While overseas travel can be one of the most worthwhile educational investments, many families’ budgets are stretched to the limit by the cost of a typical trip to Europe. Knowing that students and parents are working hard to scrimp and save for the opportunity to experience Europe for the first time, it makes sense to design a high-impact itinerary.
High-impact itineraries cross multiple borders, sample various facets of several diverse local cultures, and do so on a restricted budget. You can feel free to choose the destinations that are best suited to your group, and we’ll help with strategies to reduce costs and make your dream trip a reality. The following are just a few tips to help you design a tour that maximizes your investment without minimizing your experience.
Lead your own tour. If the prospect of guiding dozens of high school students across Europe makes you nervous, rest assured, you’re normal. It’s hard enough to navigate a foreign city by yourself, let alone with a herd of teenagers relying on you. But the cost of a full-time courier can price many students out of a tour. We’ve made it possible to travel with the assistance of local guides instead of a full-time courier with our comprehensive Tour Manuals. Your students will save hundreds of dollars and never skip a beat abroad. Check out our references to hear what other tour leaders have said about them.
You’ll find that a TSA Tour Manual is almost like having a member of our staff right beside you throughout your trip. We provide a step-by-step guide that begins with your outgoing flight times, what to do if luggage is delayed, your local guide’s name and mobile phone number, your motor-coach company’s name and contact information, custom maps with pre-marked routes, full dinner menus, public transportation directions, even pictures of your hotels and restaurants so you can recognize them quickly.
A Tour Manual also comes with pre-calculated local currency and precise amounts and instructions for tipping for each service provided. You’ll also have 24-hour phone access to a TSA Tours staff member and our representatives across Europe in case you encounter any problems or emergencies. With a TSA Tour Manual, you’ll feel like a seasoned pro in Europe.
Eat meals on the fly. Our experienced tour leaders have discovered that limiting the included meals on their tour can help reduce costs while adding a fun, interactive experience to their trips. Instead of dining at a pre-arranged sit-down dinner service, tour leaders accompany students to buy meals from street vendors (think crepes in Paris or pizza in Rome). The food is cheaper, tasty and filling, and the experience of dining like a local is priceless.
Another option is to head to a local supermarket to buy items for a picnic in a park. Dining al fresco can be a memorable experience and it’s very European. With so many stunning public spaces and landmark views in Europe, it won’t be hard to find the perfect picnic spot.
Many tour leaders opt for a pre-arranged dinner on their first arrival night, when students are tired and hungry. The following day, while they sightsee, tour leaders stay on the look-out for interesting dining options to try out later. And, keep in mind, breakfasts are always included with your hotel stay, so fill up!
We hope these tips help you design a tour that exceeds all your expectations, but not your budget!
