[Transportation]
[Passport and Visa Requirements]
[Insurance] [Currency
and Banking]
[Electric Current] [Climate/Weather]
For your
convenience, we will have a table near the baggage area in the
airport staffed by our volunteers on Sat., July 10, and Sun., July
11. Information will be provided to help you get to your hotel. Look
for the ICBIC9 logo.
Participants are responsible for arranging their own travel to and from the Conference. Please see below for more information:
Most of the major sites, restaurants, and entertainment venues of Minneapolis can be reached on foot or by short bus or taxi rides from the Hyatt Regency.
A climate-controlled glass-enclosed pedestrian skyway system links 52 Minneapolis city blocks. The Hyatt Hotel is connected, as are services, shops, restaurants, theater, and nightlife.
Airport
Minneapolis is most easily accessed through the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport located about 15 minutes by car from the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Here, nonstop flights arrive on Northwest Airlines from Japan, England, the Netherlands, and Germany and over 100 cities in the United States. Most other national and international cities are served by simple connections through major cities. The airport is also served by many other major airlines including Delta, TWA, American, and United.
For more information about the airport go to the links below:
Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport home page
overview map of the airport
Transportation from the Airport
The Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport web page provides a number of options for transportation to downtown Minneapolis. You go to the parking and transportation page by clicking here.
We recommend either a taxi (~$20-25) or by Airport Express Bus ($11 one-way and $18 round-trip). The Airport Express Bus is a shuttle van service that leaves the airport every 20 minutes from 6:00 a. m. to midnight and will stop at the hotels requested by the passengers on board. The longest trip would take approximately one hour depending on the number of stops. By taxi, the trip would take about 25 minutes. For the return trip to the airport on the Airport Express, you must reserve a seat on the van at least 2 hours in advance and that can be done through the hotel service desk.
Airline Discounts
Northwest Airlines is pleased to handle your airline transportation needs and agrees to provide you with the use of the Meeting Services Reservations Desk toll free number 1-800-328-1111, M-F 7:30 am - 7:30 pm (CT), for making individual reservations. The valid dates are July 8-19, 1999. The destination is Minneapolis/St. Paul-MSP. Discounts can range from 5-15%, depending on the type of ticket you purchase. The Worldfile is NMDFY. Website: http://www.nwa.com/
American Airlines is also pleased to handle your airline transportation needs and agrees to provide you with the use of American Airlines Meeting Services desk toll free number 1-800-433-1790 for making individual reservations. Meeting Services will confirm the lowest applicable fare providing tariff rules are met. The valid dates are July 8-19, 1999. Destination is Minneapolis/St. Paul-MSP. The Group Name is ICBIC UNIV MN and the AN Number is 7079UA. The ticketing agent must put A7079UA in the tour code box. Website: http://www.americanair.com/
Car Rental Discounts
Avis Rent A Car is ready to assist you with renting a car. Just call their Meeting Reservation and Information Desk at: 1-800-331-1600. The Avis Worldwide Discount (AWD) number for our group is: B770598. Rates do not include tax, optional coverages of gas refueling charges or airport fees and state imposed surcharges. Renter must meet Avis' minimum age, driver and credit requirements.
Arrival by Automobile
The Conference site is easily accessible to those driving. Interstates 94 and 35W go right through downtown Minneapolis.
Automobile parking is available at the Minneapolis Hyatt Hotel ramp at a rate of $10.00 per day (current rates).
Arrival by Bus or Rail
The Twin Cities are served by train and interstate buses. Please check out information on their websites:
Train: Amtrak: http://reservations.amtrak.com/
Bus: Greyhound: http://www.greyhound.com/
Bus Passes (Metro Transit)
City bus passes will be given to all participants who register for dormitory housing. Extra passes can be purchased on-site registration.
Passport and Visa Requirements
A valid passport is required, and in certain cases a visa may be required for entry into the United States, from all countries. Entry from western European countries, Japan, Iceland, Brunei, and New Zealand can be made without a visa. Participants are advised to consult the U.S. embassy in their home country. Canadian citizens only require proof of Canadian citizenship, including picture I.D.
Registration fees do not include insurance of any kind. It is recommended that Conference participants consider buying insurance, in their home country, to cover the risks of loss of fees, cancellation of airline flights, medical expenses, loss or damage to personal property, and additional expenses if travel arrangements need to be altered.
Automatic teller machines (ATM's) are conveniently located throughout the city. Traveler's checks (in American dollars) and credit cards are widely accepted. Foreign currency will not be accepted and must be converted at ports of entry.
Electric Current
The standard voltage in United States is 110V at 60Hz.
The middle of July, the weather is comfortable, with low humidity and typical low/high temperatures of 60°F (15°C)/ 80°F (28°C). The forecasts for most days are expected to be sunny and pleasant, with an occasional evening or nighttime shower or thunderstorm. A light jacket or sweater for air conditioned meeting rooms is appropriate.
For current weather in Minnesota and the Twin Cities metro area, check out the following links:
The Weather Channel: http://www.weather.com/weather/us/zips/55455.htmlWCCO News: http://wcco.com/index.html