Hellene Travel at ARLT, Ratcliffe College 2016
The Hellene Travel Team popped in for a few days; Sarah and John (Founders), Carly and Francesca (School Contract Mangers).
Sarah and John enjoyed meeting ‘old’ customers and friends, Carly and Fran enjoyed meeting the ‘new’ and putting faces to names. All participated in seminars and contributed (with varying success it must be said!) to The Quiz!
Lunchtime Presentation
Carly’s News, Handouts, Words of Wisdom, Insider Tips and Caveats
1 - Beware APD- ‘Air Passenger Duty Tax’!
This year the APD Tax was abolished for all passengers aged 15. This offers savings of :
0 – 2,000 miles = £13.00pp / 2,000 miles and over = £73.00 per person (UK departure airport – no saving on internal flights)
Do quotations clearly and accurately reflect this or will there be supplements/savings for anyone 16yrs+?
Spread the word!
Especially to colleagues running trips to far flung destinations!
2 - Flights –Are you offered exact airlines, airports and flight times? If simply ‘LondonAirport’this may impact on journey times to and from school.
How do flight times impact on your itinerary? Be wary of too much free time onfirst and last day, you may have an undesired (but less costly) very early or late flights and truncated visits.
3 - Estimated flights. BA flights released 11 months, budget airlines 6-8 monthsin advance. Ensure estimated flight costs are realistic to avoid
supplements. If final flight price is under estimate, will you be reimbursed?
4 – Gather several quotations for comparison BUT ensure (by checking ATOL numbers and online at Companies House) that Companies are truly independent of each other!
5 – Itinerary. Ensure you receive a timed Itinerary with a quote! You don’t want to be rearranging daily visits just before departure. Are timings realistic? Do you have enough time (or too much) at each site and museum? Is the Itinerary generic or one appropriate to the needs of YOUR pupils?
6 –Coaches. The seatbelt law does not apply in all Countries.Check that despite local laws that you WILL be guaranteed seatbelts for all seats.
7 - Staff Rooming. Have twin rooms for staff automatically been included to maintain an attractive price?
8 – Handout (attached)Planning your trip and obtaining a quote: before, during and after.
News – exciting developments
AncientPathos – theatregroup in Athens offering English Language workshops and performances on ancient theatre.
They have now been formally recognised by the Greek Ministry who have offered to sponsoroverseas Tours. The Company need five or six participating schools, colleges or universitiesto make a UK visit financially viable at c.£5.00pp.
If you are interested and/or willing to offer a venue please contact us.
New openings and reopenings at home and abroad - Roman Baths at Billingsgate, Nestor's Palace, Palermo Archaeological Museum, new Colosseo entrance into arena, Dodona Exhibition at New Akropolis Museum until Feb '17, Plato Interactive Museum, Athens - free!, two new rooms in Corinth Museum for additional displays including twin Kouroi of Tenea, Ancient Herb garden in Athens National Archaeological Museum, Archaeology Festival of Leicestershire and Rutland – see Hellene Travel Twitter for pictures of Leicester Roman Baths and Jewry Museum (lapdogs, mosaics and wall paintings) and Market Harborough Museum (Hallaton Treasure and Roman Cavalry Parade Helmet)
The half hour was completed by Sarah’s enthusiastic whirlwind slide overview of atypical Classical venues toCrete, Santorini, Croatia, Sardinia, Russia, France, Spain, N Greece, the Alexander Trail and in theUK.
Hellene Travel was very grateful to be invited and hope that Summer School participants found our contribution enjoyable and (more importantly) useful!
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