1. Welcome to our Pre-Departure Meeting!
Before we begin, please: 1. Parents and students, please sign in on the meeting attendance sheet with Mr. King 2. Turn in your gratuities envelope and passport picture page to Mr. Smith or Ms. Fowler at their table 3. Get your backpack and bag tag page from Mr. Steen or Mr. Myers at their table 4. Get some snacks and prepare to be informed and ask questions

2. 4.5—countries we’ll visit
Europe 2018: By the Numbers
9—days until departure
10—days in the trip
4.5—countries we’ll visit
Germany, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary
41—student travelers
7—chaperones

6. DAY ONE: SEATAC

7. Departure Day—Friday, 2.16.18 11:05 A.M. Group Meets at SeaTac Airport
We’ll meet you at the Lufthansa check-in counter
Use your passport to check in and check your luggage
Bring what you can carry/ one checked bag permitted
Lufthansa charges $100 to check a second bag
You must protect your baggage claim stubs until we arrive
Find Doran after you check in to give him your seat assignment
Do not go through security until we go through together.
2/16/2018 2:05 PM Seattle Lufthansa 2/17/2018 8:50 AM Frankfurt Flight# 0491
2/17/ :45 AM Frankfurt Lufthansa 2/17/ :55 AM Berlin Flight# 0180

8. Bus Life: VENICE 2013
Venice, 2013

9. Travel Director: Atto Suttarp

10. Estrel Hotel Berlin
Address: Sonnenallee , Berlin, Germany Phone:

11. DAY TWO: BERLIN

12. Berlin
Transfer from the airport to hotel to store bags and then transfer into the city by public transportation.
The Tour Director will lead a walking tour of central Berlin; then, the group will have free time for further exploration.
Dinner at a local restaurant.
Return to hotel by public transportation.

13. DAY THREE:
BERLIN

14. Berlin
Morning: Depart from the hotel by bus and enjoy a guided tour of Berlin (2hrs). On the tour the group will see Unter den Linden, Brandenburg gate (photo stop) and Alexander Platz, etc. Tour will end at the Checkpoint Charlie Museum for a self-guided visit (1hr).
Afternoon: Free time for lunch and further exploration.
Optional Excursion: Explore Potsdam, where the postwar administration of Germany was decided at the 1945 Potsdam Conference. Potsdam was also the royal playground of Frederick the Great of Prussia; see baroque palaces, pavilions and the royal residence’s gardens. Take a guided visit inside either Sanssouci or Cecilienhof .
Evening: Dinner at a local restaurant.

15. Potsdam Afternoon Excursion— Students who have signed up and paid for this optional excursion include:
Megan
Andersen
Valeria
Barberena
Dennis
Belianski
Andreas
Busse
Alyssa
D'Mello
Tyler
Gall
Samantha
Gorski
Eli
Gunderman
Kanoa
Jandoc
Thomas
Kurtz
Nathaniel
Locke
Ali
Mahmoud
Jacqueline
O'Hara
Isaac
Romero
Sophia
Smith
Maison
St. Peter
Samuel
Young
Alex
Zaharia

16. DAY FOUR: TO PRAGUE

17. 2.19.18 Berlin, Germany to Prague, Czech Republic via Dresden, Germany
Morning: Depart from the hotel by bus and travel to Dresden (3hrs).
Afternoon: Free time for lunch in Dresden, largely destroyed at the end of World War II, offering a prime example of German reconstruction in the late 20th century.
Travel by bus to Prague (3hrs). The Tour Director will lead a walking tour of the Jewish quarter (1hr). Free time in Prague (1.5hrs).
Evening: Dinner at a local restaurant.

18. Prague’s Merkur Hotel
Address: Těšnov 1162/9, Prague 1, Phone:

19. DAY FIVE: PRAGUE

20. Prague, Czech Republic
Morning: Depart from the and meet your local guide for a tour of Prague (3hrs).
The tour begins at the castle, entering St Vitus Cathedral and walking along the Golden Lane. The group will then walk across the Charles Bridge into old town. The guided walking tour ends at the old town square by the astrological clock.
Afternoon: Free time for lunch and further exploration Evening: Group will meet the Tour Director in city center to go to dinner at a local restaurant.

21. DAY SIX: Kraków

22. 2.21.18 Prague, Czech Republic to Kraków, Poland
Morning: Depart from the hotel by bus and begin transfer to Poland (3hrs, 30mins).
The group will stop for lunch at a rest stop in either Olomouc or Starý Jičín (1hr).
Afternoon: Continue by bus and meet the local guide for a sightseeing tour of Krakow (4hrs).
The tour begins with a panoramic bus ride and the remainder of the guided tour will be on foot. The group will go up the castle hill and visit inside the Wawel Cathedral. The tour will end after visiting St. Mary’s Church in the old town.
Evening: Eat dinner at a local restaurant.

23. Ibis Kraków Centrum Hotel
Address: ul. Syrokomli 2, Kraków, Polska Phone: /

24. DAY SEVEN: AUSCHWITZ

25. 2.22.18 Kraków, Poland for Auschwitz and Birkenau
Morning: Depart hotel to Auschwitz and Birkenau (1.5hrs). On this bus transfer, the Tour Director will speak to the group about the site and what to expect as the visit can be very moving. Upon arrival the group will see a film (20 mins) followed by a guided tour with a local guide of the two main camps (2 hrs).
Afternoon: Return to Kraków by bus (1.5hrs).
There will be time for lunch and free time for further exploration (3hrs).
During free time, the group may want to visit the Stare Miasto (Old Town), which is full of architectural gems. Its ancient cellars are packed with cafes and galleries. The group may also choose to stop at the Barbakan, the only remnant of the city’s medieval fortifications.
Evening: Group will meet the Tour Director in city center to go to dinner at a local restaurant.

26. DAY EIGHT: TO BUDAPEST

27. 2.23.18 Kraków, Poland to Budpaest, Hungary via Slovakia
Morning: Depart hotel by bus for a scenic transfer to Budapest.
Afternoon: Stop for lunch in Slovakia.
Evening: Arrive in Budapest and take a Tour Director-led walking tour of Budapest.
Dinner at a local restaurant.

28. Budapest Grand Hotel Hungaria
Address: Rakoczi 90, Budapest, 1074, Hungary Phone:

29. DAY NINE: BUDAPEST

30. Budapest, Hungary
Morning: Depart hotel by bus for a guided bus tour of Budapest. This panoramic tour is partly a walking tour and will cover both sides of the Danube River (Buda and Pest). The tour begins at Heroes’ Square, where the group will see the Millenary Monument and statues of famous Hungarian personalities. The group will visit the Castle Hill in Buda with the entrance to Matthias Church included.
Afternoon: The guided tour will end with a stop on Gellért Hill, from where you can take in some of the best views of the city. Free time for lunch.
Optional Excursion: Budapest's Széchenyi Thermal Bath is the largest of its kind in Europe. This sprawling spa surrounds you in romantic Neo-baroque architecture. Relax in the indoor thermal baths or venture to the outdoor swimming pool, where you can play chess with locals on oversized boards.
Evening: Group will meet the Tour Director in city center to go to dinner at a local restaurant.

31. 2.24.18 Budapest Baths Excursion—Students here signed up and paid for this optional excursion
Luke
Boyer
Kaitlyn
Ebeling
Megan
Andersen
Valeria
Barberena
Dennis
Belianski
Alyssa
D'Mello
Tyler
Gall
Samantha
Gorski
Kanoa
Jandoc
Thomas
Kurtz
Nathaniel
Locke
Ali
Mahmoud
Jacqueline
O'Hara
Sophia
Smith
Maison
St. Peter
Samuel
Young
Alex
Zaharia

32. DAY TEN: TO SEATTLE

33. 2.25.18 Budapest, Hungary to Seattle, Washington
Meet us at baggage claim—we’re scheduled for 11:50 AM
We will have to go through customs in Seattle when we arrive, which can be very quick or very slow
2/25/2018 6:55 AM Budapest Lufthansa 2/25/2018 8:40 AM Frankfurt Flight# /25/ :30 AM Frankfurt Lufthansa 2/25/ :50 AM Seattle Flight# 0490

34. https://shsineasterneurope.blogspot.com/

35. Wi-Fi Accessibility Berlin Hotel: “basic” = free
Part of the “joy” of travel is disconnecting a bit 
Berlin Hotel: “basic” = free
“high speed” = €3/hour, €15/day
Prague Hotel: free
Krakow Hotel: free
Budapest Hotel: free

36. Finances
Bring an ATM card and/or a valid credit card (one can serve both purposes, but students must be able to use an ATM) on this trip.
Please don’t send traveler’s checks. The best exchange rates are at ATMs.
Most students have been comfortable with $50 per day
Students will pay for their own lunches, snacks, beverages with dinner (soda, tea, coffee, etc), and any souvenirs they will want or need during the journey.
Chaperones can hold an emergency credit card or cash in an envelope for students if it gives parents additional peace of mind.

37. Finances: Gratuities Breakdown

38. Finances: Exchange Rates (as of 2.6.2018)
€1 (Germany and Slovakia use the Euro) equals $1.20 US; $1 = €0.81
1 Kč (Czech Koruna) equals $0.047 US; $1 = Kč
1 zł (Polish Zloty) equals $0.29 US; $1 = 3.35 zł
1 Ft (Hungarian Forint) equals $ US ; $1 = Ft

39. Traveler Expectations
Be on time for scheduled events.
Bring a watch and wear it!
Be nice to everyone, and represent your school and country well.
Stay with chaperones or let them know where you are going and when you will return.
Be inclusive and open to making new friends.
“Hit the wall”
Be in your room for bed-check and stay there until breakfast.
No alcohol or illegal drugs.
If you have any questions or concerns, talk to the chaperones as soon as possible so we can assure you’re having a fun trip.

40. Traveler Expectations
Be open and sensitive to different cultures and history.
This will be of paramount importance in and around memorials to victims of genocide
Be attentive to commentary on tour.
Always have the name/address of our hotel
Cuisine—it will be different. I encourage you to be open.
You must declare your vegetarianism today or we won’t be able to guarantee you vegetarian options
Hotels are different in Europe than what you would expect in the USA. They are much smaller, older, and don’t usually have the same amenities. This is  not a bad thing… remember, we are experiencing a new culture.

41. Traveler Teams: Your Appointed Adult
Matheny
Myers
Fowler
Sophie Gerth
Isaac Romero
Tyler Gall
Lucy Salmick
Ansen Tan
Tom Kurtz
Alejandro Steckler
Luke Boyer
Sophia Smith
Francisco Rubiolo
Brian Ahn
Samantha Gorski
Sam Young
Luciano Araya
Claire Blanton
Heli Sun
Alex Zaharia
Doran
Smith
Maya Uradnik
Laura Gall
Dani Nankova
Alyssa D'Mello
Rohini Mettu
Nate Locke
Ali Stofer
Aiden Moon Spindler
Dennis Belianski
Andreas Busse
Avanij Chakravarty
Katie Ebeling
Steen
King
Kanoa Jandoc
Chloe Standwold
Eli Guderman
Mariana Cortes Espinosa
Ali Mahmoud
Maison St. Peter
Valeria Barberena
Jeffrey Guo
Jackie O'Hara
Ava Schmidt
Megan Anderson
Luis Sangueado Hernandez

42. Traveler Expectations: The Count

43. Rooming Valeria Barberena Dani Nankova Sam Young Ali Mahmoud
Jackie O'Hara
Alejandro Steckler
Alyssa D'Mello
Heli Sun
Francisco Rubiolo
Claire Blanton
Mariana Cortes Espinosa
Thomas Kurtz
Maya Uradnik
Chloe Stendwold
Luis Sanguedo Hernandez
Sophie Gerth
Katie Ebeling
Jeffrey Guo
Samantha Gorski
Ali Stofer
Luciano Araya
Sophia Smith
Ava Schmidt
Brian Ahn
Maison St. Peter
Laura Gall
Kanoa Jandoc
Rohini Mettu
Tyler Gall
Nate Lock
Lucy Salmick
Isaac Romero
Ansen Tan
Megan Anderson
Aiden Moon Spindler
Luke Boyer
Eli Gunderman
Avanij Chakravarty
Alex Zaharia
Andreas Busse
Dennis Belianski

44. Weather Berlin: 39/28 12 Prague: 39/27 12 Krakow: 34/23 11
Note: it’s going to feel very, very cold! Even colder than the weather suggests!!
City High/Low Av Days of Precip.
Berlin: 39/
Prague: 39/
Krakow: 34/
Budapest: 39/

45. Remind Texting Group Enrollment and Traveler/Parent Final Survey
1. To join our texting group via “Remind,” please do one of the following:
Via Text: please the number 81010.  You’ll receive a welcome text from Remind, and you can then add it to your contacts.
If anyone has trouble with 81010, try )
Via the Web: remind.com/join/2fcc8b
2. Please fill out the Final Pre-Departure Google Form Survey asap as well. This link is on my travel page:

46. See you at 11:05 A.M. Friday at SEATAC Airport
Check in at Lufthansa and keep your bag claim stubs
Call a group leader’s cell phone if you have any problems on travel day:
Matheny:
Doran:
Do not share our cell phone numbers with non-travelers. Thanks!

47. Questions