Air Traveler's Guide
Formule Vélo Québec Voyages
Travel documents
Two to three weeks before your departure, you will receive the following documents by e-mail:
- Airline ticket(s) (if purchased with Vélo Québec Voyages);
- Contact details for the hotels where you will be staying.
24 to 48 hours before your departure, you will receive the following documents by e-mail:
- GPX data for your route, detailed route and download procedure;
- The name and telephone number of your guide, in case of emergency.
At your destination, your guide will give you the following documents:
If you have purchased only the land portion of the trip, these documents will be given to you on your first day at destination.
- The cards;
- The VQV luggage identification label.
Please note that upon your return, a survey will be e-mailed to you for completion.
Meeting points (land packages only)
If you have purchased only the land portion of a package, you can join the Vélo Québec Voyages group at the airport or at the first hotel on the tour. Please indicate your preference on the "Traveler Registration" form.
Please note: if your meeting point is at the airport, it is your responsibility to check the group's flight times and make sure you join them at the scheduled time. In the event of a setback, you'll have to meet the group at the hotel on your own. You are also responsible for your own transportation to and from the airport if your itinerary differs from that of the group.
Travel insurance
The contents of this section are provided for information purposes only. It is the responsibility of each traveler to have adequate travel insurance according to his or her place of residence and the country visited. In order to better assist you during your trip, we ask you to complete the " Traveller Registration " form.
Please note that we offer you the option of purchasing coverage through our travel insurance partner, Blue Cross. Contact us for more information.
Trip cancellation/interruption and medical insurance
For peace of mind, travelers should always take out travel insurance. It's important to check the insurance contracts you hold and, if necessary, take out additional insurance to protect yourself adequately.
Credit card or personal insurance coverage
If your trip is covered by credit card or other personal insurance, check that it meets your needs. Does it include coverage for medical care and hospitalization abroad? Does it include cancellation insurance covering all non-refundable prepaid travel expenses, as well as trip interruption insurance? Does it include coverage for lost or stolen luggage? After analyzing the situation, you'll know whether or not you need to take out additional insurance.
Coverage provided by the Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ)
Visit ramq.gouv.qc.ca to find out more about the health coverage available to all Quebecers when traveling within or outside Quebec.
Since the cost of healthcare services outside Quebec is generally higher, it's essential to take out private travel insurance to cover all or part of the expenses not reimbursed by the Régie.
Insurance covering breakage, theft or loss of luggage and bicycle
Vélo Québec Voyages assumes no responsibility for loss, theft or damage to your luggage and personal effects (including your bicycle) during your trip. It is your responsibility to have adequate insurance coverage for your luggage and bicycle. Many home insurance companies, some group insurance plans and some credit cards cover property damaged or stolen outside the home. Check with the appropriate authorities.
What's more, if you've taken out Blue Cross insurance with us, you can read about the terms and conditions of baggage coverage in the "Policyholder's Guide".
Luggage preparation and checklists
At your destination, Vélo Québec Voyages will transport your luggage from one hotel to another for the duration of your trip. We remind you of the importance of properly identifying your luggage in order to ensure its transfer. We accept only one piece of luggage per person, weighing no more than 20 kilos.
We reserve the right to refuse to carry any baggage exceeding the 20-kilo weight limit, both at the start of and during the journey.
Boxing the bike
You must place your bike in a transport box before going to the airport for check-in. Please note that it is not possible to purchase a bike box at the airport. Only the bike and its accessories (helmet, lock, water bottle, cycling shoes) should be placed in the transport box. Airlines reserve the right to open the box at check-in to verify its contents. All contents other than the bike and its accessories are forbidden (clothing, food, etc.).
We prefer cardboard boxes and semi-rigid boxes (rather than rigid boxes and bags). As these boxes will be carried throughout the trip, and in anticipation of the return flight, this type of packaging will enable us to manage the space inside our truck more efficiently. In the event of a surplus of boxes or rigid bags, we'll have to drop them off at the first hotel on arrival at our destination. In the case of a linear trip, they will be shipped from point A to point B.
- If you are traveling on a tandem, with a quetzal or any other atypical bicycle, or if you are traveling with a rigid box or bag, please indicate this on the "Traveler Registration" form.
Important note on the weight of the bicycle box: Vélo Québec Voyages limits the weight of the box, including the bicycle, to 23 kg, even if the limit allowed by the airline differs from ours. Please note that any weight in excess of the airline's weight limit is at the passenger's expense. For more information, consult the website of the carrier you are traveling with.
Air transport | General information
Passport and plane ticket
Your flight ticket is issued on the basis of the information on your invoice.
- If the name on your invoice is not identical to the name on your passport, please contact us now so that we can make the necessary changes. A fee will be charged for the issuance of a new ticket.
- A word of advice: photocopy your passport and plane ticket, and avoid keeping both documents and their copies in the same place. If you ever lose your passport, you'll be glad you took this precaution.
- To find out more about passports and entry requirements for different countries, consult the current information on the Government of Canada website.
Check-in at Montréal-Trudeau airport on day of departure
- You must present yourself at the check-in counter of the airline you are traveling with 3 hours before the departure time indicated on your flight ticket. It is your responsibility to check flight times within 24 hours of departure.
- When you check in, specify that you belong to the Vélo Québec Voyages group. Before leaving your baggage and bike box (if applicable), make sure you have identified them properly. For further information on how to board your bicycle, please consult your airline's specific information.
Air transportation | Air Transat
Bicycle loading procedures
You must check in your bike at the same time as your baggage, on the day of departure, at the Air Transat counter.
Seat selection in advance
It is possible to select your seat when you purchase your package. You must let us know so that we can send your information to Air Transat and provide you with your group file number. You can then contact the Air Transat Information and Seat Selection Centre(1-877-872-6728). Please note that charges apply to this service, payable by credit card only. When you call, please have ready: your file number, the date and number of your departure and return flights, the place of departure and destination, and your credit card.
Option Plus booking
Air Transat invites you to chooseOption Plus, an Economy Class service option offering a host of privileges and priority services. For more information and to book Option Plus, call the Air Transat Information and Seat Selection Centre.
Seat selection and information center: 1-877-872-6728 or 514 636-3630
Club Class" reservations
Please contact us if you wish to travel in "Club Class" with Air Transat. These seats are available on request and in limited quantities, at an additional cost. Once your "Club Class" seat is confirmed, you can select it in advance and at a charge, either online or by calling Air Transat's Seat Selection and Information Centre. The terms and conditions of this complementary service differ from those of your trip. Contact one of our consultants for more information.
Air transportation | Air Canada and other airlines
Bicycle loading procedures
You must check in your bicycle at the same time as your baggage, on the day of departure, at the airline counter. The terms of payment for the transport of your bike will be settled at the check-in desk. You will be given this information when you book your package.
Seat selection in advance
It is not possible to select a seat in advance. Your seat will be assigned to you when you check in at the airport.
Upgrade
Upgrades are available at additional cost. Please ask one of our advisors.
Course of the trip
A typical day with Vélo Québec Voyages
- Breakfast at your hotel (between 7:30 and 9:30 a.m.).
- Your guide will give you an overview of the day and the route.
- You leave the hotel before 10 a.m., leaving your luggage in the luggage truck.
- You set off at a time and pace that suits you. You'll have maps and a detailed itinerary of the route, including the towns and villages on the program.
- You can eat lunch wherever and whenever you want. For some destinations, when a "lunch box" is included, it is given to you in the morning, at departure time, which is why it's a good idea to have a bag.
- On arrival at the stopover town, your luggage will be waiting for you at the hotel, where rooms are usually available between 3 and 4 pm.
- The dinners included in the package are taken at the hotel or in a nearby restaurant. They include a starter, main course and dessert. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are not included.
Hotel stay schedule
You share your room with the person accompanying you. If you're traveling alone, we'll match you with someone of the same sex. Depending on the city and number of participants, the group may stay in one or two hotels.
When you leave the hotel, we ask you to return your key to reception and, where applicable, to settle the bill for products and services purchased at the hotel (e.g. telephone calls, minibar).
If you don't plan to sleep in a hotel on any of the nights of your trip, please always let the guide know, so as not to worry anyone.
Please note that in Europe, rooms are generally smaller than in North America.
What about your bike? It will spend the night in your room or in a safe place provided for this purpose. We recommend that you lock it at all times.
In the event of a mechanical problem on the course
We recommend that you have a complete tune-up of your bike before you leave. A bike in good condition is the first guarantee of a successful trip.
For minor glitches (adjustments, punctures, etc.), the guide will help you out and get you back on the road as soon as he passes by. He can be reached by phone at any time to help you out, or to take you to the nearest bike store in the event of a major breakdown.
That said, nothing beats self-sufficiency if you want to get back on the road in a few minutes! For a list of the basic parts and tools you need to take with you, see "Luggage preparation and checklist ↑".
In case of fatigue or discomfort on the course
If you are unable to complete your day, due to fatigue, illness or a major mechanical problem, the support vehicle will take you and your bike to the next stopover town.
The guide's role during the trip
Your Vélo Québec Voyages professional guide is your contact throughout your trip. Whether you have questions or need advice on proposed itineraries, accommodations, meal planning, luggage transportation, mechanical needs, supervision on the road, etc., your guide is Vélo Québec Voyages' representative on the ground. He's there to listen to your needs and expectations.
Using GPS and GPX data
At the time of booking, you will have received the procedure for integrating GPX data into your GPS, as well as two days of data for testing purposes. Please note that the complete GPX data for your trip will be e-mailed to you 24 to 48 hours before departure.
Destinations
The contents of this section are provided for information purposes only.
It is the responsibility of each traveler to obtain all the documents required for his or her trip, depending on the destination. If you are not a Canadian citizen, it is your responsibility to check with the consulate general of the country you are visiting to find out about entry formalities.
Passport
Regardless of your destination, a passport remains the best form of identification for travel. It is mandatory for all Canadians traveling by air outside Canada.
It's important to check the expiry date of your passport as soon as you book your trip, as some countries require it to be valid for up to 6 months beyond the planned return date. As each country has its own requirements regarding passport validity, it's a good idea to check with the embassy or consulate of the country you're visiting to find out what the current standards are.
Visa
Some countries require a transit or tourist visa in addition to a passport, depending on whether you are traveling through the country or staying in it. Generally speaking, visas must be issued before your departure, not once you've arrived at your destination.
To find out whether you need a visa, consult the embassy or consulate of the countries you will be visiting.
Currency
Before you leave on your trip, it's a good idea to get some local currency to tide you over for the first few days.
Ask your financial institution about the ATM services available in the country you'll be visiting. Your institution can also tell you if you need a new personal identification number (PIN) to access your account when you're abroad. Major credit cards such as Visa and MasterCard are accepted almost everywhere.
Because of the risk of fraud, it is now strongly recommended that you have a PIN for your credit card.
- Find out more.
- To find out the currency of most countries and the exchange rate, consult the universal currency converter.
Tips
Restaurants, bars and cabs
For all our tours, gratuities are included in the group meals included in your package; service on wine, however, is at your discretion.
In restaurants, bars and cabs, each destination has its own tipping customs. Ask your guide at your destination.
Guides and driver
Gratuities for guides and, where applicable, drivers are not included in the package price. Although the amount of the tip is left to the traveler's discretion, it is customary to leave one. Generally, $5 to $10 per person per day is paid to the Vélo Québec Voyages guide, who performs all the functions inherent in the tour: transporting luggage from one hotel to another, supervision (mechanical and medical), itinerary, accommodation, meal planning, and so on.
For trips also accompanied by a local guide and a driver for coach transfers within the itinerary, it is suggested that the tip be divided between the various participants.
Health
You'll find information about your destination and the health precautions you need to take on the websites listed below. If vaccinations are required, a travel health clinic will advise you.
Phone
If you plan to make several local phone calls during your stay, it would be a good idea to buy a calling card. Please note that calls made from your hotel room can be very expensive.
If you want to bring your cell phone with you to your destination, find out about the different plans available from your provider, or consider buying a local SIM card in the country where you'll be traveling.
Electricity
Generally speaking, most European destinations use 220 volts. In Cuba, the voltage is generally 110 volts, sometimes 220 volts.
The voltage used in Canada is 120 volts, so standard Canadian plugs are not compatible. To protect your electrical appliances, remember to bring an adapter and converter.
Consult this site for electrical voltages in most countries.
Time difference
Check this site for local times and time differences.
Other useful links
Practical advice before you leave
Vélo Québec Voyages has put together a number of travel-related resources in line with the current situation.