***Please note that August is the peak travel month for visitors to Seattle. You should make your travel arrangements as soon as possible to assure availability of airline and Conference hotels.

Welcome to Seattle

Also called "The Emerald City", Seattle is best known for its coffee houses, the Space Needle and its unique, lush green landscape of trees, lakes, rivers and mountains. While visiting Seattle, you can walk to many major attractions from the downtown core. Pike Place Market, the Space Needle, Seattle Underground Tour, Pioneer Square and the Waterfront are all must see spots while in the city.

http://www.visitseattle.org

Currency

Click here for current exchange rates.

Entering USA (passport and visa)

For more information about entry requirements, please visit http://www.unitedstatesvisas.gov/

Getting to the Conference

Air Travel to the Conference

International flights into Sea-Tac International Airport are available on major carriers. Additional flights serve Vancouver, BC with connecting flights or ground transportation to Seattle, 120 miles away.

Ground Transportation

Sea-Tac International Airport is about 20 minutes from downtown Seattle by car. All major car rental agencies are available near the baggage claim area. Allow 30-45 minutes during rush hour. Interstate 5 runs through Seattle and provides a direct route from the airport. Exit at Seneca Street (use the left lane off the exit ramp). Turn right onto Sixth Avenue. The Sheraton Seattle will be located 3 blocks down, on the right. Parking at the Sheraton is $35 per day (valet only). There are additional parking garages for daily parking around the Sheraton as well.

Taxis to the hotel: Taxis are available on the third floor of the parking garage. From baggage claim you must go up one level across the sky bridge, then back down to the street level. The cost of a taxi from SeaTac Airport is approximately US $35 one-way.

Shuttle to the hotel: Downtown Airporter-Gray Line of Seattle is the most convenient and inexpensive scheduled airport service that operates between Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and the Sheraton Seattle Hotel and Towers (among other major hotels, but does not stop at the Red Lion or Sixth Ave Inn). Cost starts at $10.25 one way/$17 round trip and the shuttle operates from 5:30am to midnight daily. No reservations are required. Tickets can be purchased from the Gray Line of Seattle kiosk located at the south end of the airport and also at the Sheraton Seattle Hotel.
http://graylineseattle.com/airportexpress1.cfm

Weather

Average daily temperature in August is 74 degrees Fahrenheit or 23 degrees Celsius. For more current weather conditions, please go to www.weather.com.

Health and Personal Insurance

The Conference Organizers cannot accept liability for injuries or losses arising from accidents or other situations during or as a consequence of the Conference. Access to Canada's health care services is very costly for non-residents, and attendees are advised to arrange health and accident insurance prior to traveling to the Conference. Lost luggage or travel disruption insurance is also recommended.

Gratuities

In the US, gratuities are not included in restaurant bills, but are left to the discretion of the customer. It is customary to leave a gratuity of 15% of the total cost (excluding taxes). This same policy applies to taxi fares. Porters expect US$1 per suitcase.

Voltage

Electricity in the US is 110-volt alternating current. All non-North American appliances require an adapter for both the voltage and the plug.