FAQ


	What are the MIJE ?		Is membership compulsory ?
	Is the association officially certified ?		How and when can we contact MIJE ?
	Can the MIJE organise accompanying adults ?		What are the rules on crossing borders ?
	Do you organise activity programmes for educators / for adults ?		What ratio of supervisors to pupils do you suggest ?
	May I adapt the programmes presented in your general catalogue ?		Do the prices vary according to the size of the group ?
	Is insurance included ? What does it cover ?		How do I obtain travel literature ?
	Can you arrange transport to MIJE hotels / the station / the airport ?		Bus / Train / Air - What mode of transport should I choose ?
	What are the French rules on bus transportation ?

What are the MIJE?
"Les Maisons Internationales de la Jeunesse et des Etudiants" is a non-profit association founded in 1958 and officially recognised by the French government. Its purpose is to organise educational trips for young French people in France and abroad, and to organise activity programmes for young foreigners visiting France. All of our programmes are firmly educational and are organised for non-commercial purposes.

Is membership compulsory ?
You need to be a member of our association in order to benefit from all of the services proposed by the MIJE. The price of the annual subscription is set at our yearly general meeting. There are two types of membership: single membership for the individual guests that come to our hostels and group membership. Membership fees are never reimbursed, and the subscription is valid for the rest of the calendar year.

Is the association officially certified ?
The MIJE youth hostels are officially recognised as tourist properties for young people by the French government. However, they are not adapted to receive disabled guests.

How and when can we contact MIJE ?
By email: infoATmije.com, by fax or by telephone. Group reservations can be made very early in the year. It is highly recommended to contact us before the end of the school year to reserve trips and tours taking place in autumn and to contact us at the start of the new academic year to reserve trips and tours taking place in spring. Please note that our group reservations department is closed on Saturday.

Can the MIJE organise accompanying adults ?
The MIJE are specialised in the organisation of eductional trips for school groups. These programmes are supervised by the educators of the school organising the trip. We do not propose group leaders to accompany you from Paris. It is easy to organise guided visits when you arrive.

What are the rules on crossing borders ?
Each participant must be in possession of the necessary papers before departure. If not, any financial consequences are the sole responsibility of the participant.

Do you organise activity programmes for educators / for adults ?
The programmes proposed in our general catalogue can easily be a starting point and be adapted for an adult clientele. Your group must include at least 15 to 20 people. Different facets of the trip may be modified, (types of hotels and restaurants, visits) as may its price. Please feel free to ask us for more information.

What ratio of supervisors to pupils do you suggest ?
The head of your establishment shall evaluate the amount of supervisors needed according to the number of students participating and the laws in your country.

May I adapt the programmes presented in your general catalogue ?
Yes. Our programmes are continually renewed to better meet your demands. Each programme can be adapted to your needs, whether you wish to modify the type of transport, accommodation, visits or the duration of the trip. Please note that very specific programmes or programmes with technical components may take longer to elaborate, please contact us as soon as possible.

Do the prices vary according to the size of the group ?
Our rates are usually given on the basis of a group of 49 students and 4 accompanying adults, this group size represents the standard capacity of a coach.
Our prices are calculated according to the actual size of your group. Please bear in mind the cost of such things as bus hire for example, if your group size is reduced this may lead to a large variation in price. Try not to be caught out by this - it is better to start planning for a moderately-sized group and increase it if needs be on our consent than to bank on a large group size - you may end up having to ask the families to pay extra.
We calculate our prices per person in order to stay close to reality and to allow you to benefit from the most competitive prices.

Is insurance included ? What does it cover ?
When you choose MIJE, your group automatically benefits from free insurance from the MAIF (individual accident insurance, property damage: luggage, personal effects, appeals and civil liability) as well as the services of INTER MUTUELLE ASSISTANCE (medical assistance / death, accompaniment, repatriation and loans).

Cancellation insurance is optional. To acquire this insurance, it must be taken out on all of your group's participants on the day you sign your contract. The price is 3% (including tax) of your total bill and is non-refundable. This guarantee comes into play in the event of illness (medically assessed) or physical accident (including attacks) which leaves the person incapable of leaving their room during a minimum of eight days. However, the guarantee does not apply to pregnancy, an illness or accident already existing at the time of subscription. The guarantee also comes into play in the event of the redundancy for economic reasons of the mother, father or guardian of participating minors. You may ask the MIJE for a list of all qualifying conditions.

How do I obtain travel literature ?
We can offer you some useful documents to help you prepare your programme, however we do not have a large amount of documentation. You can ask national and local tourist offices directly for brochures. We also advise you to use the internet for more information.

Can you arrange transport to our hotel / the station / the airport ?
The MIJE are certified IATA agents for air transport and SNCF for rail transport. We have great experience in the organisation of bus transport and we can propose pre and post transportation towards our Parisian hostels, or any station or airport.

Bus / Train / Air - What mode of transport should I choose ?
This of course depends on your destination, budget and the type of programme envisaged, but also on the size of your group. For example, travel from Naples, Berlin or Prague for 25 people will not necessarily be more expensive by plane than by train. We mostly cooperate with regular airlines with scheduled flights and chartered flights for some destinations, but not with "low cost" companies.

What are the French rules on coach transportation ?
As the principal and organiser of your programme, the MIJE are co-responsible for the correct carrying out of all services. We are particularly concerned with rules and regulations and we cooperate with companies who are committed to upholding these regulations.

-Rules concerning travel with one driver only:
One sole driver cannot drive for more than 4 hours and 30 minutes without a break, or more than 4 hours at night. At the end of this time, he must be allowed at least a 45 minute break which may be divided into several smaller breaks during this period.
The maximum daily driving time is set at 9 hours; it may be possible to extend this to 10 hours twice weekly.
-Amplitude: The amplitude is the length of time between two times off. This is a maximum of 14 hours. The amount of time taken to prepare the vehicle and the time taken for the driver to arrive at your point of departure must be taken into account. The time necessary at the end of the day and spent looking for a parking spot should also be included. Normally our programmes do not exceed 12 hours in amplitude.
If the amplitude is not long enough to cover your planned route, then a second driver is necessary. He may take over from the other driver in shifts and only participate in part of the journey or else be permanently present; this is called a double crew. When a driver is part of a double crew the amplitude is increased to 18 hours.

The shift system is just as reliable and respectful of the rules as the double crew system. The shift system is preferred by transporters at certain times of the year or depending on their own organisation.

-Time off: the daily time off for a driver is 11 consecutive hours, which may be reduced to a minimum of 9 hours, 3 times per week. The amplitude starts over when the drivers have a 9 hour break. It is important to give the drivers some breathing space when they have finished driving after a long journey. They should be allowed to use their time however they wish without being disturbed.

-Seat belts: French law requires all passengers using public transport to use a seat belt if their vehicle is equipped with them. This concerns all new buses (after October 1st 1999) and all vehicles already equipped before this date. If a passenger fails to use their seat belt they are entirely legally responsible if they are over 13 years of age. Neither the driver nor his employer shall be held to account in any circumstances.

With all of these factors to consider, travel by bus cannot be improvised and you are strongly advised to stick to your organised programme. You may not be able to visit a little museum that's not on your programme, even if it would be very interesting and even if you are very close by...