After almost two years of planning, we have less than 30 days until we leave Palmyra for another continent and another culture - Ecuador, South America. At Sunday's meeting, I could feel the excitement building among the student travelers and their parents.
For those that were unable to attend the meeting and for those in attendance, below is a summary of what we discussed at the meeting:
For those that were unable to attend the meeting and for those in attendance, below is a summary of what we discussed at the meeting:
PAST DUE!! - color copy of passport
1. Please complete the Traveler Health & Medical Profile document and return to Sra. Hitz by Wednesday, June 5 in Room 130.
2. The flights and hotels are listed on the yellow paper you received at the meeting. For quick access, take a photo of the information with your smart phone. In addition, the flights and hotels will be listed on the EF website 3 weeks before departure.
3. July 1: You need to be at PHS at 8:30 am on July 1, 2019. It will be a long day of traveling. We will arrive in Quito, Ecuador, at 10:57 at night. Try to get a good night's sleep for the previous two nights before the trip.
4. You will have time to buy lunch at the airport on July 1 before our 1:45 flight departure or you can bring a bagged lunch to eat at the airport.
5. Weight limit for checked bags is 44 pounds. Although the international flight has a weight limit of 50 pounds, the internal flights from Quito to the Galapagos Islands has a weight limit of 44 pounds.
6. Any liquids on the carry-on bag (or personal item) should follow the 3-1-1 rule. All liquids must be 3 ounces or less, in 1 clear ziplock plastic bag, 1 bag per person.
7. Any medication should be in the original container with the label of the prescription from the doctor.
8. Each traveler is responsible for handling his/her luggage throughout the trip.
9.Toilet Paper: Follow the Better Safe than Sorry philosophy and bring at least a partial roll of toilet paper.
10. AMTRAK. If you do not have transportation from Philadelphia to your home on July 11 2019, let me know as soon as possible. At least two teachers are planning on taking AMTRAK from the Philadelphia Airport to the Elizabethtown train station. We will not know what time we are arriving at Elizabethtown until after we land in Philadelphia and take SEPTA to the 30th street station.
2. The flights and hotels are listed on the yellow paper you received at the meeting. For quick access, take a photo of the information with your smart phone. In addition, the flights and hotels will be listed on the EF website 3 weeks before departure.
3. July 1: You need to be at PHS at 8:30 am on July 1, 2019. It will be a long day of traveling. We will arrive in Quito, Ecuador, at 10:57 at night. Try to get a good night's sleep for the previous two nights before the trip.
4. You will have time to buy lunch at the airport on July 1 before our 1:45 flight departure or you can bring a bagged lunch to eat at the airport.
5. Weight limit for checked bags is 44 pounds. Although the international flight has a weight limit of 50 pounds, the internal flights from Quito to the Galapagos Islands has a weight limit of 44 pounds.
6. Any liquids on the carry-on bag (or personal item) should follow the 3-1-1 rule. All liquids must be 3 ounces or less, in 1 clear ziplock plastic bag, 1 bag per person.
7. Any medication should be in the original container with the label of the prescription from the doctor.
8. Each traveler is responsible for handling his/her luggage throughout the trip.
9.Toilet Paper: Follow the Better Safe than Sorry philosophy and bring at least a partial roll of toilet paper.
10. AMTRAK. If you do not have transportation from Philadelphia to your home on July 11 2019, let me know as soon as possible. At least two teachers are planning on taking AMTRAK from the Philadelphia Airport to the Elizabethtown train station. We will not know what time we are arriving at Elizabethtown until after we land in Philadelphia and take SEPTA to the 30th street station.
11. Dietary Needs: If you have dietary needs that the airline should know, you need to personally call the airlines. The airlines and flights are listed on the yellow sheet you received today.
Any dietary restrictions such as Vegan, Allergies, should be noted on the Medical form (white paper). Also, please email me that information so I can let Anna, the EF Tour Consultant know, as soon as possible.
12. A parent asked if the AAA prepaid cards work at ATMs in Ecuador since that is a safer option than bank debit cards (the traveler's bank account is not connected to the AAA prepaid cards and the cards can be reloaded from the US). I am checking into that and will send the information to parents as soon a I find out the answer.
13. Ecuador uses 110 volt for electrical appliances so no special adaptors are needed. UPDATE: My friend Carrie said she had no issues using electric appliances in Ecuador but she had heard that the cords with the ground devices attached do not work in Ecuador.
14. Pack a change of clothes on your carry-on or in your personal item that you carry on the plane. Don't play the "Will the airline loose my luggage?" lottery.
15. Don't forget to pack a jacket for the cool mornings; also a long sleeve shirt or two to cover arms during jungle hikes and possibly a lightweight pair of pants for the jungle hike.
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