Travel
Getting to St. Louis:
Our official travel agent is Great Southern Travel who has arranged special airfares through American Airlines as the Congress' preferred air provider. All guests and attendees who attend the 12th World Congress of the IAPB and SIVB’s 2010 In Vitro Biology Meeting can enjoy a 5% discount on American Airlines when travelling to St. Louis, MO from Thursday, June 3 through Monday, June 14, 2010. You may make your reservations through the agency by calling + (573) 442-2200 or +1 (800) 688-4909 and ask for the "IAPB desk" or by following the link: mmckenzie@greatsoutherntravel.com.
From the Airport to Downtown St. Louis:
For information regarding all ground transportation options to and from the airport, visit http://www.flystl.com/flystl/airport-information/ground-transportation/.
Car
An easy-to-use network of interstate highways runs through St. Louis making it a short drive to attractions. From the east, I-70, I-64 and I-55 head west across the Poplar Street Bridge and into downtown St. Louis. I-70 swings through downtown, past the airport and west through Missouri. I-55 turns south past the Anheuser-Busch brewery and continues through southeastern Missouri. I-64, which the locals call Highway 40, continues west through St. Louis, past Forest Park and to the Missouri River. I-44 begins in St. Louis and runs southwest along the former path of Route 66 to Springfield, Missouri.
Downtown St. Louis streets are laid out on a grid pattern with alternating one-way north and southbound streets. Abundant parking is available in high-rise garages run by Central/Allright Parking + (314) 421-4063 and St. Louis Parking + (314) 241-7777 and on surface lots throughout downtown. Parking meters on the street generally have a two-hour time limit which is strictly enforced.
Click here for driving directions to the America's Center.
Metrolink:
MetroLink is St. Louis' light rail system. It is located on the upper level of the Main Terminal at Exit Main Terminal 1 and the East Terminal through the parking garage on all levels. Visit the MetroLink for fare and schedule information. The MetroLink will take you directly to the America's Center which is located adjacent to the Renaissance Grand Hotel. All other conference hotels are within walking distance or you may take a taxi from that location.
GO Best:
GO BEST Express offers reserved transportation to and from the airport and your hotel. Their shared ride vans offer door-to-door service to all hotels in the downtown St. Louis area. Special convention rates are available for all attendees with advanced reservations of $17 one-way and $32 round-trip per person; gratuities accepted. To receive the conference discount, advanced reservations must be made onlineby Friday, May 21. Walk-ups will not be eligible for discount.
GO BEST is located across from baggage carousel M2 in the Main Terminal and near Exit ET14 in the East Terminal. Please check in at the GO BEST Express counter upon arrival. If you experience a delay in travel that will affect your reservation with them, please call to notify them at +877-785-4682 (toll free) or at 314-222-5300.
To make a reservation just click on the GO BEST Express Link and reserve your seat on the shared ride van ahead of time at your special convention rate. Then arrive at the airport, check in with GO BEST, and you are on your way! Click here http://besttransportation.hudsonltd.net/res?USERIDENTRY=IAPB&LOGON=GO to get your special convention rate.
Rental Cars:
Enterprise Rent-A-Car is offering a special, discounted price to all IAPB registrants. Other rental car counters are located on the lower level of the main airport terminal. Please note many hotels will charge a daily rate to park in their garage.
Taxis:
Board at:
Main Terminal, Exit Main Terminal 14-yellow level of garage;
East Terminal, Exit East Terminal,12.
Exact fares will depend upon final destination.
Note: Each Taxi trip will have an Airport Use Fee of $3.00 per pickup
By Train
St. Louis is also served by Amtrak. The Amtrak station is a short mile and a half from the Congress site. To make reservations or check routes, please visit http://tickets.amtrak.com/itd/amtrak.
International Travel--
Travel to the United States
Most travelers to the United States must hold a valid visa and a passport that is valid six months longer than the intended visit. Please visit the International Visitors Office to determine if you require a travel visa to attend the IAPB Congress. If you require a visa, please recognize that the visa application process may take several months. An interview appointment is required for a visa application at all embassies and consulates. The wait time for this appointment varies, but may be as long as four months, with processing taking an additional month or more. The wait time for visa applications is available on the State Department's website. As soon as you have decided to attend the meeting, you should begin the process of applying for a visa.
In 2004, the United States instituted the US-VISIT program, requiring most foreign visitors to have their two index fingers scanned and a digital photograph taken to verify their identity at the port of entry. A departure confirmation program, as part of US-VISIT, is currently being tested. This program applies to all visitors, including those from visa waiver countries.
Be sure to confirm with the Great Southern Travel representative that there is enough time between the different legs/segments of your flight to allow for passing through customs and for re-checking your bags after you pass through customs.
Contact Sandi Strother via email at muconf2@missouri.edu if you require a letter of intended participation for your visa application.
Visa Waiver Program/ESTA
As of January 12, 2009, a valid ESTA approval is required for all Visa Waiver Program (VWP) to travel to the United States. You will not be able to board the plane without this ESTA approval in hand. The Department of Homeland Security, Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) is a free, automated system used to determine the eligibility of visitors to travel to the United States under the VWP. It collects the same information as the paper I-94W form that VWP travelers fill out en route to the United States. ESTA applications may be submitted at any time prior to travel. An ESTA authorization generally will be valid for up to two years. Authorizations will be valid for multiple entries into the United States. DHS recommends that travelers submit an ESTA application as soon as they begin making travel plans. ESTA applications may be completed FREE online at the official DHS website, which is: https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/. Review the important DHS Advisory Warning about unauthorized third-party ESTA application related web sites. Learn more at ESTA.
New countries added: The Visa Waiver program was expanded to include the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, the Republic of Korea, and the Slovak Republic. Review the visa waiver program quick reference handout.
PASSPORT REQUIREMENTS: Specific passport requirements apply to all VWP travelers. See What do I need to know about VWP MRP and e-Passport requirements?
Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI)
On June 1, 2009, the U.S. government will implement the full requirements of the land and sea phase of WHTI. The proposed rules require most U.S. citizens entering the United States at sea or land ports of entry to have a passport, passport card, or other travel document approved by the Department of Homeland Security. See http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html for more information.
Experiencing a Delay in Travel Visa Processing?
The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) has developed a page on its web site to collect detailed information about international scientists experiencing significant visa delays. This could prove useful to scientists still trying to cope with the many changes in protocol brought on by the SEVIS student-tracking system and the enhanced security of the US VISIT program. Visa applications that are delayed by more than 20 days will be reported to the State Department. Please visit the NAS web site at http://national-academies.org/visas. |
