Plein Air Madeira Terms and Conditions
We’re pleased to welcome you to our brand-new painting workshop and retreat on the beautiful island of Madeira! In this workshop, put on by Raquel and Kimball Geisler (the instructor), you will have the chance to see up close the incredible diversity the island has to offer. This retreat is a great opportunity for relaxation, learning, exploration, and sharing with fellow painters as we travel around all parts of the island. Complete with hotel, meals, and instruction, workshop participants can paint and explore the island.
Traveler’s Insurance
Students and their partners are expected to have traveler’s insurance to cover the retreat, in the unlikely scenario where the workshop must be canceled or postponed due to circumstances outside of our control. These circumstances could include, but are not limited to workshop instructor not able to attend (i.e. for illness or family emergency), a weather event/emergency, pandemic, travel bans, political issues, safety issues, etc. If the workshop is to be postponed, Plein Air Madeira will get in contact with all attendees to discuss the schedule of the new workshop. If this doesn’t work for the attendees, it will be up to the attendee’s travel insurance to cover the cost of the workshop and all travel expenses.
Travel insurance will also be important in the event that students need to cancel due to their own circumstances. We try to find replacements for cancelled spots in the class, but when this isn’t possible the insurance should be used to cover any losses. Please review the refund policy below for details.
Pricing
Pricing for the workshop retreat are based on the following lodging categories: Single Occupancy Room $5,800, Shared Student Room $5,100, and Partner $3,600. Included in the price of all categories are the following: Transportation to and from the airport, Lodging for Seven nights, Hotel Breakfast, “Lunch Box” for painting days (available to partners as well), hotel restaurant dinners each night (except two nights where we will eat together at a restaurant), transportation to and from painting locations, transportation to and from restaurants, transportation to and from “Excursion Day” destinations. Things not included in the price: art supplies, extra snacks/meals throughout the day, extra drinks and alcohol at restaurants, food and restaurants not outlined in the plan/itinerary.
The lodging arrangements are as follows:
Single Occupancy Room – One student in a hotel room
Shared Student Room – Two Students in a hotel room
Non-Painter Partner – A partner, spouse, significant other, friend of a student, who stays in the same room as the attending student.
Non-Painter Partners
Partners may feel free to attend as much or as little of the regular events of the week as they desire. Their travel is included in the price of their ticket. Traveling outside of the normal itinerary (locations where students will be painting) will not be covered by the cost of the retreat. Partners may not participate in drawing or painting at the workshop should they choose to travel to the locations with the class. Partners will not receive critique or art instruction from the instructor during the course of the week.
Payment and Refund Policy (IMPORTANT, PLEASE READ)
Upon initial checkout at PleinAirMadeira.com, students will choose to pay the full tuition, or pay $1,000 dollars as a deposit, followed by two more installments detailed below (under “Payment Due Dates”). This latter option will only be available prior to December 20, 2026.
Pricing is as follows:
$5,800 for Single Room
$5,100 for Shared Room
$3,600 for Non-Painter Partner
Payment Due Dates (if student opts to pay deposit only):
$1,000 payment up front (secures spot in class)
$1,500 payment 90 days after initial deposit, OR on December 20, 2026, whichever comes first
Remainder of tuition Due no later than March 22, 2027. Late fees of $50 per week will be applied after this date and student will be subject to cancellation without refund, at Plein Air Madeira’s discretion. See refund policy below.
March 22, 2027 Non Painter Partner costs due. Late fees of $50 per week will be applied after this date.
Refund Details:
For students booking prior to December 26, 2026, cancellations prior to the first 30 days after signup are 100% refundable, after which $500 is NON REFUNDABLE
After December 20, 2026, $2500 is NON REFUNDABLE
After March 22, 2027, the full ticket price will be NON REFUNDABLE
Students are required to purchase travel insurance that covers the cost of the workshop in the event that they need to cancel their trip for any reason.
*Please note that if you need to cancel your booking, we will try our best to find a student to replace your spot in the workshop. If we are able to find somebody to fill your spot, we will reimburse you most, if not all of your tuition (depending on any costs we might incur). If we are unable to reimburse you, your travel insurance is meant to cover this.
Schedule
A plan for each day of the workshop has been created and will be outlined below. The locations have been given considerable thought and Kimball has visited and evaluated each of them. Special preference is given to the locations based on their geographic position on the island, the existence of basic facilities (restrooms), and lighting at certain times of day. If weather becomes an issue, locations for certain days might be moved, or even canceled if necessary. Kimball and Raquel will monitor the weather closely throughout the week.
DAY 1 ARRIVAL
Suggested arrival at hotel no later than 4:00PM - Hotel Dinner - 6:30PM Welcome Meeting and Orientation
DAY 2 PAINT DAY
Breakfast - Paint Paul Do Mar - Lunch - Paint Camara de Lobos Promenade - Hotel Dinner
DAY 3 PAINT DAY
Breakfast - Ribeira Da Janela - Lunch at Achadas Da Cruz - Paint-out at Achadas Da Cruz - Hotel Dinner
DAY 4 Relaxation/Hybrid Day
Breakfast - Bus morning drop-off at different locations ending around Cristo Rei - Bus Pickup from respective drop-off locations, return to hotel - 6:30PM Group Dinner at Restaurant
DAY 5 PAINT DAY
Breakfast - Paint Praia Maiata - Lunch - Paint Ponta de São Lourenço - Hotel Dinner
DAY 6 EXCURSION DAY
Breakfast - Monte Palace Gardens - Lunch at Monte Palace - Toboggan Rides to bottom of Hill - Bus pickup and drop off at downtown shops - Group Dinner at Restaurant
DAY 7 PAINT DAY
Breakfast - Paint Eira do Serrado - Lunch - Paint Pico Do Arieiro - Hotel Dinner
DAY 8 CONCLUSION & GOODBYES
Breakfast - 8:00AM Group Critique and Goodbye Meeting - Hotel Checkout and Depart for the Airport
ATTENDANCE
Students are not required to attend the activities outlined above. If students opt not to participate in activities or meals, there will not be any refunds given.
Hybrid and Day
For two days during the week students will have the opportunity to take a break from painting to see other aspects of the island. On the first “Hybrid” day, the bus will leave in the morning and head toward a painting spot where Kimball will spend the day painting and teaching. The bus will make one or two stops along the way as possible drop off locations, including the town center of Funchal, if students want the option to sightsee at their leisure. In the late afternoon, the bus will return at each stop and pick up students to return to the hotel before dinner that evening. Students can feel free to participate in as much or as little of the day’s activities as they please.
Excursion Day
On this day, the bus will drive us to a pre planned excursion where the day’s schedule will be laid out and all major activities paid for. As with the Hybrid Day, students can feel free to participate in as much or as little of the activities as they please.
Painting Locations
Each day will have a predetermined location selected by Plein Air Madeira that highlights the diverse beauty that the island has to offer. All locations will have restrooms available within walking distance. Exact locations will be determined close to the dates of the workshop, and are subject to changes that are likely to occur due to the unpredictable weather on the island. Plein Air Madeira will do their very best to make the most of the ‘weather windows’ as they arise to take advantage of the best opportunities. Accommodations will be made to paint indoors at the hotel should the need arise. Plein Air Madeira is not responsible for disruptions to the normal flow of the class due weather.
Students can feel free to opt out of attending/participating in any of the days, with the knowledge that no refunds will be given for this.
Conduct
Students are expected to be mindful and respectful of their classmates, as well as all other people they interact with on the retreat.
PUNCTUALITY
It is ESSENTIAL that students be mindful off the schedule, especially as it relates to the bus schedule. Being late for departures, whether leaving the hotel, restaurants, excursions, and paint-outs results in the lost time of everyone in the class. Kimball and the bus driver will be consistent with reminders about this. Students may be asked to sit activities out if there is a pattern of tardiness.
Communication during the Workshop
We will be communicating through an app called WhatsApp during the workshop with phones. This requires students to have mobile data enabled on their phones for them to use WhatsApp. Students are required to arrange with their phone providers to have consistent access to mobile data.
Supplies
Students are responsible to bring their own plein air supplies for the workshop. These supplies would include easel/pochade box, tripod, canvases, paints, brushes, brushwasher, paper towels, garbage bags, palette knives, etc. There are some small art stores in Funchal that have some very basic essentials if necessary.
Easels (pochade boxes) and tripods should be sturdy enough to handle wind.
Space will be limited on the bus so it is asked that students limit supplies to fit within a “regular size” hiking backpack, or something comparable. Umbrellas and chairs should also be able to fit within this backpack.
If students wish to bring a chair (recommended), only small foldable “backpacking-style” chairs should be used. Larger “Coleman-style” camp chairs are too large for the bus storage.
Students are responsible to bring all necessary clothing and supplies for a variety of weather. Wind and rain are probable during the workshop, as well as heavy sunshine and heat. Layers are highly recommended, as well as sunscreen.
Health and Safety
Madeira is generally a very safe place, but it is expected that students will be mindful of basic risks and their own personal health situations in the duration of the workshop. Students should take care to bring any and all necessary medications and emergency first aid supplies with them. Weather and terrain must be considered at all times as the island can pose risks. Some locations have unprotected cliffs, students must maintain safe distance from the edges (minimum 20 feet). Terrain can also be uneven in different places.
In the event of emergencies, there WILL NOT be any professionals who are equipped/qualified to administer First Aid or medical assistance. Plein Air Madeira has no responsibility to treat injury or any other medical emergencies. In the event of an emergency, the local authorities and medical officials will be called. Students are required to have any and all necessary insurance for any and all emergency, legal, and financial liabilities.
Local Laws
Students are responsible for knowing and following local laws of conduct.
Photography
Students who attend the workshop agree to be photographed. Images may be used on social media, for promotional purposes for Plein Air Madeira, as well as for the artists participating in the workshop.