Final Program [International Conference on AIDS (14th: 2002: Barcelona, Spain)]

General Information for your Stay
in Barcelona

Banks
Banks are open from 8.30 to 14.oo00 from Monday to Friday.
Climate
Barcelona has a Mediterranean climate, enjoying mild winters
and warm summers. July and August can get quite hot, with
temperatures of 25 to 30 degrees Celsius, and humidity always
a factor because of the sea.
Credit Cards, Currency and Exchange
Spanish currency is now the Euro, which works on the decimal
system with one Euro equaling ioo cents. All major
international credit cards are accepted. Foreign currency and
traveler's checks can be exchanged in Spain at banks and
foreign exchange offices. Cash-point machines accepting
major international credit cards and charge cards are available
at most banks.
Drinking Water
Tap water is purified in Spain and therefore safe to drink for
people in good health. Many people do, however, still drink
bottled water because they prefer the taste and it is not
expensive.
Electrical Power
A 2-pin round adapter is necessary for electrical appliances.
The electric current used is 220 volts/50hz. Those coming from
North America with 11ov/6ohz appliances should be sure to
use an appropriate transformer.
Language __
Spanish and Catalan (the language of this autonomous region)
are the two main languages spoken in Barcelona. English and,
to a lesser extent, French are also fairly widely spoken, especially in tourist areas, and information, menus etc. are nearly
always available in English, French and German. If you make a
little effort at speaking Spanish or Catalan, you will find the
locals more than willing to help you along with a few gestures.
Liability and Insurance
The Conference organizers cannot accept liability for personal
injuries, loss or damage to property belonging to Conference
participants (or their accompanying persons), either during or
as a result of the Conference. Please check the validity of your
own insurance.
Urgent Medical Services
Spain has a national health service which can be used by all
citizens of European Union member countries carrying an upto-date E111i form. Hotels will contact doctors and dentists, or
they can be found listed in the telephone directory.
Useful telephone numbers:

Metric System
Spain uses the metric system. Visitors will find weather
temperature reports given in degrees Celsius, petrol is sold by
the liter, as is milk and water, and grocery items are sold in
grams and kilograms. Distances and road speeds are posted in
kilometers and kilometers per hour.
Shopping
Normal trading hours are Monday to Saturday from 9.00 to 13.30
and 16.30 to 20.00. However, in the city center and shopping
malls, many shops stay open all day from 1o.oo to 21.oo00, or even
later in some tourist spots such as Maremagnum.
Taxis
Taxis in Barcelona are abundant and reasonably priced. They
may be ordered by phone, picked up at authorized taxi stands
or flagged down in the street. Always check that the meter is
running. Taxis must be paid in cash and in Euros.
Telecommunications
Spain has a sophisticated telecommunications network.
International dialing and full fax and electronic mail facilities
are widely available. Phone cards and cell phones are readily
available. For international calls dial oo.
Time Zone
In July, Spain is 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)
and 6 hours ahead of Eastern Daylight Savings Time, USA.
Tipping
In restaurants, hotels, taxis, hairdressers and so on, gratuity is
not included in the price. Although optional, tips are readily
accepted and a general guideline is between 5% and 1o% of
the bill, depending on the quality of the service. Hotel and
airport porters will take, depending on the luggage you have, i
to 3 Euros.
Public Transport and Car Rental
Barcelona has a good, comprehensive public transport
network, with special rate tickets available on bus, metro and
local trains. All delegates of the Conference and
accompanying persons will be given a io-journey bus and
metro ticket upon registration and further tickets may be
purchased easily at metro stations. Free parking is very limited
in the city center and car parks are expensive, so car rental is
only really recommended for excursions outside the city. To
rent a car, drivers must be in possession of a valid driving
license, held for at least one year, and must be over 21 years of
age or 23 years of age depending on the car rental firm.
The Spanish drive on the right-hand side of the road and use
internationally recognized road signs. Unleaded petrol costs
around EUR 0.73 a liter and diesel costs around EUR 0.68 a liter.
VAT
There is a variable value added tax (IVA) of 7% to 16% applied to
most goods and services, but most prices you see will include it.
When it is not included, this should be clearly indicated.

Emergencies
AIDS Line
Poison Information

902 111 444
900 212 222
91 562 0420

272 Final Programe