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Airless Travel Guide

Formule Vélo Québec Voyages

Table of contents

Travel documents

Two to three weeks before your departure, you will receive the following documents by e-mail:

  • The address of the starting site;
  • Details of the hotels where you will be staying, including bike storage and luggage storage.

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.

On the day of departure, your guide will give you the following documents:

  • The cards;
  • The VQV luggage identification label.

Please note that upon your return, a survey will be e-mailed to you for completion.

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 their place of residence and the country they are visiting. 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 fortuitous and unforeseeable events

Vélo Québec Voyages reminds you of the importance of checking whether your trip cancellation/interruption insurance includes unforeseen and fortuitous events.

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 15 kilos.

We reserve the right to refuse to carry any baggage exceeding the 15-kilo weight limit, both at the start of and during the journey.

Course of the trip

Departure point and parking

Three weeks before your trip, we'll send you full details of the departure point, parking areas and meeting time. You can leave your vehicle in a designated area at the departure site. However, Vélo Québec Voyages declines all responsibility in the event of theft or vandalism.

If you have chosen a destination that includes a shuttle bus at the start of your trip, your bike will be transported by truck. When your bike is loaded, it must be stripped of all equipment (panniers, helmet, locks, etc.). Bikes will be protected by blankets, but you are free to further protect your bike by, for example, wrapping the frame with Styrofoam rolls used to insulate water heater pipes.

A typical day with Vélo Québec Voyages

  • Breakfast at your hotel (between 7:30 and 9:30 a.m.).
  • 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 have lunch when and where you want.
  • 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 the number of participants, the group may stay in one or two hotels. The list of hotels where you will be staying will be sent to you by e-mail three weeks before your departure.

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.

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.

Formalities for the United States

The contents of this section are provided for information purposes only.

It is the responsibility of each traveler to obtain all required documents and to find out about the conditions for entering the United States.

Passport

Travel to the United States by land or sea:

A passport or other authorized security document, such as a Nexus card, is required for all Canadian citizens entering the U.S. by land or sea.

If you are not a Canadian citizen, it is your responsibility to contact the U.S. Consulate General to find out about entry formalities and fees.

To find out more about the various documents required to enter the United States, or for the latest updates on border issues: U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Telephone in the United States

If you plan to make several phone calls during your stay in the U.S., it's a good idea to get a calling card. If you want to bring your cell phone to your destination, ask your provider about the different plans available.

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.

Practical advice before you leave

Vélo Québec Voyages has put together a number of travel-related resources in line with the current situation.