Teachers are eagerly making future tour plans
As your partners in student travel, we’re so lucky to work with you every step of the way—especially when it comes to helping your travel plans come to life. Given some of the new challenges the pandemic has presented, we’re here to help make the travel planning process as easy as possible. We connected with a few of the thousands of Group Leaders across the country who are planning their next few years’ tours right now to hear the inside scoop on why planning now is a no-brainer: where they are finding success, the upside of going virtual, and how leaning on their Tour Consultants can make all the difference. (Spoiler alert: Travel might be just what your students and community are looking for.)
“I think people would be surprised to know just how much parents are willing to go out of their way to make sure that their students have something to look forward to. Especially for these high school students [who are] having a very different high school experience. Parents recognize that and they want to make sure that their students have something special. And if you plan early enough, then those monthly payments are pretty low. I had a lot of parents say, ‘Wow, this is really affordable. We’ve looked into travel for our family, and we thought this was going to be way more expensive.’”
– Carrie O., Texas
I think people would be surprised to know just how much parents are willing to go out of their way to make sure that their students have something to look forward to.
“It’s never a wrong time. It’s never a bad time, because you never know when that one student might be able to go—and it might make all the difference. It might be that one ray of hope that family needs to change what’s going on for them or to give them something to focus on. This is not a positive moment right now, but we can look forward to certain things. And that’s what gets you through the negative, is looking at the positive. I never thought I could lead a tour. I never thought I could fill a bus or anything like that. But I wanted to just try. Why not? Why not at least try?”
– Elizabeth N., Virginia
Ana G., California
“Prior to the meeting, we went over the whole PowerPoint together. That helped a lot to be aware of the whole presentation. Desirae wasn’t logged in to the meeting, but she was available in case I had any questions or needed any immediate assistance—so, if I texted her or emailed her, she was there and ready to help.”
– Ana G., California
“Peter was an immense help. During the meeting, he stayed on in the beginning and came back in at the end, which was good for questions. Some parents stayed afterwards and had some specific questions that he helped to answer. I’m so glad that Peter was there to help along the way, whether I had a question, or just to help prepare, [or even] to do a dress rehearsal.”
– Lisa R., Arizona
Even if borders are open and things look okay, they're only going to give us the green light to travel if we have the same quality experience that everyone signed up for. EF is on top of that.
“I was able to tell the parents and families that EF made it very clear that, even if borders are open and things look okay, they’re only going to give us the green light to travel if we have the same quality experience that everyone signed up for. EF is on top of that. They’re putting all of these policies in place to help make this a reality for the traveler and their family. And now that my trip is completely full, my goal is going to be to keep the excitement up!”
– Carrie O., Texas
“One of my students who came with me three years in a row was able to join the meeting. That’s another good idea, to get some other perspectives.”
– Erin B., Georgia
“During the meeting, I was able to show a video that a student had made after we went to Japan in 2019. I put that [in the PowerPoint] and it really helped. Also, having some former travelers there was nice and serendipitously worked out when they chimed in on the chat, too.”
– Tom Z., California
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No matter what your travel plans are, though, you can feel confident in the fact that, by offering a travel opportunity at your school, you’re providing students and parents with exactly what they’re in need of right now: something positive to look forward to and plan for during a time when so many other elements of “normal” life are on pause. And, just like you’re there for your community, we’re here for you every step of the way.
Travel that’s designed with the future in mind
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