2024 Bedford Spain Program
Travel Dates: | April 12, 2024 - April 23, 2024 |
Group Organizer(s): |
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WTT Contact: |
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Program Tuition: |
$1,490 USD
Airfare not included in program tuition
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Confirmed Airfare: | $1,195 |
Important Reminders
Passport check
Insurance Reminder
Fundraiser
Review all materials
What to Expect
Please read through all of the information below. More details will be added as your departure draws closer.
Itinerary
We do everything possible to abide by itineraries as originally planned, but decades of experience teachers that we must flexible in our planning. Changes to a trip’s schedule are uncommon, but Walking Tree reserves the right to make adjustments to programming in the best interest of the group.
Day | Location | Description | Lodging |
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April 12 | USA - Madrid | Fly to Spain. | Airplane |
April 13 | Madrid - Valladolid | Arrive Madrid, transfer by bust to Valladolid and get settled. | Homestays |
April 14-19 | Valldolid | Exchange school programming. | Homestays |
April 20 | Valladolid - Madrid | Today the group will be met by our program leader and transfer by bus to Madrid. After settling into our hotel, we venture out to explore Madrid. We will begin visiting the Palacio Real and head to two of the most famous plazas in the city, Puerto del Sol and Plaza Mayor. Tonight we will enjoy a Flamenco performance while we have dinner! | Hotel Sterling |
April 21 | Madrid | After breakfast, we'll visit the Prado museum, to admire the collections in one of the most impressive art museums in the world. In the afternoon we'll stroll through the Retiro Park, once the king's personal refuge. After lunch, we we will visit the famous Chocolateria San Gines to grab some churros and chocolate for dessert. In the evening we will continue exploring the city on our way to dinner at a local restaurant. | Hotel Sterling |
April 22 | Madrid - Toledo | Day trip to Toledo! Today we will leave Madrid and take a train to the famous 'city of three cultures,' Toledo. We will spend the day exploring the city. We'll get a chance to enjoy some coffee in the outskirts of the city and see the city’s two most important monuments: the Cathedral and the Alcázar fortress. If time allows, we will visit the Jewish quarter before heading back to Madrid for dinner and to prepare for our international departure tomorrow. | Hotel Sterling |
April 23 | Madrid - USA | Today the group will fly home. Hasta luego! | Your own bed, eventually! |
Fundraising
Need to Raise Money? We Have You Covered.
Walking Tree Travel is proud to team up with Equal Exchange, a worker-owned cooperative that distributes organic coffee, tea, sugar, bananas, avocados, cocoa, chocolate bars, and more. There is no limit to the amount you can earn, so the sooner you can start, the better!
Learn more here.
Accommodations
In order to provide a safe and memorable experience, we follow strict guidelines when choosing group accommodations. Walking Tree partners with hotels and guest houses which are centrally located, locally operated, clean and safe. We inspect each partner hotel to ensure they meet these standards.
Hotel Sterling
Conveniently located just off Gran Via and 200 m from Santo Domingo Metro station, this hotel offers simple accommodation in central Madrid. Both Puerta del Sol and the Royal Palace are just 10 minutes’ walk away. All spacious rooms have private bathrooms and air conditioning, TV, safe and work desk. A daily breakfast is available, and gluten-free products are available on request. Free Wi-Fi keeps guests feeling connected at all times. Students will be grouped in their rooms according to gender.
Group Flight
Type | Carrier Name | Carrier Code | Flight Number | Departure Airport & City | Departure Date and Time | Arrival Airport & City | Arrival Date and Time |
Outbound
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Lufthansa Airlines
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LH
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425
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BOS – Logan International Airport, Boston, United States
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April 12, 2024 at 08:05 PM
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MUC – Munich International Airport, Munich, Germany
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April 13, 2024 at 09:30 AM
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Outbound
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Lufthansa Airlines
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LH
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1802
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MUC – Munich International Airport, Munich, Germany
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April 13, 2024 at 11:30 AM
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MAD – Madrid–Barajas Airport, Madrid, Spain
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April 13, 2024 at 02:10 PM
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Inbound
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Lufthansa Airlines
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LH
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1123
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MAD – Madrid–Barajas Airport, Madrid, Spain
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April 23, 2024 at 08:25 AM
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FRA – Frankfurt Airport, Frankfurt, Germany
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April 23, 2024 at 11:00 AM
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Inbound
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Lufthansa Airlines
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LH
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422
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FRA – Frankfurt Airport, Frankfurt, Germany
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April 23, 2024 at 01:30 PM
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BOS – Logan International Airport, Boston, United States
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April 23, 2024 at 04:05 PM
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Once your flight schedule has been confirmed, the itinerary will appear here.
Walking Tree will secure a seat on the group flight for each participant unless otherwise instructed.
Travelers are responsible for checked baggage fees. Please visit the airline’s baggage webpage to learn if you should expect to pay anything.
We will provide a group manifest – complete with reservation codes and ticket numbers – to the Group Organizer/s before departure, and travelers will need to check in at the airport in order to receive their boarding pass and have documents verified. We recommend arriving no later than three hours prior to the scheduled departure, but contact your Group Organizer for specific details on exactly where and when to meet on the day of departure.
FLIGHT INTERRUPTION, DELAY OR CANCELLATION
Air travel can be unpredictable. Regardless of proper planning, there may still be instances when a flight is delayed or cancelled due to staffing shortages, weather, mechanical problems, etc. Please note that in such an event, Walking Tree Travel (WTT) is not financially responsible for unanticipated costs incurred by travelers en route. Our programs officially begin and end in the destination country, and because our staff doesn’t fly with the group, Group Organizers (the traveling faculty member/s) become the front-line advocate for the group in the event of a delay. In most cases of cancellations or delays, the airline will be the one who re-books travel or possibly arranges a hotel and food the night. Our primary role will be to keep families updated and provide support to the Group Organizer to reach a quick and effective resolution.
Host Community and Project Details
Packing List
What follows is a sample packing list but you know yourself better than we do so please adjust accordingly. We recommend you bring a larger piece of luggage like a roller, duffel bag, or backpack, as well as a smaller backpack that you can bring on daily outings, weekend excursions and shorter activities.
“Less is more” is a packing tip we encourage for all our travelers. The list below should cover everything you would need, but know yourself and what you are comfortable traveling with. We suggest bringing only as much as you would be able to carry on your own.
Finally, we recommend consulting a weather forecast for your destination.
CLOTHES (quantities depend on your trip length) :
- Underwear
- Socks (a mixture of good active socks and casual socks)
- T-shirts (some quick dry)
- Long sleeve shirts
- Sweaters or sweatshirts
- Light jacket
- Rain jacket
- Travel/athletic shorts that are breathable and light
- Comfortable, everyday pants
- Durable athletic/walking shoes
- Sandals (optional)
- Hat/s
TOILETRIES:
- Your basics
- Sunscreen
- Basic first aid
- Hand Sanitizer
- Prescription medication in properly marked original container
MISCELLANEOUS:
- Passport
- Sunglasses
- Journal and pen
- Book
- Universal adapter
- Debit card/US Dollars (we recommend about $100-$200, depending on amount of desired souvenirs, extra items etc.)
- Durable water bottle
- Flashlight/headlamp
- Deck of cards or other portable games
- Student ID
- Spanish/English Dictionary
Support Team
At a minimum, one experienced Program Leader will travel on every trip. In addition to this full time leadership presence, Walking Tree has additional staff in all destinations and 24/7 support from our headquarters in Denver, Colorado. Below you’ll find the the team members involved in the preparation, planning and execution of your program.
Emory University – B.A. Sociology and minor in Latin American History
During college, Luke spent a semester living and traveling in rural Mexico. His experience sparked a fascination with Latin America and a commitment to community service that continues to this day. Upon graduating from college, he joined WorldTeach and lived with a local family in a small village in Costa Rica while teaching elementary English. After this experience, he moved to San José, the capital and largest city of Costa Rica, and wrote for The Tico Times newspaper. Luke has since traveled to over 60 countries on five different continents. Now settled in Denver with his family, he continues to crave massive helpings of rice and beans.
Hillary Mora
Spain Country Director
Earlham College – B.A. International Studies, Minor in Economics
Born and raised with a big family in Guatemala, JP spent seven years living and studying in the US where he was exposed to highly diverse communities. JP worked as a Wilderness Leader guiding expeditions in the Southwest of the US. After spending two years in New Mexico studying the International Baccalaureate, he moved to Indiana where he spent the next four years at Earlham College. His passion for international affairs brought him to spend a semester in China, and several other Southeast Asian countries. During his time abroad, he spent his summers traveling and backpacking through 15+ different countries, and participating in several service projects. Today JP is based in Costa Rica where he works full time with the Walking Tree team. Juan Pablo also enjoys hosting friends and travelers coming to visit. He’s always down for an exciting road-trip around the country, or even better, around Latin America. He is a long time art and design enthusiast, and a photography aficionado.
Group Roster
Below is a list of the travelers enrolled on the program.
- 1 Adelynne Bunie
- 2 Alex Pascu
- 3 Alexis Wilczewski
- 4 Ayeza Shah
- 5 Bailey Montgomery
- 6 Caitrin Duprey
- 7 Claudia DeLeo
- 8 Elizabeth D'Amours
- 9 Elizabeth Slozak
- 10 Erica Rice
- 11 Ethan Steichen
- 12 Gabriela Lukasiak
- 13 Jenna Dinndorf
- 14 Jordan Hatem
- 15 Julia St Hilaire
- 16 Keagan Ware
- 17 Mary Orrego
- 18 Melea Jaffe
- 19 Omar Mahgoub
- 20 Sarah Ray
- 21 Yahle Adossi
Blog and Communication
During travel we work hard to keep families updated as frequently as possible with blog posts and photos, giving you peace of mind that your traveler is safe and thriving on their program. Students regularly contribute to these posts, providing families bak home a great way to vicariously track the progress of the trip. You will be notified when the first update is posted, after which we recommend checking in regularly via the black “Program Blog” button at the top of this webpage.
Assuming your school allows the use of cell phones, most destinations are wired enough to allow participants access WiFi at different moments in the program, allowing them to communicate directly with home. Ask your Walking Tree representative about the degree of connectivity on your program.
GLC Curriculum
Walking Tree has developed a curriculum of activities meant to help travelers get the most out of their trip before departure, during travel and after they return home. These simple and engaging activities are meant to spark discussion, frame experiences, and prepare participants to travel ethically and effectively both on this trip and on future adventures.For more information about student learning objectives and the format of the curriculum, click on the ‘learn more’ button below.
To view and complete the Pre-Program Activities, visit our online portal at the button below.
Standards of Behavior
In order to run a safe and successful program, it is vital that travelers are prepared to be on their best behavior and bring enthusiasm and interest to each and every day. A communal atmosphere of trust and mutual respect is the foundational. As such, all individuals participating on a Walking Tree program are required to take responsibility for their actions and adhere to a high standard of personal conduct.
IMMEDIATE DISMISSAL
- Possessing, consuming or distributing alcohol or illegal drugs.
- Associating with participants while they are in possession of alcohol or illegal drugs.
- Behaving in a way that consistently damages the group dynamic or jeopardizes personal or group safety. This includes consistently displaying a negative attitude, intimidating or excluding other participants, sneaking out, disobeying group leaders, and any other behavior that is not conducive to an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect.
GROUNDS FOR DISMISSAL OR IN-COUNTRY CONSEQUENCE
- Getting a piercing or tattoo.
- Stealing, or deliberately damaging or defacing any personal property, buildings or materials.
- Threatening physical or emotional harm, or brandishing a weapon.
- Possessing, consuming, or distributing tobacco or nicotine, including vape pens.
- Riding mopeds, motorcycles, or any other type of unauthorized vehicle.
- Being out of designated area or accommodations after curfew.
- Breaking group rules.
These standards of behavior are essential for the successful completion of your program. Please take the time to review these as a family and make sure everyone understands and agrees to them.
Health and Safety
We strongly recommend visiting the CDC Spain website to get the most updated information on health and vaccination considerations in your destination country. In addition, we encourage you to consult with your personal family physician so you can be as informed as possible when making important decisions about vaccinations and other necessary health-related preparations before travel.
Our in-country staff prepare meticulously for all programs. Walking Tree will register our programs and travelers with the U.S. Department of State Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) in case of emergency. In country staff also verify the safety records of our partner organizations, vendors, and transportation providers, thoroughly vet homestay families via in depth interviews and home visits, and keep up on important current events in the region.
Program Leaders are seasoned travelers who are CPR and First Aid certified, undergo thorough training in crisis management, and participate in a multi-day leadership training retreat. We do our best to prepare for any eventuality and have detailed emergency protocols for our leaders, in-country staff and U.S.-based staff.
We receive medical disclosures from all participants to ensure we are able to meet every students’ needs during the program. Please inform us immediately of any additional health issues that you did not list during your initial registration process. Program Leaders will also hold an online information session before your departure, as well as an arrival orientation in-country, in order to give participants important instructions on food safety, hygiene and preventing injury and illness. Leaders and in-country staff always respond immediately to any mental, physical or emotional health issues and follow comprehensive emergency protocols.
Insurance
While we work hard to ensure the safest experience possible for our travelers on program, experience teaches that travel is never without risk. For this reason, we recommend that all travelers consider a travel insurance policy with two additional provisions: Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) and Bed Rest. Detailed explanations of both provisions can be found on the link below.
To provide travelers and families with a quality option, Walking Tree has partnered with Travel Insured International, one of the most respected providers in the industry. Begin by getting a quote here.
IMPORTANT NOTE: in order to secure coverage with CFAR included, you must purchase the plan within 21 days of your deposit/first payment. You must also insure 100% of your trip cost, so program tuition + flight.