LETTERS FOR AIX-EN-PROVENCE
Travel Information:
If you're flying into the Marseille airport you have two options to get from there to Aix en Provence. The first is by taxi which costs around 50€ during the day and 60€ at night and takes around 30 minutes. Your second option is the airport shuttle bus which costs 8.30€ one-way and takes around 32 minutes. If you take the bus it will take you to the bus depot in Aix from where you can get a cab to the hotel. I will see who is arriving in Marseille at the same time so I can put you together and save you some money.
If you're taking the TGV (fast train) from Paris to Aix you can take a cab at the train station to the hotel (about 10 miles) for about 40€. Depending on what time you arrive there might be cabs there but you might have a bit of a wait. There is a solution if you're adventurous: download the taxi app on your iPhone https://apps.apple.com/fr/app/taxi-aixois/id768771810 or on your Android https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lanoosphere.tessa.taxi_aixois&hl=fr
If you are taking the train from Charles de Gaulle Airport to Aix: after you go through passport control and get your bags look for the sign for the TGV. Below is a map of the airport that shows where the TGV station is located (look for GARE-TGV). You can see where the terminals are in relation to where the TGV station is. Of course you absolutely should get your train ticket BEFORE you get there and you can do that at www.raileurope.com. If you're having trouble navigating their site call them at 800 622 8600 after 9 AM Eastern Time. Press option 2 to speak to a human being.
If you're taking the TGV from Paris - not from the airport, you will be taking that train from the Gare de Lyon.
If you're flying into the Marseille airport you have two options to get from there to Aix en Provence. The first is by taxi which costs around 50€ during the day and 60€ at night and takes around 30 minutes. Your second option is the airport shuttle bus which costs 8.30€ one-way and takes around 32 minutes. If you take the bus it will take you to the bus depot in Aix from where you can get a cab to the hotel. I will see who is arriving in Marseille at the same time so I can put you together and save you some money.
If you're taking the TGV (fast train) from Paris to Aix you can take a cab at the train station to the hotel (about 10 miles) for about 40€. Depending on what time you arrive there might be cabs there but you might have a bit of a wait. There is a solution if you're adventurous: download the taxi app on your iPhone https://apps.apple.com/fr/app/taxi-aixois/id768771810 or on your Android https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lanoosphere.tessa.taxi_aixois&hl=fr
If you are taking the train from Charles de Gaulle Airport to Aix: after you go through passport control and get your bags look for the sign for the TGV. Below is a map of the airport that shows where the TGV station is located (look for GARE-TGV). You can see where the terminals are in relation to where the TGV station is. Of course you absolutely should get your train ticket BEFORE you get there and you can do that at www.raileurope.com. If you're having trouble navigating their site call them at 800 622 8600 after 9 AM Eastern Time. Press option 2 to speak to a human being.
If you're taking the TGV from Paris - not from the airport, you will be taking that train from the Gare de Lyon.
Most of you will be bringing phones or tablets or even computers. These modern devices are dual voltage (110V and 220V) therefore you do not need a converter. But you sure will need at least one adapter to plug your device into their weird wall receptacles. They look like this Amazon sells them. Click here.
Flying with paints:
People are asking about traveling with paints and issues at the airport. Read these two articles:
http://www.gamblincolors.com/newsletters/studionotes14.html from Gamblin Paints
http://www.paintingfrance.com/paints.htm from my site.
Bringing meds with you:
If you’re bringing any medications bring them on the plane with you. Do not check them in with your valise. On a trip to France a woman’s luggage arrived 4 days after she did and her meds were in that luggage. We were able to go to the local pharmacy and get the French equivalents, so it can be done!
Don’t bring any art supplies on board either. Even watercolors I believe should be checked inside your luggage. That would include not only paints (from now on you will call them “artists colors made with vegetable oils and no solvents”) but palette knives, brushes or anything else that could be seen as threatening. We will buy paint thinner for oil painters when we get there. It goes by the name of White Spirit and is ubiquitous. OR - get some Gamsol odorless mineral spirits from Gamblin and bring them with you. They are ok to fly with. You can get them from Dick Blick http://www.dickblick.com/products/gamblin-gamsol-odorless-mineral-spirits/ or Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Gamblin-Gamsol-Odorless-Mineral-Spirits/dp/B0006IKCHW T
Money issues:
ATM machines are available but not on every street corner as they are here in the states. So I advise you to take some time and purchase euros before you leave if you can. I often suggest bringing two cards just in case some silly machine over there isn’t accepting one. It’s happened for no apparent reason. I would also notify your bank of your travel plans so they don’t block your card when they see charges coming in from overseas - that’s important.
Traveler’s checks are a pain in the #^%&E^. Don’t bring ‘em if you can help it. Debit ATM cards are great and easy to work with. Credit cards are accepted almost everywhere and the ATM machines are not far away. Still, it’s always a good idea to bring a couple of hundred Euro with you so you have one less thing to do when you arrive.
We have a reservation for dinner on the night of the 14th – around 8 PM at La Brocherie but we will have a orientation and meet and greet at 5:30 PM in the hotel lobby.
On our first group dinner out – and for any group dinner we have, you should have euros with you. The French are notorious for NOT liking to give out separate checks. So make sure you have enough euros. Get them before you come or at an airport ATM or at one of the ATM’s in Aix when you arrive.
A couple of reminders and miscellaneous things..
If you’re taking a cab into Aix from the airport it would be helpful if you wrote on a nice size piece of paper before you get in the cab: Hotel Le Concorde 68 Blvd du Roy Renée (Roy is not pronounced like you think it is. More like (rwah). You might feel comfortable saying it in French. But the accent needs to be perfect or near perfect for them to understand you. Oh yeah – don’t forget to tip the driver..
All rooms should have hair dryers.
The weather:
you never know what it’s going to be like. However, I like to keep an eye on a long range forecast so I kind of know. Here’s a ten day forecast you can keep track of. But I would come prepared for a variety of conditions, including rain. Rain will never be an excuse not to paint!
Trip insurance:
I spoke with someone at http://www.travelinsurancereview.net about trip insurance and here's what she said:
"As to your travel insurance question, each insured would need to buy their individual cancellation plan, and they would base the 'trip cost' on their pre-paid, non-refundable trip costs. So, if the workshop fee is non-refundable and the airline tickets are non-refundable, then insure the cost of both. You can also go to http://www.insuremytrip.com and get comparative quotes on policies.
Miscellaneous:
One of our group teaches yoga and she would be open to giving a class for our group. We can talk about that during our meet and greet orientation on the 14th.
People are asking about traveling with paints and issues at the airport. Read these two articles:
http://www.gamblincolors.com/newsletters/studionotes14.html from Gamblin Paints
http://www.paintingfrance.com/paints.htm from my site.
Bringing meds with you:
If you’re bringing any medications bring them on the plane with you. Do not check them in with your valise. On a trip to France a woman’s luggage arrived 4 days after she did and her meds were in that luggage. We were able to go to the local pharmacy and get the French equivalents, so it can be done!
Don’t bring any art supplies on board either. Even watercolors I believe should be checked inside your luggage. That would include not only paints (from now on you will call them “artists colors made with vegetable oils and no solvents”) but palette knives, brushes or anything else that could be seen as threatening. We will buy paint thinner for oil painters when we get there. It goes by the name of White Spirit and is ubiquitous. OR - get some Gamsol odorless mineral spirits from Gamblin and bring them with you. They are ok to fly with. You can get them from Dick Blick http://www.dickblick.com/products/gamblin-gamsol-odorless-mineral-spirits/ or Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Gamblin-Gamsol-Odorless-Mineral-Spirits/dp/B0006IKCHW T
Money issues:
ATM machines are available but not on every street corner as they are here in the states. So I advise you to take some time and purchase euros before you leave if you can. I often suggest bringing two cards just in case some silly machine over there isn’t accepting one. It’s happened for no apparent reason. I would also notify your bank of your travel plans so they don’t block your card when they see charges coming in from overseas - that’s important.
Traveler’s checks are a pain in the #^%&E^. Don’t bring ‘em if you can help it. Debit ATM cards are great and easy to work with. Credit cards are accepted almost everywhere and the ATM machines are not far away. Still, it’s always a good idea to bring a couple of hundred Euro with you so you have one less thing to do when you arrive.
We have a reservation for dinner on the night of the 14th – around 8 PM at La Brocherie but we will have a orientation and meet and greet at 5:30 PM in the hotel lobby.
On our first group dinner out – and for any group dinner we have, you should have euros with you. The French are notorious for NOT liking to give out separate checks. So make sure you have enough euros. Get them before you come or at an airport ATM or at one of the ATM’s in Aix when you arrive.
A couple of reminders and miscellaneous things..
If you’re taking a cab into Aix from the airport it would be helpful if you wrote on a nice size piece of paper before you get in the cab: Hotel Le Concorde 68 Blvd du Roy Renée (Roy is not pronounced like you think it is. More like (rwah). You might feel comfortable saying it in French. But the accent needs to be perfect or near perfect for them to understand you. Oh yeah – don’t forget to tip the driver..
All rooms should have hair dryers.
The weather:
you never know what it’s going to be like. However, I like to keep an eye on a long range forecast so I kind of know. Here’s a ten day forecast you can keep track of. But I would come prepared for a variety of conditions, including rain. Rain will never be an excuse not to paint!
Trip insurance:
I spoke with someone at http://www.travelinsurancereview.net about trip insurance and here's what she said:
"As to your travel insurance question, each insured would need to buy their individual cancellation plan, and they would base the 'trip cost' on their pre-paid, non-refundable trip costs. So, if the workshop fee is non-refundable and the airline tickets are non-refundable, then insure the cost of both. You can also go to http://www.insuremytrip.com and get comparative quotes on policies.
Miscellaneous:
One of our group teaches yoga and she would be open to giving a class for our group. We can talk about that during our meet and greet orientation on the 14th.
I might do some running in the morning pretty early. If anyone is interested in joining me let me know.
This is a final confirmation for your arrival:
Galen and Ron: the 14th, Neeta: the 13th, Gwen and Jean-Luc: the 14th, Dorothy: the 14th, Suzanne: the 15th, Susan: the 13th and See See: the 12th, Me and Nancy: the 13th
ANY DISCREPANCIES LET ME KNOW NOW.