Frequently Asked Educational Travel Questions
Comfort and Safety on tour
Is it safe to travel overseas?
Each year NETC works with close to 15,000 students. Other companies take about another 150,000. At almost any time, several NETC staff and managers will be traveling abroad, on business or with their families. NETC's President has sent his children on NETC trips, and two of them have studied abroad in Spain. One of them is now teaching in the Dominican Republic. This past summer the CEO and his wife and young children went on a tour to in England and Portugal. So we think its safe.
What kinds of hotels does NETC use?
NETC uses 3 and 4 star hotels. In larger cities they are centrally located with good access to sights and transportation. Students stay in triple rooms. Hotels are licensed and inspected by local authorities and NETC also inspects them for cleanliness, quality, location and overall suitability. They are not "student hotels." Teachers and Tour Directors stay in the same hotels as students. NETC staff and managers also stay in the same hotels we use for our groups when traveling abroad.
When will we know our hotel information?
Confirmed hotel information will be available 30 days prior to departure. Almost all the hotels have websites.
What About Special Dietary Needs/Allergies?
Vegetarians, "I don't like fish" and similar is no problem. Minor allergies you can manage yourself are also ok. Serious, life threatening allergies are a problem given the many different restaurants being used and would need to be discussed with NETC directly.
What kind of Tour Directors does NETC use?
NETC Tour Directors are rigorously trained by NETC to lead NETC educational tours and are unique in being LEAP! Trained.
LEAP! Explained Because NETC tours are seasonal, they have other careers as well such as writers, artists, teachers, singers, musicians, art historians, film producers, translators and so on. They all have fascinating stories. They are multi lingual, college educated, very well traveled, passionate about the countries they work in and passionate about working with young people. They are usually the highlight of the program!
You Can Meet a Few of Them at This Link What happens in an emergency?
NETC has a 24-hour presence. While tours are in progress, NETC can be reached 24 hours a day, both in the United States and overseas. An NETC Tour Director accompanies each NETC program at all times and knows how to deal with minor illnesses, accidents and so on. Tour Directors are in constant touch with our Regional Operations Managers abroad. Our insurance company, ACE provides access to worldwide medical assistance.
How do I contact my child while they are traveling?
Unless there is an emergency it's usually better not to, as calls home often bring on homesickness and can be very disruptive. Students can rent cell phones from
www.piccellwireless.com/netcteachers so that they can be reached easily. Also calls among the members of the group are usually free.
If you opt not to rent a phone you may call the hotel where the group is staying that day. Please remember to check the local time first!
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Inclusions, Extra Expenses, Spending Money
What's included in the cost of the tour?
Please refer to the itinerary description and the Agreement for exact details, but essentially; Round trip airfare. Entrance fees, excursions and transportation as described in the itinerary. Tips to local bus drivers and guides. Hotel accommodations in triple rooms. Breakfast and dinner each day. Services of a Tour Director throughout. Basic Insurance Plan.
What's not included in the cost of the tour?
Please refer to the itinerary description and the Agreement for exact details, but essentially; Lunches. Drinks with meals. Optional excursions and activities. Local transportation in cities except on included activities. Personal items. Entrance fees other than as described in the itinerary. Tip to your Tour Director and (if applicable) the tour bus driver. The Total Surety Plan. Departure Fees.
How much spending money should I bring?
NETC recommends a minimum of $50 a day for spending money to cover lunches, drinks, snacks, local transportation, and small souvenirs. If you plan on shopping you will need more.
What is the best way to carry money?
NETC recommends you obtain one of our re-loadable
Visa Debit Cards. This provides students with secure and easily accessible funds while enabling parents to limit spending, or reload the card! Alternatively, you may take a credit card or bankcard that can be used at international ATM machines. Remember to check with your credit card company or bank to make sure your card will work overseas.
DO NOT USE TRAVELERS CHECKS. How much money is recommended for tipping?
Gratuities to your NETC Tour Director and long distance tour bus driver (if applicable) are not included in the tour price. For a job well done, recommended tipping guidelines are as follows:
- Europe: 3 Euros per day for your Tour Director and 2 Euros per day for your long-distance coach driver.
- UK: 2 Pounds per day for your Tour Director and 1 Pound per day for your long-distance coach driver.
- Latin America: $3 per day for your Tour Director and $2 per day for your long-distance coach driver.
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What is the food like?
A continental breakfast may include juice, milk, tea, coffee or chocolate, bread and/or croissant and/or pastry and fruit. Some hotels offer a buffet usually consisting of cereals, and cold meats and cheeses. It varies from one hotel to another but it is always more than enough to get the day started.
Dinner is always three courses; a starter, a main course and a desert and is plentiful. NETC introduces local food to the students but we realize that kids need to eat and eat well so we strive for a balance!
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When will we know our flights?
45 days prior to departure. NETC cautions that schedule changes occur VERY frequently which can often lead to a completely new set of flights. So don't make any plans around these student travel flights till they are finalized and even then allow plenty of time for connections.
Can I get frequent flyer miles?
If you would like to credit your NETC student travel flight to your frequent flier account, please remember to contact the participating airline before departure for qualification guidelines. NETC cannot provide copies of your ticket after your return.
Can I use points to pay for my flight?
No. You can pay a reduced program fee and book your own flights, but you will be responsible for making your way to and from the airport and meeting up with the group and dealing with delays, misconnections and so forth. We would also recommend you don't book flights until NETC has finalized the student travel flight itinerary for the group. NETC does not recommend this option as it will usually involve flying on different flights from the rest of your group.
What size luggage can I bring?
The best guideline is that you can bring what you can carry yourself (not wheel) once round the running track and up the bleachers! (At least one NETC teacher insists on this test). NETC educational tours do not include porterage. So the best advice is to pack smart and bring as little as possible. Officially you may bring one medium sized suitcase (20" length X 28" height) and one carry-on bag (backpack, small suitcase) for the airplane. Please contact the specific airline for exact restrictions on carry-on luggage and be mindful of changes in regulations from time to time.
What should I pack?
NETC will give you all the advice that you need nearer the time. The golden rule is only one suitcase!
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Passports and Visas
What kind of passport or documentation do I need to travel?
A valid passport is required to travel overseas. If any traveler (student or adult) does not have one, please make arrangements to acquire one immediately. NETC will notify the Head Teacher if a visa is required for entry by US citizens to any of the countries that you may be visiting. Please be aware that the time required to process visa applications can be several weeks for each country. Non-US citizens should therefore begin the application process as early as possible.
Passport forms can be obtained at your local post office or visit
http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html for all the information and forms you'll need. Obtaining a passport can take several weeks, so make arrangements to acquire one immediately
Visit
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1765.html on the web for additional helpful information.
My child is not a US citizen. Will they need any special visas?
Non-US citizens must check about visa requirements with the consulate of each country that they are visiting, including those they are passing through (even if they are not spending a night). Please be aware that the time required to process visa applications can be several weeks for each country. Non-US citizens should therefore begin the application process as early as possible. Visit
http://projectvisa.com/ on the web for additional helpful information.
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Code of Conduct
Are there Rules and Regulations?
Yes. NETC has a basic
Code of Conduct. However your teacher or group leader will add his or her own personal requirements to these.
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Other Questions
Will we travel with other schools?
That depends. A typical NETC tour has 3 hometown groups on it. These groups generally make friends which creates a fun dynamic. However some group have just one hometown group.
Can handicapped participants go on a NETC Educational Travel Tours?
Europe is not like the US where most things are made handicap accessible. There may be some sites or activities where the traveler is unable to participate. NETC will be happy to work with anyone who has mobility or other issues to try and make it possible for them to participate. We have to deal with this on a case by case basis but we are very motivated to make our tours accessible to everyone.
