General Information

Conference & Exhibition Venue & Date

The conference will be held at Grand Hotel di Como during 2012 Sep 16-21. The hotel is on the road beetwen Como and Cernobbio.

Language

The official language of the conference is English. There will be no simultaneous translation.

Visa

You may need to obtain a visa before coming to Italy.

Weather

How to get to Grand Hotel di Como

Arrival by air

• Aeroporto di Linate (www.sea-aeroportimilano.it), around 50 km away.
• Aeroporto di Malpensa (www.sea-aeroportimilano.it), around 35 km away.
  From Malpensa it is possible to take the Malpensa Express train to Saronno; change here for the Ferrovie Nord Milano train for COMO Lago. Outside the station is the bus stop for line CC6, COMO-Maslianico; alight at Villa Erba (www.sptlinea.it, tel 031.247111). The journey is around 4km. Alternatively a bus service connects the airport to COMO Lago, run by SPT (www.sptlinea.it, tel 031.247111). Timetable for departures to COMO: 9.20 - 11.00 - 14.15 - 16.45 - 19.25, daily service.

Arrival by train

• Ferrovie Nord Milano (www.ferrovienord.it): Departures from Piazza Cadorna, Milan, train for COMO Lago; alight at the last stop, COMO Lago. Outside the station is the bus stop for line CC6, COMO-Maslianico; alight at Villa Erba (www.sptlinea.it, tel 031.247111). The journey is around 4km.
• Ferrovie dello Stato (www.trenitalia.com): Departures from Milano Centrale or from Milano Porta Garibaldi, destination Chiasso, alight at COMO San Giovanni. Outside the station is the bus stop for line CC6, COMO-Maslianico; alight at Villa Erba (www.sptlinea.it, tel 031.247111). The journey is around 5 km.

Currency, exchange, credit cards

The official currency in Italy is Euro (for currency converter click here).  Exchange facilities are available at the airport, in the Resort, at the exchange desk of the banks.

American Express, Visa, Diners, Eurocard and Master Card are accepted in hotels, first class restaurants and city stores, but you should ask or look for the logo before ordering a service.

Insurance

The Organizing Committee cannot assume responsibility for injuries or losses occurring to persons or personal belongings during the Conference. Participants are therefore advised to travel with a valid insurance package.

Local transportation in Como (and Cernobbio)

Taxis   (Italy prefix 0039)

• Taxi COMO, Stazione S. Giovanni, piazzale S. Gottardo - 031.271000 - Toll-free phone 800.012380
• Radio Taxi Lario 2000, via Anzani 52 - 031.272000
• Taxi-Radio, v.le Innocenzo XI 70 - 031.261515

Several public urban and extraurban BUSES and BOATS (few euros per trip) do connect the entire area, Como, Cernobbio, the Hotels and the other villages of the Lake.

Tipping

• non applicable, voluntary

Parking

• several parking places are available in the Hotels

Electricity supply

In Italy, electricity is supplied at 220 V, 50 Hz. The 3-pin connecting plug is different from that used in some other countries, e.g. the USA, the UK, Australia and Japan.