SUMMER TERM AND FALL SEMESTER 2008 TRAVEL INFORMATION

for students at
The Aix Center and
The Marchutz School of Art

(Make a copy of this travel information and the contact information of your French host. There is always a chance that your flight could be delayed or cancelled and you will need to contact us or your host to report these changes.)

EXPECTED ARRIVAL DATES/TIMES

• Please expect to arrive in Aix on:

• Saturday, June 14 for Summer Term
• Saturday, September 6 for Fall Semester  

between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. local time. We encourage you to plan to fly into the Marseille/Provence Airport (MRS), which is in Marignane, a 25 minute drive from Aix. You can also travel to Aix by TGV train from Paris. Once you have booked your travel, please complete the travel itinerary form and email it to IAU Evanston by May 1 for Summer Term and August 1 for Fall Semester.

ARRIVAL DAY DETAILS

• If you arrive between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. at the Marseille/Provence airport, IAU staff, clearly identified by the blue and white IAU logo (see above) will be waiting for you after you leave the baggage claim area and will guide you to the IAU shuttle bus which will take you to Aix where additional IAU staff and your host will meet you.

• Academic Studies Abroad (ASA) offers low student fares and is a convenient way to book your travel.  You can receive a quote from ASA by visiting www.iauairfare.com.  Previous students have also used www.statravel.com and www.studentuniverse.com to book their flights. As you are booking flights, we recommend that you have at least an hour and a half between connections. Any less and you risk missing your connecting flight.

• If you plan to take the TGV after arriving at Charles de Gaulle, make sure you book your ticket from the TGV Station at Charles de Gaulle Airport (Terminal 2) to the Aix-en-Provence TGV station.
  
  
• However, if you will already be in central Paris before coming to Aix, you should book your ticket out of the train station in Paris called: Paris - Gare de Lyon. Therefore, you will book your ticket from the TGV Station in Paris (Gare de Lyon) to the Aix-en-Provence TGV station.
  
  
• Be sure to stay awake and detrain at Aix-en-Provence TGV (about a 3 hour ride); otherwise, you will wind up in Marseille! When you arrive at the TGV Aix-en-Provence station, you can either take a shuttle bus (approx. 6 Euros) to the gare routière or taxi (approx. 30 Euros) from the station into Aix-en-Provence.  Call Rail Europe at (800) 438-7245 and book both a 2nd class ticket and a reservation. Ask for the 12-25 youth fare. Be sure to send IAU the travel itinerary form with your travel details.

OTHER ARRIVALS

For those students who fly into Marseille/Provence airport on other dates or when IAU staff is not present at the airport

• You are responsible for finding your own lodging/transportation to Aix-en-Provence:
  
• Public shuttle buses from the Marseille Airport to Aix-en-Provence which run every half hour (approx. 8 Euros) to the bus station in Aix are an easy way to travel.  When you arrive at the bus station (gare routière) in Aix, call the IAU office to arrange for your host to pick you up (04.42.23.02.82).  It may be necessary for you to take a taxi from the bus station to the Institute at 2 bis rue du Bon Pasteur, which will cost about 12-15 euros. 
  
• Taxis from the airport to Aix-en-Provence are another option and cost approximately 60 Euros.
  
• If you arrive between 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. you can still call IAU.  If you arrive later, you should plan on staying in a hotel at your own expense.
  The IAU Hip Pocket Guide has lodging information in Aix-en-Provence if you arrive before arrival day.

DEPARTURE FROM THE U.S. - USEFUL SUGGESTIONS

• Check your luggage all the way to your final air destination: Marseille Airport (MRS).
  
  
• Pack an extra change of clothes and some toiletries in your carry-on/backpack in case your checked luggage is lost or misdirected.
  
  
• In your carry-on items, all liquids, gels and aerosols must be in three-ounce or smaller containers and placed in a single, quart-size, zip-top, clear plastic bag. Gallon size bags or bags that are not zip-top such as fold-over sandwich bags are not allowed.  Please check with your airline for any updates to these regulations before traveling.     
  
  
• It is a good idea to purchase an international phone card to use on your way to Aix. You can search the web for different options and also visit the ISIC website for more information on phone cards.
  
  
• Should you miss a connection or your flight be delayed, you need to call IAU Aix or your host.  From France, you may reach The Aix Center at: 04.42.23.02.82; from the US: 011.33.4.42.23.02.82.
  
  
• If your luggage does not make it with you, report this immediately to the airline; give your host's address and phone number, which we urge to have with you. If you do not have it, you can give the Center’s address: 2 bis, rue du Bon Pasteur 13625 Aix-en-Provence. (Please note that there will be no one at the Center on Sunday to receive your delayed luggage.)
  
  
• With no luggage, ask for an emergency toiletry kit and for authorization to buy necessary items upon arrival at your final destination, should your suitcase not reach you within 24 hours.
  
  

DEPARTURE FROM FRANCE

• Students are scheduled to leave their host by noon on:
  
  
• Saturday, July 26 for Summer Term
• Saturday, December 20 for Fall Semester  

• Do not plan on leaving Friday night as there are activities until the last minute and you don’t want to miss them.
  
  
• You may stay longer, provided you make your own housing arrangements.

REMEMBER:

• Center’s number from North America:
  011.33.4.42.23.02.82
• Center’s number from France:
  04.42.23.02.82
• Aix Office Location for Arrival Day:
  2 Bis, Rue du Bon Pasteur
  13625 Aix-en-Provence CEDEX 1
  FRANCE
  

Bon Voyage!

 

We are here to help you, so do not hesitate to contact us directly with any questions or concerns.

Jenn Spangenberg, Enrollment Coordinator
Yamina Boudellal, Aix Housing