General Information
About Singapore
Welcome to Singapore a vibrant cosmopolitan city with a unique blend of cultures, cuisine, arts and architecture. A gateway to the West, a portal to the East, Singapore has been an important trading and business hub in Southeast Asia for hundreds of years. It is a city of contrasts where the old and the new co-exist in harmony offering the visitor a feast for the senses. You will be impressed and reassured by the state of the art facilities and venues, world class accommodation and excellent infrastructure which have deservedly earned Singapore the accolade of ‘Top Business City in Asia’ (Time Magazine) for the fifth year running. A rich culture and heritage exist alongside this modern way of life, with colourful temples, secluded shrines and lush, tropical gardens dotted around the city.
Singapore has a population of 4 million comprising Chinese, Malays, Indians and Eurasians which has led to a rich and fascinating cityscape in vibrant areas like Little India, Chinatown and Arab Street. A unique experience of ‘Sky Dining’ is not to be missed where you can enjoy breathtaking views and sumptuous cuisine on the 70th floor of Singapore’s tallest hotel or on board a cable car from Mount Faber to Sentosa Island. Nature is also on your doorstep with Bukit Timah Nature Reserve close to the city. A truly unique place, your stay in Singapore will stay with you for many years to come.
TopAirfares
Get up to 20% discount with the Star Alliance network
The Star Alliance™ member airlines are pleased to be appointed as the Official Airline Network for the 27th International Epilepsy Congress.
Registered participants plus one accompanying person travelling to the event are automatically granted a discount of up to 20%, depending on the class of travel.
Participating airlines for this event are:
Air Canada
Asiana Airlines
Austrian Airlines
LOT Polish Airlines
Lufthansa
SWISS International Airlines
Scandinavian Airlines
Singapore Airlines
Spanair
TAP Portugal
THAI United
Simply call the reservation office of any participating Star Alliance member airline and quote the event code SQ003S7. Further information and details on local Booking Offices can be found on the Star Alliance website, after one enters the event code SQ003S7in the Delegate Log-In section; please click here
Discounts are offered on published business and economy class fares, excluding website/internet fares, senior and youth fares, group fares and Round the World fares.
Please note: For travel from Japan and New Zealand, special fares or discounts are offered by the participating airlines on their own network.
TopAirport and Transfers
Changi Airport is 19KM (12 miles) north east of downtown Singapore. The two terminals which are linked by a free shuttle service departs every minute.
Arrival and departure transfers by private cars will be available to book through a reputable company shortly.
Trains (MRT).Budget rides to the city (SGD$1.80) can be made on the Singapore Mass Rapid Transit (SMRT) services. The MRT station is located in Terminal 2 and is also accessible via the Skytrain from Terminal 1. Change trains after two stops at Tanah Merah Station. The city bound train is at the other side of the platform. It takes 27 minutes to reach the city.
- 05:31 - 23:18 (Mon - Sat)
- 05:59 - 23:18 (Sun/Public Holiday)
Taxis take about 25 minutes to the city centre and will cost between SGD$20 and SGD$25. Between midnight and 6am these prices increase by 50%. Limousine taxis also operate from the arrival halls costing a flat rate of SGD$35 to any destination in Singapore. Surcharge of SGD$10 is applied for each extra stop en route to the final destination. The limousine taxi service operates from 6am to 2am daily.
Shuttle bus to any hotel in Singapore (except Le Meridien Changi & hotels in Sentosa) runs every 15-30 minutes and costs SGD$7. Tickets can be obtained from the Shuttle Counter in the terminals.
- 06:00-02:00 daily
Bus terminals are located in the basement of both airport terminals and exact change (less than SGD$2) is needed for your trip. Change can be procured from the Money Changers in the arrival hall of both terminals. Transfer takes approximately 1 hour.
- 06:00-00:00 daily
Car Rental is available in both terminals where you will also need to purchase an Electronic Road Pricing Cash Card for the road toll system which operates in Singapore. Both Avis and Hertz operate from the airport. Cost can be obtained from each company.
TopAirport Departure Tax
Changi Airport charges SGD$15 Airport Departure Tax, or Passenger Service Charge, the price of which is usually included in the cost of your air ticket. Alternatively, you may buy coupons in airline offices, travel agents and some hotels, or pay at check-in.
Topbest buys
Singapore is synonymous with shopping and is a reputation well deserved - you can buy virtually anything you want. Except for department stores haggling is the order of the day. Best shopping areas are along Orchard Road, North of Bras Basah Road, New Bridge Road and South Bridge Road. Shopping hours are usually 10:00-21:00/22:00 seven days a week.
The Great Singapore Sale!Whether you’re a certified shopaholic or just in need of some retail therapy, get ready for an island-wide sale unlike any other. From downtown Orchard Road and Marina Bay to the shops in the heartlands, enjoy 8 weeks of shopping maddness!
For more information please click here
Business Hours
Business hours are normally 0830hrs-1700hrs. There are no public holidays during the dates of the conference.
TopCertificate of attendance
A Certificate of Attendance will be available for all delegates via email. You can request a hard copy certificate but these are only available after the conference.
TopClimate
At one degree above the Equator, Singapore has a constant tropical climate year-round. Daytime temperatures in July average 84 degrees Fahrenheit (29 degrees Celsius) and humidity is always high. All public buildings, indoor restaurants and taxis are air conditioned. Rainfall is also to be expected at this time of year.
TopCommunications
E-mail and Internet
Internet facilities are state-of-the-art, providing high-quality communications with the rest of the world. 'Cyber cafes' are abundant. Internet connections are available in most hotels, many of which offer Wi-Fi access.
Telephone
International access code is +65 and the outgoing code is 001 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 001 44 for the United Kingdom). Public phones are good for local and international calls; they take credit cards or phonecards, which can be bought at newspaper kiosks and Telecom shops. Calls made from hotels are free of any surcharges. Several local mobile phone operators use GSM 900/1800 networks. Check with your local network provider to ascertain if your phone is compatible.
Congress Secretariat
27th International Epilepsy Congresss
7 Priory Hall, Stillorgan, Dublin 18, Ireland
Ph: +353 1 205 6720
Fax: +353 1 205 6156
Email info@epilepsycongress.org
www.epilepsysingapore2007.org
www.epilepsycongress.org Top
Credit cards & atms
International credit cards are widely accepted in hotels, restaurants and retail shops. There are over 1,000 ATMs located throughout Singapore. It is best to check with your bank to determine if your card will work overseas.
TopCurrency
Singapore's unit of currency is the Singapore dollar (Sing $) = 100 cents. Traveler's cheques and currency may be exchanged in the baggage claim area at Changi Airport (at a reasonable rate) or at any hotel (at a less favourable rate). Singapore features dozens of Government-authorised 'money changers' also located at Changi Airport and major shopping centres. They offer competitive rates and accept traveler's cheques as well as major currencies.
TopCustoms
Singapore has a very low crime rate and very severe penalties for those who break the law. The death penalty is imposed on those prosecuted for carrying or trafficking illegal drugs. Chewing gum is illegal and may not be carried into the country. Smoking is widely discouraged and is illegal in public places.
Travelers arriving from countries other than Malaysia
are entitled to duty free concessions of 1 litre spirits, 1 litre wine
and 1 litre beer. There is no duty free concession on cigarettes and it
is forbidden to bring more than 2 packs (not cartons, single packs) of
cigarettes into the country. For a full list of prohibited items please
go to
www.customs.gov.sg/travel/travel1.html#Prohibited_Items
dietary matters
Most special dietary requirements can be catered to by giving advance notice to your hotel and the 27th International Epilepsy Congress Secretariat.
TopSingapore Food Festival
The annual iconic food event of Singapore is back on 29 June to 31 July 2007! Like past years, let yourself be taken on a gastronomic journey of Singapore's taste and cultural diversity. Showcasing the gourmet finesse of Singaporean cuisine from authentic hawker fare to modern ethnic food, the Singapore Food Festival is an event not to be missed.
For more information please click here
Topelectricity
Electrical current is 220V, 50HZ. A three pin square plug is the type used in Singapore.
Tophealth regulations
Standards of health and hygiene are excellent in Singapore. Visitors arriving from yellow fever endemic zones must present a yellow fever health certificate. The risk of catching malaria in Singapore is slim; however it is wise to check the current situation and any vaccination requirements with your doctor when planning your trip.
TopLanguage
The national language of Singapore is Malay, while English is the language of administration and commerce. Tamil and Chinese are also official languages. The official language of the conference is English.
Topliability & insurance
The congress organisers will not accept liability for personal injury or loss/damage to property/belongings of participants or accompanying persons, either before, during or following the congress, tours or their stay in Singapore. It is therefore recommended that participants arrange their own personal health, accident and travel insurance.
TopMap of Singapore
To see the map click here
Topreligion
There are many different religions practiced in Singapore of which Confucian, Taoist, Buddhism, Christian, Hindu and Muslim are the more common.
Topreplacement badges
Please note that you will be charged a fee of US$50 for a replacement badge. Please ensure that you keep your badge with you at all times.
Toptax & service charge
There is a 3% Goods and Services Tax imposed in major shops and department stores, 10% service charge in restaurants and a 1% government tax is also added in hotels.
Toptime zone
During the time of the 27th IEC, Singapore is +7 hours ahead of GMT.
Toptipping
Tipping is not customary in Singapore. Restaurants automatically add a 10% service charge and a 5% goods and service tax (GST) to the bill.
Topvisas
Visitors to Singapore must posses a valid passport with a minimum validity of six months. Visa requirements can be viewed at the following link
http://app.ica.gov.sg/travelers/entry/visa_requirements.asp
It is also advised that you enquire at your nearest Singaporean embassy about visa requirements before traveling.
Topwhat to wear
As Singapore is a tropical country, light loose clothing is advisable. Casual wear is perfectly acceptable but as in other countries more formal wear may be required for some restaurants/clubs.
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