Accommodations:
For the convenience of attendees, a special block of rooms have been reserved at:
Sheraton Philadelphia – University City (http://www.philadelphiasheraton.com)
215-387-8000
Please mention “Neurobiology of Stress Workshop” when booking to ensure the block rate.
UPDATE: Attendees, please make sure to book your room at the Sheraton by May 13 to qualify for the reduced rate.
The Sheraton was recently updated and features a number of great amenities, and is adjacent to the University of Pennsylvania campus.
If necessary, alternatives for lodging include the Inn at Penn, also adjacent to campus but more expensive, as well as numerous Center City hotels.
Travel:
Flights may be booked directly into Philadelphia International Airport (PHL). Newark (EWR) or Baltimore Washington International (BWI) are alternatives, but they are distant and connect to Philadelphia via Amtrak.
Amtrak is also an excellent option for those attendees located along the Northeast Corridor. Philadelphia 30th St Station, the Amtrak station and a hub for Philadelphia light rail, is located in University City and taxis are always available from the station.
We have arranged for a 10% discount for those attendees using Amtrak to come to the meeting. To use this discount, you must reserve your tickets over the phone or in person at a station; booking online will not work. Acela service is excluded from the discount. Please use the Fare Code Number: X88J-946, Valid For Travel: June 09, 2012 – June 18, 2012.
To get to the hotel and University City/Center City from the airport, the best options are either SEPTA Regional Rail (light rail) to the University City or 30th St Station stops, or taxis. (Please note that renting a car is not recommended, as parking can be challenging to find and/or expensive.)
SEPTA Regional Rail from the airport is quite economical ($7/person) and convenient with stops at multiple airport terminals. During rush hour, this is usually quicker than a taxi. SEPTA light rail may be taken to either the University City stop or the 30th St Station stop. Note that the University City stop generally does not have taxis at the station, but it is 2 blocks from the hospitals of Penn and CHOP, which have a taxi stand. It is also a short and pleasant walk to the Sheraton, if heavy luggage is not a consideration. If choosing to ride to 30th St, taxis are nearly always available, and are recommended as Market St is busier and less pedestrian friendly than the norm in Philadelphia.
Taxis ride to/from Center City/University City and PHL for a flat rate per trip (currently $28.50, not including tip). For taxi rides not originating or ending at the airport (e.g. from University City to Center City), rates vary by trip length.
For complete information on travel from the Philadelphia airport to the city, including fares and schedules, see the PHL ground transportation website.
Parking:
For those of you who will be driving in to the meeting and must park, there are several paid lots in the vicinity of the meeting site that are available for all-day parking. We recommend Penn Tower, across the street from the main CHOP hospital building, as your first choice parking site. The following information is from the website for the nearby Penn Archaeology Museum (where the poster session will be held) about parking and applies equally well to our situation:
1) Garage 7, located at the corner of South Streets and Convention Avenue, just east of the Penn Museum. Parking can be limited with garage filling early—usually by 7:30 am, some spots reopening after 10:30 am.
Regular Daily Rate (no discounts offered): $20 Monday through Friday, Early morning to 5:00 pm.
Evening and Weekend Rate (except for special event parking days): $10 after 5:00 pm
2) The Penn Tower Parking Garage, adjacent to the Museum has limited parking.
3) Lot 37 at 34th and Chestnut Streets is available Monday through Friday. Lot 37 is closed on weekends.
About Philadelphia:
Philadelphia is awesome! There is truly excellent dining and shopping in a vibrant and compact urban environment, and a plethora of exciting historical and cultural destinations, all within a few square miles.
The campuses of the University of Pennsylvania and the Children’s Hospital are located in University City, just across the Schuylkill river (pronounced “school-cull”) from downtown Philadelphia, also known as Center City. The easternmost section of Center City is also referred to as Old City and contains many historical landmarks. Getting around University City and Center City is quite easy, as both areas are extremely walkable and popular, and for longer distances, public transportation is ample and taxis are easily obtained.
Learn more about the city from the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, and see upcoming events at VisitPhilly.com.
We have created a Google Map of the area that may be of help in planning and getting around.