Trip Information
Ireland, Wales, and London
March 10-18, 2015
Travel Details: Flights
DEPARTING:
ARRIVING
Flight
Flight UNITED AIRLINES005
UNITED AIRLINES4378
EL PASO(ELP)onMar 10, 2015 10:52AM
HOUSTON(IAH)onMar 10, 2015
1:49PM
EXPRESSJET AIRLINES DBA UNITED
EXPRES
Flight UNITED AIRLINES921
HOUSTON(IAH)onMar 10, 2015
4:30PM
LONDON(LHR)onMar 11, 2015 6:55AM
UNITED AIRLINES
Flight AER LINGUS381
LONDON(LHR)onMar 11, 2015
11:05AM
SHANNON(SNN)onMar 11, 2015
12:25PM
AER LINGUS
LONDON(LHR)onMar 18, 2015
1:40PM
HOUSTON(IAH)onMar 18, 2015
7:15PM
UNITED AIRLINES
Flight UNITED AIRLINES4363
HOUSTON(IAH)onMar 18, 2015
9:12PM
EL PASO(ELP)onMar 18, 2015
10:15PM
EXPRESSJET AIRLINES DBA UNITED
EXPRES
Travel Details: Lodging
Mar 11-Mar 13
Mar 15-Mar 16
BALLYROE HEIGHTS HOTEL
Ambassador
Ballyroe
The Grand Promenade
Tralee, Co
Llandudno, LL30 2NR
Ireland
England
Phone Number:353 667126796
Phone Number:011 44 8453081500
Mar 13-Mar 15
Mar 16-Mar 18
Bewleys Leopardstown
Ibis Wembley
Central Park, Leopardstown
South Way
Dublin, 18
Wembley
Ireland
London, HA9 6BA
Phone Number:+353 12935000
England
Phone Number:011 44 (0)2084535100
Luggage Requirements: Carry-on (United)
Dont count as additional carry-on:
Jacket or umbrella
Reading material
Food or merchandise purchased in
the airport
Assistive devices (collapsible
wheelchair, cane, one set of crutches,
medical devices needed to administer
prescription medications, portable
oxygen concentrator, etc.)
Luggage Requirements: Checked (United)
62 linear inches (L+W+H)
50 lbs
First bag Free (?)
Second bag $100
Overweight bags will be charged additional
fee as determined by airport.
Travel Alerts: STEP Enrollment
travel.state.gov
Travel alerts
need to know information
STEP: SMART TRAVELER ENROLLMENT PROGRAM
Put in travel information
Will alert you/traveler of alerts or emergencies
Provides embassy location and phone numbers
No current warnings for Europe
One current alert: Worldwide Travel Alert
The lone wolf attack in Sydney Australia on December 15,
2014, resulting in the deaths of two hostages, is a reminder
that U.S. citizens should be extra cautious, maintain a very
high level of vigilance, and take appropriate steps to enhance
their personal security. This travel alert expires March 19,
2015
Personal belongings
The student will be responsible for ALL of their
own belongings which included passports,
identification cards, money, valuables, etc.
There are products available to help secure,
protect, organize, and hide some items.
Personal belongings
If the traveler is bringing an item that must be
plugged in (phone, hair dryer, etc.) they will need to
purchase a plug adapter.
These can be purchased at the Fort Bliss PX, online,
and in airports.
Make sure you are purchasing the American to
European adapter
Making Phone Calls
Call the International Calls department for carrier.
Print and take with you the travel guide provided by the
carrier.
Sprint (for UK, Ireland, and Wales)
Roaming plan from March 10-18
Phones with certain features allow free communication (via wifi)
$1.28 for time period or .16/day
Calls: .99 a minute
Texts: .50 to send, .05 to receive
No data plans and data is VERY expensive. Sprint suggests turning off data
usage and only use wifi, which is free.
iPhone audio facetime
Google talk
My personal phone will be available for use. I may ask
parents/travels to pay ONLY for the call per minute/ text costs
(per individual).
Money
Always be sure to have some cash on hand!
U.S. currency can converted in the countries but there is
typically an additional cost from the banks.
Visa and Mastercard are also widely accepted, but be
warned that there may be a 1% - 3% transaction fee,
depending on the card issuer, on every transaction. Over
the last few years, American Express has also become
widely accepted but a few merchants (usually small
shops) will either not accept it or add a surcharge. Diners
Club and Discover are very rarely accepted. You will want
to find out from your credit card company exactly what
their fees are. It is also a good idea to let your bank and
credit card company know you will be using the cards
overseas so they do not suspect "unusual activity" and
put a hold on your account. (Tripadvisor.com)
Money
Call you bank or card company to ask specific questions.
How and where can you use the card
Chip-in-pin cards?
Daily spending limits?
Foreign transaction fee?
Firstlight FCU
Travel notification 3 days prior to leaving
Debit card is accepted anywhere Visa is accepted (including ATM
machines)
1% foreign transaction fee
Capital One
Call or go online to set travel notification 3 days prior to traveling
No foreign transaction fees
Best to use card as credit and to not withdrawal money from it as it may
incur higher rates and fees.
$5000/day limit
Money: Loose ends
Make sure you have cash on hand!
Call the individual banks/card companies
Make sure the traveler has the bank/card
phone numbers (U.S. and international)
I have raised some money through
GoFundMe.org that I will use to help pay for
non-provided meals and emergencies.
Emergencies: need of food or hygiene items
Not emergencies: souvenirs, clothing, etc.
Traveler rules and responsibilities:
Follow all instructions and directives given by Mrs.
Swarthout, Ms. Hollis, and Alex, the tour director.
Stay with the group during group activities. (No
wandering)
During free time groups will be no less than 4
students
During free time groups will stay within the given
perimeters.
Students will NOT be permitted to drink alcoholic
beverages even if they are legal according the local law.
Students will adhere to local laws.
Students will follow EPISD code of conduct during the
trip.
Traveler rules and responsibilities:
Will maintain possession of all personal
belongings
Behave respectfully towards one another,
chaperones, and all others
Make up all school work missed while on trip
Adhere to curfew.
Manage money wisely
Traveler consequences:
Consequences will vary depending on the
severity of the misbehavior or offense.
If a student is caught drinking they will be
sent home on the next available flight at their
parents expense.
Groups with fewer than 4 people will be forced
to visit museums and do other boring English
teacher-y activities with me for the
remainder of the trip.
Chaperone responsibilities:
Do everything within our power to keep the
travelers safe, healthy, and comfortable
Notify parents of any issues, illnesses, or
misbehaviors
Ensure that students are well representing
Chapin High School and their parents.
Parent responsibilities:
Ensure that student has money on hand
Ensure that student understands
currency/foreign transactions
Verify that the student recognizes and accepts
their rules and responsibilities
Provide me with emergency phone numbers
and e-mails.
Be prepared to accept financial responsibility
if your students misbehavior that results in a
next-flight-home scenario.
Agreement form
The form I have provided each traveler/parent
with is an agreement form between the three
of us (me, traveler, and parent). By signing
the form we all agree to our responsibilities
and/or rules set out in this presentation.
One copy will stay with the parents and it has
my contact information.
The copy that asks for you contact information
must be signed and returned to me.
