Preparing for Your Journey
Alhambra-Inspired Tiles + Botanical Printmaking with Katharine Watson
Sunday, May 4 to Sunday, May 11, 2025
Andalusia, Spain
WE CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOU! Please read this doc carefully.
We are so excited to spend time with you in Andalusia, Spain as we learn all about reduction printmaking with the amazing Katharine Watson. Please take a moment to read through this document in full as it contains important information related to your Ace Camps Travel Trip and provides the key info you need to prepare.
Your Ace Camps Travel Trip will connect you to an incredible community where you’ll meet and form bonds with many wonderful individuals. Given the small-group nature of Ace Camps Travel Trips, the health, safety, and well being of you, other guests, the instructors and workshop hosts, and the local communities are a key priority for us.
YOUR ACE CAMPS TRAVEL HOST
We want every aspect of your trip to be an amazing experience. To help us do that, you will have the support of an Ace Camps Travel Host who travels with the group. Your Ace Camps Travel Host will be there to make sure your trip runs as smoothly as possible. While they are not a local guide, they will assist you in answering questions you may have along the way. Your Ace Camps Travel Host will be Tanya Staples, who you can reach at: tanya@acecampstravel.com or at +1.805.217.6448 via WhatsApp. If you have questions between now and then, please continue to email us at hello@acecampstravel.com.
ON-THE-GROUND COMMUNICATION with WHATSAPP
While on the ground in Andalusia, we will be using WhatsApp to communicate. Before you arrive in Spain, please make sure you have the most up-to-date version of WhatsApp downloaded, installed, and an account set up and working on your mobile device. Your Ace Camps Travel Host will use WhatsApp to send you daily reminders, updates, and any other important information during the course of your trip. In addition to one-on-one communication with your Ace Camps Travel Host, we’ll be creating a group chat with all registered guests where we will send updates that affect the entire group while on the trip. We encourage everyone to engage on the group chat, as it’s a great place to get to know the rest of your new Ace Camps Travel friends, discuss travel plans and ideas, and share trip photos.
EMERGENCY NUMBERS
In the case of an emergency, the local emergency number to dial in Spain is: 112 (police, fire and medical aid).
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
You will need a passport that is valid for at least 6 months after your departure and at least 2 blank pages.
ARRIVAL INFORMATION | SUNDAY, MAY 4, 2025
Please plan to arrive by 4pm local time on Sunday, May, 4 2025 in Granada, Spain so you have time to get settled before we meet as a group for our Welcome Dinner. The closest airport is Federico García Lorca Granada Airport, also known simply as Granada Airport (GRX). It is located 20 km outside the Granada city centre.
Gentle Reminder: Please complete your Arrival and Departure Form as soon as you have your flight details.
Ground Transportation and Getting to the Hotel: The best way to get to our hotel is by taxi or Uber, which is easy to hail at the airport. Be sure to use the official taxi cabs and don’t be swayed by people who may approach you inside or outside the airport asking if you need a ride.
Hotel check in time is 3:00 pm on Sunday, May 4. If you arrive earlier than 3:00pm, you can drop off your luggage at the front desk and they will store it for you until your room is ready. The hotel rooms are preassigned.
WELCOME DINNER | SUNDAY, MAY 4, 2025
Once we’re all settled at our hotel in Granada, we’ll be hosting a casual meet + greet welcome dinner so you can get to know the group. Please plan to arrive at our hotel no later than 4:00 pm on Sunday, May 4, 2025, if you want to join the welcome dinner. This will give you enough time to check in and get settled before dinner. We’ll share more specific details about when and where to meet for dinner a few days before the Trip start date. If you can’t join the welcome dinner, your Ace Camps Travel Host will be in touch with you to make sure you have all the information you need to join the group the next morning.
DEPARTURE INFORMATION | SUNDAY, MAY 11, 2025
We’ll have a final breakfast together at our rural retreat in Pinos del Valle, then we’ll head to Granada as a single group transfer. We’ll do one drop off at the Granada Airport in time for flights departing in the early afternoon and one drop off in Central Granada. We’ll determine the location of the drop off in Central Granada once we have everyone’s completed Arrival and Departure Form and can determine the most convenient location.
YOUR GRANADA HOTEL | GAR ANAT BOUTIQUE HOTEL
Gar Anat Boutique Hotel
Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/dZxycJgm3am6oCq67
Calle Placeta Peregrinos, 1, Centro, 18009 Granada, Spain
+34 617 04 04 17
Gar Anat is a boutique hotel located in the heart of Granada. It is a seventeenth century Moorish palace that was once used as a pilgrim hostel. The rooms are named after works and characters by Manuel de Falla, García Lorca, and Amin Maalouf.
On site hotel amenities to note:
Shampoo, Conditioner, and Body Wash
Hair Dryers
Iron and ironing boards
Laundry service
Pillow menu
Small shop, featuring local goods, including local wines
YOUR RURAL RETREAT | FINCA CASABELA
Finca Casabela
Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/3vcBQGMuSgB46ZnB8
Agua, 2, 18658 Pinos del Valle, Granada, Spain
+34 696 743 130
In Pinos del Valle, our rural retreat will be at an estate villa–a late nineteenth century manor house. A recent renovation has maintained its identity and essence of the time, including restoring much of its furniture, but giving it a modern touch, including an outdoor terrace, pool, and stunning views of the surrounding area.
On site amenities to note:
Shampoo, Conditioner, and Body Wash
Hair Dryers
Iron and ironing boards
Outdoor pool
Landry service for a fee (approximately 20 euros for full service laundry)
SNACKS + ALCOHOL
Finca Casabela, our rural retreat in Pinos del Valle, where we’ll be staying from Tuesday, May 6 to Sunday, May 11 is a delightful, but small village. While all meals are included once we arrive at Finca Casabela, (breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily), if you like to snack during the day, we suggest you stock up on snacks before we leave Granada.
Unless specified on the itinerary, alcohol is generally not included. If you’d like to have wine or beer during your stay, we suggest you stock up before we leave Granada.
GROCERIES, BAKERY, and BAR VENECIA in PINOS DEL VALLE
Pinos del Valle is a small village, but has a few helpful resources:
Grocery Store:
There is a very small grocery store, just across the street from Finca Casabela where you can stock up on a few essentials, including wine and beer. Just be mindful that due to its size, their selection is modest (though they have a really great selection of charcuterie and some local produce).
You can check it out here:
https://embutidosdavid.es/
Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/PZzL9t95NoxXRL5a6
Bakery:
There is a small, but lovely bakery around the corner from Finca Casabela. They usually have an assortment of breads and pastries, depending on the time of day and the day of the week.
You can check it out here:
Panaderia Juan de Dios
Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/4kE3co1pvSZf4g5b9
Bar Venecia:
There is a charming, local all-day bar/restaurant, Bar Venecia, in Pinos del Valle, which is a short walk from Finca Casabela and features lovely views of the area. It features sandwiches, a few Spanish dishes, and Spanish tapas.
You can check it out here:
Bar Venecia
Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Ctqu1K89EFzH8jnK6
ITINERARY DISCLAIMER
We do our best to keep to the itinerary on the Trip Details page of the Ace Camps Travel website. However, sometimes things happen. For example, we may need to make changes to the itinerary due to inclement weather, timetable changes, or circumstances beyond our control. While we do our best to plan ahead and prevent this from happening, it may be unavoidable. It can also happen with little notice, so please bear with us if we have to make modifications to the itinerary on the fly.
CASH + CREDIT CARDS
Spain uses Euros as the local currency. Most restaurants and shops will take credit cards, however smaller establishments may prefer cash. We recommend having a combination of some cash (Euros) and credit cards on hand.
GRATUITIES
Tips and gratuities for your guides, workshop hosts, group drivers, and group meals are taken care of by Ace Camps Travel. At the end of your stay at Hotel Gar Anat in Granada, you’re welcome to leave a small tip, if you choose to. At the end of our time at Finca Casabela, we’ll pass around an envelope to collect a tip for the villa staff, which you can contribute to, if you choose to.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
Travel insurance is required for all guests that includes: trip cancellation/disruption insurance; travel medical insurance; and medical evacuation insurance. Ace Camps Travel does not sell travel insurance. If you have questions, we suggest you discuss concerns about your coverage directly with a local travel insurance provider.
WEATHER
May is a nice time of year to visit Andalusia, it’s spring and the flowers are in bloom. Days are usually warm with balmy evenings. Day time temperatures usually average mid 60s to mid 70s (18-25°C), but can drop as low as 50°F (10°C) at night, which means you should pack layered clothes for your stay, including a jacket and umbrella in case there are showers.
HEALTH + SAFETY
Illness (including COVID)
Our goal is for each of our guests to enjoy the amazing trip we’ve put together. To ensure that happens, we make the health and safety of the group as our top priority. Please keep in mind while traveling with a group, you may need to take additional precautions.
In the days leading up to and during your Ace Camps Travel Trip, thoroughly washing your hands, wearing a KN95 mask if you feel ill or if you display symptoms of illness, and keeping a safe distance from others who exhibit signs of illness are small, but impactful, things you can do to keep the trip safe for everyone. Please make sure you bring KN95 masks, hand sanitizer, and a few COVID tests on the trip in case you or those around you start to have symptoms of an illness.
During the trip, if you feel unwell, please alert your Ace Camps Travel Host immediately, wear a mask, and keep a safe distance from others until we know more about your situation. If you exhibit signs of, or test positive for an illness, you should be prepared to follow the advice of local health authorities as well as the Ace Camps Travel Host to ensure the health and safety of the entire group. Depending on the severity of your symptoms, viral nature of your illness, and where we are staying, there may be a need to mask, distance, self isolate, or remove yourself completely from the trip which will be determined by the Ace Camps Travel Host with the best interests of the group health and safety as the main priority.
Per the Ace Camps Travel Terms and Conditions, you are responsible for any additional costs if, due to illness, including COVID, you have to leave a trip early as determined by a health care provider or the Ace Camps Travel Host. This is one of the many reasons we require you to purchase travel insurance.
General Fitness
To take full advantage of your trip to Andalusia, Spain it is best to be in good health. You will be participating in some walking tours and activities which might take you up hills, particularly when we visit the Alhambra. You will also find many of the sidewalks and streets are cobblestone and can be slippery in wet weather.
Water
Tap water is generally safe to drink in Spain. Please bring a refillable water bottle of your own and avoid using single use plastic bottles.
Medications and Vaccines
You should consult with your doctor and a specialized travel doctor at least five weeks before the date of your departure for any necessary vaccinations and specialty prescriptions. You may want to ask about a wide spectrum antibiotic in case of gastrointestinal or other infections. If you have a medical condition, you should also share your travel plans with your doctor.
We encourage you to travel with medications that can help you if you encounter any health issues. Here are a few common concerns you may want to consider bringing medications for, though what you choose to travel with is up to you and/or you and your doctor:
Nausea, indigestion or an upset stomach
Motion sickness, if car rides affects you
Diarrhea/Dysentery
Constipation
Minor aches and pains
Minor and severe allergies
Cold/flu symptoms
Bug repellant/spray
Minor cuts and bruises
Eye Glasses + Contact Lenses
If you wear eyeglasses, it is advisable to carry an extra pair on the trip. If you wear contact lenses, you may want to take an extra pair of back-up regular glasses.
WHAT TO BRING
Now onto the fun stuff - what should you bring?!? Below are some suggestions, based on our experience. Particularly once we get to our rural retreat in Pinos del Valle, you may not be able to find all the resources you’re likely used to at home so please keep this in mind when you’re planning and packing.
Consider these items:
PASSPORT (make sure it has at least six months on it) and consider bringing a photocopy and/or passport photos. In the (hopefully!) unlikely event your passport gets lost or stolen, an extra set of passport photos can make it easier for you to get a replacement)
Layering pieces, including a scarf or shawl, for cool mornings and evenings, with much warmer daytime temperatures
Light rain shell or small umbrella (rain showers are always a possibility!)
Comfortable, supportive walking shoes (including ones that can be worn during your workshop, where you’ll do a mix of sitting and standing)
Comfortable workshop clothing you don’t mind getting dirty (printmaking ink will stain if it gets on your clothes)
Indoor shoes or slippers to use when you’re inside the villa, if you don’t want to wear shoes, but want to keep your feet warm
Bathing suit, if you want to enjoy the outdoor pool at Finca Casabela
Glasses and/or sunglasses
Earplugs (if you are a light sleeper)
Toiletries kit - including your own shampoo, conditioner, and body wash
Sunscreen, sunhat, sunglasses, and lip balm with sunscreen
A day pack and/or a small-ish bag you can safely carry around
Travel plug adapters, depending on the country you are traveling from
Hand sanitizer
KN95 masks–in an effort to keep our group as safe as possible, you may be asked to wear a mask
Personal supply of COVID Rapid Tests–you may be asked to take a COVID test at any point during your Ace Camps Travel trip in an effort to keep our group as safe as possible
Small Kleenex packets
Workshop Supplies
The main workshop supplies, including packing materials you need to take home your finished prints and ceramic pieces, are included and will be provided once we arrive at Finca Casabela in Pinos del Valle.
Here are a few items you’ll need to bring with you:
A sketchbook of your choice for sketching ideas and taking notes
A selection of pencils and pens for sketching your ideas as we prepare for printmaking
An Apron or smock to wear when you are printing to avoid getting printmaking ink on your clothing
Comfortable Footwear
Please bring comfortable and supportive footwear you feel comfortable walking in for moderate distances and on a variety of terrain. As you think about what to bring, keep these situations in mind: this Ace Camp Travel trip includes walking tours where the ground may be uneven, could involve gravel or cobblestones, and you may be on your feet for a few hours at a time.
GROUP TRAVEL ETIQUETTE
Please remember this is a small-group travel experience. It is important for you to join us with compassion, patience, and respect for everyone you interface with during your Trip. For example, if you asked to meet at a certain time, please be on time to avoid keeping the rest of the group waiting. If you choose to skip any activities or meals, please confirm your absence with the Ace Camps Travel Host directly so we’re not worried about your location or well being.
SMOKING, ILLEGAL DRUG USE, and ALCOHOL
Ace Camps Travel Trips are 100% smoke free and we do not tolerate any kind of illegal drug use. We require responsible alcohol consumption.
SOCIAL MEDIA
If you are taking photos and would like to share them as a part of our trip story please tag your posts and/or stories on Instagram with @acecampstravel or hashtag #acecampstravel
MOBILE PHONE USAGE + OTHER HELPFUL APPS
Here are a few other resources you may find helpful when traveling:
Using an ‘e-sim’ app to have data on your phone while you travel (depending on your phone model). There are several companies offering e-sims that can save money instead of roaming through your network provider. Companies like Airalo offer various Spain options to choose from. Note: While e-sims are great, they do take some time to set up and install so be sure to spend some time before you leave your home country setting it up so you can just turn it on once you land (while we love to help where we can, our Ace Camps Travel Hosts aren’t tech support specialists).
Help manage jet lag with Timeshifter.
Translate words on-the-go with Google Translate.
THANK YOU AND SEE YOU SOON!
Thank you for taking the time to review this information, we hope these details help with your travel planning and prepare you for your time exploring Andalusia, Spain. If you have questions between now and then, please continue to email us at hello@acecampstravel.com.See you in Granada!