It’s true: There’s a lot that goes into the planning process of each and every student trip. From all the transportation logistics, to planning meals, to finalizing your itinerary, each and every piece matters! It all comes together to form an unforgettable experience that students are sure to never forget. But what does that timeline itself look like? And what exactly happens when? Come along as we dissect the student travel planning process.
THE FIRST 1-2 MONTHS
The first one to two months are all about client engagement and information gathering! This is time when the ETI team wants to get to know you. It’s a time for discussing your preferences for your trip, along with what your educational goals are. You’ll also address important aspects like your budget, potential destinations and your ideal itinerary.
From there, the ETI team gets to work by negotiating with their vendors—which they already have strong existing relationships with—and developing an initial trip plan for review.
THE NEXT 3 MONTHS
Once your trip plan is finalized, the ETI team will work with you to gather traveler deposit payments and secure travel protection so you know your students’ investments are insured. Your itinerary will be refined with any adjustments during this period, as well as ETI coordinating details with vendors. This time is also when ETI works to share your deposit payments with vendors for things like transportation, lodging, attractions and more.
THE FOLLOWING 6 MONTHS
ETI is really making the magic happen here! The team stays in constant contact to ensure you’re aware of every important detail. You can expect this period of time to include finalization of things like flight manifests, passenger lists, room lists, dining and dietary needs, specifics for performances, tickets for attractions, security plans and more. It’s also going to be nearing the time when final trip payments from students are due, in addition to ETI finalizing payments to vendors.
LAST TWO MONTHS BEFORE YOUR TRIP
Your itinerary will get set in stone during this window, in addition to being the time when any parent meetings are conducted and an intro to any tour directors or trip leaders takes place. Any loose ends are also tied up, with ETI always being available to discuss any aspect of your trip, so you always have peace of mind.
From there, you’re off on an adventure of a lifetime with your students! It’s now when all your hard work and preparation pays off. Contact ETI today to get started!
Take a moment to look inside the process with this short video:
Courtesy of ETI.
