FAQs

What makes the STC qualified to give this advice?

We have spent many years in the adventure travel industry arranging expeditions, holidays, school trips and charity events to all corners of the world. As a result, we have amassed a huge amount of knowledge about which tour operators are best suited for any given enquiry. Our own extensive travel experience compliments this and enables us to give sound, practical advice whatever your travel request.

Is the service really free?

Absolutely. Our fees are paid by the tour operators we deal with. The cost of planning and arranging travel itineraries through the STC is no different from going direct to the tour operators we use, and we don't charge separately for our service.

How does the STC provide financial protection?

Whilst The STC will handle all aspects of your booking, we do not handle any client money and therefore do not need to provide financial protection. Your payment for the travel services we help arrange is made directly to the ATOL licence holder, and you are therefore fully covered financially by their ATOL bond. This arrangement entirely satisfies the strict guidelines of the UK travel industry regarding consumer protection.

Can I be assured of independent advice?

The STC is a privately owned Limited Company, not tied to any other tour operator or travel provider. If our advice were clouded by a preference or relationship within the travel industry, then you would not receive the most appropriate services for your needs, and you would be unlikely to return to us in years to come. This is clearly not in our interest and so we will not compromise our independence from the tour operators we deal with.

Who will I deal with throughout the booking?

You will be assigned your own dedicated consultant at the STC who will help you plan, arrange and manage the whole process from start to finish. The STC should be your first point of contact for any queries you may have at any stage of your booking.

Can you tailor make a trip to our requirements?

Yes. We are fully aware that every school's requirements are different when planning a trip abroad. With this in mind, the wide variety of tour operators and niche travel providers that we deal with means we are perfectly suited to be able to design an itinerary appropriate to your specific requirements, year after year, whatever the destination or style of trip you have in mind.

Are you able to give a presentation to pupils and parents?

Yes. Usually both the STC and the operator providing the travel arrangements for us will be available to give a detailed presentation to pupils, parents and staff and answer any questions that they may have.

Can a trip be put forward for The Duke of Edinburgh's Award?

Many of the itineraries we arrange can count towards The Duke of Edinburgh's Award with the prior approval of your operating authority. If you would like us to design an itinerary to meet certain specifications, then please get in touch, and we will be pleased to put together an itinerary and quotation for you.

How can I find out more?

Please call us and we can discuss your ideas in more detail. Alternatively, please get in touch via our on-line enquiry form form here, and we can contact you at a time that suits you.

Whether you already have established ideas or are tentatively venturing into educational adventure travel for the first time, we will be pleased to provide our expertise. After initial discussions, if you are keen to take our advice further, we will provide detailed recommendations clearly setting out a proposed itinerary, costs, details of the company that will be providing the travel arrangements (and why we are recommending them), a planning timetable, and other pre-trip considerations. The recommendations given at this stage are very much a starting point and can be refined until you are entirely happy with the services on offer.