Schools Blog

This month its the 2nd of 7 quick-fire steps to hitting the school tour 'bulls-eye' - by Eryn Cutler…

Quick-fire Step #2: Follow a clearly defined trip planning process - if you don't you may fall uncomfortably on your face...

An effective school trip is like a well executed salsa, requiring a series of moves and a great deal of trust by both parties. With good communication and a set plan partners can find themselves swinging their way across the dance floor together with flair and finesse, smiling from ear to ear before ending with a dramatic hold and a photo while onlookers cheer and applaud them back to their seats.

When organising a school trip the two dancers are you (the lead teacher) and the school travel company - but the experience and result should be no different. A clear and well communicated school trip planning process will lead to an experience as enjoyable and as replicable as the salsa.

What you need...

An effective tour planning process should clearly outline the steps you and the tour company will follow and include the following elements at a minimum:

  - Scheduled phone calls to agree on specific itinerary requirements, modifications and other requirements 
  - Transparency with lead in times for advertising and deposit collection
  - A Communication Plan – what communication will happen before, during and after the tour? 
  - When and how the trip promotion will take place and a plan for collecting first deposits 

With these things in mind you can ensure effective communication at the critical stages between all those you need to be in contact with. You are also more likely to get an itinerary and quotation that meets your goals and remain relaxed and focused throughout all steps. 

You should demand to see a clear and easy to follow trip planning process from your school travel provider, so you know what will be happening (and when). You will be able to step through this with them at any time you require.

Next month

I will follow up with the 3rd key quick-fire step. It will give you a very clear idea of what your school travel company should provide you to get your students prepared and safe! 

Until then, don’t waste time on muddily planning – get a clear process, agree to it with all involved and make history for your school and students!!

Stay tuned!

Eryn Cutler
Managing Director
Educating Adventures Limited

PS  Mat (below in previous tour profile) has already started organising his 2009 trip with us, but we know not everyone is as organised as him! So we are letting you know now that if a school trip for 2009 is on your radar then you need to get in now because booking dates are disappearing like hot cakes…

This Month's Offer!

Want your own easy reference trip planning process??

Many of our clients have found our wall size flow chart with step by step trip planning requirements great to help them see the process from start to finish... If you want a copy to put on your wall then here's what you need to do to get one: name="Section3420851" >

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name="Section3420852" > PREVIOUS TOUR PROFILE Location: Queenstown, New Zealand School: St Mary’s Catholic College, Cairns, Australia When: September 2008 “Great attention to detail with excellent communication and a personal touch” Mat Rattray - Party Leader & Head of Physical Education “The relationship with our guide made the trip what it was - Humour, openness, really organised and great fun!” Tommas Field - Senior Student   Read more testimonies by clicking here...

name="Section3420853" > WHY TEACHERS ARE CRYING OUT TO RUN THIER NEXT TOUR WITH US... Reason #9 - You get a superb on hand tour manager – the number one reason why our clients return year after year. Local knowledge and support is key! “The trip cannot be explained in any other terms than spectacular. We are already lining up for next year. A massive thank you to Eryn Cutler at Educating Adventures and all the support from their team for making it an enormous success and an experience I shall never forget". Justin Creighton, Reddam House School, Sydney, Australia Need more reasons? - click here

1. Email Jenna at schooltours@educatingadventures.com and ask her to send you one of our colour school trip wall planning charts
2. Include your postal address and phone number so we can update your file and get this to you
3. Also tell us about plans (or dreams) for your next school trip

As a bonus (or if you already have a wall chart) we will also be including a copy of a recently published article on the 7 biggeset mistakes teachers should be avoiding in school travel today AND a colour advertising poster to get your next school trip off the ground. This is a great compliment to the the above wall planning chart and will be given to all those who request it.