I’ve just wrapped up about 6 weeks of travel with school groups and I have to say I enjoyed each trip immeasurably.  Starting with NYC, then Walt Disney World, Orlando and ending with Washington DC, they all had their unique experiences.  

The most memorable part of the trips were the new friendships I made.  Meeting people from other regions or parts of the world is one of the most fascinating benefits of travel. Traveling with school groups, I get to indirectly continue teaching as I had for 32 years of my life.  Now that I am retired from teaching, I treasure my years of working with and shaping young lives.  School group travel gives me a connection to that important part of my life. Traveling with my musical ensembles was one of my favorite parts of teaching.  Giving students the opportunity to gain new life experiences was one of the things I valued most about teaching.  Many of my students never had the opportunity to travel anywhere and these school trips allowed them to have some great experiences.  Watching my student’s reactions to great places like New York City and Walt Disney World provided moments for me I will never forget.

Along with these students, I had the opportunity to meet some great parents and developed some lasting friendships in just a few short days.  In this day of Facebook and social media, staying connected is easier than ever. 

With that said, I highly recommend group travel as a way to visit places you would not consider traveling by yourself.  I can personally say traveling to New York City was not an option for me and my family until I got to travel there on a trip with my music classes.  I took advantage of the opportunity and took my family along.  What a great experience it was for us and I now have a greater appreciation (and less fear) of traveling to big cities.  

Working with a travel advisor can open up options for group travel.  Get help planning a trip with your friends and family or just take advantage of getting to meet new people during your travels.