Field trips to Italy

[Louise Malits]

Hello,

Was wondering if anyone would be able to help me. We are going to be running the new AQA Spec A Geography GCSE next year and are considering running a trip to Italy. We currently go to Spain but we can combine our A Level trip with GCSE as A Level would be able to study the tectonics of the area whilst GCSE will be studying tourism.

I was wondering if anyone currently runs trips to Italy. Would you be able to give me some information as to the hotels that you might stay in, coach companies that you have used before and are trustworthy etc.

I'm happy to go in blind but it is always comforting to try someting that others have used first.

Many thanks

Lou

[Victoria Ellis]

Not something I've done, but I've heard nothing but praise for Rayburn's Sorrento trip... Perhaps try posting on SLN too?

[Sophie Jones]

Hi we've taken our AS/A2 students to the Bay of Naples and it was fab. We went with NST who were much cheaper than Ryburn. They were ok as a company, but this time I have found Equity mush cheaper. We stayed in a little town called Vico Equence but we're hoping to stay in Sorrento this time.

[Caroline Wood]

I have been on a Geog/ Classics trip to Naples area. Would recommend staying in Sorrento, we stayed just outside and were a bit frustrated with extra travel. Also, used the rail service quite a bit and v good but not all staff that helpful when buyign 54 train tickets!! Think we went with NST. Also went to Capri for day but would change this to half-day as not enough to do there. Its a great trip and if you go and its sunny - even better!

[Louise Malits]

Thanks everyone for your help! Definately something for me to investigate in the last few days of our hols

[Anna Wood]

Hi,
I've run a GCSE trip to the Bay of Naples with NST for the past 3 years and it's in general been great. We've stayed in Hotel Mary each year which is in Vico Equense outside Sorrento and we didn't find it a problem as we had a coach included for daytime visits. We used the train on our last day which was fine, although would agree is a little stressful in ticket buying! We like the Hotel Mary as the staff are generally very helpful, the rooms are clean and suit our pupils and it has a pool which is a great option after a hot day sightseeing. It's also a short walk into the village in the evenings so our pupils were able to have some time to themselves without causing too much noise in the hotel.
I would defintely recommend this trip to anyone, it's been a great trip for pupils and staff alike and has helped make Geography a more popular option at GCSE. Pupils paid £450 each in July this year and even with the exchange rate being awful we had enough to pay for everything.
Could I ask a favour in return about where you went in spain and who you went with? We're thinking of changing to spain this year so it would be helpful to have some inside info too!

Hope this helps,
Anna

[Louise Malits]

Thanks for the info! Lots for me to investigate.

When we go to Spain we used to go with Easy Jet as they were the cheapest in the last 2 years we have gone with British Airways as by the time you have added on luggage and other bits and pieces the price difference is minimal (and BA throw in free food which is a perk for the kids.)

We normally stay in the resort of Callela which is about an hour from Barcelona in Hotel Haromar. Like yours it is clean and they can fit up to 4 students per room. They are very teacher friendly and will do all they can to ensure all students and teachers are on the same floor to ensure we can keep an eye on them. It is a very popular hotel with other school groups and in the past we have had trouble with other groups - throwing things down onto our balcony but if you speak to the hotel they talk to the school groups in charge.
There is also a pool and across the road is a beach (very stoney.) Opposite the hotel is a trainline so you have to use the underground subways to access the beach but thats not a problem.

We used to charge pupuls £235 for a total of 4nights (5days) but this year we had to increase to £275.
This includes coaches, insurance and food as the hotel is a buffet for breakfast/lunch and dinner. If you go out for the day, i.e. we do a days fieldtrip in Barcelona they will also provide a packed lunch.

Thats all I can think of for now. Any other questions let me know.

Lou