Frequently asked questions
What are the Requirements to go?
75% overall average, maintained all year
90% attendance in ALL classes, maintained all year
Before getting the enrollment code, all students interested in traveling will be required to sign an agreement and understanding of trip rules and expectations, and the fees included with cancellations. He/She/They will need to have a parent/guardian co-sign, signifying that they have read and understood the rules and cancellation policies. (This must either be filled out in front of the chaperones with identification or be notarized.) Then each traveler must have a teacher AND a dean sign off on their teacher recommendation.
Students' behavior will also determine their eligibility. Any incidents that occur in the school year can result in forfeiting a spot on the trip with whatever corresponding penalties/fees occur from EF Tours.
Tour must be paid in full 25 days before departure.**
Chaperones will actively track student progress throughout the year to make sure they are up to the requirements. We ask that parents aid us in keeping students focused and on track.
**Depending on the payment plan. If students enroll in the manual payment plan they must be paid in full by 110 days to departure.
How do I make Trip Payments?
Following a commitment/agreement from a parent/guardian and a recommendation from a classroom teacher and a dean, each student will be given the enrollment code that will lead them to our trip page.
All payments are paid directly through this website.
It is required that students are enrolled in an automatic payment plan to ensure their fees are paid on time. The earlier students enroll, the longer time they have to pay, the smaller the payments.
The EF Tour Donation Page can also act like a “gofundme” or "donordrive" where students can share their link out for contributions and donations to their total cost.
What is Included in the price?
Round-trip airfare to and from the destination from a local airport (we request Newark)
Tours and activities with a local guide who knows the area and native language
Safe, quality hotel rooms close to/in the cities we are traveling to
Breakfast and dinner daily in hotels and local restaurants
24/7 bilingual Tour Director who travels and stays with us
24/7 on-tour assistance from EF's many offices throughout the world
On-tour transportation (usually a coach bus)
Traveler Support Team
Educational Itinerary
Tour Donation Page to help with fundraising
weShare online education platform to help earn high school credits for their travels
Travel backpack designed with function and safety in mind (many pockets!)
UnCommon App college essay toolkit
Global Travel Protection Plan
So what's Not Included?
Buses to and from the airport*
We usually depart from and return to Port Richmond on a charter bus depending on our flight times.
Tour T-shirt*
This shirt is mandatory and required for students to wear on any and all travel days for safety purposes. It features the Raiders Abroad logo on the front and the tour name on the back. The students and chaperones traveling are the only people who can purchase this shirt!
Tips for guides and drivers*
Collected in cash before we depart
Lunches*
Students are usually given time to explore local cuisine during lunchtime
Excursions*
These are additional experiences built into the itinerary. They are still chaperones and run with the same quality as the rest of the EF Tour. Students who do not pay for additional excursions remain with the other chaperones and are usually given free time.
Money for souvenirs
Passport expenses
Cell phone plan
BEVERAGES
Soda/fountain drinks, coffees, teas, etc. are not included in the dinner price.
Consumption of alcohol is not allowed and will result in being sent home.
College Credit Option
For an additional fee, students can work on an assignment of their interest and creation that will count as 3 college credits through Southern New Hampshire University.
*We do our best to fundraise for these charges throughout the year to lessen the additional costs. The money raised goes to the bullet points starred in order of appearance.
Who are the Chaperones?
The trips are chaperoned by Port Richmond staff members. The number of chaperones fluctuates based on the number of travelers in attendance. Each chaperone is carefully picked based on their role in the school, relationship with students, and travel experience.
Group Leader: Ms. Duffy
English and I.S.S. teacher
Former Varsity Swim Coach (CPR, AED, First Aid, Lifeguard, Concussion, CPRO certified)
EF Tours Global Education Ambassador
Personally traveled to 19 countries and counting!
Other amazing staff who have chaperoned: Ms. Ahrens, Mr. Noto, Ms. Flynn, Mr. Rodrigo, Mr. Marinello
what about Safety?
EF Tours is a a fully accredited and experienced company used by thousands of other high schools in the country, including schools on the island like MSIT, CSI, and Tottenville.
EF Tours has offices in countires around the world including two in the United States.
They have a 24/7 Emergency Help Line and run drills constantly so they are well versed in any and all situations.
Students are given rubber bracelets with the emergency hotline number for the closest office. They wear for the duration of the tour; parents are given the hotline number for the U.S.
Our Tour Directors and local guides speak the native languages.
Our Tour Director stays in the same hotels with us.
Our transportation is taken care of.
Chaperones will be with the students during the day, as well as checking them in for curfews and wake up calls. We will never leave without having every student with us.
If a student falls ill, we are provided with enough chaperones for the group leader to stay with the student until he/she/they feel better.
Staff chaperones are CPR, AED, Concussion, Lifeguard, CPRO, and First Aid Certified.
Staff chaperones have international cell phone plans and can be contacted at any point during the duration of the trip.
All groups are insured under the $50 million General Liability Policy, and automatically covered by the Peace of Mind program.
bookingconditions_etus_19.pdf