TRAVEL LOGISTICS:
Security, Passports and Visas:
Please check your airline for current travel restrictions. Make sure your passport is up to date. If you do not have a US passport, please contact your consulate for current travel information/visas for France.
Arrival:
When you arrive at Charles de Gaulle airport, you will retrieve your luggage through customs, and make your way down to the TGV train station following the well-marked signs for “GARE.” The train station is below the central connection between all air terminals.
You will need to purchase a round trip 2nd class TGV ticket on the first possible train to Saumur. This usually costs about 120 euros, unless there is more than ten people buying the tickets as a group. If you are travelling by yourself, you can use a credit/debit card. To travel as a pair or with a group, you will need cash.
Train Payment:
It is highly recommended that you obtain about 200 euros in the US to be able to pay cash for the train ticket and your initial food expenses. This will also minimize the time required to wait in the airport exchange bureaus after obtaining the luggage, keep the group together as much as possible, and allow you to get on the first possible train, etc. You can go to American Express, a large bank, or an exchange bureau.
Note: the best exchange rates are available if you simply use your debit card to withdraw euros in France from an ATM machine with your regular security code– and this is the best way to obtain additional cash for shopping in the markets, and places that will not take credit cards or traveller’s checks. Please note, Amex is not as widely accepted in Europe as are Mastercard or Visa.
Ticketing:
The TGV ticketing staff will route you on the first available train to Saumur. You will need to transfer once along the way. There is a train from the airport routed through Angers leaving at approximately 1:30 that will get you to Saumur for the 5 pm pick-up by the inn at the Saumur train station.
Depending on what time of day you are travelling, or if you are coming from Paris (departing from the Montparnasse train station), you may be routed through two other cities: St. Pierre des Corps or Tours, and transfer there for the local Saumur train. In any case, the train to Saumur from one of these three cities will take an additional 30 minutes. Train arrival and departure times are clearly noted on your ticket. Please note, transfer times to move your luggage on/off trains is very quick – French trains are much more timely than American. It is helpful to keep your ticket and watch nearby, and stand near your luggage before the train announcement that you are arriving in your transfer station, so you can move everything off the train as quickly as possible.
The first day is definitely primarily a travel day... The trains via St. Pierre des Corps or Tours take about 1 ½ hours from the airport; the train from Angers will be about 2 hours. There may be a bried wait before the Saumur train arrives, and you will need to wait for pick-up from the inn.
Please do not pre-purchase the TGV ticket on the web from the US, because you will not qualify for a group discount, and may have reticketing problems if your flight is delayed and you miss your scheduled train.
Reading Your Train Ticket:
The train track will be posted in the main station by time and train number about 20 minutes before the train arrives in the station. “VOIE” is French for track. On your way out to the track level, there is a yellow validation machine. You need to time validate your ticket in this machine, in case a conductor wants to see your ticket on the train.
After you get down to the track, you will see an electronic board mapping the train cars by alphabetical letter to your ticket. “VOIT” is the car you need to be in, according to your ticket. The electronic board will help you see where to walk to on the track to enter that car. [For example, if your ticket says ‘voit 03,’ the orange electronic board may tell you to enter in area ‘G’ on the track.] Once you enter the train, you will find the racks to store your large luggage. Your reserved train seat is noted by number on the ticket. There are bathrooms and a food car on the train.
Pick Up In Saumur By The Inn Owners:
If you are traveling separately from the group, when you know which train you will be arriving on, you should notify the inn before you get on the train, unless your cell works in France. Without prior arrangement, everyone and their luggage will be picked up at Saumur by 4:30-5 pm.
CONTACT NUMBERS FOR THE INN:
Within France From US/US cell Le Moulin home phone * 02 41 82 30 54011 33 2 41 82 30 54
02 41 82 30 54011 33 2 41 82 30 54Jonathan Robinson cell 06 81 35 13 98011 33 6 81 35 13 98
06 81 35 13 98011 33 6 81 35 13 98 Bernard Levenez cell 06 74 22 44 52011 33 6 74 22 44 52
06 74 22 44 52011 33 6 74 22 44 52The inn is owned cooperatively by your three hosts for the week: American artist Jonathan Robinson, Chef Pascal Merilou, and Bernard Levenez.
* If you call the main number of the inn, the phone will be answered by inn proprietors Bernard Levenez (our main tour coordinator/driver/translator) or Pascal Merilou (our resident chef). Pascal understands English better in person than on the phone, so he may ask Bernard talk to you.
Please note, there is an answering machine if they are out. Also, the ring tone in France is a long tone more similar to the U.S. busy tone – don’t hang up!
The third proprietor of the inn is American artist Jonathan Robinson, who lives in Saumur above the pastry shop. You may reach him on the cell if there is not an answer at the inn, and he will get a message through. Bernard’s cell phone may not pick up at the inn, the location is too remote...
Phone Calls:
Cingular and Nextel cell phones generally can work in France. Other people can talk to their cell company and rent an international cell phone. However, it is easy and cheaper to use a phone card in France.
You can easily buy a phone card from an airport newspaper shop at Charles de Gaulle. Probably 5-10 euros will be sufficient for the week, and allow you to make some calls home from the inn. Do not buy the type of phone card you need to insert into a public pay phone, as it will not work from the inn. Please note, at the inn we share one line. People can call you at the inn – but bear in mind the time difference between France and the US. Only emergency calls/messages can be taken during the night.
