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Information for Visitors:
Travelling
In this page you will find all the informations you need to come and stay at the EBCL Laboratories : Visas, Travel connections, Money exchange, Transportation, Housing and hotels and Holidays.
Laboratory vehicles may be available for official use depending on laboratory needs. U.S. Government employees do not need special authorization. The laboratory can authorize non-U.S. government personnel to use lab vehicles if there is a Cooperative Agreement in place between ARS and the individual's institution.
Visitors need to pay fuel costs, and longer-term visitors requiring extensive use of a vehicle are expected to contribute to costs of operation. Visitors can be given orientation to local field areas/collection sites, depending on the laboratory work schedules.
Persons visiting more than a day or so usually will need to rent a vehicle for personal use. Rental vehicles may be arranged from the U.S. with major firms, or can be arranged locally (it is usually more economical to make arrangements in the U.S.)
In France, a U.S. driver's license is valid for one year for tourists, after which time a French license must be obtained. This is done by passing a driving test, and is usually quite complicated, so we advise visitors to obtain an international driver's license before leaving the United States. Note: Illinois, New Hampshire, Michigan, and South Carolina have a license exchange agreement with France.
Because of the distances and time involved, the Laboratory staff have limited ability to meet or transport arriving/departing visitors, especially during the field season (March-September). Taxis to the airport and train station are readily available.
There are no direct flights between the U. S. and Montpellier.
The usual route is to Paris, Charles de Gaulle - Roissy or Orly, then a 1-hour flight, 5-hour train, or 8-hour drive to Montpellier.
Airline (Air France) connections from Paris may also be made via Marseille and Nîmes.
There are trains from those cities to Montpellier, and we may be able to meet you in Nîmes or Marseille.
Train connections between Paris and Montpellier can be arranged through http://www.sncf.com.
For more information on airplane connections see site : http://www.airfrance.fr.
Visitors must handle all visa requests in their home country. Visas are required for Americans entering France on official or diplomatic passports but not for tourist passports. A "circulation visa" that allows multiple entries can be obtained if one is not remaining in France for more than three months at any one time.
The laboratory can make hotel reservations for visitors,
but room requirements should be indicated well in advance and only when
travel plans are firm.
The nearest hotel to the lab is :
Heliotel
Rond-Point Agropolis
34980 Montferrier-sur-Lez
tel: 33-4-67-59-90-91
Fax: 33-4-67-59-91-04
Rate: 256.50 FF = $51 approximately, per day for single; $357 per week or
$1,134 per month for a studio apartment with kitchen.
Furnished apartments (including linens, kitchenware, telephone in apartment, etc.) are available at :
Résidence
l'Emeraude
198 allée des Ecureuils
34980 St Gely du Fesc
tel: 33-4-67-66-91-91
Fax: 33-4-67-66-91-92.
Other hotels in Montpellier appreciated by previous visitors are:
Hotel le Guilhem, 18 rue Jean Jacques Rousseau, tel 33-4-67-52-90-90, Fax: 33-4-67-60-67-67.
Astron
Suite Hotel, avenue Pirée, tel 33-4-67-20-57-57, Fax: 33-4-67-20-58-58.
Hotel
Ibis le Triangle, allée Jules Millau, tel 33-4-99-13-29-99, Fax:
33-4-67-58-77-50.
All the above hotels are within the Per Diem for Montpellier.
Visitors are advised to bring some local currency or exchange money at the airport on arrival. Exchange rates can be checked on the web at http://www.edit.fr/change/.
U. S. government and national holidays are observed.
France : for more information on American and French national holidays see site http://www.amb-usa.fr/consul/holidays.htm.