On the Street

• High crime areas should be identified and avoided.
• Clutch briefcases or handbags tightly. Place wallets in front trouser or inside jacket pockets.
• Keep a low profile in terms of behavior, voice and dress. Never walk down deserted streets.
• Always be mindful of your surroundings.
• Avoid street vendors. Shop in reputable well-known stores.
• When making a purchase, select and remove only the credit card or bank- note(s) needed for that transaction -without flashing other signs of wealth.
• Avoid political or religious conversations with persons you do not know well. Steer clear of any public demonstrations. Do not criticize local customs or make comments agreeing with criticism of them.
• Don’t stop to give directions to pedestrians or motorists.
• If accosted by persons in a vehicle turn and walk in the direction opposite to the car’s travel and seek out people in well-Iit places.

What You Should Know

History: San Gabriel — Birthplace of the Los Angeles Region. The San Gabriel Mission District is home to San Gabriel Mission Arcángel founded in 1771 as the 4th mission in the chain of 21 California missions established by Fr. Junipero Serra.

Climate: San Gabriel boasts an average daytime temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit, enabling visitors to enjoy San Gabriel’s rich cultural heritage 365 days a year.

Location: San Gabriel is located in the heart of the San Gabriel Valley, just 12 miles from the Los Angeles Civic Center.

Travel Directions:
From Los Angeles, take the 10 freeway east
From the south, take 5 north to 605 north to 210 or 10 west
From the north, take the 101 south or 134 east to the 210 east freeway
From the east, take the 10 or 210 west freeways
From the west, take 134 east to the 210 easts freeway

Accommodation

Port Vila has a large range of resorts, hotels, lodges and other forms of accommodation to suit all budgets and other requirements. Please see the Accommodation section of the Conference Website.

Touring
There are many local tours available, including diving, snorkelling, sailing, fishing, kayaking and cultural tours. For more information go to www.tcsp.com/spto/export/sites/SPTO/destinations/vanuatu/activities.shtml or http://www.vanuatutourism.com/vanuatu/export/sites/VTO/fr/activities/tours.html As an example of what is available some internet links to tour sites are provided below under the heading “Tourism and Holiday Information”.

Currency
The local legal tender is the vatu. Most credit cards are accepted in hotels, larger restaurants and some stores.

Business Hours
Shops are generally open from 8.00am to 11.30am and from 1.30pm to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, and 8.00am to 12.00 noon on Saturday.
Tipping No tipping and no bargaining apply in Vanuatu.

Languages
French, English and Bislama are the three official languages. In addition, there are over one hundred local languages spoken throughout the islands.

Where Do I Stay?
Grand Canyon hotels are typically booked 8 months to a year in advance for summer. All hotels inside the park at both the North and South Rim are administered by the concessionaire, Xanterra Parks & Resorts (888/297-2757; www.grandcanyonlodges.com). If your trip is less than 3 months away, you are unlikely to be able to secure lodging inside the park. Your best bet will be to look at the park’s “gateway communities” (cities and towns located nearby) for your Grand Canyon lodging.

South Rim Gateway Communities
Tusayan is located an easy 7 miles (10 minutes) from Grand Canyon South Rim. Here is where you’ll find our preferred hotel property, the Best Western Grand Canyon Squire Inn. This Grand Canyon hotel offers the most for families, like an on-site play center with a 6-lane bowling alley, video arcade, and billiard tables. The Squire offers both fine dining and family style restaurants, as well as a cocktail lounge, gift shop, outdoor pool and Jacuzzi, workout room, salon, gift shop, even a cowboy museum.

Surfing Recommendations

Costa Rica is not known for offering tremendous size in its waves, but rather, consistent head high surf at any time of the year. Many people think that the best way of surfing in Costa Rica is to rent a car and try to follow the surf. This, with very few exceptions, is the best way to spend a lot of unnecessary time in your car and miss the waves. Costa Rica’s surf areas are defined by location and seasons which make surfing in Costa Rica very user friendly.

The Northern Pacific Coast is generally the most consistent destination from December ~ April. During this season, strong offshore winds combine with ideal swell directions to put breaks like Witches Rock, Playa Negra and Playa Grande in perfect form. The Central and Southern Pacific Coasts are generally best between May ~ November as the south swell season creeps in while the Caribbean Coast tends to pick up the best conditions from November ~ March. These are certainly generalizations which are by no means, guaranteed. However, using these characterizations is the best way to plan your vacation.

How To Get To Hotels From Train Station :

a) Branicki Hotel
You have to leave the train station through the main door (opposite the train platforms) and take the city bus line 1 (leave the bus at 3rd bus stop at Al.Pilsudskiego Street). Then you have to return about 200 meters and turn left in Malmeda Street and after 20 meters again turn left in Zamenhoffa Street. Walk about 100 meters and you will find hotel on the right hand side. Beware of pickpocketers in the bus!!!

b) Cristal Hotel
You have to leave the train station through the main door (opposite the train platforms) and take the city bus line 10 (leave the bus at 2nd bus stop at Plac Uniwersytecki). Then you have to return about 200 meters down the Liniarskiego Street. You can’t miss the hotel. Beware of pickpocketers in the bus!!!