In the post 911 period, many things have transformed, due to extra protection concerns. Some of the sensitive student travel destinations in the New york city area are potential targets because they are symbols of the Country. These include The Bronze sculpture of Liberty, the United nations building, and the Empire State Building. There are other buildings that may also be potential targets in the New york city area. I focus on these three because they are the main three sites that most student travel tours wish to visit.
For this post, I have interviewed Karen Goodman, a licensed New york city tour guide who works out closely with my business, Educational Travel Consultants. Her knowledge of New york city is extensive. I interviewed her on the topic of how student travel types may prepare to enter New york city sites.
Q. What advice would you give to student travel groups headed towards the Statue of Liberty, the United nations Building, or the Empire Condition Building?
A. Always travel as light as you can. When you move along the security line, it抯 best not to be singled out, because it takes more time to pass through.
Q. What are some of the items related to travel related and education, that you're permitted to take towards these buildings?
A. Visitors can bring ipods and cameras with them, but they must be placed in the basket as they slide through security.
Q. Can you explain the security process at the Statue of Liberty?
A. Yes. All student travel groups pass through security tents before many board the ferry ship. Metal detectors are under these tents. All electronics, including watches, ipods or cameras, go through the metal detector in a basket.
Q. Does this security process at the Statue of Liberty take a little more time?
Yes. Similar to planning a little more time at the overseas airport, student travel groups need to leave some space in the itinerary for the day to allow for transferring through security, especially if they are a large number.
Q. Is there anything who student travelers to New york city should try to keep clear of bringing?
A. Sometimes a student will inadvertently bring an important pocket knife. Usually, these are confiscated by security, and they are not returned. It抯 best not to bring this sort of thing at all.
Q. Are the tents near the ferry in Battery Park the only real security checkpoints for the particular Statue of Liberty?
A. For now, yes. Once student travel groups panel the ferry, the security check is completed.
Q. Does the United Nations have a similar security checkpoint in position?
A. The United Nations has got metal detectors that scholar travel groups must pass through as well. The same rules as the Statue of Liberty fill out an application.
Q. What is security like in the Empire State Building?
A. Since it is a particular historic building that signifies many things, the security is very much the same in scope to Statue of Liberty and the United Nations building. Around the escalator area, there are security checkpoints with metal detectors in place. Students should be all set for similar regulations when visiting the Statue of Liberty and the United Nations building.
Q. Do you have any additional tips for student take a trip groups headed to the New york city area?
A. Yes, some buildings, such as museums, will have guards that request a look inside a handbag or backpack. Student groups should be prepared to open their bags, if asked. In some buildings, a backpack must be checked at the door. So, if a student is traveling and he or she has a choice concerning leaving a backpack, it would be a good idea to leave it on the particular charter bus.
Q. Do you have any concluding thoughts related to leading student travel tours in the New york city area, in a post 911 era?
A. I think that most people are aware at this point, that we have extra security regulations to think about when we travel. They set up the tents just six months after September 11th close to the ferries to the Sculpture of Liberty. And it抯 been many years now travelers have needed to prepare for extra security. This precaution has to become done. Even though it may be time consuming, security is important.
With that being says, be aware of typically the metal detectors, and prepare for them accordingly.
Student travel groups on tour in New york city need to go light and leave the extra baggage behind. Make the most to a student travel tour to New york city, by planning extra time in the itinerary for secureness checkpoints at major web sites. The security procedures at the Statue of Liberty, the United nations building, and the Empire Status Building are subject to change at any time.
