Frequently Asked Questions

• Are babies or children invited to come to the conference? 

No, we are so sorry but this conference is designed for women only. Teenage girls 15 and over are welcome.

• Can I come to the conference and not sleep there?  

Yes, you may register as a day guest. The cost for a day guest ranges from 45€ to 85€ Please click HERE to see more information about the conference packages and what they include.

• Can I pay for the conference after arriving at the retreat center? 

Please pay before coming to the conference either by Bank transfer, credit card via PayPal or American Checks (click HERE for more information about how you can pay).

• Will someone meet me at the airport? 

No. If your flight time does not allow you to take the shuttle bus, you will need to take the public transportation. (For detailed information about public transportation, please click HERE.)
Bus shuttle times from the airport are as follows:
 Friday: Shuttle bus 1 leaves at 3:30 p.m. from the bus parking area at Terminal 1 (T1).  A second bus will leave at 4:30 p.m. from the parking area of Terminal 4 (T4). (Blue and green transit buses circulate frequently between the terminals offering free transport.  Go outside to curb to find an airport shuttle bus if you need to change terminals.) The sign at the front of our bus will say, “IBC WOMEN.” Duration of trip: approximately 1 hour.
Sunday: Shuttle bus leaves El Escorial for the airport at 2:45 p.m.

• How can I get into Madrid from the airport to my hotel if I come early or stay after the conference?              

If you stay at the Meliá Avenida de America Hotel, there is a free shuttle service to and from the airport.  If you stay at another hotel that does not have the shuttle service, it is quite easy to take a bus into the city from the airport.  From Terminal 1, 2, or 3, take bus 200 at the curb.  From Terminal 4, take bus 204.  These are special blue buses with space for luggage, and they take you to the Avenida de America metro and city bus hub from which you can take the metro anywhere in the city.  There is also a metro line from Terminal 2 and Terminal 4 in the airport into the city. 

• If I come early to see Madrid, can I still ride on the bus from the airport to the conference center on Friday afternoon? 

 Yes, but you must sign up for this when you register. Check the bus schedules given and simply take a bus or the metro to the airport in time to make the bus leaving Terminal 1 at 3:30.  

• Will I get to stay with the ladies from my church? 

We will do our best to room each of you with someone from your church. If you have a special request, let us know. Please be understanding if you do not receive your first choice in this. Maybe God wants you to make a new friend this weekend. :)

• Will there be simultaneous translation of the speaker into other languages? 

No, the conference sessions will be in English only.

• What drinks are provided? 

Coffee, tea, and water will be provided during each break. With all of our meals we will have hot and cold drinks. There are also vending machines available that sell coffee, sodas, and juice.

• I have food allergies.  Can these be accommodated? 

 It is possible that the retreat center kitchen could provide alternate food choices for those with food allergies, but only if requested in advance.  Please let us know when you register if you have such a request.

• Since this is a retreat center, will I need to bring bedding? 

No.  Casa San José provides sheets, blankets, pillows and towels. If you want a face cloth, you need to bring one with you.

• Is there internet connection available at the retreat center?

 There is WiFi connection available. There are also several internet cafes in El Escorial.

• Will there be a telephone in my room?

No. There is no telephone or television in the rooms. However, there is a pay phone available in the reception area.                   

• Can I extend my check out time?

Because we are staying at a retreat center, this will not be possible. However, you will be able to leave your luggage inside your room until the conference ends on Sunday afternoon.

• What if I need to stay additional nights?  
  In Madrid, Hotel Meliá Avenida de América offers special conference attendee rates: (100 € + 7% VAT for either a single or double room). This is a 4-star hotel with free shuttle service to and from the airport and easy access into the city center. Price includes a buffet breakfast. Be sure to identify yourself as an IBC Women’s Conference attendee by adding our code:  485296.  Link:  www.hotelavenidaamerica.es.                                                                      

1. Other accommodation suggestions include: Hostal “Albergue Juvenil”, address: Mejía Lequerica, 21; metro: Alonso Martínez or Tribunal www.ajmadrid.es  Priced according to whether you are under or over 25 yrs. of age. You do not have to be a "youth". Email: info@ajmadrid.es                                                
2. Links to other hotel offers in Madrid: http://www.madridhoteles.es/index.aspx?lang=GB   
3. If you have a car or are taking the train, you may also choose to spend more time in the town of El Escorial.  The tourism office has recommended the following:   

 Hotel Miranda

 www.hotelmirandasuizo.com

 Calle Floridablanca 18 - 20

 28200 San Lorenzo De El Escorial

 Phone: 0034 - 918 904 711 

 Hotel Botánico

 www.labuganvilla.es

 Calle Timoteo Padrós 16

 28200 San Lorenzo De El Escorial

Phone: 0034 - 918 907 879 

Hospedería del Valle de Los Caídos            

www.hospederiadelvalledeloscaidos.es

Carretera Valle Caídos 0,

28200, San Lorenzo de El Escorial (Madrid)

Phone: 0034 - 918 905 511

Contact person: Father Alberto

• Is there an option to not pay for our meals?

No. The conference is all-inclusive. We only have 3 options available: Weekend Package staying nights at the Retreat Center; Weekend Package not staying nights; and Saturday Only.

• Where do we put our luggage after we check out on Sunday during the rest of the conference?

We will be able to leave our luggage in our rooms until the conference concludes after lunch on Sunday.

• My flight leaves early on Sunday morning.  Can I still catch a shuttle bus to the airport?  Can I get a sack lunch (bagged lunch)?

There will only be a shuttle bus service at 2.45 p.m. on Sunday.  However, if you ask in advance, a sack lunch / bagged lunch can be made for you if you need to leave earlier. Please mention this in your registration!

• Do I need a visa?

For Visa Inquiries, please copy and paste into browser: http://www.gomadrid.com/practic/visa-passport.html

If your country of origin is the USA, you will of course need a valid passport to visit Spain, but no visa is required for a stay of up to three months.

If you are a national of a European Union country which has not subscribed to the Schengen agreement, the same conditions apply.

However, if your country of origin belongs to the Schengen group, you can enter Spain with no passport or visa controls at all, although it is necessary to have your passport with you as identification.

No visa is required for tourists from Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, Hong Kong, Ireland, Costa Rica, Croatia, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Slovakia, Slovenia, United States, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Holland, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Nicaragua, Norway, New Zealand, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Republic of Korea, San Marino, the Holy See, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Uruguay and Venezuela. Visitors from countries outside the European Union who will be staying longer than 90 days require a visa in their passport. The visas must be requested from the corresponding Spanish consulate in each country.

For all nationalities, it would be prudent to check the latest regulations with the nearest Spanish consulate or embassy. There is a list of embassies and consulates for all countries here. The official Spanish Tourist Board information about entry requirements is here.

• Can I cancel my registration for the conference?

CANCELLATION POLICY: 40 EURO CANCELLATION FEE WHEN YOU NOTIFY US BY APRIL 5, 2010.  THERE WILL BE NO REFUNDS ISSUED AFTER APRIL 5, 2010.