Great Trips for First Time ACIS Group Leaders
The good thing about ACIS? We have so many educational travel itineraries to choose from! The downside? There are so many itineraries to choose from!
To make that choice easier for first time group leaders, we asked our International Program Consultants what tours they would recommend for new ACIS clients. Check out their recommendations, and remember, this is just the beginning: you will work with an individual Program Consultant through the process to find your ideal tour and customize it to fit your needs.
City Stays
In fall 2024, we launched a brand new series of trips that each focus on the excitement of one city. We have itineraries built for Paris, Madrid, Rome, Berlin and London. Each itinerary lasts seven days, giving you five overnights, plus an abundance of cultural inclusions. City Stays are perfect for first time ACIS Leaders because of…
Simplicity – Shorter trips are a great way to dip your toes into the world of educational travel. You get to experience the full benefits of ACIS, from customer service to central hotels, with fewer logistics required.
Affordability – A reduced trip length and fewer transportation costs means a reduced program fee, which makes for an easier sell to parents and students wanting to test the value of a tour.
Sustainability – We know eco-friendly travel is important for many educators. The City Stay trips require fewer flights and put an emphasis on public transportation, all included in the program fee.
Bell’Italia
9 Days – Classic Trip
Year after year, “The Bell” continues to be one of the best-selling ACIS tours on offer. You’ll see the great highlights of Italy, including multiple overnights in the famous cities of Venice, Florence and Rome.
Cultural Highlights:
- Pizza making and gelato factory tour in Rome
- Glassblowing demonstration in Murano
- Guided tours of the Colosseum, the Vatican museums and the Accademia
Why Our Team Loves It:
“You get 2-3 nights in each city, so the pace of Bell’Italia is really great.”
– Cara Solle, Director of Relationship Management South and West
Las Selvas de Costa Rica
8 Days – Explorer Trip
The beauty and rich history of Costa Rica attract travelers from around the world, and we love sharing a slice of pura vida with students. With no overnight flight, it’s a great jumping-off point for travel farther afield, and the affordability makes it a great choice for first time Group Leaders.
Cultural Highlights:
- Monteverde cloud forest canopy tour
- Arenal volcano private reserve hike
- Community reforestation project with locals
Why Our Team Loves It:
“Costa Rica is a great introduction to group travel. No overnight flights, no jetlag, smaller group sizes, super safe and TONS of fun.”
– Tom Heigham, Regional Sales Director of International Programs
“Las Selvas has all the best cultural connections built right in – plus a chocolate AND a coffee tour/tasting!”
– Beth Pfohl, International Program Consultant
Tale of Two Cities
8 Days – Classic Trip
With this itinerary, you get to experience two of the world’s greatest cities combined into one amazing trip. Explore London and Paris from top to bottom, with touchpoints in art, architecture, history, theatre, literature, food, and fashion.
Cultural Highlights:
- Taste of France cooking workshop
- West End Theatrical Performance
- Guided tours of Paris and London cities
Why Our Team Loves It:
“Despite being big cities, they both feel very manageable. And you start off in a place that speaks English, so it’s a way to ease into travel.”
– Tom Heigham, Regional Sales Director of International Programs
“There’s only 2 hotel stays involved which means fewer logistics for moving around.”
– Cara Solle, Director of Relationship Management South and West
Andalusian Fiesta
10 Days – Classic Trip
This itinerary covers the best of Southern Spain. Kicking off in Toledo, your group travels across cities big and small, capturing the culture, history and cuisine that makes the region unique.
Cultural Highlights:
- Flamenco Lesson, Dinner and Show in Granada
- Guided tours of Sevilla, Granada, Ronda and Toledo
- Prado Museum with Guide and Reservation
Why Our Team Loves It:
“The fiesta offers a great value for the trip length. It’s a nice to start in Toledo (so easy and walkable; more manageable than other big cities), hits highlights of Andalusia and ends in Madrid.”
– Cara Solle, Director of Relationship Management South and West
La Fête Française
9 Days – Explorer Trip
French Teachers, this is a perfect starter trip for you! On this itinerary, your group travels across Provence, the Mediterranean coast, and enjoys multiple days in Paris.
Cultural Highlights:
- Paint Paris neighborhood activity
- Pont Du Gard and Nîmes Arena visits
- Day-trip to Monaco and Fragonard perfume factory
Why Our Team Loves It:
“This itinerary covers a large portion of France, is an explorer level, meaning it is more affordable, and still includes a lot of immersive excursions.”
– Meg Mack, International Program Manager
Three Capitals
9 Days – Classic Trip
This a perfect trip for those who want to get multiple countries for a great value. You’ll explore the best of London, Paris and Rome and see these three cities from a variety of interest angles, like cuisine and architecture.
Cultural Highlights
- Gelato Factory Tour in Rome
- Taste of France Cooking Workshop
- Guided tours of the Louvre, Colosseum, and London City
Why Our Team Loves It:
“It has a lot of bang for the buck, and for many who might be traveling overseas for the first time and/or ONLY time, it’s an easy way to introduce your travelers to 3 very distinct cultures (and 4 of the world’s great cities) into 1 amazing trip.”
– Tom Heigham, Regional Sales Director of International Programs
This list just scratches the surface of wonderful ACIS trip offerings. We have over 200 itineraries to explore and can even build custom tours to fit your specific needs.
Need help planning your first trip? We have put together a 101 guide on educational travel with ACIS that will give you all the tools you need to get started.
Sarah Bichsel
