Trip Planning questions
Each Orange Sky trip starts with a trip planning call with our launch team. Some of the questions we need to answer include:
When do you want to travel? How many nights? Do you have alternative dates?
Dates are important for planning transportation, lodging, and activities for your group. It's best to have backup dates, especially during the spring.
Where do you want to travel?
Visit our planning page for a list of our most popular destinations and ideas.
What do you want to do?
What do you hope to achieve on this trip? Sharing what you want and don’t want will help us design the ideal trip for your group.
Who will be the Group Leader? Will they also travel?
Who will be our main contact for this trip? Who else should we add?
How many travelers do you have? How many per group (students, adults, educators)?
The size of your group directly impacts pricing and logistics.
Charter buses typically require at least 40 paying passengers and can carry up to 52 travelers.
What is your budget per traveler?
Consider this the complete trip cost for families, covering everything listed in the itinerary. Early planning might help lower expenses!
How many people need to travel for free?
This (“comp”) ratio shows how many free packages are given for each paying traveler, commonly used for educators. Many trips have a ratio of 1 free package for every 20 paying travelers. A lower ratio means a higher cost for each paying traveler.
When do you want to kickoff your trip to families?
This is the date to inform families about the trip and start online bookings for travelers.
Why Orange Sky Travel?
Comparing travel providers? Asking the right questions of your group travel partner can make the difference between a successful trip and a forgettable experience.
What do Google reviews say about your company?
Online reviews show how good travel experiences are. Orange Sky has a 4.8 rating from more than 430 reviews and still growing!
How long have you been in the group travel business? How many employees?
Pricing is important, but so are experience and support. Relying on an inexperienced provider for your trip can be risky and frustrating.
How many field trips do you support each year?
Student travel is complicated due to changing details. Inquiring about the organization and their expertise can be very helpful.
Do you require a comprehensive background check on all employees and contractors?
Travel providers check for problems not just locally but also across multiple states and at the federal level, doing these background checks every year.
What kind of commercial insurance do you carry?
Work only with travel providers that have Professional Liability Insurance for Travel Agents and Tour Operators (we have up to $2M coverage).
Do you offer online traveler booking, payment collection, and customer service?
These services are essential for easing the burden of student travel from school staff, including administrators, treasurers, and teachers.
Is your company a member of a professional travel organization?
Only top travel companies can meet the requirements of organizations like IATA and SYTA.
Do you have vendor references?
Good travel partners depend on strong relationships with buses, hotels, restaurants, theme parks, and more. Request references!