Anticipation and Excitement... Two days until liftoff!

Pura Vida!

With just two days until our amazing adventure to Costa Rica, our students and staff chaperones could not be more excited. This blog will serve as your regular source of updates on our party of hearty travelers. The goal is to post daily, but the realities of internet availability may cause a delay in some posts. Our blog will be full of fun pictures, updates, and stories and we hope that you enjoy the vicarious journey. If you are interested, feel free to explore our blogs from previous years (2018, 2017, 2019) or some of our trip videos (2015, 2016).

As your child packs and prepares, please...

• Know your airport and arrive 3 hours early,
• Notify Ms. Cuffee (Dealspanishcass@gmail.com) of any medications or allergies before departure,
• Give Ms. Cuffee and our chaperones a heartfelt thank you for their time and energy,
• Read Ms. Cuffee's FAQ (listed at the end of this post for your convenience) and visit the EF Tours Website for more information.

Thank you for your incredible support as we count down the days to our trip. Go ahead and bookmark this page and we look forward to sharing our adventure with you!

With anticipation of a safe, fun journey,

Patrick Rottman
8th Grade Assistant Principal

Costa Rica FAQs

1.    What should I wear?

Please note that the weather will be nice. It will be warm and we will spend a majority of our time outside. With that being said, this is a school trip, so ALL clothes must comply with the dress code that existed in previous years at Alice Deal Middle School. (For girls, stores like Marshalls, Ross, TJMaxx, etc. will have capris, lightweight pants, and longer shorts. It might be beneficial to purchase a few pairs of low-priced jeans and cut them to avoid dress code issues. Long gym shorts are an option as well. No leggings, biker shorts, etc.) The golden rule/saying is: “Raise your hands, touch your toes, if anything shows, CHANGE YOUR CLOTHES!” No crop tops, strappy tanks, no mono-kinis, bikinis without a cover-up, etc. Cover-ups should not be the see-thru crocheted type.) Please let me know if questions/concerns still linger on this issue.

2.    What should I pack?

Please check the packing list document attached to the email you received. I would suggest a light wind-breaker/hooded sweatshirt as it might get chilly at night and the buses have working AC.

3.    When should I submit the required documentation to Srta. Cuffee?

You should submit the required paperwork/documentation as soon as you have EVERYTHING. Srta. Cuffee will not accept piecemeal. Failure to submit paperwork in a timely fashion will lead to removal from the tour.

4.    What if I am a picky eater?

Food is served buffet style and comes with a plethora of options including salad bars, meats, veggies, pastas, etc. If you cannot find anything you like, do not hesitate to tell a chaperone.

5.    How will I get to the airport?

All students should arrive to the airport no later than 3 hours before the flight. We are travelling internationally with a very large group. It is imperative that all students arrive on time so that there is plenty of time to check bags, get through security, and arrive at the gate. All parents/students are responsible for getting themselves to and from the airport. Please plan accordingly and contact Srta. Cuffee if there is a change of plans or a delay in your arrival time. Once flight information is provided, it might prove beneficial to speak with other families and carpool.

6.    Are seats on the flight assigned?

Seats on the flight will be automatically assigned as students check in at the airport. These seats are not permanent. Once we have securely gotten all students and staff on their respective flights, students will be permitted to swap seats. We will enforce a “girls next to girls” and “boys next to boys” policy.

7.    Do boys and girls share rooming assignments?

Absolutely not! Students are separated into quads and triples during the trip. Boys are not permitted in girls’ rooms nor are girls permitted in boys’ rooms.

8.    What if I get sick?

If you are feeling sick, please tell a chaperone immediately.

9.    What type of currency is used in Costa Rica?

Colones are the currency used in Costa Rica, but the US dollar is accepted as well. There is no need to exchange money ahead of time. Please note that when paying with US currency, change will be given in colones. The approximate exchange rate 1 US dollar = 500 colones. (This will fluctuate daily.)

10. What if I didn’t sign up for an activity and decide that I want to?

Last minute sign-ups will be permitted, where applicable. So please do not worry if you did not sign up in advance. The sooner you tell Srta. Cuffee, the more likely we can find a way to accommodate you. This works in the opposite direction as well. If you no longer want to participate in activity please let Srta. Cuffee know as well. The tour guides and tour directors need to relay this information to the companies and businesses ahead of time.

11. Can I bring my phone, camera, or other electronic devices?

Absolutely! Please note that on the bus, a kindle, nook, or cell phone may be a source of entertainment. However, please also note that we are travelling and chaperones will not be responsible for holding onto your belongings. There aren’t any ports on the bus for you to charge your devices. Apps like “Find my iPhone” may not work effectively in Costa Rica nor can the trip be derailed to find missing items.  With that being said, if you have an international plan or want to take pictures and upload them to your social media accounts, you are more than welcome to do so!

12. How much money should I give my child? How much money should I take with me? What if I run out of money?

Although we cannot advise on how much money to bring, as each family is different, most students spend their money on snacks and treats throughout the day. Please remember that they enjoy three structured meals each day. All meals are buffet style and students can eat until they are content. Many students will purchase t-shirts and other small trinkets. As discussed at the informational meetings, it might be best to setup a separate account attached to a debit card. If a students runs out of money, they can turn to Srta. Cuffee for assistance.  Srta. Cuffee will bill families when the trip returns to the US.

13. Will my child get lost? The group is so large, how will you know that you have everyone accounted for?

Each bus leader, chaperone, tour guide, and bus driver will have a list of the students and everyone’s bus and rooming assignments. Bus assignments WILL NOT change during the trip. Also, students share a bus with their roommates, so there will be a buddy system in place. Prior to leaving one location and moving to another, a head count will be performed.

14. What about medication?

Please remember that if your child takes ANY medication, I NEED TO KNOW!!! If you have any doubts/hesitations, then inform me. There is no feeling worse than being blindsided by a medical condition in a foreign country with 145+ 13/14-year-olds. Whether it's prescribed or over the counter medication, I MUST be in the know. As I stated at both informational meetings (in June and in September), I am okay if you are okay with your child(ren) self-medicating...I just need to know. I cannot stress this enough. Thank you to those of you who have already emailed me. I greatly appreciate it. Please note that I am more than willing to carry medication for students and aid them in taking it as prescribed. While not all travelers may take medication, please do not hesitate to reach out if you have behavior concerns or if your student traveler(s) has other medical, behavioral, social conditions/challenges that may affect their time during our tour.

15. How will students be supervised during outings in the various locations?

Depending on the location, student travelers may/may not be permitted to travel in unsupervised groups. If this is the case, they will have check-in times and locations. In other locations, students will be divided up among the chaperones, and they will be instructed to stay with that chaperone until they return to the bus.

16. Is there a curfew? Are there room checks and wake up calls?

Yes, yes, and yes. Curfews will change depending on the following day’s activities. On days with early morning planned activities, students will be asked to go to their rooms earlier. Behavior also plays a role in curfew. Depending on the size, layout, and vacancies in the hotels, students may be instructed to go to their rooms by a certain time but have plenty of free time in their rooms prior to “lights out”. Room checks will be performed every night by chaperones. Once room checks have been completed, students may not, short of an emergency, leave their rooms. Wake-up calls will be done each morning about an hour prior to breakfast. Students will have plenty of time to get up, shower, get dressed, and enjoy breakfast, if they chose to, and be ready for the day’s adventure.

17.  Will there be Wi-Fi?

Yes, some of the hotels will have Wi-Fi, however it is shared amongst all guests and the signal will more than likely be quite weak. While students will attempt to take advantage of the Wi-Fi, students should not expect to have Wi-Fi access during the trip.

18. What about roommate requests?

Students may make rooming requests using the document provided by Srta. Cuffee. Please note that ALL student travelers sleep 4 to a room. This document may be printed and turned in to Srta. Cuffee in RG15. Do not email this document to Srta. Cuffee. Emailed roommate request forms, incomplete roommate request forms, and late roommate request forms will not be accepted nor considered.  Once completed, rooming assignments are FINAL and NOT up for discussion.

19. What about bus assignments?

Students’ bus assignments will not change on the tour and are not up for discussion/debate. Student travelers will be given their busing assignments prior to departure.

20. Is there assigned seating on the bus?

No, there will not be assigned seating on the bus unless a student’s behavior dictates a seat change. Each bus will have a leader/administrator who is in charge of that bus’ seating.

21. Should my child pack snacks?

Yes, snacks are encouraged. Packing snacks is not mandatory as students will purchase things during the day, but a few snacks packed in their checked bag(s) may prove beneficial.

22. What should I tell my child to avoid?

Contraband! Not only will pipes, pocket knives, and drug paraphernalia be sold in stores, but other items that should never be in the hands of minors will be accessible to your children. Please note that any child who purchases, carries, or is seen/caught with these unmentionables will be reprimanded and serious consequences will follow. Not only are these items harmful, but they are also against Alice Deal’s School Policy and will cause hold-ups and delays at security checkpoints.

23.  Should I pack sunscreen?

Absolutely! We will spend a majority of our time outside exploring cities, climbing volcanoes, canoeing, and enjoying the beach. Please protect your skin!

24. What about dirty clothes, swimsuits, and wet clothing?

Bringing a trash bag(s) might be helpful here. Students will not have access to washers and dryers and will not want to mix their dirty clothes, which might start to smell, with clean items. Also, we will visit hot springs, a lake, a waterfall, and the beach during our tour. Wet bathing suits and clean clothes do not mix.

25. Should I bring bug-repellent?

Yes, bug repellent will be useful during the trip. Please remember to put your bug spray, sunscreen, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, etc. in your checked bag(s).

26. Should I put an international plan on my child’s phone? How often should I check in with them?

If you chose to invest in an international plan for your child, please feel free to do so but it is not necessary. While I understand that this will be the first time most of these students are travelling without their parents (out of the country), there is not need to call them constantly to check up. Students will have very busy days filled with interactive activities. Also, international plans can be quite pricey. If you need to get in touch with your child, for any reason, do not hesitate to contact Srta. Cuffee. I will provide my personal cell phone numbers closer to the trip’s departure.

27. How will I know what my child is up to?

Blogging last year was such a success. (Thank you, Mr. Rottman!!!). We will take pictures each day and post them to a blog. The blog’s info will be sent out prior to the trip’s departure.

28. What if my child gets homesick?

While it is possible for students to get homesick, they will be completely ok. If they need to check in with you, they are more than capable of doing so. Friends and Alice Deal staff will be available to aid them if they need someone to talk to.

29. Will my child have to hold on to their passport?

No, passports will be collected once students make it through immigration/security in Costa Rica. They will not see their passports again until we arrive in the United States.

30. What can I do to assist my child?

Please place a piece of masking tape on the back of your child’s passport with their first and last name. This helps chaperones when collecting and distributing passports.

31.  Does my child need a VISA or vaccinations to travel to Costa Rica?

No and no. Students do not need a VISA to travel to Costa Rica. Their passport, which MUST be valid for six months after our return date, will suffice. While there were/have been reports of Zika virus certain countries, this should not be a concern for our student travels. You may find more information at the Center for Disease Control's website which is www.cdc.gov. From my understanding, the Zika virus should only be a concern for adult chaperones hoping to become pregnant in the very near future. Here is a condensed version of the information I gathered:

The United States Centers for Disease Control (the "CDC") recently issued travel guidance regarding the increased presence of the Zika virus in certain countries and the potential risk to pregnant women. This is a virus which is transferred to humans through mosquito bites and one of the countries included in this guidance is Costa Rica. The CDC is recommending special precautions for pregnant women and women trying to become pregnant who plan to travel to countries where the virus is prevalent. The guidance states that: "Out of an abundance of caution, pregnant women [are] advised to consider postponing travel to area where [the] Zika virus transmission is ongoing.

32.  What should I do if I dropped off my student traveler’s documents to Srta. Cuffee’s mailbox in the Welcome Center?

Nothing. Don’t do anything. Do not email her to let her know. Do not email her to ask her if she received it. She is working. She is a teacher. Wait until the next Documents Checklist is sent out to families before you think about inquiring.

33.  Can I change my flight? Can I leave from a different airport?

No. Flights cannot be changed/modified. Do not call EF Tours and attempt to get flight information and/or change your or your traveler’s flight.

34. Do I need a converter for my electronics?

No. The outlets in Costa Rica are identical to the ones in the U.S.

35. What if I have a question that hasn’t been answered here?

While I have tried to cover the basics, please send any questions/concerns to dealspanishclass@gmail.com. Another FAQs document may go out if valuable questions/concerns arise and haven’t already been answered.

36. How do I get in touch with Srta. Cuffee?

I will provide my personal cellphone number and that of Mr. Rottman for parents at the final departure meeting. Please limit communication via phone calls to emergencies only.