CNS*2003
The Annual Computational Neuroscience Meeting
July 5-9, 2003, Alicante, Spain
CNS*2003 Info about flights to Alicante
We cannot help attendees in buying their tickets.
If one wants to take advantage of the cheap fares in charter flights there is urgency in booking flights. July is a busy month in Alicante's airport and there are lots of direct flights from most northern European cities, either via regular airlines (SAS, Crossair, Easyjet, British Airways, Iberia, Spanair, Aer Lingus, Lufthansa, Air Algerie) or in charter flights. Some links to charter companies and low-cost airlines operating in Alicante:
From UK :
- http://www.easyjet.com/
- http://www.world-of-tui.com/wot_en/country/index.html
- http://www.phileasfoggtravel.co.uk/index.html
- http://www.monarchairlines.co.uk/
From Germany :
From Scandinavia :
From Belgium :
From Holland :
From Luxemburg :
Transportation within Spain
Alternatively, you can fly to another Spanish city (typically Madrid and Barcelona will have good fares, but also Valencia might be worth checking), and then travel over land to Alicante. From Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia the train is a very comfortable and reasonably fast solution (4, 4.5 and 1.5 hours, respectively). Internal flights are usually expensive unless you take advantage of early booking offers or deals for transatlantic travelers with Iberia.
For rental car information, please contact the travel agency Viajes Hispania at alozano@vhispania.es
Attractions for an extended stay
Some ideas for those considering a more extended stay in Spain:
- Beach: The Mediterranean coast around Alicante is a primary destination for beach vacationers. If you don't mind crowds, international resorts with good beaches and all services available on the spot are Benidorm and Torrevieja. A similar resort for Spanish tourism is Playa de San Juan, with frequent public transport to Alicante. Additionally, the island Ibiza (ferry from Denia, Alicante) offers a very reputed nightlife in the Mediterranean. For these resorts you are bound to find good holiday packages at your own travel agency. Alicante itself has a reasonably good urban beach and has public transportation to nearby beaches like Playa de San Juan, Urbanova, El Altet,... If you are looking for isolated, pristine beaches and you are ready to sacrifice some comfort you will have to travel a little further, see "Cabo de Gata" below.
- Unspoilt nature: Spain has the most wildlife and natural diversity of western Europe. You can explore some of the gems of our natural areas not so far from Alicante. 3 hours inland is the spectacular and secluded park of Sierra de Cazorla. A little further south, overlooking the Andalusian city of Granada (see below) is the park of Sierra Nevada, with the third highest peak in Spain at 3482 meters. 3 hours south of Alicante is the coastal park of Cabo de Gata, with undeveloped virgin beaches and sharp cliffs. Our islands are also easily accessible from Alicante (2 hours train + 2 hours boat to Ibiza). For those seeking tranquility, though, make your way quickly to the smaller island Formentera (check also this).
- Historic cities: A particularly rich history has left its trace in most Spanish cities (many of them protected by UNESCO, click here). Just to name a few, with particular historic relevance: you can plunge into the ancient world by visiting the Roman remains of Merida in Extremadura, one of the main shrines of Christianity in a spectacular medieval town is Santiago de Compostela, the intense flavor of Moorish Spain is directly felt in Granada (also in Cordoba and Seville), the legacy of Jewish Spain is being kept in Girona, and Toledo and Cuenca are monumental Castilian towns very close to Madrid. The Spanish state keeps a network of historical buildings transformed in comfortable hotels (Paradores) all over the country that provide the ultimate experience in this exploration of Spanish history. Alternatively, bed-and-breakfast-style accommodation (Turismo rural) in rural areas is becoming increasingly popular.
- Art and urban tourism: There are two Spanish cities that deserve an especially long visit: Barcelona and Madrid. Barcelona is the world showcase for Art Nouveau architecture, but it also hosts a remarkable medieval art museum and a monumental medieval town. Other important art collections are in the Picasso Museum and Miro Foundation. Madrid has first-class art collections, notably in the El Prado museum (especially Goya's and Velazquez's collections), the Museum Reina Sofia (modern art, exceptional collections of Picasso and Dali works), and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum. The city also displays the imperial architecture of the various dinasties that have ruled Spain.