Travel information

Transportation

Coming to Angers:

Accessible by car, train or plane, Angers is well connected and centrally located in the heart of Europe. With 90 European cities located less than a half-day’s journey. Angers is easy to access for business professionals with a busy schedule. For an international event, visitors can arrive by plan by choosing between the local Angers-Marcé airport (15 minutes from the city center), or national and regional terminals at Paris Charles de Gaulle and Nantes. For a quick and clean getaway, Angers is connected by the TGV train rail, which runs daily, connecting visitors to destinations such as London, Paris and Brussels in a few hours.

Address of the congress venue

33 Bd Carnot, 49100 Angers
Centre de Congrès Jean Monnier 


Coming by plane:

Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) International Airport connects many national and international cities. From Angers, you are 2 hours and 20 minutes away by train. Learn more information at www.parisaeroport.fr.

Nantes Atlantique Airport connects many international cities thanks to airlines such as Air France, Ryanair, Easyjet, Aer Ann, Iberia and Atlas Blue. From Nantes Atlantique Airport, you can take a shuttle to downtown Nantes, then take the train towards Angers (travel time: 30 minutes).
Learn more information at www.nantes.aeroport.fr. (French Website only)

Angers Loire Airport, only 20 minutes from downtown Angers, has all the necessary facilities to assist every type of private aircraft.
More information on the website https://www.angers.aeroport.fr/en


Coming by train (Angers Saint-Laud):

By TGV high-speed train from Paris Montparnasse train station:

  • Travel time 90 minutes
  • 15 departures per day

more information on www.voyages-sncf.com, the French train service (SNCF) and on www.ratp.fr, the Paris public transport company.

Paris-Montparnasse train station can be reached:

  • for travellers by the hourly Air France shuttle bus (travel time approx. 50 minutes) or by RER line B to 'Chatelet-les halles, then change to Metro line 4 direction 'Porte d’Orléans’ (travel time 45 minutes).
  • for travellers best by the Air France shuttle bus (every half hour, travel time approx. 35 minutes).
  • for travellers on Paris Gare du Nord by metro line 4 direction 'Porte d’Orléans’ (travel time approx. 20 minutes).

By Eurostar (tickets bookable four months maximum in advance):

  • Through-tickets are available from several cities (in the UK, Belgium and the Netherlands, plus Cologne and Aachen in Germany), directly to Angers, and may work out cheaper.
  • Tickets may be via Paris (change stations as above) or via Lille (no need to change stations). The Lille route usually takes approximately 30 minutes longer.

More information on www.eurostar.com


​ Coming by bus

Angers can also be reached by buses. It is a cheaper way to travel if you have time : 

Please note that information is subject to change.


Coming by car:

Motorways: A11 (Paris-Nantes), A85 (Tours), A87 (La Roche-sur-Yon)

Estimated driving times :

  • 3 hours from Paris on Motorway A11
  • 4 hours from Paris Charles de Gaulle airport
  • 1 hour 15 minutes from Nantes-Atlantique airport (45 min from Nantes down town)
  • 1 hour 45 min from Rennes
  • 3 hours 40 min from Bordeaux

To rent a car: 

  • Hertz: www.hertz.com
    Get a 10% discount in any of French Hertz agencies, with the promotional code 926747 and your IHC registration document

Please make sure you park your car in a public car-park. They are all paid parking. Outside car-g is also available. Most of the outside parking lots are also available for a fee. Be aware that some streets and therefore outside parking are blocked for the outside markets. It is usually warned by the following road sign :

It also indicates the date and timing of the restriction.

Visa application

France is a member of the European Union and belongs to the Schengen Area.

Please note that all travellers, except for those nationalities with a visa waiver, should apply for the corresponding visa at their local French embassy or consulate well in advance of the Congress. Participants with a valid residence permit or a valid long-term visa issued by another Schengen Member State should check the validity of their visa in order to avoid any inconvenience. 

If you wish to travel outside France before and after your attendance to the Congress, please make sure to apply for a Schengen visa, which allows you to travel within the Schengen area. 

If you are unsure whether you require a visa, please visit the “Visa wizard” first. 

If you require a visa, please visit the official French website (https://france-visas.gouv.fr/en_US/web/france-visas) for further information concerning the visa application process as well as the necessary documents to support your application. Keep in mind that a visa application may take some time to be processed and may vary depending on nationality and time of year. We recommend applicants to initiate their applications early enough to ensure its validation before travelling.  The process may take longer in certain countries, so please check the information from your nearest French embassy or consulate.

The registration agency may share registration information with the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign affairs – special events section – to help facilitate visa processing.

I REGISTER : https://ihc.site.calypso-event.net/

Invitation Letter

You can ask an invitation letter from the Congress secretariat to support your visa application. This letter will only be available upon completion of registration and receipt of payment. Congress participants should submit this invitation letter as part of their visa application together with all other required documents.

I need an invitation letter : secretariat@ihc2022.org

Please note that the invitation letter implies no obligation by IHC2022 to cover registration fees, accommodation, travel expenses or any other costs connected to participation in the Congress.

In case of a denied visa, IHC2022  will reimburse the registration fee only upon receipt of the official refusal document from the embassy/consulate and only if the visa application was submitted to the embassy in time and with all required documentation.

Visa for journalists

Most journalists do not require any special visa other than those applicable to their country of citizenship. However, we encourage you to check with your local French embassy/consulate to verify that no additional information is required.

If you are a US journalist, you need to apply for a journalist visa to enter France. Please contact your local French embassy for further information about the process.

Keep in mind

Keep in mind that you need to:

  • Find out about visa requirements, costs and timing
  • Apply early enough (about 2 to 5 months before your travel date depending on your country of residence)
  • Be prepared to support your application with full appropriate documentation as in the case of visa denial the appeal process is heavy

Important links

“Visa wizard” to check whether you need a visa : https://france-visas.gouv.fr/en_US/web/france-visas/ai-je-besoin-d-un-visa

Online visa application process

https://france-visas.gouv.fr/en_US/web/france-visas

Useful information

Official language:

Our official language is French. Hotel staff will speak English. It is not necessarly the case for restaurant or shop staff. 

The conference will be held in English and French. Translation will be possible during the conference. 

Climate and Clothing:

It will be summer in France in August and the temperatures can vary from 25 to 35°C. Please make sure you have brought adequate clothing. Weather information and forecasts on: http://france.meteofrance.com/

Electricity:

In France the electrical voltage used is 220/230V. Please note that plug adapters and converters might be required.

Banks and currency exchange:

​The currency is the EURO (€). You can pay by credit card in most places : restaurants, hotels, touristic sites, shops. Some places accept payment by credit card for a minimum amout of 10 or 15 €.

​Cash is also allowed. You may get cash at local ATM. Should you need to exchange money, there is only one in Angers : 

Change: 
28 rue de la Röe
49100 Angers - France
www.change-et-or-angers.com

Banks:

  • Monday – Friday: 9.00am – 12.30 / 2.00pm – 7.00pm
  • Saturday: 9.00 am – 12.30 pm 
  • Closed on Sundays

Currency exchange office in the train station:

  • Monday – Saturday: 9.00am – 12.30 / 1.30pm – 6.00pm
  • Closed on Sundays

In France, the most commonly used credit cards are: Visa, American Express, Diners Club, Europay / MasterCard, JCB and Maestro.

ATM Machines will accept also most of these international cards. 

Tax and VAT:

Visitors to France who are not resident in any of the European Union member states can be reimbursed for the VAT (Value Added Tax) paid on purchases that they have made in France and are being transported in their personal luggage. Only private individuals can benefit from this reimbursement. Detailed information can be seen in the following websites:

Tipping:

Service is included in the bill in restaurants. You are not obliged to tip as waiters in France are paid at a minimum wage. You may leave a tip if you wish so and no minimum amount is required. 

Phone calls: 

When calling nationally, the number will include the « 0 ». Example : 02 47 36 69 11 

The international code for France is +33.

When calling internationally, the number will exclude the « 0 ». Example : +33 2 47 36 69 11

Useful phone numbers:

  • Hospital - CHU Angers (University Hospital of Angers): +33.2.41.35.36.37​
  • Post office: 3639
  • Taxi cab - Allo taxi Angers: +33.2.41.87.65.00.
  • In case of emergency: 15
  • Police: 17
  • Firefighters: 18 
  • Emergency: 112

Insurance: 

Organizers of the Global Symposium do not accept any liability for personal accidents or injury or loss or damage to private property of any participant indirectly arising from travelling to France and/or attending the Congress. Participants are advised to purchase adequate travel and health insurance before leaving their own countries.

The organizers are not liable for damages and/or losses of any kind which may be incurred by the conference delegates or by any other individuals accompanying them, both during the official activities as well as going to/from the conference. Delegates are responsible for their own safety and belongings. The registration fee does not cover insurance for delegates. The organizers recommended that delegates take out insurance in their home country to cover pre-journey cancellation for personal reasons and necessary insurance to cover accidents, medical expenses and loss of personal belongings during the visit. No vaccinations are needed when visiting France.

​Force Majeure:

The organizers are not liable for any claims for damages and/or losses if the entire conference has to be cancelled due to a force majeure incident.
In case of cancellation, no refund will be made.

Safety and Security:

In general, France is a very safe country. However, be aware of pickpockets and be careful when crossing streets. Passports should be kept in the hotel safe until the departure day. Also note the serial numbers of your traveller’s checks if you are carrying those. We also recommend having copies of your passport and credit cards with you in case of loss or theft. There is no need to carry too much cash either.