General Travel Information for International Visitors
Getting to ICOP
The primary airport serving downtown San Francisco is San Francisco International Airport (SFO). The Radisson Miyako is located 14.2 mile (22.9 kilometres) from San Francisco International Airport. Shuttle service by Super Shuttle can be booked at the airport. As of August 2004, one way shuttle service is US$14.00; round trip service is $22.00. Taxi service is also available; approximate one way fare to/from the Miyako is US$30.00.
Language
English is the language of the United States. Spanish is frequently spoken throughout the San Fransciso area. The meeting hotel is located in the heart of Japan Town where, in addition to English, Japanese is spoken in most hotels, shops, and restaurants.
The official language of ICOP is English.
Passports and Visas
Most visitors to the United States need B-2 Visitor Visas to enter the United States. Some visitors, however, can travel to the United States for tourism under the Visa Waiver Program. Canadian citizens can enter with evidence of their citizenship and a photo ID if they arrive directly from Canada.
If you have questions about U.S. visa policy and procedures, connect to UnitedStatesVisas.gov, and learn about the visa application process, understand current requirements and get updates on recent developments.
Currency and Banking
U.S. currency is decimal with the dollar as the basic unit. Currency exchanges are located at airports, banks and major hotels.
Banking hours in San Francisco are: 09:00-16:00, Monday to Friday. Automatic teller machines are readily available throughout the city.
The practice of payment by Credit Card is widely accepted throughout the U.S. Those in common use include Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Diners Club.
Travellers Cheques can be changed at banks, major hotels and selected trading establishments.
Tipping
Service employees in the United States depend on tips or gratuities as a major part of their income. A 15% tip is standard for waiters; up to 20% may be expected at better establishments. 15% is standard for taxi drivers and bartenders. Coat-check operators usually expect $1. Bellhops and porters usually get $1 per bag.
For local sightseeing tours, you may individually tip the driver-guide $2-$5 if he or she has been helpful or informative. Ushers in theaters do not expect tips.
Climate
Surrounded on three sides by water, San Francisco's climate is strongly influenced by the cool currents of the Pacific Ocean. The weather is remarkably mild all year round, with a Mediterranean climate characterized by cool, foggy summers and relatively warm winters. Rain in the summer is extremely rare. High temperatures in the summer are typically the mid to upper 60s Fahrenheit, while in the winter it virtually never reaches freezing. Occasional offshore flows of air bring hot air into San Francisco during the summer, when temperatures can reach into the high 90s Fahrenheit, but this is rare and it usually only lasts a few days, before the region's "natural air conditioning" takes over and cools the city down again.
Average Maximum Temperature: 63°F, 17°C
Average Minimum Tempreature: 50°F, 10°C
Average Temperature: 57°F, 14°C
Average Rainfall: 0.6 inches, 14.3 mm
Activities in the Social Program at ICOP include
- Welcome Reception – dress is Business attire/National dress
- Outing – dress is casual
- Banquet Dinner – dress is formal/evening wear/National dress.
Population
With a population of 776,000, San Francisco is the fourth largest city in the State of California with a population of 33,872,000. In population, California is the largest among the 50 States of the United States of America. The total U.S. population is 281.4 million.
Electric
120 volt, 60hz electricity is supplied throughout the U.S.
Entrance to Conference
Each delegate to the Conference will receive a name badge on registration. The badge will be your official pass and must be worn to obtain entry to all sessions and to social functions.
Special Food Requirements
Please notify the ICOP Registrar of any special food requirements you may have, for example religious, vegetarian, when making payment for your ICOP registration.
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