Forum Educational Travel is a sister company of Forum Music Festivals. Founded twenty-four years ago, we’ve hosted thousands of music groups at our own festival events and arranged their travel details.
We’re excited to branch out into a new venture with Forum Educational Travel. Our clients have enjoyed traveling with us and encouraged us to offer our personalized service for student trips all across the country. Our vision for Forum Educational Travel is to develop and build on meaningful relationships by providing the same quality and worry-free experiences on customized student trips.
Whether you are looking for a world-class trip of a lifetime or a multi-day trip on a budget, we custom build every package to YOUR specific needs and requirements.
Your time is valuable. You have many choices and we want working with Forum to be easy and enjoyable. We care about our clients and we hope you’ll use us as a resource in the coming year.
Discover Forum Educational Travel! Here’s to another wonderful year of adventure!
Our custom travel packages are designed to reflect your tour goals and interests. We are dedicated to setting up a safe trip packed with incredible memorable moments.
Every Overnight Package includes:
- Lodging at a quality hotel near attractions
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Activities and attractions of your choice
- Complimentary package for each educator
- On-call staff available 24/7 for any on-trip concerns
Suggested Itineraries:
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Los Angeles
- Orlando
- New York
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- Seattle
Contact FET for a custom package to the destination of your choice. Let’s get something started for you!
Note: Travel protection is a recommended add-on to protect your investment; pricing for travel insurance depends on coverage requested (covered or cancel for any reason), Please contact us for additional information.
Count on us to create an itinerary that delivers a totally unique and interesting experience for your students.
Explore your options - here’s a list with a diverse range of activities, but this is just a sample of vibrant and popular choices for the trip of a lifetime!
- Performance opportunities
- Regional museums and activities
- Harbor cruises
- National historic places
- Theme Parks
- Symphony concerts & Broadway shows
- Festivals, exchange concerts and clinics
- Guided tours
- Group-friendly restaurants
YES! Many different attractions allow for groups to perform including theme park performances and workshops as well as public performances in well-trafficked venues. Contact us directly for ideas and suggestions.
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YES! Hotel accommodations are reserved at hotels near your activities. When selecting a hotel for your group, safety and security are of the highest importance. Groups are only lodged at quality hotels with interior corridors. We request that student rooms be blocked close to chaperone rooms. Rooms are requested on the second floor or higher. We do not book student groups in rooms with outdoor access.
Our relationship with specific hotels helps keep your trip within budget. Any specific requests you provide to us is shared with the hotel.
Absolutely! We arrange everything from theatre, symphony tickets to bowling parties, sightseeing tours, clinics, workshops, and everything in between.
YES! Upon request, FET will provide an airfare proposal. As always, Forum works to accommodate all of our groups’ needs within your budget. Airlines do enforce strict deadlines, so we will inform you of all deadlines up front. Once a flight itinerary is chosen and reservations are made, we will assist with additional information pertaining to your specific airline in terms of luggage fees for instruments, underage traveler identification, etc.
Our relationship with reputable bus companies yields competitive rates and you save money! You will receive a no-obligation quote based on your itinerary. Here are a couple of initial tips to get you started:
- Let’s order buses as soon as you have a confirmed date. We work with bus companies to get a clear picture of costs upfront so you have an accurate quote. A deposit may be required to hold your bus.
- The Department of Transportation determines rules about off-duty hours for drivers. Safety is top priority. Drive time limits are key when planning your return trip.
- Traffic jams, bathroom breaks, and surprises happen. Our itineraries provide drivers with precise destinations. We confirm it all so you don’t have to!
We are always reviewing your itinerary to save you money.
Yes, we can book a room for your bus drivers at your hotel whether or not we have arranged your charter bus transportation.
Driver’s rooms must be listed on the rooming list. Many bus companies require a paid day sleeping room for each driver if the group requires transportation at night. Charges for bus driver’s rooms vary. This information will be listed on your itinerary - no surprises!
Breakfast is included on all Forum Educational Travel custom trips. Theme park or restaurant meal vouchers or group meals at student-friendly restaurants may be added.
Educators will receive all theme park tickets (unless previously agreed upon) in a packet that is shipped about one week prior to travel. The packet contains tickets, maps, the latest itinerary, and rooming list as well as other helpful information. You MUST review all contents and mail the confirmation form back to us so tickets will be activated.
Our itineraries are so thorough, you won’t need a tour escort. However, a tour escort helps ensure a seamless and worry-free trip for you! A tour escort can meet your group to handle itinerary details, as your budget will allow.
We are excited to introduce Your Trip Assistant – a fast, convenient, and completely customized alert system for directors of overnight groups! This complimentary automated text messaging system allows Forum Music Festivals to text reminder messages to you throughout your trip. No need for an onsite tour escort - receive reminders via text before your first warm-up time, prompting upcoming bus loading, theatre or concert start times, restaurant reservations and addresses, and more! Director must opt in to Your Trip Assistant. Text messages apply only to your trip. Opt in today with a Forum team member to have Your Trip Assistant in the palm of your hand! Standard text messaging rates may apply – contact your carrier for details.
Many groups recruit chaperones based on a 1 per 10 ratio. Check with your administration for guidelines. Be specific about your expectations for chaperones before the trip. Chaperone responsibilities can include bus counts, room checks, managing equipment, supervising behavior, enforcing curfews. Chaperones may be in charge of a preset group of students. Make them aware that, though the trip is enjoyable, their job is to supervise students. Check with your district to determine any requirements for chaperones that can include background checks, fingerprinting, etc.
Calculating trip costs has several parts, including lodging, meals, buses, & activities. If you are trying to stay within a budget, let us know right from the start. We will make suggestions to match your needs within the budget. We’ll sketch out an itinerary to fit your group’s interests.
Plan early. Allow time for students to meet fundraising goals. This yields a higher ratio of involvement. Start with a realistic number to avoid returning to students for additional funds. Building in a surplus gives you options — refund money, or plan a special meal or extra outing.
Create a timeline for collecting funds. Take into account holiday breaks and payment processing time. Busing and airfare is a large part of the travel budget. Determine these costs before giving a per person cost to students. Base your transportation expenses on a realistic number of travelers, so if there’s a drop, your bus expense will be covered. Other charges may apply— driver’s rooms, parking or toll fees.
Students usually stay 4 or 5 to a room. Chaperones usually stay 2 to a room. Packages also include a complimentary room for each educator.
Pricing listed on your itinerary is a per student price based on quad (4/room) or quint (5/suite), triple, double, or single occupancy package that includes lodging, breakfast, and activities.
Your group’s room block is based on your rooming list. Chaperone rooms are blocked between student rooms. Educators often request boys’ and girls’ rooms be on different floors. We’ll communicate your requests with the hotel.
After registering, you’ll receive an email with our rooming list form with the date we need the list returned to us. Your rooming list is due to us at least 75 days prior to your trip. Certain hotels require earlier due dates, but our staff will advise you if this applies to your trip.
Changes occur in student travel, so we’re as flexible as possible. Additions are allowed through Forum, based on hotel availability. After submitting your rooming list, you may change the rooming list one time at no additional fee. After that, a charge for each subsequent revision applies. No changes to the rooming list are allowed after the 30-day deadline. Please see our cancellation policy for more details.
Forum Educational Travel will reserve your hotel, transportation and activities upon approval of proposed itinerary.
All fees must be paid in full before the travel date. Delinquent schools will face a trip cancellation. Invoices will be forwarded prior to each due date.
Travel Packages Payment Schedule:
Payment schedules can be customized to meet the needs of your fundraising activities.
- 30 Days after Registration – Non-refundable deposits due. Motor coach deposit, if applicable.
- 90 Days before First Date of Travel – 1/3rd estimated balance due.
- 60 Days before First Date of Travel – 1/3rd estimated balance due.
- 30 Days before First Date of Travel – Final balance based on final Rooming List. Final motor coach balance due.
- Airfare will be billed separately based on carrier due dates and requirements.
Additional Financial Details
Registration after 90 days: Late registrations (less than 90 days prior to your travel date) can be accepted based on availability. All payment due dates are adjusted accordingly.
Payment Details: Invoices are emailed prior to each due date. Notify Forum Educational Travel immediately of changes in participant numbers, travel date, or rooming lists. Forum Educational Travel accepts district P.O.s, but all fees must be paid by check or credit card in full prior to the trip.
Overnight proposals and packages are subject to hotel availability at the time that the group approves the trip which may affect per person pricing from the initial proposal.
Important Dates:
| · Upon approval, return Acceptance/Acknowledgment form |
| · 1st payment - Return Contract (sent with first invoice) |
| · 75 days prior to travel: Submit final rooming list online. |
| · 30 days prior to travel: Participant Release forms due for ALL participants (sent with first invoice) |
| · 3 weeks prior to travel: Itinerary finalized. |
| · 1 week prior to travel: Pre-arrival package shipped to school with tickets, itinerary, and helpful information. |
| · Note: Airfare will be billed separately based on carrier due dates and requirements |
Registering your group is easy!
Give us a call (1-888-763-6786) or email us at info@forumtravel.org.
We’ll answer your questions and register your group over the phone. Once you register, we will move forward with your trip.
We want to be the travel company that helps you share a world outside the classroom with your students. Call us today to find out more about crafting a trip of a lifetime!
Below are several useful forms and resources that you may need as a festival participant.
Please contact info@forumtravel.org with any questions.
Deposit fees are fully refundable up to 90 days prior to your trip. After 90 days, 10% service fee on travel deposits will apply on any cancellations. Theatre tickets are non-refundable. Bus and hotel deposits may not be refundable. Cancellation requests, signed by a school official, must be emailed or mailed to our office. The postmarked date and time reflected on the email will be used as the cancellation date. Please allow 30 days after your travel date for refunds.
Cancelled overnight packages (including the travel deposit) are subject to the following refund policy (applies whether entire group cancels or individual cancellations)
| Prior to 90 days before first day of travel: | Full refund minus any non-refundable charges by outside services/vendors (theatre, bus, hotel, etc). |
| 46-89 days prior to first day of travel: | 10% per person fee will be assessed. All other payments will be refunded unless designated as non-refundable charges by outside services/vendors. |
| 45 days or less prior to first day of travel: | No refunds approved for group cancellations. No refunds approved for individual cancellations 45 days or less prior the first day of travel. Participants unable to travel may be replaced by another traveler but a $50 change fee may be assessed. Please contact us for options. |
A Note on Attrition:
Forum understands changes occur in student travel. We accommodate changes to your package to the best of our ability. Pricing is based on current availability, fees, & taxes based on the total number of participants (students, chaperones, & educators). If that number changes, we may re-price your package to adjust prorated costs, etc. Please note that if the package is re-priced due to attrition, it will likely increase the per person price by just a few dollars.
All destinations and suppliers have their own rules related to COVID-19. For example, you may be required to quarantine upon arrival in some locations. Some locations may require masks or social distancing, or they may require you to provide proof of vaccination or negative testing. While Forum Educational Travel will try to assist you in understanding these requirements, you are responsible for understanding these requirements and must not rely on any representations made by Forum Educational Travel. Should you be denied entry to any destination or attraction, Forum Educational Travel will not be responsible for any such denial, or any cost associated therewith.
All medical costs associated with a COVID-19 infection during the trip are the responsibility of each individual traveler.
Forum Festivals of Music, Inc. (dba Forum Educational Travel), its employees, shareholders, subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, directors and assigns (collectively “Forum Educational Travel”) does not own or operate any entity which is to or does provide goods or services for your trip, including, for example, lodging facilities, transportation companies, local ground handlers, food service or entertainment providers, etc. As a result, Forum Educational Travel is not liable for any negligent or willful act or failure to act of any such person, or any other third party not under its control. Without limiting the foregoing, Forum Educational Travel accepts no responsibility for any risk or injury, delay, inconvenience, damage, or death which results from criminal activity, terrorism or the threat thereof, weather or other acts of God, accidents, disease, epidemics or the threat thereof, illness, the provision of inappropriate or no medical attention, the demands of indoor or outdoor activities, attacks by animals, strikes, political or civil unrest, overbooking or downgrading of accommodations, structural or other defective conditions in hotels or other lodging facilities, insurrection or revolt, or any other event beyond its direct control. Participant hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Forum Educational Travel from any financial liability or obligation incurred by that individual participant and from any injury or damage to the person or property of others which that participant causes, or contributes to while participating in a Forum Educational Travel Program. Forum Educational Travelretains the right to expel any participant from the Program at the participant’s expense (and with no refund) if it believes that person’s continuation in the Program exposes him or herself or others to a risk of harm.
Forum Educational Travel is not responsible for personal injury and/or physical damage arising from acts of negligence of any member of a group attending a Forum Educational Travel event. If it becomes necessary or adviseable to cancel or alter the schedule of events, Forum Educational Travel may do so in its discretion. By registering for the program, the School agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Forum Educational Travel from any financial liability or obligation incurred by either the School, or any individual participant, and from any injury or damage to the person or property of others which any participant causes, or contributes to, while participating in a Forum Educational Travel event. The School, by submitting the application, releases Forum Educational Travel from any and all causes of actions, claims and damages of any kind, or nature, whatsoever, arising from any injury, loss, damage, cost, accident, delay, irregularity, or expense arising out of, or in any way connected with, the performance or operation of a Forum Educational Travel program. Forum Educational Travel disclaims all liability in actions resulting from the unlawful reproduction of parts and/or entire scores of music.
All destinations and suppliers have their own rules related to COVID-19. For example, you may be required to quarantine upon arrival in some locations. Some locations may require masks or social distancing, or they may require you to provide proof of vaccination or negative testing. While Forum Music Festivals will try to assist you in understanding these requirements, you are responsible for understanding these requirements and must not rely on any representations made by Forum Music Festivals. Should you be denied entry to any destination or attraction, Forum Music Festivals will not be responsible for any such denial, or any cost associated therewith.
All medical costs associated with a COVID-19 infection during the trip are the responsibility of each individual traveler.
ARBITRATION
Any dispute concerning this Agreement, the brochure or any other material concerning the trip or the trip itself must be resolved exclusively by binding arbitration in Santa Ana, California pursuant to the current commercial rules of the American Arbitration Association then existent. In any such arbitration, substantive (but not procedural) California law will apply without regard to the California Arbitration Act.
State of California Registered Seller of Travel: CST 2098512-40. (Registration as a seller of travel does not constitute approval by the State of California.)
For California Consumers:Upon cancellation of the transportation or travel services, where the passenger is not at fault and has not cancelled in violation of any terms and conditions previously disclosed and agreed to by the passenger, all sums paid to the seller of travel for services not provided will be promptly paid to the passenger, unless the passenger advises the seller of travel in writing, after cancellation. This provisision does not apply where the seller of travel has remitted the payment to another registered wholesale seller of travel or a carrier, without obtaining a refund, and where the wholesaler or provider defaults in providing the agreed-upon transportation or service.
This transaction is covered by the California Travel Consumer Restitution Fund (TCRF) if the seller of travel was registered and participating in the TCRF at the time of sale and the passenger is located in California at the time of payment. Eligible passengers may file a claim with TCRF if the passenger is owed a refund of more than $50 for travel services which the seller of travel failed to forward to a proper provider or such money was not refunded to you when required. A claim must be submitted to the TCRF within 12 mos. after the scheduled completion date of the travel. A claim must include sufficient documentation to prove your claim and a $35 processing fee. Claimants must agree to waive their right to other civil remedies against a registered participating seller of travel for matters arising out of a sale for which you file a TCRF claim. Request a claim form by writing to: Travel Consumer Restitution Corporation, P.O. Box 6001, Larkspur, CA. 94977-6001.
California law requires certain sellers of travel to have a trust account or bond. Forum Educational Travel has a trust account.
- Tickets for all Disneyland Park or Disney California Adventure visitors require pre-arrival purchase.
- Tickets cannot be added at the festival.
- Parents can’t purchase tickets at the Disneyland front gate unless space is available over and above reservations, which is unlikely.
- All Disney visitors require theme park reservations.
- Purchasing a group ticket order by or before 60 days prior to the festival through Forum Festivals means your group will have a reservation to enjoy the park on a designated date.
- All tickets are date specific.
- Please notify us of the day (or first day) that you will use your Disneyland Resort tickets. We can’t order your tickets without this information.
For Disney annual passholders in your group:
- Students with annual passes are charged a “festival only” fee.
- Forum Festivals cannot secure a Disneyland Resort reservation for annual passholders.
- Your annual passholder student or chaperone must make their own reservation for the day the group visits the park. If the student fails to do so, plan for the student’s pick-up at the festival.
- If your group is doing an Imagination Campus workshop or performance, a group ticket is required. No annual passes will be accepted by Disney for Imagination Campus events.
Payment Schedule Change:
- Our One-Day Festival payment schedule allows groups to pay half of the total group participation due 60 days prior to the festival and the final half due 30 days prior to the festival. If Disney is your park choice, that payment schedule no longer applies.
- For one-day participants, to ensure reservations for your group, we must receive your ticket order with final count AND 100% payment 60 days prior to the festival date since Disney will not guarantee reservations for orders after this time.
- For overnight participants, we will review your payment schedule to ensure that your 90-day payment will cover the cost of your Disneyland Resort ticket as well as other deposits due for your trip. If your payment plan is revised to cover this earlier timeline, we will contact you. Your payment due dates must be met promptly so we may order your tickets.
- Plan ahead - adding Disney tickets after the 60-day period will be very difficult, if not impossible.
Refund Details:
- Disney tickets are non-refundable. Please do not turn in tickets at the festival.
- Any student drops at the festival front desk are not eligible for refund for any portion of the festival package.
Park Hopper Policy:
If your group orders a Park Hopper ticket, please be aware of the Disneyland Resort policy:
- Guests must enter their “first park” if arriving PRIOR to 11 AM. You will not be able to “hop” until after 11 AM.
- The “first park” will be Disneyland Park unless you notify us of your preference before the tickets are ordered or if Disney requires that California Adventure is your “first park” due to reservation availability or Imagination Campus scheduling.
- If the group arrives AFTER 11 AM, you may enter either park first.
Additional Disney Requirements:
- Additional safety policies and requirements may be added at any point – we will attempt to inform you of these changes as they happen.
- Directors are responsible for understanding and abiding by current Disneyland Resort safety and security standards.