What if I missed the informational meeting about this trip?

• Please contact Mr. Rainey directly for any questions regarding the trip.  Several meetings will be held throughout the year - if you miss one, there are other opportunities.  I'm happy to chat with you on the phone or meet with you directly if you'd like.

How many chaperones go on the trip?

• There is one teacher chaperone for every 10 students.  However, with parents traveling, the ratio of students to adults is typically around 6:1 to 7:1.

Can parents chaperone?

• Parents are always welcome on our trip!  As I like to say, it's nice to have someone who isn't fourteen to talk to once in a while. :)  Any parent who travels with us, however, is not an actual chaperone - you are coming as a paid traveler, and my primary concern is for you to enjoy the trip along with your child.  Adults are priced the same as students and is based on quad occupancy - please contact me directly for pricing for singles, doubles and triples. 

What is included in the price of the trip?

• This trip is all inclusive. It covers airfare, hotels, three meals a day, ground transportation, licensed tour guides, admission fees to attractions, museums and shows, including our Broadway production, Hamilton. The only thing not included is money for snacks and souvenirs. 

How many students can go on this trip?

• The trip is capped at 50 travelers. Registration is first come, first served.

How do I register?

• To reserve a spot on the trip, you must complete the online registration and $400 deposit on the ETSI website. The trip number for 2026 is 2T62-ETSI. Feel free to email Scott Rainey with any questions you have about the trip.

Do students get to pick who they room with in the hotels?

• The students will complete a roommate request form several weeks before the trip. They will be placed in a room with at least one of their three requested roommate preferences. Sometimes it works out for a person to get all three of their choices and other times, it will be one of the three; I do what is needed to make sure everyone has at least one of their requested roommate preferences.  In general practice, though, almost all roommate requests can be honored.

Is traveler insurance necessary?

• It isn't required, but it sure does help in emergency situations. After the experiences of the last two years, we highly suggest it. This trip is a financial investment and it is nice to insure those investments. It becomes a real benefit in the unforeseen situations where the student breaks a leg the week before departure or when added expenses occur due to flight cancellations. 

What is the trip cancellation policy? What if I change my mind and want to cancel?

• Please carefully review the trip cancellation policy. We highly recommend the travel insurance. The insurance company has a "cancel for any reason" policy that reimburses 75% of what the travel company does not refund. You will be prompted with a link to the insurance company's website at the end of the electronic registration process.

Are there fundraising opportunities?

• As tour director, my focus is planning the trip details with the travel company and communicating with parents. Unfortunately, I don't have time to organize or lead any large fundraising activities. However, there are a number of fundraising opportunities that students can organize and implement independently or in small groups. In the past, parents have also been involved in planning and implementing fundraising events and activities.   A great resource is Fundraising 101, published by our travel agency, Educational Student Travel Services, Inc.  Another awesome opportunity is this self-explanatory crowdsourcing letter campaign that many families have used in the past. Lastly, one new resource is our own nonprofit, East County Student Travel.  ECST exists in order to assist families who may struggle with the costs involved with travel.  If you have any questions about qualifying for or donating to scholarships, please contact Scott Rainey.