FAQs About Our Long Weekend Trips Would it be cheaper or better to travel on my own? SnoworSand local experts provides unique itineraries and incredible experiences you couldn’t find on your own—they introduce you to the true culture and people of the city by showing you their favorite local hangouts, nightlife, activities and landmarks. Our local experts know the ins and outs of the cities they live in, so they’ll show you top sites that really matter and skip those that don’t. They’ll take you past the tourist traps and show you the best of the city, saving you time, money and frustration in the process. And when you have free time for optional meals and activities, they’ll make sure you get the most bang for your buck by recommending the local spots, not the over-priced tourist watering holes. Think about the last time you visited a close friend in a new city – that’s what we do for you! When it comes down to it, you may pay less for a hostel reservation and a Rick Steves guidebook, but you won’t have a passionate local expert to ensure you have an unforgettable experience in the city. What is included in the price of a Long Weekend trip? A SnoworSand Long Weekend (159 Euro) includes a local travel expert to show you around the destination city, one sunset aperitivo, a 3-day itinerary including select sites and activities and 2 nights accommodations. See “Trips” section on the home page to see sample itineraries for each of our destinations. How do I book a long weekend trip? 1) Purchase the trip on SnoworSand.com. A SnoworSand representative will contact you after booking with all the information you need to get started. 3) Book your airfare to the destination city. You will meet the group at 11 AM sharp on Friday (feel free to arrive a day early or leave a day later for extra time in the city). A SnoworSand representative will contact you after booking the trip to tell you how to get to your hotel. The trip ends on Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m. so be sure to book your airfare home on Sunday evening or Monday morning. Airfare is not included in the price, but we give you the tools to book the cheapest fares with Europe’s regional airlines. How much free time will I have? Depending on the interests of the group, guests will have the opportunity for free time to explore the city in between activities and at night. During this time, your local travel expert will make sure you find the best optional activities and restaurants that fit your budget. In addition, you will have free time to explore each city’s nightlife.
How much time does the local expert spend with our group? The Local Expert will spend about 8 hours per day with the group (Friday, Saturday and Sunday). The trip begins Friday at 11 AM and ends Sunday at 4 PM. How large will the group be? SnoworSand believes that the only way to see the true culture of a city is within small, intimate groups of up to 12 people. We never fill coach buses or use flags to herd around over-sized groups. Instead, our local experts bring our small groups to their favorite restaurants and local hang-outs, whether they are large restaurants or tiny, hole-in-the-wall cafes. Using small groups also ensures a level of personalization, where our local experts can adapt optional activities to the interests and travel styles of each group. Can I spend extra time in the destination before or after the designated trip dates? Guests who wish to spend additional time in the destination city (or other destinations in Europe) are free to do so but are responsible for finding their own accommodations. Do I need to bring a visa or passport in order to travel in Europe or Morocco? In order to travel in Europe or Morocco, you will need a passport valid for at least 6 months after your stay. You do not need a special visa or any vaccinations in order to travel to Europe or Morocco. If you are a student at a study abroad university in Europe, you should bring proof of your permit of stay (a receipt will be fine) whenever you are traveling out of your study abroad city. What kind of baggage should I bring on my trip? You should pack as light as possible. One backpack and handbag provides enough space to pack everything you need for a long weekend of travel. Some airlines have restrictions to the bags you can bring. If you would like to bring an extra bag to check, there is typically a 10 – 15 Euro charge per bag, there and back – so again, pack light! It will also make it easier to get around. How do I meet the group once I arrive at the destination? All guests will are responsible for transferring from the airport to their hotel once they arrive at the destination city. Long weekend trips begin on Friday at 11 AM, so be sure to give yourself enough time to get from the airport to the hotel (after you purchase your trip on SnoworSand.com, a SnoworSand representative will contact you with specific directions from the airport to your hotel). Generally, there is a train, bus or airport shuttle available for 5-10 Euro. If you don’t feel comfortable taking public transportation, a taxi is a sure bet.
FAQs About Our Spring Break Trips Would it be cheaper or better to travel on my own? SnoworSand local experts provides unique itineraries and incredible experiences you couldn’t find on your own—they introduce you to the true culture and people of the city by showing you their favorite local hangouts, nightlife, activities and landmarks. Our local experts know the ins and outs of the cities they live in, so they’ll show you to sites that really matter and skip those that don’t. They’ll take you past the tourist traps and show you the best of the city, saving you time, money and frustration in the process. And when you have free time for optional meals and activities, they’ll make sure you get the most bang for your buck by recommending the local spots, not the over-priced tourist watering holes. Think about the last time you visited a close friend in a new city – that’s what we do for you! When it comes down to it, you may pay less for a hostel reservation and a Rick Steves guidebook, but you won’t have a passionate local expert to ensure you have an unforgettable experience in the city. How do I book a SnoworSand Spring Break? 1) Select your destinations and dates and purchase the trip on SnoworSand.com. (a SnoworSand representative will contact you after booking with the name of the hotel and how you will meet your local expert on Saturday). 2) Book your airfare: Book airfare in order to arrive at the destination city on the first Saturday of your spring break week and to depart the destination city on the last Saturday of your spring break week. The tour officially begins Saturday at 12:00 p.m. Some guests will arrive later or earlier depending on their flight schedules. That’s fine. Once you book online, a SnoworSand representative will contact you to let you know how to meet your group and local expert at your hotel. Do SnoworSand Spring Breaks include airfare? If not, how do I purchase airfare? SnoworSand spring break trips do not include airfare. You must purchase airfare in order to arrive at the destination city on or before the first Saturday of your spring break week. Each trip begins at 12 p.m. on the first Saturday, however you can arrive later in the day if you choose. Arriving after 12 p.m. of the first Saturday may cause you to miss some of the scheduled activities of that day but you will have no trouble meeting with the group at the hotel at the end of that day. Your departing flight should leave on or after the last Saturday of your spring break week. If you choose to spend additional time at the destination city before or after the designated trip dates, you are responsible to book your own accommodations. How large will the group be? SnoworSand believes that the only way to see the true culture of a city is within small, intimate groups of up to 12 people. We never fill coach buses or use flags to herd around over-sized groups. Instead, our local experts bring our small groups to their favorite restaurants and local hang-outs, whether they are large restaurants or tiny, hole-in-the-wall cafes. Using small groups also ensures a level of personalization, where our local experts can adapt optional activities to the interests and travel styles of each group. What is included in the price of a SnoworSand spring break trip? SnoworSand spring break trips include a SnoworSand local expert to accompany your group throughout the trip, accommodations with breakfast, a welcome dinner, select activities, 2 sunset aperitivos, historical/cultural strolls and inter-city transportation (for example, between Paris and Amsterdam or London and Dublin). SnoworSand guests will be responsible to pay for the following: non-included meals (some lunches and dinners—see itinerary for details), optional free-time activities, souvenirs and nightlife. You will also be responsible for paying for some on-site transportation such as transfers to and from the airport on the first and last Saturdays or if you are changing destination cities during the trip (Paris to Amsterdam, London to Dublin or Rome to Florence Tuscany). The travel expert will pay for transfers within the city during the day, however, you will be required to pay for taxis or public transportation if you go out at night when the day’s activities are finished. During spring break trips, your local expert will guide you through the destination city during the day. At night, he or she will help you find nightlife or activities to suit your style and budget. How will I get money while abroad? The easiest way to get money while in Europe or Morocco is through your ATM card. In most cases, you will find the best exchange rates and will not be required to carry large amounts of cash. Be sure to call your bank and let them know which countries you will be traveling in so they don’t put a hold on your card when you make a with-drawl. As a backup, it’s always a good idea to bring enough travelers checks to sustain you throughout the trip in case your card doesn’t work. These can be traded back for American dollars once you return to the United States. Will I be put in a room with someone I don’t know? In some situations, especially if you are traveling alone or in odd numbers, you may be placed in a room with other guests of the same sex. If you cannot sleep in a room with another guest, please request a single room by emailing info@snoworsand.com and we will make sure your needs are accommodated. What kind of baggage should I bring on my trip? Because you will be traveling around a lot during all of our spring break trips, you should pack as light as possible. One checked bag and a backpack will be plenty to pack everything you need for a week of travel. How early should I book my trip? There’s no official deadline for booking a spring break trip with SnoworSand, however you should consider a few things (1) airfare prices rise rapidly as your travel dates approach; (2) once our trips are full, we no longer take additional guests (there’s no way to notify you how many spots are left); and (3) our trip prices may rise as the trip dates approach in order to compensate rising hotel and transportation costs. For Parents SnoworSand’s top priority is the health and well-being of our student guests. Rather than focus on “party-centric” activities (booze cruises, pub crawls, binge drinking, etc.), we create unique itineraries emphasizing cultural interaction, learning, adventure and exploration of personal and professional interests. Our Affiliations Our Safety Precautions We understand that many students want to experience European night life. As such, our local experts are trained to direct them to familiar venues in safe neighborhoods. Furthermore, our LTCs are always available 24/7 to assist students in need. Our Travel Experts Our University Affiliations SnoworSand understands that universities are tasked with the difficult role of protecting their students’ health and safety during a period of rapid growth and exploration. We are excited for the opportunity to assist in this task and work to ensure your students return safe after every trip or excursion. That’s our commitment to you.
|