What to Take on the Trip - Complete List
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What To Take
1 Suitcase with clothes/needs1 Small carryon overnight bag (for use on the plane)
- Comfortable “school clothes” (look neat and clean)
- Toiletries
- Medications (checked in by band nurse)
- Beachwear (swimsuit)
- Comfortable waling shoes (tennis shoes)
- 50 pound maximum weight. The airline will charge you if over 50 pounds.
- Snacks
- iPod/CD player with headphones
- Book to read/homework
"Uniform Aloha Shirt" and khaki shorts/capris (appropriate length)
Sunscreen
Instrument or flag
Trip handbook
Flashlight
Watch
Swim Suit
Money
These items are suggested but optional:
Sunglasses
Cheap camera (underwater camera for snorkeling)
Phone card (hotel phones will be off in rooms) Click to Buy Online
General dress on this trip: Good school clothes--no grubbies--look neat and clean.
Be sure that you do not forget a list of things to take and check them off as you pack.
Money To Take
Included in your trip fee are the following:
Bus transportation to from Minneapolis
Airline Transportation to and from Hawaii
Hotel room
“Uniform Aloha Shirt”12 Meals
- 5 Breakfasts
- 2 Lunches
- 5 Dinners
Fun Stuff
- Peal Harbor
- USS Bowfin
- Whale Watch/DJ Dance Cruise
- Polynesian Cultural Center
- North Shore Tour
- Hunauma Bay Snorkeling
- Germaine’s Luau
- Diamond Head Crater Hike
- Hilo Hattie’s shopping excursion
Since every student is different, it is hard to suggest an exact amount of money that they should take to Hawaii. Each student is responsible for:
Breakfasto 2 At fast food restaurants in the airport
Lunches
o 3 at fast food restaurants near hotel
o 1 at concession stands at Polynesian Cultural Center
o 1 at fast food restaurants in the airport
Dinner
o 1-2 At fast food restaurants in the airport
Parents will need to plan with their children how much to take for these meals, keeping in mind that food in the Hawaii will be expensive (allow $8-10). There will be many opportunities to purchase souvenirs at shopping on Waikiki Beach and at Hilo Hatties. We caution students to be very frugal with these optional purchases.
CASH VS. TRAVELERS CHECKS VS. ATM VS. CREDIT CARDS
It is difficult to suggest a definitive manner in which students should handle their money while on tour. Each method of payment has its advantages and disadvantages. On past tours it has worked well for students to have a modest amount of cash to start the trip (a must for the fast food restraints enroute) and to have travelers’ checks or ATM cards for time in Hawaii. Each of the parks are well equipped to handle traveler’s check and ATM machines. ATM cards are a great choice for those students who have the discipline to manage their money in a mature manner, as are credit cards. Cash is easiest but the riskiest. You may also want to consider a Visa Gift Card.
Mr. Houk will have some emergency money along to loan, but not enough to handle many problems.
SOME SPECIFICS
Students are to remember that all school rules and expectations are to be followed while on tour. This tour is a reward and a “fun” trip for all of us. Observing some common sense rules of courtesy and behavior will make for a great tour for everyone. When attendance or instructions are being announced please give your immediate and quiet attention. This will greatly reduce the time which is spent on “business’ and provide for more “fun” time.The directors want everyone to have fun. They, however, have a lot to think about, especially on performance days. Please ask chaperones and other teachers the majority of your questions. Each evening the directors will meet with chaperones to inform them of the next day’s activities. Chaperones will, in turn disseminate information to students at room check and on the bus. Students should remember that chaperones are giving their time to help while on tour. We could not travel without their assistance. If a chaperone asks to you do something, please consider it the same as a teacher’s/director’s instruction. Confrontations are not necessary. Chaperones are encouraged to speak to a head chaperone or director if there are problems with this. They will in turn try to mediate the problem.
The Band of Blue has a great reputation. We have traveled from coast to coast positively representing Jefferson, Cedar Rapids and the state of Iowa to the world. We want to continue that tradition. Administrators are traveling with us and will handle serious problems in the appropriate manner.
Here are some general behavior guidelines:
- Be prompt for any departure; don’t keep the group waiting
- Roll takers will carefully check roll before each departure
- Stay with chaperones in the airports. Do not wander around the gates
- No profanity
- Do not bring pocket knives, nail clippers, etc
- Be prepared for long lines at airport check-on. Be patient!
- Keep noise and movement to a minimum. Stay in your seats. Remember that not everyone wants to hear what you are saying
- Keep floors and aisles of the plane and bus clean. Place all trash in bags provided on the bus
- You must pay for any damage to bus or hotel
- You may have food/snacks with you on the bus if you keep the bus clean
No open beverages will be taken on the bus when we leave- Students should stay in their seats while the bus is in motion
- Follow flight attendant’s instructions carefully
- No drinking, smoking or drugs at any time. A one-way plane ticket home from Hawaii is estimated to be $1,550.00 x 2 = $3,100 (one for student and one for adult chaperone to accompany student home).
- Boys are not allowed in girls’ rooms or vice versa at any time. See above for cost of one-way ticket home
- No one is to leave the hotel or the group at any time. The only exception would be a pre-approved meeting with a family member. Students requesting to leave the group (to meet a relative) must have a release note signed by a parent. This permission note must be presented to a director before departure
- Stay in groups of at least 3-4 people. This is for your safety
- Do not steal “souvenirs” from restaurants, motels, gas stations etc. You will be arrested
- Bed check time will be announced each day. No one is to leave the room after this time
- Please mark your luggage, garment bags, and instrument clearly so that they can be identified easily
- On arrival at all stopping places stay on the bus until Mr. Houk or an staff member gives instructions
- Mr. Houk and the medical team will have all medical information with them on the trip. However, it might be a good idea for you to carry your medical insurance card numbers in case of emergency
- Remember that we are sharing the plane with other paying customers that do not want to be disturbed by a large group of high school students. Be respectful of others personal space including conversations and music playing