The conference will take place at the IBM Haifa facility, which is
located at the edge of the Haifa University campus, to the left of
the Eshkol Tower on the campus map.
Hotels
Leonardo Hotel
[link]
A block of rooms has been set aside for SYSTOR 2013 at a rate of
$150 for a Superior room, $175 for a Deluxe room (single occupancy
including breakfast). A complementary shuttle will be available from
the hotel lobby to IBM from June 30 - July 02, 2013
For reservations, please contact the hotel reservation center
directly: execlub@fattal.co.il
Nof Hotel
[link]
A block of rooms has been set aside SYSTOR 2013 at a rate of $90
for a Standard room, $115 for a Superior room (single occupancy
including breakfast)
For reservations, please contact the hotel reservation center
directly: reservation@nofhotel.co.il
Art Gallery
[link]
A block of rooms has been set aside for SYSTOR 2013 at a rate of
$82 for a Standard room (single occupancy including breakfast)
For reservations, please contact the hotel reservation center
directly: mg@mgtourism.co.il
Technion Guesthouse
[link]
A block of a few rooms only has been set aside for SYSTOR 2013 at a
rate of $50 (no breakfast).
Hotel rates
When you contact the hotel of your choice, please indicate the
name of the conference SYSTOR 2013 IBM to obtain the conference
rate.
All the above rates are directly from the hotel with no
third-party involvement (non-commissionable).
We'd Be Happy to Assist
For any additional information or assistance, please feel free to
contact the SYSTOR local organizer Eti Jahr or the General Chair Ronen Kat
Visa Info
The site http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Sherut/IsraeliAbroad/Continents/
contains information on how to obtain a visa for those traveling to
Israel.
The site also includes contact information for the Israeli
embassies and consulates worldwide. Because regulations for visa
authorization tend to change periodically, we recommend that you
verify the information on the web site with the relevant embassy or
consulate.
Transportation from Ben Gurion Airport
Train
From the Ben Gurion Airport train station, located near the arrivals
hall in the airport, you can take a direct train to Haifa. Buy a
ticket to the Hof HaCarmel station in Haifa and go down the escalator
to the train. Make sure you board on the correct track. Take a taxi
from the Hof HaCarmel station in Haifa to your destination.
For more information, see the Israel Railways site. Note that trains and buses
do not generally run on Saturdays in Israel. If you arrive on Friday
afternoon or Saturday, you will probably want to rent a car or take a
taxi to Haifa.
Bus
You can take a direct Egged bus from the airport to Haifa. Take the
947 bus to the Hof HaCarmel station in Haifa and take a city bus or
taxi from there to your destination.
To find out more about the buses that serve the University of Haifa
campus, go to the main Egged Web
site.
Sherut Taxi Service
Shared taxis, called Sheruts, are available from the airport to all
destinations in Israel. Sheruts are much cheaper than the price of a
private taxi, so they're a good deal, especially if you're going to a
distant area such as Haifa or Jerusalem. Keep in mind that you may
have to wait a while, since the taxi only leaves the airport when it
is full. Generally, there are 10 seats in such a car. The rate for a
one way trip from the airport to Haifa (city center) is about 75 NIS
(~USD$20) or 115 NIS (~USD$32) for a specific address.
You can also pay in dollars, but there is no credit card payment
available--only cash.
Taxi
As you exit from the terminal building, look for the supervised taxi
stand. Give your destination to the dispatcher and he will direct you
to the correct taxi. The fares from the airport to some destinations
including Haifa are fixed, so the driver should not use the meter.
The rate for a one way taxi trip from the airport to Haifa is about
521 NIS (~USD$140) or 637 NIS (~USD$172) during nights and Saturdays.
Rental Car
Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, and other local firms have offices at
the airport.
Local Info
Participants from most EU countries and the USA do not need visas
to Israel. For participants from other countries, we suggest you
check with your travel agent, local Israeli embassy, or
consulate.
All visitors to Israel must hold a passport that is valid for at
least six months from the date they enter the country. Please
contact the conference secretariat if a letter of invitation is
needed to assist in applying for a visa. Refer to the Israeli
tourism site
for information
on Israeli visas.
Liability
Participants are advised to purchase comprehensive travel insurance
coverage. The conference organizers shall not be liable for any loss
or damage to property belonging to conference participants nor for
personal injuries sustained during or as a result of the SYSTOR 2013
Conference.
Airport Information
Ben Gurion International Airport is the main international gateway
to and from Israel. It is situated approximately 50km (31 miles)
west of Jerusalem.
Climate and Clothing
It is summer in Israel in June. Average temperatures: 18°C
– 28°C (64°F – 82°F). Casual dress is
appropriate for all conference occasions. Sunscreen, a sun hat, and
sunglasses are essential items throughout the year.
Electricity
The voltage in Israel is 220-240 volt AC.
Shopping
Stores are generally open Sunday through Thursday 09:00-19:00 and
Friday 09:00?14:00. Most shopping malls are open also on Saturday
from one hour after sundown until 22:00. All "Superpharm" and
"Newpharm" stores include a pharmacy.
Banking and Changing Money
Banks are open Sunday through Thursday 08:30-12:00 and on some
afternoons. Hours vary by branch. All banks are closed on Fridays
and Saturdays.
The New Israeli Shekel (NIS) is the official currency in Israel.
Foreign currency of all kinds may be exchanged at the airport,
banks, post offices, most hotels or licensed exchange agencies. Most
if not all establishments that accept credit cards will honor cards
issued outside of Israel. These cards will also work in most ATMs to
withdraw NIS or $US.
Distances
Ben-Gurion International Airport - Haifa: 100km/ 62.5 miles
Ben-Gurion International Airport - Tel-Aviv: 15km/9.5 miles
Ben-Gurion International Airport - Jerusalem: 47km/ 29.5 miles
Haifa - Tel Aviv: 95km/59 miles
Haifa - Jerusalem: 145km/91 miles
Tourism Information
|