Is the transfer from Grand Rapids to the departing Airport included? Yes, the transfer from Grand Rapids to the departing airport will be a group transfer by motor coach and this is included in the price. Students will depart from Chicago or Detroit so we can provide the most direct flight schedule, which is best for the instruments. The Adult Bus participants will be on a different air schedule than the students and may even depart from Grand Rapids. If the Adult Bus participants depart from Grand Rapids Airport, they will be responsible to get themselves to the airport.
Can we book air separately and are we able to extend our student’s stay after the tour to return later? We recommend for students to stick to the same dates and air as the group (the Tour & Air Inclusive package) so that we can feel confident they are traveling with the chaperone. When you deviate from the group travel dates, your student is no longer part of the group air (even if Image Tours is handling the air arrangements). It will be important to make sure the proper arrangements are made to show an adult traveling with your student, to complete the proper paper work for a minor traveling alone, to connect your student with the group at the first accommodations and to retrieve them at the end of the tour. We do not recommend students extend unless they will be traveling with adults who are on the adult tour or will be meeting them after the tour. If this is something you are seriously considering, please contact nhs@imagetours.com and Greg Wells to advise of your plans because Greg Wells will need to approve this and stay informed of this and we can give you a better idea of what is possible and recommendable for your particular situation.
What is the difference between Chaperones and Adult tour participants and how are chaperones selected? There will only be a few chaperones on the student tour (usually two or three for each student bus and approximately 1 chaperone for 20 students). These chaperones will be with the student group the entire time, staying in the student accommodations. Greg Wells will select these chaperones based on a number of factors and they are usually teachers or parents that Greg Wells has worked with on other band activities.
Those on the Adult Tour are on a separate bus and most likely separate flights from the students. Most of the time they will be staying in different accommodation locations. The Adult bus passengers will participate in all the same amazing and fun activities as the students, but may arrive a half hour later or earlier at some locations to avoid congestion. The Adult bus will have their own tour coordinator to organize all their arrangements and provide guiding commentary. Adult Tour passengers will not be with the students at all times, but will see them in passing during sightseeing almost every day. The Adult bus passengers will always have access to the concerts which is also a good time to connect with their student.
Do I need additional insurance coverage for my instrument? The included Travel Protection Plan covers up to $1500 on student instruments. Therefore, if you are playing on an instrument you could replace from eBay/Craigslist or similar for under $1500, you don’t need to purchase additional insurance. With more expensive instruments, you might want to consider additional coverage.
What if my student can’t keep a budget and runs out of money? We have never had an issue with students going hungry. Breakfast and dinner are included and they can drink tap water to stay hydrated. In the unlikely situation that they should run low on funds, they can get by with low cost grocery items for lunch. Talk to your students about a daily budget. For example, if they are bringing $400 in spending money, then budget $25 (Euro 20) per day.
Do students carry their own Medications? Yes students will be responsible to carry and handle their own medications.
What if my student has food allergies? There is a spot on the application to request specific special diets: 1) diabetic; 2) gluten-free; 3) vegan; 4) vegetarian with dairy and eggs; 5) semi-vegetarian (no pork or red meat); 6) no shellfish/fish; and 7) lactose-free. Please also specify any serious food allergies. Note: we have had cases in the past when parents request a special diet and the services prepare this only for it not to be claimed by the student, so make sure this is something you and your student agree is necessary to avoid illness and that the student will request/claim at each meal. Although we will inform the tour manager and the hotels, any dietary requirements remain entirely the student’s responsibility. The student will need to inquire at each meal if they have a special meal for them and claim that meal. We cannot guarantee these requests and alternatives may not be available for the students. Therefore, students may wish to pack a few ‘sealed’ snacks or purchase them during the day, just in case. A parent recommended to bring an allergy “card” in the language of the countries visited, to give to the local waitstaff. Main languages on the tour are German and French. Dutch is nice as well although they will also understand German or English in Holland.
Can I bring my phone? Yes, and it is a helpful tool for photos, alarm, reminders, and other tools. Keep in mind, however, that you are on this trip to “see” Europe so it is expected that you will keep your phone put away unless you are using it to take photos. Don’t get “buried” in your phone instead of seeing the sights — if you do, you will be asked to put the phone away.
What are the Current Expected Travel Requirements for 2023? (as of 10/04/2022): Image Tours does not anticipate vaccination documentation will be required in order to join escorted tours of Northwestern Europe in 2023. The requirements by governments, airlines and other services are, however, subject to change at any time and passengers will be responsible to comply with requirements in effect at time of travel. Full cancellation penalties will apply if, at time of travel, passengers are unable to meet the requirements or anticipated requirements for escorted touring to multiple countries. For these reasons, Image Tours recommends staying up-to-date on vaccination guidelines provided by the CDC. Image Tours recommends wearing masks during the flights and you should have a mask with you at all times in case any of the services require you to wear a mask.
How is COVID-19 covered by the Travel Protection Plan? A pandemic, or concerns regarding a pandemic in general, are not covered. A documented personal change in medical condition that persists and prevents travel through the dates of the tour is covered. A COVID-19 diagnosis is treated like any other illness in terms of the Travel Protection Plan coverage. Claims can be made with documentation from a Legally Qualified Physician stating you have tested positive, have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and are advised to strictly quarantine/receive treatment during the travel dates.
What if there are still concerns in Ukraine at time of travel? None of the countries visited are currently affected by the Ukraine situation. We currently have tours traveling to all the countries that will be visited on this tour. Considering the location and focus of the current situation, we do not anticipate any issues in the countries to be visited. If there is a terrorist act or an attempt to overthrow the government in one of the areas scheduled on the tour within 30 days of departure, a claim can be made with the Travel Protection Plan.
Policy in case the group decides to postpone trip to 2024:
If the group decides to postpone the trip into 2024, the “Cancellations” policy applies, but the amount can be transferred on a per person basis (no name changes) to the 2024 departure at the original pricing. In this case, 2023 graduates would travel with the Adult Bus at the student price (in shared rooms). After March 16, 2023 airline policies will apply, but if it is a case where travel is not possible or discouraged, the airlines will most likely allow postponement.
How do we obtain foreign currency and what else do we need to know to prepare for the trip? Euros will be required for payments during the trip but these can be obtained during the trip using an ATM card. We will discuss this in more detail during the fall meeting…
Travel Preparation Information...Rest assured that there will be additional meetings where we will cover travel preparation information and provide you with everything you need to know to be prepared for the trip. During the fall meeting, we will provide a travel preparation booklet and we will discuss foreign currency as well as other detailed travel preparation information.
Any further questions, email nhs@imagetours.com