Badges
Each participant will receive a name badge upon registration. For security reasons all participants are requested to wear their badge during all the Meeting activities and social events.
Calls
Calls to Estonia: the country code for Estonia is +372.
Dial +372, then the area code and the subscriber's number.
Calls from Estonia: Dial 00 + the country code + area code + the subscriber's number.
Climate
The weather in Tallinn in the end of May is usually sunny with a mean day temperature of 14°C. Showers may occur. For weather forecast, please visit http://www.weather.ee.
Credit cards
Credit cards such as Visa, Mastercard/Eurocard, Diner's Club, American Express etc. are accepted in most of the major hotels, restaurants and shops, but ask first. Most banks will give cash advances on credit cards supported by a valid passport. Check with the credit card company for further details before travelling.
Currency
The local currency in 2012 is EURO.
Foreign currencies can be easily exchanged in banks and exchange offices. Most banks are open from 9.00 - 18.00 on weekdays, and some offices are also open on Saturday mornings. There are exchange offices in several hotels, in the port of Tallinn, at the airport, the railway station and many other locations.
Electricity
The electricity supply in Estonia is 220 volts AC, 50 Hz. European-style 2-pin plugs are in use.
Exhibition
The FIDE 2012 Congress will include a commercial exhibition that will be open during the Congress meeting hours. For exhibition information, please visit the Congress website at www.fide2012.eu or contact the organising committee at info@fide2012.eu .
Language
The working languages of the Congress are English, French and German.
The
official language of Estonia is Estonian, a Finno-Ugric language that
is closely related to Finnish. English and Russian are also widely
spoken.
Meals
Coffee and lunch are included in the registration fee and will be served daily.
Time
Estonia is in the Eastern European Time Zone (EET): GMT +2 hours.
Travel to Tallinn
By Air: You can fly to Tallinn from all major European cities with Estonian Air, Finnair, SAS, KLM, Lufthansa, Air Baltic and several other carriers. Tallinn airport (www.tallinn-airport.ee/eng) is approximately 3 km from the Old Town and Tallinn city centre, which can easily be reached by taxi or bus.
By Sea: Ferries link Tallinn to Helsinki and Stockholm, as well as Russia and Germany. For more detailed information consult the Port of Tallinn schedule or www.tallink.ee.
By Road: Tallinn is 300 km from Riga, Latvia on the Via Baltica, part of the E67 Highway that runs to Prague.
By Bus:There is a choice of international bus lines connecting Tallinn with Riga, Vilnius, St. Petersburg and many German and Scandinavian cities. For detailed information on bus connections please visit the homepage www.eurolines.ee.
By Rail: International overnight trains link Tallinn with St. Petersburg and Moscow. For detailed information on railway connections please visit the homepage www.tickets.gorail.ee.
Visa
Estonia is a part of the Schengen visa area.
Nationals of EU and EEA member states are free to enter Estonia. The required travel document for entry is a national ID card or passport.
Nationals of the following countries do not need visa to enter Estonia, and can stay for up to 90 days in any 6-month period: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Holy See, Honduras, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Macao, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, San Marino, Singapore, South Korea, USA, Uruguay, Venezuela. The required travel document for entry is a valid passport.
Citizens of countries NOT mentioned above require a visa to enter Estonia. Visitors arriving in Estonia with visa must have a national passport valid at least 3 months after their planned departure from Estonia.
Children aged 7 to 15 years must have their own passport when travelling to Estonia or, if they are registered in their parent's passport, must have their photo next to the name. Children under 7 years need not have a photo if they are registered in their parents' passports. Persons above 15 years must have a separate travel document with photo.
For detailed information, please contact the nearest Estonian consulate or embassy, or check the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs' website www.vm.ee/eng/kat_150.