The world goes crazy for soccer...

Our tour handler at EF just sent me an update. Although it is meant for me I thought it would be helpful for parents and travelers to see. It is very clear on the expectations and limitations of our time in Paris.

As you know, you and your group will be traveling to Paris during the UEFA Euro Cup soccer championships. The games begin on June 10 and end with a closing ceremony on July 10. In order to ensure you and your group are well prepared for your tour I wanted to share some specific expectations for traveling to Paris during this time.

• Communication – It is strongly recommended that you and your chaperones have cell phones that work abroad. Please share this mobile number with me as well as your Tour Director and travelers to facilitate communication. Additionally, during free time we encourage and strongly recommend that you always have an adult accompanying each group of students. If you need assistance covering the costs for your international phone plan for your tour, please let me know.
• Flexibility – Due to the large scale of this event we anticipate Paris to be much busier than usual with large sports crowds similar to those found at the Super Bowl. For this reason you and your group should be prepared for long lines at attractions and possible traffic delays. You may also find that during your time in Paris, your Tour Director will not have as much flexibility as you may have experienced in the past or that you experience in other locations on tour.
• Precautions – Due to the high numbers of people who will be in the Fan Zone area at the base of the Eiffel Tower, groups will not be going to that area (the Seine River Cruise and Montparnasse will still run.). Additionally, groups will need to return to the hotel by 10:30pm in the evenings to avoid the crowds when the late games let out.

Your Tour Director will receive specific briefings on the tour flow for the Paris portion of your itinerary so they can ensure you and your group have the best experience possible. Please don’t hesitate to let me know if you have any questions prior to departure.

Thanks so much,
Jess

Know that we will do everything we can to make our time in Paris fun, memorable and safe!

Wendy 

$$$

Another good question from the dinner was "How much spending money should I take?" First remember that if the itinerary says we're going to see something the entrance is included. So is breakfast and dinner so don't worry about those. I recommend about $15-20 per day for lunch and snacks. That's equivalent to about 14-18 Euro. Then plan on $20-50 for souvenirs per country depending on how many trinkets you might be bringing home for family and friends. Then think about any special things you want to see that might charge an entrance fee and how you'll get there and back. I always like to go to the science museum in Florence = $13. Everyone will have their 'must see' list.

So here's my breakdown. Everyone's spending habits are different so bring a little more if you think you'll need it.

Meals & snacks-         $350
Souvenirs -                 $250
Laundrettes -                $25
Extra entrances -          $70
Transportation -            $35

Total -                         $730

I think that's a very generous spending plan. Most will be able to make do with much less (none of my own kids spent more than $500 and that was on longer trips) but in this instance I always like to err on the side of too much rather than not enough.

Make sure you have a day's worth of spending cash in the different types of money you need before we leave. I recommend about 40 British Pounds, 30 Euro, and 20 Swiss Francs. That way you can wait to find a safe ATM before you get money from your account. You can order foreign currency from your bank but do that soon so it has time to arrive. You can also go to the main branch of Zions downtown. They have an exchange desk with foreign currency on hand.

Last thing for tonight. Make sure you have a safe place to keep your money. I recommend a neck pouch/wallet but some are more comfortable with a money belt. Either way, wear it always and keep your valuables (cash, cards, passport) safe!

Lights, camera, action!

One of the great questions to come from the picnic last week was "What camera should I take?" There is no one answer for the whole group. My advice for everyone:

1) Use your phone as a backup, not your primary camera. Depending on your phone you might not have the best camera and you'll want great photos of this trip. Also, taking pictures eats up the phone's battery life and you'll be sad if you miss that great shot because of a dead battery.
2) Don't go out and buy a new, expensive camera for this trip. We will be touring through cities with pickpockets & thieves, hiking up Alps, and basically beating up whatever camera you take. One you already have without much emotional attachment is the best choice. IF you buy new choose on the less expensive side.
3) Go light weight. On some days we will be touring for 12 hours or so. You'll want a camera that is comfortable and easy to carry. A heavy, bulky, multiple lens camera that gets left in the hotel room takes no pictures at all.
3) Get the features. Some of the churches are dark, you need a flash. Some of the museums don't allow a flash, make sure it can be turned off. Make sure there is a zoom, we can't always get right up to everything, A wide angle is a nice extra feature. It can capture the great panorama of the Alps or fit in that entire monster of a cathedral. (Remember it is the number of pixels not the size of the pixel that make good, clear pictures.)
4) Know the camera. Take some time to learn how to use the camera before we go. Missing a picture because you don't know how to turn the flash on/off, can't find the landscape feature, don't know how to adjust for backlight, or how to charge the battery is a tragedy.
5) Bring extra. You'll take a lot more pictures and video than you think. Have a good memory card and bring an extra. I usually have a 32 GB and carry another one. Also bring an extra battery pack so you can just pop the fresh one in when the current one dies.

All that said, this is your trip. If you don't want the hassle of carrying a camera, use your phone. If your are a photographer extraordinaire and have a vision for the kind of pictures you want to take then by all means bring the camera you want. Just be aware of the limitations or worries that go with your choice.

I got my kids the Nikkon Coolpix and they worked great. There are several different versions with different features and at different prices.  Most manufactures have a similar pocket version camera that works well, is convenient to carry, and is easy to use. If you're going to buy, check out a few camera review/comparison sites to make sure you're getting a good value. Say Cheese!

My husband bought me this waterproof, shockproof camera with GPS. Awesome!

Going, staying and coming home!

The long awaited flights and hotels has been officially posted! I've attached the document below.  TSA is recommending arriving 3 hours early for international flights. Those flying with the main group, I'll see you at the Delta terminal, June 10th at 5pm!

Flight and Hotel Information
Tour Number	1655221-G1	Group Leader	Wendy Curtis
		Tour Name	From London to Athens Friday, June 10, 2016
			Departing from Salt Lake on Friday, June 10, 2016
			Returning from Athens, Greece on Monday, June 27, 2016
		Tour Consultant	jessica.grose
Group Size	32	Tour Director	Rodolfo Gaita 6/10/2016 - 6/27/2016 EMail: r.gaita.2914@ef.com

Itinerary A (23 Traveler(s))
	Date	Time	City(Airport)	Flight / Transportation	Additional Flight Info	Flight has stopover(s)	Primary Confirmation Number	Paper/E-Ticket

Depart
	6/10/2016 6/11/2016	8:02 PM 1:00 PM	Salt Lake London (Heathrow)	Delta Airlines Flight # 50			HW3OXN	E

Return
	6/24/2016 6/24/2016	8:40 AM 11:40 AM	Rome Athens, Greece	Alitalia Flight # 720			MHH2Q5	E

Depart
	6/27/2016 6/27/2016	12:30 PM 4:20 PM	Athens, Greece New York (JFK)	Delta Airlines Flight # 213			HW3OXN	E
	6/27/2016 6/27/2016	7:30 PM 10:59 PM	New York (JFK) Salt Lake	Delta Airlines Flight # 464			HW3OXN	E

Additional Confirmation Numbers:

DL-HXJCXM (E), AZ-M5SBCR (E), AZ-JKX34A (E), AZ-KDM2I5 (E), DL-GVQYS8 (E)

Itinerary B (1 Traveler(s))
	Date	Time	City(Airport)	Flight / Transportation	Additional Flight Info	Flight has stopover(s)	Primary Confirmation Number	Paper/E-Ticket

Return
	6/10/2016 6/11/2016	6:55 PM 7:20 AM	Wash, DC (Dulles) London (Heathrow)	Delta Airlines Flight # 4383	OPERATED BY VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRWAYS		HT3MNC	E

Depart
	6/24/2016 6/24/2016	8:40 AM 11:40 AM	Rome Athens, Greece	Alitalia Flight # 720			MHH2Q5	E

Return
	6/27/2016 6/27/2016	12:15 PM 2:40 PM	Athens, Greece Paris (De Gaulle)	Air France Flight # 1233			HT3MNC	E
	6/27/2016 6/27/2016	5:00 PM 7:25 PM	Paris (De Gaulle) Wash, DC (Dulles)	Air France Flight # 26			HT3MNC	E

Additional Confirmation Numbers:

AZ-M5SBCR (E), AZ-JKX34A (E), AZ-KDM2I5 (E)

Itinerary C (3 Traveler(s))
	Date	Time	City(Airport)	Flight / Transportation	Additional Flight Info	Flight has stopover(s)	Primary Confirmation Number	Paper/E-Ticket

Depart
	6/24/2016 6/24/2016	8:40 AM 11:40 AM	Rome Athens, Greece	Alitalia Flight # 720			MHH2Q5	E

Additional Confirmation Numbers:

AZ-M5SBCR (E), AZ-JKX34A (E), AZ-KDM2I5 (E)

Itinerary D (1 Traveler(s))
	Date	Time	City(Airport)	Flight / Transportation	Additional Flight Info	Flight has stopover(s)	Primary Confirmation Number	Paper/E-Ticket

Return
	6/10/2016 6/11/2016	5:40 PM 12:05 PM	San Francisco London (Heathrow)	Delta Airlines Flight # 4391	OPERATED BY VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRWAYS		HTT5LF	E

Depart
	6/24/2016 6/24/2016	8:40 AM 11:40 AM	Rome Athens, Greece	Alitalia Flight # 720			MHH2Q5	E

Return
	6/27/2016 6/27/2016	12:15 PM 2:40 PM	Athens, Greece Paris (De Gaulle)	Air France Flight # 1233			HTT5LF	E
	6/27/2016 6/27/2016	4:35 PM 7:05 PM	Paris (De Gaulle) San Francisco	Air France Flight # 80			HTT5LF	E

Additional Confirmation Numbers:

AZ-M5SBCR (E), AZ-JKX34A (E), AZ-KDM2I5 (E)

Itinerary E (2 Traveler(s))
	Date	Time	City(Airport)	Flight / Transportation	Additional Flight Info	Flight has stopover(s)	Primary Confirmation Number	Paper/E-Ticket

Depart
	6/10/2016 6/11/2016	8:02 PM 1:00 PM	Salt Lake London (Heathrow)	Delta Airlines Flight # 50			HURKLM	E

Return
	6/24/2016 6/24/2016	8:40 AM 11:40 AM	Rome Athens, Greece	Alitalia Flight # 720			MHH2Q5	E

Depart
	7/4/2016 7/4/2016	9:25 AM 11:15 AM	Vienna Amsterdam	Delta Airlines Flight # 9522	OPERATED BY KLM ROYAL DUTCH AIRLINES		HURKLM	E
	7/4/2016 7/4/2016	12:30 PM 2:50 PM	Amsterdam Salt Lake	Delta Airlines Flight # 9517	OPERATED BY KLM ROYAL DUTCH AIRLINES		HURKLM	E

Additional Confirmation Numbers:

AZ-M5SBCR (E), AZ-JKX34A (E), AZ-KDM2I5 (E)

Itinerary F (1 Traveler(s))
	Date	Time	City(Airport)	Flight / Transportation	Additional Flight Info	Flight has stopover(s)	Primary Confirmation Number	Paper/E-Ticket

Return
	6/14/2016 6/15/2016	5:12 PM 11:25 AM	Salt Lake Paris (De Gaulle)	Delta Airlines Flight # 88			HU96ZK	E

Depart
	6/24/2016 6/24/2016	8:40 AM 11:40 AM	Rome Athens, Greece	Alitalia Flight # 720			MHH2Q5	E

Return
	6/27/2016 6/27/2016	12:30 PM 4:20 PM	Athens, Greece New York (JFK)	Delta Airlines Flight # 213			HU96ZK	E
	6/27/2016 6/27/2016	7:30 PM 10:59 PM	New York (JFK) Salt Lake	Delta Airlines Flight # 464			HU96ZK	E

Additional Confirmation Numbers:

AZ-M5SBCR (E), AZ-JKX34A (E), AZ-KDM2I5 (E)

Itinerary G (1 Traveler(s))
	Date	Time	City(Airport)	Flight / Transportation	Additional Flight Info	Flight has stopover(s)	Primary Confirmation Number	Paper/E-Ticket

Depart
	6/10/2016 6/11/2016	8:02 PM 1:00 PM	Salt Lake London (Heathrow)	Delta Airlines Flight # 50			HNDW22	E

Return
	6/24/2016 6/24/2016	8:40 AM 11:40 AM	Rome Athens, Greece	Alitalia Flight # 720			MHH2Q5	E

Depart
	7/17/2016 7/17/2016	6:00 AM 7:25 AM	Copenhagen Amsterdam	Delta Airlines Flight # 9362	OPERATED BY KLM ROYAL DUTCH AIRLINES		HNDW22	E
	7/17/2016 7/17/2016	9:50 AM 12:25 PM	Amsterdam Salt Lake	Delta Airlines Flight # 57			HNDW22	E

Additional Confirmation Numbers:

AZ-M5SBCR (E), AZ-JKX34A (E), AZ-KDM2I5 (E)

For information on the baggage policy for your airline(s), please visit

www.eftours.com/student-tours/travel-preparation/packing/baggage.aspx

Traveler List

	Itinerary	Name	Account Number	Conf.Number and Ticket Number

1.	A	CARLSON, JAMES THOMAS	4890216	HW3OXN (006-7811127179), JKX34A (055-7811127919)
2.	A	CHRISTENSEN, ERIC GREGORY	4975912	HW3OXN (006-7811127180), JKX34A (055-7811127921)
3.	A	COOK, CHLOE CATE	4614051	HW3OXN (006-7811127181), MHH2Q5 (055-7811127774)
4.	A	CURTIS, WENDY BENNION	1829491	HW3OXN (006-7811127182), MHH2Q5 (055-7811127776)
5.	A	DALE, ELIZABETH ANNE	4636043	HW3OXN (006-7811127183), MHH2Q5 (055-7811127777)
6.	A	EVANS, ELLA MARIE	4630226	HW3OXN (006-7811127184), MHH2Q5 (055-7811127779)
7.	A	FISHER, OLIVIA LAUREN	4906323	HW3OXN (006-7811127185), MHH2Q5 (055-7811127780)
8.	A	FREDRICK, EMILY	4884452	HW3OXN (006-7811127186), MHH2Q5 (055-7811127781)
9.	A	FREDRICK, SOPHIE PATRICIA	4889725	HW3OXN (006-7811127187), MHH2Q5 (055-7811127782)
10.	A	GARCIA, KAMRI MCKENZIE	4896896	HW3OXN (006-7811127188), MHH2Q5 (055-7811127798)
11.	A	GARDNER, JANE SIERRA	4954983	HW3OXN (006-7811127189), KDM2I5 (055-7809715483)
12.	A	KIMBALL, ASHER NOBLE	4822761	HW3OXN (006-7811127190), MHH2Q5 (055-7811127800)
13.	A	LIMBURG, EMILY CAROLINE	4807545	HW3OXN (006-7811127191), MHH2Q5 (055-7811127803)
14.	A	LINES-GAULTNEY, DYLAN QUINN	4822868	HXJCXM (006-7811127193), MHH2Q5 (055-7811127804)
15.	A	LUNT, HAILEY ELIZABETH	4824935	HXJCXM (006-7811127194), MHH2Q5 (055-7811127805)
16.	A	MERRILL, OLIVIA KATHERINE GRACE	4661286	HXJCXM (006-7811127195), MHH2Q5 (055-7811127820)
17.	A	MINER, JASMINE MEI	4737194	HXJCXM (006-7811127196), MHH2Q5 (055-7811127821)
18.	A	ROBINSON, LEAH KATHERINE	4626948	HXJCXM (006-7811127197), MHH2Q5 (055-7811127823)
19.	A	ROMNEY, OLIVIA	4667098	HXJCXM (006-7811127198), MHH2Q5 (055-7811127824)
20.	A	SALINAS OHRAN, ISABELLA	4843261	HXJCXM (006-7811127199), MHH2Q5 (055-7811127825)
21.	A	TIDWELL, MARY ANNE	4883729	HXJCXM (006-7811127200), MHH2Q5 (055-7811127826)
22.	A	WHITE, ROXANNE LEE	4978240	GVQYS8 (006-7812319522-23)
23.	A	WILLARDSEN, MADELYN ANNE	4900573	HXJCXM (006-7811127201), M5SBCR (055-7811127950)
24.	B	HUNTSMAN, MAE ISABEL	4626218	HT3MNC (006-7811127203), MHH2Q5 (055-7811127799)
25.	D	LARSEN, CHARLES GRANT	4911697	HTT5LF (006-7811127236), MHH2Q5 (055-7811127801)
26.	E	CHISHOLM, ANNE ELIZABETH	4888754	HURKLM (006-7811127257), JKX34A (055-7811127920)
27.	E	ORLANDI, MELISSA DIANE	4614667	HURKLM (006-7811127258), MHH2Q5 (055-7811127822)
28.	F	CURTIS, GEORGE STEPHEN	4912214	HU96ZK (006-7811127260), MHH2Q5 (055-7811127775)
29.	G	CHRISTENSEN, KIMBER LEIGH	4975908	HNDW22 (006-7811127304), JKX34A (055-7811127922)
30.	C	ANDERSON, ELIZABETH JANE	4704247	JKX34A (055-7811127918)
31.	C	DUBELL, OLIVIA CAMERON	4613579	MHH2Q5 (055-7811127778)
32.	C	LEISHMAN, MADISON FAITH	4890384	MHH2Q5 (055-7811127802)

Overnight Information

From	To	Name and Address	City	Telephone	Website
6/11/2016	6/14/2016	Holiday Inn London West 4 Portal Way, Gypsy Corner/A40 London W3 6RT United Kingdom	London	+44 (0)208 753 0800
6/14/2016	6/16/2016	Ibis Issy Les Moulineaux Val d Seine 213 rue Jean Jacques Rousseau Issy Les Moulineaux 92130 France	Paris	+33 147 36 42 00	www.ibishotel.com
6/16/2016	6/18/2016	Alpenhof-Post Melchtal Melchtalerstrasse Kerns CH-6067 Switzerland	Lucerne	+41 (0) 41 669 12 37	www.hotelalpenhofpost.ch
6/18/2016	6/21/2016	Villa Morghen	Florence	+39 055 697362
6/21/2016	6/24/2016	Villa Robinia Viale Rosselli, 19 (ss Appia Nuova km 28,500) Genzano di Roma, IT 00045 Italy	Rome	+39 069396409	www.hotelvillarobinia.it
6/24/2016	6/25/2016	Hotel Arion 18 Agiou Dimitriou Psyrri Athens 105 54 Greece	Athens	+30 210 324 0415	www.arionhotel.gr
6/25/2016	6/26/2016	Hotel New Aegli Askeli Poros 18002 Greece	Athens	00302298022372
6/26/2016	6/27/2016	Oscar 25 Filadelphias and Samou Str Athens 10439 Greece	Athens	+30 (0) 210 883 42 15/42 19	www.oscar.gr

Flight and hotel information subject to change.

To reach EF Educational Tours in the event of an emergency, and you are calling from the US, dial 1-800-637-8222 and follow the prompt for an emergency. If you are calling while abroad, dial 001-617-619-2913.

To call internationally from the US/Canada, dial 011 before desired phone number.