TRAVEL INFORMATION
CONFERENCE LOCATION
NASSR 2010 will take place at the Coast Plaza Hotel and Suites, 1763 Comox Street, Vancouver. All papers, special sessions, and seminars will be held at the hotel. Plenaries will be held at University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University venues.
LODGING
The Coast Plaza Hotel and Suites is located in the trendy West End area of downtown Vancouver, just a few blocks from English Bay Beach and Stanley Park, and less than a mile from the city core. The hotel provides excellent meeting space, large rooms, lots of amenities, and a central location. It is also reasonably-priced and family-friendly.
The hotel offers the following amenities:
- high-speed Internet access in all hotel rooms
- free access to health club, Denman Fitness, including workout classes and squash courts
- large indoor pool, whirlpool and sauna
- complimentary downtown shuttle
- complimentary local and toll free access calls
- cable television with pay per view movies
- 2 restaurants: Brasserie Bistro and Comox Long Bar and Grill
- Denman Place Mall with wine store, grocery store, drug store, banks, movie theatre
- Convenient access to stores, restaurants, and cafes along Denman Street
We have secured conference rates for participants, all double occupancy, in Canadian dollars:
- Comfort Room - City View $149.00
- Comfort Room - Water View $ $169.00
- One Bedroom Suite - City View $209.00
These rates are available until July 16, 2010. We encourage everyone who plans to attend the conference to book a room as soon as possible at the Coast by calling the following toll-free number: 1-800-663-1144. Please advise them that you will be attending NASSR to obtain the special rates quoted above. There are few other hotels in the immediate area, and most hotels in the downtown area charge much higher rates during a high-season month like August. Rates do not include 15% taxes. There will be additional charges for extra adults; children under 18 stay free in a room occupied by a paying adult.
MEALS
Attendees will be on their own for most dinners and lunches during the conference. The Coast Plaza is located in the West End, one of the most vibrant and diverse parts of Vancouver. The area’s main streets, Denman, Davie, and Robson (all steps from the hotel) feature many restaurants with a variety of food options for both casual meals and fine dining. Attendees with dietary concerns will be happy to know that Vancouver is among the most food conscious cities in the world and caters to all needs, palates, and budgets.
TRANSPORTATION
Travel to Vancouver
Vancouver International Airport (YVR) is one of the most accessible and beautiful airports in North America. It is served by all major Canadian, American, and International Airlines with direct, non-stop arrivals from such cities as Toronto, Montreal, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Seattle, Portland, New York, Minneapolis, Houston, Los Angeles, Denver, San Francisco, Amsterdam, London, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Sydney. The airport is conveniently located on Sea Island immediately to the south of the city.
Travel in Vancouver
The airport is served by the newly-opened Canada Line which provides rapid access to the city. The Canada Line is part of Vancouver's enviable sky-train system, the longest driverless light rapid transit system in the world. The trip from the airport to downtown is approximately 20 minutes and costs $3.75 (with ticket) or $8.75 (cash). Conference attendees can take the Canada Line train to Yaletown-Roundhouse station; from there the hotel is about a 20 minute walk away along Davie Street or along the seawall, False Creek, and English Bay Beach. This route is also served by two buses: #6 Davie and #C21 Beach. Information on public transportation can be found through Translink. Taxi service from the airport directly to the hotel costs about $30.00.
Information for non-Canadian travelers
As of January 31, 2008, U.S. citizens 19 years and older who enter the U.S. at land and sea ports of entry from within the Western Hemisphere will need to present government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, as proof of identity, along with proof of citizenship, such as a passport, birth certificate, or naturalization certificate. Children age 18 and under will be able to enter with proof of citizenship. Verbal claims of citizenship and identity alone will not be sufficient to establish identity and citizenship for entry into the United States.
As of June 1, 2009, a new American law, the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), requires anyone, including U.S. citizens, entering or re-entering the United States by land and sea to have a passport or other appropriate secure document.
International visitors to Canada who are not U.S. citizens must carry a valid passport and visa (if required). Citizens from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Mexico, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia and others do not require a visa to enter Canada. Visit Citizenship and Immigration Canada online for a complete listing at www.canadainternational.gc.ca.