1. Plan ahead – Pick a few choice DVD’s to watch – perhaps with your students’ input. Depending on where your journey starts, often a film or two after the ferry on the way down works well. This would will help settle before some (fingers crossed) shut eye!
2. Travel Sickness tablets – Ensure any medication for travel sickness is taken in good time and think about where they sit if that helps on the coach.
3. Pack a good selection of food / snacks to pass the time – Choose a fairly healthy packed lunch that will travel well (nothing that will get squashed or melt!) Bringing food from home will save on funds at service stations stops and meals on the ferry as this can be quite pricey. Meals on the ferry can involve having to wait in long queues to purchase them. Sandwiches, fruit and cereal bars are great but please avoid anything with nuts in as we are nut free on all our sites for the safety of some of our guests.
4. Drink plenty of water – Staying hydrated especially if it’s warm is an absolute must on a long coach journey. Use your refillable bottle to fill up with water on the way (an essential to have for all sessions on the water) For other liquids choose resealable / screw top bottles to prevent spillages and making a mess (always good to keep the drivers on side.) Avoid energy and fizzy drinks if possible to prevent any hyper behaviour. There is a toilet on board but there will be regular stops on the way so take advantage of those for comfort stops.
5. Take advantage of all stops for a leg stretch – you will have the chance to get off the coach when boarding the ferry for the evening crossing on the way and on the return morning crossing. Have a wander around in groups for a good leg stretch and perhaps get a meal if you haven’t got a packed lunch. GBP sterling or Euros can be used. Get off the coach at every stop on the way even if you don’t need the toilet to take the extra opportunity for additional movement.
6. Interact with fellow passengers – It’s a great to time to get to know your fellow trip mates – ice breakers, quizzes, challenges etc are a great way to bond and set the tone for the adventure ahead.
7. Play a few classic road games –
> I spy
> statements using the letters on a car reg
> 2 truths and a lie
> create a story adding a line each
> 20 questions – think of an object or a famous person – your group have to ask questions with yes or no answers with the challenge of guessing the correct person by question 20
> ‘Coach has got talent’ if you have a microphone – tell a joke, sing, act etc.
8. Take note of where you are – learn about places that you are passing through – perhaps in the form of a quiz or give pupils a chance to be tour guide for selected areas.
9. Sleep! Try and get some sleep! Neck or blow up pillows are good to find that comfortable position. Maybe some ear plugs or eye mask can also help block unwanted distractions.
