Euro Space Centre, Belgium
INSPECTION VISIT
Friday 8th –Sunday 10th Jan 2016
Dear Party Leaders:
We are delighted to invite you to join us on our Inspection Visit to the Euro Space Centre in Belgium. Please
read on to find out more about general requirements and your itinerary.
Requirements
In order to register, we require three items:
 A completed booking form. The booking form will ask for valid credit card details. Please know
that your credit card will not be charged provided you attend. If you do not show up, please be
advised that your credit card will be charged in the amount of £99 per passenger to cover space(s)
held on your behalf. The Booking Form may be found on the final page of this document.
 A completed survey. This helps us to learn more about you, your school, your tour history and
your vision for future school travel. Please ensure you have fully completed the survey prior to
submitting your registration. To access the survey, please click: ESC IV 2016
 Consent from your school. We ask that all Party Leaders have discussed a potential trip to Euro
Space Centre with their school’s senior management team prior to registering and that they have
agreed, in principle, that you would have approval to run a Science tour with your student.
Your Journey to Euro Space Centre
You will be picked up from the designated pick-up point as specified on your booking form. Three pick-up
points are available – Manchester, Birmingham and Dover. Please ensure you remember your passport and
travel documents. No tickets are required as you will be travelling on a Visions group ticket. We are
anticipating a full coach, so please plan accordingly. One suitcase/bag per person please in the coach luggage
hold and a small bag to take on board if you wish.
Once at Dover, the journey will take approximately 90-minutes from Dover to Calais via ferry, then
approximately 4-hours to EuroSpace. Our coach has reclining seats, toilet and an on-board DVD player. As
it will be a late arrival at the Euro Space Centre, no food or bar service will be available at the centre at this
hour so we suggest you plan accordingly and if required, take advantage of the on-board ferry restaurant
and cafeteria to eat. Our sailing is with P&O, Visions ferry provider for our groups, and on-board facilities
are very good.
Before disembarking on the ferry for the outward crossing, we will run through the latest P&O requirements
for party leaders travelling with school groups. Smoking on-board the coach is not permitted, personal music
is via your own headphones, and consumption of alcohol is limited on route to the centre. We would ask for
your assistance with these items in respect to the comfort of others.
Travel insurance is not included for the tour and if you elect to take your own additional insurance for medical
and non-medical coverage, we ask that you please bring a copy of the policy with you for reference if needed.
If you are not planning on taking travel insurance, please make sure you are carrying your up-to-date
European health insurance card (EHIC) should emergency medical treatment be required in Europe. (A
selection of travel policies can be found on the internet offering inexpensive cover for such a short trip.)
Prior to travel you will be issued a specific contact number to ring in the event you have any issues on
departure day. It will be imperative that you call this number as soon as possible so we may assist you with
any potential issues.
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Friday 8th December; please meet the coach at the relevant pick up points
11:00 - Manchester Airport Terminal 1
13:30 - Birmingham International Train Station
17:00 - Dover Main P&O Booking Office Terminal
19:15 – P&O ferry sails
23:00 – Estimated time of arrival at Euro Space Centre
Please bring your Passport, EHIC card, travel insurance details, towels and personal effects.
At the EuroSpace Centre
To set the scene for your visit, we suggest you review the centre’s web site: www.eurospaceCentre.be. Upon
arrival we will unload and check into our rooms. The centre is non-smoking and no drinks other than those
purchased in the centre’s outlets can be consumed if outside your rooms. We will be using the same
bedrooms as we use for our school groups; each has its own shower and toilet. Toiletries are not provided
so please bring your own. The rooms are basic, clean and spacious with bunk beds. We will be expecting to
have 3 to 4 teachers per room, single sex. If you have any preferences for sharing with a colleague, do let us
know so we can try to accommodate your wishes wherever possible. Bed linen will be provided and you will
need to make up your bed on arrival. Towels are not provided, so please bring your own with you. Tap water
is fine to drink in Belgium. There are no tea/coffee facilities in-room, but power sockets are available. Mobile
signal and wi-fi (complimentary) are usually good for roaming in the main building but somewhat variable in
the bedrooms.
The centre is located on its own grounds and includes everything from rocket launching areas to guided
space trails, star gazing, and games in the sports area. The setting is very rural with no shops located within
walking distance. The centre does have its own vending machines, cafeteria and shop. No cash machines
are available so you may wish to bring some Euros with you for general spending.
Your first meal at the centre will be a continental breakfast on Saturday; the Visions team will ensure you’re
fully briefed regarding meal times. Saturday promises to be a busy and fun day, with an emphasis on handson experience of the wonderful opportunities offered to our schools. Due to the large group size, we will be
splitting our party into smaller working teams for Saturday’s practical experience. An included lunch will be
served during the break in the cafeteria. Please feel free to ask any of the VIE or Euro Space staff any
questions about programmes while on site. The teaching staff at the centre have a very high level of
knowledge and can teach students from 8 years of age through to advanced study for 18 year old students.
Saturday evening will be a hosted dinner at the centre for your enjoyment. This three-course meal will
include wine to start as well as additional wine being available for independent purchase. Water will also be
available. The meal provides a great chance to unwind after a busy day and meet fellow science travellers to
discuss your experiences and possibilities for school science tours. Senior staff from the centre and Visions
will be joining you and available to answer any questions you may have. If you have any special dietary
requirements, please ensure we are aware in advance as catering is planned ahead of your arrival and last
minute requests are generally difficult to accommodate.
Saturday Itinerary
TIME
9:45 - 11:00
11:00 - 12:00
Group 1
Mi s s i on Bri efi ng
13:30 - 14:30
Mi s s i on Tra i ni ng
14:30 - 15:30
Rocket Bui l di ng
Rocket Bui l di ng
Rocket Bui l di ng
Tra i ni ng on 4 s i mul a tors (Moonwa l k,
mul ti -a xi s cha i r, rota ti ng cha i r a nd zero
gra vi ty wa l l )
Mi s s i on Bri efi ng
Mi s s i on Tra i ni ng
Gui ded tour + s pa ce s how (movi e)
Rocket La unch
brea k
16:00 - 16:15
16:15 - 17:15
Group 3
Lunch - Jul es Verne Room
12:00 - 13:30
15:30 - 16:00
Group 2
Tra i ni ng on 4 s i mul a tors (Moonwa l k,
mul ti -a xi s cha i r, rota ti ng cha i r a nd zero
gra vi ty wa l l )
Gui ded tour + s pa ce s how (movi e)
17:15 - 19:30
Chi l l out + Di nner
19:30
Ten Pi n Bowl i ng
Mi s s i on Tra i ni ng
Your Return Journey
Sunday morning we have breakfast included at the centre cafeteria. Please make sure all beds are stripped,
blankets are folded and placed back in cupboards, sheets are placed outside in the corridor and all rubbish
is placed in room bins. Upon departure we’ll head to Calais for a bit of Christmas shopping at Cite Europe,
some 15-minutes from the ferry terminal. This covered shopping mall only opens on Sundays in December
and it’s a great way to stock up on French items for Christmas! The main supermarket inside the centre is
very big (Carrefour) and offers particularly good value on French wines and beers, cheeses and French
specialities like fois gras, duck, and more for the foodies in the party! The shops all take credit cards. Other
shops in the centre include fashion, sports, jewellery and electrical outlets. Make sure you remember your
exit door on entrance to the centre as it’s a very big centre and easy to get lost! Trolleys take a €1 coin as
deposit and best to get them from the car park before arriving at the supermarket. For any last minute drinks
or snacks, the ferry does offer a selection of items for sale on-board.
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Breakfast at 9AM in the Euro Space restaurant followed by Christmas Shopping in CITY EUROPE
then onto Calais to catch the 4:05 PM ferry
Birmingham travellers will arrive back at approximately 9PM; Manchester at approximately 11PM
How we can help you run a great trip to EuroSpace?
We hope you will find the unique setting and activities at Euro Space something you want your pupils to
experience. Feedback from returning party leaders is very positive. Euro Space is very popular with
European and now worldwide school groups, so we will be supplying you with the latest availability to ensure
you are not disappointed date-wise when planning a trip. We are happy to hold space once your launch
plans are firm. Due to demand, it is not uncommon to book 2 years ahead for some of our groups. As Euro
Spaces’ exclusive UK school partner, we are the only UK Company who can offer residential stays for schools
at the centre. This relationship is based on successful cooperation between the two management teams for
many years and ensures standards are kept in terms of the quality and service party leaders receive before,
during and after the tour.
And finally…
Please remember that this tour is free of charge, providing you and your party turn up. We are happy to
accommodate late changes if circumstances dictate, by replacement staff members from your school. If you
do not turn up, then we have to deduct the amount on the booking form from your credit card security given
to us.
We are looking forward to welcoming you to the VIE Euro Space Inspection Visit and presenting the school
tour opportunities that can put your department on the road to success!