Registration

ICAPS'08 on-line registration page is open (before proceeding with the registration, please decide which tutorials and workshops you plan to attend. These are listed in the conference program.). The (late) registration fees are as follows.

	regular	student
registration fee	AUD 1100 ~  €669.0	AUD 550 ~  €334.4

(The respective Early Registration fees (until August 7) were AUD 800 and AUD 400.)

The registration fee includes the conference banquet, one copy of the proceedings, attendance to all ICAPS events (workshops, tutorials) and almost all other events in the collocated conferences.

Travel information

Visas

In general, a visa is required for travel to Australia and must be obtained 4 to 6 weeks before departure. See the web site of Department of Immigration and Citizenship for information about obtaining a visa. However, many Europeans and North Americans as well as a number of other nationalities (Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan) are eligible for (but not guaranteed) an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA subclass 977 Business Entrant - Short Validity) which replaces the visa and can be obtained through the ETA web page. Note that also ETA, although often granted quickly, should be obtained well in advance to avoid disappointments.

Flights

For travellers from Europe and the Americas we very strongly recommend arriving at least one or two days in advance to minimize jet-lag. For European travelers a stop-over (1 day) in Asia helps a lot. To make the trip more enjoyable we recommend staying slightly longer before and/or after the conferences. Please visit your Australian friends and colleagues!

Sydney is served by direct non-stop flights from the largest cities in Asia and Western North America. Cities with direct flights include

• Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Osaka,
• Los Angeles, San Francisco, Vancouver (Air Canada with B777; other flights refuel in Honolulu),
• Beijing, Shanghai,
• Delhi, Mumbai,
• Dubai, Abu Dhabi,
• Johannesburg.

Those who have time to spare (holiday!) may want to use round-the-world tickets which may cost the same as return tickets. Travel options with such tickets typically require stop-overs on different continents when traveling to and from Australia. Options include Europe-Asia-Australia-N. America-Europe and sometimes Europe-Asia-Australia-Africa(South Africa)-Europe.

Return flights to Sydney from the U.S. start at about USD 1850 (east coast) or USD 1400 (west coast) and from Europe at about  €1250 (Frankfurt) (as of August 2008, for flights in September). (These flights in June cost USD 1500, USD 1400 and  €1150, respectively.) (These flights in May cost USD 1600, USD 1400 and  €1150, respectively.) (These flights in April cost USD 1500, USD 1050 and  €1150, respectively.) Please book flights early: they are likely to be more expensive if booked late.

Airport transfers

Sydney airport is a short train ride away from the Central Business District. Travel time from the Airport to the Museum Station, which is one block from the conference venue (map), is 15 minutes and it costs AUD 14.20 (return ticket is AUD 21.60.) Follow the train symbols at the Sydney Airport international terminal to reach the underground train station.

A cab costs about AUD 35 and takes 15 to 25 minutes to the center.

Weather

Weather in Sydney in September is very pleasant. Average maximum temperature is 19.9 degrees Celsius (67.8 degrees Fahrenheit). See statistics.

Currency

As of August 2008 one AUD is about  €0.62 and USD 0.95.

Accommodation

Hotel		Room Rate Per Night
Vibe Goulburn Street
	V Room Twin	AU$160
	V Room Queen	AU$160
Hotel Ibis World Square
	Standard Double	AU$169
	Standard Twin	AU$169
Sydney Marriott Hotel
	Deluxe Room	AU$205
	Deluxe Twin	AU$205
Metro Hotel on Pitt Sydney
	Standard Twin	AU$155
	Standard Queen	AU$155
	Superior Queen	AU$160
	Standard Queen with Breakfast for 1	AU$173
	Superior Queen with Breakfast for 1	AU$178
	Standard Queen with Breakfast for 2	AU$191
	Standard Twin with Breakfast for 2	AU$191
	Superior Queen with Breakfast for 2	AU$196
Metro Hotel Sydney Central
	Superior Twin	AU$155
	Superior Queen	AU$155
	Superior Queen with Breakfast for 1	AU$173
	Superior Queen with Breakfast for 2	AU$191
	Superior Twin with Breakfast for 2	AU$191
Sydney Central on Wentworth
	Superior Budget Single	AU$69
	Standard Budget Twin	AU$79
	Superior Budget Twin	AU$89
	Deluxe Ensuite Double	AU$109
	Deluxe Ensuite Twin	AU$109

For special deals on Travel and Accommodation we recommend that you contact:
The Lido Group
Tel 1800 817 339 (within Australia)
Tel +61-2-8585 0808 (International calls)
Fax +61-2-8585 0802
Email exhibitions@lido.com.au
Web www.lido.com.au

Copyright © 2007 Jess Simmonds