Behaviour Guidelines

As you travel abroad on a group tour, you are representing your family, your school, your community and your country. The key to a successful trip is your open-mindedness and willingness to accept new cultures and the occasional inconveniences of international travel. If you keep your eyes and your mind open, you will bring home something of lasting value.

Alcohol
It is important to understand the customs of the destination you are visiting, as the rules surrounding alcohol consumption may be different to those in your state or province. Students may not drink "hard alcohol" or spirits/liquor under any circumstances during a group tour. In some countries, you may have the opportunity to visit a vineyard and in this case sampling is limited to one glass with a group leader present and is at the discretion of the group leader, your school and your parents. We always ask your group tour leaders to establish a well-defined behavior guideline along with parents for the trip, and students are expected to follow that guideline.

Visiting Friends or Relatives
If such visits involve temporarily leaving the program, you will need a letter of permission from your parent or legal guardian. The letter must be given to your group tour leader before departure. Such guests or friends may not under any circumstances ride on the Prométour bus with you.

Attendance at Meals
You are expected to be with your group at breakfast and dinner, unless special permission has been obtained.

Weapons
Such as knives, firearms or firecrackers may not be carried or bought by any participants during the group tour.

Drugs
Possession of illegal substances is strictly forbidden and will result in immediate dismissal from the group tour and a return home at the parents' or guardians' expense.

Motor Vehicles
Motor vehicles of any kind may not be rented or driven by students during the group tour.

Curfew
A general midnight curfew applies to all Prométour group tours. Unless there is a teacher supervised activity running past midnight, you must be in your hotel room from midnight until the next morning. Respect other hotel guests by keeping noise to a minimum after 10 p.m. Different curfew restrictions may apply on homestay programs. You are expected to respect the wishes of your homestay family during your group tour.

Sexual Misconduct
In the event of inappropriate sexual conduct, you may be sent home at the parents' or guardians' expense during your group tour.

Hotel/Bus Behavior Guidelines
Be especially careful with your room and your bus during the group tour. You will be held personally responsible for any damage you cause, and you will not be allowed to leave the hotel until the damage is paid for. When a Prométour hotel reports damage to a room, Prométour will investigate as best it can, but will ultimately consider the hotel's report to be definitive.

You will be responsible for phone calls made from your room and any extra hotel expenses (for example, items from a room mini-fridge). Under no circumstances may you consume alcoholic beverages from the mini-fridge.
"Picking up" towels, ash trays, etc. as souvenirs is forbidden, since waiters and maids are required to pay for any missing items.
Show consideration to others during your group tour. You cannot expect English to be spoken by hotel staff. Learn a few courtesy phrases of the local language; it will go a long way. Absolutely no running or shouting in the hallways is allowed at any time, day or night.
Do not wash clothing in the rooms. You will be charged for any water stains. Self-service laundromats are very common in Europe. Your hotel concierge will tell you where to find the nearest one.

Included Group Tour Activities
Group tour activities require your participation. These include sightseeing and local excursions, which are among the very reasons for your taking a Prométour group tour!

Free Time
Your group tour leader must know where you are, whom you're with, and when you will return whenever there is free time in your itinerary. Students are never to go off on their own. We recommend you stay in groups of at least 3 or 4 along with an official chaperone from your group. Be sure to carry the name, address and phone number of your hotel or homestay family with you at all times. Disco visits must be arranged by your group leader and you are not allowed to enter any disco without him or her. You are expected to be mindful of your own safety and well-being at all times during your group tour. Take caution in whatever you do or wherever you go, especially in unfamiliar areas.

Respect for Local Culture
The local people you meet are not "tourist attractions". This is their city and their home. Please remember to act like a guest. Monuments are made for admiring, please do not climb on them. Toss gum wrappers in public wastebaskets (or put them in your pocket). Behave in cathedrals or royal residences the way you would want visitors to behave in the White House or the House of Commons.

Dress
Your attire is an important way of showing respect for your host culture. Particularly in Italy, you will not be allowed into cathedrals wearing shorts or skirts above the knee, sleeveless blouses or T-shirts, no matter how hot it is. Keep your attire neat during the group tour. Europeans interpret a neat appearance as a sign of respect.

Adaptability
You should be courteous and congenial at all times, even when encountering things you don't like. Since the time of Marco Polo, travel has involved certain inconveniences. Places may get crowded, traffic may be busy, buses may be delayed. Pack tolerance, patience and a sense of humor in your suitcase!

Discipline
If a participant in a group tour is in violation of the behavior guidelines, a meeting will be called with the group leader and a collect call will be made to the student's parents or guardians. For repeated violations such as drinking hard liquor, drinking wine or beer without a group leader present, sexual misconduct, disrespecting curfew, a collect call will be made to the student's parents or guardian. At this time the group leader along with the Prométour consultant will make a decision to send the student home at his or her expense. School rules apply at all times and must be respected.