Parent/Student meeting set

Hey travelers,

In 107 days, we'll be strolling through St. Peter's Square in the Vatican City!. I am getting more excited every day, but there's still much to do before we leave. To that end, the first mandatory parent meeting date has been set. The meeting will be held in the DeWitt High School Library at 6:30 p.m. on April 28. If you will not be able to attend, please contact Mr. Van Hof.

If possible, please have your passport with you at the meeting. I'll be making photo copies of the first page of each traveler's passport. I'll keep the copies with me on tour. If anyone loses their passport on tour, the State Department will be able to issue an emergency passport much more quickly if we have all that information to hand.

Also, be aware that the 99 day deadline is approaching. Call Mr. Van Hof if you have any questions.

See you on the 28th!

Best shoes for Europe

We're bound to do a lot of walking on tour, and there are as many opinions about proper footwear as there are European vacationers. Last time it was on tour, I had girls insist on wearing flip-flops for the first few days. That didn't last long. They soon realized that comfort, not style, is the key while we're on tour.

Check out this link for some current tips from international travelers about the best walking shoes. If you don't plan on buying new walking-specific shoes, consider wearing a good pair of athletic shoes. Be sure they fit well and are a little broken-in before you set off around Rome in them.

My favorite shoe store is Playmakers in East Lansing. I know it's a drive, but they have great service. They'll even analyze your stride to tell you what type of shoe will work best for you.

Whatever you do, be sure you have a comfortable shoe that fits well.

Deadline is nearing

Travelers:

There are 115 days prior to departure, and I hope everyone is getting excited! The group’s 99 day deadline is approaching, and is on Thursday, April 3rd. I wanted to remind you of a few things that fall on this deadline-

1) Passport Check: The names that are written on your passports must match those in the EF system EXACTLY. Any name changes we have to make after this deadline will result in a name change fee. Also, you must order your passport prior to April 3. check out this site for more info.

2) Enrollment Deadline: This is the deadline to sign up for the tour. If anyone wants to sign up after this deadline, they will be considered a late-add and will be charged a $125 late-add fee. In addition, they are not guaranteed a spot on their tour.

3) Final Payment Deadline: You should have paid for their tour in full by April 3, unless you are using the Auto-pay system. Anyone who fails to meet this deadline will be charged a $95 late payment fee. If anyone cannot meet this deadline for financial reasons, please contact customer service ASAP and EF will be happy to talk about a payment plan (you must let EF know before the deadline). Their number is 800-665-5364.

Walk to Italy

The trip is only 123 days away, and it's time to begin planning in earnest.

One often-overlooked area where preparation is key is physical fitness. On tour, we could be on our feet for hours at a time - in museums or cathedrals, walking through shopping districts, navigating airports, you name it.

You need to be ready to handle the physical element of this trip. Take a look at this link for some tips on a basic walking regimen. A good tip is to start out with a mile and work up to 10 miles. Since most people walk at about 4 mph, figure on 2.5 hours towards the end. We will never have to walk that far during the tour - not even close - but you will be on your feet for many hours in a row, and long walks are the best way to prepare.

Preparing now will help prevent the overly-sore feet, aching muscles, and blisters that can come with long days of sight-seeing.

More on money

Here's a link with info about how Euros work. Some of the info isn't pertinent to us, as EF is covering much of the costs.

More info on avoiding pick-pockets will follow - not a big deal but it's good to enter the trip with some fore-knowledge.

JVH

Spending money

Amanda had a great question: "How much money should we plan on spending in Europe?"

The answer is really tough to nail down specifically but here's some general guidelines.

You will need spending money for the following things (EF does not build these costs into the trip fee):
1) Lunch and snacks (also water as we walk around hot southern Europe)
2) Souvenirs
3) Added activities - things that EF has not built into the itinerary. For example, when I went to London, EF built the cost of a visit to St. Paul's Cathedral into the tour fee. They did not build in money for tickets to climb the stairs to the top of the dome, though. I had to pay an extra fee for that. EF pays for plenty to make the trip very exciting. These added activities can range in price.
4) Travel during free time - EF pays for buses and mass transit to get to scheduled activities. During free time, mass transit costs are not covered. (This probably won't be a huge expense on this specific tour.)
5) Incidentals - Toothbrush, Internet Cafe, Pool Tables, etc...

So, I think you need to be the judge. You can eat a light meal for 10 Euro, but of course restaurant prices vary greatly. Souvenirs -cost is totally up to you. Daily incidentals, activities, etc. may be nothing, may be 50 Euro (if you wanted to go to a play in Madrid, for example).

To be safe, plan a bit more than you'll think you need, then stick to that budget. My wife and I are planning for about $100 - $150 per day for the two of us, but we like nice lunches and buy way too much stuff for our kids.

Last note - remember the conversion rate and money changing fees. Use the calculator at the bottom of the page to see what your dollar is worth. Try to change money only once, so you avoid re-paying the fees.