• Before Visiting
• Trip Arrangements
• Visas
• At CERN
• CERN Contacts
• Registration
• In Geneva
• Transportation
• Housing
• Eating Out & Entertainment

Trip Arrangements

• DOE Requirements
• 90 day advance approval
• Health insurance
  • Some U.S. insurances are applicable in Europe (check with respective labs) but deductibles can be large
  • If staying for long term, buy UNIQVA insurance provided at CERN and respective laboratories will reimburse insurance cost
• Allowances
  • Daily Allowance (Short Term) or Salary Adjustment - COLA (Long Term)
  • Moving Allowances (Automobiles, Books, Furniture)

VISAS

Many nationalities do not need Visas if visiting less than 3 months, for others:

• VISA Procedures
• If you need invitation letter from CERN, contact the respective secretaries (list below) of the group you will belong

CERN Contacts

• Herman Schmikler
• Mike Lamont (AB/OP)
• Oliver Bruning (AB/ABP), Secretariat: Muriel Macchi

CERN Registration

• Short Term: Register as a VISITOR
• Long Term: Register as a USER (you need this to get control room access)
• Computer
  • Fill out computer registration form and get it approved by your respective group leader
  • Mail and computing resources through NICE (ex: you can register LAN/Wireless of personal laptop to use CERN network)
  • Requesting other privileges (ex: control room access) through AIS Administrative Information Services

Housing

• CERN Hostel is convenient for short stays (~60 CHF/Day).
• Apartments in Geneva (very difficult to find an apartment in Geneva) or France. It maybe easier to find an apt. to share:
  • CERN Market: Cannot access this list from outside CERN computers
  • University of Geneva Link

Transportation

The Geneva area has extensive public transportation. Details can be found on TPG Website. Bus tickets are available from machines at bus stops which is usable for 1 Hr all around Geneva area. The Cost is 3 CHF and *NEED EXACT CHANGE*. Monthly passes can be purchased at the central Geneva train station - Cornavin.

• Central Geneva to CERN - Bus 9 (~30 min) (Don't take Bus 9 to Gare Zimeyesa)
• Airport to CERN
  • Bus 10 to Gare Cornavin (~20 min)
  • Bus 9 to CERN (~ 30 min)
• Rental cars are expensive, but a possible cheap option SIXTI (~10 CHF/Day if you are lucky !)
• Bicycles the are best way around Geneva city (available through CERN)
• Taxis are expensive, Airport to CERN ~20 CHF, Airport to Downtown ~40 CHF

Long Distance Phone Calls

• Mobile phone can be quite expensive, local phone companies can be cheaper (SIM card from SwissCom, Sunrise etc..)
• Need an official account to go through CERN switchboard (P. Limon)
  • You need a LARP team account and name
  • Contact your respective group secretariat to add you to the switchboard

Eating Out & Entertainment

• General Areas of Interest: Eaux Vives, Planpalais, Paquis, Carouge ...
• Movies (Mostly in French, but some in English)

send e-mail for comments/suggestion:
rcalaga [@] bnl.gov