FAQS
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The following provides answers to our most frequently asked questions. Please contact us if you have any questions that are not addressed below.
FAQ’s – Teachers
Orbit World Travel will provide you with a personalised and professional support during the entire booking process, from initial planning until you return from your tour. Please contact us and we will provide you with a step by step guide on how to plan and organise your tour.
Yes there is a minimum of 10 people required to be eligible for group airfares and other special group prices.
All accommodation that we use for our international tours are good quality 3 and 4 star which have been carefully inspected by Orbit World Travel or our ground operators. On some of our domestic programs depending on the activities we have a range of quality accommodation ranging from hostels, camp sites to hotels.
The students will be in multishare rooms and each student will have their own bed. Teachers of same gender will be allocated a twin share room however we can arrange single rooms if this is required.
Once you are ready to book the tour we will require a deposit payment from each student to confirm the tour. The deposit amount depends on the destination. The final payment will be due 65 days prior your departure. We can also arrange instalment payments which can be discussed with your Tour Consultant at the time of the booking.
Generally we would always include breakfast. We will discuss with you before we work on the itinerary and provide you with advice if it is recommended and cost effective to pre arrange dinners.
Travel Insurance is compulsory for the duration of the entire trip. We can arrange travel insurance specifically designed for school groups through our preferred insurance provider. Please contact us for further details.
We can arrange visas your school group. Please contact us for further information.
We understand that students quite often have special dietary requirements. At the time of the booking we will provide you with a form where the parents can provide us with information regarding any special dietary requirements. We will endeavour to cater for all medical dietary requirements however we cannot guarantee that airlines, hotels and restaurants will provide an environment or food free of specific allergens.
The Parliament and Civics Education Rebate (PACER) is an initiative of the Australian Government which provides some financial assistance for students in Year 4-12 across Australia to travel to Canberra, the nation’s capital.
About PACER
Under PACER, students who learn about civics and citizenship in the classroom see their knowledge brought to life when they experience Canberra first hand. Students must visit Parliament House, Old Parliament House (The Museum of Australian Democracy and/or The National Electoral Education Centre) and the Australian War Memorial. They also have the opportunity to visit a number of other sites of cultural and historical interest while in Canberra.
To qualify, schools must be located at least 150 kilometres from Canberra. Rebates are paid on a sliding scale with more money paid to schools further away from Canberra. An additional payment will be made for schools located on islands in remote geographic areas. In addition to linking your trip to civics and citizenship learning in the classroom, your school must complete all paperwork and acknowledge PACER funding in your regular school newsletter or equivalent. This is a fantastic way to share learnings and celebrate the experience with parents and the school community.
For further information visit: https://www.pacer.org.au
If the number of participants in a tour is considerably less than budgeted, or if there is a significant change in exchange rates, Orbit World Travel reserves the right to amend the quoted price.
You can usually replace students free of charge up until the time of ticketing which is around 6 weeks before the departure date. Even after ticketing, it can be possible to replace students but usually there would be fees involved.
Your school will have a required ratio for overseas excursions. The standard ratio is usually 1 teacher for every 8-10 students.
The deposit for an international trip is $1,000 per student and for domestic tour is $150.
One of the most important factors when travelling is to secure firm travelling dates so flights can be reserved as far in advance as possible. This should be done as soon as possible. At a later stage the reservation can be amended or even cancelled at any time, however booking flights quickly to reserve places is essential.
In the event that your flights are cancelled or delayed by the airline, then the airline will offer us an alternative flight for your group. We will offer your group continued support via our 24-hour emergency phone; we will liaise with our contacts at the relevant airline and accommodation centres, if necessary, and continue to communicate with you throughout until your flight departs.
Orbit World Travel and our partners audit every hotel which we use for our tours. If requested, we will provide you with risk assessments for the hotels that will be confirmed for your itinerary. The risk assessment will cover fire safety, means of escape and general safety.
It is expected that students will be in good health at the commencement of any trip. However, it is advised to research the country in which you are travelling to for any health advice. You can do this by either the online Travel Doctor or consulting your local doctor for further information.
FAQ’s – Parents & Students
Generally we provide an all-inclusive package except for certain meals and some exclusions which we will advise at the time of the booking. We recommend that students take some spending money for snacks, souvenirs, meals not listed in the itinerary and for phone call home.
We understand that sometimes family want to meet with the student at the end of the trip. Changing the flight is often possible for an additional cost and an approval from the school.
In general there is 20kg luggage allowance per person. We recommend you follow all luggage restrictions provided to avoid additional costs. All excess luggage issues are dealt directly with the airline. An exception will be for our performance tours where the students need to carry their instruments, this will be arranged at the time of booking.
Depending on the destination and time of the year we will provide you with a packing list prior the departure. This packing list will provide you with information on essentials.
Since we are bound by our suppliers’ terms and conditions the deposit is non-refundable. Within 65 days of the departure there are 100% cancellation fees. We will always do our best to help and negotiate the cancellation fees but it is not guaranteed. We strongly recommend to take travel insurance.
We understand that students quite often have special dietary requirements. At the time of the booking we will provide you with a form where the parents can provide us with information regarding any special dietary requirements. We will endeavour to cater for all medical dietary requirements however we cannot guarantee that airlines, hotels and restaurants will provide an environment or food free of specific allergens.
Group airfares are bound by different terms and conditions to standard fares. Group fares cannot subsidised by points redemption. Your child will be eligible to receive frequent flyer points for their air travel.
We recommend limiting the number of valuables the students bring. If they do bring electronics, make sure they bring the chargers/batteries for them and keep them at the surface of the carry-on luggage in order to make security checks faster and easier. Students have more control over the carry-on luggage, so it’s better to keep the valuables in carry-on.
Students will have more control over their carry-on luggage, therefore we recommend that they do not pack valuables into checked luggage.
All students travelling outside of Australia must have a valid passport with at least six months validity from the date of the return. Please contact us for more information about any visa requirements.
It is expected that students will be in good health at the commencement of any trip. However it is advised to research the country in which you are travelling to for any health advice. You can do this by either the online Travel Doctor or consulting your local doctor for further information.
The teacher leading the program and the school make the decision about parents participating on the trip. There is an additional cost for adults, depending on the number of program participants per room.
List all medication that your son/daughter will be taking. Include medicine name, dosage and frequency and time that the medication is taken and advise the leading teacher. You should pack medications separately from other luggage, preferably in another clear plastic bag. Make sure each medication is in its original container and has its prescription label so that customs and airport security staff can verify them easily. Some medication may require doctor’s approval before travelling. Please contact your doctor for more information.