How much does it cost?
Check the Tour page for rates and information about current tours. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive information as soon as it is available. Sketchy Art & Culture Tours provides great value with the benefits of known and vetted accommodations, breakfasts, local guide logistics, and Art and Culture content from experienced guides who enjoy what they do.
What's the weather going to be like?
Each tour description describes the weather in each location. As your vacation approaches it's nice to check the weather forecast for the time during your stay. For trips in the United States the NOAA weather site is a good place to start. For international travel the Wunderground site is a good place to start.
Can I cancel my trip?
Yes. but there are no refunds from Sketchy Art & Culture Tours after the confirmation date for each tour. Travel insurance is recommended in the event you need to cancel your vacation. The greatest value to travel insurance is piece of mind. There are many types of travel insurance. Be sure to purchase travel insurance within the time limit from when your reservation is made. Airfare often offers a cancellation option for very little expense. Additional travel insurance for the tour cost can then be purchased from a variety of companies and also have additional coverages for lost luggage, unexpected medical expenses and more. Custom levels of travel insurance to suit your needs.
How should I bring money?
In addition to cash you are willing to carry, debit cards are the most flexible and safe way to acquire cash while traveling. You will want to check with your bank about fees, to notify them where you'll be and when, and confirm that your card will work in the locations you'll be traveling to. You should call your bank 6 weeks before traveling in the event they need to provide you with a new card.
Credit card companies like to know where and when you are traveling so they can protect your accounts. You should notify your credit card company well in advance of your traveling in the event they need to issue you a new card or account for traveling.
Other countries use smart chip technology in their credit cards. The United States hasn't integrated this technology yet. This means you may have to depend more on cash than credit at times. American credit cards will typically work but it's good to have a back up plan in the event, for some reason, your card won't work or gets lost or stolen.
Credit card companies like to know where and when you are traveling so they can protect your accounts. You should notify your credit card company well in advance of your traveling in the event they need to issue you a new card or account for traveling.
Other countries use smart chip technology in their credit cards. The United States hasn't integrated this technology yet. This means you may have to depend more on cash than credit at times. American credit cards will typically work but it's good to have a back up plan in the event, for some reason, your card won't work or gets lost or stolen.
Do I have to sketch?
Nobody is required to sketch. Some of our happiest guests have been those who took advantage of the time we have to sketch simply to observe. Learning to see, especially at the pace we set, is an important part of sketching. The entire practice allows for a greater saturation of the experience. There is no obligation to "paint a masterpiece".
An important part of attempting to sketch is to be put in the position of the artist. In terms of art appreciation, viewing art, and collecting art, this adds considerable skill in the interpretation of art weather in a museum, an art gallery, or in conversation.
For that matter, at any time our guests are welcome to take a nap or even spend a day at the chateau instead of attend a day's itinerary. It's always an option to meet us at the car instead of follow the group on a tour of a site. The small groups we travel with provide for a great deal of flexibility. As long as your change of plans doesn't affect the group you are welcome to sketch, or not sketch.
An important part of attempting to sketch is to be put in the position of the artist. In terms of art appreciation, viewing art, and collecting art, this adds considerable skill in the interpretation of art weather in a museum, an art gallery, or in conversation.
For that matter, at any time our guests are welcome to take a nap or even spend a day at the chateau instead of attend a day's itinerary. It's always an option to meet us at the car instead of follow the group on a tour of a site. The small groups we travel with provide for a great deal of flexibility. As long as your change of plans doesn't affect the group you are welcome to sketch, or not sketch.
What kind of room accommodations are available?
For each tour there are a variety of rooms available. Double occupancy usually costs less. There may be a variety of options available depending on the location. Typically king beds, queen beds, double beds, twin beds, and combinations of these bed types along with showers, baths, WC, in room and shared. Once your reservation is received Sketchy Tours Staff will contact you to arrange for room assignments.
What are the meals like?
Meals may be different for each tour. Meals for custom tours are always designed to suit the tour. Typical tours include full continental breakfasts with fresh fruit, yogurt, cereal, coffee, tea, juice and traditional French baked goods delivered fresh from the bakery each morning. Check your tour details for what meals are included.
Lunches are on your own at a cafe, market, or at the chateau depending on daily activities.
On occasion Sketchy Tours will have a dinner that is made up of produce gathered at a market. Each guest acquires a component for dinner at one of the local markets and a meal is made by our staff and any volunteers interested in participating in some French cooking. This event is always fun. To see where the food comes from and the importance French culture puts on the quality of a meal is one of the main reasons we do these tours.
Lunches are on your own at a cafe, market, or at the chateau depending on daily activities.
On occasion Sketchy Tours will have a dinner that is made up of produce gathered at a market. Each guest acquires a component for dinner at one of the local markets and a meal is made by our staff and any volunteers interested in participating in some French cooking. This event is always fun. To see where the food comes from and the importance French culture puts on the quality of a meal is one of the main reasons we do these tours.
How do I get there?
Once your reservation is complete we will work with you to determine the best way for you to arrive at the Chateau. Most people will travel through the town of Bordeaux, France as the nearest large travel hub. We will personally assist you with your itinerary from Bordeaux to the chateau. We would like to confirm logistics questions with you before you purchase flight or train reservations.
Arrive inspired. Sketchy Tour Guides are available to advise you on many aspects of your European travels. If you are planning on visiting other regions of France prior to or following our experience at the villa please contact us for free advice on how to make the most of your trip.
Our blog has many tips to advise you on how to see Paris with ease maximize your travel arrangements. On our blog you can also find links to rental car agencies, travel insurance, Euro Rail tickets as well as discounted art supplies to make your travel easier.
Arrive inspired. Sketchy Tour Guides are available to advise you on many aspects of your European travels. If you are planning on visiting other regions of France prior to or following our experience at the villa please contact us for free advice on how to make the most of your trip.
Our blog has many tips to advise you on how to see Paris with ease maximize your travel arrangements. On our blog you can also find links to rental car agencies, travel insurance, Euro Rail tickets as well as discounted art supplies to make your travel easier.
How do I hold a place for a Sketchy Tour?
Click here to fill out a reservation form on line. Once we receive your completed reservation form we will contact you to start planning your Sketchy Art & Culture Tour. There is a nonrefundable $500 deposit to hold your reservation. Please read the Terms & Conditions carefully for payment deadlines and feel free to contact us with questions.
Is airfare included?
Airfare is not included. Sketchy Tours staff will coordinate your arrival and departure location and scheduling arrangements immediately after making your reservation. We recommend arriving at least 3 days prior to the beginning of your stay with us to see additional sights in Europe and to recover from travel, as well as accommodate any delays you may experience getting to the chateau. Likewise, at the end of your stay it's always nice to spend a few days in another location in Europe to apply the new sketchy tourist skills you learn with us.
What will the cultural component of the tour be like?
You will have a French language specialist as one of your guides who will provide you with answers to cultural and language questions, as well as salon style discussions on cultural communication in an informal and inspiring manner. Short of an interpreter, our idea for this resource is to guide your experience in France with the natural resources each person has with them. Our blog has suggestions for books and activities to study local language, art and culture prior to your tour. Consider subscribing to the RSS feed for the blog so you don's miss new postings.
What's the refund policy?
We have a refund policy on our Terms & Conditions page. Essentially once Sketchy Art & Culture Tours receives payments they are committed. This is why there are no refunds. There are very affordable travelers insurance products available. Squaremouth is an online travel insurance guide that offers comparisons of many policies and purchases bcked by a No Complaint Guarantee. Sketchy Art and Culture Tours highly recommends cancellation insurance for your vacation. If you've never traveled with this type of insurance you might find that it's an important component to a vacation.
Why Travel Insurance?
Sketchy Art and Culture Tours highly recommends insurance for your vacation. Some homeowner insurance policies and credit cards cover portions vacation insurance. It may be worth a call to your insurance or credit card company to find out if you are covered for cancellation, health, injury, liability, and car rental. Sketchy Art and Culture Tours does not provide travel insurance. Squaremouth, is an odd name for a company, offers an informative review of travel insurance. We have used it and highly recommend their platform for learning about travel insurance, selecting a policy, phone and internet support, and claims. Most policies require that you purchase travel insurance within 10 days of booking or reserving your vacation.
What will the art lessons be like?
With Sketchy Tours you receive private or small group instruction, discussion, and practice in workshop and field settings. The work will be oriented towards a recording of travels and insights with sketches of landscapes and place, notes, and color to capture your experience. If you haven't done this before you might find that you prefer this method of documentation more than the many photographs you take. We recommend archival materials so the work you do will last as a meaningful memory of your trip. There is a great historic precedence for this type of activity in the form of journaling. It doesn't require formal training, it's fun, and rewarding. Novices can expect to learn a great deal about art concepts and the vocabulary used to describe it. Experienced artists will benefit from the concepts of visual note taking, composition capture and concept development for use while traveling in anticipation of studio work.. The resource page has tips on materials and information for this type of work. Click here for a link to the Art page.
How does Sketchy Tours manage subscription lists?
We do not share our mailing list with anyone. We use a double opt-in method through a newsletter subscription service called MailChimp which we are very happy with and highly recommend if you have a need for a newsletter subscription service. The double opt-in method provides several advantages to our subscribers:
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