February Meeting Minutes (Rome/Athens)

Rome/Athens Parent Meeting Notes

2/15/18

Next Meeting: Wednesday, March 14 @ 6pm Elks Lodge Ballroom

Homework: research an authentic Greek or Italian dish and have for dinner one evening

***All meetings are mandatory now***

Please contact Nori or Shelley if there is an extenuating circumstance.

Travel Dates & Lodgings

We have requested July, 10 – July 17, BUT our travel window is July 6 – July 21.
We should be getting finalized travel dates by mid-March. I will share that info the moment I find out.
We will find out exact flight numbers and hotels by mid-April.

Passport Information

Passports- All passports must be confirmed by March 1^st. Use this link to confirm your passport. Passport Confirmation Link
If you still need a passport, please complete that process as soon as possible.
- Note- The Easton Post Office requires appointments for passports.
Ms. Nori, Ms. Shelley, and Mr. Brad will hold all passports while we on tour. (We have locking bank bags and store them in hotel safes.)
Failure to confirm your passport may result in a $250 fee from the airline or an inability to board the flight!

Welcome new travelers

General Info

Weather
- Italy—sunny, little rain, average temp high 70s-80s
- Greece—sunny, little rain, average temp 80s-90s
Food
- Please notify Nori or Shelley of any dietary concerns as soon as possible.
- Please also let us know if your child is a picky eater.

Finances (Tips & On-tour Spending Money)

Manual Payments- All travelers making manual payments must be paid in full by March 22 or switched to the automatic payment plan. (Nori will email these travelers separately to ensure they are aware.)
Tips-
- Tips are $60 per traveler (both adults and students)
- Look at the tip chart below to see how much you’ve raised towards covering tips
- If you do not want to fundraise for tips, please bring a check for $60 made payable to Talbot Youth Travel to the next meeting and it will be noted on your account.

Fundraising-
- The gift wrap fundraiser was a complete bust!
- Next fundraising event: St. Michael’s Running Festival on May 19, details to come. (We made about $18 per person at this event last year. Students will also earn service-learning hours.)
- If you have any fundraising ideas, please let Nori or Shelley know. We’re thinking about a pit beef fundraiser in the spring.

Spending Money-
- Both Italy and Greece use the Euro.
- We recommend to budget $50 – $100 per day for spending cash. (Chaperones can hold onto debit cards or cash for students if requested)
- Recommended to have at least $50 USD worth of Euros exchanged before we leave (We can place an order as a group to save on bank fees.)

Debit/Credit Cards-
- For safety reasons, do not send students with a card linked to your primary account.
- Most US debit/credit cards will work abroad, but be sure to verify with your bank.
- We do not recommend sending students with Visa/Mastercard gift cards; they do not work in ATM machines.
- 11 Top Credit Cards with No Foreign Transaction Fees 2018

Adult chaperone expectations

EF Adult Expectations
Adults will act as role models and try to maintain positives attitudes (even if we’re really tired at the end of a long day full of walking!)
Adults will be ‘assigned’ a small group of students to keep eyes on, and will do periodic head counts.
Adults are expected to participate in all activities.
Adults will help conduct room checks and monitor students in the hotel.
Adults may responsibly consume alcohol with dinner.
Adults will help to enforce rules and expectations set by the group leaders.

Student behavior expectations

EF Rules of the Road
Students are expected to behave responsibly and safely at all times.
Students are expected to try to maintain positives attitudes (even if we’re really tired at the end of a long day full of walking!)
Students are expected to be on time (that means 5 minutes early!) and must participate in all group activities.
Students may not consume alcohol at any time. If students are caught drinking, they will be sent at home your expense.
After room checks students may not leave their hotel room without an adult. If students sneak out, they will be sent home at your expense.
Students are expected to stay with the group during all tour activities. During free time, students must be in groups of at least 3. (The only time you are allowed to be alone is in the bathroom!)

Packing

EF Packing List
All travelers are expected to do carry-on only on the way there. (Students may take their carry-on bag, a backpack, and a personal item on the plane.)
We recommend packing a collapsible duffel to use for dirty laundry; you can check the duffel on trip home and keep your souvenirs safe in your carry-on.
All travelers should plan to pack a pair of lightweight pants or skirt (past the knees) and a lightweight long sleeve shirt for our visit to the Vatican.
There are size and weight restrictions for all luggage.
- American Airlines Carry-on Baggage Restrictions
All liquids must in a clear 1-quart bag in containers no bigger than 3.4 oz.
- TSA Liquids Rules
- We will stop at a store early in the trip to get extra toiletries if needed

Tips Chart