Practical Information

What You Need to Know on Arrival

Travelling to St. Petersburg

St. Petersburg has two international airports: Pulkovo 1 and Pulkovo 2.

Some participants will arrive by train to Moskovsky or Ladozhsky railway terminals.

Transfer from Airport / Railway Station

The Organizing Committee grants assistance in transfer and accommodation in case you have sent your itinerary and passport data and reconfirmed your need for hotel reservation by May 6, 2005.

Arriving participants can easily recognize Organizing Committee officers by T-shirts and nameboards bearing conference logo.

Accommodation and Transfer to the Conference Venue

The conference will be held in the Palace of Congresses in Strelnya (Konstantinovsky Palace): 3 Beryozovaya Alley, Strelnya, St. Petersburg.

Participants will be accommodated in two hotels unless they have any other arrangement:

• Hotel Baltic Star: 3 Beryozovaya Alley, Strelnya, St. Petersburg, http://www.konstantinpalace.com/en_bz.php
• Hotel Sovietskaya: 43/1 Lermontovsky Ave., St. Petersburg, http://www.sovetskaya.com

Participants will be transferred from Hotel Sovietskaya to the Conference venue and back. If you miss your bus you can get to the Conference venue by taxi or by public transport.

Getting to Hotels and Conference Venue Independently

Participants who have not provided their itinerary and not confirmed the need for hotel reservation can get to the conference venue by taxi or by public transport. They need to exchange a certain amount of money to be able to pay for transportation by cash.

To call a taxi please use a pay phone, dial 068, say that you are UNESCO conference participant and the place you are at. You may also call the Organizing Committee at +7 (911) 932-9088 (mobile) and ask the assistant to call you a taxi to a certain place. The taxi may cost 300-600 Russian roubles (ca 11-22 US dollars) depending on distance and time (night tariff is higher).

The public transportation options are as follows:

To Hotel Baltic Star and the Conference Venue

To Hotel Sovietskaya

On the St. Petersburg metro system, cards or tokens can be purchased for one trip at 10 Russian roubles (less than 40 US cents), regardless of the distance travelled, or cards for several trips. These cards and tokens can be purchased at metro stations; the cards are valid for 7 days.

On the St. Petersburg bus / trolley-bus system, tickets can be purchased from a conductor at 10 Russian roubles, regardless of the distance travelled.

Conference Venue

The conference will be held in the Palace of Congresses in Strelnya (Konstantinovsky Palace): 3 Beryozovaya Alley, Strelnya, St. Petersburg.

Registration will be organized:

• Before conference –Hotel Baltic Star near Reception at 10.00-18.00, May 16, 2005
• During conference –Hotel Baltic Star near Reception at 9.00-17.00, May 17-19, 2005.

All participants are requested to wear their badges throughout the conference to be allowed to join conference public events.

There will be special events organized by several sections, which will require invitations issued by section organizers. These invitations will be delivered to the registration desk at Hotel Baltic Star according to lists provided by the organizers.

Please do not lose your badges. If this happens, please refer to the Registration Desk at Hotel Baltic Star to settle this problem.

Security

Please note that the conference venue – Palace of Congresses in Strelnya (Konstantinovsky Palace) is an increased security area. All participants are to have their valid passports with them to be able to get security stickers for their badges when entering the Palace for the first time.

Meals

The Organizers provide 1 coffee break, May 17, 2 coffee breaks a day, May 18-19, lunch, May 18-19, evening receptions, May 17-19. Breakfast cost is included in the amount to be reimbursed to participants who have a confirmation from their section organizers that the accommodation cost is covered by the Organizing Committee.

Payments and Reimbursement

Participants who have a confirmation from their section organizers that the travel and/or accommodation cost is covered by the Organizing Committee are requested to check whether the reservation is made correctly, and refer to an Organizing Committee officer in case of any problems. Such participants will have to bring their tickets to a special Reimbursement Desk at Hotel Baltic Star (next to Registration Desk) to get reimbursed. The Reimbursement Desk will work 10.00-15.30, May 17-19.

Participants who pay for hotel accommodation themselves make their payments to an Organising Committee officer at the Reimbursement Desk.

Lost and Found

A Lost and Found desk will be open at Hotel Baltic Star near the Registration Desk 10.00-19.00, May 17-19. The Organizing Committee will appreciate your cooperation in delivering the items you have found to this desk.

Contingency

In case of contingency please do not hesitate to call +7 (911) 932-9088 (mobile).

Questions

If you have any questions during the conference please contact the Information Desk near the Registration Desk, Hotel Baltic Star.

Internet

Internet access will be provided in the Organising Committee room in the Konstantinovsky Palace, 2nd floor.