Hello families! We are so excited to bring your student on the Girls Go Global trip to England. We will update this blog every evening of the trip with pictures and a summary of our activities that day. We plan to have the blog updated each night at 7 pm EST (England’s time zone, British Summer Time (BST), is 5 hours ahead of Washington, DC).

Below is a summary of information that you can reference before and during our travel.

Flight Information

We will depart from Dulles International Airport (IAD) on Sunday, April 19 at 6:25 pm EST. We will land at Heathrow Airport on Monday, April 20 at 6:55 am BST (1:55 am EST). We will fly on United Airlines. Our flight number is UA918.

We will return on Saturday, April 25. Our flight departs from Heathrow Airport at 4:40 pm BST (11:40 pm EST) and is scheduled to arrive at IAD at 7:55 pm EST. We will fly on United Airlines. Our flight number is UA925.

At the airport, as we pass through security and customs, WSG staff members will hold on to the students’ passports and distribute them as needed. We want to affirm that we will never leave your student alone and a staff member will always be present if any issues arise during the security or customs processes.

Drop Off Information

On Sunday, April 19, we will meet at the United Airlines counter at Dulles International Airport at 2:00 pm. The chaperones will be at IAD a bit early to greet students upon arrival. Families are welcome to park and come inside the airport, or students may be dropped off.

Please wait until the full group has arrived before checking in at the counter. During check-in, the airline will verify each student’s passport. Then, we will travel to security as a group. When the group is ready to go through security, that will be the time to say goodbye to your student.

Students will not be checking bags, as baggage claim at Heathrow Airport can take 1-2 hours. Traveling with carry-on luggage will help us move through the airport efficiently.

Pickup Information

When we return on Saturday, April 25, please plan to meet us on the lower level of the airport, just outside the customs area, to pick up your student. If you prefer not to park and come inside, staff will help guide students to your car for pickup.

Our flight is scheduled to land at 7:55 pm. However, after deplaning and clearing customs, we do not expect to be ready for pickup until 8:30 pm at the earliest.

You can track our return flight (UA925) to monitor changes in arrival time and plan your pickup accordingly.

Trip Communication

WSG will use WhatsApp for real time communication during the trip. WSG staff members and parents will have a group chat for general updates during the trip, like if our flights are delayed. All chaperones will also have parents’ individual phone numbers if there is a need for private communication. We will also have a separate WhatsApp group chat with students in order to communicate logistics and information while we travel. Please download WhatsApp if you do not have it and have your student do the same.

You can join the WhatsApp family chat using this link: https://chat.whatsapp.com/EDh3eK6aWJe8GaS2RDYBsh?mode=gi_t

We will also update this blog each night of the trip around 7 pm EST. It will include a summary of our activities each day and pictures of the students!

Addresses

During our time in London, we will stay at the Riu Plaza London Victoria Hotel (1 Neathouse Place, Westminster Borough, London, SW1V 1LH, United Kingdom).

When we travel to Felixstowe, we will stay at the Convent of Jesus and Mary (63 Orwell Rd, Felixstowe IP11 7PP, United Kingdom).

Important Documents

Packing List

Trip Itinerary

Departure Letter

Phone and Data Usage

Students will be responsible for their own phones and electronic devices throughout the trip. They may keep their phones with them at all times, including for taking photos.

Last year, most students did not have cellular data while in England and it is not necessary during the trip. If you want your student to have access to cellular data, check with your mobile provider in advance regarding international data plans and potential charges. Please note that if students are not using cellular data while abroad, certain features, such as payment apps, may not function.

All students will have access to Wi-Fi at the hotel and the convent in Felixstowe.

Souvenir Money

Students will only need money for buying souvenirs or small gifts. All other expenses while they travel will be covered.

If you prefer your student to have cash during the trip, we recommend converting it to British Pounds in advance. While WSG will have some cash on hand for emergency use, we won’t have enough to distribute to students. If your student will carry cash, we recommend giving them £50-£100 (approximately $65-$130).

To convert your currency, most major banks allow you to order foreign currency through their banking app or in person. Please note that many banks do not keep foreign currency in stock, so they will either order it for pickup at the branch or arrange delivery to your address.

Alternatively, there is an international currency exchange at Dulles Airport near the airline check-in counters. If you choose this option, please arrive ahead of our 2 pm meeting time to complete the conversion. Converting currency at the airport will not have as good an exchange rate as a bank.

If your student intends to use a debit or credit card during the trip, it’s a good idea to notify your bank in advance to avoid any issues with card usage. Some credit and debit cards may have fees for international usage, so be sure to check with your bank regarding any potential fees.

Contactless payment methods, such as Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal, are widely accepted in the UK. However, if your student will not have cellular service during the trip, these payment options may not work when there is not Wi-Fi available. Therefore, we recommend cash and credit/debit card as the best payments methods.

Please note that Cash App and Venmo do not work in the UK, so it will not be a viable payment method for your student.

Please reach out with any additional questions you have. We are so excited to bring students to England!