Eurotrip 2011, 40 students to Paris/Florence/Rome/Athens/5 days on Aegean
Nov 24th, 2009, 07:07 PM
#23
Have you considered contacting Aegean (or perhaps another budget airline) and booking a group? Most airlines have a group link on their website and are used to blocking out a big group of seats for tour groups.
Nov 24th, 2009, 07:34 PM
#24
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kybourbon - Ooooh, Ooooooh. Great idea. I just checked Aegean Airlines for similar dates to our travel (but in 2010) and the per person fare for the flight is 33 Euro. This compares well to the 110 Euro (per 4 bedded room) on the Superfast ferry. This is an avenue we will pursue further. Thanks so much for the great lead. Fodor's rocks.
tC
tC
Nov 24th, 2009, 11:06 PM
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Hi teacherCanada,
I'm glad to see you are making progress on finding a flight. Rome to Athens in three hours for €33 as opposed to 17 hours in a ferry for €110 is a no-brainer! And that doesn't even include the time and cost of getting by road from Rome to Bari and Patras to Athens.
I would like to correct kybourbon on one point, though - Aegean isn't a budget airline. It is a full service airline, with meals, drinks, etc all included in the ticket price. Aegean even has leather seats in coach class! You are now discovering what some of us already know - flying is sometimes cheaper than the ferries, and a whole lot quicker. That is true of domestic routes within Greece as well as the international ones.
I'm glad to see you are making progress on finding a flight. Rome to Athens in three hours for €33 as opposed to 17 hours in a ferry for €110 is a no-brainer! And that doesn't even include the time and cost of getting by road from Rome to Bari and Patras to Athens.
I would like to correct kybourbon on one point, though - Aegean isn't a budget airline. It is a full service airline, with meals, drinks, etc all included in the ticket price. Aegean even has leather seats in coach class! You are now discovering what some of us already know - flying is sometimes cheaper than the ferries, and a whole lot quicker. That is true of domestic routes within Greece as well as the international ones.
Jan 17th, 2010, 06:49 PM
#27
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Well, after a gap of about seven weeks there are a few updates I would like to share. We have expanded our student numbers to 42. We think this is about the maximum we can safely handle on a trip of this nature.
Our next challenge is to find willing and appropriate adult chaperones to travel with us. We are required (school board rules) to take at least 3 more adults. We will try to take four. In order to keep the costs for students at as low a level as possible, adult chaperones pay the same rate as students. We use whatever financial benefit we get from this to reduce overall costs for the group. The two lead chaperones (of which I am one) have our travel costs covered. We justify this because we ultimately have all the responsibility for the safety of our group. The other adult chaperones provide logistical and emotional support to our travellers. Traditionally we have hesitated to take parents of students for a few reasons. They can unknowingly interfere with lead chaperone decisions and they can unknowingly impact how their child behaves. We look for adults in the community who are willing to pay to travel with a group like this.
There tend to be more females than males willing to chaperone. At this stage we have confirmed two (one man and one woman) who have accepted the task.
Our itinerary is starting to flesh out quite nicely. We have a few surprises for the group in Paris. I am trying to arrange a patisserie tour or cooking school (these ideas were from Fodor's), a sewer tour and the Fat Tire Bike Tour. While we are travelling between Florence and Rome (by coach) I hope we can spend an afternoon at a spa. I love the idea of a mud bath.
Heimdall and kybourbon - We are actively pursuing the flight from Rome to Athens (as opposed to the ferry) and I think our agent is accepting your logic. In the end, the decision will be a balance of the cost of the flight vs. the time spent for the ferry transfer. It all boils down to $$ and time. Two of the things that are critical when planning travel.
I may have to miss Pompeii this time - but that just provides impetus for another trip.
Everyone planning to be a part of Eurotrip 2011 is excited. Our fundraising machine has started. The countdown is on!
tC
Our next challenge is to find willing and appropriate adult chaperones to travel with us. We are required (school board rules) to take at least 3 more adults. We will try to take four. In order to keep the costs for students at as low a level as possible, adult chaperones pay the same rate as students. We use whatever financial benefit we get from this to reduce overall costs for the group. The two lead chaperones (of which I am one) have our travel costs covered. We justify this because we ultimately have all the responsibility for the safety of our group. The other adult chaperones provide logistical and emotional support to our travellers. Traditionally we have hesitated to take parents of students for a few reasons. They can unknowingly interfere with lead chaperone decisions and they can unknowingly impact how their child behaves. We look for adults in the community who are willing to pay to travel with a group like this.
There tend to be more females than males willing to chaperone. At this stage we have confirmed two (one man and one woman) who have accepted the task.
Our itinerary is starting to flesh out quite nicely. We have a few surprises for the group in Paris. I am trying to arrange a patisserie tour or cooking school (these ideas were from Fodor's), a sewer tour and the Fat Tire Bike Tour. While we are travelling between Florence and Rome (by coach) I hope we can spend an afternoon at a spa. I love the idea of a mud bath.
Heimdall and kybourbon - We are actively pursuing the flight from Rome to Athens (as opposed to the ferry) and I think our agent is accepting your logic. In the end, the decision will be a balance of the cost of the flight vs. the time spent for the ferry transfer. It all boils down to $$ and time. Two of the things that are critical when planning travel.
I may have to miss Pompeii this time - but that just provides impetus for another trip.
Everyone planning to be a part of Eurotrip 2011 is excited. Our fundraising machine has started. The countdown is on!
tC
Jan 17th, 2010, 07:07 PM
#28
Keep in mind luggage restrictions/fees if you use a budget airline.
If you do ferry, ask for a tour of the bridge for your group.
I'm sure our school boards wouldn't allow random adults from the community to go as chaperones - too much legal liability. All our school volunteers are fingerprinted/background checked and have been for over 20 years.
If you do ferry, ask for a tour of the bridge for your group.
I'm sure our school boards wouldn't allow random adults from the community to go as chaperones - too much legal liability. All our school volunteers are fingerprinted/background checked and have been for over 20 years.
Jan 17th, 2010, 07:39 PM
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kybourbon - Once more, thanks for the great advice. Our adult chaperones, if they are not school board employees (such as educational assistants or office professionals) need to complete and pass a criminal record check done by the Ontario Provincial Police and run through the national police data base to participate as a chaperone. As organizers, we are also very careful about who we approach to be a chaperone.
Your thoughts about baggage restrictions are very important. We tell all participants they are only allowed 1 bag and 1 carry on when we depart. By this stage of the trip, I am sure some will have done enough shopping to warrant a second suitcase. I'll have to keep my eyes on this aspect.
Your thoughts about baggage restrictions are very important. We tell all participants they are only allowed 1 bag and 1 carry on when we depart. By this stage of the trip, I am sure some will have done enough shopping to warrant a second suitcase. I'll have to keep my eyes on this aspect.
Mar 8th, 2010, 05:31 PM
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Well, it's getting closer to one year prior to departure (actually 367 days, but who is counting). Our scheduled departure date is March 10, 2011. We are looking forward to hearing from our agent soon when he starts making initial inquiries about our flights.
Further to kybourbon's and Heimdall's suggestions we have now shifted our thoughts towards the flight from Rome to Athens rather than the overnight ferry. It is all a function of cost, but things look good at the present time.
Our students (and their parents) have started the fundraising process. We will have about 12- 14 different activities over the next 11 months to allow students to subsidize their costs. Parents have taken a lead role in organizing these activities, but lead chaperones are always involved.
Things are well in hand for Eurotrip 2011. This leaves me with a bit of spare time and 30 students who want to travel in May 2012. I have asked a number of them where they would like to go. Many have suggested Paris, then somewhere warm. I am thinking that after 4 days in Paris we could travel to the south of Spain with a flip across to Morocco for a day or two. The trip in total would be about 12 - 13 days (maybe less). Any thoughts?
I'll provide updates for everyone as relevant events occur.
tC
Further to kybourbon's and Heimdall's suggestions we have now shifted our thoughts towards the flight from Rome to Athens rather than the overnight ferry. It is all a function of cost, but things look good at the present time.
Our students (and their parents) have started the fundraising process. We will have about 12- 14 different activities over the next 11 months to allow students to subsidize their costs. Parents have taken a lead role in organizing these activities, but lead chaperones are always involved.
Things are well in hand for Eurotrip 2011. This leaves me with a bit of spare time and 30 students who want to travel in May 2012. I have asked a number of them where they would like to go. Many have suggested Paris, then somewhere warm. I am thinking that after 4 days in Paris we could travel to the south of Spain with a flip across to Morocco for a day or two. The trip in total would be about 12 - 13 days (maybe less). Any thoughts?
I'll provide updates for everyone as relevant events occur.
tC
Mar 8th, 2010, 07:21 PM
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Some thoughts that I have if I was a parent: my choice for chaperones would definitely be other teachers. They have the experience of dealing with students. After that, I would prefer parents of students rather than "someone from the community". The times that my boys traveled on student trips there were other teachers and some parents. The teacher in charge was quite clear up front about the responsibilities and there were never any problems with taking parents.
My other thought is that if I were a parent paying for this trip there is much more that I would rather my child do/see than spending time at a spa. Trips are expensive and it is a once in a lifetime for many to see the treasures of Europe. They can go to a spa (if they want) at home.
My other thought is that if I were a parent paying for this trip there is much more that I would rather my child do/see than spending time at a spa. Trips are expensive and it is a once in a lifetime for many to see the treasures of Europe. They can go to a spa (if they want) at home.
Mar 9th, 2010, 01:05 PM
#33
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Lynnaustin - what great comments - and ones that certainly deserve a response. It is interesting for me to hear others comments and in retrospect review what I have said and how it can be interpreted.
The question about chaperones is a good example. Our school board uses on-call teachers to cover teaching assignments for teachers who are absent due to field trips. It is difficult in a smaller school to take more than one teacher out of class for an extended period of time (in this case 7 teaching days). Hence, our approach is to ask non-teachers. This doesn't mean it never happens, just infrequently.
Parents can sometimes be wonderful chaperones. They are, after all, the parents of teenagers and can relate to many of the concerns and issues a teenaged traveller might face. One of the reasons we offer international educational excursions is to provide a measure of independence to students and to have them develop decision-making skills. Sometimes, having parents along doesn't promote those ideas (something like taking your parents to summer camp). Parents can also serve as a second level of authority and we have had situations where a student has asked a lead chaperone for permission, been refused, then gone to a parent with the same question and been given approval. We have resolved a great deal of those issues by asking parents to direct any questions to lead chaperones. It seems this is what has happened in your case too.
One further predicament we find ourselves in with parents is the number who want to participate. It is a great compliment to us, but we have over 20 parents who have asked to chaperone our group. How can we fairly choose?
The phrase "someone from the community" is a bit misleading and this is my fault. We are a small community and no one has ever chaperoned on one of our trips without a direct connection to the school or one of the lead chaperones. Chaperones have been local business people or cafeteria staff or school board employees (but not teachers). We don't advertise for chaperones in the local paper. Each non-school board employee must complete a police check and meet school staff. Chaperones on our trips pay the full rate - the same as student participants. They must also either take their holidays during the trip time (or take time off without pay).
I also take responsibility for the misinterpretation of the spa visit. Our educational excursions do not resemble a holiday or vacation. Students have academic responsibilities. They learn massive amounts by using their five senses in all our locations. The spa visit is tied to the physical geography curriculum with the geothermal heating aspect on the tectonic plates found in the earthquake zones within Italy. Now, please don't think that school is all work and no play. I have found that if students are engaged in real life while exploring situations and have fun while doing it, they learn twice as much as in the classroom. The spa visit is also a bit of a reward for the gruelling days we will have experienced in Florence and will experience in Rome.
Thanks for your comments. I look forward to hearing from you again.
tC
The question about chaperones is a good example. Our school board uses on-call teachers to cover teaching assignments for teachers who are absent due to field trips. It is difficult in a smaller school to take more than one teacher out of class for an extended period of time (in this case 7 teaching days). Hence, our approach is to ask non-teachers. This doesn't mean it never happens, just infrequently.
Parents can sometimes be wonderful chaperones. They are, after all, the parents of teenagers and can relate to many of the concerns and issues a teenaged traveller might face. One of the reasons we offer international educational excursions is to provide a measure of independence to students and to have them develop decision-making skills. Sometimes, having parents along doesn't promote those ideas (something like taking your parents to summer camp). Parents can also serve as a second level of authority and we have had situations where a student has asked a lead chaperone for permission, been refused, then gone to a parent with the same question and been given approval. We have resolved a great deal of those issues by asking parents to direct any questions to lead chaperones. It seems this is what has happened in your case too.
One further predicament we find ourselves in with parents is the number who want to participate. It is a great compliment to us, but we have over 20 parents who have asked to chaperone our group. How can we fairly choose?
The phrase "someone from the community" is a bit misleading and this is my fault. We are a small community and no one has ever chaperoned on one of our trips without a direct connection to the school or one of the lead chaperones. Chaperones have been local business people or cafeteria staff or school board employees (but not teachers). We don't advertise for chaperones in the local paper. Each non-school board employee must complete a police check and meet school staff. Chaperones on our trips pay the full rate - the same as student participants. They must also either take their holidays during the trip time (or take time off without pay).
I also take responsibility for the misinterpretation of the spa visit. Our educational excursions do not resemble a holiday or vacation. Students have academic responsibilities. They learn massive amounts by using their five senses in all our locations. The spa visit is tied to the physical geography curriculum with the geothermal heating aspect on the tectonic plates found in the earthquake zones within Italy. Now, please don't think that school is all work and no play. I have found that if students are engaged in real life while exploring situations and have fun while doing it, they learn twice as much as in the classroom. The spa visit is also a bit of a reward for the gruelling days we will have experienced in Florence and will experience in Rome.
Thanks for your comments. I look forward to hearing from you again.
tC
Mar 11th, 2010, 05:46 PM
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Hi TC. So glad to hear your getting a trip together for the kids. And it sounds like an AWESOME one!
I'm actually coming off major depression from missing a trip with our students to Europe 2010. They just got home from doing the Barcelona, Nice, Monaco, Florence, Pisa, Montacantini and Rome. I was devastated when they left. I just couldn't come up with the 3000.00 for the trip this time around. They actually had about 17 people drop out of the trip because of finances. Detroit/Michigan has been very hard hit. I was hoping till the very end they would need a last minute Chaperone. No such luck.
I did do that same trip with them about 4 years ago, but I so wanted to go. I had every intention of going but as the date got closer, business just got worse. Oh, well. I just used whatever monies I had been saving towards a trip to Paris this coming Oct.
I'm looking forward to watching this post.
Mamaw
I'm actually coming off major depression from missing a trip with our students to Europe 2010. They just got home from doing the Barcelona, Nice, Monaco, Florence, Pisa, Montacantini and Rome. I was devastated when they left. I just couldn't come up with the 3000.00 for the trip this time around. They actually had about 17 people drop out of the trip because of finances. Detroit/Michigan has been very hard hit. I was hoping till the very end they would need a last minute Chaperone. No such luck.
I did do that same trip with them about 4 years ago, but I so wanted to go. I had every intention of going but as the date got closer, business just got worse. Oh, well. I just used whatever monies I had been saving towards a trip to Paris this coming Oct.
I'm looking forward to watching this post.
Mamaw
Mar 12th, 2010, 12:41 PM
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According to my Thomas Cook Euro Train/Ferry Timetable, Rome to Bari train takes 4 hrs., ferry Bari/Brindisi to Patra is another 14-16 hr trip (and if you take the overnight ferry you see nothing)....then it is another 4 hrs bus/train overland Patra-Athens...you do the math...a solid 24 hrs on the road for your caravan? I would suggest 3 base camps for your assault on Europe...1) Paris, 2)Rome or Florence (they are only 1.5 hrs apart on the Eurostar express, so you could commute to/from either one), and 3) Athens.....this will minimise travel and maximise sightseeing. I would also recommend that for 40 people you hire a bus in Italy to provide door-to-door service Rome-Florence-Rome, the Italians do that very well.
And heed the advice of your good friends above about flying Rome- Athens. For April 2010 Olympic Airways will fly you o/w from FCO to ATH for $122....and with 40 kids you will get a great group discount (and with the bus you are going to hire in Rome you will get transportation from hotel to airport!)
dolce far niente!
(and why don't you ask Olympic to quote you a group rate via NYC that would include Athens-Paris-Rome-Athens?)
And heed the advice of your good friends above about flying Rome- Athens. For April 2010 Olympic Airways will fly you o/w from FCO to ATH for $122....and with 40 kids you will get a great group discount (and with the bus you are going to hire in Rome you will get transportation from hotel to airport!)
dolce far niente!
(and why don't you ask Olympic to quote you a group rate via NYC that would include Athens-Paris-Rome-Athens?)
Mar 12th, 2010, 06:00 PM
#36
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Mamaw - Great to see your voice again. I know how much you enjoy travelling with the youth in your area. Your passion is obvious in the records you have put on Fodor's. From the itinerary listed it sounds like their most recent trip would have been wonderful. Detroit has really been hit with a series of thumps in the past while. I know you have been drawing on your inner strength to get you through what must be very tough times. I am pleased you are looking forward to Paris in the fall. I bet you'll have a wonderful time.
scotty09 - You have done a great job of summarizing the real life choices our group faces in the Rome to Athens leg. The per person cost to fly at $122 is a bit rich, but as you say, I am sure our travel agent can work on that number. We now number 48 travellers (42 students and 6 grown-ups), so should be eligible for some excellent discounts. I will most certainly pass on your suggestion to fly with Olympic. Our top wish is to fly from (and return to) Toronto. Any flights with a connection through the U.S.A. raise the potential for delays and extra security stations that we might avoid if we can sidestep the U.S. We would, however, entertain the idea of flying out of Buffalo or Detroit if it was to our advantage financially. We trust (yes, we really do) our travel agent to look at all scenarios and choose the one that best balances time and cost.
Thank you both for your encouragement. In one year today we will be floating down the Seine on our Bateaux Mouche cruise.
tC
scotty09 - You have done a great job of summarizing the real life choices our group faces in the Rome to Athens leg. The per person cost to fly at $122 is a bit rich, but as you say, I am sure our travel agent can work on that number. We now number 48 travellers (42 students and 6 grown-ups), so should be eligible for some excellent discounts. I will most certainly pass on your suggestion to fly with Olympic. Our top wish is to fly from (and return to) Toronto. Any flights with a connection through the U.S.A. raise the potential for delays and extra security stations that we might avoid if we can sidestep the U.S. We would, however, entertain the idea of flying out of Buffalo or Detroit if it was to our advantage financially. We trust (yes, we really do) our travel agent to look at all scenarios and choose the one that best balances time and cost.
Thank you both for your encouragement. In one year today we will be floating down the Seine on our Bateaux Mouche cruise.
tC
Mar 13th, 2010, 09:04 AM
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Dear teach, I am intrigued enough by the challenge of moving 48 Canadians over long distances economically/efficiently (there's a joke in there somewhere!), that I have done some more research. My Olympic suggestion has a snag in that they do fly from YYZ to ATH but everything goes via JFK. Using a dummy date of late April 2010 I got some horrendous quotes of +/- $2000 to get you from YYZ to ATH. Best quote so far is Air Canada from YYZ to CDG (your first stop, right?)of $871 per individual (much lower for a group)
You should also know that there are religious organizations in Italy (convents, abbeys, etc.) that often offer inexpensive dormitory accomms. for groups like yours.In Florence, for example, Suore Francescane Missionarie Di Maria, Piazza del Carmine, 21, Firenze, is one such place and Google will find you many more.
On a pedagogical note, I don't know what courses you teach at your school, but student involvement in a planning project like this would teach wonderful lessons in logistics, math, software programming, macroeconomics, geography, etc. Since you just had the Olympics in Vancouver, you ought to consider inviting one the organizers to speak at your school.
You should also know that there are religious organizations in Italy (convents, abbeys, etc.) that often offer inexpensive dormitory accomms. for groups like yours.In Florence, for example, Suore Francescane Missionarie Di Maria, Piazza del Carmine, 21, Firenze, is one such place and Google will find you many more.
On a pedagogical note, I don't know what courses you teach at your school, but student involvement in a planning project like this would teach wonderful lessons in logistics, math, software programming, macroeconomics, geography, etc. Since you just had the Olympics in Vancouver, you ought to consider inviting one the organizers to speak at your school.
Mar 16th, 2010, 08:45 PM
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scotty09 - There are more than a few jokes attached to the concept of moving a herd of Canadians through Europe. Thanks for taking the time to check out potential air connections for our group. I do hesitate to fly through the U.S. due to security and delay concerns that we may well avoid if we stay within Canada for our departure/return. As far as accommodations in our various cities go, the chaperone team likes to offer a variety to our student travellers. In at least once city (probably Paris) we will stay in a youth hostel or similar. Why? Well in the coming years when these wonderful students return to Europe on their own, they need to have a least one hostel stay under their belts. They won't be staying in three star hotels (they couldn't afford it). Kybourbon and brotherleelove have been supportive in finding convents for us in Florence and Rome. We are certainly considering these for cost reasons, but also for experiential purposes.
The students are involved minimally in the planning process, but are certainly kept abreast of the logistical issues, cost issues and other items we can relate to the curriculum. It would be challenging indeed to get an Olympics organizer to come to the school. I think they are still basking in the wonderful successes in Vancouver. I hope you enjoyed the Olympics.
tC
The students are involved minimally in the planning process, but are certainly kept abreast of the logistical issues, cost issues and other items we can relate to the curriculum. It would be challenging indeed to get an Olympics organizer to come to the school. I think they are still basking in the wonderful successes in Vancouver. I hope you enjoyed the Olympics.
tC
Oct 31st, 2010, 10:03 PM
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Well, it's time for an update for those who are still interested in seeing how this saga proceeds. We are about 129 days prior to departure and nearly everything about this educational excursion is coming up roses. There are 41 students and 7 adults (including me) participating. Our travel agency has really done an excellent job for us to date. There have been a few miscommunications between us and them, but without exception they have "taken the high road" and met our needs.
We were originally scheduled to depart on a Thursday, but somehow the flights were booked for Wednesday. Sadly, (tongue in cheek here) this required us to stay an extra day in Paris. We gladly took advantage of this miscommunication. Now we would have 4 days/ 3 nights in Paris instead of 3/2. This gives us much more flexibility for our planning. Our time in Paris will be energizing. We are staying in a youth hostel in the Latin Quarter. This is our choice and we are very excited about the location. Once we leave Paris each of the following destinations is new to me.
On the Sunday evening we board the overnight train (we get couchettes) heading towards Florence. We have been told our two days in Florence will be wonderful and I am really looking forward to what we will see there.
On Wednesday morning we board our charter coach for a day long drive to Rome. We will be stopping at a few places on the way for some excitement and culture.
Rome promises to be a highlight. On the Thursday we take a day-long flip to Pompeii, one destination I really want to absorb. The other two days we tour Rome. We stay in a well-located monastery while in Rome.
Thanks to the sage advice of kybourbon, Heimdall, scotty09 and others we convinced the travel agents that the flight from Rome to Athens was integral to the "flow" of the trip. We are booked on Aegean Air on late Saturday afternoon. This 2 hour flight saves us about 28 hours of travel (coach/ferry/coach) and this allowed us to gain our "Pompeii day". Once in Athens we have 2 nights in a hotel before boarding our 4 night cruise around the Aegean Sea visiting Kusadasi, Rhodes, Crete, Santorini and two other ports.
Upon our return to Athens (early Friday) we have that last day for sightseeing, souvenir purchases and a farewell, culture based dinner. We depart Saturday for a connecting flight in Frankfurt and home to Canada.
In total we are away 18 days - certainly the longest student expedition I have been a part of.
Our group consists of 15 guys and 26 girls. There are two male chaperones and 5 female chaperones. For the first time on our Eurotrips, 2 of the chaperones are parents of participants. Both are Registered Nurses working in Emergency rooms at local hospitals. I hope their presence will not be needed for their medical backgrounds, but they may allow other parents to worry less.
Every participant (including chaperones) has submitted over $3000 toward the $4200 cost to participate. Every participant (including chaperones) has demonstrated they have a valid passport and copies of pages 2 and 3 have been sent away to the travel agency for ticketing and insurance purposes.
We do have a few fundraising activities left. A big community "Turkey Dinner" is coming in a few weeks. We feed about 350 people a sumptuous dinner in one evening. This event can generate up to $3000 which is split between participants based on the hours of work they contribute.
All in all, this overseas excursion is looking to be the best one ever. Many thanks to so many Fodorites for their thoughts, suggestions and trip reports that I have used to prepare our itinerary.
tC
We were originally scheduled to depart on a Thursday, but somehow the flights were booked for Wednesday. Sadly, (tongue in cheek here) this required us to stay an extra day in Paris. We gladly took advantage of this miscommunication. Now we would have 4 days/ 3 nights in Paris instead of 3/2. This gives us much more flexibility for our planning. Our time in Paris will be energizing. We are staying in a youth hostel in the Latin Quarter. This is our choice and we are very excited about the location. Once we leave Paris each of the following destinations is new to me.
On the Sunday evening we board the overnight train (we get couchettes) heading towards Florence. We have been told our two days in Florence will be wonderful and I am really looking forward to what we will see there.
On Wednesday morning we board our charter coach for a day long drive to Rome. We will be stopping at a few places on the way for some excitement and culture.
Rome promises to be a highlight. On the Thursday we take a day-long flip to Pompeii, one destination I really want to absorb. The other two days we tour Rome. We stay in a well-located monastery while in Rome.
Thanks to the sage advice of kybourbon, Heimdall, scotty09 and others we convinced the travel agents that the flight from Rome to Athens was integral to the "flow" of the trip. We are booked on Aegean Air on late Saturday afternoon. This 2 hour flight saves us about 28 hours of travel (coach/ferry/coach) and this allowed us to gain our "Pompeii day". Once in Athens we have 2 nights in a hotel before boarding our 4 night cruise around the Aegean Sea visiting Kusadasi, Rhodes, Crete, Santorini and two other ports.
Upon our return to Athens (early Friday) we have that last day for sightseeing, souvenir purchases and a farewell, culture based dinner. We depart Saturday for a connecting flight in Frankfurt and home to Canada.
In total we are away 18 days - certainly the longest student expedition I have been a part of.
Our group consists of 15 guys and 26 girls. There are two male chaperones and 5 female chaperones. For the first time on our Eurotrips, 2 of the chaperones are parents of participants. Both are Registered Nurses working in Emergency rooms at local hospitals. I hope their presence will not be needed for their medical backgrounds, but they may allow other parents to worry less.
Every participant (including chaperones) has submitted over $3000 toward the $4200 cost to participate. Every participant (including chaperones) has demonstrated they have a valid passport and copies of pages 2 and 3 have been sent away to the travel agency for ticketing and insurance purposes.
We do have a few fundraising activities left. A big community "Turkey Dinner" is coming in a few weeks. We feed about 350 people a sumptuous dinner in one evening. This event can generate up to $3000 which is split between participants based on the hours of work they contribute.
All in all, this overseas excursion is looking to be the best one ever. Many thanks to so many Fodorites for their thoughts, suggestions and trip reports that I have used to prepare our itinerary.
tC
