College tour planning checklist

Step by step

1. Fix the dates earlyAgree on the month with your department first. Train-based tours need tickets booked well ahead, and popular months fill quickly.
2. Count the groupGet a firm number of students and staff. Group size decides the bus size, rooms and the price per head.
3. Choose the trip length3 days suits the Kerala hill trips; 4 to 6 days covers Karnataka, Goa or Maharashtra by train.
4. Get permissionsMost colleges need a permission letter from the principal and consent from parents. Start this as soon as the dates are fixed.
5. Ask for a full itinerary and quoteShare group size, month and boarding point with the tour operator. Check what is included: transport, rooms, meals, entry tickets, toll and parking.
6. Check what is not includedCamera fees at monuments, travel insurance, optional activities and personal expenses are usually extra.
7. Collect ID detailsTrain tickets and hotels need names and ages, and everyone should carry a college ID and a government photo ID.
8. Share the planSend the day-by-day plan, emergency numbers and packing list to students and parents before the trip.
9. Pack rightMedicines for travel sickness, headache and cold; caps; ID cards; warm clothes for hill stations; quick-dry clothes for river activities.
10. Keep to time on the tripMost of a tour's plan depends on the group being on the bus on time. Agree on a meeting rule before you leave.

What a Trip Campus package already covers

• Rooms on 4-bed share basis
• Toll, parking and taxes
• Three unlimited meals a day (chicken is limited)
• All entry tickets
• Drinking water
• Train tickets on train packages, and a tourist bus for the whole route

Packing list

• Medicines for headache, cold and travel sickness
• A cap and your ID card
• Sweater, jacket, scarf or other warm wear
• Lotion, lip balm, woollen socks and gloves

Ready to plan? See the IV and study tour packages or compare all tour packages.