Welcome to Québec City

Founded by French explorer Samuel de Champlain in 1608, Québec City has kept its European flavour: cobblestone streets, sidewalk cafés, museums.... The cradle of French civilization in North America, Québec City is a bilingual destination that owes its very existence to the St. Lawrence River. Immigrants once came in through the City Port by the thousands. You will find their lasting presence and influence throughout the city.

Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985, Québec City is the only city in North America to have preserved its original fortifications. Perhaps due to this respect for its one-time protectors, Québec City is recognized as one of the safest urban areas in the world!

Québec City is the ideal leisure and travel destination!

Welcome and enjoy Québec City!

Useful Addresses & Phone Numbers

Airlines

Air Canada (www.aircanada.com)
Reservations: 1-888-247-2262
Information: 1-888-422-7533

Porter Airlines (www.flyporter.com)
Reservations: 1-888-619-8622

United Airlines (www.united.com)
Reservations: 1-800-538-2929 (International)
     1-800-864-8331 (Domestic)

WestJet (www.westjet.com)
Reservations, Flight status: 1-888-937-8538 (1-888-WESTJET)

US Airways (www.usairways.com)
Reservations: 1- 888-240-4770

American Airlines (www.aa.com)
Reservations: 1-800-433-7300

Delta (www.delta.com)
Reservations: 1-800-241-4141 (International)
     1-800-221-1212 (Domestic)

Air Transat (http://www.airtransat.com/)
Reservations: 1-866-255-4871

Taxis

Taxi Coop 1-418-525-5191

Taxi Québec 1-418-522-2001

Hotels

Château Frontenac 1 rue des Carrières,
Québec (Québec) Canada G1R 4P5
Phone: 1-418-692-3861

Château Bellevue 16 rue de la Porte,
Québec (Québec) Canada G1R 4M9
Phone: 1-418-692-2573
Fax: 1-418-692-4876

Chateau Laurier 1220, Place George-V Ouest,
Québec (Québec) Canada G1R 5B8
Phone: 1-418-522-8108
Fax: 1-418 -524-8768

Delta 690, Boulevard René-Lévesque Est,
Québec (Québec) Canada G1R 5A8
Phone: 1-418 -647-1717
Fax: 1-418-647-2146

Hilton 1100, Boulevard René-Lévesque Est,
Québec (Québec) Canada G1R 4P3
Phone: 1-418-647-2411
Fax: 1-418-647-6488

Hotel Clarendon 57, rue Sainte-Anne,
Québec (Québec) Canada G1R 3X4
Phone: 1-418-692-2480
Fax: 1-418-692-4652

Manoir Victoria 44, Côte du Palais,
Québec (Québec) Canada G1R 4H8
Phone: 1-418-692-1030
Fax: 1-418-692-3822

Mariott Courtyard 850 Place D’Youville,
Québec (Québec) Canada G1R 3P6
Phone: 1-418-694-4004
Fax: 1-418-694-4007

Québec City Convention Centre

900 Bd Rene-Levesque Est
Québec (Québec), Canada G1R 2B5
Phone: 1-418-644-4000

Conference Information

Language

French is the official language of Québec but English will be the official language of IGARSS 2014 & 35th CSRS. All presentations will be in English.

Messages

Messages received by the Organizers for delegates will be posted on the message board located in the Convention Centre lobby. Messages between delegates may also be left on this board.

Mobile Phone

Please ensure that your cellular phone, pager, etc., are turned off or put on silent/vibrate mode during sessions.

Badges

Please wear your name badge at all times. This will ensure your admittance to the technical sessions and the Exhibition Hall.

Tickets for Social Events

You will be given a package containing your name badge and the tickets you ordered for the tours and social events when you check in at the Registration Desk. Please bring the appropriate ticket(s) to all social events. Additional tickets based on space availability will be available for purchase at the Registration Desk.

Accessible Facilities

At the Québec City Convention Centre you will find spaces, entrances, equipment, and services by an underground passageway adapted to meet the needs of each and every guest. We are a secure facility and we offer guests with disabilities enhanced greeting services and personalized support. The Convention Centre is also linked by underground passageway to the Delta Québec which has 20 rooms adapted for the mobility impaired.

Tourism Information

Customs/Entry

When you arrive in Canada, you will be greeted by an officer of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). The CBSA officer will ask you the purpose of your visit and confirm that you meet the requirements for admission to Canada. This is standard for anyone entering Canada, whether you have a temporary resident visa or not.

You should have all relevant documents on hand to present to the officer when you arrive. These documents include, but are not limited to:

Single parent traveling with children

Foreign officials and transportation companies are vigilant concerning documentation for children crossing international borders. Generally, persons younger than 18 years of age could be considered as children. Unless a child is accompanied by both legal parents, the following documentation should be carried by the child or the accompanying adult:

Currency, Banking, ATM Machines & Credit Cards

The monetary system in Canada is based on dollars and cents and the currency is the Canadian Dollar.

Foreign currencies can be exchanged at banks and at foreign currency exchange offices either at the Airport or at other locations throughout the city.

Bank debit or credit cards are the most convenient means of getting cash at the many Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs). ATMs are spread throughout the city and accept cards with the Interac, Plus, and Cirrus networks. Most are in operation 24 hours a day / 7 days a week.

Most businesses accept U.S. currency and traveler’s cheque, as well as major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, and American Express).

Sales Taxes

There is a 5% Goods and Services Tax (GST) in effect in Canada and a Provincial Sales Tax (PST) of 9,975% in the Province of Québec, for a combined tax rate of 14,975%. This tax is applicable to most items and is not refundable.

Medical Insurance

Visitors are not covered by Canadian health insurance plans. Check with your personal medical plan before leaving your home country to ensure you have adequate travel insurance.

Language

French and English are Canada's two official languages. French is the predominant language in Québec City. However, most, if not all, banks, hotels, airline offices, shops, and key visitor attractions have multilingual staff and most citizens will be able to answer in both languages.

Electricity

The electrical current is the same as in the United States: 110 volts AC at 60Hz. Adapters are required for appliances from other countries.

Weather

In summer, the temperature in the Québec City region does occasionally get up to 30°C (85° F) and above. Summers are generally mild; nights can get fairly cool. July often sees a 2 week long heat wave, with tropical-like days and nights.

Time Zone

Québec City is in the Eastern Standard Time Zone (-0500 GMT). Daylight Savings Time (DST) is in effect from 2:00 a.m. on March 9, 2014 until 2:00 a.m. on November 2, 2014.

Telephone Service

Québec City employs two separate area codes: 418 and 581. Calls within the greater Québec City area are local regardless of the area code. However, you will need to dial all ten digits of the phone number in order to be connected. Check with your cellular service provider to ensure your plan offers roaming/long distance service in Québec City.

Travel Information – Getting Here

Strategic Location

Québec City is easily accessible by plane, car, train and ship. It is about an hour and a half from New York, Detroit or Toronto by plane. It is a less than three-hour drive from Montréal, or 50 minutes by plane.

By Car

Highway 20 (autouroute Jean-Lesage) runs along the south shore of the St. Lawrence River, and Highway 40 (autoroute Félix-Leclerc) is the north shore access to the city. For delegates from the North-eastern USA, or Eastern and Central Canada, car travel is a viable option. The province’s 4,500 km highway network is amongst the most developed in Canada and links the city to the rest of Canada and the United States.

American CitiesMiles*Kilometers*
Atlanta1,4012,241
Boston381610
Chicago1,0161,625
Detroit7281,164
New York524839
Philadelphia617987
Washington D.C.7491,199

By Plane

Located 16 km from the city’s centre, the Jean-Lesage International Airport welcomes more than 700,000 passengers a year aboard all types of aircraft. Ten or so carriers offer over 350 weekly regular flights to various North American, Southern or European destinations. Travel is convenient with direct flights from Paris, Montréal, Ottawa, Toronto, and all major USA hubs on the east coast: Boston, Detroit, New York, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia.

There are many daily flights coming from 116 cities from 41 U.S. states, and from all major Canadian cities. There can be as many as 90 departures or more per week with only one stop from a minimum of 80 cities in more than 50 countries, travelling through Paris, London, Detroit, Montréal, Newark or Toronto.

http://www.aeroportdequebec.com/

By Train

Three train stations serve Québec City and its surrounding areas. Via Rail Canada offers daily service between Toronto, Ottawa, Montréal and Québec City. There are up to five daily connections between Montréal and Québec, for a total of 800 daily seats between the two cities.

http://www.viarail.ca/fr

By Bus

Québec City features two inter-city bus terminals. The Orléans Express network serves many cities. Nearly 20 daily departures for Montréal are available with close to 1,000 seats per day per route and transfers to other carriers.

http://www.orleansexpress.com/fr/

Public Transportation – Getting Around

Airport Transfers

The Jean-Lesage International Airport is located 16 km (10 miles) from the centre of the city. Cab fare from the airport to the city centre is a flat CAD $35. All of these services accept major credit cards.

http://www.aeroportdequebec.com/en/to-and-from-the-airport/taxis/

Public Transit (RTC local buses)

The city bus network (Réseau de transport de la capitale (RTC)) serves Québec City, Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures, Wendake, and Ancienne-Lorette. The bus fares is 3,25$CAD Effective as March 1, 2014

http://www.rtcquebec.ca/

Écolobus (RTC)

The “Écolobus” is an eco-friendly, ultra-quiet electric bus. Its route takes it through the Upper Town (Québec Convention Centre, Château Frontenac), the Old Port area and connects to the ferry terminal for a minimal fee. It is wheelchair accessible.

Ferry

The ferry links Québec City and Lévis 7 days a week, 365 days a year. It sails on the hour and half hour during the day and on the hour at night.

http://traversiers.com/traverses/quebeclevis_1.php

Limousine

Limousine rentals services are available from various suppliers.

Taxi

Québec City area taxis can be identified by the sign on their roof. There are several companies. We suggest that you call one of them and they will send a car. You can also get a cab at one of the various taxi stands in the city and in front of any major hotels.

Car

Car rentals can provide a practical way to visit areas less than an hour from downtown, such as the Orleans Island (Île d'Orléans), and nearby regions such as Côte-de-Beaupré, Jacques-Cartier, and Portneuf.

Information on vehicle and parking regulations:

http://www.quebecregion.com/en/useful-information

Motorcycle

Motorcycles can be rented. However, note that motorcycles are not allowed inside the walls of the Old City unless you have a reservation at a hotel inside the walls.

Cycling

The Québec City area has close to 400 km of bicycle paths and bikeways.
For bicycles rentals: