FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: 2017 ANNUAL MEETING IN SWEDEN
When is the meeting registration deadline? January 9, 2017

What is the easiest way to register and pay? Go to the tour operator’s secure website
http://www.askmrnilsson.se/magnolia-society/ and pay with a VISA or MasterCard.

With so many registration choices, how do I pick just one? It’s not as complicated as it seems. You only need to make 3 decisions.
1) Which locations do you want to visit?
2) Do you want the tour operator to book your travel or make your own transportation plans within the timeframe of the annual meeting?
3) Do you want to share a hotel room with someone or stay in a room by yourself?

Which airport should I use? CPH, Copenhagen Airport in Denmark, is the main international airport serving southern Sweden. You should book round trip from your departure destination to/from CPH. If you participate in any of the itinerary locations beyond Malmo and have the tour operator book your travel, your registration fee will include travel back to Copenhagen. If you are only attending the Uppsala portion of the meeting, you should fly into Stockholm Arlanda Airport, ARN. Transportation between the airport and hotel in Uppsala will be on your own. There are multiple taxi and rental car services available at the airport, as well as bus and train options.

What dates and times should I select for my round trip into CPH? ARRIVAL: You should select a flight that will bring you into CPH during the afternoon of May 4. You need to allow enough time to collect your luggage, take the train into Malmo, walk to the Comfort Hotel, check in and have dinner before the meeting starts at 8:00 in the hotel. DEPARTURE: If you are ending your program participation after Malmo, you should book a flight on May 8 that will give you enough time to check out of the hotel and take the train back to CPH. If you are extending your stay beyond Malmo and you are having the travel agency book your transportation between cities, you should allow a minimum of 3.5 hours between the time you are scheduled to arrive in CPH after participating in our meeting and the time you schedule your departure for your return home. The scheduled arrivals at CPH from the various segments of the meeting are as follows:
• On the 3-city tour including transportation, the train from Gothenburg to CPH is currently scheduled to arrive on May 15 at 13:13 (1:13 pm).
• On the 2-city and May 12 tour including transportation, the flight is currently scheduled to arrive into CPH on May 13 at 12:45.
• On the 2-city tour including transportation, the flight into CPH is currently scheduled to arrive on May 12 at 12:05.
If your registration choice excludes transportation and you are making your own travel arrangements during the meeting, you can use the above information for guidance.

Is it easy to navigate through CPH Airport? All of the signs are in English as well as Danish.

How do I travel between Copenhagen Airport and the hotel in Malmo? The best option is to travel by high speed train. You are responsible for arranging your own train travel between CPH and the Malmo Central Railway Station. When you arrive at CPH, after collecting your luggage, follow the signs to “Ground Transportation” and “Train to Copenhagen and Sweden”. Choose trains going in the direction of Sweden. The trains run at approximately 15 minute intervals during the day and evening. The train trip takes about 35 minutes.

The railway station at CPH airport is under Terminal 3. Tickets can be purchased at the DSB ticket sales counter above the railway station in Terminal 3. All major credit cards are accepted. Tickets may also be bought at ticket machines, but these only accept coins and credit cards, not paper currency. You should purchase a one-way ticket to Malmo Central Railway Station. The train fare as of October 5, 2016 was 111 SEK (13 USD; 11.5 EURO).
When you arrive in Malmo, the Comfort Hotel Malmo is only a 4-minute walk from the train station. There is a map at the following website:
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Malmoe+Central+Station,+Malm%C3%B6,+Sweden/Comfort+Hotel+Malm%C3%B6,+Carlsgatan+10C,+211+20+Malm%C3%B6,+Sweden/@55.6100513,12.9997185,18z/am=t/data=!3m1!4b1!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x4653a3f95814a08b:0x82fbcd156bf5ef8!2m2!1d13.0003545!2d55.609195!1m5!1m1!1s0x4653a3f97dfc71a9:0xbec7a3a12bc2d011!2m2!1d13.0009046!2d55.6109046!3e2?hl=en

Are there any special requirements for entering Sweden? You will need a valid photo ID such as a passport. Effective January 4, 2016, the Swedish authorities introduced a requirement to check the ID of all train passengers traveling from Copenhagen Airport into Sweden.

What currency is used in Sweden? The Swedish Krona, SEK. The exchange rates on October 5, 2016 were 10 SEK = 1.16 USD or 1.04 EURO.

How do I make purchases? Credit or debit cards are the most common form of payment in Sweden, and it is very important to note that only Chip and PIN cards can be used to make payments or withdraw cash in Sweden. You need to notify your bank and/or credit card company before traveling to Sweden so that they do not block your card due to suspected fraud activity. You should also find out what foreign transaction fees you will be charged. If you use a debit card or credit card with a chip, you can obtain cash at any of the easily-accessible ATM machines, but be sure that you are obtaining Swedish Krona. IMPORTANT REMINDER: if you book your flight to CPH, you will be arriving at Copenhagen Airport in Denmark. The currency used in Denmark is the Danish Kroner, NOT the Swedish Krona.

What is the hotel information? Please remember that your hotel reservations will be booked for you. For your information only, here is where we will be staying in each of the respective cities:
Malmo: Comfort Hotel Malmo, Carlsgatan 10C, 211 20 Malmo, Sweden
phone: +46 40 33 04 40
https://www.nordicchoicehotels.com/comfort/comfort-hotel-malmo/
Uppsala: Best Western Hotel Svava, Bangardsgatan 24, 753 20 Uppsala, Sweden
phone: +46 18 13 00 30
http://www.hotelsvava.se/
Stockholm: Scandic Continental Hotel, Vasagatan 22, 111 20 Stockholm, Sweden
phone: +46 8 517 342 00
https://www.scandichotels.com/hotels/sweden/stockholm/scandic-continental
Gothenburg: Scandic Crown Hotel, Polhemsplatsen 3, 411 11 Gothenburg, Sweden
phone: +46 31 751 51 00
https://www.scandichotels.com/hotels/sweden/gothenburg/scandic-crown

Where will our meetings and presentations be held in Malmo? At the Comfort Hotel Malmo.

Where will our meetings and presentations be held in Uppsala? In the Linnearium in the Linnaeus Botanical Garden, Svartbacksgatan 27, SE-755 98 Uppsala, Sweden. This is a short walk from the Uppsala Hotel. http:/www.linnaeus.uu.se/LTeng.html

Where will our meeting be held in Gothenburg? At the Scandic Crown Hotel.

How will I get to the places listed in the itineraries? Some of the locations are within easy walking distance of each other. When transportation is required to get to sites involved in the meeting, it will be arranged by the tour operator.

What about meals? Breakfast is served at all four of the hotels on each morning following your overnight stay. Lunch is provided every day except May 8 and 13. Dinner is included every day except May 4 and 13.

I understand that if I take the full three-city tour, I will need to purchase two lunches and two dinners. Can you give me a general idea of what I could expect to pay? Many restaurants in Sweden serve a "lunch of the day", which is usually a choice of 3 or more dishes. These lunches generally start at around 90 SEK (10 USD or 9 EURO). Dinner is more difficult to estimate because it differs so much depending on which restaurant you choose, but you could consider a starting point of 150 SEK (17.5 USD or 15.5 EURO).

What are some guidelines about tipping in Sweden? If you are satisfied with the service at a restaurant, it is customary to give 5 – 10%. It you travel by taxi, you can simply round up the amount indicated on the meter to a whole number. It is not generally expected to leave a tip for maid service in a hotel. If a porter helps you with your suitcase, it would be thoughtful to give him/her 10 SEK.

What kind of weather should I expect? In the month of May, the average high for Malmo, Uppsala and Gothenburg combined is 16.7 C (62 F). The average low is 7 C (44 F), although it is slightly cooler in Uppsala and slightly warmer in Gothenburg. The average monthly precipitation in May is 42.4 mm (1.7") Even with such a low overall chance of rain, it’s always good to pack your rain gear just in case.

Will any activities require significant physical fitness? The planned tours are similar to those we have taken in the past. Most surface areas are typical of those found in gardens, and the majority of the places we will visit can be navigated using a cane or walker.

What is the cancellation policy? There will be a 10% administration fee if you cancel your meeting registration before January 20, 2017. If you cancel between January 20 and March 1, 2017, you will be charged the 10% administration fee plus all flight and train fares that have been incurred with your registration. No cancellations will be accepted after March 1, 2017.

What if I have additional questions? Please contact Ask Mr. Nilsson:
Address: Brotorpsv 38, S-163 44 Spanga, Sweden
Phone number: +46-8-761 18 01
Email address: carina@askmrnilsson.se

Please Note: All currency conversions in this document were made on October 5, 2016.