General Information

Travel documents for entering Slovakia

Slovakia is a part of the European Union and the Schengen Treaty. If you are traveling from the EU country, you need an ID card or a passport when you staying in a hotel or at the conference venue (Smolenice Castle). You may also be asked to present some form of ID on other occasions.

For citizens of countries outside Europe, a valid passport is required. A visa is required from some countries. Please check for any visa requirements before leaving your home country. If you need an invitation letter, please contact Milan Čertík, the conference chair.

Language

The official language is Slovak, but a lot of people in Bratislava understand and speak English. The official language at the conference is English.

Insurance

The conference cannot be liable for any personal injuries or damage/loss of property, that may occur during the conference. Please check in advance that all relevant insurances are valid before attending the meeting.

Currency

The currency in Slovakia is the Euro (€).

Cash payment is common in shops, hotels, restaurants and taxis. Credit cards, primarily VISA, VISA electron, MasterCard and Maestro are also accepted. Money can be changed at the airports (Vienna and Bratislava) and in downtown Bratislava.

Electricity

Electricity power plugs and sockets are type E. The standard voltage is 230 V.

Time and daylight

During the conference Central European Summer Time will be in effect (GMT +1h).

At the time of the conference, expect daylight from approximately 05:00 to 20:30 h.

Weather

In mid-May, the weather tends to be changeable. In Smolenice, morning temperatures vary between 7 - 14 °C and daytime temperatures between 15 - 25 °C.

Dress

No formal dress is required at the conference. The conference room is air-conditioned. If the weather is fine, a welcome party will be held in the castle courtyard on the first evening, so please bring warmer cloths.

Safety

Generally, Slovakia is a safe country but be aware of pickpockets in crowded places in shops, bus and train stations and public transport.

Conference Information

Badges and identification

Upon registration, each participant will receive a name badge. Please wear it at all times.

Presentations

The official language at the conference is English.

Oral presentations

During the conference, MS PowerPoint running on Windows PC will be available.
Invited speakers usually have twenty-five minutes for presentations, plus five minutes for discussion. Common session speakers have fifteen minutes allotted. Young speakers in the Poster Highlights session have five minutes.

Please organise your presentation to respect your allocated time.

Posters

The maximum size for posters is 70 × 100 cm (width × height; portrait orientation). The posters will be fixed to the boards with pins or clips provided at the conference. Authors should be present during the appointed time in the scientific programme for the poster exhibition.

Travel

Smolenice Castle is about 50 km from Bratislava. The organizers will provide transport for conference participants by bus from Bratislava to Smolenice on the first day of the conference and from Smolenice to Bratislava on the last day of the conference.

A special bus to Smolenice will be dispatched from Bratislava, Nivy Bus Station (main bus station) on Tuesday May 14th, at 13.30 h. The meeting of the conference participants will be at the platform where buses from various directions arrive - inbound platform.

Bratislava Central Bus Station is located in the wider city center. The Slovak name of the bus station is Mlynské nivy, Autobusová stanica or AS Mlynské Nivy. There is a number of shops, fast food outlets and restaurants at the bus station. Platforms for departure and arrival of buses are located at -1st floor, see the bus station plan.

Arrivig by airplane

Bratislava (BTS)

Bratislava Airport mainly serves low-cost airlines.

Transport from Bratislava Airport to Nivy Bus Station

By public transport:

Trolleybus no. 61 connects Bratislava Airport with the Main Railway Station, Hlavná stanica. Get off the trolleybus at the stop Bajkalská (travel time approximately 17 min, 14 stops) and change to a trolleybus no. 60, direction Rajská which will take you to Autobusová stanica (Bratislava, Nivy Bus Station). Travelling time is approximately 9 min, 7 stops. All stops are on request (to get on the bus you have to wave, to get off you have to ring the bell).

You can buy a paper ticket for one journey from the ticket machine at each stop (2 zones, valid 30 min, full fare, price 1.10 €, use coins).

Full details of the tickets are given on the carrier's website.

The meeting of the conference participants will be at the platform where buses arrive (where they have terminal stops) between 13.00 and 13.30 h. Platforms for departure and arrival of buses are located at -1st floor, see the bus station plan.

By taxi:

You can find taxis at the front of the airport. Please choose taxis which have the name of the company on them. Ask Bus Station Mlynske Nivy.

Vienna (VIE)

Vienna International Airport operates flights to and from all major European and international destinations. It is about 60 km from Bratislava.

Transport from Vienna Airport to Bratislava Nivy Bus Station

Take a bus to Bratislava, Nivy Bus Station (main bus station). Approximately three buses per hour operate between Vienna Airport and Bratislava. They are run by bus companies, Slovak Lines, Flixbus and RegioJet. It is recommended to purchase your bus ticket online in advance.

The meeting of participants will be at the platform where you leave the bus from Vienna Airport.

Arriving by train

Public transport from Bratislava Main Station (Hlavná stanica) to Nivy Bus Station

Take a trolleybus no. 40, direction Nové SND, and get off at Autobusová stanica (Nivy Bus Station). Traveling time approximately 10 min, 6 stops. All stops are on request (to get on the bus you have to wave, to get off you have to ring the bell).

You can buy a paper ticket for one journey from the ticket machine at each stop (2 zones, valid 30 min, full fare, price 1.10 €, use coins).

Full details of the tickets are given on the carrier's website.

The meeting of the conference participants will be at the platform where buses arrive (where they have terminal stops) between 13.00 and 13.30 h. Platforms for departure and arrival of buses are located at -1st floor, see the bus station plan.

Traveling from Vienna Main Station (Wien Hbf.)

Important note: Due to the reconstruction of the railway line between Devínska Nová Ves and Marchegg, it is not possible to travel by train from Vienna Main Station (Wien Hbf.) to the Bratislava Main Railway Station (Bratislava, hlavná stanica). Trains from Vienna Main Station (Wien Hbf.) run only the railway station Bratislava, Petržalka.

Public transport from Bratislava-Petržalka Railway Station to Nivy Bus Station

Take a bus no. 80, direction Kollárovo námestie. Travelling time is approximately 10 min, 6 stops. Get off the bus at Kollárovo námestie and change to a trolleybus no. 42, direction Hraničná, Cintorín Vrakuňa. Get off the bus at Autobusová stanica (Bratislava, Nivy Bus Station). Traveling time is approximately 5 min, 3 stops. All stops are on request (to get on the bus you have to wave, to get off you have to ring the bell).

You can buy a paper ticket for one journey from the ticket machine at each stop (2 zones, valid 30 min, full fare, price 1.10 €, use coins).

Full details of the tickets are given on the carrier's website.

The meeting of the conference participants will be at the platform where buses arrive (where they have terminal stops) between 13.00 and 13.30 h. Platforms for departure and arrival of buses are located at -1st floor, see the bus station plan.

Arriving by car

Smolenice Castle (GPS N: 48.514056 E: 17.432757) is about 50 kilometers from Bratislava.

Regardless of whether you will arrive from South (Bratislava), North (Žilina, Trenčín), or East (Nitra), you need to reach junction "Trnava" (Highway D1/E75 crosses Speedway R1/E58 here).

You can find your itinerary from junction Trnava to Smolenice Castle on Google maps.

Accomodation

Deadline for accommodation booking : April 12th, 2024

The accommodation is arranged by organizers at the conference venue in the beautiful Smolenice Castle. Breakfast is included in the room rate.

Participants can stay alone or share a room. If you prefer to share a room, please indicate name of the person(s) you wish to share with on the registration form, or indicate your preference to share with another participant. Please do not worry about sharing a room; the atmosphere during the conference is very friendly. The organisers will accept your accommodation requests to the fullest extent possible. However, due to the limited capacity of the castle, there may be a need to share double or multi-bed rooms with other participants. The organizers reserve the right to make the final accommodation plan.

Prices vary according to the type of room: double room (EUR 99.00/night/room), triple room (EUR 123.00/night/room), room with four beds (EUR 132.00/night/room), two bed apartment (EUR 157.00/night/apartment), two bedrooms apartment (4 beds) (EUR 217.00/night/apartment).

Additional accommodation (depending on the capacity of the castle and your room preference) can be arranged in pensions in Smolenice village.

All accommodation costs must be paid in EUR by a bank transfer. The organizing committee will issue an invoice during the conference or send it to you after the conference. Please ensure that all bank fees are covered by the submitting account.

Cancellation fees

More than 31 days before the conference date (until April 13, 2024): no charge
Within 15 - 30 days: 25% of the accomodation rate (April 29 - April 14, 2024)
Within 7 - 14 days: 50% of the accomodation rate (May 7 - April 30, 2024)
Within 2 - 7 days: 75% of the accomodation rate (May 12 - May 6, 2024)
One day prior to arrival: 100% of the accomodation rate (May 13, 2024)