General Information

Registration desk
Participants can pick up their personal congress material at the registration desk. The congress secretariat will be available to assist you during the congress.

Name badges
Participants are requested to wear the official congress name badges on all congress occasions.

Lunch and refreshments
Lunch is included in the participants’ registration fee. Lunch, coffee, tea and other refreshments will be served during the breaks.

Certificate of attendance
All participants will receive a certificate of attendance during the congress together with the congress material.

Climate and clothing
The average day-time temperature in Finland in August is around 15-20 °C. Evenings are cooler. Occasional rain showers may occur. It is advisable to bring some warm clothes with you. Current weather information can be found at www.fmi.fi/weather/local.html.

Currency and credit cards
The official currency in Finland is euro (EUR). Most major credit cards are accepted in hotels and shops. VISA, Eurocard and Mastercard are accepted at the congress registration desk. Personal or company cheques will not be accepted at the registration desk or shops. Traveller’s cheques can be cashed in banks and exchange bureaus.

Electricity
Electricity supply in Finland is 220 volts (50 Hz) and wall outlets are to the Northern European Standard (CEE 7/4) with two round contacts. The standard two-pin Euro plug (CEE 7/16) can be connected to these outlets. Most hotels provide 110-volt outlets for shavers.

TRAVEL INFORMATION

Transportation by air
Several airlines provide direct flights to Helsinki from all over Europe as well as from countries outside Europe. For more information on flights please contact your local travel agency or one of the airlines providing flights to Helsinki.

Helsinki-Vantaa Airport
Helsinki-Vantaa Airport has been rated one of the world’s best airports. Onward connections from Helsinki to St. Petersburg, Tallinn and Stockholm are also excellent.

Airport transportation
Finnair provides regular bus transportation between the Helsinki-Vantaa Airport and the City Terminal near the Railway Station at a cost of approximately 5 €. Taxis between the Airport and the Helsinki city centre cost approximately 30-40 € (30 minutes). Group taxis are also available at the airport (Yellow Line and Airport Taxi, cost approximately 20 € per person).

Transportation by boat
Helsinki is easily reached by high-class ferries from Stockholm, Sweden (overnight by Silja Line and Viking Line), from Tallinn, Estonia (several lines, duration 1.5 to 3.5 hours) and from Rostock or Travemünde, Germany (Finnlines).

Transportation by train
There is a good daily train connection between Helsinki and St. Petersburg. The duration of the train ride is about 6 hours.

Letter of invitation
Upon request, the congress organisers will be pleased to send a personal letter of invitation to enable participants to obtain supporting funds or visas for attending the congress. These invitation letters cannot be considered as an offer of financial support by the organisers.

Visa and passports
EC citizens only need their national identification papers. Carrying passport is, however, recommended for EC citizens especially if you plan to travel to Tallinn, Estonia. Citizens from most other countries will need a valid travel passport. They are encouraged to contact their local Finnish embassy or consulate to enquire about the necessity of visa application. If you plan to travel to St. Petersburg, you will need both passport and visa to Russia.

Liability
By registering into the congress participants agree that neither the organising committee nor the congress secretariat assume any responsibility for damage or injuries to persons or property during the congress. Participants are advised to organise their own health, travel and personal insurances.