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Jews became known as the Holocaust and has remained the single most tragic event of C.20th European history, than a trip to Auschwitz? Where are pupils going to learn more about the intricacies of Roman life than in Rome? With the number of companies now operating within the school travel industry there has never been as much choice in the range of possible destinations, or in the number of subject led school trips. The breadth of educational tours is evolving, so whether you’re looking for a Geography trip to Iceland or a Music tour to China, there’ll be a company who can make sure pupils and teachers have the experience of a lifetime. Finding the Best School Travel Companies As with all service led industries, each company is going to claim they are the best at delivering what you want. So, before beginning your research, it’s important you know what you want to get out of your trip. Are you simply looking for the cheapest organization? Or, are you looking for an honest company who will give you the best price they can reasonably offer? If you’re after a language focused trip, it might be a good idea to find out who the leaders are in that particular field. All companies will claim to be able to organize a trip anywhere, but many specialise in particular subject areas or destinations. It’s often useful to have a look at what the company started off doing – if they started off only delivering school adventure holidays, then they’re probably going to be more experienced in that field. What kind of help can you expect? You might also want to find out about the level of support the company can offer you. Do they have any teacher resources? Promoting your tour can be stressful and the more students you take, the cheaper the tour price. With this in mind, find out how each company supports you in promoting your tour? Do they have any promotional tools? Will they help save you time by providing template letters you can send out to parents? Similarly, what do they offer in the way of learning support? Some companies provide worksheets or work-books to fill in, which can enhance or reinforce the student learning experience. Increasingly, school travel providers also feature secure blogs for you to use to communicate with those back home. It’s these kinds of extras that really make the difference. Make Comparisons It’s definitely worth spending a bit of time finding a company you think is going to work for you and your group. The internet is a good place to start, but if you find you want a bit more information, it is always worthwhile requesting a brochure. Research is key, so find 3 or 4 companies you like, ring them up, ask some questions, look at their brochures and get a bespoke quote free of charge. Safety Safety is of course a big issue for school groups and most companies should understand that it will be a main priority. Make sure the company you go with has been externally audited by an accredited organisation. If you’re unsure about the safety standards of the company you’re looking at, ask your LEA. You also want to make sure that your money is safe; so make sure the company you choose to work with has been fully bonded and, should anything go wrong, that your travel costs will also be recoverable.
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