HOTEL AND TRAVEL

CONFERENCE HOTEL:

The Portola Plaza Hotel in Monterey has been chosen as the conference hotel. All sessions will be held at the hotel, as well as the Welcome Reception, continental breakfasts, lunch on Monday, and the Ice Cream Social.

Room reservations with special SIGUCCS rates are available by contacting the Portola Plaza Hotel directly, toll-free at 888-222-5851, or at phone number 831-649-4511, and mentioning ACM SIGUCCS. You can also get the special rate by registering online at the Portola Plaza group reservations web page and entering sig05 as the login password.

Note: High speed Internet access will be available at no extra cost in each registrant's room from check-in time (3 P.M.) on November 5th through 11:30 P.M. on Nov. 8th. Please be sure to bring your own Ethernet cable, or plan to purchase one from the hotel at a cost of approximately $5.00. Access in the Conference Email Room will be available during conference hours. High speed Internet access is planned for the speakers at all technical sessions. Wireless capability will be available at in selected locations during the conference (the plenary facility, the foyer and the email room).

The hotel is located in the center of Old Monterey, just off Del Monte Ave., between Alvarado Mall and Portola Plaza. See general directions on the Portola Plaza web site.
As the room block at the conference hotel fills, check out alternate hotels in the Monterey area. There are many fine facilities just a short distance from the conference hotel.

UPDATED INFO: The Portola Plaza Hotel is now full for Tuesday evening, 08 Nov. Please check out the many other local hotels (see link above). The Monterey Marriott Hotel is located quite close to the conference hotel, so it may be a good option to consider.

TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION:

Getting to Monterey: There are various ways to get to Monterey. Direct air service to the Monterey Peninsula Airport (MRY) is available via international and domestic connecting routes from Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO), and directly from Phoenix (PHX). Once at the Monterey airport, you can get ground transportation to the hotel (taxi, rental car, Monterey-Salinas Transit).

• Directions to the hotel from Monterey Peninsula Airport: Leaving the airport, turn right onto Rt. 68. Take the exit toward Monterey and follow the ramp toward Fisherman's Wharf/Peninsula College. Merge onto Fremont St. Turn right onto Abrego St., followed by a slight right onto Washington St. Turn left onto Del Monte Ave. and right onto Portola Plaza to the hotel entrance.

You may also choose to fly into San Francisco or San Jose and drive to Monterey. There are two main highways to follow. Highway 1 runs from San Francisco along the coast. The views of the Pacific coastline are magnificent from this highway. Route 101 runs down the valley corridor and affords one an opportunity to see the rich agricultural land that has made the Salinas Valley known as "the Salad Bowl of the Nation."

If you're planning to add a little vacation time to your trip, you may want to consider taking the train, which presents a leisurely and scenic mode of travel. Amtrak's Coast Starlight train stops in Salinas, California each day on its route between Seattle, Washington, and Los Angeles. Free bus service is provided from Salinas to downtown Monterey, a 30-minute ride. There is also a Greyhound station in Salinas with connecting service to Monterey.

WEATHER AND ATTIRE:

Weather: Weather in Monterey is variable, depending on the time of year, time of day, and area visited. The coast is consistently mild, with an average temperature of 57 degrees Fahrenheit year-round. Warm, clear days and cool nights characterize the autumn months, with a distinct rainy season between November and April. Dressing in layers is advised since the variations in climate are so great. Generally, light- to medium-weight clothing is appropriate, but jackets and raincoats are a good idea in late autumn/winter.

Attire for the Conference: Typically, the attire for the conferences is fairly casual, yet professional. Presenters usually in business attire, but other attendees might wear slacks or nice jeans to the sessions. The gala event on Tuesday night at the Monterey Bay Aquarium provides an opportunity to tour a good part of the facility, so walking shoes may be desired.

More information about the Monterey area