Dates and times of departure and return

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are the questions I get asked most frequently about a Spanish Club trip overseas. If there is a question not answered here or on the information page, please feel free to e-mail me with the question. Also, if you need something sent to you in relation to the trip, just e-mail me with your address and what you need.

E-mail Señor Schartow

Dates and times of departure and return?

We travel during Spring break each year. Until we receive the exact itinerary, we do not know exact departure or return times. If you are going on a trip, as soon as we find out, we communicate that to you.

Out of which airport?

Detroit Metro

Do we take you to the airport?

We normally take a Linden school bus that will leave from the high school. We will plan it so that we arrive and are IN the terminal three hours before departure time. It could be an early morning, we never know, so be prepared.

How much spending money do you suggest?

This is an issue that needs to be decided by your family. If it helps, here are some things to consider:
We are normally there around 9-10 days. There are a few things that may turn up that are not covered in the price that the kids want to go to, such as a special show or exhibit, so that will be extra. They also must buy one meal per day, lunch. We suggest you try to come up with your figure based on a per day amount, keeping in mind the things mentioned above. Souvenir money could be figured the same way (per day) and if a student makes a major purchase on one day, they need to spend less another.

We’d like the daily itinerary?

We don’t have the specific information with hotel names and times of day. We get the hotel names, phone numbers, and addresses, and much more information about 10 days before departure.
To see the day by day itinerary of where we will be and what we will be doing on the 2006 trip, click HERE.
As soon as we know the specifics, we will communicate it with you.

Types and amount of clothing to pack?

This is always discussed at the parent meeting. We can’t stress enough not to overpack. You can get by with 3 pairs of pants (2 pr. Jeans and 1 nice pair of pants – and that is counting the ones you wear on the plane) if you are careful, and take care of any spills on them right away. If you overpack, you’ll be lugging around a heavy bag and won’t have room for bringing back souvenirs.

Will students need electric outlet converters?

We are encouraging students to leave plug in appliances at home. Hairdryers, curling irons, electric shavers can be left home. Plastic razors are lighter weight, and hairdryers and such will require a special adaptor. Do without it for 10 days, you’ll be glad when you haul your luggage around. If you need to use something electronic, you don't need voltage converters in Europe and Central America, but the outlets are a different shape, so you will need something for that.

How much luggage can we take?

PACK LIGHT!!!! We will be traveling between hotels and YOU have to carry all your stuff. There are recommended dimensions for suitcases and airlines can sometimes charge you extra if your luggage weighs too much, but the real question is, how much do you want to carry with you from place to place?

Do I need an umbrella?

Good Question. It would be smart to bring some guard against rain. We cannot control the weather, but we are going to have a blast no matter what, which means seeing and doing some things that we might not have a chance to do again. So as long as it’s safe, we will keep a good attitude and conduct our tour in the rain if need be. From our experience traveling, the best thing to have is something lightweight (and obviously waterproof) that one could wear during bad weather. You would want something that doesn’t take up a lot of space, but you could put on to keep dry and cover up valuable items. Truth be told, if we stay in a place for 9-10 days and don’t see a glimpse of bad weather, we got lucky.

What is the weather going to be like?

It depends on where we go. You can get all the information you need about the weather at www.weather.com

Will you turning our VG receipts for us?

You need to get the special "VGs receipt" envelopes from either VGs or Señor Schartow, and turn them into Sr. Schartow at the High School

Will we be reimbursed with money for VG’s receipts not used?

We’ll only get money for the ones we turn in before leaving.

How many are going? Kids? Adults?

We try to to keep the ratio around 1 chaperone to 6 students, no matter how many students are going.

Will they be supervised by at least one adult at all times?

We don't anticipate any times where the students will be unsupervised. Our first priority is the safety and well being of our kids. Rest assured that we’ll know their whereabouts at all times.

What are the sleeping arrangements?

The students are arranged in triples, and their names are all given to the hotels in advance, so their rooms are set up before they arrive.

How will you handle serious breaking of the rules?

The CHA Student Code of Behavior is found on page 10 of the Tour Enrollment Booklet . Download one and see it online by clicking the link, or e-mail Señor Schartow with your name and address for a copy. The CHA tour company is quite strict and specific about many infractions of rules on a trip. Many of these are included in the “Important information for the parents & guardians of CHA travelers” and the “CHA Student Code of Behavior.” Obviously, “serious” is a relative word, so depending on the seriousness of the infraction, it will be dealt with in a manner worthy of the crime. Problems like drinking, stealing, destruction of property, etc. are major issues, which can and will get the student sent home on their and their parent or guardian’s expense. In all our experience traveling, we have not had any problems like this, but if a student thinks they can get away with unacceptable behavior overseas, they need to know there are consequences.

Will the kids have a clear written list of the rules and consequences? What are the rules and consequences?

See the Student code of behavior on page 10 in the Tour Enrollment Form. We will address this at the parent meeting in greater detail. Any infraction of the listed CHA rules or ours will be dealt with on an individual basis. The consequences will range from room restriction to being sent home.

How will you handle serious illness or accident?

Of course, someone would stay with the sick or hurt child at all times. If it was something that needed medical attention, our tour director will direct us to the nearest hospital or doctor's office.

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