Cova d’en Xoroi: Menorca’s most spectacular night club

The Balearic Islands of Spain are made up of four main islands: Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, and Formentera. They also include Cabrera and several other islets. This Mediterranean archipelago is a highly valued tourist destination and the capital, Mallorca, has recently been recognized as one of the best places in the world to live in by the British journal The Sunday Times.

If you’ve chosen these islands as your vacation destination, you may be wondering which one is the best one for you to visit. That will all depend on what you’re looking for during your Mediterranean getaway.

Mallorca, the best city in the world

The city’s ranking as “the best place in the world to live in” has attracted many tourists from around the world to see for themselves what makes it so special. In essence it’s an enormous island that encompasses all the comforts of a city with the appeal of an exotic island, which is what most attracts attention.

It’s important to keep in mind however that Mallorca gets crowded throughout nearly the entire summer season. This makes it an ideal place for vacationers looking for a destination with many extensive beaches and many other visitors like themselves. This is reflected in the price of the accommodation, which is sensibly more economic than the rest of the islands. The entertainment options here are quite varied as they are on Ibiza.

Ibiza, the white island

Ibiza has been considered an island paradise since the mid 20^th century, where alternative social and musical trends have originated and expanded across the small surface area which is characterized by scenic white-sand coves.

The period between the end of the 20^th century and the beginning of the 21^st saw the height of Ibiza’s youth tourism, which concentrated on partying that lasted all night and all day. Despite the current legal restrictions on the opening of night clubs, and although the island also offers scenic coves and natural landscapes, it continues to be a destination recommended for those looking for a place to party.

Menorca, the wild sister

The island of Menorca is a nature paradise with many large coves where tourists can go snorkeling and diving among all types of fish and mollusks. The protection given to natural areas makes this a lush and scenic island; many coves can only be accessed after a long walk. Nightlife is not as active here as Ibiza: there’s only one large night club on the island and it’s tucked away in caves overlooking the sea, which gives it a magical ambience. This island is clearly the best destination for nature lovers.

Formentera, the little island

Finally, Formentera (like Cabrera) stands out as an ideal destination for a different type of vacation. It’s extremely small, the entire island is protected from external contamination and only naturalists and lovers of the most primitive islands find the vacation of their dreams here. If you’re one of them, this is the destination for you.

1. Start Early
To get a successful start, we recommend leaders begin planning 6-8 months before traveling. This gives both the group leaders and AmeriSpan time to get every detail perfect. This also allows participants and parents enough time to make decisions, apply for passports, and raise money for the trip.

However, we have the capability to organize a group trip in a very short period of time as little as 3-4 weeks before you go, especially when you choose an AmeriSpan “Ready Made” group program or leading a group to participate in any of our other programs that are available to individuals such as Teenager, Language Immersion, Fun, Business & Professional, Medical Spanish, Volunteer or College Study Abroad.

2. Pick Your Dates
Try and choose dates that will fit into most people's schedule. Ask administrators, participants, and parents if there are dates that conflict with school activities, holidays, exams or other obligations that might hold back participants. If you find your dates will not work out, please inform AmeriSpan so we can help you plan for alternate dates.

3. Choose Location(s)
Location, Location, Location! This is what sells participants and parents. Make sure to choose a location that will appeal to broad spectrum of participants, but also will allow you as the leader to accomplish your trip objectives. If leading a younger group, keep in mind the safety concerns of parents as well.

4. Outline Objectives & Set Expectations
Consider what you want to accomplish on this trip and what you want participants to gain. How can these goals be achieved? Consider how classes, activities, lodging, lectures, and excursions will impact your overall purpose. Think about who will participate and make sure the objectives are achievable within their limits.

It is important that everyone involved have a clear set of realistic expectations for the program. As a leader, you must be realistic it what your participants can do in a given time. Be careful not too plan too much. Also, remember AmeriSpan has its limitations as well. We will work our best to get you what you want, but there are certain things beyond our control. Students must also understand what is expected from them. When language classes involved, students must be aware this is a serious academic program. They must attend classes on time and participate fully in classes and activities. There are more appropriate times to have fun with friends.

5. Identify Constraints
Take into consideration anything that could prevent the program from running, and running smoothly. Think of reasons why your school would not allow the program. What would hold back parents from signing up their children? Know how to quell fears and uncertainties that may come up. If there are organizational requirements, make certain they are included from the start. Also, take into account some participants and their families may have a budget.

6. Get Permission & Estimate Participation
Depending on where you work, you may need permission to organize a group travel program. Get permission before students become involved. Please let AmeriSpan know if there is any documentation that you must provide to your administration.It is important to know how many students will participate in the program. If the group is going to be large, you may want to consider additional leaders or chaperones to assist you. You may need to set a limit to the number traveling. Also, some activities are better suited for groups of different sizes. Figure out what is manageable for your group.

Check out this video from some group participants in Costa Rica:

7. Ask for a Quote
Ask AmeriSpan for a price quote (Get Quote). Be sure to include all the necessary information such as dates, location(s), lodging, age, participation, activities, and any special requests. The more AmeriSpan knows up front, the faster we will be able to prepare your quote. Keep in mind, that if your program is customized, it may take longer to complete the quote. To request a quote for your program fill out our Online Group Request Form.

8. Marketing Plan
Get the word out! Make sure as many people know about the program as possible. By creating a buzz, you will gain more interest. Hold an information session, both for participants and parents. Create marketing materials that have all the key information on them and are visually appealing. Pictures are the great way to capture interest. Use your resources wisely; display posters; put an advertisement in the school newspaper; write an article for the newsletter; hand out flyers after an event; talk at parent-teacher meetings; make constant announcements for all meetings; send emails. Make sure people have materials with all the important details such at the locations, dates, price, and deadlines.

9. Set Deadlines
Set deadlines and be firm. You will want to set the following deadlines:  Application & Deposit, Final Payment Date and the last day to cancel with a refund. Make deadline dates earlier than preferred and state that absolutely no exceptions are made. This will provide a sense of urgency to the undecided but will allow a few days of leeway for those who are late.

10. Application Materials and Payments
Be sure all interested participants have an application packet before the deadline. In order to register a group, AmeriSpan needs a completed application and required deposit for each participant. To ensure availability, it is preferred that AmeriSpan receive all applications at least 4 months prior to the program start date. It is best to send the registrations of all group participants at one time to avoid confusion. Final payment for the group is due 6-8 weeks before departure, or by regulation of the airline if AmeriSpan is arranging airfare.

AmeriSpan is here to help! We want your trip to be as successful and beneficial to you and your students as possible. If any questions arise during planning your trip or while you are studying, please do not hesitate to contact us. 

Find out more information on our Group Immersion Trips. 

Pink Pangea allows women on location to blog about their experiences and share with other women unique places to go and things to do that are relevant to a female audience.  For example, some of the site's recent blog posts are called "Searching for Parisian Style on a Budget," "Peace on the Horizon in the Himalayas," and "The Many Faces of South Africa," to name a few.

Please contact the site to contribute, and remember that AmeriSpan offers discounts for bloggers!

To discover this great new site for yourself, check out www.PinkPangea.com

To find out how to receive a Blogger discount from AmeriSpan, visit AmeriSpan's Specials Page

We are offering a special deal: Participants can save $250 on a Quebec City program that takes place during June, July, or August and is four weeks or longer. Just register by May 15, 2010 and use the code "Quebec Offer" when registering.

See Quebec City French School

See all French Language Schools

Affordable luxury is way overrated. It’s simply too easy to travel from one metropolitan city to another in two hours on a world-class train. In one city one may overeat the finest ham, see three cathedrals and the world’s oldest university in one afternoon. Who needs it? Taking a relaxing drive along la Costa del Sol would just be entirely too beautiful. 

There is also simply too much to do! Examples such as Sagrada Familia, la Alhambra and la Plaza Mayor mean that your day will be packed with meaningful activities. Spain is only one of the most culturally rich destinations in the world, so you may risk learning or feeling something you never imagined was possible. Don’t go to Spain, because you might fall in love. No joke, this has been known to happen!

Not convinced? Ok, ok, AmeriSpan happens to have study abroad programs in 15 different cities throughout Spain! Interested? Click to learn more about AmeriSpan’s Spanish programs in Spain.

________ Airline extra baggage charges

________ Airport arrival & departure taxes

________ Entry fees/tourist card cost

________ Visa extensions

________ Out-of-pocket school activity fees

________ Book fees/deposits

________ Lodging damage deposits

________ Transport to/from lodging & school

________ Weekend travel/excursions

________ Daily meals

________ Souvenirs

________ Going out (bars, dinners, etc… )

________ Phone use/cellphone/calling card

________ Internet fees at Internet cafes

________ Incidentals: film, batteries, laundry, toiletries,
etc…

________ Unexpected emergencies

________ Other: 
_____________________

———————————————————–

________ Total

Hopefully this helps you to budget more accurately for your study abroad trip!

Click for information on all of AmeriSpan’s programs.

Passport: If you do not have one, make sure to
apply for one at least 6-8 weeks prior to your departure in order to save money
and headaches from expediting your passport. If you already have one, check the
expiration date. For travel to many countries, it is required that your
passport be valid for a minimum of 6 months after you are planning to return
home. Also make sure there are enough blank pages left. A good website to order
or renew your passport at is PassportVisasExpress.com.
A helpful article: Don’t Forget Passports When Studying Abroad

Visa: While many countries do not require
travel visas, there are some that do. Also, the length of your stay can be a
factor as to if you will need a visa or not; some countries require a visa for
a stay longer than 30 days. A good website to research and purchase visas is PassportVisasExpress.
A helpful article: Travel Visas For Study Abroad

Birth
certificate: You will usually need an original birth
certificate to apply for a passport and some visas. If you have lost your birth
certificate, you can get an official replacement copy at Rocket Lawyer.

International
driving permit: This is a good idea to get before you go abroad if you think you may be interested in
driving while overseas. Click for information on getting an International Driving Permit before you go.

Student
discount cards: If you are a student, check out the
International Student Identity Card (ISIC).
This identity card is good worldwide for discounts on travel, lodging,
restaurants, attractions, and much more. A helpful article: Student Discount Cards for Study Abroad

Prescriptions: In order to fly, you
will need your prescriptions in clearly marked containers; it is best to keep
them in their original containers. Be sure to refill any prescriptions that
might run out while you are abroad. Also, it is an excellent idea to get a note
from your doctor listing your prescriptions and why you need them.

Insurance: It is possible to
acquire short-term medical insurance for travel, as well
as flight, luggage, and trip cancellation insurance. We recommend Travel Guard for great trip coverage.

For more tips on documents and all aspects of pre-departure preparation for study abroad, download our newest free e-report, Pre-Departure Guide.

Sadly this is my last blog about Peru…

So we left the somewhat modern civilization that I had come to
know for the past 5 weeks and ventured into the rainforest/jungle/selva/amazon
(whatever you want to call it) there were all sorts of animals. We took a
30 min plane ride into Puerto Maldonado and were met by a guide who took us on
a 1 hr bus ride to the Tambopata River. We were given all natural,
rainforest snacks of fresh banana trips, a local cocona juice, tiny (finger)
bananas and the most famous, brazil nuts. We boarded a small boat that luckily
had a good motor and were on the river for about 3 hours with some occasional
stops for animal sightings. We were given another local delicacy for lunch: a
fried rice dish in a banana leaf that we disposed of in the water when we were
done. We very much felt like jungle people! 

Once the boat dropped us
off at the lodge we hiked up some makeshift wooden stairs that they have to
rebuild every year because the river rises at least 10 feet in the rainy season,
and walked about 20 minutes to the lodge. Our first view of the lodge was
surprising because it seemed very nice. We were greeted by cool towels and cool
pineapple juice with our introductions for the lodge. We ventured down the
pathway to our rooms that only had 3 walls (aka one entire side was completely
open to the world outside. There were no lights in the lodge only candles
and lamps (lit for only 4 hours a day) and no hot water but there was running
water and mosquito nets for the bed so I was pleased. 

Since we arrived a little early we were able to hike into the
jungle and up the 30m tower in hopes of seeing some birds as the sun set. We
didn’t see too many birds but did hear plenty of insects as the sun went down.
However it was an absolutely incredibly view of the forest since we were level
with some of the taller trees and could see for a few miles versus a few feet
from within the depths of the forest. Adjusting to the little light available
and finding critters of all sorts (David loved watching the frogs eat insects)
was a little tough but nonetheless a learning experience.  We all
double-checked our mosquito nets to make sure they were intact and tried to get
a few hours of sleep.

We were supposed to leave at 5:45 the next day to go to the lake
at sunrise but it was raining so our guide said nobody would be out there. Once
it stopped raining we made our way out to the lake and were able to see some
really neat, noisy birds in the trees and a bunch of fish surrounding our boat.
Later that day we went on a walk with a shaman that resides and works by the
lodge and he showed us many of the medicinal plants that he uses including the
hallucinogen that is very popular with shamans (ayahuasca). We took a boat ride
across the river to a local farm where we walked around and got to try many of
the different things that grew there including a stick of raw sugar cane!

The next day we did actually get up at 4am and go a little
upriver and through a path that was at times slightly harrowing to reach the
most amazing spot of the adventures there, the bird clay lick. For a short time
each day the birds (parrots, macaws…) go to this place and eat the clay
because it neutralizes the bad things they may eat. We saw some of the most
gorgeous sights of hundreds of birds frolicking in the trees near us. We
just sat mesmerized for quite some time. Later that day we went to the mammal
clay lick but we were told it was always less likely to see things. There was a
monkey climbing around in the tree near us so we really made our own path in
the woods trying to see him but he decided to take a nap and we never got a
great view of him. Our last night concluded once again with superb food (all
the food was absolutely delicious and like almost all the other food I had in
Peru very natural and mostly local). I somehow managed only to get 4
bites which were well worth the time spent in the rainforest!

We journeyed back to San Diego for about 30 hours and I left with
one of the best experiences of my life.  Now that my Spanish is a little
better I definitely want to return to South America.  If you want to hear
any more about the adventures let me know but I don’t want to bore the rest of
you with any more details. Hope everyone is doing well and I look forward to talking
to you all now that I’m back (well after the 12th I’ll actually be free from my
MCAT lockdown mode).

Here is the link to my Picasso albums online.  I don’t have
time to put up captions until after the 12th so check back after then if you
want to see what the pictures are actually of, sorry!
Album 1   Album 2

con amor,
Jamie

Click for information on AmeriSpan’s language programs in Cusco.

Click for information on AmeriSpan’s SALUD program in Cusco.