Travel
Visa & Passport
Before visiting the United States, a citizen of a foreign country must generally obtain a nonimmigrant visa for temporary stay. Information is available at the U.S. Department of State website: travel.state.gov/visa/visa_1750.html.
However, we strongly recommend that you check the travel regulations from the government of your own country. If you require a letter of invitation in order to obtain your visa, please contact Anne Moskowitz at anne.moskowitz@childrens.harvard.edu. Please provide the following information, as well as any additional information required by your government:
Full Name
Address
Date of Birth
Passport Number
Passport Expiration Date
Abstract Title
Travel Insurance
It is always advisable to have travel insurance to cover problems arising from lost bags, missed flights, and all the other common annoyances of travel. Most importantly, it should cover medical expenses should you have an accident or become ill while you are in the USA. If you do not have private medical insurance that covers you in the USA, it is strongly advised that you get travel insurance which covers this.
Meeting site
The symposium will take place at the 
hotel in Kendall Square, Cambridge (2 Cambridge Center, 50 Broadway, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142 USA).
Note that the hotel’s official name is the Boston Marriott Cambridge. It is located in Cambridge (not Boston), adjacent to the MIT campus. Although Boston and Cambridge are two separate cities, one on each side of the Charles River, Cambridge is considered to be part of the Metropolitan Boston area.
→ Information about the rooms and link to reservation
Getting to the meeting site from the airport by taxi
Taxi fare from the airport is about $35–$40 (depending on traffic). During non-rush hour, the taxi ride will typically take about 15 minutes. During rush hour, the ride could take 30 minutes or more.
There are several Marriott hotels in the Boston area, so be sure to tell the taxi driver that you want the Marriott in Kendall Square, Cambridge so that you don’t end up at the wrong Marriott.
Getting to the meeting site from the airport by public transportation (“the T”)
– It’s easy and FREE!
- From any terminal at Logan Airport, take the Silver Line MBTA bus to South Station
- At South Station, go downstairs to the Red Line subway
- Take the Red Line inbound toward Alewife
- Get off the train at Kendall/MIT station (first stop after crossing the Charles River)
- When you get off the train, turn left and proceed to the exit at the end of the platform
- When you exit the station, you will see the Marriott.
Fare: The full trip from the airport to the Marriott is free.
Under normal conditions, the T ride from the airport to the hotel takes ~30 minutes. However, the Red Line crosses the Charles River between Boston and Cambridge via the Longfellow Bridge, which is undergoing renovations. Consequently, the tracks will intermittingly be closed. If they are closed when you are taking the Red Line from Boston to Cambridge, you will be shuttled across the river by bus and dropped off at the Kendall Square station.
More Information (in alphabetical order)
Climate
The meeting takes place in July. Days are typically very warm. Evening temperatures can be cool and may require a light sweater.
Average high temperature: above 80°F (27°C); can go as high as 95°F (35°C)
Overnight low temperature: above 60°F (15.5°C)
Average precipitation: 3.43” (8.7 cm)
Currency, Banks, & Taxes
Currency is the U.S. dollar ($). For current exchange rates, go to www.xe.com.
Visa, Master Card, and American Express credit cards are accepted almost everywhere.
Most banks are open from 9:00am until 4:00pm; some are open until 6:00pm or later (particularly banks inside large grocery stores). ATM machines are easily found.
A 6.25% state sales tax is applied to all items except non-restaurant food and clothing under $175. Hotel room state tax rate is 8.45%. An optional local room tax may also apply.
Electricity
110 Volts, 60 Hz, plug type: 
Shopping
Shops usually open at 10am and close at 6 or 7pm Monday through Saturday. On Sunday, most open at noon and close at 5 or 6pm, but some don't open at all. Closing time may be later one night a week, usually Wednesday or Thursday.
Shopping malls are typically open Monday through Saturday from 10:00am until 9:30pm and on Sunday from noon until 6:00pm. The Cambridgeside Galleria, which is less than 1 mile (<1.6 km) from the Marriott, is open Monday through Saturday from 10:00am until 9:00pm and on Sunday from noon until 7:00pm. (www.cambridgesidegalleria.com).
See www.frommers.com/destinations/boston/717171 for information about shopping locations..
Smoking
Smoking is forbidden in almost all indoor locations. The conference site is a smoke-free area.
Telecommunication
Many public areas (restaurants, shopping centers, etc.) provide wireless (WiFi / WLAN). WiFi internet will be available for free in the Marriott lobby and for $6.00/day in Marriott hotel rooms (reduced from the standard rate of $12.95/day).
Tipping for Services
Restaurants and bars: The recommended gratuity is 20% for good service and 15% for acceptable service; tipping at a lower rate indicates dissatisfaction with the service. Some restaurants automatically add a gratuity for large groups, so check your bill before adding the tip.
Taxi: 15% of fare
Luggage: $1.00–$2.00 per bag
Doorman: $1.00–$2.00 for hailing a taxi
Housekeeping: $3.00–$5.00 per day.
Travel Grants
ISCEV awards travel grants to assist members who would otherwise be unable to attend the symposium. More details at the Registration page.