This page contains information on the following:
- Visa/Health
- Weather/Dress
- Flight Information
- Ground Transportation
- About Barcelona
For additional information, please contact events@eonetwork.org.
VIsa/Health
Visas
Visas are NOT required for passports of any of the following countries, regardless of purpose and/or length of stay in Spain: the European Union, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland.
For visits not exceeding ninety days, Visas are NOT required for:
Holders of valid passports issued by the following countries or dependencies:
Andorra, Anguilla, Argentina, Australia, Bermuda, Brazil, British National Overseas, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong SAR, Israel, Japan, Korean Republic, Liechtenstein, Macao SAR, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Montserrat, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Romania, San Marino, Singapore, St. Helena, The Caiman Islands, The Falklands Islands, The Virgin Islands, Turks & Caicos Islands, Uruguay, USA, Vatican City and Venezuela.
All nationalities not listed above need a Visa. The requirements for these vary according to nationality, passport or travel document used, purpose and duration of trip.
Health
There are no immunization regulations when entering Spain; however, be sure to familiarize yourself with the requirements of all countries through which you will travel. Check with your personal physician before your departure for any personal health needs. It is always a good idea to carry a description of your prescription medications in case they need to be refilled.
Dietary Restrictions
EO wishes to accommodate your dietary needs while you're with us. If you have any special needs or requirements, please fill out and fax the
dietary restriction form to +1.703.519.1864 or email it to events@eonetwork.org. If you suffer from severe food allergies, we encourage you to visit this Web site and consider purchasing food and travel-translation cards to effectively communicate your needs while traveling.
Weather/Dress
Weather
Average high and low temperatures by month and average precipitation are set out below:
|
Month |
Avg. High |
Avg. Low |
Avg. Precipitation. |
|
September/October |
75° F |
58° F |
3.5 in |
Dress
The dress code for all meetings during the event is business casual. The dress code for evening socials will be listed at least one month prior to the event.
Men's Dress Code Glossary
Casual - Khaki or comparable slacks, shirt, golf shirt
Business Casual - Nice slacks, collared shirts
Formal - Coat and tie, or suit
Women's Dress Code Glossary
Casual - Khaki or comparable slacks, skirt, shirt
Business Casual - Nice slacks, skirt, blouse
Formal - Nice dress, pantsuit, cocktail dress
Flight Information
Travel Times
Registration for the 2009 EO Barcelona University opens at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, 30 September 2009, with the Opening General Session beginning at 6 p.m. Please plan your flights accordingly. Departure flights may be arranged for anytime starting on Sunday, 4 October 2009.
Airport Information
El Prat, Barcelona's airport, is 13km (8 miles) from the city center.
The terminals at Barcelona Airport are organized in terms of airline carriers, not according to the destination or place of origin. The following international airlines operate from Terminal A: Aeroflot, Aerol’neas Argentinas, Air France, Alitalia, Alpi Eagles, Brussels Airlines, Continental Airlines, CSA Czech Airlines, Delta Airlines, Easyjet, Egyptair, Finnair, Germanwings, KLM, LOT, Lufthansa, Luxair, Meridiana, Monarch Airlines, Royal Air Maroc, Swiss International Air Lines Ltd, TAP Air Portugal, ThomsonFly, Transavia.com, Turkish Airlines and Ukraine International.
The following airlines operate from Terminal B: Aer Lingus, Air Berlin, Air Europa, Air France, Air Transat, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, Clickair, Continental Airways, El-Al Israel, Iberia, LTE International Airways, Lufthansa, Royal Air Maroc, SAS, Singapore Airlines, Spanair and TAP Portugal y Vueling Airlines.
Iberia's Madrid-Barcelona shuttle service and Iberia Regional flights operate from Terminal C.
For more information on El Prat,
click here.
Special Discount on Airfare
Continental Airlines is offering exclusive discounts of up to 18 percent on the lowest published fares for all members traveling to EO events anywhere in the world. For more information about this EO event discount, click here.
Ground Transportation
Airport Car Rental
There are five main companies offering car rental from within the Barcelona airport. You may find other car brokers or car-hire companies who are just off of the airport; however, the following companies can be found inside both Terminal B and Terminal C: Avis, Atesa, Europcar, Hertz, Solmar.
Taxis
Taxicabs are available outside all three airport terminals. The cost of a taxicab to the Hotel Arts is approximatley €30.
You can check fees at www.taxibarcelona.cat.
Limousine Services
Limousine services are available through The Golden Wheels, located within the Hotel Arts. Please feel free to contact them directly with any questions or to arrange for services. Click here to view the rates.
The Golden Wheels
http://www.thegoldenwheels.com
T:0034 93 224 70 34
F:0034 93 221 20 37
M:0034 607 693 985
email: trafico@thegoldenwheels.com and info@thegoldenwheels.com
Other Ground Transportation Options
You can book a private airport transfer online at Shuttle Direct. For more information, please visit the
Shuttle Direct Web site.
About Barcelona
Country: Spain
Population: 1,615,908
Time Zone: UTC/GMT +1 hour
Currency: Euro € (EUR)
Weights/Measures: Metric
Overview
On the shores of the Mediterranean, Barcelona is a dynamic city where people work hard and play hard. A city for architecture enthusiasts, food lovers and night owls, it is a pleasure for all the senses.
A walk through the Barri Gotic to La Catedral reveals the gothic legacies of Barcelona's medieval past. The city's famous museums, Museu Picasso, Fundació Joan Miró and Fundació Antoni Tàpie, pay homage to other artists who've left their artistic imprint here.
Life pulsates at high pressure through the streets of this energetic city. An economic powerhouse, Barcelona displays a zest for life, artistic genius and sense of style few cities can rival. It also seems to be in a continual state of change with the skyline constantly altering as various districts are being upgraded.
In this magnificent city of culinary creations, tourists build up quite an appetite after long days of monument-gazing. Traditional restaurants and outdoor seafood eateries sit right alongside the new wave of designer restaurants with avant-garde chefs.
Time Zone
UTC/GMT +1 hour
|
During the event, when it is noon in Barcelona on Wed, it will be: |
|
6 a.m. |
New York, NY, USA |
|
11 a.m. |
London, UK |
|
2 p.m. |
Dubai, UAE |
|
6 p.m. |
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
|
7 p.m. |
Tokyo, Japan |
|
8 p.m. |
Sydney, Australia |
Language
The official language of the 2009 EO Barcelona University is English. Catalan and Spanish are the official languages in Barcelona.
Currency and Money
Currency
The Euro is Spain's currency as in 14 other countries: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal and Slovenia.
You can change cash or travelers cheques in most major currencies without problems at virtually any bank or bureau de change (usually indicated by the word canvi/cambio).
Credit
Major cards such as Visa, MasterCard, Maestro and Cirrus are accepted throughout Spain.
VAT
Value-added tax, or VAT, is otherwise known as IVA. IVA is 7 percent on accommodation and restaurant prices and is usually included in quoted prices. On retail goods the IVA is 16 percent. IVA-free shopping is available in duty-free shops at all airports for people travelling between EU countries.
Non-EU residents are entitled to a refund of the 16 percent IVA on purchases costing more than €90.15 from any shop, if the goods are taken out of the EU within three months. Ask the shop for a cashback (or similar) refund form that shows the price and IVA paid for each item and identifies the vendor and purchaser. For more information on how to receive a refund, visit www.eurorefund.com
Tipping
As in most countries, tipping is not mandatory, but is very much appreciated for good service. Taxi drivers are typically given 5-10%. Although it is required by law for restaurants to include service charges, wait staff have come to expect a small gratuity on top of this charge. Small tips for hotel staff, especially luggage handlers, is appreciated for good service.
Electricity
The electrical supply in Spain is 220 volts (50 cycles). Power points are this style: 
Telephones
If you don't speak Spanish, you'll find it easier to use the telephone from your hotel room. Telephone calls from hotels are often expensive since hotels apply a surcharge on their outgoing calls.
On the street, phone booths (known as cabinas) have dialing instructions in English, but keep in mind that very few phone booths actually take coins. Instead, purchase a tarjeta telefónica (phone card) from a newsstand or tobacconist. If you need to make a lengthy overseas call, a locutorio (call center) is the best bet. Located throughout the Old Town, these call centers offer the best rates and booths are provided for privacy. Locutorios also sell phone cards supplied by private operators. When in Spain, the access number for an AT&T calling card is tel. 800/CALL-ATT. The access number for Sprint is tel. 800/888-0013. The international access code in Spain is 34.