Please note that the Canadian medical/health insurance plan does not cover visitors. Please make sure that you have adequate insurance coverage for travel, medical/health, etc.
Also, although the weather is usually nice and moderate in July, it is always advisable to be prepared with a jacket, umbrella, hat, sunscreen, etc.
Vancouver is located in the south west of Canada, on the coast of the Pacific ocean and about 30 km from the border with the United States. If traveling from oversees, the most convenient option is to fly into the Vancouver International Airport (YVR), which is a very nice and friendly airport with a large number of direct flights to other continents, and is very conveniently located with respect to the conference venue (the University of British Columbia–UBC), as well as the Vancouver downtown. Please consult the map to familiarize yourself with the area. To get to UBC from the airport, there are a variety of options that you can learn from easily from the airport’s transit page. To learn about getting around on campus and parking options, to find campus maps and if you have disability-related concerns, please consult the UBC navigation page. Generally speaking, to get to campus from the airport, perhaps the most convenient options would be to take either a taxi or public transit:
Taxi:
Once you clear immigration and customs and exit the arrivals area, you can easily follow the signs to the taxi pick-up line. Give the taxi driver the address “Gage residence, …, UBC.” It should take about 25 minutes to reach UBC and cost approximately $40 CAD. This is a very convenient option for any time of the day. For more detail, please consult this page.
Public transit:
Once you clear immigration and customs, follow the signs toward “Canada Line”, which is a train linking the airport to other parts of the city. Take the train toward downtown, get off at Broadway City Hall and then take the 99 bus to UBC campus. This would cost approximately $10, but would take longer and may not be as convenient late in the evenings or early in the mornings. For more detail, please consult this page, the UBC navigation page, the Vancouver public transit page and the Canada Line page.
Personal vehicle:
There are a variety of car rental companies at the airport. If you are interested in renting a car, please also familiarize yourself with UBC parking locations and fees.