Frequently Asked Questions
What if I missed the informational meeting about this trip?
How many chaperones go on the trip?
Can parents chaperone?
What is included in the price of the trip?
How many students can go on this trip?
How do I register?
Do students get to pick who they room with in the hotels?
Is traveler insurance necessary?
What is the trip cancellation policy? What if I change my mind and want to cancel?
Are there fundraising opportunities?
- You can watch last year's video if you cannot make the meeting (This year's video will be posted after our zoom meeting.) The first 22 minutes of the video will cover the sights we will see on our trip itinerary. The last 20 minutes covers the price of the trip, what that price includes, and answers all the frequently asked questions on this page.
How many chaperones go on the trip?
- There is one chaperone for every 10 students.
Can parents chaperone?
- I take teachers as chaperones from our middle schools in Camas because it creates consistency in our trip leadership. Parents are always welcome on the trip as paying participants. See the trip itinerary/welcome letter for adult trip prices.
What is included in the price of the trip?
- This trip is all inclusive. It covers airfare, hotels, three meals a day, ground transportation, licensed tour guides, and admission fees to attractions, museums and shows. The only thing not included is money for snacks and souvenirs.
How many students can go on this trip?
- The trip is capped at 50 students. Registration is first come, first served.
How do I register?
- The 2022 welcome letter and trip itinerary outlines trip destinations, price, and a suggested payment plan. To reserve a spot on the trip, you must complete the online registration and $350 deposit on the ETSI website. The trip number is 2N41. Feel free to email Christina Pachinger any questions you have about the trip.
Do students get to pick who they room with in the hotels?
- The students will complete a roommate request form several months before the trip. They will be placed in a room with at least one of their three requested roommate preferences. Sometimes it works out for a person to get all three of their choices and other times, it will be one of the three; I do what is needed to make sure everyone has at least one of their requested roommate preferences.
Is traveler insurance necessary?
- It isn't required, but it sure does help in emergency situations. After the experiences of the last two years, I highly suggest it. This trip is a financial investment and it is nice to insure those investments. It becomes a real benefit in the unforeseen situations where the student breaks a leg the week before departure or when added expenses occur due to flight cancellations.
What is the trip cancellation policy? What if I change my mind and want to cancel?
- Please carefully review the trip cancellation policy. I highly recommend the travel insurance. The insurance company has a "cancel for any reason" policy that reimburses 75% of what the travel company does not refund. You will be prompted with a link to the insurance company's website at the end of the electronic registration process.
Are there fundraising opportunities?
- As tour director, my focus is planning the trip details with the travel company and communicating with parents. Unfortunately, I don't have time to organize or lead any fundraising activities. However, there are a number of fundraising opportunities that students can organize and implement independently or in small groups. In the past, parents have also been involved in planning and implementing fundraising events and activities. If you are interested in some fundraising ideas, I recommend looking at the travel company's Fundraising Recipe Book (you need to have an online account with the travel company to access the book). You can also contact the travel company in order to get information about first aid kit and calendar sale fundraisers.
