Questions?
| General Questions |
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| Chaperone Questions |
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| Payment Questions |
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How to book a tour?
1. Choose your trip.
2. Get permission from your host family, exchange representative, and school to travel.
3. Apply online, (www.student-management.com/smgtrip)
and download forms. You must send $100.00 for a deposit but you can also choose to pay full amount of a tour. You can make a deposit or payment online, fax, or mail. Total payment
is due at least 30 days before the trip.
4. Once we confirm you on a tour then you have to book an airplane ticket. Just be sure to book your flight according to our flight information on each tour of arrival dates and times and departure dates and times. Be sure you know what cities to arrive and depart from before booking. You can have our office assistant help you book your flights. |
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What’s included in the tour cost?
Breakfast, dinner, entrance fees to all listed attractions, airport transfers, transportation while on tour, hotel accommodations, professional tour staff, chaperones, taxes and tips. |
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What will I have to pay for that is NOT included in my tour package?
Airfare, transportation costs to the airport and returning transportation to host family, spending money for lunches, shopping, snacks, and personal expenses. Approximately $8.00 per day for lunches and snacks. Shopping for clothes, etc is up to your budget. |
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How are hotel rooms assigned? Can I bring a friend, host brother or host sister?
Hotel rooms are (Quad) 4 students assigned to a room – all same gender. If you request a friend, host brother or host sister (of high school age 15-19 of same gender) you can be assigned together if you request early enough when signing up for a tour. Just complete this request on your permission form online and mail out completed form to MPD Tour America, Inc. Also, a lot of students do not know anyone before tour begins, but everyone makes a lot of new friends. |
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Who do I send my deposit form, payments and permission form to?
Not to SMG!
Please send your deposit form and payments and permission forms completed to:
MPD Tour America, Inc.
9101 Shore Road, Suite 203
Brooklyn, New York 11209
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Who do I contact to ask questions about tour, payments, etc.?
Contact: MPD Tour America, Inc., it’s best to write an e-mail (info@mpdtoursamerica.com) or you can leave a detailed message on our voice messaging if the phones are busy and we will gladly return your call.
Please do not hang up without giving us your first and last name and area code and telephone number. Please speak slowly and clearly!
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How do I know I am accepted on a tour?
Once you make a deposit and your credit card or check etc., are cleared we will notify you by e-mail or telephone and confirm you on a tour. Also, do not book an airline ticket until you are confirmed on a tour by MPD Tour America, Inc. |
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How do I book a flight? (We do not book flights, only assist).
You can go online or a travel agent, or call an airline directly and book a flight on your own or use our office assistant to help book your airline ticket. |
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Is my airplane ticket refundable?
Most airline tickets are non-refundable, which means that you will not get a refund for the ticket if you do not travel. Most airlines will allow you to use the value of ticket to purchase another ticket later but they will charge a fee to change the ticket, which is usually is approximately $100.00 fee |
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Where can I purchase airline tickets other than online?
You can call any airline company direct or a local travel agency. You can find telephone numbers in the yellow pages or online, or you can dial information on your cell or home telephone. |
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Can I go on more than one tour?
Yes, you can go on as many tours as you are permitted by your school, exchange program and host family |
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Do I need permission to go on tours?
Yes, you need to complete a permission form which needs to be signed by your host family, area representative and school. If you are not an exchange student you just need a note from your family giving you permission and need to be 15-19 of high school age. |
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Can my exchange program refuse me permission to travel?
Yes, you need to complete a permission form which needs to be signed by your host family, area representative and school. If you are not an exchange student you just need a note from your family giving you permission and need to be 15-19 of high school age. |
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Will I have an emergency phone number awhile on tour for myself and my parents?
Yes, we will provide you with emergency telephone numbers for yourself and your parents awhile you are on tour (this will be in the student packet sent to you approximately 3 weeks prior to your tour date). Also, hotel telephone numbers, itinerary with all tour details. There will be a 24 hour contact telephone number
provided for real emergencies only!
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Are these tours chaperoned?
Our programs are chaperoned and supervised by our professional tour staff as well as chaperones from our partner exchange programs. |
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Are there areas and times that students are not supervised?
Yes, at lunch, shopping, and amusement parks students are in groups or 3 or more. (Chaperones and Tour Staff are nearby and students have cell phone #’s and students have emergency numbers for chaperones and staff). |
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How many adults are in charge on every trip?
It depends on the trip, but there are generally 3-4 adults on one bus. |
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How do I pay for a trip?
You can pay by Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover credit cards or a personal check or a money order. We do not accept cash or ATM Debit Cards. You complete a deposit form online or call us with credit card information over telephone. Send deposit form, payments and permission forms to MPD Tour America, Inc. not to SMG. |
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I paid you online and you didn’t respond?
Sometimes it takes a few weeks until we process all the students. It does not mean that we automatically take payments immediately as soon as you submit it online. Your deposit form gets processed through credit card companies, banks, etc., and this takes time to complete all the students applying for trips. |
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Will I be confirmed of payment or confirmation number given?
Yes once we process your payment and it is accepted from the credit card and checks etc. you will be notified by e-mail or by telephone with confirmation number. If you do not hear either way from us within 2 weeks please call or write us so you can be sure you sent the information and we received it. Sometimes students move to another home and we cannot contact them. |
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Can I make several payments?
Yes, after we receive your deposit form and the first $100.00, the balance can be paid by credit card, check, money order (in installments of 3 payments) up until 30 days before the tour date begins. If you submitted a deposit form online, you may log back in and make payments anytime. |
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What happens if I change my mind about a tour selection or want to cancel a trip?
If you cancel more than 45 days before the tour date, you will receive a full refund, less a $25.00 processing fee. If you cancel between 30-45 days before the tour, there will be a $100.00 cancellation fee. If you cancel between 1-30days before the tour date, there will absolutely be no refunds under any circumstances.
Refunds on your airline tickets are your responsibility, and you will need to notify for airline directly. Most airline tickets are non-refundable. |
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