Archive for January, 2009

Travel Tip of the Week: Bring an Alarm Clock!

Wednesday, January 28th, 2009

Every week, Explorations will offer all you inveterate travelers a travel tip from one of our expert Program Consultants.

This week’s travel tip is from Senior Program Consultant Alyssa Geiger, and it’s a good one for the Circadian Rhythmically-challenged…

My travel tip is to pack your own alarm clock. This might seem a bit silly to some people-the hotel will have them, right?

Don’t count on it.

Even if the hotel does have an alarm clock, there’s no guarantee that you know how to work it. Some alarm clocks — especially in foreign countries –can be quite tricky.

And if it doesn’t go off-or if the sound it makes isn’t loud enough for you to hear it? It’s just not worth the risk.

And on that note-it’s not a good idea to rely on wake up calls from the hotel either-sometimes their system can get mixed up.

I was on an Explorica tour in Spain and requested a wake up call around 7 a.m. Needless to say…it was a call that never came.

The group left without me for the guided sightseeing that day, and I felt really embarrassed because the group must have thought that I had overslept! After all, they all received their wake up calls either from the hotel or from their teachers.

Long story short–turns out the hotel called the wrong room.  These kinds of things can happen at a large hotel.

So I say don’t leave it to chance — bring your own alarm clock!

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Better Know a Program Consultant: Alyssa Geiger

Monday, January 26th, 2009

One of our main goals with Explorations is to give everyone an opportunity to meet the fine folks who work at Explorica to help teachers take their students on educational tours across the globe.

This week’s featured Program Consultant is Alyssa Geiger. Here’s some of our favorite excerpts from our recent interview with her:

Where did you grow up?

Boxford, MA – Boston Suburbia at its finest.

Where did you go to college?

University of Massachusetts -following in the footsteps of my dad!

Where have you traveled?

Here goes:

Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, England, Scotland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Croatia, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Poland, Greece, Aegean Islands of Mykonos, Patmos, Santorini and Ios.

Wow.  So which Explorica tours have you taken?

Central European Cities and Madrid and Barcelona

Favorite book?

…Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs!

If you could be any animal, which animal would you be?

A bunny.

Favorite breakfast cereal?

Grape nuts! Oh the choice of having it hot or cold, it fills you up for the day and is really healthy for you.

If you could live anywhere else in the entire world, where would that be and why?

I’d have to visit more places before making a final decision-but for now-it would have to be Santorini.

I had briefly stayed there, and found it to be one of the most romantic, and magical places I’ve ever been to. I’m drawn to its black sand beaches, clear blue water, history and white houses along the cliffs, and the breath-taking sunsets!

What do you like to do when you’re not helping teachers plan fantastic tours?

Reading German books, or the German weekend newspaper “die Zeit” or magazine “der Spiegel”, recording music/singing, skiing, playing any card or board game (favorites include cribbage and Shanghai, Chinese Checkers) –but please teach me something new!

Is white chocolate really chocolate?

Absolutely not!

I feel very strongly about this, especially when I go to Dunkin’ Donuts to enjoy some of their highly addictive hot chocolate-without whip cream-and they offer me their white hot chocolate instead-fully assuming that this will be fine with me, since their hot chocolate machine was broken….

They spend all this money on running ad campaigns promoting this white hot chocolate-who buys this stuff? Not me…

What does your last name mean in German?

Violin!

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My Favorite: Rest Stop In Italy

Monday, January 12th, 2009

Our aim with these My Favorite: posts is to give our well-traveled Explorica employees a chance to share some of their favorite travel experiences with all of you.

This week’s my favorite comes from our Client Services Manager Sarah Vessenes.  Take it away, Sarah…

When driving on any Autostrada (state highway) in Italy, you will inevitably come across an Autogrill–the Italian version of what in America we consider the “rest” or “truck” stop.

These little off-highway gems differ in just about every way from their American counterparts, and the differences are apparent the moment you pull over.

On any given day at the Autogrill, you’re bound to come across Alfa Romeos, Fiats, Lancias, a random Lamborghini or Ferrari, as well as more than a few of the Vespas–those classic, modern scooters favored among the young and intrepid.

Gawking at the cars is all well and good, but once inside the Autogrill, the real adventure begins.

Autogrills are a mix of rest stop, coffee shop, bar, restaurant, souvenir store…oh and gas station.  As you first enter, you’ll invariably encounter a really diverse assortment of Italians bustling about the cafe, angling for their espressi, soft drinks, orange juice, or even beer or wine. *

* Make sure you go to the cashier first!  Order your coffee or soda or sandwich, then bring your receipt to the counter for service. This is what real Italians do…

After you’ve loaded up on espresso, or had yourself a Mortadella sandwich with a Fanta, make sure you visit the restroom before hitting the road. Don’t forget your ‘spicci’–or change–as the restrooms at the Auto Grill usually come with a fee of 25-50 centessimi (cents) to use them.  Then its back on the road to Roma.

Everyone in Italy–from your local farmer, to your Autostrada truck driver, to your Milanese fashionista stops at the Autogrill, so it is a great way to get an authentic and amazing feel for the whole region.

There is even a subculture that has grown around the Auto Grill.  Just take a look on Facebook and you’ll see numerous groups devoted to the Autogrill. Which reminds me, I need to go join one.

Ora basta!  See you on the A1!

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Travel Tip of the Week: Don’t Be Shy

Wednesday, January 7th, 2009

Every week, Explorations will offer all you inveterate travelers a travel tip from one of our expert Program Consultants.

This week’s travel tip is from our Client Services Manager, Sarah Vessenes, and it’s a good one for the extroverted traveler…

When I travel, I like to go for the authentic experience–to move beyond being a tourist.  I like to eat, shop, and live the rhythms of the city, country or region I’m visiting.

And here’s the best way to get to this authentic experience: Don’t be shy!  As a naturally outgoing person, this comes naturally to me, but for those who are not as garrulous–trust me, it’s worth it.

Get to know the people who know your location like the backs of their hands.  Some of my best travel advice has come from the mouths of taxi drivers, bartenders and waitstaff.

At a restaurant in Holland, my friend who I was traveling with and myself made such good friends with our waiter that he ended up offering to show us a place only locals would know the next day.  He and his friends took us to see amazing views of the North Sea,  miles of tulip fields, and to have dinner at the family home!

Remember, most locals want to make international connections as much as you want to learn about their native lands, so again I say “Don’t be shy!”  Get to know your travel destination the best way possible–from someone who lives every day.

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