Student Vacation Travel to Europe
Eurail through Mediterranean Europe
Beaven & Associates conducts Eurail train trips to Spain, France or Italy.
These programs are open to students in grades 7 through 12 and are conducted during school vacation. During the programs students may choose to visit with host country families. Students visit sites of cultural and historical interest and develop a broader appreciation for European heritage, traditions and customs.
The Romans called the Mediterranean, Mare Nostrum, our sea, and named the provinces that bordered their sea, Hispania, Gallia, and Italia. After the fall of the empire and over many centuries, the provinces arose to become separate nations. From their once shared Latin tongue grew the Spanish, French, and Italian that we know today.
Even now these former provinces reveal to the visitor their common Roman heritage, especially along their warm southern coasts where olive groves and vineyards slope down to the sea bearing fruit from seeds first planted by the Romans. Aqueducts bring water from snowy peaks to the town center. Amphitheaters invite the spectators to the drama and arenas summon aficionados to the contest between man and beast. Durable Roman roads link the former outposts of the empire to their ancient capital, and all around the shores of the Mediterranean all roads still lead to Rome.
A journey through sunny Mediterranean Europe with Beaven & Associates will take the traveler via first class Eurail along roads that run parallel to those built by the Romans. Intended to introduce Americans to Europe, the itinerary follows a sequence of destinations proven popular over the years with students and families. Each stop along the way is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its history, its art, and the vivacity of its people, their cuisine, and entertainment. Each city is chosen for its role in linking Spain, France and Italy to the Roman world that preceded them.
Program features
First-class Eurail
Travel is on Europe's finest trains, such as the Spanish Talgo, Ave, or Euromed; the French TGV, and the Italian Pendolino or Cisalpino. Accommodations in comfortable, centrally located, three-star hotels noted in Frommer's or Fodor's.
Varied itineraries
The itinerary for any given trip includes some combination of destinations such as: Spain: Madrid, Segovia, Toledo, Barcelona, La Costa del Sol Italy: Milan, Florence, Venice, Pompeii, Naples, Rome, Capri
People-centered travel
The travel route presents many opportunities to meet European people on trains, in cafés, restaurants, discotheques, or other popular gathering spots.
Educational adventure
Our journey appeals to first-time travelers to Europe and particularly to students of history, art, Latin, Spanish, French or Italian. Our itinerary affords each traveler ample time at every destination to discover and explore his interests.
Travel Dates
Two sample itineraries are available: one for ten days of travel to Spain and another of two weeks of travel through all three countries. Departures are set for dates on or near the beginning of school vacations: mid February, mid March or mid April.
Costs
Detailed itineraries and specific costs per trip are available upon request. Costs include all travel arrangements: orientation and guidance, flights on regularly-scheduled international carriers, transfers, trains, hotels and two meals a day.
Tour Conductor
Peter R. Beaven, an Andover native, is founder and director of Beaven & Associates, a private tutoring agency. As a teacher and tour conductor, he is experienced in introducing New England area students and families to Mediterranean Europe and Spanish, French and Italian students to Andover and New England area families.