ISMVL 2001

22-24 May, 2001

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

C l i m a t e

It is usually sunny and warm in May in Poland, with average temperatures ranging from 18C - 25C.

I n s u r a n c e

The organizers cannot be held liable to conference participants for injury, damage or loss of their personal property. It is suggested that participants make their own insurance arrangements.

P o l i s h c u r r e n c y

Polish currency units are ZLOTY (PLN) and GROSZ (1 grosz = 1/100 zloty).

M o n e y e x c h a n g e

Nowadays, the main credit cards, especially Visa, are accepted at many retail outlets in Poland. However, you should still have some stock of cash available e.g. for taxies and some places which do not accept cards. The current exchange rate is approx. 4 PLN for 1USD.

A c c o m o d a t i o n

ISMVL 2001 participants are accommodated in three hotels of different categories in the centre of Warsaw; all of them within walking distance from the conference venue (Staszic Palace).

Europejski Hotel****

Krakowskie Przedmiescie 13

00-071 Warszawa

tel: +48 22 8265051

fax: +48 22 8261111

email: warsaw@interconti.com

http://www.orbis.pl

Warszawa Hotel***

Plac Powstancow Warszawy 9

00-039 Warszawa

tel: +48 22 8269421

fax: +48 22 8271873

Belfer Hotel*

Wybrzeze Kosciuszkowskie 31/36

00-379 Warszawa

tel: +48 22 6250571

fax: +48 22 6252600

Accommodation charges will be paid directly to the hotel by each participant. The Europejski and The Warszawa Hotels accept major credit cards. The Belfer Hotel accepts only cash (PLN). The prices in each hotel are per room per night. All rates include breakfast.

T r a n s p o r t a t i o n

You should have a ticket while travelling through Warsaw by bus or tram (regular lines). It costs 2,40 PLN and you can buy it from the newsagent's. You can also buy a daily ticket (bilet dzienny) at 7,20 PLN and a weekly ticket (bilet tygodniowy) at 26 PLN.

If you start:

*f r o m W a r s a w A i r p o r t (OKECIE):

It is best to take a taxi and drive to the centre lasts about 20 minutes.

You should avoid accepting the services of the taxi drivers accosting passengers in the arrival hall - they charge exorbitant rates. Instead, use the taxis waiting at the taxi stand outside, or order a taxi by phone calling 9644 or 9622 or 9624 or 919 etc. The drive from the airport to the centre should cost about 30 zloties (about 8 USD). If it costs more than 40 zloties (please, ask about the price in advance) do not take this taxi - you will be overcharged (we would like to remind you that Polish currency is zloties, not dollars).

ATTENTION: DO NOT USE the regular bus service 175 from the airport, since groups of pickpockets regularly operate there.

f r o m t h e C e n t r a l R a i l w a y S t a t i o n (Dworzec Centralny)

- to the Europejski Hotel - take the 160 bus; get off in Pilsudskiego Square;

- to the Warszawa Hotel - take the 192 bus (in Jana Pawla II Avenue), and get off at the crossroads of Swietokrzyska Street and Nowy Swiat Street. Go back about 100 metres and you will see the Warszawa Hotel on your left;

- to the Belfer Hotel - take the128 bus (in Jerozolimskie Avenue, in front of the Marriott hotel) and get off at the crossroads of Solec Street and Jaracza Street (seven bus stops). Go down Jaracza Street and take the first turning to the left. You will reach Wybrzeze Kosciuszkowskie Street, and the Belfer Hotel will be on your left (about 1,5 minutes walk).

C o n f e r e n c e V e n u e

The Conference will take place in the conference rooms of Staszic Palace - an XIX century classical style building belonging to the Polish Academy of Sciences and located in the centre of Warsaw on the old Royal Route crossing the town from the North to the South along the Vistula river. The Copernicus monument in front of the palace is a characteristic landmark in Warsaw.

The address is:

Palac Staszica

Nowy Swiat 72

00-330 Warszawa

The Conference Halls and the Conference Office are on the first floor of the Palace.

1 – Staszic Palace

2 – the Europejski hotel

3 – the Warszawa hotel

4 – the Belfer hotel

5 – the Central Railway Station (Dworzec Centralny)

T h e C o n f e r e n c e o f f i c e will operate at the times given below:

Monday, May 21 - from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Tuesday, May 22 - from 8.30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Wednesday, May 23 - from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Thursday, May 24 - from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

P r o j e c t o r s

Both overhead projectors and data projectors will be available at the site.

A c c e s s t o E-m a i l

A limited courtesy access to E-mail will be provided in Staszic Palace. The participants who wish to make use of this service are kindly requested to contact the Conference office.