1. ACCOMMODATION
You will be staying in single rooms at Çırağan Palace Kempinski İstanbul Hotel.
Çırağan Palace Kempinski İstanbul Hotel
Çiragan Caddesi 32 Besiktas, 34349
İstanbul Turkey
T +90 212 326 4646 F +90 212 259 6687
Çırağan Palace Kempinski İstanbul reflects the spirit and culture of the magical city of istanbul. Just 30 kilometres from İstanbul's Atatürk Airport. Under normal conditions, this is a 45 minutes drive however, based on the time of the day, it may take slightly longer or shorter.
For further details of the facilities, please go to the Çırağan Palace Kempinski İstanbul Hotel website.
2. CONFERENCE COSTS
The conference budget will meet the full conference costs, which include hospitality, accommodation and your travel costs. Flight tickets will be purchased and arranged by us and we will not be able to reimburse any travel costs arranged by participants themselves. We will arrange airport-hotel transfers in Turkey, provided that you inform us in advance about your travel details.
The following costs will not be covered:
3.TRAVELLING and ARRIVAL ARRANGEMENTS in ISTANBUL
Guests are expected to arrive in Istanbul on Friday 16 October. All guests will be greeted at the İstanbul Atatürk Airport and then transferred to the hotel according to their arrival date and time. Rooms at the hotel will be available from 1300 onwards.
If you plan to stay after 17 October, you will have to meet your own costs.
For departures, airport transfers have been arranged for 16, 17 and 18 October. You will be advised of your transfer time by Aslan Şaşmazer from the British Council.
4.VISA REQUIREMENTS
Please find the visa requirements for your country’s nationals from the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.
5.CONFERENCE VENUE
The conference will be held at Çırağan Palace Kempinski İstanbul Hotel between 0900 and 1800 on 17 October.
6. SOCIAL EVENTS
There will be an opening reception and dinner on 16 October Friday at 1900 at Pera House, British Consulate.
Transportation is arranged for the event. The coach will leave from the hotel to Pera House at 1830, and will leave Pera House for the hotel at 2300.
On 17 October Saturday, there will be an informal dinner starting at 2000. Participants will be taken to the dinner venue by boat at 1930. A boat will be available at 2200 to take guests back to the hotel after the dinner.
7. SMOKING / NON-SMOKING ARRANGEMENTS
Smoking is not permitted at Pera House, in the conference meeting room, or any of the coaches/minibuses/cars for transportation during the Conference. If you wish to smoke, please be aware of signs which advise you of designated smoking areas.
8. MAKING PHONE CALLS FROM THE HOTEL
Please note that phone calls made from the hotel are calculated in Units. It is at the hotel’s discretion to determine the length of time of a Unit and this varies depending on the time of the day and distance of the call. Should you wish to know the approximate charges for a call before you make it, please contact the hotel operator.
All international dialling codes from Turkey begin with 00. Thereafter, codes to guests’ home countries are standard.
9. ELECTRICAL VOLTAGE
Turkey standard voltage is 220, with 2 pin European standard plugs.
10. PERSONAL SPENDING MONEY / SPENDING OF EXCHANGE
The currency for Turkey is the Turkish Lira (TL) and is fully convertible. In October 2008, £1= 2.37 TL and €1= 2.17 YTL (as of 1st of October). You can check the daily rate with Ozan Dinçer. The exchange rates vary in hotels and banks.
You can exchange your currency (US$, €, £), traveller’s cheques at the exchange offices: there are many of them in İstanbul. It is also possible to change money at the airport on arrival. You should not attempt to bring letters of credit or bankers’ drafts.
Recognised credit cards (i.e. Visa, Eurocard, Mastercard, American Express) are widely useable in retail outlets in Turkey; but you may find that some make a small handling charge.
Please note that neither personal cheques nor bankers’ drafts can under any circumstances be exchanged by the British Council.
11. PETTY CRIME
Bear in mind that you are required by law to carry your ID cards or passports with you at all times in Turkey. You should carry and keep your valuables (including handbags, cameras, etc) unobtrusive and seek to avoid large crowds, especially in the major tourist areas and in the vicinity of bus stations, airport etc. Like all resort areas in the world, İstanbul has its fair share of petty criminals.
12. PERSONAL INSURANCE
Guests are strongly advised to make arrangements in advance of their departure to insure their personal effects for the full period of their absence from home. Neither the British Council nor the hotel can be held liable for claims against loss or damage of personal property.
13. HEALTH / MEDICAL INSURANCE
Guests are advised to ensure that they have adequate medical insurance to cover the period of the Conference. Many countries have reciprocal health agreements with Turkey: You are advised to find out in your home country in advance what documentation is required, and to make sure you carry it with you during the conference.
14. FOOD
All menus are being chosen to cater for a variety of tastes and dietary requirements; but if you have any special requirements (e.g. vegetarian, allergies) of which we were not advised previously, please be sure to let Ozan Dinçer know before your arrival. This is especially important as the venues require advance notice of menu changes.
15. WEATHER
The minimum temperature for October in Istanbul is about 13°C while the maximum is about 20° C. However, the weather is unpredictable and could well be cooler and rainy.
16. IN CASE OF EMERGENCIES
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