GENERAL INFORMATION

Currency and exchange rates

The official currency of the Czech Republic is the Czech Crown = Česká koruna (CZK = Kč). Exchange of foreign currency is available at Prague international Airport and at most hotels, banks and exchange offices throughout the city. International credit cards are accepted for payments in hotels, restaurants and shops. Payment in cash in EUR is also available in some restaurants and shops, please ask for details on-site.

You can find the official exchange rates on the website of the Czech National Bank at www.cnb.cz.

Electricity

The Czech Republic uses a 230 volt 50 Hz system, sockets have the European standard and plugs are three-prong grounded.

Images and details (wikipedia)

Insurance

The organizers do not accept responsibility for individual medical, travel or personal insurance. All participants are strongly advised to make their own personal insurance before traveling to the conference.

Passport and visa requirements

Visitors from non-EU Countries must posses a passport valid for at least the next 3 months. Participants requiring a visa should apply immediately to a consular office or a diplomatic mission of the Czech Republic in their country in order to avoid a delayed arrival to the conference. If visa required, please find the address of the Czech embassy in your country on the website: www.mzv.cz. Please note that the visa application procedure can take approximately up to two months. It is not possible to obtain visa at the Prague Airport. The Conference Secretariat assists the delegates by processing the official invitations on request.

Contact the Czech embassy in your country and ask which of the following documents they require to issue a visa for you for the conference:

Official invitation by conference organizers or Official invitation by the Foreigners Department of the Czech Police. As soon as you know which of the above documents you need, send an e-mail to the Conference Secretariat () with information needed to issue the invitation.

Official invitation by conference organizers – information needed:
Your full name
Date of birth
Place of birth
Country of citizenship (country which issued your passport)
Number of your passport
Date of expiry of your passport

Official invitation by the Foreigners´ Department of the Czech Police – information needed:
Your full name
Date of birth
Place of birth
Country of citizenship (country which issued your passport)
Number of your passport
Date of issue of your passport
Date of expiry of your passport
The official invitation by the Foreigners Department of the Czech Police cost 70 EUR (DHL delivery service included)

As soon as the required data are received, the Conference Secretariat will start the procedure of issuing the official invitation for you. The procedure usually takes one month or more. Therefore please contact us as soon as possible. When the official invitation is ready, it will be sent to you by post or express delivery service. You shall then present it at the Czech embassy in your country and get visa for the conference.

In case you have any questions concerning visa procedures or if you face any problems in your country, please contact the .

Please note that the Conference Secretariat can only help with getting visa to registered participants to take part in the CHEP 2009. Thank you for your understanding.

For more information about traveling to the Czech Republic, please visit web site www.czech.cz or www.mzv.cz.

Prague Public Transport

The main means of public transport is the underground railway - the metro, with complementary systems of bus, tram and railway transport. Prague’s underground is quite a new one and very efficient.

Time Zone

The Czech Republic is on Central European Time – Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) plus 1 hour. From April to October is summer time, i.e. GMT + 2 hours.

Weather

March weather in Prague usually brings quite changeable and rainy weather. The average temperature is 3,8°C. The current weather conditions you can find at www.weather.com.

Internet

Internet facilities will be available throughout the conference at the Prague Congress Centre for all registered participants.

Official Conference Language

The official language of CHEP 2009 conference in Prague will be English and no simultaneous translation will be provided.

Programme Changes

The organizers cannot assume liability for any changes in the programme due to external or unforeseen circumstances.

Smoking Policy

For the comfort and health of all participants, smoking is not permitted at any official programme. This includes scientific sessions, business and similar meetings, meal and also registration area & foyers. In case you are a hard-smoker, please contact the on-site staff for information on smoking designated areas within the conference venue.

Lukas Fiala, FZU AS CR