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The Conference will be held at the
University of Haifa in
Haifa,
Israel, at the Ofer Observatory, on the 30th floor of Eshkol Tower.
See
campus map
and directions; Google
Earth:
; an
interactive map.
The official hotel of the conference is Dan Panorama, 107 Hanassi Avenue, Haifa. We also reserved a limited number of rooms in the Ganei Dan (Dan Gardens) hotel, 124 Yefe-Nof St., about 400 meters away.
The conference venue is a little out of the city, some 20 minute (drive) from the Carmel Center where the hotels are. It's NOT walking distance. The simplest way to get from the hotel to the University campus is by taxi (a taxi for 4 should be about US $10 one way); alternatively, take a bus: route 37 is frequent and convenient (route 30 is is identical but less frequent). The fare is 5.50 Shekel (approximately US $1.30). There are also shared (shuttle) taxis with a note saying "37" on their front windshield, which function as buses. The fare is 5 Shekel. Public transportation (bus or shuttle taxi) is easy to use, inexpensive, frequent and safe. The nearest bus stop is at 121 Hanassi Avenue, a 3-minute walk from each of the hotels.
Useful local information
Maps
See an interactive map of Haifa for
Carmel Center, and hotels and the
University, and the same in Google Earth:.
Tourism
The official city tourism portal for Haifa is here. You can find tons of pictures on Haifa, Jerusalem, and Israel all over the Web; lots of pictures of Haifa can be found here. The main touristic attraction in Haifa is the Bahai Gardens: see here and here; pictures are available here. The official city tourism portal for Jerusalem (though it is not very informative) is here.
Travel information
Haifa does not have international flight connections; book a flight to Tel Aviv (TLV). The airport has extensive ground transportation options, including a direct train to Haifa via Tel Aviv, coaches, shuttle (shared) taxis, rental cars and taxis. There are also money change counters and ATMs available at all times.
Most major European airlines fly to Israel, including Air France, Alitalia, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, Czech Airlines, Iberia, KLM, Lufthansa, Malev, SN Brussels Airlines, Swiss, Turkish Airlines and more. They usually operate one or two flights daily to their European hubs. Flights to Europe tend to leave TLV either very early in the morning (around 5:30am) or in the early afternoon (around 16:00). The only North-American carriers offering direct flights to TLV are Continental (twice daily from Newark), Delta (daily from Atlanta) and Air Canada (daily from Toronto). Israel's flag carrier is ElAl, with flights to several destinations throughout Europe, Asia and North America. Several charter airlines fly to Israel from Europe, but none of the low-cost, no-frills airlines does.
The best way to travel from/to the airport is by train: trains run 2--3 times an hour during the day, once an hour during the night, and take about 1:15 hours from the airport to Haifa Hof HaCarmel station. Check the schedules on-line. The fare is about US $8 one way, a little less when buying a return ticket. Buy your ticket before boarding the train and keep it since you will need it when you leave the station.
Public transportation in Israel practically halts from Friday early afternoon to Saturday night. This includes trains and inter-city coaches, but not the local buses in Haifa, which run with reduced frequency. Taxis and shared taxis, both in Haifa and from/to the airport, are not affected.
If your flight arrives or departs in the middle of the night, or on the shabbat (from Friday afternoon until Saturday afternoon), there are two ways to get from the airport to the hotel or back: either a taxi, which could be as expensive as US $100, one way; or a shuttle (shared) taxi. Shuttle taxis will pick you up from your hotel and get you to the airport (or vice versa), but they may pick up or drop off other passengers on the way, and they may schedule your trip earlier than necessary, or take a little longer (because they don't run specially for you). The cost is around US $15. At the airport, follow the signs for "shared taxi to Haifa".
See also here.
Visa information
Citizens of many countries, including most EU countries and the US, do not need a visa for a short visit. Check the list of countries. Citizens of other countries are advised to check with the nearest Israeli consulate.
All visitors must have a return ticket and a passport valid for at least six months.
Climate and weather
Israel has Mediterranean, or sub-tropical climate. Winters are colder than Summers. In February rain is possible (with temperatures around 10--15 C, 50's F), but on some days you may enjoy beautiful, sunny, clear skies (temperatures 15--20 C, 60's F). Most likely, we'll have some days of each.Current conditions in Haifa, courtesy of Weather Underground, Yahoo!, and the BBC.
Dress code is very informal: wear whatever feels comfortable. A jacket and an umbrella make sense in February. If you're very sensitive, bring some sun protection cream and a hat for the tours. Definitely bring good walking shoes for the tours.
Money matters
The currency of Israel is the New Israeli Shekel (ILS), better know as the Shekel. The current exchange rate is around 4 shekel to a US$, or 5.6 shekel to a EUR. For the current rate, consult Currency Converter by OANDA.com, The Currency Site.Credit cards are widely accepted, especially Visa/MasterCard. ATMs are abundant, and have an English user interface. Foreign currency can be exchanged in banks, major post offices or Change bureaus, and rates are usually better at the latter. The airport has several money change offices and ATMs, open 24 hours a day, including Saturdays. Foreign currency is generally not accepted by businesses.
Tipping is expected in restaurants, bars and cafes. Leave 10-15%, depending on the service. In a coffee bar or a fast-food place tipping is optional. When taking a taxi, you may round up the sum but no tip is expected. No tips for public servants, shared (shuttle) taxis, or ushers.
Prices of most services in Israel are comparable to (or lower than) Western Europe. A dinner at a restaurant can be anywhere between 50 and 250 shekel. Falafel (the local vegetarian fast-food) is 10-12 shekel. A beer is 15-20 shekel. A bus/train ride between Haifa and Tel Aviv should be around 25-30 shekel. A taxi ride of 10-15 minutes can be 30-40 shekel, more at night or on a Saturday, for all passengers (up to 4 can share a taxi).
Shabbat
The Shabbat is the Jewish weekly day of rest, and is widely observed in Israel. Shabbat starts at dusk on Friday evening and ends at dusk on Saturday. For 26 hours, most businesses close, traffic is reduced and the atmosphere is very special. In Haifa, buses and shuttle taxis run with reduced frequency. Most restaurants and cafes are open, but some will be closed. Most public attractions (museums, theaters, the zoo, etc.) will be open.The best way to spend a Saturday, if the weather is nice, is to stroll around: more people are out and there's a relaxed atmosphere of leisure.
Haifa has a (predominantly Christian) Arab quarter, in which life on Saturday go on as usual.
Safety and security
Israel is a safe place to visit, and Haifa is a generally safe city. Still, some common-sense precautions are useful. While pickpocketing is rare here, it's best to keep one's valuables in an inner pocket and not walk around with large sums in cash. Don't leave valuables (backpack, camera, cell phone etc.) unattended. When taking a taxi, make sure the meter is used and don't negotiate a special fare. Walking alone at night in the area of the hotels is safe.For obvious reasons, security is a major issue in Israel. You will be asked to have your bag searched everywhere: when entering a shopping mall, the University, public buildings, movie theaters etc. Please understand that this is for your own safety and respect the security officers.
If you plan to travel in Israel, avoid the West Bank and Ghazza. All other areas of the country are safe. Jerusalem, and in particular the Old City, requires some precaution; ask a local.
Driving can be dangerous, as Israeli drivers are reckless. Roads are signposted in English. Traffic lights are observed, but many drivers will not give right of way to pedestrians in a road crossing: be alert.
Most Israelis speak decent English. Many speak other languages, predominantly Arabic and Russian. Do not hesitate to ask a local for help, you'll find that most are welcoming and warm. Emergency phone numbers are 100 (police) and 101 (ambulance).
Spouse and kids
Some attractions in Haifa for your spouse and kids: Gan Ha-Em and the Haifa zoo are across the street from the Dan Panorama. The Louis promenade and the Baha'i Gardens are easily accessible as well. A trip on the Carmelit, the world's shortest underground (subway), only one line with a single 6-minute trip from the Carmel Center downtown, is fun for kids. The Tikotin Museum of Japanese Art is nearby, and the University of Haifa has a small but impressive Archaeological museum. A walk on the beach is winter can be very rewarding, but dress properly. Check also the Israel National Museum of Science.In case of any problem
Please contact Shuly Wintner. In an emergency, call +972-547299787.