F.A.Q

What are the teachers' responsibilities during the trip?

The teachers 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.­

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Do the teacher monitors have to pay for the trip?

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Teachers travel at no cost with Omnitour, provided the adult monitor:student ratio we establish together is respected. The usual ratio is 1:10 (adults:students), but this may vary according to student age and the amount of supervision required.­­

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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.

When should the first payment be made?

You should make the first payment as soon as possible after signing the contract with us. This will allow us to reserve the activities you want and ensure they are available. We will not make any official reservations until we receive the first payment.

When should we make the final payment?

The final payment for your school trip must be made at least 30 days prior to your departure; otherwise, we cannot guarantee the availability of the services you requested.

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 will be charged a minimum of $250 in administrative fees, as well as forfeit the accommodation deposit. 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.

Are the gratuities for the tour director and bus driver included in the cost of the trip?

You can request that these gratuities be included in your school trip package. If you do not, we recommend setting aside some money to tip the tour director and bus driver. In our experience, students generally spend nearly all of their pocket money during the trip, leaving them with very little with which to pay gratuities.

How much should I budget for my daily personal expenses?

That depends on the number of meals included as part of the trip. We suggest budgeting about $15 per meal that is listed as "on own" in the itinerary.

The amount you bring for gifts and souvenirs 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 a participant's special dietary needs far enough in advance, there is usually no problem accommodating them. 

Can parents accompany the teachers on the school trip and, if so, are their costs covered?

Parents serving as adult monitors will 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.

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).

Do Canadians travelling to the United States need a passport?

Land or Marine Point of Entry

Canadian citizens do not need a passport to enter the United States through a land or marine point of entry until June 1, 2009.

As of January 31, 2008, however, American law requires that Canadian citizens who wish to enter the United States through a land or marine point of entry present:

• A piece of government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's licence, as well as a birth certificate or a citizenship card;
  or
• A birth certificate or a citizenship card only (if aged 18 or under);
  or
• A valid passport.
  

Air Point of Entry

As stipulated in the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), which has been in effect since January 23, 2007, those wishing to enter the United States by air must present one of the following:

• A valid Canadian passport; or
• A NEXUS card (for use at a NEXUS kiosk at designated airports).

NEXUS was designed to expedite the border clearing process for low-risk, pre-approved travellers. The Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa and Montréal international airports have already obtained NEXUS kiosks; other major airports will follow suit later in the year.

WHTI is an American initiative that establishes new travel document requirements for entering the United States. These requirements have been implemented progressively.

Travelling to Mexico

Although the Government of Canada recommends Canadians have a valid passport when travelling outside the country, no passport is required to enter Mexico. However, you must present documents that substantiate your identity and citizenship to Mexican border crossing officials.

For information on travel document requirements, we recommend you contact either:

• Your travel agency; or
• The Mexican embassy or one of the Mexican consulates in Canada.

You must bring your Canadian passport with you when travelling to any other foreign destination.

How do you request a passport?

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.

Do the students need a consent letter to travel outside Canada without their parents/guardians?

Before planning a school trip abroad, you should contact the embassy, high commission or consulate of all the countries to which the students 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 I 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 you visit. Several weeks before your departure, you should check to see if you need a vaccination or have 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: You may be required to get vaccinations or start to take medication six to eight weeks prior to departure. Make sure that your 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.

Is it possible to reduce my carbon footprint when travelling on the school trip?

To offset the greenhouse gas emissions produced by the vehicles you use during your trip, we suggest you buy carbon credits. The money you spend on these credits is invested in a project to develop renewable energy sources or do energy-efficient infrastructure upgrades. The drop in emissions resulting from the project in question will offset the emissions produced during your trip, giving a balance of zero emissions. To ensure an ecologically sound return on your investment, it is important to choose reliable and effective credits like Gold Standard offsets. Not only will you be able to reduce your carbon footprint, you will also be able to fight global warming by supporting the development of renewable energy and eco-energy projects. Now that's good news!

How do I go about buying carbon credits?

Omnitour will buy the credits on your behalf from Planetair. Once the transaction is completed, you will receive a certificate indicating that the money you spent on the credits will be invested in renewable energy and eco-energy projects to offset the equivalent amount of CO2 emissions produced by the means of transportation used during your trip.

Which means of transportation are used by Omnitour?

As the saying goes, "Why walk when you can fly?"

Seriously, though, we always propose means of transportation that allow you to travel in comfort and reach your destination safely, be it by air, land or water.