Field Trip Ideas in a Higher Priced Market

Once in a while economic conditions begin to make it a little tougher to travel than it normally does. This year could be one of those times.

So what do school groups do in times like these? Start by planning ahead. It may not be possible for everyone to travel to the usual places- NYC, Washington DC, Orlando, and so on but it may be possible to travel more regionally. The biggest reason is the cost of fuel.

Without question gas prices are going in the wrong direction without too many signs of slowing down. It is possible, however, to still have the ability to take field trips or educational tours to destinations that are more affordable for several reasons. Here are a few reasons why traveling to regional destinations make sense for groups.

• You will save on fuel costs
• Less Travel Time
• Often lodging costs are lower
• In-state discounts may apply
• Overall trip costs will be lower

There are several other reasons which can be added to this list, but the overall theme is "Travel costs are going up!" Fuel is just one reason.

Back in the years 2001-03, hotels in Orlando, Washington DC, New York City, Los Angeles and other destinations were so desperate for business that we could almost name our own price. This translated into lower costs for the schools (at least our company passed savings onto the schools). Since that time, hotels have doubled or tripled their prices! Unfortunately, those prices translate into higher costs for the schools.

When you travel more regionally, you have a greater likelihood of saving money. And here is a little hint: if your school has a tax-exempt certificate for the state you are traveling in, you may be able to save even more money! There is no guarantee, but you won't receive if you don't ask!

One of the largest hosts to student trips is Disney World. Trust me when I say they do not give anyone a break on ticket prices. However, if your group is from the state of Florida, you can save huge money on ticket prices! This also applies to other sites & attractions in every state. Often, if your group travels to a destination "in state" you may be able to save money! Once again, be sure to ask about possible in-state discounts for destinations in your region.

Next, when you travel closer, you save time and money. Just the economics of bus travel time is a huge reason why, but when you plan a trip that is only a few hundred miles away, compared with a full day's travel away, you will save money.

Overall, staying closer to home will be a trend for many schools. Our company,Adventure Student Travel will be there to assist you as we customize all trips anyway. And our database of destinations is filled with regional hot spots for your school trip. However, even if you do-it-yourself or hire others, you should save yourself a lot of money when you travel closer to home.