Essential Factors for Planning Successful School Trips Abroad: Expert Tips & Guidance

Q: What factors should schools consider when deciding on where to take their school groups abroad?

Schools need to select destinations that align with their educational objectives and desired learning outcomes. Our years of knowledge in helping schools plan their trips can assist with guidance tailored to your budget, trip duration, preferred transport mode (coach or air), and the number of students.

Q: How much of the planning process is required from teachers?

The companies we work with support you throughout the entire planning journey, from initial enquiry and quotes to pre-travel preparations and post-trip customer care. Once the tour details are finalised, it is up to the teachers to communicate the trip to students via letters or assemblies. Teachers generally collect initial deposits and student passport details (name, DOB, passport number) early to secure flights and prevent delays. After deposits, a payment timeline is issued, and further money collection can be planned accordingly. Once the booking is confirmed, product specialists will work directly with the teacher to guide them up to the trip date.

Q: What duration would you recommend to maximize learning on a school trip abroad?

The ideal length depends on the destinations and activities planned. Generally, 2 or 3 nights in Northern France and Paris, 4 or 5 nights in other European cities, 5 to 7 nights for trips to the East Coast of America, and around 7 nights for worldwide or West Coast USA trips are effective. We also offer subject specific tours, such as geography in Iceland, art in France, or music in Berlin, which can be tailored to meet your curriculum needs.

Q: What types of accommodation do you offer?

We can offer a range of accommodation options, including hostels, hotels of various star ratings, and family run pensions. Accommodation choices are discussed with the teacher during the quotation stage to best suit your requirements and budget.

Q: How flexible are trip itineraries? Can schools tailor their trips?

The itineraries we feature are highly flexible and can be customised to meet your specific needs and teachers can develop itineraries that align with their objectives.

Q: Can cross-curricular trips be organised, or are trips usually focused on one subject?

Absolutely, trips can be designed to cover multiple subjects. For example, Paris offers opportunities for language, geography, history, art, and design. Teachers can choose to have students visit specific sites related to their subjects or combine various subjects within the same trip, making the experience rich and multidimensional.

Q: How do companies support schools with language barriers abroad?

The company who looks after your school trip will have staff members who are fluent in languages like French, German, Polish, Spanish, and Italian, ensuring clear communication when booking accommodations, visits, and transport.  Many overseas suppliers are experienced with international tourists and communicate effectively in English, further easing language concerns.

Q: What should schools consider when choosing a destination?

Accessibility, cost, transport options, and seasonal factors like weather should be considered. Popular European destinations such as France, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Italy, and Poland are often chosen because they are easy to travel to, and offer real educational value. Transport methods such as coach, ferry, or flights, should align with your budget and schedule. Also consider seasonal opening hours of places you want to see when you get there, such as museums, especially in winter.

Q: If you had to recommend one country with the most educational benefits, which would it be and why?

France is a very popular choice due to the number of curriculum subjects you can cover during a French visit: French language, art, history, science, geography, and more. Destinations like Paris, Normandy, Lille, Lourdes, Strasbourg, and the French Alps offer diverse educational opportunities covering many curriculum areas.

Q: How much of the planning do companies typically cover?

We aim to help make planning as straightforward as possible. The companies we work with offer clear itineraries,  suggest suitable accommodations, transport options, visits, and meals. They often provide helpful documentation such as parent letters and presentations for school events. You will have a dedicated tour organiser who will be your main contact from start to finish, ensuring a smooth planning process.

Q: What is your one piece of advice for teachers planning their school trip abroad?

Start planning early, communicate clearly with all of your stakeholders, and take advantage of the resources and support available from experienced travel providers to make the process easier and more successful.

Q: Which subjects can be covered on a school trip abroad, and can multiple subjects be incorporated?

Most curriculum subjects can be covered, and trips can be designed to include multiple subjects. For example, in Paris, students studying art, science, textiles, or history can visit relevant sites, often in a single day. Schools may choose to keep students together or split into subject groups, depending on their goals. It us usually more cost effective to run a single trip than many trips for each curriculum subject.