1. Brief itinerary
A more detailed itinerary will follow in about a week, including a list of adventures and attractions.
May 17, 2018: Depart Houston (IAH)
May 18, 2018: Arrive in Athens, Greece
May 19–20, 2018: Tour Athens, Sounio, Epidaurus, Mycenae
May 21, 2018: Depart Athens for Israel, tour in the region of Haifa
May 21–25, 2018: Tour northern Israel
May 26–30, 2018: Tour central Israel and Jerusalem
May 31, 2018: Return to Houston
May 17, 2018: Depart Houston (IAH)
May 18, 2018: Arrive in Athens, Greece
May 19–20, 2018: Tour Athens, Sounio, Epidaurus, Mycenae
May 21, 2018: Depart Athens for Israel, tour in the region of Haifa
May 21–25, 2018: Tour northern Israel
May 26–30, 2018: Tour central Israel and Jerusalem
May 31, 2018: Return to Houston
2. Trip budget
Base price: $4,500. This price includes round trip airfare, double occupancy hotels, ground transportation, daily breakfast and dinner, program fees, entrance fees, porterage of one suitcase, rubber kayak rental, personal radio receiver rental, and tips for guides, drivers, hotels, and dining rooms. The price does not include daily lunches (except one that is part of a program), souvenirs, trip insurance, optional single occupancy hotel rooms, and personal services requested.
IEFS scholarship: $400–$1,000. This student fee-funded scholarship has typically been awarded in this range for trips of similar scale. Students involved in longer-term trips or with exceptional applications have received awards up to $1,750. You can only receive this award once, and you must have completed 12 hours at UH by the time of your application. This year, for the first time, there are two application cycles. The first application is due by October 4, 2018. If you miss this deadline, or if you cannot apply because you have not yet completed 12 hours, you are still eligible for the spring award cycle. I would urge you to apply by October 4 if you are eligible, as you will receive notification of your award by the end of 2017. For information on the IEFS, visit http://www.uh.edu/learningabroad/.
Lerner Family Scholarship: $500. For UH undergraduates. I expect that most or all students on this trip will receive this award.
Lerner Family Study Abroad Financial Aid: $500–$2,500. There will be an application process for this award, which will take financial need and other factors into account.
Other travel stipends. Some university scholarships include pre-awarded travel stipends which may be used for this trip.
Other scholarships. Visit the UH Learning Abroad website for information on other internal and external travel funding.
IEFS scholarship: $400–$1,000. This student fee-funded scholarship has typically been awarded in this range for trips of similar scale. Students involved in longer-term trips or with exceptional applications have received awards up to $1,750. You can only receive this award once, and you must have completed 12 hours at UH by the time of your application. This year, for the first time, there are two application cycles. The first application is due by October 4, 2018. If you miss this deadline, or if you cannot apply because you have not yet completed 12 hours, you are still eligible for the spring award cycle. I would urge you to apply by October 4 if you are eligible, as you will receive notification of your award by the end of 2017. For information on the IEFS, visit http://www.uh.edu/learningabroad/.
Lerner Family Scholarship: $500. For UH undergraduates. I expect that most or all students on this trip will receive this award.
Lerner Family Study Abroad Financial Aid: $500–$2,500. There will be an application process for this award, which will take financial need and other factors into account.
Other travel stipends. Some university scholarships include pre-awarded travel stipends which may be used for this trip.
Other scholarships. Visit the UH Learning Abroad website for information on other internal and external travel funding.
3. To register for the trip
Registration for the trip is now open, and spots will be allocated first-come, first-served. Registration is open to UH undergraduates and invited guests of the Honors College. You can submit a form at goo.gl/forms/z5KFBU8DF0uv4Uww2.
By submitting this form, you are reserving a spot on the trip and agreeing to pay a deposit of $300 through your student fee bill. (If you are not a student, we will contact you to process a credit card payment.) The deposit will be credited to the cost of the trip and is refundable through September 30, 2017. I expect full details of the trip to be posted early in the week of September 18, including a full payment and refundability schedule for the balance of the tour price. In other words, you can reserve your spot now, but will have time to review the final details of the trip before your deposit becomes non-refundable.
By submitting this form, you are reserving a spot on the trip and agreeing to pay a deposit of $300 through your student fee bill. (If you are not a student, we will contact you to process a credit card payment.) The deposit will be credited to the cost of the trip and is refundable through September 30, 2017. I expect full details of the trip to be posted early in the week of September 18, including a full payment and refundability schedule for the balance of the tour price. In other words, you can reserve your spot now, but will have time to review the final details of the trip before your deposit becomes non-refundable.