TRIP ADVISORY FOR IARP RISE MEETING IN SEPTEMBER 2012 IN WARSAW, POLAND

Transcription

1 TRIP ADVISORY FOR IARP RISE MEETING IN SEPTEMBER 2012 IN WARSAW, POLAND 1. BASIC INFORMATION ABOUT POLAND Capital: Warsaw Population: 38 million Currency: PLN (1 EURO = 4,18 PLN) 1 ZŁOTY (PLN zł) = 100 GROSZ (gr) Coins: 1 gr, 2 gr, 5 gr, 10 gr, 20 gr, 50 gr, 1 zł, 2 zł, 5 zł. Notes: 10 zł, 20 zł, 50 zł, 100 zł, 200 zł. All European currencies can be exchanged at currency exchange point called KANTOR. They (kantors) are located on the airport as well as in hotels. Usually no commision is charged. Ask the rate before you change your money. Most supermarkets accept EURO. The exchange rate is presented by the cashier. Note that change will be given in Polish currency. 2. PHONE CALLS Nowadays most tourists use their mobiles to make phone calls. However, if preferred, there are still easily accessible telephone boxes all over the city. Those phone boxes in Poland belong to TP SA. In order to use them, you must buy a phone card which you can buy at newsagent s kiosks, shops or at filling stations. You may also call from your hotel but it is usually more expensive. If you are calling from landlines and mobile phones you may find the list of country

2 codes at You may also use internet telephony (Skype and many others). Local calls Depending whether you are calling from a mobile phone or from a landline, the method of calling is different. You should also remember that regardless whether we want to make a local call or a trunk call, we always have to dial the area code of the particular town. The table below illustrates the rules for making calls. Type of call calling method example: From a landline to a mobile phone: number called From a landline to a landline: area code (Warsaw: 22) number called From a mobile phone to a mobile phone: number called From a mobile phone to a landline: area code - number called CLIMATE AND WEATHER Poland is located in a transitional climatic zone, between the moderate maritime climate on the West and the moderate continental climate on the East. Diversified masses of air collide over the territory of Poland, which is the effect of its location in the central part of Europe and the latitude-oriented geographical zones division. The temperature averages between 16.5 C a 20 C in summer and between -6 C a 0 C in winter. The average annual temperature in Poland amounts to 7-9 C (excluding mountain areas). During the autumn the weather is often changeable you are likely to enjoy moderately warm temperatures from September to October, but it is also possible to see people wearing shortsleeves in October. Anyway, many people consider the autumn to be the most beautiful season to visit Poland. Autumn is good for travelling in, making for less tiring and so more enjoyable travel when you can avoid hard frost or sweltering heat. As the weather here can be quite unpredictable, to get the best out of your Polish experience it is important to include both an umbrella and sunglasses, necessary equipment all year long. Average temperature in September is 13.1 C. 4. HOTEL We booked 20 rooms for you at the Radisson Blu Sobieski Hotel at a special price (group reservation) zł (122 EUR) per night. This price includes breakfast, the Internet access, fitness room, sauna, gym, jacuzzi and 8% VAT tax. We recommend the Radisson Blu Sobieski Hotel with its affordable price and delicious cuisine. The hotel is located in the centre of Warsaw. The rooms are all equipped with free high-speed Internet access, mini bar, LCD TV and comfortable work areas. The IARP-RISE meeting is taking place on the Krzywickiego 34 street, which is located near the Zawisza Square (Plac

3 Zawiszy) where recommended hotel is located (1 km). If you want to take advantage of this offer, bookings must be made before July 31 by sending the attached form directly to the address: Please enter your password "IARP" in the subject of the . After this date the reservations will be confirmed upon availability. More information about the hotel: 5. THE MAP OF THE CITY CENTER 1 IMM Institute of Mathematical Machines, the place of the IARP RISE meeting 2 Hotel Jan III Sobieski, the place of the JCF meeting 3 Hotels: Kyriad Prestige and Campanile 4 Railway station Warszawa Centralna

4 6. FROM THE AIRPORT TO THE CITY CENTER By Taxi Warsaw airport is named Frederic Chopin and called Okecie. There are three official airport taxi operators: Sawa Taxi, Super Taxi and ELE SKY Taxi. For safety reasons we strongly advise you to use licensed taxi services offered at Chopin Airport. The taxi fare from the airport to the city centre is approx. PLN 40. Ignore taxi touts offering a trip to the city center. Clear signs with information on recommended taxi companies have been put up at the taxi waiting area in front of Chopin Airport Terminal A. Blue cube-shaped with easily noticeable information "Recommended Taxi" have been placed taxi bays, marking the area of airport-recommended taxis. Similar signs have been placed in the baggage reclaim hall. Stands with blue cubic signs are clearly visible to all travellers exiting to the arrivals hall. Passengers can help themselves to leaflets with information on recommended taxi comapnies and advice on how to get to the city centre by public transport. By bus You can also take a bus, No 175, which leaves from in front of Terminal A. Buy your tickets at any news stand or kiosk or from the bus driver. Ticket cost PLN 3,60. Going into town the bus passes The Sobieski Hotel and the Central Railway Station. This line seems to be prone to occasional pickpockets and petty thieves, so be careful. Remove your flight labels from your baggage. The journey to the city center should take approximately 20 min. (40 min. in the rush hour).

5 By train The beginning of June 2012 saw the opening of a railway line connecting Chopin Airport with central Warsaw. The convenient journey takes around 25 minutes. During the morning and afternoon rush hours, trains from the airport to the city centre run every minutes and outside rush hours every 15 minutes. The service is operated by two companies: Szybka Kolej Miejska (Fast Urban Railway) and Koleje Mazowieckie (Masovian Railways). The operators accept all public transport tickets, including single-fare ticket. Tickets for a ride from the airport to the city centre are sold at every newsstand and at ticket machines at the station or on trains. 6. FROM THE DWORZEC CENTRALNY TO THE HOTEL In order to get from the Warsaw Central Railway Station (Dworzec Centralny) to the Zawisza Square (Plac Zawiszy) where the recommended hotel is located, it is enough to exit from the station to Al. Jerozolimskie street toward the Marriott hotel. This way one can take any OCHOTA district bound tram and get off on the second stop (Pl. Zawiszy). 7. THE IARP RISE MEETING PLACE The IARP RISE meeting is taking place in the Institute of Mathematical Machines on the Krzywickiego 34 street, which is located near the Zawisza Square (Pl. Zawiszy) where our recommended hotel is located (1 km). The JCF meeting will take place at the Radisson Blu Sobieski Hotel. Information about the Institute of the Mathematical Machines: Our institute is the oldest Polish research and development institution dedicated to the creation of computer hardware and software and their implementation in industry and economy. Presently the Institute of Mathematical Machines carries out scientific researches and developmental work in the area of broadly defined information technologies. The IMM's electronic signature

6 laboratory conducts work in the field of electronic signature technology, focusing on supporting public administration and increasing security in the most sensitive sectors of the economy. 8. TAXI Always use official taxi operators with official fares. Official taxi corporations have their logo and phone number on the taxi roof and their tariff on the passenger window. An official license must be visible inside the taxi. You can always phone for a taxi. Sometimes, however, English can be a problem because not all corporations have English speaking customer service representatives. That is why it is strongly recommended that you use only those corporations, where English is not going to be a problem (the following): Taxi fares: MPT tel. (22) ,40 PLN per 1 km (from 6 am to 10 pm), 3,60 PLN (from 10 pm to 6 am) Sawa Taxi tel. (22) PLN + 2,80 PLN per 1 km (3,60 PLN from 10 pm to 6 am) 9. SPECIAL DINNERS We invite you for dinner with the delicious polish cuisine after the meeting on September 12th. The detailed information we will provide you during the meeting. The Tradycja restaurant, to which we are inviting you, is famous for its delicious Polish courses and beautiful old-style interior, resembling an old Polish manor. You can find more information about the restaurant s interior and menu here: After the JCF Meeting on September 14th we will invite you to visit the Royal Castle in Warsaw. After the sightseeing we will invite you for dinner in the Royal Castle. The Royal Castle and the Old Town, where the castle is located, are landmarks of Warsaw. The Old Town is one of the most picturesque places in Warsaw where most of the important monuments can be found. In fact, this area of Warsaw was reconstructed after its total destruction by the Germans during World War II. It is now on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is the heart and soul of Warsaw and rebuilding the area can be said to represent the Polish people s will to remain unconquered and free. You can take a virtual tour of the Royal Castle here: