Suggestions for traveling to Marseille.

BEFORE YOU LEAVE - download the print drivers in both English and French for the Laserjet 2100 and the Deskjet 6127printers. Check www.HP.com  to download a print drivers.

We have both wall Ethernet outlets @ CleanAir Europe and wireless.   

If you are taking a PC laptop you will be right at home.  They are a PC office.

If you are taking a Mac Powerbook  you may have trouble printing on their printers. Check www.HP.com  to download a print driver for a Laserjet  2100.  I could not download a driver that worked when I was in France and the 6127 driver I did download did not work.   I had to switch to French language using the international system preference to even communicate with HP.com while in France.

As soon as you know your schedule let Eric Campbell know you will need the Shared French Cell Phone  . This phone cost CleanAir about 43.5 Euro per month.  It can make us much more productive and save money if used wisely.

The CleanAir Shared French Cell Phone

1. This phone has 180 free minutes per month with unused minutes rolling over to the next month.  Unused minutes die at the end of this second month. The phone is a Sony Ericsson Model T68i.  See: www.sonyericsson.com
2. To call this phone from USA dial   011-33-6-85-60-20-64
3. To call this phone from France         06-85-60-20-64  (check)
4. To call this phone from Europe dial       33-6-85-60-20-64  (check)
5. The phone user manual is on line at
6. It is recommended that you get this phone a few days before you leave  for Europe to learn how to use the many functions and to enter your frequently called numbers. Phone calls cannot be made from North America with this phone unless you can configure it for a .  It will, however, work in 123 countries.
7. Cell service provider is Orange.   www.orange.fr    or   www.orange.com
8. Calls to the USA burn minutes at 3 time normal rate or X.X? Euro when over limit.

1. Calls from USA burn minutes at 3 time normal rate or ? Euro when over limit.
2. Call to Europe (outside of France) burn minutes at ? time normal rate or ? Euro over limit.
3. Calls from Europe burn minutes at ? time normal rate or ? Euro when over limit.

Calls to USA

• Calls from the hotel can cost over $30 per minute.  Calls on At&T direct cost $3 per minute but the 1st minute is $10.
• For calls to home try to setup a schedule with your significant other to minimize phone tag. 
• Plan calls ahead of time to be efficient when on line.
• Use the Shared Cell Phone and try to be as quick as reasonable.
• Do not use hotel phone if at all possible.
• If you must use hotel phone to call USA dial the local number for AT&T Direct (0800-99-00-11 in France)  (172-1011 in Italy)  You then dial as if in the USA area code + number.  After the beep enter your home long distance card # (you should get one of these if you donor have  one since you then only have to enter the last 4 digits when calling home).  www.usa.att.com/traveler/index.jsp

Calls from USA

Your long distance carrier most likely charges $10 for the first minute and then $1 per minute.  This can get expensive and frustrating,  especially when most of the time they are talking to a hotel operator. 

 

If a significant other is calling you, have them use a 10-10- service of choice.  Some are as low as 6¢ per minute.  See https://justplaincheap.com

Video Conference

We plan to re-try to a video link in January with  Marseille if we like the new one between Palatine and Houston.  This will be free!!

We may need a faster LAN and/or Internet  service in Europe.

Marseille

The hotel you like best may not be the one someone else would like, so these are personal preferences of these willing to contribute.

Mercure  Marseille Euro Centre - Attached to a large shopping center which is build over a very interesting museum.  I had a very bad experience when the inter door lock broke.  I was then locked in my room with a very secure outer door which maintenance either could not open or could not understand that the problem was the inter door. I do not recommend it.  (Bill Walker)

Holiday Inn MARSEILLE-AVENUE DU PRADO - I liked it because it was an American style room and a French flavored hotel.  The staff and the breakfast are very continental.  Avenue du Prado is very nice but it is a long 15 block walk to the Vieu Port. Prices varies a lot depending on conventions. Range of lowest price is 60-144 Euro per night. I recommend it if less than 100 Euro. (Bill Walker) https://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/hi/1/en/hd/mrsfr

Near Office

Novotel Marseille Est Valentine - Near office and very convenient for a short stay.  Rooms are good, staff is friendly. I recommend it. (Bill Walker)

Avignon - Great walled city was the temporary home of several Popes when Rome was sacked by the Hords.  About an hours drive.  Take the country roads to be sure to see the Roman ruins and aqueduct.https://www.provenceweb.fr/e/vaucluse/villages.htm

Garlaban -  Great all day hike. It is the high mountain between De La Source Hotel and the office.   See Steve or Bill for suggestions on were to park car.

     Upon arrival at the office ask that all meetings can be held in English.  Be aware that people are most efficient working and thinking in their native tongues.  It is very frustrating for some to continually speak in a different language.  Be considerate and try using French as much as you can.

Get an English/French dictionary.  Also download a free 30 day trial of Ultralingua   at  https://www. ultralingua .com  .  If you like it Ultralingua Dictionaries cost $29.95 per.

CleanAir Europe people get company lunch tickets which are tax free so they tend to eat their bigger meal at lunch.  I donor know how they stay so thin.

Wine -  Wine for lunch is a French culture tradition. The president of CleanAir has issued an Executive Order covering granting an exception to the use of alcohol during meal break.  Do not abuse the privilege.

Lots of great food and great restaurants.  Especially good seafood and pizza in and around Marseille.  Dinner is served about 8 PM.  Restaurants doors do not open until about 7:30 PM.  Better local wines are Cotes de Pape and Hermitage  but all are OK. 

Our office is located in the east side of an office park.The best landmarks are PRINTEMPS in the shopping mall to the east and the SMARTCAR vending machine to the west. The entrances to our office park is just south of a bridge under the motorway.  Be sure to get the keys for the office (they should be with the cell phone).  You will need instructions on the security system which must be deactivated quickly when entering.