Mittens 2008 - l'édition Français | 15-22 August 2008

[Nacho]

Eric, Darth Mandarb, Lore and me will rendez-vous in Charles de Gaulle the 14th, at 1300, to go to the Chateau by car, dunno if with my car, if I drive to Paris, or with a rented one, if we fly to Beavois (sp?... Paris's third airport) the afternoon of the 13th. If you want to come, you are invited, but tell to me asap to get/rent a bigger car (Darth is giantic)

[Andail]

Rats, I really really want to go...I need to sort this out somehow.

to be continued...

[The Ivy]

Nacho, I'll be arriving at Charles de Gaulle within a few hours of Eric and Jess. I'm not sure what the car situation is now, but do you think I might be able to get a ride as well?

[SSH]

...whoever will be in Paris on the 14th we should arrange something.

Assuming North American cell phones work in Europe, you can get ahold of Disco and me that way to arrange a meet-up on the fly.

You need a tri-band phone, as US/Canada GSM operates at 850 and 1900 Mhz and most of the rest of the world at 900/1800 Mhz. So you'll have to find out your phone specs, but google should help there.

[AGA]

Most phones made in the last 5 or more years are tri-band though. I've been able to make calls in the US and Canada since forever.

[SSH]

Cheaper phones still tend to only be dual-band. E.g. Nokia 1200, Verizon Wireless CDM 8905. NB, AGA, I work for a company that sells mobile network monitoring systems, so don't argue!

[Darth Mandarb]

Rats, I really really want to go...I need to sort this out somehow.

I really hope you can make it!!

Eric and Ivy - It would be awesome if we all hooked up for the journey!  If we need to, we can rent a larger van type vehicle!  Get a gaggle of AGSers.  But fair warning ... if we have 5 or more people I demand we sing "on the road" songs to help pass the time!!

As for cellphones ... I am planning on getting a new phone this month, so I will ensure it works over-seas!

[Disco]

Quintaros and I are in the market for getting a ride if there are still possibilities for room. If renting a bigger van is a thought, there would definitely be a market. My Parisian friend found us a site that sells tickets to the nearest stop to the chateau for about â,¬30 one-way, but I have yet to discover these on my own  I have only been able to find some for about â,¬80, which is roughly equal to one week's budget  :o

www.voyages-sncf.com

[MrColossal]

I don't think a car situation would work though, me, Jess, The Ivy and MillsJRoss are all meeting up in CDG airport and if there's enough room for 4 new people with all their luggage than sure! Let's all pile in... But otherwise I think it's the train for Jess and I at least.

Unless a big ol' party van is rented like Mittens Canada

[Disco]

Yeah, now that I think about last summer with the AGS Bus, it didn't work out any cheaper really. I'll keep looking for those â,¬30 fares 

[jetxl]

Most phones made in the last 5 or more years are tri-band though. I've been able to make calls in the US and Canada since forever.

My phone didn't work in Canada. Though truth be told, I own games more expencive than that phone.

[DutchMarco]

s for cellphones ... I am planning on getting a new phone this month, so I will ensure it works over-seas!

I have a disappointment in stock for you: There is a very slim chance of an American one working in Europe (and vice versa), there were (don't know if they still exist)phones that worked at both the European and American frequencies. Big chances are that you won't get one when buying a new one. So make sure you get one which also shoots photos and/or plays MP3s, so it'll be of some minor use ove here...

[Darth Mandarb]

Does anybody know the cost of renting something large enough to fit a group in?

Nacho - if it's cheaper to take the train maybe we should just do that instead?  I have no real preference other than the fact that, in a rented car, we could stop whenever we wanted (and/or make slight detours).  But a cross-country train trip would be fun too!

I'm down for anything really ... I just really want to make sure to see the Catacombs and the Eiffel Tower in Paris while there.

I have a disappointment in stock for you: There is a very slim chance of an American one working in Europe (and vice versa)...

Well ... we shall see what comes up.  Once I meet up with Nacho I'm sure his phone works over there so it's probably not a big deal.

[AGA]

This site has a 9-seat car for £576.  So £64/$125/â,¬80 per person for the week assuming you fill it up.

Hertz has some 7-seaters for ~£350. I'm sure you'd find some decent prices if you shopped around with an exact number of passengers in mind.

80 Eur per person is similar to what the train would cost for a return though, isn't it? Might be worth considering.

[Nacho]

I think that if renting is the same price as the train, it should be great to rent a van, so we have a vehicle to move in the village where the Chateau is. But I still haven' t booked my flights, apparently the website where I usually book them is having problems... One I have that part sure, I will think in the van.

If I can' t book my flights, wtf, I will drive to Paris with my father' s in law van, I think it has place for 7 people.

About luggages and so... My experience tells me that you won't need much more than a swimming robe and clean t-shirts. ^_^ So, keep it simple, one small bag would do the work.

Assuming we get a 7 people van...

DM
MrC
Jess
Ivy
Mills
Lore
Farl

I have 7... Perfect if we keep the luggage just with handbags...

[AGA]

I've always managed Mitteneering with a small bag, and still had enough clothes to wear fresh clothes every day for a week. I think everyone at last year's Mittens had about the same, and there was enough room to fit everyone and their luggage into the Mittens Van.

[Darth Mandarb]

Does the chateau have a laundry/wash facility? (I reviewed the site but I don't speak French!)  If I know I can wash clothes while there I'll pack a lot less (clothing).

I'm okay with Van and/or Train ... whatever the "Group" decides!

[Finkenstein]

Hey, it's a me, Jess!
the Van idea sounds awesome. I just thought I would throw down my vote. The train was looking pretty expensive and having transport for the week would definitely be cool.

[Chrille]

Count me in if you rent a 9-person van. It seems cheaper to just rent a 7-person van though. Also, I'd probably be bringing the usual backpack rather than just a handbag :P.

[AGA]

Does the chateau have a laundry/wash facility? (I reviewed the site but I don't speak French!)  If I know I can wash clothes while there I'll pack a lot less (clothing).

This site is a better source of information overall, plus it's in English. Doesn't seem to mention laundry facilities though, unless I'm missing it.