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HOME | ABOUT GLOBAL JOURNEYS | CONTACT GLOBAL JOURNEYS | HOW TO REGISTER | FAQs | TERMS & CONDITIONS |
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Why should I sign up with Global Journeys? Global Journeys designs exciting travel programs that provide meaningful and enhanced learning experiences for students.
With an enviable history of developing state of the art educational travel experiences, our programs are often emulated but never surpassed in terms of student safety, staff dedication and amazing experiences.
We also work with an established travel agency which has been in business for over 50 years and is registered is the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO)!
Here is why we are great at what we do!
1. Are there computers available or can I bring my laptop? Many of our programs include free access to computers for word processing and internet use. Please call or email us for details regarding your specific program. For areas where there is limited access, our staff will direct you to nearby facilities which will offer services at low cost to students. You can definitely bring your laptop if you wish to do so. Please note you are responsible for the security of your laptop if you do decide to bring it.
2. Will I have any free time for myself? Definitely! During certain afternoons and evenings you will have the opportunity to explore with other students - but you must be with one or more students at all times. You are required to sign in and out with staff and carry the contact information our staff provide. The time you are able to do this will vary based on location, program and age of group and guidelines will provided prior to departure.
3. How can you guarantee my child’s safety? Safety is one of our key concerns - we have meetings with students prior to departure - an orientation session is set up on the day of arrival to ensure students are aware, comfortable and knowledgeable of our surroundings, cultural differences, and locations of all staff. Students are informed of all our "rules" in advance and are expected to adhere. Students are not allowed to head out on their own and no overnight stays outside of residence are allowed. Students are not allowed to drive motorized vehicles and can only ride in motorized vehicles with family with written permission from parents. We have a curfew which students must abide by and any behavior which is deemed unacceptable will be dealt with immediately and is taken very seriously. We want you to have a positively amazing experience and a safe one!
4. Are staff available in Canada while students are abroad? Absolutely, our office remains open throughout the year – and staff are always available to assist parents with any of their needs while our groups are abroad. Our integrity, the quality of our programs and our reputation goes unmatched and so we guarantee to be available when you need us – at the airport, at the office, or abroad!
5. Is there a staff person who speaks the languages of the countries we will be visiting? We will always have a staff person or a local representative on site who speaks the language of the country where we are located to assist the group in every way.
6. Can I board with a friend? Yes you can, if twin rooms are available. You can indicate whom you wish to room with on your application form and if it is possible to place you together we will do everything we can to accommodate your request. Rooming is usually in twins and in some cases triples, unless otherwise stated. Should students wish to reside in single rooms when this is not applicable to the respective program, there may be an option to do so and a supplement fee will be applied.
7. How much money should I bring? This of course depends on your spending habits and the program location. Breakfasts and Dinners are included in all programs and on average students require $5 - $10 Canadian Dollars each day for lunch (unless lunch is included in your program - see your itinerary for details).
You may wish to purchase snacks or extra drinks and will require funds for entertainment, gifts and souvenirs - so on average $150 per week would be enough to cover this. We would recommend you bring additional funds should you wish to purchase more expensive gifts and souvenirs.
8. How can my parents, other family and friends reach me while we are away? We will be providing all parents, legal guardians and students information lists with residence locations, staff contact names, and phone and fax numbers for each programs. In some sites phones are located in students' rooms and incoming calls are transferred by reception. In areas where phones are not available in students' rooms parents can leave messages at reception and they will inform students to return their call that day. Faxes may also be sent to students and are delivered to a Global Journeys’ mailbox and distributed by staff. Should the call or fax be of an urgent nature students will be notified immediately. Parents can also call the Global Journeys office in Mississauga if they are having any difficulty with communication lines.
9. Do we get to go swimming? Absolutely you can go swimming - and where you go swimming of course depends on the program you have selected. Most hotels have pools on site which we have complete access to and university residences have sport centers nearby which charge a small fee.
10. What type of insurance should I purchase? You can purchase comprehensive insurance through us when you submit your application and this provides all medical, travel, cancellation, baggage and emergency transportation (flight home) coverage.
11. Can I arrange my own flight and stay longer if I want to? We recommend you fly with the group only because this gives you an opportunity to bond with everyone. It is really where all the fun starts! However, if you wish to make your alternative flight arrangements or wish to extend your trip once the program is over simply call us and we will provide you with the details to make this happen.
12. What type of currency should I bring along? This will depend on the program you will be taking and we will provide you with all that information prior to departure. We recommend you bring some cash on hand for the first few days until you get the chance to go to a bank. Also having a combination of sources of funds is ideal….so in addition to some cash, bring a bank card, traveler’s cheques and a credit card if you wish. Bank cards need to be connected to a “chequing account” and your PIN code must have 4 digits. If a situation should arise where you need additional funds, your parents can also wire funds through your bank or places such as Western Union or Thomas Cook – keep in mind this does get expensive.
13. What kind of meals do we get? Breakfasts and dinners are included in all programs and lunches in many cases are also provided. Check each program for details. The meals will vary based on the location you are visiting and will always have continental as well as local cuisine for you to experience. For most people this will be very different from their usual home meals and this is all part of experiencing a new country. If you have any special dietary requirements or allergies just let us know and we will do everything we can to accommodate your needs.
14. How many students are there to each room? You are placed in single, twin or triple rooms depending on the location of the program. There are some occasions where you would be in quads - for instance while in the Outback in Australia (for about 2-3 nights) or while at lodges in the Galapagos Islands.
15. Are there refrigerators to store my medication? We ask that you inform us on your application form of any medication you will need to take while on our programs - which helps should an emergency arise. If your medication needs to be refrigerated please inform us in advance and we will make arrangements to ensure you are accommodated.
16. What type of transportation do we use? Private motor coaches, planes, trains, and ferries. Of course this depends on the program you have selected and locations we will be visiting.
17. Will I be allowed to go out in the evenings? Students can go out in the evenings after dinner as long as they are accompanied by another fellow student or students. We do ask students to discuss with staff where they are planning on going. There is a sign-out procedure and staff always carry phones - this ensures we can be of assistance should you ever need it. We want you to have an amazing time but would like you to come home safely too!
18. Do I need a Visa? Some locations require visas for those with Canadian Passports. Canadian students going on our New Zealand/Australia program will require visas for Australia and this is processed by Global Journeys free of charge to students.
Students on our South East Asia Or China programs must obtain their own visas as this cannot be processed by the Global Journeys office. There is a charge for these visas which students will pay directly to the respective consulates issuing the visas. We will advise students accordingly on the time to apply for their visas and what is required.
Students who do not hold Canadian passports should inform Global Journeys staff and they will direct you to the correct embassy to obtain the appropriate information.
19. What is the luggage weight allowance? Remember, Travel Light!!! Because you will be carrying your own baggage around! And charges for overweight baggage can get expensive - so leave some room for those special things you wish to bring back with you from your trip. You will be informed of weight allowances in your travel information package in early June.
20. Can I visit relatives or friends and stay at their home overnight? These programs are designed to offer a group experience and in order for our staff to monitor your safety we cannot allow overnight stays. You can definitely visit your family or friends abroad but if you are leaving the city and will be missing dinner we will need written permission from your parents and contact information.
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