Pre-tour Preparations for a Safe Journey

Traveling Safe Handbook

All tour participants including teachers, coaches, accompanying family members and chaperones will be provided a Traveling Safe Handbook prior to departure.

This handbook includes a set of safety rules and precautionary measures that will insure participants return home having had a safe, fun and memorable experience. Areas covered include, but are not limited to, Traveling Safe in Airports, Managing Jet Lag, Proper Attire, Food Safety and Safety in Numbers.

Participant Code of Conduct

For student groups, the Traveling Safe Handbook will be accompanied by a Participant Code of Conduct Form, which must be signed by the participant and his or her parent/legal guardian prior to the tour departure. All participants are expected to demonstrate high standards of conduct, courteousness, and consideration toward others.

Medical Release Form

A parent/legal guardian for each participant under 18 years of age must complete a medical release form, provide emergency contact information and give authorization for treatment in the event of an emergency. The tour leader will carry this information with him or her throughout the tour.

Post Departure Insurance Plan Included

Tour participants are automatically enrolled in a Post Departure Insurance Plan which provides the following coverage:

Trip Interruption:150% of the tour cost. Trip delay: $600. Missed Connection:$500. Baggage and Personal Effects:$500. Baggage Delay:$100. Emergency Accident/ Sickness Medical Expense:$10,000. Emergency Evacuation/ Repatriation: $25,000. World Wide Assistance Service is Included.

Participants will receive a statement of Benefits prior to departure.

Keeping Safe on Tour

We work hard to ensure that each participant enjoys a safe and secure tour. Whether it is through briefing travelers with safety information or making sure the group can always be contacted, My Greatest Journeys makes every effort to provide a wonderful and safe travel experience.

Tour Safety Briefing

At the beginning of all student tours, a safety briefing will be held to reinforce safety rules and precautions (as presented in the Traveling Safe Handbook). The Participant Code of Conduct will also be reviewed at this time.

Adult Supervision

Apart from My Greatest Journeys' professionally trained tour staff, student groups will send teachers, coaches  and other chaperones on tour. Their responsibility will be to assist in supervising their students.   

Because My Greatest Journeys takes care of all the logistics of travel and small details, teachers, coaches  and chaperones are free to focus on their students. 

On My Greatest Journeys' Featured Tours, the minimum staff to student ratio is 7 to 1 and in most cases even better.   With a custom tour program, we’ll still provide our professionally trained escorts, guides and support personnel, but the program leader (teacher, coach, etc.) may modify the amount of additional chaperones that will travel.

Facility Inspections

On our competitive sports tours, assigned staff members are required to inspect training and competition facilities for possible hazards prior to any training session or competition.

Playing fields are searched for pot holes, wrestling mats for dangerous gaps, gym floors for wet spots, and equipment for rust and sharp edges, etc.

Safety Information Cards

Throughout the trip, participants will carry cards printed with their hotel address and phone number, the tour manager’s cell phone and My Greatest Journey’s emergency contact information.

Always Within Reach

Participants and tour staff can always be reached in the event of an emergency. Contact numbers will be provided for the hotels used, tour manager’s cell phones, as well as an after-hour number for My Greatest Journeys.

We Search the World for Safe Hotels and Safety-minded Suppliers

Hotels

. My Greatest Journeys pre-screens and selects only safe and comfortable hotels.  Whenever possible, hotels with inside corridors and hallways are selected.  My Greatest Journeys will also request room off the ground level and provides night security whenever possible.

Safety Evaluations

At My Greatest Journeys, we only work with companies who share our high safety and quality standards. My Greatest Journeys regularly evaluates all programs and service providers. Program evaluation surveys are completed by traveling teachers and chaperones to serve as the basis for reviewing hotels, means of transportation, bus drivers, sporting facilities, restaurants, tour excursions and other activities.