{"id":6814,"date":"2017-03-22T16:41:19","date_gmt":"2017-03-22T20:41:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/?p=6814"},"modified":"2017-03-30T10:42:59","modified_gmt":"2017-03-30T14:42:59","slug":"students-tour-process","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/students-tour-process","title":{"rendered":"Students: The tour process"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Signing up for an educational tour is an exciting experience! To make sure it goes smoothly, here are a few step-by-step instructions to help you navigate the process. If you have any questions, don&#8217;t hesitate to ask your group leader or contact <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.explorica.com\/contact-us.aspx\" target=\"_blank\">Explorica Customer Care<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #f99901;\"><b>Step 1: Find your tour<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-6635 size-medium\" src=\"http:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Janey-Robson-Riding-a-camel-in-Morocco-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"Morocco\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Janey-Robson-Riding-a-camel-in-Morocco-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Janey-Robson-Riding-a-camel-in-Morocco.jpg 604w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>Go to <\/span><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.explorica.com\/sign-up.aspx\">explorica.com\/sign-up<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and enter the Tour Center ID provided by your group leader (it&#8217;s usually the last name of your group leader, followed by a number like &#8220;Smith-1234&#8221;).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Don\u2019t remember your group\u2019s Tour Center ID? No worries. Just call our Customer Care team at 1.888.310.7121.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Don&#8217;t have a tour to sign up for? <\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.explorica.com\/students\/open-tours.aspx\">Contact a local group about joining a tour<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.explorica.com\/students\/refer-a-teacher.aspx\">Refer a teacher to lead a tour<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #f99901;\"><b>Step 2: Sign up\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-6319\" src=\"http:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/Venice-Florence-Rome.jpg\" alt=\"Venice,-Florence,-Rome\" width=\"300\" height=\"164\" \/>Now that you\u2019ve found your Tour Center, it\u2019s time to sign up! Once you\u2019ve clicked \u201csign up now\u201d, you\u2019ll go to an informational page where you\u2019ll fill in all the information we need to get you on your way. Be sure to enroll early to secure the best discounts available and to be sure your spot is secured! Travelers enrolling past the enrollment deadline will be subject to our <\/span><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.explorica.com\/faq.aspx#LATE SIGN UP AND REINSTATEMENT (INTERNATIONAL TOURS)\">late sign-up policy<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once you\u2019ve finished signing up, you\u2019re ready to explore your Tour Center\u2014your online one-stop shop for all things related to your tour. Come here to make payments, update your <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.explorica.com\/teachers\/affordability\/fundraising\/personal-fundraising-pages.aspx\" target=\"_blank\">fundraising page<\/a><\/strong>, receive important reminders, find out hotel and flight information, and more.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #f99901;\"><b>Step 3: Know the important deadlines<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-6106\" src=\"http:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/559c6074d7006-KickinitwithObama-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"First trip to Washington, D.C.\" width=\"200\" height=\"267\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/559c6074d7006-KickinitwithObama-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/559c6074d7006-KickinitwithObama.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once you\u2019ve signed up, it\u2019s time to make sure you\u2019ve taken care of some important to-dos. And the first thing on the list is to make sure <\/span><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.explorica.com\/get-ready\/passports-and-visas.aspx\">you\u2019ve applied for or renewed your passport and any applicable travel visas<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Ideally, you should get started on passport applications and renewals 8-9 months before your scheduled tour, in order to compensate for any potential issues. So, get to it!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Each month we will automatically charge the credit cards or debit the checking accounts of participants who choose our monthly payment plan; we will send an\u00a0email reminder of payments due to all other participants approximately two weeks in advance of the payment due date. You will receive payment reminders only through email and not through the mail. Be sure to check the conditions of your selected payment plan to ensure that you are up to date with all of your payments!<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #f99901;\"><b>Step 4: Learn the details and start the count-down!<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-5888 \" src=\"http:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/photocontest1-300x214.jpg\" alt=\"photocontest1\" width=\"273\" height=\"195\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/photocontest1-300x214.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/photocontest1-820x585.jpg 820w, https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/photocontest1.jpg 940w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 273px) 100vw, 273px\" \/>After the enrollment deadline has passed and Explorica has begun to finalize your group\u2019s reservations, you can visit your Tour Center to learn the details about your flights, meals, accommodations and on-tour activities.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During this time, you should also perform some pre-tour prep-work. <\/span><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.explorica.com\/resources\/destination-information.aspx\">Learn about your tour destinations<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, get some tips on <\/span><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.explorica.com\/get-ready\/packing-for-your-trip.aspx\">how to pack smart<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, pick up an <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">international cell phone or calling card<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to keep in touch while abroad, and find answers to some of our other <\/span><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.explorica.com\/faq.aspx\">frequently asked questions<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> about tours and travel.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #f99901;\"><b>Step 5: Bon voyage<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-5505 size-medium\" src=\"http:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Hayley-Currier-World-Cup-Victory1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"Hayley Currier-World Cup Victory\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Hayley-Currier-World-Cup-Victory1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Hayley-Currier-World-Cup-Victory1-530x398.jpg 530w, https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Hayley-Currier-World-Cup-Victory1-528x396.jpg 528w, https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Hayley-Currier-World-Cup-Victory1.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>After months of anticipation, it&#8217;s finally time to take your Explorica tour!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once you&#8217;ve arrived at your first destination, you&#8217;ll meet your tour director. \u00a0They&#8217;re regional experts, and they&#8217;re fluent in all your tour&#8217;s languages. \u00a0They&#8217;ll take care of all the on-tour details, while also filling you and your friends in on the best lunch spots, nearest bank locations, or can&#8217;t-miss destinations.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With the help of your tour director and local guides, you&#8217;ll participate in immersive activities, eat authentic meals, and meet locals to get a truly authentic cultural experience.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #f99901;\"><b>Step 6: Welcome home<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once you&#8217;ve returned, it&#8217;s time to share!\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Get together with your friends for a fun post-tour reunion to swap stories, photos and memories. \u00a0And don&#8217;t forget to share your amazing experiences with the rest of the world by posting on <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.explorica.com\/social-networking.aspx\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Explorica&#8217;s social networking pages<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and entering the <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.explorica.com\/photo\" target=\"_blank\">photo contest<\/a><\/strong>!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.explorica.com\/photo\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-5652 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/02-1200x400.jpg\" alt=\"02-1200x400\" width=\"1200\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/02-1200x400.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/02-1200x400-300x100.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/02-1200x400-530x177.jpg 530w, https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/02-1200x400-678x226.jpg 678w, https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/02-1200x400-528x176.jpg 528w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Signing up for an educational tour is an exciting experience! To make sure it goes smoothly, here are a few step-by-step instructions to help you navigate the process. If you have any questions, don&#8217;t hesitate to ask your group leader or contact Explorica Customer Care. Step 1: Find your tour Go to explorica.com\/sign-up and enter <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/students-tour-process\">Read More &#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6314,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[63],"tags":[58,128,12],"class_list":["post-6814","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-students","tag-educational-travel","tag-student-travel","tag-travel-tips"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6814","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6814"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6814\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6827,"href":"https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6814\/revisions\/6827"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6314"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6814"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6814"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.explorica.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6814"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}