If you have been tasked with planning your schools next excursion, consider connecting with a specialist school travel agency. Using a school travel agency can offer several benefits when planning a school excursion. Here are some of the key reasons why schools often opt for these services:
Time Savings: Planning a school excursion involves various logistics, from transportation and accommodations to activities and meals. A school travel agency can handle these tasks, saving teachers and school staff a significant amount of time. This allows educators to focus on the educational aspects of the school excursion rather than the administrative details.
Cost Savings: School travel agencies often have established relationships with hotels, transportation providers, and tour operators. This can lead to cost savings through negotiated group rates and discounts, making your school camp more affordable for students and their families.
Risk Assessment and Mitigation: Travel agencies can assist schools in assessing and mitigating potential risks associated with the trip. They can provide risk assessments, CoC’s and guidance on safety measures, school travel insurance options, and other critical aspects to ensure the well-being of students during the excursion. This helps ensure that the trip is conducted with safety as a top priority.
Customised Itineraries: Reputable school travel agencies can work closely with educators to create customized itineraries tailored to the specific educational objectives of the trip, time, budget, and they will consider any cohort complexities. This ensures that the excursion aligns with the curriculum and learning goals of the school. An agency can tailor your itinerary to focus on specific learning areas such as civics and citizenship, HASS, STEM, or plan a social bonding camp for your year-end celebrations. The agency can also assist in making the trip accessible to all students, including those with special needs.
Accessibility and Inclusivity: School travel agencies can plan for accommodations and transportation that meet the needs of diverse groups, ensuring that all students, regardless of their abilities or requirements, can participate in the excursion. This promotes inclusivity and makes the trip accessible to a wider range of students.
24/7 Support: This is an important one- some school travel agencies offer 24/7 support during the excursion. This means there’s one constant point of contact available to assist with any issues that may arise during the trip, providing peace of mind to both educators and parents.
Educational Rebate Benefits: A school specific travel consultant will have knowledge of specific rebates and benefits available to schools, such as PACER rebates for trips to certain destinations. This can help schools maximise the financial advantages of their excursions.
Destinations Specialist: School travel agencies will have destinations specialist who know the area and are familiar with all the ground logistics. This is invaluable when you are managing large travel numbers or are trying to maximise your time and learning impact on an excursion.
When considering a school travel agency, it’s crucial to do your research and choose one with a good reputation and a track record of successfully organising educational excursions. Communication is key: clearly communicate your educational goals and requirements to the agency to ensure that the trip is tailored to meet your school’s specific needs and expectations.
Away We Go Tours celebrates 20 years in the school travel Industry facilitating over 250 school excursions annually. If you would like an obligation free quote, send us a quote request and one of our destination specialists will get back to you within 24 hrs.
