Venue and getting here

CONFERENCE CENTRE & ACCOMMODATION

The conference will be hosted at Fort St Elmo, a 17th century fort built by the Knights of Saint John to guard Valletta and the Grand Harbour of Malta.

The suggested accommodation venue is the Corinthia Marina Hotel, in the village of St Julian's on the beautiful Mediterranean island of Malta. The hotel is close to the entertainment district of the island, is surrounded by bars and restaurants, and is right beside the sea. Transport between the hotel and the conference venue will be organised in the morning. We therefore recommend that all delegates stay at this hotel.

This hotel is easily reached by public transport from the airport. Public transport is available from nearby the hotel that can take you anwhere on the island.

Upon request, childcare facilities will be provided free of charge at the conference venue itself. Delegates who wish to make use of this service are requested to inform the organisers on registration. Should you have more questions about this issue or would like to speak to the childcare providers themselves, kindly contact the organisers: qtspacemalta@sciencesconf.org

Delegates covered by a COST grant will be reimbursed an amount commensurate with sharing a room at the hotel. Conference rates will be extended to accompanying people staying at the hotel.

MALTA & WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU'RE HERE

A note on language. Malta has two official languages, English and Maltese, which essentially everyone speaks. Maltese is the only semitic language written in the Latin script, and includes the letter ħ, making Malta the only quantum country in the world.

Malta is a highly touristic country, so a variety of activities is available for accompanying persons or for yourself before/after the conference. Some tips can be found on the following websites:

• http://www.visitmalta.com/

• http://wikitravel.org/en/Malta

Malta is an island with a very rich history. In particular, it has some of the oldest free-standing structures in the world. Very accessible neolithic temple systems are Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra, both of which are easily reachable by public transport. Family-friendly activities also include visiting the Malta National Aquarium, or going on an open-top bus tour of the country. Visit Malta has compiled a list of walks around Malta and Gozo that, weather permitting, sample some of the islands' diverse history and culture. Malta's capital city, Valletta, is a museum in itself and has spectacular views over one of the Mediterranean's gems, the Malta Grand Harbour, and is always one bus journey away from anywhere on the island.

Climbing afecionados can get an adrenaline rush all over the country; the website of the Malta Climbing Club has a list of routes. Another very popular sport in Malta, especially in summer, is scuba diving. There are several clubs around the island; please speak to the hotel reception for recommendations.

VISA INFORMATION

Malta is part of the Schengen zone and an EU country. EU citizens and holders of valid Schengen visas should not need to apply for any visa to enter Malta. If you are unsure of whether you need a visa to enter Malta or not, please visit this website, but double-check with your local authorities, or ask us. If you need a letter of support for your visa application, send us the details by email and we will send any supporting documentation required.

GETTING TO THE VENUE

Malta has one international airport, Malta International Airport, which has direct flights to most major European cities and beyond. From the airport, we advise either using the taxi service offered by the hotel (€20 per taxi, carrying up to two people, each way) or public transport; bus X3 stops a couple of hundred metres away from the hotel. As per COST rules, taxis are only reimbursable if used between 22:00 and 07:00.