F.A.Q

Why was Omnitour picked to organize my child's school trip?

• Founded in 1980, Omnitour is a travel agency that specializes in organizing school trips.
• Omnitour is a family company that pioneered the school trip industry in Québec. Over the years, we have developed a network of suppliers offering a wide range of activities, which enables us to meet specific student requests.
• Our specialized and experienced co-ordinators are always on hand to answer questions, and our team loves helping students explore the world!
• We always work with the teachers when preparing the itinerary to ensure it corresponds with the students' needs and interests, as well as the educational objectives for the trip.
• As we are also a travel wholesaler, we can arrange the best possible rates for any destination.

Are the costs of parents serving as adult monitors on the school trip covered?

Parents serving as adult monitors may have their costs covered, just as if they were teacher monitors, providing the adult:student ratio is respected. Special rates may otherwise apply for adults going on the school trip.

What are the adult monitors' responsibilities during the trip?

The adult monitors are responsible for maintaining order and discipline within the group. The role of your Omnitour tour director is to accompany the group, provide information, lead activities and serve as guide. This individual is not responsible for disciplining any of the student participants.

If there is no tour director on the school trip, what do I do if something happens to one of the students?

For immediate assistance, call the Omnitour emergency line, which is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. One of our representatives will quickly answer your call and help you manage the situation. You should always keep the Omnitour emergency line number with you, regardless of whether a tour director is accompanying you on the school trip.

However, if you need the police, the fire department or an ambulance right away, you should call the local emergency services number.

Are the payments made for the trip guaranteed in any way?

Doing business with a licensed travel agency allows you to benefit from solid financial protection. Omnitour holds a Québec wholesaler licence (#800356) and a travel agency licence (#750221).

You can obtain a refund from the Fonds d'indemnisation des clients des agents de voyages (Québec travel agency client indemnity fund) if a supplier (ex.: airline, cruise line or hotel) cannot provide the services you purchased through a travel agent.

Note that you are not protected by this fund if you deal directly with the service supplier rather than go through a travel agency that holds a Québec licence.

Do you charge any fees if the trip is cancelled?

If you cancel the trip at least 45 days prior to departure, no fees are charged. However, should you cancel the trip after this deadline, you do not have right to a reimbursement. We suggest you get travel insurance with a trip cancellation option. This would provide the best protection, especially should your trip be cancelled due to illness.

Can I make the payments for my child's trip by credit card?

Unfortunately, no. We ask that you make all payments to your child's school.

Does the trip cost include tips for the tour director and bus driver?

Usually no, except upon request by the teacher organizers. Leaving a tip is left to your child's discretion as a means of demonstrating his or her appreciation and gratitude for the service rendered. We recommend the following tipping rates:

• Tour director: $1 per $2 per person, per day.
• Driver: $1 to $2 per person, per day.
• Local guide (city tour): $1 per person.
• Housekeeper: $1 per day (except in Europe, where gratuities are included in the room price).
• Restaurants, room service and taxis: 15% to 20% of amount spent.

As gratuities are included in the cost of meals included as part of the trip, your child will not have to leave a tip for these meals.

How much should my child budget for his or her daily personal expenses?

That depends on several factors. Does your child plan on going shopping and buying souvenirs? Does your child eat a lot of snacks? Everyone's monetary needs are different. While meals are generally included with the trip, one or more may not be. We suggest your child budget about $10 per meal listed as "on own" in the itinerary. The amount of spending money your child brings on the trip is left to your discretion.

Is it possible to have meals at the same price for students who are vegetarian or have food allergies?

If you notify us of your child's special dietary needs far enough in advance, there is usually no problem accommodating them. 

Is a passport required to travel to the United States?

For adults, yes, but not for youth and children 18 and under.

Here is Passport Canada's official answer to this very important question.

Starting June 1, 2009, all adults will need a passport to enter the United States!

If you are planning a trip to the US and don't have a passport, you had better hurry!

Good news for students on school trips. Canadian citizens aged 18 or under travelling with a school or other organized group, under adult supervision and with parent/guardian consent, only need to present proof of citizenship to enter the United States.

How do I a request a passport for my child?

For the passport request form for children aged 15 or under, click here.

For the passport request form for children aged 16 or over, click here. This is also the form used to request a passport for an adult.

Note that it may take up to 120 days for a passport application to be approved.

Does travel insurance cover all diseases?

Basic travel insurance usually covers hospitalization and medical care costs. The only diseases covered by your travel insurance are those contracted during the trip. Click here to see Globetrek travel insurance premiums (in PDF format).

Does my child need a consent letter to travel outside Canada without me?

Before your child goes on a school trip, you should contact the embassy, high commission or consulate of all the countries to which your child will travel to see if any particular requirements for entering those countries are in effect. Go to the Passport Canada website for more information. Click here to see a sample consent letter.

Where can I find the contact information for another country's embassy, high commission or consulate in Canada?

Click here to go to the website of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, an excellent source of information on foreign countries and travel abroad.

Where can I obtain information on any vaccinations my child may require for the trip?

Information on vaccinations and any other preventative measures to take prior to travelling abroad is included in the Travel Medicine Program prepared by the Public Health Agency of Canada. The following applies to any country your child visits. Several weeks before your child's departure, you should check to see if your child needs a vaccination or has to take certain measures to prevent such diseases as yellow fever, typhoid fever, meningitis, Japanese encephalitis, hepatitis or malaria. Note that in some countries, visitors are required by law to present their international vaccination certificate against yellow fever to be allowed entry.

IMPORTANT: Your child may be required to get vaccinations or start to take medication six to eight weeks prior to departure. Make sure that your child's mandatory vaccinations are up-to-date: diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus, polio, measles, mumps and rubella (German measles). Other vaccinations needed for travel abroad vary according to age, current medical condition and the nature and length of the trip.

I would like that my child take part in a fundraising campaign to pay for part of the school trip. What do you suggest?

Omnitour believes organizing a fundraising campaign is part of the learning process involved in going on a school trip. Here is a suggestion for a fundraising activity: sell fair trade products. By working with an organization such as Équiterre, the students could meet their fundraising goals while encouraging their friends and family to buy ethically responsible products and promoting social justice for people in developing nations!

For more information on an Équiterre fundraising campaign, click here.