Frequently Asked Questions

+ What's included in the price?

• Train station pick-up from and drop-off to Niort train station.
• Accommodation and locavore board (typically 10 breakfasts, lunches and dinners - except on excursions and day trips), full bar, apéro, snacks ad infinitum.
• Cost for teachers and guides who lead the classes/workshops/training sessions are included.
• Transportation to and from locales for excursions, day trips and side trips.
• Admission fees.

Your personal expenses will include souvenirs, excursion lunches and dinners, tipping, mementos and personal supplies. (Obviously, the price doesn't include your air fare to France.)

+ What should I bring?

Bring attire that's appropriate for your chosen retreat. We provide organic insect repellent and a robe.

Clothes

• It can get fairly hot in the summer in Sud Vendée, so for daytime, bring loose cotton or linen pants, shorts, shirts, a light jacket (linen or denim is good) a light sweater, a shawl, a sunhat. Apart from clothes to relax in, bring chic casual day and evening wear for outings and party time. We also recommend Dickies work wear, so you can enjoy the mill's grounds without worrying about a little dirt on your shirt.
• Bring light rain gear just in case, a brolly, or rain hat.

Shoes

• Remember to bring shoes for uneven surfaces, like gravel and cobblestones. To best enjoy the mill's grounds and farm animals, Blundstones, or hiking boots, Paladiums or similar bottines that cover your ankles.

• Don’t forget to bring socks, sneakers, and flip flops for indoors.

Misc.

• If you want to swim in the lake (not the river), bring swimming gear, including goggles.

• Bring a portable battery charger for your phone and extra batteries for your camera.

• Sunscreen for your face.

+ My French is rusty; how will I manage?

No problem! You'll be fine! Tara and team speak fluent French. Tara also speaks Spanish and her husband, Beat, speaks German. Coaches, teachers, and artisans leading the classes might not be fluent in English, but there will always be someone around to facilitate clear communication, like an interpreter for instance.

+ Can I just stay at the Mill and chill if I don't feel like taking a class or going on a side trip?

Absolutely. We realize and understand that you want time for yourself when you're on vacation. We've created "Be" spots dotted throughout the property; places where you can doze, read, journal, paint, meditate, either between classes or during classes when you need to mull over things. The important thing is that you focus on you, notice what you're noticing, connect, let go, and feel peace.

Note: We don't do refunds if you opt out of any package activity.

+ Can you pick me up at the airport in Paris?

It's too far away so that's a negatory, sorry. Once you've landed in Paris, get the train to Niort. Pickup from Niort is included in the price but your train ticket is not. It's super easy getting the train from Paris to Niort, which is only 30 minutes away. We provide detailed guidance well in advance regarding train ticket purchase and timetable, and update guests prior to travel regarding Covid-19 measures on public transportation.

+ Can you pick me up at any airport? Nantes? Bordeaux? La Rochelle?

Nantes (NTE) is the closest big airport and the only big airport for which we can coordinate transport. It's 1.5 hours' drive away; super easy to get to and from by car via the autoroute, which requires toll payments (euros or credit card).

Given the distance, airport taxis won't come to Mill on the Rock. If you need a taxi, let us know well in advance. We can help coordinate airport pickup and recommend at least 4 guests ride-share to split the cost and economize fuel. Airport pickup and drop off is not included in the price of the retreat. It is paid for separately by the guest, typically split between passengers.

La Rochelle (LRH): has a dinky little airport with limited destinations, mostly England and not all year. Given the distance, airport taxis won't come to Mill on the Rock. If you need a taxi, arrange for it well in advance. We can help coordinate airport pickup and recommend at least 4 guests ride-share to split the cost and economize fuel. Airport pickup and drop off is not included in the price of the retreat. It is paid for separately by the guest, typically split between passengers.

Bordeaux (BOD): Bordeaux airport is 2.5 hours' away by road. If you're not driving and you're coming from Bordeaux, we recommend coming by train or bus to Niort, where we pick you up. Niort pickup is included in the price of the retreat. Transportation to Niort from your point of arrival in France is not included in the price of the retreat, but we provide detailed guidance regarding ticket purchase and timetable prior to travel, as well as update guests prior to travel regarding Covid-19 measures on public transport.

+ Should I rent a car?

You won't need one at Mill on the Rock, so car rental is entirely up to you. If you want to rent a car near Mill on the Rock, we can help coordinate getting you a manual/stick shift rental car in Niort, the closest city, but requests must be made at least two weeks in advance. We can't guarantee getting you a rental car at short notice, especially if you need an automatic. French people drive stick shift/manual cars. Automatic cars are hard to find in the countryside, they have to be brought in especially. Even when you book one in advance, it might not arrive. If you need an automatic car to drive, we recommend renting one at a big international airport.

+ Can we get a taxi and explore?

FYI: Rural France isn't like the city. You can't get taxis or drivers here at the drop of a hat. If you want the freedom to drive around and explore, we recommend renting a car. Just bear in mind that car rentals need to be booked and organized well in advance!

+ Will I learn something new if I'm already familiar with the activities or crafts taught?

Yes, we take great care to tailor our retreats so that everyone has an experience that is elevating and fulfilling. If you already have experience and wish to take your passion and skillsets to a new level, then let us know in advance so we may plan with you in mind.

+ What if I'm not an experienced artist, athlete, yogi, etc.?

Our retreats are level-free. We want you to fulfill your dreams whether that means pursue current passions or igniting new ones. We also welcome people to whom these gifts come naturally. The goal is to connect good people doing beautiful things in a beautiful place and have a great time doing it!

+ What kind of food will be served at Mill on the Rock?

What you put in your body is important to us. Ingredients are organic and fresh; meals are prepared daily. Everything we serve is seasonal and produced/raised/caught locally. At the mill, we are locavore, slow foodies. If it doesn't come from around here, we won't serve it. Like avocados for instance, or pineapples and mangos. If you're vegan, no problem. Our style of food is fusion, inspired by French tradition.

+ Can I swim in the river?

We have lots of farm animals around here, so no, we don't recommend swimming in the river. If you want to swim, there are swimming pools nearby and we'll provide the towels.

+ Should I bring cash?

Yes, you'll need cash for tipping at restaurants. Otherwise, credit cards are accepted pretty much everywhere. But we do recommend you bring some euros in cash for the few places you might run into that don't accept plastic.

+ Can I walk into any bank in rural France to exchange foreign currency for Euros?

Banks in rural France don't do foreign exchange. We recommend doing all your currency exchanges through WISE. Open an account and apply for a Wise card. They offer low conversion fees and zero transaction fees. Convert your currency to euros using your Wise account, and then spend your euros using your Wise card. Very convenient.

+ Are kids allowed?

Our retreats are geared towards adults 18+.

+ How do salons and restaurants operate in the countryside?

Businesses here rely on pre-booking, including salons and restaurants. It is really hard to get a table or spot without reserving in advance. Walk-ins aren’t a thing in the countryside.

+ What if I get sick or something happens to me during my stay?

Our grounds and property are safety-first environments, but we highly recommend purchasing international travel insurance before your trip.

If you should have an accident while on or off the premises, we will get you to the local doctor and/or hospital and accompany you diligently through the process, including if you need to get home. We have a pharmacy that's always open nearby with pharmacists who are super knowledgeable. The nearest small hospital is 20 minutes away. The nearest big hospital is 30 minutes away.

+ Can we do something that isn't part of the plan?

All the local professionals we partner with have been carefully selected to collaborate with us in advance to provide you with the best possible experience at Mill on the Rock. It is our goal to honor our partners by sticking to the agenda they have carefully planned for you. On free days when an excursion or activity is not planned, you're free to do as you please and explore to your heart's desire!

+ What if I want to do my own thing?

Once you get here, you are free to opt out of a class or outing in favor of staying at the Mill or doing your own thing but we won’t be able to refund you for any portion of a retreat you choose to miss. We have business obligations we must honor in respect of our French partners. Let us know if there's something you want to do that isn't part of the group's agenda, and we'll do our best to accommodate you.