SAC 2007 - Accomodation Page

To facilitate your travel to SAC 2007, this page provides valuable information about local excursions, hotels, travel agents, visa memos, transportation info, food services, and other information.

We Hanjin Travel agency, the official travel agency for SAC 2007, has arranged four exciting tours especially for SAC 2007 attendees. The tours are offered from March 11 to March 15, 2007. For more details, please see additional information on the reservation form at this secured link: https://www.kaltour.com/pco/sac07/regWri.asp.

The local arrangement committee recommends making hotel reservations for ACM SAC 2007 through Hotel.com. The committee has contacted local hotels and the hotels recommended using Hotel.com for best rates. The following hotel information includes how to get to the hotel from Inchen Airport and how far (by subway-walking) from your hotel to COEX where the SAC conference will be held. This information will help you make your hotel reservations using Hotel.com. We have only listed hotels with room rates up to US$150 per night. Hotel prices have been raised recently due to the exchange rate. We are planning to add more hotels to this list.

For few hotels and if desired, We Hanjin Travel agency can help you with your reservation Please see reservation form and hotel details at this secure link: https://www.kaltour.com/pco/sac07/htlWri.asp. The deadline for hotel reservation Feb. 15, 2007.

The subway system in Seoul, Korea is safe and reliable transportation. COEX has its own subway station (stop), which is called “Samsung Station.” You will find the subway system very easy to use, and you will be able to find English version of information. When you make your hotel reservation, please refer “From/To: COEX – This Hotel” section in the PDF link below. The estimate includes travel time of walk from/to the subway station, from your hotel, and travel time of subway. Seoul is a large city. However, you will feel the city is small once you get used to the subway system. One way subway fare is US$0.90 (that is 90 cents) or you may wish to purchase a pass for both the subway and bus system in Seoul. The current list of recommended hotels include:

Samsung Station (COEX) CO-OP Residence
Vabien Suite II Serviced Residence
Seocho-Dong CO-OP Residence
Dormy in Seoul Serviced Residence
Provista Hotel
M Chervill
Bestwestern Hotel Dongdeamoon
Bestwestern Vision Hotel
Hotel IBIS Seoul
President Hotel
Hotel Rivera Seoul
Bestwestern Gangnam
Ramada Hotel
Renaissance Seoul Hotel
Hotel Jongro(insadong) Crown
Uljiro Co-Op Residence

For directions from the airport to each hotel and from the hotel to the conference location (COEX Center), please see this PDF file. Maps are also included.

For booking from the US to Korea, the committee has arranged for several travel agents to help SAC attendees get the best deal on air fairs. Depending on your location, prices may range from US$820 to US$1150. Some agents offer good price "COMBO deal" with room. The destination airport name is "Incheon International Airport -ICN".

Chicago:
Omni Travel:
Attention: Susan
Reference: SAC 2007 (or Prof. Shin in South Dakota)
Office Hours: M-F 9:30 to 5:30
800-721-1723 or 312-558-9966
29 E Madison St. Suit 1402
Chicago, IL 60602

For traveling to Seoul, Korea to attend SAC 2007, please allow extra time for travel planning. Attendees visiting Korea should be particularly aware and careful about Visa requirements, and should plan travel well in advance. ACM will assist attendees of SAC 2007 in this matter. Please direct your questions regarding visa matters to Ms. Ashley Cozzi at acozzi@acm.org. If you require a visa memo, please send your name, mailing address and fax number to acozzi@acm.org, and for those with accepted papers, please include the title and all authors of your paper. All this information is necessary, and missing any of it will delay the issuing of the memo. Ms. Cozzi will assist you in providing visa memos for attending the conference. Please note that it may take several days for a visa memo to be sent out after it is requested. Please plan accordingly.

For From Airport to Conference Venue & Hotels

You may get information on limousine buses and purchase bus tickets at the Transportation Information Counter (near the exit No. 2, 4, 9, and 13) on the arrival floor (1 fl.) of passenger terminal. All limousine buses operate between the hours 05:30 and 22:30 to major hotels. The limousine bus fare ranges from KRW 8,000-13,000 depending on the number of stops in between.

Option 1: Deluxe Airport Limousine Bus

Deluxe Limousine Bus is the most convenient way to travel from Incheon International Airport to the venue. These spacious 25-seat luxury buses take you directly to the congress venue, COEX. It is non-stop bus that operates between the hours 05:40 am and 22:30 pm and bus stops are 3B and 10B. The bus fare is KRW13,000 (approx. US$ 13) per person and the duration of the ride is approximately 60 minutes.

Option 2: Standard Airport Limousine Bus

This is an economic means of transportation from Incheon International Airport to downtown hotels in Seoul. There are several stops on the way and the bus fare is KRW8,000 (approx. US$ 8) per person. The duration of the ride is approximately 90 minutes.

Option 3: Taxi

Taxi is another way to get to the venue from the airport. There are standard taxi (basic fare: KRW1,900 and KRW100 added every 144m) and deluxe or "Mobeom" taxi (basic fare: KRW4,500 and KRW200 added every 164m). Between midnight and 4:00 am, there is an extra late-night charge. Toll of KRW 6,700 should be paid by patrons at the toll bridge. Credit cards are not accepted. Please exchange foreign currencies for Korean Won at the airport before taking a taxi.

Option 1 : Subway

Subway is the most convenient way for visitors to get around Seoul. Station names, ticket counters, and transfer signs are all clearly marked in English as well as in Korean. All trains make stop announcements both in Korean and English. Eight Subway lines serving Seoul and its suburbs are color-coded: navy blue for Line 1, green for Line 2, orange for Line 3, sky blue for Line 4, purple for Line 5, brown for Line 6, khaki for Line 7, and pink for Line 8.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government is to operate newly designed buses on the newly adjusted routes as of July 1, 2004. New bus stop signs are more easily recognizable than the current ones, which are expected to be colorized according to the type of city buses: Blue, Green, Red and Yellow. The following is a detailed description of each bus. The bus fare is KRW 900. No matter how far you may travel until your destination, the fare will be less than the 1,600 KRW (800 won + 800 won) paid under the current system, supposing your changes buses or transfers to another form of mass transportation just once.

Climate

The climate of Korea is characterized by four distinct seasons: spring, summer, fall, and winter. March is the early spring. The average temperature range in the middle of March is around 41F, we recommend bringing jacket. You can check the weather forcast in Korea on this URL:

Korean Food

Eating out is one of the great pleasures of visiting Korea, a country famous for its diverse native dishes. Korean cuisine is nutritious, well balanced and low in calories as it involves a wide variety of vegetables and fermented foods. Bulgogi (Marinated, barbecued beef) and Bibimbap (Boiled rice mixed with vegetables) are the most famous.

Passport & Visa

All visitors to the Republic of Korea must have a valid passport and visa. Visitors with roundtrip tickets from countries who have a special agreement with Korea may be exempt from the visa requirement, and can stay in Korea visa-free for periods up to 30 days, or 90 days, depending on the type of agreement between two countries For more information, please visit Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade at www.mofat.go.kr/me/index.jsp <file:///\\www.mofat.go.kr\me\index.jsp>

Participants are advised to take out adequate travel and health insurance before leaving their respective countries. The Organizing Committee has no insurance coverage for the participants and will not be responsible for any accident that may occur during the congress.

ATM

ATM is available at Shinhan Bank, which is located 50m away from the left side of COEX Convention and Exhibition Center's main entrance. (East Gate)

Credit cards

Diners Club, Visa, American Express and MasterCard are widely accepted at major hotels, shops and restaurants in the larger cities.

Time Zone

Korean time is 9 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+9).

Telephone Call

For international calls, dial the international dialing code (001, 002, or 008), country code, area code, and the individual number. Domestic and international phone card are available for sale at most convenient stores, hotels and airports.

Mobile Phone

Mobile phone can be rented at the airport or at major hotels. To apply for a mobile phone rental service, you will need an identification card (pass port) and a credit card.

Business Hours

Government office hours are usually from 9:00am to 18:00pm on weekdays and closed on weekends. Banks are open from 9:30 am to 4:30 am on weekdays and closed on Saturday and Sunday. Major stores are open every day from 10:30 am to 8 PM including Sundays.

The standard electricity supply is 220-volts AC/60 cycles. Most hotels may provide outlet converters for 110 and 220 volts. It is advised to check with the hotel beforehand.

Tip & Tax

Tip - Service charges are included in your bill for rooms, meals and other services at hotels and upscale restaurants. Koreans occasionally do tip when they are especially pleased with the service they receive.

Tax- Upon request, only foreign tourists can receive nearly 10 percent VAT refunds for purchases at Duty Free shopping outlets. Goods must be taken out of Korea within three months of purchase to be eligible for a tax refund. Visitors can receive a refund on a receipt for a minimum purchase of KRW 50,000 (around US$52). To receive this refund, present refund receipts with the purchased goods at the customs desk at the Incheon International Airport when departing.

Emergency Calls

International SOS Korea provides a 24-hour emergency service for participants, for a fee, acting as a link between the patient and the Korean hospitals. For Medical Emergencies dial 1339.

119 : Emergencies for fire / rescue & hospital services
112: Police
129: First Aid patient