Welcome to Finland
Welcome to Finland; the land of thousands of frozen lakes during the winter, midnight sun during the summer and high technology throughout the year!
Remember to bring warm clothes!
If you are new to our country, you might want to visit a few general information sites
first. For example Virtual Finland is a huge
collection of information including maps and even a chance to learn a few words
of Finnish. Another site, Finnfacts,
provides a more business oriented view of Finland.
The conference will be held in Saariselkä. Those participants staying longer
my also enjoy a variety of available outdoor and indoor activities. For more
information, see http://www.saariselka.fi/index.php?id=5&la=en
Airport
You should book your flight to Ivalo. Ivalo airport is located 25 km (16 miles) from Saariselkä. A bus departs from the airport after each Finnair flight. The route of the bus goes through Saariselkä, with a stop located right in front of Hotel Riekonlinna (€ 7). The bus service is coordinated with the flights such that in case of delay the bus waits for the arrival of the plane. Taxi from Ivalo airport to Hotel Riekonlinna costs € 35. Additionally, there are several rental car companies (Avis, Europcar, Hertz, Budget Rent, Scandia Rent) located at Ivalo airport.
IVALO AIRPORT
tel. +358-16-675 8610
fax +358-16-675 8693
Internet: http://www.ilmailulaitos.fi/airport_ivalo
During the conference, there are flights operated by Finnair from Helsinki-Vantaa International airport to Ivalo as follows:
| Date | Time | |||
| Wed Mar 14th | 11:10 | 13:35 | 17:15 | |
| Thu Mar 15th | 11:25 | 12:35 | 17:15 | 20:15 |
| Fri Mar 16th | 11:10 | 17:15 | ||
The Finnair flights from Ivalo to Helsinki are:
| Date | Time | |||
| Fri Mar 16th | 13:20 | 19:25 | ||
| Sat Mar 17th | 09:40 | 13:35 | 17:45 | 18:10 |
| Sun Mar 18th | 09:40 | 12:05 | 15:35 | 19:25 |
The flight time is approximately 1 h 40 min. You may also find direct charter flights from several European countries to Ivalo with a less frequent schedule.
Other Possibilities for Access
Saariselkä can also be reached by bus from Rovaniemi (closest train connection to Helsinki) or from other major Finnish cities. However, flying to Ivalo is recommended to all international participants.
Money Matters
The currency of Finland is Euro (EUR, €). You might want to check out the official exchange rates (Bank of Finland) or for example Yahoo's currency converter.
The shops, restaurants and hotels will most likely accept all major credit cards such as: Visa, MasterCard, Diner's Club, American Express etc.
There are also plenty of ATM machines that you can use for withdrawing cash with your credit card.
Time and Weather
The time in Finland is GMT+2. Please see for instance World Time Server for timezone comparisons and current time in Finland. At the time of the conference, day and night will be about equally long.
In Finland there are four distinct seasons. You will be arriving in winter. The chances are that it will be cold (-15...-5° Centigrade; 5...20° Fahrenheit). Check out the local weather forecast for more accurate information.
All indoor spaces will be comfortably warm regardless of the weather. Nevertheless, Remember to bring warm clothes!
Electricity, Phones and Mobile Phones
The electricity in Finland is 230 V (50 Hz). The socket is the same as in the continental EU countries. At least British and American participants need an adapter. Additional information about electrical and phone plugs and adapters as well as mobile phones can be found at www.kropla.com.
Language Issues
Whilst Finn's are very proficient in their own language, the majority of the population speak fluent English and often also some Swedish and German. The official language for the conference is English.
Visa
Finland is a member of the European Union and visas are not required for citizens of EU-countries and many other countries. A valid passport is required. Participants requiring a visa for entry to Finland are strongly advised to make their application in their home country at least three months before intended date of travel. For more information, please contact your nearest embassy or consulate of Finland or consult your travel agency.
Vaccinations
There are no vaccination requirements for any international travelers.
Eating and Drinking
The conference will provide all food and some refreshment during the conference. This will include lunch and dinner with some intermediate snacks, breakfast will be available at your hotel.
It is safe to drink tap water anywhere in Finland. You don't have to buy bottled water unless you want to.
