General Information
Time Difference
In June Greece is seven hours behind AUS EST.
Visas
All foreign visitors entering Greece must be in possession of a passport or other travel documents endorsed and valid for Greece. For very few foreign nationalities an entry visa to Greece is required. For further details, please contact the Greek Embassy or Consulate. Australian passport holders do not require a Visa. For those participating in the Turkey Pre Conference Tour A visa is required, which is valid for up to three months, and can be obtained from the point of entry. Visas are also required for those travelling on the Post Conference Tour to Egypt. For any further information please contact Travelcall.
Currency
The monetary unit used in Greece as in all Europe is the 'Euro'. Foreign currency or travellers' cheques can be freely exchanged at banks, hotels and the airports. An automatic teller machines is located at the entrance of conference hotel, and also in central locations within the village of Pythagorion, Vathy Samos and other major centres. Credit Cards are readily acceptable at most restaurants, shops and at the conference hotel. Delegates will require additional currencies if going to Turkey for longer than the day trip to Ephesus and Kusadasi, Egypt and Bulgaria.
Weather
The weather in Greece in early June is usually a warm average of 24-32 degrees C. Samos being in the north can be a little cooler particularly in the evenings. Delegates are advised that on occasions greater variations occur and provision for both cooler and much warmer temperatures is strongly advised. Cooling breezes can be a welcome weather feature during the day's heat, but may necessitate a jacket on cooler days, in the mountainous areas and the evenings. Unexpected conditions can occur so Delegates should come prepared.
Registration Fees
Delegate registration fees include the following: All Professional sessions; Welcome Reception, Cultural Evening, and the Conference Dinner. A Delegate may have one registered Accompanying Person, whose bookings are made as a part of the Delegate registration. No separate accounting, documentation or correspondence will be issued for Accompanying Persons or guests Accompanying Persons registration fees include the following: All Professional sessions when accompanied by a Delegate, Welcome Reception, Cultural Evening, and the Conference Dinner, plus eligibility to participate in other scheduled tours and workshops. Delegates wishing to purchase additional tickets for conference events for children and guests who are not registered for the conference may do so, at the prices set out in this brochure. Full payment of all Registration Fees and during Conference tours is required at the time of booking, plus the equivalent of one night's accommodation and $1500 per person for each of any pre or post conference tour booked. Early bird bookings close on 13 February 2009. The balance of payment for the entire booking is due and payable by 13 February 2009. Bookings after 13 February 2009 require payment in full at the time of booking.
Professional Development Points
Greek/Australian International Legal & Medical Conference may qualify you for continuing professional development and education points. Certificates of attendance will be issued on request to all Delegates attending the Conference. Many responses to applications by the Conference to learned bodies are yet to be received however at the time of printing NSW Bar has awarded an allocation of 6 CLE points, LIV & LSNSW have advised that if this educational activity is relevant to your immediate or long term needs in relation to your professionaldevelopment and practice of law, then you can claim one unit for each hour of attendance. RANZCOG will recognize individual applications. Please contact your relevant professional body for updates.
Travel
Singapore Airlines has been appointed International carrier for the conference air travel. They offer the most direct flights to Greece, and for those looking to break the journey great Stopover Deals in Singapore. Within Greece air travel will be by Aegean or Olympic Airlines. Travelcall as the Conference's appointed travel agent has made block bookings at advantageous rates for travel to and from the conference and tours. All travel requests and accommodation bookings should be made on the enclosed Registration form. As each passenger will have individual needs, which will ultimately affect the cost of international air fares from Australia are not included in the brochure. You are urged to contact Ros Proposch at Travelcall (Melbourne Ph: (03) 9867-1800. Her email address is ros@travelcall.com.au IMPORTANT - Early booking avoids disappointing compromises.
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend that you take out Travel Insurance at the time of initial booking to cover the entire period of your time away. Contact Travelcall for details of insurance cover best suited to you.
Transfers
Samos is relatively well serviced with flights from Athens and ferries from Turkey. The airport is a short distance from the Conference venue. A good taxi service is available from the airport and the port. Booked group transfers will not be routinely offered for this conference, except pre and post Conference tours. Delegates are asked to advise of their anticipated arrival time, and in the event that flights have a very large number of delegates onboard, consideration will be given to a shuttle bus for those flights. Delegates requiring a private transfer are asked to contact the Secretariat to make bookings.
Accommodation
The Doryssa Seaside Resort has been chosen as the conference venue and is a quality resort. It provides true Greek hospitality in relatively compact attractively landscaped grounds. The resort is comfortable walk from the village of Pythagorion, and is less than 2 km from the Samos International airport. Built right on the beach, the resort is set out to recreate a traditional Samos village complete with church and village square, but with all the facilities that we have been able to provide you with in the past. It has modern facilities and excellent accommodation in a variety of standards that is all very family friendly. The main building provides very attractive and comfortable rooms in three floors with lifts to all levels and few if any stairs. Rooms within this area are modern minimalist in décor with either sea or mountain views. The standard rooms in this area all have twin or queen size beds, fridge, international telephone access, internet as both WIFI and cable connection, flat screen TV, showers cubicles (no bath), substantial vanity units, hairdryers etc and the majority of rooms have private balconies. This area also has junior suites (similar design but more space, a couch area, larger balcony and with shower over the bath and a separate toilet area) and there are also rooms with disability access. The Village Bungalows are grouped in traditional cobbled streetscapes, with ground and 1st floor bungalows available. Rooms are more spacious than the standard rooms in the main building, and are again minimalist in décor, offering a relaxing tranquillity. Each of the bungalows is individually designed and no two are the same, however all have equivalent facilities, have either twin or queen size beds, fridge, flat screen
TV, terrace for ground floor bungalows and balcony for upper levels, international phone and internet access. All of the bungalows have bathrooms with the shower over the bath and fixed screens. With the exception of the two bungalows with disability access the bungalows would not be suitable for anyone with mobility issues. Almost all the bungalows have the additional provision for a single sofa bed if required. Given the cobbled street style layout, the bungalows are spread out across the resort, but an easy walk from all resort facilities. All accommodation offers air-conditioning and heating that can be individually adjusted. Mobile phone coverage is available and reception is fairly good. There are two attractive restaurants and three bars, pool bar and a kafeneon offering a variety in Greek and international cuisine. Room rates include breakfast as a smorgasbord in the two restaurants. The Shopping Square includes a boutique, souvenir and jewelry shop, a mini-market, and a shop specializing in Greek and Cretan products. The mini market stocks a range of food, soft drinks, pharmacy and beach related items. Additional requirements are readily available in Pythagorion which offers a good variety of services. Sporting facilities include a sandy beaches, swimming pools, and children's playground. For those requiring more activity there are also tennis courts, facilities for table tennis, beach volley ball and mini golf. On the beach there is a variety of water activities are available at delegate's cost. There are ATM facilities in the hotel complex, in addition reception will change foreign currency and they accept all major credit cards. All costs can be charged to the room except the mini market. Internet access is available but limited in facilities, if your require regular access, more than e-mail access etc then it is strongly suggested you bring your own lap top. Facilities do not provide for conducting extensive private business. Please advise of any special needs re diet, physical disability etc that need to be considered in planning to ensure your comfort and enjoyment of the conference and associated events. Block bookings have been made to secure advantageous rates. Accommodation bookings can only be made through the Secretariat and the hotel will not accept direct or agent bookings. The first night's accommodation is payable as a deposit at the time of booking (if during the early-bird booking period). The entire balance is payable on 13th February 2009. Bookings made after 13th February require payment in full at the time of booking. Additional items expenditure by Guests at their hotel will be charged to their room account, and must be settled with the hotel prior to departure.
Social Programme
Payment for all tours during the conference must be made in full at the time of booking. Tours are all privately arranged solely for this conference and must achieve minimum numbers to proceed.
Pre and Post Conference Tours
Pre and post conference tours are all privately arranged and are designed specifically with a view to best meeting Delegates' interests. All have a minimum of 35 persons required to operate and in some cases strict maximum numbers. If these numbers are not reached the private tours arranged for the conference will not be viable. If this occurs Delegates will be advised as soon as possible. Should a tour be cancelled all monies for these tours will be refunded without an administration fee.
Conference Secreteriat
All enquires should be directed to the conference secretariat:
Jenny Crofts Consulting 11th Greek/Australian
International Legal & Medical Conference
41 Davison Street,
Richmond 3121
Victoria, Australia
Phone: +61 (0)3 9429 2140
Fax: +61(0)3 9421 1682
E-mail: jennycrofts@ozemail.com.au