Below are a few frequently asked questions relating to our creative writing courses, if there are any further questions you might need answering, please do not hesitate to contact us using our Contact Form.
Are there any hidden extras?
None whatsoever. Everything is included in the cost of your course: accommodation (including all linen and towels), pre-dinner aperitifs, all meals (including dinner with wine at charming local restaurants), local transportation (including transfers to Pisa airport; the excursion by train to Lucca) and tuition. All you have to do is to get to Pisa and we do the rest.
On the excursion day to Lucca, you buy your own lunch (we pay for the transport there and back), so it is up to you whether you just want a snack or something more formal.
Other than that you only need money for personal needs, postcards and the odd cappuccino in the piazza.
What time are the pick-up and drop-off times at Pisa airport on the first and last days of my course?
We pick you up at Pisa airport on the first day between 11am and 2pm. We organise precise pick-up times to fit in with our guests’ flight arrivals times.
Transfers to the mill outside 11am and 2pm are extra, at cost.
If you arrive outside these times, we can arrange a taxi to pick you up at Pisa airport. This will be cheaper than hiring a taxi at Pisa airport. The cost for a taxi is of the order of 180 Euros. There are trains from Pisa airport to Aulla or to Soliera and we can arrange to pick you up at either of those stations, where the taxi fare will be cheaper.
Alternatively, you may care to arrive a day early and stay in Pisa overnight (See Where can I stay in Pisa? below) and come to the airport on the Saturday morning. The airport is close to the town and there is a shuttle bus from the centre, as well as a train and taxis. We will keep you informed on the precise pick-up times.
We drop you off at Pisa airport on the last day between 9am and 1pm. (Precise timings of travel to Pisa will be worked out during the course.) Transfers to and from the mill before 9am and after 1pm are extra, at cost.
For those who are leaving Pisa airport later in the day, we will drop you off at the airport in the morning. You can leave your luggage and enjoy sightseeing in the city. The airport is close to the town and there is a shuttle bus to and from the centre, as well as a train and taxis.
Please let us know your flight details as early as you can so we can make all the necessary arrangements.
Where can I stay in Pisa?
We are not in a position personally to recommend hotels in Pisa, since we don’t ever stay there overnight (we sleep at the mill!), but many of our guests have stayed at the Ariston, which is slap bang by the leaning tower, so great for sightseeing. For further details, their website is www.hotelariston.pisa.it. Their phone number is +39 050 561834 and their fax is +39 050 561891. Their email is info@hotelariston.pisa.it.
Our Personal Travel Adviser, Ann Carter, can also find a hotel for you (see How can I organise my flights? below.) There is absolutely no obligation to use her, but if you would like her help, her phone number is 01886 889000 and her email address is ann.carter@tarsc.net.
How can I organise my flights?
You can book your own flights (there are good connections from Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, East Midlands, Birmingham, Leeds/Bradford, Manchester and Bristol and an increasing number of other UK airports)
Or, to make life easier, you can use the services of our Personal Travel Adviser, Ann Carter, who will fix everything for you at very competitive prices. There is absolutely no obligation to use her, but if you would like her help, her phone number is 01886 889000 and her email address is ann.carter@tarsc.net. We have found that many travel agents these days are not very helpful and are often tied to big tour operators. Ann will give you personal service.
Can I come by car?
Of course you can. You can park at the mill and we’ll give you full instructions on how to get there. (We haven’t lost anyone yet!). We reckon you can do Calais to the mill easily in two days using the French autoroutes and the Italian autostrade and it is even more fun if you take three days and make a holiday of the journey. We recommend stops near Strasbourg and beside Lake Como if you make a three day trip. We’ll gladly share our experiences of motoring down, suggesting routes and places to stay.
Can I bring my laptop?
Yes, of course. Italian electricity supply is at 220 volts. You will need an adaptor from your plug to a two-pin continental socket.
What clothes do I need to pack?
Predicting the weather these days is an impossible task! In the Spring and Autumn when the creative writing courses are held, the days are usually warm to hot, but it can rain, sometimes for a day or two at a time. So we recommend a lightweight waterproof coat and perhaps an umbrella. The evenings might be a little cooler, especially in May and September, so warm pullovers or tops are a good idea. (We have a saying: lunch in shirtsleeves, dinner in a pullover.) Sensible shoes for walking are also recommended.
Dinner is taken in local restaurants, but there is no need to dress formally. You’ll find the Italians are ‘smart casual’, but everyone is very relaxed. For the men, there is no need to pack a tie.
Do I need to bring linen or towels?
No, all linen and towels are provided. There’s also a washing machine for communal use, but please ask Kerstin first so she can fit you in around our laundering.
Are there hairdryers?
Sorry, you’ll have to bring your own. The electricity is 220V. You will need an adaptor from your system to a two-pin European plug.
Can I be contacted at the mill?
Yes, there is a telephone at the mill, for incoming calls only. The number is +39 0585 948085 and it would be sensible to ask relatives to telephone between, say 8.30am and 9.30am, when you are likely to be having breakfast, or 7pm to 7.30pm, when you will be enjoying your pre-dinner drink. Please remember that Italy is one hour ahead of UK time; please adjust the timings for your own time zone.
In emergency is it probable best to reach Kerstin on her mobile: +39 328 30 74 644. She has an answering machine on it and will pick up messages regularly if she’s not able to answer immediately.
Please note that the numbers above are correct; don’t add or subtract numbers to those above.
