Useful information

• Money. You can use US dollars everywhere, at the standard exchange rate of 2 Bds$=1 US$. They'll give you change in Barbados dollars. You can either change money at the airport (I do not know if they are open late, for those of you arriving late in the evening), or withdraw with an ATM card at any local bank (there are plenty of them within a 20 min walk from Bellairs).
• Upon arrival: Local transportation by cab from airport is about 60 Barbados dollars, or $30 US. Use only the official cabs outside the customs area: there is a superviser assigning people to cabs and giving you the receipt for the fare. Preferably, try to share a cab, by checking the arrival times of other participants. You need cash. US dollars typically work, and I think Canadian ones too, but I do not guarantee. Directions: Tell the cab driver to take you to Holetown, in the parish of St James, at the Bellairs Research Institute located on the main road between Folkstone Park and Coral Reef Club. The entrance is from the road, on your left when coming from the direction of Holetown or airport, right after Folkstone park. Once at Bellairs: get off the cab, pay, take your luggage and walk around the building in front of you (along a small passage way to the right of the building, between it and the fence surrounding the property). Through a gate, you enter the Bellairs inner yard. Usually, the organizer is in the yard, waiting to meet the participants as they arrive, and hand them the keys to their rooms.
• Internet access. Wireless Internet works fine, in general. I.e. if there is no storm, or some similar disruptive event (not very likely at this time of the year). It will cost you about $15, or so, for the entire week - payable upon departure from Bellairs.
• Electricity. US plugs are standard in Barbados.
• Mosquitos. Mosquitos are plenty and hungry. The rooms in Brace Building DO NOT HAVE mosquito nets in the windows (the older rooms are better equipped!), but there will be a little device in your room that you plug in to keep the mosquitos away while you sleep (works reasonably well). You can buy mosquito repellant at the local supermarket in Holetown, or bring some with you.
• Dietary restrictions. Let me know if you have any food constraints (I cannot promise I will be able to accommodate them all, but I'll try; e.g. by asking the cook to prepare enough vegetables for the vegetarians).
• Coffee and groceries. You can find now any type of coffee (and almost any kind of food, for that matter) in Barbados. The local supermarket is well stocked and within reasonable distance (20 min walk).
• Departure fee. The departure fee has been discontinued (it is now included in your airfare).

• The Barbados dollar is roughly 1/2 a US dollar. Prices below are quoted in US dollars, unless noted otherwise.
• There is a currency exchange booth in the arrivals area at the airport in Barbados. Local banks with ATM machines (located in the supermarket area in Holetown, 20 min walk from Bellairs) are the best option.
• Airfare: around $500 from NY area. May vary, and seems to have gone up, like all airfare, in recent years, so take this information with a grain of salt.
• Accomodations: current rates are posted on Bellairs site. Roughly $45 per person per night, in the new building. Can be paid by credit card, check or cash.
• There is an excellent network of inexpensive local public transportation by bus (state run or private). The fare is about 1.5 or 2 Barbados dollars. From the airport, it may take a while, and you will have to change the bus, so I generally do not recommend this (although I once came this way, and it was very picturesque to travel with the locals and get a feel of real life on the island).
• Food prices vary. Expect slightly higher (but not by much) prices for food in the local supermarket. A reasonable lunch may run between 10-20-30 Barbados at a fast food or beach place, to 40+ Barbados at a good restaurant nearby, to as expensive as you may wish. We usually do one special dinner at Zaccios on Saturday night, for about 50-60 Barbados dollars, order pizza or go to Grooves (a small restaurant across the street) the other evening when dinner is not served at Bellairs.
• Meal prices at Bellairs seem to have changed, check their web page for the latest.

• You must send original receipts. Keep copies of them, just in case.
• To get reimbursement from NSF, air travel must be done on US carriers and partners, unless this is not an option.
• On joint meal receipts, mark your expense. Alcohol expenses are not reimbursable and should not be included.
• How to submit a reimbursement:
  • Download the Smith "Expense Reimbursement Reports" form and the W9 form from the Smith Forms page.
  • Fill in the Smith "Expense Reimbursements Reports" form and email to Ileana. Then print and sign.
  • Print, fill in, and sign the W9
  • Send to Ileana, in one package, (1)the reimbursement form, (2)the W9 form, and (3)all original receipts.