YOCJ is thrilled to be planning an overseas tour for the summer of 2024 to Austria. We plan to visit cities such as Salzburg and Vienna, as well as the Esterhazy Palace!
DATES
Friday June 21:
Bon Voyage Concert | Student Luggage Check-in
Saturday June 22:
YOCJ departs from West Windsor via coach buses to respective airports (Regular & Extended Packages only)
Sunday June 30:
YOCJ provides coach buses to pick up Regular Package participants from respective airports back to West Windsor
PARTICIPANTS
*Current YOCJ students who are in good standing, and who will be 12 years old and above at the time of the trip, are eligible to register to participate.
*YOCJ Seniors, class of 2024 are also eligible to register to participate.
*YOCJ Students who are accepted for the Spring 2024 semester, as well as returning YOCJ Spring-only Students are also eligible to register to participate.
*YOCJ families will also be eligible to register for the trip to accompany us.
*YOCJ families need to be mindful that this is a student-centered tour. YOCJ students will room together. ALL tour participants will adhere to the itinerary.
REHEARSALS
The rehearsal location and timings will be posted here ASAP. Anticipated dates:
*Tuesdays: May 14, 21, 28, June 11
*Monday June 17, Tuesday June 18, Thursday June 20
*Friday June 21 rehearsal before Bon Voyage Concert
ITINERARY
Please click HERE for the current itinerary.
UPDATES
Regular updates will be sent out via email. These updates will also be posted here via links:
1. Preliminary Information
2. September Update
3. October 10 Meeting Update
4. Registration Launch
5. October 17 Deposit Collection
6. Registration Extension
7. November Update
8. December Update
9. January Update
10. February – Tour T-shirt Design Contest
11. February – Roommate Survey Due Wed. 2/21
12. March Update
13. April Update – OTC / RX forms due April 30
PACKAGES & COST
Click HERE for the Austria Informational Handout for registration and package details.
REGULAR Package $3300 per person – see above Handout for details
LAND-ONLY Package $2500 per person – see above Handout for details
EXTENDED Package $3300 per person + TBD fees – see above Handout for details
TIMELINE
FALL REGISTRANTS:
Tuesday October 10 – Tour Parent Meeting #1
Tuesday October 17 – Payment #1 due: $1000 per person
Tuesday December 5 – Payment #2 due: $1000 per person
Tuesday February 6 – Payment #3 due: $1000 per person Regular/Extended. $250 Land-only
Tuesday April 30 – Final Payments & Tour Parent Meeting #2
SPRING REGISTRANTS:
Tuesday February 6 – Payment #1 due: $1000 per person
Tuesday March 5 – Payment #2 due: $1000 per person
Tuesday April 2 – Payment #3 due: $1000 per person Regular/Extended. $250 Land-only
Tuesday April 30 – Final Payments & Tour Parent Meeting #2
REGISTRATION
1. Registration has now concluded.
2. Parent/Student Contract for your records. Registering for the tour is your acceptance of the terms.
3. Passport Photocopy due at registration, if valid. New passport copies due ASAP, no later than February 20, 2024.
4. OTC & Prescription Form is required for each student who needs OTC or Prescription medication on tour due by Tuesday April 30, 2024.
PASSPORT & TRAVEL INFO
1. U.S. Passports must be valid for 3 months past our June 30 return date. October 1, 2024 will be the cutoff.
2. Foreign passport holders must go to the Austrian consulate in New York to obtain a Schengen visa. This must be done at least six months before the trip: between late January and April 1, 2024.
3. Anyone who needs to renew their US passports, should do so ASAP, considering it takes 3 to 4 months. Click HERE for information on Mercer County Connections in Hamilton Square.
TRIP INSURANCE
Trip Insurance is highly recommended. You are responsible for obtaining your own trip insurance/trip cancellation insurance. Review your options on sites such as www.insuremytrip.com
HOTELS
Roommate Request Surveys will be sent to YOCJ students ASAP and are due by February 21st. We will work diligently to honor all student roommate requests.
Single parents traveling with us: there will be a one-time $320 single room fee in order to have a single room for the duration of the tour. This amount will be due with the final payment. No additional fees for family doubles, triples and quads.
Firebird Fine Arts Tours and YOCJ staff will work together to determine which hotels people will be using. FYI, hotel information is as follows.
Vienna: Mercure Hotel Wien Westbahnhof
Hallein, near Salzburg: Pension Sommerauer, Gasthof Seefeldmühle, and Brückenwirt Hotel.
Firebird Fine Arts and YOCJ staff will determine who stays in which hotel. Thanks for your understanding!
FLIGHTS
YOCJ will be flying out on both Air Canada (updated on 2/20/24) and Aer Lingus. Firebird Fine Arts Tours and YOCJ staff will work together to determine which flights people will be using. Families will be on the same flights.
Air Canada flight #AC8879 departing Newark on June 22nd at 2:00 PM, arriving in Toronto at 3:42 PM
Air Canada flight # AC0886 departing Toronto at 5:50PM, arriving in Vienna on June 23rd at 8:30 AM
Air Canada flight # AC0837 departing Munich on June 30th at 11:50 AM, arriving in Toronto at 3:00 PM
Air Canada flight # AC0718 departing Toronto at 5:15 PM, arriving in LaGuardia at 6:48 PM
Aer Lingus Flight #EI0104 departs JFK on June 22 at 4:55 PM, arrives in Dublin at 4:25 AM on June 23
Aer Lingus Flight #EI0660 departs Dublin at 7:20 AM, arrives in Vienna at 11:10 AM
Aer Lingus Flight #EI0353 departs Munich on 30th of June at 11:25 AM, arrives in Dublin at 1:00 PM
Aer Lingus Flight #EI0107 departs Dublin at 4:45 PM, arrives in JFK at 7:20 PM
YOCJ has decided that we will transition to WhatsApp in order to not incur overseas charges while we are in Austria. ALL YOCJ tour students and traveling family members should sign up in order to receive important reminders on the daily itinerary. Please contact Mrs. Epps for the link.
CANCELLATION FEES
*Full refunds (less a $100 non-refundable fee per person) are available up until March 22
*March 23-May 7: 10% of total trip cost cancellation fee (plus a $100 non-refundable fee)
*May 8-May 23: 20% of total trip cost cancellation fee (plus a $100 non-refundable fee)
*May 24-June 7: 35% of total trip cost cancellation fee (plus a $100 non-refundable fee)
*June 8-June 18: 60% of total trip cost cancellation fee (plus a $100 non-refundable fee)
*June 19 and on: 100% of total trip cost cancellation fee
PHOTOS
Enjoy these photos of Salzburg, Vienna, & Esterhazy Palace in anticipation of our amazing journey to Austria!
