FabSwingers.com forum: School Trips

By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Why are they so bloody expensive I am having a moan my daughter has just come home with the offer of a trip to Romania for 12 days but it is so expensive and how on earth are us parents expected to pay for them.

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By *iewMan
Forum Mod
over a year ago

Angus & Findhorn

sadly if parents can't, then it's a no to the trip.

there is no one else going to pay.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I have recently had this with one of my Daughters.. She wants to go on a school trip next year its £640 quid.. Her dad said he would go halves.. but seeing as I have four kids and Have already told my son he cant go to France because it costs to much I am not going to then give her half.

So I have just said that I cant afford it.

Saying that.. my youngest went to a zoo trip and it was £24 for myself and my daughter to go..

Cali

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Primary school not too bad but she had her Paris trip last year a weekend £300 + passport + spends and clothes this Romanian trip is over £1000 but why do schools tell children to get their hopes up not fair.

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By *oantrimcpl2010Couple
over a year ago

Lisburn

The reality is that a lot of parents will be in the same position. At the time we couldnt afford to send eldest on trip, but when it cam to youngest we could but said no, and went on a family holiday instead.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Tell me about it! my daughter (yr10) went to paris with school in june £175, next july going to italy for a week £480, then this week comes home with a letter about a trip to new york with her drama group £800, ive had to say no, theres just no way

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

i got barred from school trips for spilling dandelion and burdock on the coach seats (after we'd been told not to eat or drink on it)

not that i missed out on much, they didnt go far in them days - and where they did go was usually boring as hell

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Primary school not too bad but she had her Paris trip last year a weekend £300 + passport + spends and clothes this Romanian trip is over £1000 but why do schools tell children to get their hopes up not fair."

i think the school needs to have a real think about where they take kids, especially when the budget is over 1K. surely they are eduated enough to know we are not out of the termoil, in fact i just read an article today saying the markets are more scared now then they were in 2009!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I dont think they should have school trips. A day out, is good enough.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

It doesn't sound good at all Shaz and I think what schools forget is that the pressure goes down the line from the kids to the parents.

It starts with the kids asking each other if they are going and then the "pester power" begins.

I've heard the same with £1000 trips to New York and of course the new ideas of having a Prom with limo/hairstyling/dress/week in Portugal afterwards.

It all falls on the shoulders of the poor old Mums and Dads though.

You really have my sympathy on this and I feel the schools should bear in mind the struggles people are having.

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"It doesn't sound good at all Shaz and I think what schools forget is that the pressure goes down the line from the kids to the parents.

It starts with the kids asking each other if they are going and then the "pester power" begins.

I've heard the same with £1000 trips to New York and of course the new ideas of having a Prom with limo/hairstyling/dress/week in Portugal afterwards.

It all falls on the shoulders of the poor old Mums and Dads though.

You really have my sympathy on this and I feel the schools should bear in mind the struggles people are having."

Could'nt of put it better myself I did say to Rosie That money could pay for a family holiday. Plus having two children I wont say yes to one and not the other.

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By *iewMan
Forum Mod
over a year ago

Angus & Findhorn

wonder how much of the price is insurance... bet it's hefty

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

There are far more trips that 20 years ago. Some are expensive and some less so. In life we cant have what we want all the time or i would have a Ferrari. Its never too early for kids to find out how life works.

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By *ittlemorespiceCouple
over a year ago

North Cornwall

"There are far more trips that 20 years ago. Some are expensive and some less so. In life we cant have what we want all the time or i would have a Ferrari. Its never too early for kids to find out how life works."

Well said.

Mistress x

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By *oDownEasyMan
over a year ago

Ayrshire

Even day trips are expensive now, and you wonder how the council work out the costs...£10 x 30 kids for what exactly?

And some of the forrin trips are, to me, just an excuse for the teachers to get a subsidised holiday out of it!

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By *ustyWoman
over a year ago

inverclyde

my daughter is just back from a school trip..... iceland...... cost £700 but you do get 10 months to pay for it she said it was fantastic but expensive........... a one of a lifetime experience

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By *iewMan
Forum Mod
over a year ago

Angus & Findhorn

"Even day trips are expensive now, and you wonder how the council work out the costs...£10 x 30 kids for what exactly?

And some of the forrin trips are, to me, just an excuse for the teachers to get a subsidised holiday out of it!"

I would imagine being responsible for kids abroad is no subsidised holiday.... have you seen them in town centres...

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

£7k in 12 months for two children to go on school trips...not us but somes mates of ours. Our daughter has just started secondary school and three trips already booked in three and a half weeks!!!!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Mine would rather do a festival with me than the school trips so this is what we do

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By *iewMan
Forum Mod
over a year ago

Angus & Findhorn

"Mine would rather do a festival with me than the school trips so this is what we do"

sounds a great idea.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Mine would rather do a festival with me than the school trips so this is what we do"

A great idea.

I know they are responsible for the kids on the trip but do the teachers always go for free?

I remember when I was at school the teachers looking forward to their annual skiing holiday at Easter.

I just feel for the parents having to pony the money up. Maybe the best thing is to say "no" so the child gets an idea of life not being a gravy train.

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By *atisfy janeWoman
over a year ago

Torquay

It's high time that these schools caught up with the REAL world....hasn't anyone told them that there is a recession on?

I just think they need a good kick up the arse from the Secretary of State for Education , I realise he isn't living in the real world as he is a bit of a toff, but SURELY he must have enough sense to save parents from these totally un-needed money worries.....on top of all the other financial strains placed upon them.

Time to act Mr Gove....

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Wow how times have changed my school trips consisted of a day trip to France and a week at butlins minehead

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By *ushroom7Man
over a year ago

Bradford

"my daughter is just back from a school trip..... iceland...... cost £700 but you do get 10 months to pay for it she said it was fantastic but expensive........... a one of a lifetime experience

Flippin heck that is expensive. I'm just back from Iceland, got half a trolley load of quality food for a £5er

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By *ushroom7Man
over a year ago

Bradford

Foreign school trips and prom nights?

We were lucky if we had a day trip to Haworth, and a snog in the school cafeteria at the leaving do.

And some of them old dinner ladies were right battle axes.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

When i was at the primary school we went to the isle of white for the day, and i thought that was realy great.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

my daughter went to boulogne for the day cost £100. its paris next june dont know what that will cost.

dearest trip was her leavers trip at primary school with everything she needed it cost £250 for 5days in the lake district but she loved it

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

3 kids in same school, do the schools think us parents are made of money????

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By *atisfy janeWoman
over a year ago

Torquay

"3 kids in same school, do the schools think us parents are made of money????"

Maybe it's time for the parents to stand together and say....No.

These schools are way out of touch with reality.....

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

schools don't run as a business i'm sure they're not making a profit on them. insurance i hear costs a fortune

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

i remember when school trips were day trips to likes of calderpark zoo, or butlins and the like. Trips are just to expensive. Some of the prices for one child are the same as a family of 3 all inclusive for a week away.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Its an emotive subject but and its a big but the trips are not compulsory, they cannot in most cases accommodate all the children in the year as well. Should schools only plan trips to suit the families with the lowest available income or should they offer a wide range of trips for children to go on? Budget is a limit for many and its too much to expect the state to pay for all children but should some children be denied the opportunity to go on a trip of a life time just because others cannot afford.

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By *ensual temptressWoman
over a year ago

Southampton

[Removed by poster at 01/10/11 01:25:00]

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By *ensual temptressWoman
over a year ago

Southampton

maybe something to be discussed at pta meetings . maybe some sort of comprimise could be met or limit set for cost of trips so makes it affordable for majority not the minority

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Life is not a fan fare, parents can not afford everything. Some are richer than others, when your kid begins to understand your financial limitations, the less they'd pressure. Youcan give your best but not more. Tell them it's not about loving or not loving them. Let them know that it's difficult for to afford that just like it's difficult for them to make 100% in all their courses (not just A's but 100). In that way, they might start getting the grip. And know that if you've got more than one kid, if you do it for the eldest then the younger must always get it or else they'd never forget it or forgive you. So the best time to kill a monster is when it's young.

One love xxx

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By *athnBobCouple
over a year ago

sandwell

"Holiday" style school trips (skiing, rumania, disnyland, paris etc) are not organised by the schools.

They are not compulsory and although may contain some elements that will be of benefit to a childs education a child will not suffer if they do not go on it.

If it is compulsory for the childs education then you will find it is either VERY heavily subsidised or even free.

"Holiday" trips are organised by individual teachers or groups of teachers and they tend to have to use specialist companies because of the implications for H&S and insurance. Hence the extra cost.

The group is awarded free places depending on how many people book (common for most group bookings be it for schools or not) and the company. How these free places are used is upto the organisers. Some teachers will take these places themselves as "payment" for working 24/7, others will split the cost amongst everyone to reduce everyones bill and others will give the free places away to deserving students who otherwise would not have gone.

My sons school have a lottery system where there are 1-2 free places on every trip and pupils names are drawn at 'random'. Surprising how many disadvantaged but worthy pupils get to go on these trips

Last one was a 15 year old son of a druggy/prostitute who had never been on holiday in his life. The one before that was a girl who had been dumped on her ageing grandparents at birth because her mother didn't want her.

At the end of the day it is your call if they go or not.

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By *ranny-CrumpetWoman
over a year ago

The Town by The Cross

What is a school for ?

Who runs a school ?

Who insists that EDUCATIONAL VISITS should be on the curriculum ?

Who demands that children's education requires a global perspective in a global economy ?

Why do people think 'The Teachers' whoever they are, decide any this ?

Hands up who didn't plan their children OR their future.

Hands up those who love their children dearly , deeply and desparately but just wanted them to keep in the bedroom or maybe allow to the garden gate after sun down?

What did you think they were going need to become part of the world they live in?

I do need to tell you all that when a school has to decide where to take your children ( as they have to prove that they provide a wide and varied curriculum ) They don't give a tinkers shit what your child is learning. They book it for somewhere warm with drugs, booze, sex , fags and gambling for the teachers. Oddly I think you'll believe that one.

Why do people have children and then moan about the cost ?

What happened to the word 'NO'?

How many of you are active in your child's school and education and have asked the reason behind the visits ?

Why bother when you can stay warm and type it up in here.

You had 'em. You sort it.

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By *ranny-CrumpetWoman
over a year ago

The Town by The Cross

[Removed by poster at 01/10/11 08:45:22]

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By *ranny-CrumpetWoman
over a year ago

The Town by The Cross

"Why are they so bloody expensive I am having a moan my daughter has just come home with the offer of a trip to Romania for 12 days but it is so expensive and how on earth are us parents expected to pay for them."

I know how it feels to be faced with something that is going to be difficult to afford.

Feels even worse when you think you are going to have to let a child down.

There are ways of planning to make sure that we can afford children as they grow and become more costly than we could ever have imagined but it's ironic that our children are our test run and we don't really find out just what it's like until we are in the middle of it.

I guess there just aren't many people who sit down and research the cost of raising children for a life time before they enter into it.

I do think a child is the most precious thing that people will be responsible for looking after yet it's the least they consider before doing it.

If someone has SIX kids and NO job. Who is keeping them on an every day basis ?

I hope you find a way for at least one school visit in their lifetime Shaz xx

Why not ring the school and see what is up and coming for each of them so it won't be a shock and you can sit with them and make a decision about what they need to sacrifice to get the money together etc.....

I always thought that educational visits are far cheaper than holidays.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"What is a school for ?

Who runs a school ?

Who insists that EDUCATIONAL VISITS should be on the curriculum ?

Who demands that children's education requires a global perspective in a global economy ?

Why do people think 'The Teachers' whoever they are, decide any this ?

Hands up who didn't plan their children OR their future.

Hands up those who love their children dearly , deeply and desparately but just wanted them to keep in the bedroom or maybe allow to the garden gate after sun down?

What did you think they were going need to become part of the world they live in?

Why do people have children and then moan about the cost ?

What happened to the word 'NO'?

How many of you are active in your child's school and education and have asked the reason behind the visits ?

Why bother when you can stay warm and type it up in here.

You had 'em. You sort it."

Granny thank you! I wrote something similar then lost wi fi connection.

I was sterilized a week after my 31st birthday following the birth of my third child. I knew we wouldn't be able to provide a good quality of life for me.

So yes, our children went skiing in Italy, diving in Egypt etc...my parents couldn't afford it and I missed out, made sure I could afford to pay for the children I had.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Some of the trips are going to be very expensive. The insurance, as View said, is hefty and the fact that the kids are being cared for by the teachers 24/7, you've got to pay for that.

My sons school was offering 4 days in New York for just over £1000. I thought the cost of that was very reasonable and in line with current costs so I didn't feel it was overpriced

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I know how it feels to be faced with something that is going to be difficult to afford.

Feels even worse when you think you are going to have to let a child down.

I guess there just aren't many people who sit down and research the cost of raising children for a life time before they enter into it.

I do think a child is the most precious thing that people will be responsible for looking after yet it's the least they consider before doing it.

If someone has SIX kids and NO job. Who is keeping them on an every day basis ?

I hope you find a way for at least one school visit in their lifetime Shaz xx

I always thought that educational visits are far cheaper than holidays. "

Actually Gran, I was one of those people that worked out the cost. My daughters don't have uni debts as I said to my husband I bet by the time the kids grow up they'll charge for uni.

My parents couldn't afford school trips but I knew my kids wouldn't miss out.

Didn't factor in things like computers, mobile phones, hair weave et all though!

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By *ranny-CrumpetWoman
over a year ago

The Town by The Cross

Well done Sass! My children were and are left with student debt.

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By *ranny-CrumpetWoman
over a year ago

The Town by The Cross

I just couldn't afford visits that cost £1000 per child.

No parent pays for the teachers. They do it for fuck all ..... and if they end up taking the children on a ski ing trip etc.....they buy all the stuff they need themselves. It's not a holiday for them either. They are on duty 24/7 so that YOUR children develop in ways that are not possible without a chance to get away from their mummy, travel and have to get on with peers.

Without schools some children would end up as socially useless as the people who gave them birth.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

My daughters school is great for trips, this yr she has started her GCSE's, she has knows which college she would like to attend and has her heart set on a uni place.. she wants to be a Geography teacher, she loves it, she enthusiastic about it.. so when the Italy trip came along, run by the geography department, encompasing most of the things they learn on the course for her to see or do 1st hand, there was no question for me that she would go. I went into school, explained that i would struggle to pay for it and they have helped me with a weekly payment option

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By *ranny-CrumpetWoman
over a year ago

The Town by The Cross

What a mum xxx seriously - how positive is that

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"My daughters school is great for trips, this yr she has started her GCSE's, she has knows which college she would like to attend and has her heart set on a uni place.. she wants to be a Geography teacher, she loves it, she enthusiastic about it.. so when the Italy trip came along, run by the geography department, encompasing most of the things they learn on the course for her to see or do 1st hand, there was no question for me that she would go. I went into school, explained that i would struggle to pay for it and they have helped me with a weekly payment option"

Enchante`..

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

*gulps*

goes to raid piggy bank and starts to save now for about 7 years time

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By *ranny-CrumpetWoman
over a year ago

The Town by The Cross

"*gulps*

goes to raid piggy bank and starts to save now for about 7 years time "

Better plan a bank job quickly. Money isn't going to be worth anything soon...

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By *plpxp2Couple
over a year ago

Middlesbrough

How long before student loans start at infant school?

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

I know how it feels to be faced with something that is going to be difficult to afford.

She had her paris trip last year and this year instead of school trip we as a family are going on holiday I have not been on a plane since I was 18.

Feels even worse when you think you are going to have to let a child down.

I guess there just aren't many people who sit down and research the cost of raising children for a life time before they enter into it.

I do think a child is the most precious thing that people will be responsible for looking after yet it's the least they consider before doing it.

If someone has SIX kids and NO job. Who is keeping them on an every day basis ?

I hope you find a way for at least one school visit in their lifetime Shaz xx

I always thought that educational visits are far cheaper than holidays. "

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By *urreyfun2008Man
over a year ago

East Grinstead

Travelling has shot up in cost massively, the cheap deals are ever harder to find, or are last minute filling spare seats.

Thus the prices in the thread while high, are not totally OTT.

My last trip to see daughter for 10 days, flight + car £850 to US, motel (not hotel) £370, parking at airport £100. Then add all the food and the 4 days supervised in New York @ £1000 looks not bad.

Don't agree with the expensive proms lark. Yes a party, but none of this fancy limo, wear once expensive dress.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I agree, the £1000 a head to New York is not OTT. That is the cost of a 4 day break per head, and thats if you have budget accommodation in NYC. The return flight with BA would be approx £400 a person, and budget accommodation would be averaging £100 a night. So in line with what you would pay if you booked yourself.

Yes I agree the trips to the US are expensive, but not excessive, foreign travel is expensive overall isnt it.

It is all about budgeting and it is difficult and tough at times. Mine only went to France with the school. When the New York trip was advertised we were already going and the dates coincided. It would have been cheaper had he gone with the school.

I am trying to save what I can for his time at Uni. There is always something with kids isnt there.

I have struggled myself financially with kids. I would have liked to have had 3 children but I just couldnt afford the 3rd one. Yes there are things that I have to say no to as I just dont have the money. It helps that im quite good at saving.

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By *oe_Steve_NWestCouple
over a year ago

Bolton

They a ridiculouly expensive as they add on extra to the childrens so that the teachers don't have to pay. Just paid £120 for a 2 day trip to Wales for our son, past of the curriculum so you have no choice! Z

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

But Zoe Granny says "No parent pays for teachers...they do it for f**k all."

I'm with you.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"They a ridiculouly expensive as they add on extra to the childrens so that the teachers don't have to pay. Just paid £120 for a 2 day trip to Wales for our son, past of the curriculum so you have no choice! Z"

But the teachers are in fact at work aren't they. Yes admittedly its nice to have a week in France etc, but its not exactly a holiday of their choice and they are responsible for those pupils whilst away.

I know care workers who have days out to Alton Towers, but they are still working, taking care of their disabled charges.

I don't know about what costs the teachers have to pay for these trips away, but they are still officially working

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By *athnBobCouple
over a year ago

sandwell

I know care workers who have days out to Alton Towers, but they are still working, taking care of their disabled charges.

I don't know about what costs the teachers have to pay for these trips away, but they are still officially working

Or to put it another way ... If YOU were sent by work on a training weekend would YOU pay your own hotel and training fees?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Never went on any school trips abroad, parents just couldn't afford it.

It was a bit lonely for a couple of weeks because my mates had gone but it hasn't made me bitter and twisted.......it was just the way it was.

Mind you, I went on the local educational coach trips and usually ended up spewing 'cause I was a bad traveller.....so I never felt I missed owt by not going abroad.

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