So, what do we mean by by the right destination? Well, you can make sure that your destination is the ‘right‘ one by considering a few factors:

1. Easy To Get To

We recommend selecting a destination that has multiple incoming flights per day. This ensures that if your whole student group, or even just a handful of students, misses the scheduled flight you won’t get stuck sleeping in the airport or trying to come up with last minute accommodations. Although changing plans last minute is never ideal, the option to board another flight is a nice one to have.

2. Easy To Navigate

Once you arrive at your destination, how easy will it be to get around? Will you spend a lot of time waiting in traffic, trying to get from Point A to Point B? You must consider the proximity of your hotel to transportation, attractions, dining and your performance venue. Then, you have to consider how easy your destination city will be to navigate on foot. In tourist-dense areas, it may be challenging to walk through throngs of people with 75 choir students in robes. Add to these considerations a lack of local knowledge and the responsibility on your shoulders becomes overwhelming.

3. Easy to Enjoy

You’ve reached your destination, you’ve figured out how to get where you’re going–now what? Another consideration when planning a large student group trip is picking a destination with plenty to do and see. Although a remote town in Iowa may be hosting an inexpensive student band competition, if there is nothing exciting to occupy your students in their downtime, that trip probably won’t go down in the record books as a class favorite. Selecting destinations like Orlando, New York City, and Chicago guarantees that your group will never be short on entertainment. Class trips as well as student band and choir trips don’t happen everyday, and should be both memorable and rewarding for students and Directors.

Considering all of the elements detailed above while simultaneously coordinating performance rehearsals, selecting chaperons, and planning fundraising opportunities will guarantee that you won’t be able to think straight by the time your competition date rolls around! Save yourself the headache, focus on your students, and let American Tours & Travel do what we do best–planning student group travel.

Click here to start planning your next student group adventure today!

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A Brand New Changing Facility

The facility, which is maintained and used only by the STARS Performance Program, was completed at the end of 2011 and we couldn’t be more excited. The facility is air-conditioned, has separate male and female changing areas with bathrooms and water fountains, and will afford students the ability to change in and out of uniforms and costumes before and after performances.

Digital Photo of Your Performance

At no additional cost, each STARS Performance group will now receive a digital photo of their performance with the STARS logo on it. It is just STARS’ way of saying “Thank You” for participating in Universal Orlando’s STARS Performance Program.

 More Attention, and Ultimately, Larger Audiences

The STARS Program and its associated Performances will now be advertised through the park using digital board technology. Participating marching bands will be highlighted on the boards, letting park-goers know when and where to catch the next STARS performance.

Click here to learn more about participating in the Universal STARS program!

Preparing for and juggling all the aspects of a trip can be hectic and stressful enough, without the added pressure of remembering to call at least 15 days ahead to cancel those extra 25 seats! Many venues will not refund the cost of those tickets or meals, despite their not being used. Extra expenditures add up and avoiding them could mean an extra day at the parks or getting to travel by plane instead of bus.

At American Tours & Travel, we utilize our nearly 40 years of industry experience to reserve an adequate amount of tickets, hotel rooms and meal vouchers on behalf of your group. We are experts at making conservative allowances in the number of travelers without stretching your budget or tying up money in wasteful ways. Your trip should be memorable for all the right reasons, and we can help you get there.

Contact us today and start planning the trip of a lifetime for you and  your students!

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Trying to navigate a crowded airport, and its requisite security checkpoints, with 100 students–luggage and instruments in tow–is not only challenging, but can be downright impossible. Keep stress and struggles to a minimum by traveling on an “off” day. Since Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays are notoriously slow, many airline and bus carriers will give travelers willing to book on these days discounts, incentives and other perks to ensure that they can still meet their travel quotas.

The money your group saves could mean an extra day at Disney or Sea World!

The less stressful your trip, the more fun you and your students will have. Following our simple group travel tips and allowing American Tours & Travel to coordinate all of your student group trips will make all the difference.

We have been planning student group trips for nearly 40 years and are well-versed in finding the best prices for students, directors and chaperons.

Contact us today to get started!

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Hoping you are surrounded by love and warmth this holiday season and find a little time to relax and reflect with family, friends and loved ones!

Wishing you health and happiness in 2012–

American Tours & Travel

All American Music Festival

 The students are coming to Orlando to visit Universal Studios and Walt Disney World, where they will participate in marching and wind instrument performances at the parks.

Click on the video to see the group in action!

The students, along with their Marching Band Director, Fiji Shigaki, will arrive in Orlando on December 23rd and will be in town for the holidays. We look forward to showing them all that Orlando has to offer, from attractions and restaurants to theme parks and entertainment! It will be a wonderful time and we will have photos to share soon.

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Potential for Lower Rates

Maintaining a flexible itinerary and arrival and departure schedule ensures that you will be able to secure the lowest rates available. Traveling on Memorial Day weekend is much more costly than flying the weekend before or after. Being open to these changes will increase the affordability of your trip, allowing more room in the budget for the fun stuff, like meals and attractions.

Reduced Stress

Even the best laid plans can require a little finessing to make things work. Knowing that things aren’t set in stone and that you may have to ‘go with the flow’ to keep your travelers happy will reduce the stress involved in planning and executing a major student travel trip. Be prepared but open to the natural evolution that is often a necessary component in getting large groups of people to work together toward a common goal.

Happier Travelers

At the end of the day, it won’t matter to your students if a plane takes off at 7am or 11pm. They are just happy to be competing, performing, enjoying time with friends and maybe getting a day or two away out of class! A flexible schedule can often mean the difference between running through Disney World in less than 3 hours because you’ve got a bus to catch and spending a leisurely day at Universal Studios–riding the Hulk 3 or 4 times and capping off the day with chilled Butterbeers from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Which one do you think your students would prefer?

Now is the time to start planning all of your trips for the upcoming 2012-2013 school year! Contact us today to begin making arrangements!

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As soon as you’ve determined where you want to go, when you want to travel and how many travelers to account for, you are primed for planning and should begin making arrangements.

Why Plan in Advance?

Lower Prices

Often times, venues will offer discounts for travelers who book early. Last minute flights or hotel reservations are usually more expensive, which may make the trip your students are dreaming of unattainable given budget constraints.

More Choices

When booking in advance, you will typically have your choice of a wider variety of travel dates, transportation methods, attraction tickets, and more. The closer it gets to your travel date, the more likely it is that attractions will be at capacity, travel dates will be restricted and inconveniences will mount up.

Excitement and Anticipation

The earlier you book a trip, the longer you can anticipate the fun and excitement to come! In the event you’re booking a performance trip, knowing the exact date and time of your scheduled showcase or performance will allow you to schedule practices and rehearsals accordingly, leaving ample time to work through kinks. Plus, no one will want to miss out on the trip, so reminding students that they have a reason to work hard is a good excuse for planning early!

Time To Raise & Save Money

Giving students ample warning of an impending trip is not only helpful, but may be essential for many students to participate. Knowing that they need to pick up additional hours of babysitting time or cut a few extra lawns on Saturday is a great way to teach them responsibility, while allowing them sufficient time to earn the money needed to pay for the trip. For those looking to hold fundraisers to raise money for a trip, booking early is a smart choice. Raising money over an 8-month period is much easier than trying to hold three or four fundraisers in a 3-week time frame!

Less Stress

Save yourself, and all the students and parents involved, the stress of last-minute bookings. Booking far in advance gives you time to enjoy the planning process and put real thought into what activities you want to participate in, how you want to coordinate attractions and performances, what restaurants you may want to dine at, and what you need to prepare before leaving. When overwhelmed with tight deadlines, a trip can feel like more of a burden than a great opportunity to learn and engage with your students in a new environment!

Now is the time to start planning all of your trips for the upcoming 2012-2013 school year! Contact us today to begin making arrangements!

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Although the weather in Florida is still balmy and warm, it’s never too early to begin thinking about student holiday travel. There are dozens of exciting holiday-themed events and attractions around the country that are perfect for your student band, choir, church, or youth group, but we wanted to share a few of the best with you:

Seeing Snow in Florida

In the town of Celebration, enjoy the nightly “snow” flurries starting at 6pm while sipping hot chocolate, listening to Christmas carols and hitting the ice skating rink for a little friendly competition! A truly magical way to get into the holiday spirit!

A Disney Christmas

Walt Disney World in Orlando is known for its incredible holiday events during the months of November and December. The top events include Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom, the Candlelight Processional at Epcot, the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Hollywood Studios, Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Parade at Animal Kingdom as well as numerous nights of entertainment at Downtown Disney.

Other off-site events include Fort Wilderness Sleigh Rides, Religious Services, a New Year’s Eve spectacular, ICE! at Gaylord Palms and SNOW! at Gaylord Palms, where students can experience the beauty of hand-carved ice sculptures in sub-zero temperatures. Each of these Orlando-based student holiday events is truly unforgettable.

Universal Studios “Grinchmas”

Stop by Universal’s Islands of Adventure in Orlando, Florida to see Seuss Landing completely bedecked in snow and sparkle. Enjoy all your favorite Universal attractions amidst a wintry wonderland.

Macy’s Holiday Parade

For the entire of month of December, the Macy’s Holiday Parade will meander through the streets of Universal Studios. Students can enjoy shopping in the Holiday village, dining, live music and holiday entertainment.

A Southern Holiday

Spend your holiday soaking in the festivities throughout Louisville, Pigeon Forge, and Nashville! Santa, a gingerbread village, mesmerizing light shows, and the Radio City Rockettes all make appearances on this incredible getaway.

New Years Eve: The West Coast Way

Ring in the new year at the Rose Parade! Take in the sights and sounds of floral floats and musical marching bands, while also making time to visit Disneyland, Knotts Berry Farm and other attractions.

Christmas in Branson

The city of Branson becomes a magical fantasyland during the holiday season, and is the perfect place to become immersed in joy and the holiday spirit. Enjoy performances by the Irish Tenors, other musicians, and a Christmas play.

A Hollywood Holiday

Travel through Los Angeles, Hollywood, San Francisco and along the California coast on this incredible, first-class trip! The trip is not complete until you board a vintage rail car and take in the California sights by train. A truly amazing opportunity!

Canadian Celebration

Spend the New Year in British Columbia, enjoying tours of Parliament, gardens, museums and castles. This trip truly captures the elegance and grandeur of New Years Eve!

New Years in Tucson

There is no better way to celebrate a new year than in the presence of 5 magical mountain ranges. For those who don’t appreciate the cold weather, escape to the Southwest and bask in the Arizona sun at the height of Winter. You’ll enjoy the Wild West like the cowboys do with a horseback riding adventure as well as tours of churches and museums.

To request additional information on any of these holiday trips, click here.

Don’t wait! Book early!

The festival will take center stage in the kingdom of fun and entertainment — Orlando, Florida—so participants can enjoy everything that the city has to offer while in town. We advise all competitors to spend a few days in the Sunshine State, enjoying the Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Studios Resort, SeaWorld, Wet N Wild, Aquatica, The Fun Spot, Downtown Disney, Universal CityWalk and many other attractions.

This exciting musical competition is the pinnacle performance for any high school or middle school musical group. Every performance is professionally judged and prizes are awarded in multiple categories. An awards ceremony is held the evening of the competition and trophies and plaques are awarded to the students and directors for their participation.

The All-American Music Festival welcomes all musical groups, including bands, dance groups, choirs, orchestras, drill and auxiliary teams, and color guard. The festival takes place every Saturday from March 10^th to June 2^nd, 2012.

2012 Festival Dates:

March 10, 17, 24 & 31

April 7, 14, 21 & 28

May 5, 12,19 & 26

June 2