School trips costs will vary depending on different factors, such as season, duration and of course the destination. Our travel team shares this simple school trips cost guide to help you plan a successful tour.
These are some of the main factors to consider when planning and budgeting for a school trip abroad:
1-Destination
There are many wonderful places to visit, explore and learn, both near and far, from the UK and Ireland to continental Europe, the US and Asia.
It might seem obvious but trips involving short haul flights to destinations with good flight connectivity such as most European capitals, will be more affordable than destinations that require medium and long haul flights.
Accommodation costs will also vary depending on the countries, and our travel team can advise you on the best destination for your group and budget.
Have a look at our list of Top 10 destinations here: TOP 10 SCHOOL TRIP DESTINATIONS
2-Duration of the trip
School trips abroad can be as short or as long as you wish and the duration should also be taken into account when budgeting for the tour.
They can range from 1 or 2 nights to a week, 14 days or longer, depending on the type of tour:
-City breaks typically last 2 to 3 nights, to take all the sights and tours and cost-wise they range from €300 to €600 per student.
-Ski school trips are generally longer to give students time to improve their skills. Cost for 6 or 7 nights starts from €795 per student approximately.
-For other active school trips such as walking the Camino de Santiago we recommend spending ideally a week so they can complete the last 100kms and get their Compostela certificate in Santiago; however, shorter tours can also be organised.
-If travelling long haul a week or 14 days will be ideal, depending on the itinerary and number of visits you would like included in your tour.
The 12-night Best of China school trip starts from €1875 while school groups travelling to Ireland can easily tour the country in one week, with approximate costs starting at €995 (not including flights).
3-Season
As a rule of thumb, travelling around important festivals and holidays such as Easter are likely to increase your school trip cost, as flights and accommodation will be more in demand and availability might be limited.
If you can, pick dates for your school trip that are low season, as they will give you more flexibility and availability in terms of flights and accommodation.
However if you really want to travel on particular dates to a destination, for instance experience Easter in Rome, St Patricks’ Day in Ireland, Christmas Markets or the Tulip Festival in Amsterdam, planning in advance is highly recommended.
Our team can advise on the best time of the year to travel to each of our destinations.
4-Accommodation type
As part of our travel tours for schools, group leaders generally have the option to choose between different types of accommodation, with hostels or hotels of a variety of star ratings being the main categories. Both types are carefully selected by our travel team and suitable for groups.
Our team will review the school budget with you and pick the best type of accommodation to suit your needs, whether you are looking for a hostel, guesthouse or a luxury hotel.
5-Group size
At JWT Schools we work with groups of all sizes but it is worth keeping in mind that costs for bigger groups are generally lower, as fees associated with certain services are spread between a higher number of people. The size of a group school trip can vary widely but the average group size tends to be between 30 and 40 students.
6-Book in advance
Planning is key when it comes to group travel. If you can, booking in advance is highly recommended in order to get better availability, particularly if you are set on particular dates.
We hope you find these guidelines on school trips cost useful.
The JWT Schools team works closely with teachers and schools to organise and plan school trips adapted to the group’s budget and educational requirements, so all costs associated with the trip are established from the beginning of the planning process.
For more ideas for your school trip:
Contact our travel experts for advice and support organising your school trip abroad.
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