ms. lynn shirk group leader #14614 insider’s costa rica to enroll online: 1. go to 2. choose...
TRANSCRIPT
Ms. Lynn Shirk Group Leader #14614
Insider’s Costa Rica
To enroll online:1. Go to www.acis.com/register2. Choose Participant/Student3. Enter Group Leader ID#: 146144. Enter Group Leader Last Name: Shirk
Agenda
• Why travel?• Who is ACIS?• Learning Objectives• Cultural Connections• Trip itinerary• What’s Included• Extra Benefits• Cost• Automatic Payments Option• Protection Plans• Next Steps• Questions and Answers
Why Travel?
Whether visiting an outdoor market in Provence, riding horseback through a cloud forest in Costa Rica, standing atop the Great Wall in China, or ordering tapas in Madrid, ACIS students:
• Acquire skills and knowledge that prepare them for future success in college and careers
• Gain global perspective, cultural awareness, independence and responsibility• Develop a spirit of discovery and love of learning that lasts a lifetime
“The trip was absolutely amazing. It has convinced me to study abroad. It couldn’t have turned out better!”
— Amanda Kesner, ACIS Participant, New Jersey
• Premier provider of the highest quality educational tours since 1978
• Division of AIFS, the leader of international education programs since 1964
• Financially secure institution with more than $130 million in annual revenue
• Wherever you are, ACIS is there:We have offices in Boston, Chicago, Sacramento, London and Paris, with affiliate offices in Rome and Madrid and local representation at every destination ACIS travels to.
Who is ACIS?
ACIS Report Card
98% Rate overall satisfaction good to excellent
99% Rate educational content good to excellent
97% Rate ACIS Tour Managers good to excellent
Percentages for travel in 2009
Learning Objectives
1. Students will experience part of a traditional school day for a Costa Rican student and will be able to compare and contrast it with the school system in the United States.
2. Students will explore and discover the rich and diverse topography of Costa Rica’s lush rainforests, volcanic mountains and sparkling Pacific waters.
3. In experiencing the rich biodiversity of Costa Rica, students will come to understand the value and importance of preserving endangered species.
Each trip includes specific Learning Objectives that are highlighted during the tour and which will help you reflect on the history and cultures of the place you are visiting!
During your trip…
• Monteverde Cloud Forest Canopy Tour• Horseback Ride to Monteverde
• Craft Workshop in Sarchi
• Costa Rican Cooking Lesson
• Costa Rican Dance Lesson
• Face to Face with Students in San Carlos
On every tour itinerary, ACIS has included Cultural Connections—interactive experiences that enable students to engage with the places, people and cultures they are visiting! Learn more about the Cultural Connections on your tour at www.acis.com/trips.
Trip Itinerary
Day 1 | Flight to San José
¡Buen Viaje!Your ACIS Tour Manager will meet you at the airport and
welcome you to the capital of Costa Rica.
Trip Itinerary
Day 2-3 | San Carlos Drive to the province of Alajuela!
• Tap into your creative self at a craft workshop in Sarchi.
• Visit a local school to practice your Spanish and learn about the Costa Rican educational system
• View the Arenal Volcano’s spectacular orange lava flowing.
• Take a dip in the hot springs at the base of the volcano.
• Visit Caño Negro for a boat trip along the Río Frío.
Days 4-5 | Monteverde
Wander the Cloud Forest…
• Ride horseback from Arenal to Monteverde
• Continue to the world-renowned reserve of Monteverde, where you will spend a full day exploring this beautiful cloud forest.
• Experience a bird’s-eye view of the forest, walking the skywalk suspension bridges and swinging through the trees on the Monteverde Canopy tour.
Trip Itinerary
Trip Itinerary
Days 6-7 | Puntarenas Explore more of Costa Rica’s exciting
wildlife!
• Journey to Manuel Antonio, where the dry tropical forest meets the Pacific Coast.
• Enjoy a full-day excursion in Manuel Antonio National Park! Spend some time on the beautiful beaches and explore the tropical vegetation on some of the forest trails.
• Discover the best of Costa Rican coastal cuisine with an afternoon cooking lesson.
Trip Itinerary
Day 8 | San José
Enjoy your last night in Costa Rica’s beautiful capital with a Costa Rican dance lesson!
Day 9 | Fly home
Share some photos and new memories with your friends on your return flight back to the US!
Trip Itinerary
What’s Included
• Round-trip flights on commercial airlines
• Service of an ACIS Tour Manager—a highly trained, multilingual guide, educator and travel expert who provides educational commentary and activities and manages travel logistics
• Daily continental breakfasts and dinners
• Accommodations in three- and four-star conveniently located hotels
• Surface transportation and airport transfers
• Excursions and activities as indicated in your tour itinerary, including comprehensive walking tours and Cultural Connection activities
• Basic Protection Plan which provides medical coverage and cancellation insurance
• Job Loss Protection included on every tour
• 24-hour global support network and on-call emergency service
• TripStream
• Take your family and friends along with youas ‘virtual’ guests! Your tour manager will be sending updates each day of your activities
• ACIS’ Travel is Education Scholarship Contestawards students up to $1,000 off their tour
• ACIS backpack and luggage tags
• Destination Information—www.acis.com is loaded with information on what to pack, souvenir suggestions and more. Plus, an informative and fun ACIS Travel Journal to bring along on tour.
• ACIS eKit Global phonecards, which save you up to 70% on international phone calls, are available for purchase.
• ACIS Travel Prepaid Visa Cards are a secure and convenient way to access funds while on tour.
Travel Essentials
Cost
Program Fee** $2419
Registration Fee $95
Estimated Departure Fees $433
Early registration Discount $-200
Extra October 1st Savings $-100
Total $2,647$2,647
Optional Fees:
Single Room Supplement $640
Double Room Supplement $320
Ultimate Protection Plan $225
Comprehensive Protection Plan $180
Recommended Tipping:
Tour Manager $5/day per person
Bus Driver $3/day per person
** Please note: Price is valid until October 1, 2011, with $195 deposit
Automatic Payments Option
Automatic Payments makes planning your trip budget easy because your payments are spread out evenly, giving you more time to pay.
Automatic Payment Advantages:
•FREE enrollment •Avoid late fees •24/7 control over your trip
budget and scheduledpayments
•Even payment amounts over alonger period of time
•You can set your last paymentto be processed as late as 45days before you depart
• You choose a payment frequency (every 2 weeks, every 4 weeks, monthly, or quarterly) and your payments are automatically deducted from your checking or savings account.
• To sign up or to learn more about Automatic Payments visit My Account on www.acis.com and follow instructions.
Protection Plans
Your ACIS Registration Fee includes Basic Protection coverage. For your peace of mind, we offer a range of enhanced protection plans from which you may choose. ACIS recommends that participants
purchase the Ultimate Protection Plan designed specifically for your travel needs.
Next Steps
Questions? Contact ACIS Client Services at 877-795-0813 or [email protected]
1. Register for your tour by going online to www.acis.com/register or sending in the registration form. An amount of $195 ($95 Registration Fee plus a $100 program fee deposit) is due at sign-up.
2. Choose a Protection Plan. Information can be found in the Registration Booklet or at www.acis.com/studentsparents/insurance/cfm.
3. Get your travel documents ready.
4. Choose a Payment Plan: Automatic Payments or Manual Payments • Use MyAccount—your online hub that makes reviewing automatic
payments made or keeping track of manual payment deadlines & making payments online a snap.
5. Explore www.acis.com for information on pre-trip preparation, what to expect on tour, fundraising suggestions, travel resources and more!
www.acis.com
877-795-0813
Join the ACIS online community!
ACIS Facebook Page ● ACIS YouTube Group ● ACIS MySpace Group ● ACIS Flickr Group