Trip Manager

TRIP MANAGER

Congratulations! You have been recognized for your ability to think under pressure (and maybe for your love of shopping). Here's what you can expect.

Your Responsibilities:

  • Decide what official documents your group needs to travel in Mexico. Passport? Visa? Birth certificate? Shot record?

  • Keep tabs on the exchange rate of dollars the pesos, the best places to get money, and the best ways to get money. Will you use traveler's checks, credit cards, ATM cards, cash, or a combination?

  • Find out if any shots are needed before traveling to Mexico as well as what items should be packed for the group’s safety (bug spray, water tablets, etc.)

  • Determine if there are any health advisories having to do with food or water, as well as any safety advisories dealing with unusual weather conditions, crime, or terrorism.

  • Be well informed about the political, social, and economic state of the country and explain any unusual situations that the group should be aware of.

  • For the more stressful part of your job, find out what to do in crisis situations: What if someone loses their passport? What if someone is pick-pocketed? What if there is a medical emergency? What happens if the luggage is lost or stoen? Learn where the hospitals are in each of the cities you visit.

  • For the more relaxing and fun part of your job, pick up some souvenirs from each of the cities you visit to take home to share with your friends and family. After all, you don't want them to think that you were just "slacking off" while you visited Mexico.

  • Plan and budget for souvenirs and for emergency situations. Record this information in a daily journal (in Spanish).

  • Also, describe souvenirs, emergencies, and other bizarre situations and how they were handled for your group’s final presentation. Be creative!

Process:

  • Once your group's cities are selected, it's time for you to get to work. Find the hospital, bank, American Embassy, local police, fire, pay phone, pharmacy, etc. specific to either these cities or to the regions in which they are located.

  • You have been given an emergency and souvenir budget and the names cities you are visiting. Use the resources to find shops and information about dealing with emergencies. You may want to look at the shops' hours, prices, and locations and keep track of this information.

Tips:

As the travel manager in the group, you should know:

  • Keep your passports, tickets, and other documents in a safe place (never in your luggage). I would advise getting a money pouch or passport holder that you can put under your clothes.

  • One of the biggest crimes is pick-pocketing. For this reason, advise all of the members of your group to keep their wits about them and their money in a safe place.

  • Before you go, make 3 copies of your passport photo page, and give it to the others in your group. Have them to do the same thing.

  • Souvenirs don't have to cost you a lot of money. In fact, they can be very inexpensive, if not free.

  • Finally, be well-prepared for situations that might occur on your trip.

  • Checking the weather and the plans of other group members so that you can advise the group on what to pack and how to dress.

  • Finally, you'll be responsible for creating a packing list for your group-- this can be done in english and turned in with your rubric on the day you present. No need to put this in your presentation.

Checklist:

  • 2 emergency situations- describe what happened, and what you did to respond to that situation

  • Cover Safety Precautions in all cities

  • Souvenirs- typical for that area, and average costs

  • Health precautions in all cities

  • Passports: get, cost etc. (what happens if you lose it?)

  • Political Views

  • Economic Situation

  • Social/ Culture info

  • Attitude towards foreigners

  • Predicted Weather Forecast for the days your there

  • exchange rate

  • luggage fees?

  • cell phones? use? internet?

  • items purchased BEFORE the trip to prepare: example money belt or converters?

  • List these in the pwpt but don't need to READ them, just explain that you found them

    • Police Locations in all cities

    • Hospitals in all cities

    • ATM's/ Banks/ Exchange houses in all cities

  • Will be done in english and turned in- does not need to go in presentation.

    • ITINERARY - full details- times and locations/ activities (leave hotel, eat at ___, go to ___)-- can be done in english, and turned in with rubric on day of presentation

    • Packing list

Trip Manager Rubric