F.A.Q

What about...

...Taxes?

A Value-added Tax of 19.6 % is commonly applied to all products and services in France. The V.A.T is already included in displayed prices. Tips are left to the appreciation of customers depending on the quality of the service in restaurants, waiters’ wages being already included in displayed prices.

...Insurance?

The organizing committee will not in any case be held responsible for loss, personal injury, property damage or additional expenditures due to unforeseen events. It is of the responsibility of each participant to ensure that they have sufficient insurance coverage for all aspects of their stay in Lyon. France benefits from a strong Social Security System which any European citizen may benefit from upon presentation of the E111 Form obtainable upon request prior departure within the European home country. It is however highly recommended that European citizens also have an additional health insurance coverage during their stay in France Non-European citizens are not eligible to the Social Security System and will need to ensure they have sufficient health insurance coverage prior departure. It is in all cases of the personal responsibility of each participant to ensure that they have sufficient health insurance coverage and the organizing committee will in no way be held liable for any additional expenditure related to health issues.

...Pharmacies?

Numerous pharmacies are located throughout the city and deliver over-the- counter medication. There are rotating on duty pharmacies open 24 hours if need be. The list of on-duty pharmacies is available on-line at http://www.pharma69.fr/ or by phone at one of the emergency phone numbers.

...Emergency Phone Numbers?

Emergency phone number for cell phones: 112

Landline emergency numbers: Fire Department: 18

Police Department: 17

Ambulance: 15

...Currency?

The official currency in France is the Euro: €

1 € = 1,29 USD = 0,82 GBP = 110,22 JPY = 1,34 CHF

Equivalences as per August 15, 2010

...Money?

Banks are generally open from 09.00am to 12.00pm and from 01.30pm to 05.30pm from Monday through Friday and from 09.00am to 12.00pm on Saturday.

Most major international credit cards are accepted everywhere in Lyon and ATM machines are available throughout the entire city.

...Shops?

Most shops downtown are roughly open from 09.00am to 07.00pm during the week and on Saturday. Some shops close during lunch time for an hour or two (12.00pm to 02.00pm) and a very wide majority are closed on Sunday. Drinking Water France benefits from high quality water and it is safe to drink tap water. It is extremely common to order tap water in any restaurant in Lyon, however bottled water (flat and sparkling) is also available upon request.

...Restaurants?

Lyon is well known as the gastronomic capital of France with its typical Bouchon Restaurants where traditional dishes and local wines are found. The city is particularly famous for its meats, delicatessen and other sausages, as well as its sweets such as the traditional Marrons Glacés (sugared chestnuts), Coussins de Lyon (chocolate based almond paste sweets), and Pralines (sugar

coated almonds). Lyon abounds with restaurants located throughout the city, in particular in the city center (Bellecour, Hôtel de Ville) and the Old Lyon.

...Parking?

Although parking is available throughout the city parking spaces tend to be rather scarce, expensive and short stay spots. Lyon however offers numerous public parking lots in the main areas of the city center such as the central Bellecour and Hôtel de Ville Squares or the Part-Dieu and Perrache train stations. A private indoor parking lot will also be available at the Congress venue: SOFITEL HOTEL – Lyon Bellecour – 20 Quai Gailleton, 69288 Lyon Cedex 02