Category Archives: Trip

Trip

Explore the Opal Coast on Primary School Trips

For pupils in the early key stages, that first journey away from home can be a thrilling experience, but also a daunting one, so choosing the right destination is paramount. France’s Opal Coast is ideal: it allows students on primary school trips to discover somewhere new and exciting, while being close enough to home that it can be visited in a day – although there are certainly enough attractions and activities to fill up several days, for those wanting a longer trip. From amazing aquariums to friendly historic towns, from the opportunity to try out some French to the chance to see chocolate being made – and try some – this is a region that has something to inspire everyone, whatever their age. Here are just a few of the top attractions that the Opal Coast has to offer.

NAUSICAA National Sea Life Centre

A whole marine world of discovery awaits at NAUSICAA, one of Europe’s most acclaimed sea life centres. With a shark aquarium, world ocean aquarium tropical lagoon, sea lion reserve, underwater forest, penguin beach and touch pool, it offers endless opportunities for exploration and wonder. It is also a great option for primary school trips, offering a comprehensive educational programme in English as well as French. Qualified activity leaders facilitate a range of interactive workshops on subjects as diverse as the deep-sea abyss, marine diversity, conservation and carbon footprints, the life of coral, and adaptation to survive. A multimedia library and online resource pack with pages on various types of marine life, ecology, and even pirates, make it easy to do preparatory or follow-up lessons and projects in the comfort of your classroom.

Bagatelle Theme Park

Primary school trips are many things, but foremost among them is fun! Located near Le Touquet, Bagatelle Theme Park is great for younger visitors with a range of gentler rides as well as some more challenging ones for the brave – but almost all of them are well-suited to a primary school group. Favourites include the rollercoasters, log flume, giant water slide, 360-degree cinema and carousel, and for variety there is also a petting zoo. Musical school groups can even book a performance slot!

Beussent Lachelle Chocolate Factory

What better way to treat students on primary school trips than to take them to a chocolate factory? The Beussent Lachelle factory is a respected producer of chocolate, serving Paris and its surroundings, and its dedication to chocolate makes it an eye-opening place to visit. Tours enable students to learn about the masterful techniques needed to manufacture quality chocolate, as well as discovering the history of cocoa, its cultivation and how the transformation from bean to chocolate is completed. There is also the opportunity to try some of the products, which is sure to make this a popular and memorable experience.

Trip

Pitfalls of Purchasing Last Minute Single Trip Holiday Insurance

The majority of smart travellers opt to research single trip holiday insurance deals before setting off to far flung destinations. They may use well-known comparison websites in the identification of suitable deals. However, representatives of the leading companies say they receive regular calls from people who’ve either forgotten or delayed the purchase of comprehensive cover. Don’t fall into that unfortunate group!

The Best Time to Buy a Policy

The major providers advise prospective travellers to invest in suitable cover some considerable time before any scheduled trips. Those who heed this advice benefit from the assurance of being covered against a wide range of eventualities including the event of unexpectedly delayed or cancelled flights and collapsed travel plans before they even set foot on a plane. Some frequent flyers may even consider the option of purchasing an annual multi-trip policy so they don’t need to think about this more than once.

Delaying the Purchase

It’s worth bearing in mind that the major insurers have differing attitudes regarding the arrangement of last-minute cover. However, they all demand the purchase of suitable policy prior to arrival at the airport. Fortunately there are some specialist insurers who are willing to arrange cover at the last possible moment and may even offer policies to those who’ve already arrived in at their destination. However, travellers are usually required to pay a premium for specialist cover like this.

Dealing With Different Situations

The delayed purchase of single trip holiday insurance isn’t always due to forgetfulness. There are some people who take advantage of specialist deals as a means of ensuring financial protection, however, it is worth pointing out that providers are well aware of the potential for fraud. They realise that the decision to purchase cover may be made subsequent to the loss of a valuable item or development of an illness, so conduct strict checks to ensure the validity of any claims.

Renewing a Policy

It is quite common for travellers to take the option of policy renewal as a guarantee of protection during multiple vacations. Most of the high profile single trip holiday insurance providers are happy to arrange the extension of existing policies. However, it is advisable to arrange renewals at the earliest opportunity. It is also sensible to read the small print and ascertain the kinds of stipulations imposed by the providers.

Advice for Concerned Travellers

It is important to remember that there is considerable variation in the honesty and integrity of single trip holiday insurance specialists. The best advice would be to read independent articles and ask friends and family about their experiences. Broadly speaking, travellers should look for policies that provide adequate financial protection in a wide variety of unexpected scenarios.