Taking a small group of high schoolers....

If you should decide on a tour company, please make sure they are experienced with "student" tours. They are not the same as regular group tours. Supervising minors is different than leading seniors.

EF actually has a decent reputation in the tour industry. A friend of mine was a tour manager with them and most of her groups raved about their tours.

Another company to look at is Explorica

One person I would get in touch with is Ron In Rome

His website is a must for anyone planning a trip to Rome. He's also a Rome Tour Guide and he might be able to help you with some of your planning. His contact information is on his website. (He's an ex-pat American living there so you won't have any trouble communicating with him.)

I would suggest hiring a local guide who will customize sightseeing for the group. Since this will be your first international trip, don't plan to try to do this yourself.

Travel time from Waterloo will take somewhere between 15 adn 20 hours depending on what flights you get. They will more than likely be overnight so you arrive on day 2. The kids may be jet lagged, as you will probably be, so don't plan a lot the first day.

This topic has been discussed a few times on this board. Go to the "Stickies" at the top of this section and do a search for "Student Tours."

I've researched student tours, when one of my son's teachers was considering leading one. The prices seem good, but the lodging mostly seems sub-par, there's a lot of important factors (like your departure date and/or time) that you don't know until close to departure, and they seem to move WAY too fast to actually see anything - too many day trips on buses (where tour companies can make money), instead of time in museums (where tour companies don't).

That being said, I would be very hesitant to do this if I hadn't ever traveled internationally, much less to Rome. You can do it on your own, but consider using a travel planner who's familiar with Rome - the one another poster suggested might be an option. Also, the SlowTrav.com website, I think, lists others. A frequent poster on the Fodor's Travel Talk also does travel planning, Bobthenavigator. These are people who will help you plan - they're not travel agents, so they don't get commissions from hotels, etc., but can give you helpful guidance. Caveat: I haven't used any of these people, as we plan our own trips. But I think they're a great idea for your situation.

Good luck!

Oh, and REALLY try to make the trip longer than 6 days, or whatever. If you're making the investment in the plane fare to get there, spend as much time in Rome as possible.

And don't think that teens can't or shouldn't spend time in museums - they're really capable of appreciating art and culture. My 10yo and 14yo have spent a lot of time in muuseums, about as much as adults visiting museums. In Rome, anyway, the primary museum is the Vatican Museum, and with limited time, that's probably all you'll have time for (in the way of museum).

Are you going for a purpose?? Such as a German class going to Germany for language reasons. Will this be an approved school trip? If you are a teacher and taking students along it will be difficult not to be perceived as being on a "school sponsored trip." That carries with it some additional liabilities. You need to carry extra liability insurance, some medical, all kinds of releases, and probably one more person as a chaperon. This is not the same as taking six of your own kids.

I am not trying to be discouraging but there is an enormous responsibility not to mention liability that you are assuming. And I speak from experience as part of the leadership team that took a 150 high school band members on a ten day European tour. Granted that was a much larger and more complicated undertaking but the paperwork and liabilities are very similar. You need to cross your "t"s and dot your "i"s very carefully.

That is why working with a tour company can be beneficial because some of the responsibility and liabilities can be shifted to them. Do not underestimate what you are assuming.

My sister-in-law has been on two EF tours with her sons and though not perfect, she enjoyed and recommended them. And there are other student tour companies as well to check into. As a teacher myself, and having been to the magnificent and LARGE city of Rome, I would say to use a tour group. If your numbers stay small, it would be easier to perhaps do your own thing, but as the numbers of students go up, so do the issues. But no matter what you decide, have a marvelous time! Ciao!
Oh, and you should also read Europe Through the Back Door. And perhaps assign your students some fun travel tip research using the book and this helpline and others, like how to avoid being the victim of pickpocketing, etc.

Hi,

A ditto to some of the opinions on EF Tours--not picture perfect, but good for an introductory student tour. The prices can fit a student's budget because EF will put your small group with a larger group.

My son's high school has used EF for 5-7 trips to Europe, no plans to try another company. One of the teacher leaders believes that the more you use them, the more you know what questions to ask to help you get the trip that meets your expectations. If you do not know what to ask, just ask a lot!

Especially for a first time trip to Europe, you probably want a tour. You will have enough on your plate helping the students plan things like what to pack, how much money to raise, how to take money along (ATM cards are very good), personal security, and keeping track of passports, just for a few!

I have a strong personal theory that the tour director really makes a tour--no matter the company--so hope/try for a good one, but take along a big dose of personal responsibility for studying yourself about where you are going and what you will be seeing. When the tour director releases you for free time, you want to head out with purpose.

Cheers.

With all due respect, and with admiration for your sincerity and bravery, I would not let a teenager of mine go on a trip to Italy with a totally inexperienced leader. I think you have absolutely no idea of the difficulties and serious problems you may encounter with a group of students in a foreign land. Anything that can go wrong will go wrong and you, never having travelled internationally before (do you speak Italian, by the way?) will have to deal with it expeditiously, responsibly and properly. I hope you will rethink your idea of organizing this tour on your own.

KC – EF tours are not that bad (not great, but fully acceptable for a group of high school students). I went on the Paris/Nice trip a few years ago as an adult chaperone for my nephew’s French class. The flights were fine, the hotels were OK (2 star, private baths), and food acceptable. There was a local (very helpful, French speaking) guide who arranged for tickets to the museums and attractions, train, etc. We had 3 teachers and 3 adults for a group of 18 students. I don’t think is something you should try to arrange on your own, especially if it’s your first trip. If I was one of the parents, I’d prefer that my kid went on an organized tour.

I have taken a group of students to Europe 2 years ago, and I would agree with the previous poster that you do NOT need to take students someplace where you have never been. Go to Europe yourself and learn a few things THEN consider taking students.

Wow,, I am sorry, but I do wonder ,, how can you be even remotely willing to lead a trip to a place you have never been. Sounds rather frivilous to me.. no way would I let my child go either.

I suggest , if you really want to do this, that YOU go this summer and scope it out a bit. You need some experience.

Just wondering,, do you get your airfare paid or something, or free lodging, or time off work with pay for doing this, because I really do not get it,, kids could make memories with their families, or they could wait till they are 18 and go on their own.. but going on a "school" trip where the teacher and leading knows no more then they do sounds very odd .

Also, visit should be at least 7 days. Travel days shouldn't count, and keep in mind jet lag will affect most for first day or two.

As a recently retired school adminstrator, I can say that our district would have banned such a trip. The liabilty issues (even if you say its not a school trip- parents and kids will view it as one) are unbelieveable. Especially since you are an inexperiences traveler. You need to talk to your principal and possibly someone in the superinetendent's office. You don't want to negatively impact your carreer.

That said, student trips can be very valuable. I'd suggesst you begin by traveling a bit yourself. Go with some groups (maybe as a chaperone on another student tour!) and do some independent travel, too. Europe is a wonderful place and experienceing it will enhance your teaching.