International Aerial Archaeology Conference

AARG 2010 Bucharest, Romania
15th – 18th September 2010

AARG 2010. Useful Information for Participants

Venues: CARO Hotel, 16A Barbu Văcărescu Av., Bucharest
Pre-conference workshop: Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, 30 Kiseleff Av., Bucharest.

TRANSPORT

Transport from the airports:
Both airports of Bucharest  –  Otopeni-Henri Coandă and Băneasa-Aurel Vlaicu ­– are located North of the city. The time from the Otopeni Airport (20 km far from the city) to CARO Hotel is about 30 minutes, and from Baneasa about 20 minutes. 

By taxi: taxis are yellow; take only registered taxis and ask for the receipt; from Otopeni the tariff is 3.5 Lei/km (circa 0.85 Euro) and from Baneasa 1.4 Lei/km (circa 0.33 Euro).   

By shuttle: For those wishing to use the CARO Hotel minibus shuttle, please send an e-mail to the hotel with your name, date and time of arrival in Bucharest, the name of the airport (Otopeni or Baneasa), flight number and company. The price is 10 Euro from Otopeni and 6 Euro from Baneasa if the minibus is full (6 people at a time). Otherwise, a bit more. The hotel will group those arriving at the same time and the driver will wait for you in the at Arrival Gate with the sign CARO HOTEL/AARG 2010.

By airport bus: From Otopeni there is an airport bus (No. 783) every 20 minutes. You have to get off at Baneasa Airport. From Baneasa Airport Station you have to cross the road and either take a taxi or take tram No. 5 (end of the line) and arrive in 15 minutes just in front of the CARO Hotel (Aviation Museum Station). But be prepared to wait until 30 minutes because the trams are not very often on this line. Tickets for the tram can be bought at special kiosk (RATB).

Transport from CARO Hotel to the centre of the city:
By Underground: The nearest underground station, Aurel Vlaicu Station, is 12 - 15 minutes walk from the hotel up the Barbu Văcărescu Av. and second cross to the left. Ask at the reception desk for the right direction. It takes 10 minutes by underground  to the very centre of the city (Piata Romana, Universitate or Unirii Stations). By a two or ten travels card at the station (2.60 or 8 Lei). One travel is approx. 0.30 Euro.

Tram No. 5 connects CARO Hotel with Baneasa Airport in one direction and the circular underground (Stefan cel Mare Station) in the other.

Transport from CARO Hotel to the pre-conference workshop at the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, 30, Kiseleff Av. (by the open-air ‘Dimitrie Gusti’ National Village Museum and Herăstrău Park):
By taxi: recommended. You can also take the underground one station (from Aurel Vlaicu to Aviatorilor), and a 20 minutes walk through the Herastrău Park or two stations by buses Nos. 131,  331 or 335 to Muzeul Satului Station.

MONEY

The Romanian Leu (plural Lei) is the national currency. 1 Euro = 4.3 Lei. 

You can exchange a small amount of lei at the airport - for taxi, for instance.

There is a bancomat in the CARO hotel lobby if you need cash (also possible to ask for lei) but no exchange office in the hotel.  

Payment at the hotel: People can pay with credit card or in cash, in Euro, Pounds (or Lei, of course!) with no extra-charge, at the daily official rate of the Romanian National Bank. Prices are in Euro. For the AARG payment, that can be done in Euro.

Registration

The registration desk will be open at CARO Hotel on the 15th of September, from 18:00 to 20:00, and on the 16th of September from 9:00. Please register as soon as possible.

Poster exhibition: there will be in the lobby of the conference and there are stands for that. 

Internet: there is wireless free Internet in the hotel (rooms, lobbies, conference room), You have to ask for the password at the reception desk.  For a video-conference, they can provide an optic fiber cable in the conference room. There is also a business centre with free Internet.

The website of the conference http://aarg2010.cimec.ro is updated with the programme of the conference, the trip details and the social events.

Weather: Mostly sunny, max. 24°, min. 13° (by night) (15 September).

Social Events

Wednesday 15 September
14:00, Guided tour of the open-air National Village Museum (free)
20:00, Welcome drink and visit, Aviation Museum (free)

Friday 17 September
20:00, Conference Dinner, CARO Hotel (40 Euro/person)

Saturday 18 September
08:00 - 20:00, Field trip: Neolithic tell sites in Southern Romania Bucharest – Alexandria – Drăgănești-Olt (20 Euro, lunch included)