Date and Venue
26 - 27 June 2007 – Conrad Hotel Istanbul, Turkey.

Official Language
The official language of the conference will be English but simultaneous translation will be available in the main meeting room. This translation will be from English to Turkish and vice versa.

Arrival in Turkey
A visa is not required for many European countries such as Germany, Switzerland, France etc., however, a visa is required for citizens from some countries. Please check before your departure to Turkey regarding current visa requirement (http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com/details/BorderFormalities/index.html). In some cases; you can obtain a visa upon arrival at Ataturk airport for a fee.

How To Get There
Istanbul is located at the crossroads of East and West, and offers easy air connections to hundreds of cities around the world (direct connections from lots of European cities). There are 2 airports in Istanbul. The major Atatürk International Airport at Yeşilköy in the European part of the city is 23 km away from Sultanahmet and 30 km from Taksim area. The second airport Sabiha Gokcen International Airport is located in the Asian part of the city. It is 50 km away from Taksim.

Istanbul can be reached by ship from Italy, Greece and other Mediterranean countries. Via land, several rail and bus lines which conveniently and affordably connect Istanbul to other cities across Turkey, Europe and the Middle East.

Transportation
Atatürk International Airport to the city:
Taxi : Taxis are available around the clock and operate by the meter. A 50% surcharge is applied between 00:01 am and 06:00 am hours. The trip takes between 35 and 75 minutes, depending on traffic. A taxi to Sultanahmet costs about € 16, to Taksim, it costs about € 20.

Bus : HAVAS Company operates regular shuttle bus transportation at half hourly intervals from 06:00 till 24:00 hours. The trip to Taksim takes between 45 and 75 minutes, depending on traffic and costs about € 5.

Metro : A light metro system operates from Atatürk International Airport to Aksaray, where shuttle bus is available to Taksim. In addition, there is also a connection in Aksaray station to the tram, which operates via Sultanahmet to Kabataş. In Kabataş is an underground metro system available to Taksim. It costs about € 2 (2 coins).

Private Airport Transfers :
Please contact the Conference Secretariat and provide the arrival details.

Gökçen International Airport to the city :

Taxi : Taxi's are available outside the terminal. It can be quite expensive if you intend travelling all the way to central Istanbul.

Bus : HAVAS Company services departs at least hourly from Sabiha Gökçen International Airport to Taksim.

Private Airport transfers :
Please contact the Conference Secretariat and provide the arrival details.

Driving License
Most international driver's licenses are recognized in Turkey. Car rental companies require a valid national or international licence. Remember to keep to the righthand side of the road and wear your seat belt at all times.

Work Hours And Holidays
Banks are open weekdays from 8:30 to12:30 and from 13:30 to 17:00. However, there are some banks which continue to serve during lunch breaks. ATMs (Automatic Teller Machines) are open 24 hours and are located throughout the city and surrounding areas. Almost all ATMs have a language key to enable you to read the instructions in English.

Museums are generally open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 to 17:30 but closed on Monday. Palaces are open the same hours but are closed on Thursday. For specific information on museums, please visit our museums section. Shops and bazaars are normally open Monday through Saturday from 9:30 to 19:00, but closed all day on Sunday. However most stores in shopping malls and crowded streets are open seven days a week, including lunch breaks. You can find restaurants or cafes open virtually at any time of the day or night. Climate
The climate of Istanbul is mild. The weather during June is predominantly dry and sunny, with temperatures ranging between 20°C / 27°C during the day and 14°C / 20°C at night.

Insurances
All participants should arrange for their own insurance in their country of origin.

Electrical Appliances
The electrical supply is 220 volts, 50Hz. The connection for appliances is European plug (2 pin plug). Visitors who have flat 3-pin or other plugs, are advised to bring an appropriate adaptor or check availability with their hotel in advance.

Tipping
Tipping in the more expensive restaurants is expected, with around 5 to 10 percent being the usual amount. Taxi drivers do not have to be tipped. Hotel porters will expect a tip of around 2 to 3 percent of the cost of your room.

Currency
The monetary unit is the "New Turkish Lira"(YTL), which comes in bank notes of 5; 10, 20, 50 and 100 and coins of 5, 10, 25, 50 "kuruş" and 1 "YTL". At present (May), the exchange rate is 1 Euro ~ 1.85 YTL. Facilities for exchange of currency are available at the airport, hotels, banks and exchange offices. Exchange offices generally offer better rates than other options.

Credit Cards & Cheques
Visa and Master Card are widely accepted at hotels, stores, shops and restaurants. American Express Cards and traveler's cheques are rarely accepted.



The 1st IADI Inter-regional Conference (Europe, Eurasia, MENA)
Yildiz Posta Caddesi, 17/4
34394 ESENTEPE-ISTANBUL
Phone: + 90 212 347 6300
Fax: + 90 212 347 63 63
E-mail: dekon@dekon.com.tr