Field notes

Stories from
the road.

Teacher stories, destination guides, packing tips, and lessons from three decades of running student tours in Europe and beyond.

A teacher-led group of students
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Where to Next?!
destinations

Where to Next?!

Ten top educational travel destinations for high school students are highlighted here, covering Europe, Asia, Australia, and Africa with cultural and historical highlights for each city

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The Importance of Language Proficiency for Global Citizenship
educational impact

The Importance of Language Proficiency for Global Citizenship

Language proficiency is essential for global citizenship, enabling better communication, cultural understanding, empathy, and career success for students in an interconnected world

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Cater your Tour to your Classroom
for group leaders

Cater your Tour to your Classroom

Teachers can build student trip itineraries that align directly with their curriculum. This post shares practical examples for French, theater, and history educators planning group tours

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Education vs Exploration
for group leaders

Education vs Exploration

Balancing academic study and cultural exploration on a high school group trip takes planning, flexibility, and intentional cultural activities woven into the itinerary

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Discovering: Bern, Switzerland
destinations

Discovering: Bern, Switzerland

Bern, Switzerland offers student groups a full day of culture, history, and language practice — from the UNESCO old town and Zytglogge clock tower to Swiss fondue and riverside walks

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Discovering: Granada, Spain
destinations

Discovering: Granada, Spain

Granada, Spain offers student travel groups a rich mix of Moorish architecture, historic neighborhoods, and tapas culture — here's what a full day in the city looks like

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How To: Keep Travelers Engaged
for group leaders

How To: Keep Travelers Engaged

Keeping students engaged on a group tour abroad requires strategy before and during the trip. These tips cover pre-trip meetings, local interaction, and reflection techniques

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Sports in Europe
for group leaders

Sports in Europe

Adding professional sports to a student tour itinerary can boost cultural immersion, language practice, and team bonding — here's how group leaders can make it happen

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Top 5 Best Destinations for Theatre Groups
destinations

Top 5 Best Destinations for Theatre Groups

Five European cities stand out as top destinations for high school performing arts tours, offering world-class venues, masterclasses, and performance opportunities for student groups

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Off the Beaten Path
destinations

Off the Beaten Path

Five underrated European cities make compelling alternatives to Paris and Rome for student group tours. Valencia, Porto, Graz, Lille, and Bruges each offer language, history, and cultural highlights

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Pop Culture Abroad:  Harry Potter
destinations

Pop Culture Abroad: Harry Potter

Harry Potter fans visiting Europe can explore real-world filming locations and inspirations, from London's King's Cross to Edinburgh's Elephant House Cafe and Scotland's Glenfinnan Viaduct

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Tian'anmen in Beijing
travel inspiration

Claire Briddon

On January 6, 2022, Claire Briddon passed away at 82.  Passports’ President David Markle asked me to write a tribute in honor of Claire since she had worked for Passports from its inception in 1992, retiring in 2015

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Walking Tour Spotlight:  Las Ramblas
destinations

Walking Tour Spotlight: Las Ramblas

Las Ramblas is Barcelona's most iconic pedestrian boulevard, packed with landmarks like Palau Güell, Gran Teatre del Liceu, and the famous Boquería market

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Plaza Mayor
travel inspiration

A Letter to European Coffee

Dear European Coffee, Why are you so great? Is it because you’re from Europe? I tried to go to Starbucks but it just wasn’t the same.

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Paris
travel inspiration

How to Choose the Right Destination for Your Student Tour

Whether your educational goals are historical, linguistic, cultural, charitable or a combination, Passports has the right tour for you and your students.

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Gargoyle on Notre Dame Cathedral
travel inspiration

Passports vs. Other Student Travel Companies

With many student travel companies to choose from, why Passports? We offer the perfect balance of quality and price.

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Paris Balcony
travel inspiration

A Letter of Appreciation to Teachers

Today, as we celebrate National Teacher Appreciation Day, we’d like to say “thank you” to teachers.

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Notre-Dame Cathedral
travel inspiration

11 Steps for Running a Successful Parent Meeting

You have tons of interested students – now it's time to get their parents on board. Let us help! Follow our 11 steps for running a successful parent meeting.

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Aerial View on Port of Nice and Luxury Yachts
travel inspiration

Educational Travel Services: How Necessary Are They?

Educational travel services are essential for teachers who wish to travel with their students overseas.

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Paris
travel inspiration

Expand Your Mind and Boost Creativity

Travel has the potential to revamp and vitalize the mind by immersing us in unfamiliar cultures with new customs and ideas.

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Barcelona
travel inspiration

Here's Why Teachers Should Take Their Students to Spain

An educational tour to Spain has so much to offer your students. Bring your classroom to life in Spain!

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Augsburg Christmas Market
travel inspiration

Fundraising Ideas Part 1: Sales

    Travel Bake Sale Breakdown A spin on the classic bake sale fundraiser. This is a great way to learn more about the countries you will be visiting on tour! Research some recipes typical of the places you’ll

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Sukienice in Cracow
travel inspiration

Fundraising Ideas Part 3: Activities

CASH FOR TRASH Breakdown This is a great way to help others while raising money for your trip! Collect bottles and cans and redeem them at a local redemption center. And don’t stop there! Other organizations will pay for

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Penafiel Castle
travel inspiration

Fundraising Ideas Part 2: Events

CAR WASH Breakdown Find a well-located site, like a fire department, or simply a business located on a well-traveled street that has a large parking lot. Sell tickets beforehand with the address of the location on them.

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