General Information


* Location

The workshop will take place in Eilat, the southern port city located a 5 hour drive away from Tel Aviv and a 4-1/2 hour drive from Jerusalem. Busses are available from both cities, as well as flights (see Travel Information). The meetings will be held at The Neptune Hotel, North Beach, Eilat, Israel. Phone number to connect to the workshop in the hotel: 972-7-6369369. Useful URL sites on Eilat: http://eilat/net and http://inisrael.com/tour/eilat/index.html.


* Social program

There will be plenty of time to see the local sites. There will be an informal reception on Tuesday night, April 4, an organized day conference tour of the Eilat area (Saturday, April 8), and a festive closing dinner on Monday night, April 10. (A fee will be charged for accompanying persons to these events.)


* Registration

Registration fee for early registration, (until March 10, 2000) is $150 for the second part (the ISF Workshop, April 9-11) and $400 for the two parts combined (April 5-7 and 9-11). The early registration fees for students will be half the above amount. Late registration will cost an additional $50. The fees include the informal reception, the festive dinner and refreshments throughout the workshops. Separate payments will be required for the tour (April 8), and for accompanying people joining the festive dinner. The fees are waived for invited speakers (but not for their company).

Please return registration and accommodation forms along with payment to the workshop secretary (address on registration form). Early registration is strongly advised in order to guarantee accommodation at the hotels, however it will also be possible to register at the workshop itself throughout its duration.


* Accommodations and services

A block of rooms has been reserved at the Neptune Hotel (5-star) and at the Galei Eilat Hotel (3-star) for a few days before, during and after the conference period, April 3-13. Telephone number: 972-7-6369369. The Galei Eilat Hotel is situated next door to the Neptune Hotel. Telephone number: 972-7-6367444. The Neptune Hotel, situated on the beach of the Red Sea, hosts a swimming pool, tennis courts, sauna and fitness gymnasium. Participants and accompanying persons are welcome to use the facilities (some are for a fee) upon request. The Neptune Hotel's URL site: Neptune Hotel.

Hotel Prices: The price of a room at the Neptune Hotel for double occupancy is $66.00 and single occupancy is $53.00.

The price of a room at the Galei Eilat Hotel for double occupancy is $46.00, single occupancy is $37.00 and three people in one room is $63.00. If needed, please contact us for childrens' rates. The above prices include a full Israeli breakfast. Lunches and dinners are at the participants free choice. There are many restaurants specializing in varied cuisine to fit every budget at easy walking distance from the hotels.

Payment for accommodation will be by the participant directly to the hotel. The participant is also personally responsible for any extra hotel charges that may incur (e.g. room service, laundry, telephone, etc.).

It is possible to stay for a few days before and after the workshop at the hotels in Eilat for the same special workshop rate depending upon room availability. Rooms can be guaranteed only if reserved well enough in advance.

Computer service: Computer service at the workshop will be available for email only. This service will not be available on Tuesday, April 11, from 12:00 noon.

Foreign and local currency: International credit cards will work in all automatic teller machines (bank-o-mat). Currency can also be exchanged in the bank at Ben-Gurion International Airport, in the hotels and in any city bank. The approximate exchange rate is US$1 = 4.2NIS, 1DM = 2.1NIS.


* Places of interest in and around Eilat

Eilat is situated on the great African rift and hosts many natural points of interest. Amram's pillars, Coral beach (Coral deposits and multi-coloured fish abound in this underwater nature reserve. Skin-diving equipment for hire.), Ein nefatim (A small spring flows at the foot of this waterfall attracting many animals from the area.), Hai bar (A twentieth-century Noah's Ark which houses animals in danger of extinction, and are among the rarest in the world.), International bird-watching centre, Red canyon, Solomon's pillars and the Timna valley. There is a beautiful underwater observatory, and a dolphin reef where you can dive with dolphins, enjoy nature films or watch dolphins and sea-lions being trained. Sites on Eilat http://eilat.net and http://inisrael.com/tour/eilat/net/index.html.

Climate: The weather at the beginning of April is generally warm at noon during the day and cool in the early morning and evening. There is an average of 4 rainy days per winter in the Eilat area. In Jerusalem it can get quite cold (even snow), so bring a warm coat if you plan any trips to this area.

Average temperature ranges: Jerusalem 12-20.5C, Tel-Aviv/Rehovot 13-22C, Eilat 16.5-29.5C.

Travel: Arrival to Eilat is independently at your choice. Some European cities have direct charter flights to Eilat. (If you encounter difficulties in reserving a connecting flight to Eilat, we can make a reservation for you from here on Arkia airlines.) There will be a conference bus travelling from central Israel to Eilat. Please see the travel form if you would like to use this service.

Tourist's Guide to Survival in Israel: To be prepared for the Israeli mode of communication, you may like to read the Israel survival guide (...and don't take it too seriously!)