Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The
Institute of International Education (IIE)
(
&
212/883-8200;
www.iie.
org), administers a variety of academic, training, and grant programs for the U.S.
Information Agency (USIA), including Fulbright grants. It is especially helpful in
arranging enrollment for U.S. students in summer school programs.
Worldwide
Classrooms,
P.O. Box 1166, Milwaukee, WI 53201 (
&
414/224-3476;
www.
worldwide.edu), produces an extensive listing of schools offering study-abroad pro-
grams in England.
Escorted Tours
Escorted tours are structured group tours, with a group leader. The price usually
includes everything from airfare to hotels, meals, tours, admission costs, and local
transportation.
Abercrombie & Kent
(
&
800/554-7016;
www.abercrombiekent.com) offers
extremely upscale escorted tours that are loaded with luxury. They're perhaps the best
in the business.
Martin Randall Travel
(
&
800/988-6168;
www.martinrandall.com) features
cultural tours led by expert lecturers in archeology, architecture, art, history, music,
and so on. Its tours focus on everything from English country houses and gardens to
Hadrian's Wall to the Welsh National Opera in Cardiff. It also has all-inclusive clas-
sical music holidays timed for international festivals.
Other U.S. contenders in the upscale package-tour business include
Maupintour
(
&
800/255-4266;
www.maupintour.com) and
Tauck World Discovery
(
&
800/
788-7885;
www.tauck.com).
But not all escorted tours are pricey. One of the U.K.'s leading tour operators,
Wal-
lace Arnold,
and its sister brand,
Shearings,
have
a number of tours lasting
between 5 and 10 days, including decent hotels and most meals.
The trips available from
www.coachholidays.com
(
&
0845/3303747
) bring
together a number of other operators.
U.S.-based
Trafalgar Tours
(
&
866/544-4434;
www.trafalgartours.com) offers
affordable packages, with lodgings in unpretentious hotels. Seven-day itineraries start
from a little over $1,000, not including flights. One of Trafalgar's leading competitors,
with similar tours, is
Globus & Cosmos Tours
(
&
866/755-8581;
www.globus
andcosmos.com).
There are a number of companies within the U.K. offering tours.
Travelsphere
(
&
0844/567-9960;
www.travelsphere.co.uk) is one of the leading escorted opera-
tors, putting together trips that take in castles and gardens, and particularly scenic
railways in England and Wales.
For more information on escorted tours, see www.frommers.com/planning.
Voluntourism & Slow Travel
If you have an interest in giving something back, try volunteering while you're here.
Conservation charity
BTCV
(
&
020/7278-4294;
www.btcv.org) is always looking
for people to help with projects such as clearing ponds and coppicing woodland.
Anyone can volunteer via the website, and it's free to take part. There are many ses-
sions that are part of the charity's Green Gym, which makes sure you stay fit as you
help. It's also worth keeping an eye on
Timebank
(www.timebank.org.uk). This
online resource helps you match your location and availability with volunteering
opportunities nearby—although most are more suited to a long stay or residency.
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