Updated: 4 July 2006

Practical information

Conference language

The official conference language is English. No simultaneous translation will be available.

Credit cards

All major Credit Cards as well as Euro-cheques are recognized and accepted in most hotels, shops, travel and car rental agencies and restaurants. Stickers in the front windows will advise you as to which cards are acceptable.

Currency / Banking

Currency: Euro.
People can exchange money at banks located in the airport. You can also use bank machines (ATM's) located in Chania. Credit cards are frequently accepted at restaurants, bars and shops - but different prices might apply for credit card purchases.

Electricity

The power supply in Greece is 220 V AC at 50 Hz. You may require an adapter for the round two-pin sockets in use in Greece.

Entry to Greece

You may be required to obtain an entry visa to enter Greece. It is necessary that you call your regional Greek embassy or consulate for visa regulations as soon as possible.

Getting to MAICh conference centre

The Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania (MAICh) where the conference takes place is located 3km south-east of the city centre, 13 km from the airport of Chania and 1km from the port of Souda.

Chania is the closest airport. Heraklion can be an alternative but a bus journey would take 3 hours. For more information on how to get to Chania, we kindly refer to the item 'Traveling to Chania'.

The best way to reach MAICh from the airport of Chania is by taxi which costs about 15 euros. There is no direct bus service connecting the airport with the MAICh. From the Souda port you can get to MAICh by either taxi (about
3 euros) or bus. Buses leave every 20min and the bus stop is outside the Institute on the main street (Souda Avenue).

The same bus connects MAICh with the city center. Tickets cost approxi-mately 0.90 euros each and can be obtained from the MAICh. The last bus, No. 13, passes from MAICh for Chania at 22:20 and from the Market to MAICh at 22:40. The route is about 15 minutes.

The taxi route from MAICh to the city costs approximately 4.5 Euro together with the telephone call.
Radiotaxi at Chania (call a taxi from/to Maich)
1. Κidon Tel: 28210 - 94300, 87700
2. Εrmis Tel: 28210 - 98700, 98770
3. Souda Tel. 28210 - 89 555

Night transportation: Public transportation does not operate after midnight. You will have to use a taxi. Take note that taxi fares double after midnight. You should tell the taxi driver to use the meter.

Medical insurance

Most countries have bilateral agreements with Greece for recognition of medical insurance. Check with your health insurer to see what their policy is for international travel; insurance may be limited to emergency room coverage only. Have your local insurance agency (or Social Security depending upon the case) provide you with the appropriate forms you should carry with you in case you need medical care.

Mobile phones

As a courtesy to speakers and other delegates, we request that all mobile phones or pagers be turned off before entering the conference sessions.

More information about Chania

For more information about Chania, see http://www.chania.gr/.
For a map of Chania, please visit http://www.chania.gr/citymap.jsp?lang=en.

Insurance / Disclaimer

The organisers do not accept responsibility for individual medical, travel or personal insurance and all participants are strongly advised to take out their own personal insurance before travelling to the conference. The organisers will not accept any liability for damages and/or losses of any kind which may be incurred by conference participants or by any persons accompanying them, both during official activities and the social events.

Name badge

Participants will receive a name badge. Everyone is kindly requested to wear this badge during all conference activities, as it is your identification and allows you access to the conference venue, conference lunches, coffee breaks, and the conference dinner.

Registration desk

Registration for all participants will take place on Thursday to Friday in the lobby of the dormitory at The Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania (MAICh). Signs placed around the campus will direct you to where you need to go.

The address is:

Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania

Alsylio Agrokepion, PO Box 85

Chania 73100

Crete

Greece

The conference registration desk will be opened during the days of the conference. The staff at the registration desk will be pleased to assist you with all your enquiries.

Safety

If you come in summer, be prepared for hot temperatures: Bring sun-block, dark glasses, and a hat.
Tap water is generally safe, but bottled water is readily available and better to drink.
Restaurant food is generally safe to eat. Avoid dishes made with ground meat.
Although traditionally Greece has had a low crime rate, in recent years this has changed somewhat, with theft on the increase, particularly in crowded places like urban areas and holiday resorts. Don't be paranoid, as many people are scrupulously honest, but for your own peace of mind keep your valuables under lock and key at all times. Women may find that they experience a degree of harassment; the best way to deal with this is to make it very clear that you are not interested.
For emergency police reaction, dial 100. The tourist police emergency number is 171, and 166 is for medical response.

Security

Unfortunately, conferences provide a tempting target for thieves, so please take care of bags, laptops and other personal belongings.
The organisers cannot accept any responsibility for losses incurred or for personal health and safety.
If you have any special needs or requirements, please specify them on the registration form.

Time

Standard time zone: UTC/GMT +2 hours.

Daylight saving time: +1 hour.

Current time zone offset: UTC/GMT +3 hours.

Traveling to Chania

Chania is the closest airport. Heraklion can be an alternative but a bus journey would take 3 hours.

There are direct charter and scheduled flights connecting Chania with many European cities. Please contact your travel agent for details about charter flight schedules. Provisional information about flights to Crete can be found here. Domestic flights from the Athens International Airport are also frequent and are carried out by Olympics and Aegean Airlines.

Ferries to Chania (Souda port) leave from Athens (Piraeus port) on a daily basis. The overnight/daytime trip with ANEK lines takes about 9 hours. There are also fast ferries (http://www.hellenicseaways.gr) that arrive to Chania in about 4,5 hours. Please check the web sites above for ferry schedules. Also note that there is a direct bus service connecting Athens International Airport with Piraeus port. More information about public transport in Athens can be found here.

Chania can be reached by coach from the city of Herakleon situated 145 km (90 miles) from Chania. The bus fare is about 9 euros and takes about
2.5 hours. The taxi costs approximately 80 euros. Herakleon, being the biggest city of Crete, is directly connected with charter/scheduled flights with many European cities. Flights to/from Athens are also frequent. Ferries from Piraeus travel to Herakleon every day. The overnight/daytime trip with MINOAN lines takes between 7-8 hours.

Weather / Climate

The climate is relatively mild, Mediterranean. During the fall and winter months north and northwest winds dominate, while in the summer the ill winds make it enjoyable. But the divine gift of the eternal sunshine allows one to start their vacation from March and end it at the end of October.

Chania has the largest amount of water in Crete (65%), and for this there is rich vegetation of plants and fruitful trees (citrus trees, olives, vines etc.) as well as semitropicals. The very clean beaches of Chania win always the "blue flags" of Europe and are accessible for all ages throughout the year.

If you come in summer, be prepared for hot temperatures: Bring sun-block, dark glasses, and a hat.