Royal Liberty School's Trip to Toronto

The main aim of this trip was to provide students with new and enriching experiences. By combining the city of Toronto with the natural wonders of Niagara Falls, the trip offered two very different atmospheres in one journey and therefore appealed to a wider range of students, as a broader variety of interests were catered for. This variety helped ensure the trip was engaging and inclusive, giving students multiple ways to connect with and enjoy the experience. 

The trip was designed to offer a balanced mix of cultural, educational and fun activities. It also served as an alternative to the traditional trip to the USA, providing a fresh destination that still offered excellent attractions and valuable learning opportunities. 

Toronto is not a typical destination for a school trip and is often overlooked in favour of the USA. While the USA remains a popular option, this trip provides a new experience for the vast majority of students, as they are far less likely to have travelled to Canada before. 

Toronto offers a more relaxed atmosphere than many American cities, while still providing a wide range of activities for students to take part in. 

In addition, the contrast between the natural setting of Niagara Falls and the urban environment of Toronto allows students to experience two very different settings within one trip. It also provides opportunities for students to enjoy more free time, such as at Clifton Hill, where they were able to experience a range of American carnival-style rides and attractions. 

One of the highlights of the trip was visiting Niagara Falls. The group enjoyed the Hornblower cruise, which took them right up to the Falls, allowing them to experience their power and scale. Seeing the Falls lit up at night made the visit even more memorable. 

Staying near Clifton Hill added a lively contrast, with its arcades, attractions and carnival atmosphere. A friendly students-versus-teachers go-karting race added extra fun, giving a sense of enjoying two very different experiences in one trip: the natural wonder of Niagara and the urban excitement of Toronto. 

Toronto offered just as much variety. Educational visits to the Toronto Zoo and Royal Ontario Museum provided engaging experiences, while Ripley's Aquarium was a favourite for its walk-through tanks and hands-on exhibits. At the CN Tower, students enjoyed panoramic views and many stepped onto the glass floor. The Hockey Hall of Fame combined culture and fun, with opportunities to try penalty shots and see the Stanley Cup up close. 

These activities were chosen to offer a vast range of experiences, ensuring there was something for every student to enjoy. The mix of activities provided excellent value for money for parents while appealing to a wide range of interests. 

Most of the experiences, from getting close to Niagara Falls to stepping onto the CN Tower glass floor, were completely new for the students, exposing them to things they might never have tried before. For many, these were once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, allowing them to create lasting memories!

My lasting memories of this trip will be the 'wow' moments that the students experienced. Seeing Niagara Falls up close, feeling the power of the water, and getting completely soaked on the Hornblower cruise created unforgettable memories that many had only ever seen on TV or in books. 

Visiting Toronto and its attractions also exposed students to new cultures, giving them a broader perspective on the world. For many students, this trip created once-in-a-lifetime experiences and for some, it was even their first time leaving the country. 

Watching their excitement and amazement throughout the trip will not just stay with me, but all of the staff who attended the trip. 

We chose Halsbury for this trip because we've built up a strong working relationship with them over many previous visits. We trust the company to deliver a high-quality experience, knowing that every detail will be carefully organised. 

Halsbury are always on call to answer any last-minute questions or queries, and they consistently go above and beyond to ensure everything runs smoothly. Nothing is too much for them, which gives us confidence that both staff and students will have a safe, enjoyable and well-managed trip. 

Working with Halsbury on this trip was, as always, a very smooth experience, from the initial booking right through to attending the trip. We often book our future trips before even attending the current one, such is our confidence in Halsbury's ability to provide excellent service. 

Communication was excellent throughout, and Beckie and Laura were always flexible in making any tweaks to the itinerary to suit our needs. They kept us fully informed at every stage, making planning straightforward and stress-free. 

I would always recommend Halsbury to friends and colleagues. They are one of the most straightforward companies to work with and, unlike many other travel companies, do not seem profit-driven. The focus is always on providing the best experience for the students. 

Their trips offer great value for money, with a wide range of activities included in the itineraries. 

Halsbury also provides a personalised experience, and having worked with the same staff many times, we have a great deal of confidence and faith in them providing excellent and well-organised experiences for our students.