Evan: You should bring enough cash to pay for the taxi from the airport which is around $25. Some taxis here do accept credit cards but you have to ask before hand. The way it works is that you go to the taxi booth which is close to the luggage area. You tell them where you are going and they will give you a voucher stating how much you should be charged. The rates to different hotels are fixed. If you arrive at night, they usually charge an extra fee for each piece of luggage. You pay the taxi driver directly. Let me know if you have any other questions. By the way, walking from the hotel in Miramar to el Caribe Hilton is not far (around 15 minutes or less). However, temperatures here are very tropical - 80 to 90 F - and sometimes is very humid too even though there a sea breeze blowing almost all the time. Regards. Eduardo Diaz ISOCPR -----Original Message----- From: na-discuss-bounces@atlarge-lists.icann.org [mailto:na-discuss-bounces@atlarge-lists.icann.org] On Behalf Of Robert Guerra Sent: Thursday, June 21, 2007 12:07 PM To: Evan Leibovitch Cc: At-Large Travel Staff; NA Discuss Subject: Re: [NA-Discuss] Updates to Travel Information for San Juan Evan: I've been discussing some of you the same questions with a group of colleagues who have been awarded travel fellowships to attend the meeting. I'll try to answer your questions below.. On 21-Jun-07, at 10:48 AM, Evan Leibovitch wrote:
1) Will the per diem to be given out be in cash or by cheque? This is relevant since I am Canadian and don't normally possess much US currency. I suppose I will need to have some in advance of my travel, at least for the taxi. Please advise on whether I will be getting cash that will be usable immediately for expenses or if I need to bring any significant amounts of US cash with me.
If i'm not mistaken, Nick mentioned that the per diems were going to be given to us either Sat or Sunday (at the NA meeting). The amount given to each of us would depend on the dates that were ok'd by icann. Practically, this means that you should try to bring enough cash for 1-2 days. Though not needed, keep receipts for items and/or services purchased - such as taxi Taxi seems to be 20-25 USD to get from the airport to the hotel we are all at.
2) I note that the distance between the hotels is more than just a few blocks. How late will the shuttle be running?
The distance is "walkable", but it is not close. There will be at least 2 shuttles a day - one in the morning, and one in the afternoon/ evening to bring the ALAC folk as well as the fellowship recipients from the Miramar to the Carribe Hilton.
3) Regarding Internet access -- while the mail from Nick said:
Access to internet from your room is not included in your room costs under ICANN's arrangement with the hotel and is not reimburseable after the event as the network at the meeting is free and available 24 hours per day. The hotel website at http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/sjumr-courtyard-san-juan- miramar/ indicates that Internet is free. If it isn't, having 24/7 access at the Hilton is great for people staying there, but not at all useful for those at the Courtyard. Please clarify the situation.
The Miramar's website seems to indicate that wireless internet access is free. This would be great, and better than the Carribe - where internet access will only be free in the ICANN conference area. A colleague from Moldova is arriving to our hotel today, and she'll let us know about the internet and what's available around our hotel. I'm arriving tomorrow (13:30 San Juan time) and will send a post to let you and others departing sat know what to expect /find. regards Robert _______________________________________________ NA-Discuss mailing list NA-Discuss@atlarge-lists.icann.org http://atlarge-lists.icann.org/mailman/listinfo/na-discuss_atlarge-lists.ica nn.org --- Draft MoU with ICANN: http://www.icannwiki.org/NA_RALO_MOU Draft Operating Principles: http://www.icannwiki.org/NA_RALO_OP Draft Code of Conduct: http://www.icannwiki.org/NARALO_Code_of_Conduct