Day 1: depart 17.50, arrive Athens at 04.25 on day 2.• Day 2: transfer to Delphi via Ossios Loukas (Byzantine monastery)

and Arachova. • Day 3: visit Delphi museum and site; transfer to Olympia. • Day 4: visit Olympia; transfer to Pylos. • Day 5: boat trip to Sphakteria; visit Nestor’s palace and Oxbelly Bay

(ancient Pylos); transfer to Tolon. • Day 6: visit Mycenae, Nemea (and Nauplion if time); free afternoon

in Tolon.• Day 7: transfer to Athens via Epidauros; Athens National Museum.• Day 8 visit Theatre of Dionysus, Acropolis and Agora. Depart hotel

at 16.00 arrive 1.00am on day 9.

WHERE TO GO IN ITALY

• Rome: at least two days• Ostia Antica• Tivoli (Hadrian’s villa, Villa d’Este)• Bay of Naples: at least two days• Pompeii, Herculaneum, Vesuvius• Naples Archaeological Museum• Paestum, Amalfi coast• Cumae, Pozzuoli, Solfatara• Island of Capri

Sample itinerary for Italy

• Day 1: flight to Rome; visit Colosseum• Day 2: Rome: imperial fora; Capitoline and Palatine • Day 3: Tivoli or Vatican, Pantheon • Day 4: leave for Bay of Naples via catacombs: lunch

near Monte Cassino; arrive Sorrento• Day 5: Herculaneum; Mount Vesuvius• Day 6: Oplontis, Pompeii• Day 7: Naples Museum and Pozzuoli/Solfatara/Cumae• Day 8: fly home

Further information

• www.ststravel.co.uk/sts-european/italy

• www.ststravel.co.uk/sts-european/greece

• www.nstgroup.co.uk

• info@hellene-travel.com