NOW IMPORTANT THINGS Please take notes!
O’Neill Travel Group Final payment : If you’re on automatic payments (your final payment will be due at the beginning of February) If you opted for regular payments- your final payment is due to the company before December 20th. Submit Dec. 10 if mailing and not later than Dec. 15 if paying online to avoid late penalties or cancellation.
YOUR MULA…. Fundraising reimbursement: We will have the cheques for everyone in January. If your account is not paid in full to the company, we can either pay it on your behalf or you can pay it and be reimbursed.
Money (1) Money : Spending money: a minimum of $500 Canadian. This amount will cover the student’s lunches, admission to additional activities, transportation for extra activities, drinks during meals, cover cost for evening outings. The student will need extra money to buy souvenirs or go shopping or if they are picky eaters!
TIPS Tips for Tour Staff (while on tour, we are required to tip the tour director, the bus drivers, cruise staff and the guides). This money is collected prior to departure and the tour leader tips the various people instead of collecting from the students while on tour. If you get fundraising refunded to you, your statements will reflect the $ withdrawal for tips. If you don’t have a fundraising account, you will need to give this money to Mme Paez prior to January 30 th as we will need to buy Euros. All tips are covered except for lunch hour. Students are asked to tip if eating at a restaurant during their free time. McDonald’s is not a restaurant.
Money… Euros: Bring at least 300 euros to begin as most banks and exchange offices are closed for the Easter weekend. Option of buying as a group? If you choose to get your own, please ask for small bills! credit card: having a visa or MasterCard may save you money as the exchange rate on the visa is competitive and there are no charges for using most visas/MsterCard money belt: highly recommended interact (bank card)- Royal, CIBC, Montreal, Scotia work great. There are however charges for each time you use your interact. ($2.50) and you can only use it to take out money not to buy things. NO PREPAID VISA CARDS!!!
bank account –chequing- pin # In Europe you can only have a four digit pin- 4 numbers only and no letters. Your account must be a chequing account. Savings don’t work in Europe. Make sure your daily limits is at least $ NO TRAVELLER’S CHEQUES- If students bring traveler’s cheques, they will have to go to the bank during their free time and will have to be responsible for their passports at all times. No chaperone will leave his/her group unattended to accompany the student to the bank!
Luggage: There are serious restrictions on luggage size. We are a group of over 50 people and rules are much different from your own family traveling. The luggage we take must comply not only with the major airlines but also with the trains, buses and boat. SPACE IN THE CABIN IS EXTREMELY RESTRICTED”. We’ve send people back from the airport to change suitcases. SO MAKE SURE YOUR SUITCASE IS PROPER SIZE!
Size matters! The main suitcase cannot exceed 27 inches tall, including wheels and handles. Weight – British Airways 32kg Weight - Air Canada 32 kg 50 lbs Lufthanza 44lbs Carry-on – must go on your shoulder (NO WHEELS) British Airways 1 bag 56 cmx45 cmx25cm (22x18x10in) 6 kg Air Canada 1 bag 55 cm x 40 cm x 23cm (21.5 x 15.5 x 9 in) 10 kg
No duffle bags. All luggage must fit into these measurements to pack the buses. Also, the students need to do a lot of walking with their bags and wheels are strongly recommended.
Too heavy! Too sad! You are also responsible to carry that luggage so make sure it’s manageable. Too heavy, you’ll suffer.
Insurance: Medical Insurance is compulsory. If you purchased through Explorica insurance you are covered. Proof of international medical insurance must be provided to your chaperone with the last set of forms. Group Medical Services or Blue Cross provide 12 day coverage for around $ If you purchase insurance for the trip, please make sure that your purchase for 12 days due to possible delays.
Rooming arrangement The students are roomed in groups of 2, 3 or four. Same sex only! Please see mme Paez with the names of the people you would want to room with a.s.a.p.
Chaperone Groups: This is a group of 6-7 students who will spend a lot of time together during the touring and traveling (group counts and meetings). These groups can have members of both sexes. Each group is assigned a chaperone prior to the last parent and student meeting.
Forms prior to departure: At the last parent and student meeting (March you will be asked to complete a couple of forms. – behavior form – alcohol policy form (Which you have already signed when registering!) – smoking permission These forms must be signed in the presence of the chaperone. You cannot send them with the student. Not respecting the rules set on these forms may bring the student back to Canada and the parents will have to pay for the extra expenses. At this meeting, we will also distribute the flight information and luggage tags. If you continue fundraising until the trip, we will also issue cheques.
Phone Tree Phone Tree: We need a couple of parents to head up the phone tree. If you’re going to be in Regina when we are away, please contact mme Paez. Everyone will be asked to provide a home phone and if possible a cell or .
What to wear? The weather in Europe is unpredictable. You must bring warm clothes and rain proof shoes. I will be handing out a packing list at one of the lunch hour meetings. The students need to bring clothes that are on the “preppy side” to tour and to go out.
What not to wear? pajamas are not allowed anywhere but in the hotel. Jogging pants are only worn when jogging. Runners and jeans are not allowed in certain restaurants or clubs. Use common sense with what you pack and choose outfits that can be used more than once!
SMOKING Smoking is not allowed on the flight or airports (20 hours in total). They may be able to go out in Toronto if we have enough time but not in the other airports as we will be going straight to our terminals. The students do have to have permission to smoke in Regina (parents must sign a form), they will have to find time to smoke while on their free time. There is no smoking in the hotel, buses, restaurants, etc… and the student must always check with a chaperone before lighting up if they are with the group…
Starting January, we will be holding sessions in room 116 for the entire group. These will be mostly at lunch. Question and answers.. Basic language introduction.. What to pack… Electricity and convertors… Etc…
Getting in shape Physical Activity: It’s not too late to start doing exercise (especially walking and doing stairs). You need to be able to walk for 4 to 5 hours at a time. The days are long and we spend a lot of time on our feet.
Important! Allergies or special meals- I need to know a.s.a.p. A.O.B.? Any questions: please or