General INFORMATION
Your suitcase
Remember, try to pack as light as possible. A lightweight suitcase or backpack is your best option. If you cannot carry it, then you should re-do it! Unnecessary items will just weigh you down and not leave any room for souvenirs!
Secure, safe packing
Check with your airline(s) about their baggage allowance size and weight limitations.
Be aware of any changes to prohibited and permitted items in your hand luggage and comply with the current regulations for travel.
Pack liquids in your checked baggage. Some destinations allow you to carry liquids, gels and aerosols of up to 3.4 ounces (100ml) within clear plastic ziptop bags of 8 x 8 inches or 1 quart, equivalent to 1 liter or 20 x 20 cm, in your hand luggage.
Lost baggage
Unless under the airlines care, your baggage is always your responsibility and should never be left unattended. If you lose your baggage on the flight, you must file a claim at the airline’s lost-baggage office directly upon arrival and keep copies of all documentation for the insurance company if a claim becomes necessary. Generally these situations rectify themselves within 24 hours and your bag will be delivered to your hotel by the airline.
What not to bring
There is no need to bring expensive jewelry or expensive personal belongings. We recommend that you don’t bring lots of cash either. Don’t bring an expensive camera, unless you’re a serious amateur photographer. Whilst more and more cell phones do work internationally, we recommend that you leave them at home. Roaming charges and long-distance fees can be shockingly expensive. Email is the best way to communicate when you are abroad, and most of the hotels we work with have free internet access in their lobbies.
If a trip participant needs to be contacted urgently they can be left a phone message at their hotel or in the case of emergency Prométour can contact the group.
Money matters
How much should I bring?
As you are boarding an all inclusive tour (check your final itinerary), it mostly depends on your personal habits and how long you will be travelling. US$30 per day in North and Latin America and US$40 per day in Europe, should be enough to cover lunches, snacks, soft drinks, postcards and postage, souvenirs, free-time activities, and local transportation during free time.
What about tips?
Your full-time tour director and bus driver are partially paid through the custom of tipping. While tipping is always at a customers descretion, it is important to know the expectations in this respect. In Europe the industry-standard recommended tip is 3€ per-person/per-day for your Tour Director and 1€ per person/per day for your bus driver. In Canada and Latin America the industry reccommendations are US$3.00 per person/per day for your tour director and US$1.00 per person/per day for your bus driver (including transfers).
Unless stated on your price sheet, tips are not included in the tour package.
Can I use my Credit and/or ATM card?
Major credit cards are accepted almost everywhere - just look for logos on doors. You may obtain cash with your credit card or with your ATM card in most ATM machines, but you must check that their network affiliation matches your card. (Look for these on the back of your card: Visa, Mastercard, Cirrus, Plus. Do not forget your PIN number! Using your cards will usually give your bank's wholesale exchange rate of the day plus a small user fee.
Before you travel abroad, advise your bank so that your card is not suspended for unusual activity.
Medical issues
Prescriptions
Learn to adequately handle your own medication before leaving. Carry your medication in its original containers with your prescription details for customs. If you have a particular medical condition, make sure Prométour is aware, and that you have written instructions from your physician with you in case of an emergency abroad.
Glasses
An extra pair is a good idea, for contact lenses bring enough solution for your whole trip.
Special Diet
A vegetarian meal is always included in Prométour’s choices. For other restrictions contact your group's Tour Consultant.
Medical Treatment
Make sure your dentist and eye doctor checkups are current before leaving. If you have allergies or other medical conditions that would need special care, let your group leader know about it. Also make sure you indicate these issues on your registration form. Finally, neither the group leader nor Prométour can assume medical responsibility or supersivion at any time.
Clothing
- Two pair of pants or jeans
- Two pair of comfortable shoes, one lighter (No new shoes!)
- Two tops
- Underwear for every day
- One long sleeve shirt or sweater
- Night wear
- One coat or rain coat
- Hygiene products: Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Shamppo and conditionner,deodorant, soap and a soap container. Contact lense solution (if you have contacts), feminine hygiene products, razors, hair bursh or comb, anti-bacterial soap.
You should carry your hygiene products in a zipped-up waterproof bag to prevent leaks.
Other
- Wallet or special belt for your wallet
- A deck of cards
- Travelers checks
- Padlock
- Sunglasses, sunscreen and lip balm
- Camera and batteries
- Alarm clock
- Paper and pens
- Paper tissues
- Adhesive dressings
- Neosporin
- Bathing suit and towel
Always have on you
- Passport and birth certificate (take a photocopy of it before your departure)
- List of your hotels with address and phone number.
- Travelers checks
- Essentials (medication, etc), camera, film, batteries.
- Student ID card
- Your plane ticket