Frequently Asked Questions for Parents
Here are the answers to some of the most commonly asked questions
Price and Payment Plan
What does the price include?
The price of the tour is $395.00 per student and $295.00 for adults and includes: Travel college campus tours, travel on a luxury motor coach, hotel accommodations for five nights and six days, breakfast, dinner, snacks (for bus travel), PLEP college tour handbook, tour memorabilia back-pack & t-shirt and college and career preparation.
What is your payment plan option?
After making the initial $95.00 non-refundable deposit, the tour is payable in three installment payments. See tour payment plan for more details.
Registration
How do I register my son or daughter?
To register click on the “Register Online” link or you can download the registration form and send it to Perfect Light Educational Program, Inc. 858 Blair Avenue Suite 3, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229
What is the registration deadline?
PLEP does not set a registration deadline and takes registrations until the bus is full. Therefore we encourage all tour participants not to wait until the last minute because our tours fill up very quickly and always sell out well in advance of the departure date.
The tour that my child is interested in is sold out. Can my child still go on the trip?
If the tour that your child is interested in is sold out you request that your child be placed on the waiting list. Students will be called as space becomes available.
Can parents participate?
Yes. Parents are allowed to participate, however please be advised that an additional cost will be incurred due to higher costs of accommodating parents at the hotels that we use.
Can I make payments by credit card?
Yes. PLEP accepts all major credit cards. Please check the Paypal option to make your credit card payment.
How do I make a payment online?
To make a payment online, just click on the “Make a payment” link in left column. Please be advised that there is an additional fee for online payments.
What is the penalty for late payments?
Late payments are assessed a $25 fee each month.
When does my child’s trip have to be paid in full?
All tour participants must be paid in full at least 60 days prior to departure. This may be different depending on the circumstance.
Trip Information
Where is the departure and pick-up location?
*The bus will depart from Woodward High School, 7005 Reading Rd. Cincinnati, Ohio 45237 promptly at 7:00 a.m. And return on Friday approximately at 11:00 p.m.
When will we receive the final tour itinerary?
Detailed itinerary is given to each tour participant and their parent at the final mandatory meeting. The mandatory meeting takes place approximately 60 days prior to departure.
What kind of clothes should my child bring on the trip?
“Will be posted on PLEP website after the final mandatory parent meeting.”
What forms are required before my child can participate on the tour?
Students and their parents must complete the Student Registration by the final mandatory parent meeting.
What types of hotels does your company use?
PLEP primarily uses quality hotels such as the Marriot and select Choice Hotels brands. In cities that do not have these hotels, we select comparable properties.
Who provides the ground transportation for the tours?
PLEP’s transportation is provided by Crown Car & Coach located in Lawrenceburg, Indiana.
How are roommates chosen?
Roommates are arrangements are confirmed at the final mandatory parent/student meeting. Students choose their roommates on their “Student Information” form in the student registration.
How much spending money should my child bring?
Typically students bring $10 per day for lunch and approximately $200 to spend on souvenirs and/or Black college clothing at the bookstores that we visit.
How much luggage can students bring?
Students may carry one large bag to be stored under the bus and another bag that must fit in the overhead bin and one personal item such as a purse or a back pack.
How much time is spent on each campus?
Depending on the size of the campus, we typically spend anywhere from 2 to 4 hours per campus visit.
May my child leave the tour to visit with relatives and/or friends?
No. This is absolutely prohibited. Relatives and friends may visit in the hotel lobby with student participants but students are not allowed to leave the tour or hotel under any circumstances with these relatives and/or friends. Visiting relatives must provide and I.D. and be pr-approved by the parent before departure.
When and where is the mandatory meeting?
The mandatory pre-departure orientation meeting takes place approximately 60 days prior to the departure at the William Howard Taft National Historic Site, 2038 Auburn Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45219.
Does your company allow “Out-of-Town” participants?
Yes. PLEP welcomes and encourages students who reside in other states to join us on the tour. Out-of-state tour participants should call us to find out what our out-of-state rates are for tour participants who only need the land portion of the tour provided to them.
Chaperones
How is the trip chaperoned?
The trip is chaperoned at a minimum student to chaperone ratio of 1 to 9. However, the chaperone ratio may vary depending to the number of adults who go on the trip each year. Every chaperone is carefully selected by PLEP and have experience working with youth through either their schools or the churches they attend.
Who can be a chaperone?
Chaperones are selected prior to each tour by PLEP. Each chaperone is screened to make sure that they have some type of educational background and can work well with high school students.
Emergencies
How can I reach my child in the event of an emergency?
Students can be reached 24 hours a day by contacting the tour group leader. The cell phone number(s) of the tour directors are given to all parents and students at the final mandatory meeting.
Minimum age requirement and Tour Directors
The minimum age for participating is 14 years old or a student must at least be in the 8th grade.
Deposit, Refund and Cancellation Policy
What is your deposit, refund and cancellation policy?
A $95.00 deposit is required for each tour participant. Deposits are non-refundable.
Cancellation Policy
Cancellation: 60 day prior to departure | Penalty: 50% plus non refundable deposit
Cancellation: 30 day prior to departure | Penalty: No refund
How do I cancel my registration?
All cancellations must be received in writing with no exceptions. Faxes will not be accepted. Requests to cancel should be sent to: Perfect Light Educational Program, Inc. 858 Blair Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229. The date of cancellation will be the date postmarked on the envelope.
