Holiday Inn Hotel and Conference Centre
3063 South Service Road (at Guelph Line)
Burlington, Ontario, Canada L7N 3E9
Tel: 905-639-4443
Web site with video tour: www.holiday-inn.com/burlingtoncan

(B) Directions

1) If you are driving and crossing the border at Niagara Falls/Buffalo:

• Cross the border at any of the four crossings at Niagara/ Buffalo
• Join the Queen Elizabeth Way highway (QEW) to Toronto.
• Take exit Guelph Line (Exit #102) in Burlington and go South.
• The hotel is at the SE corner of the interchange.

Total driving time from the Niagara/Buffalo border is about 1 hr.

• Cross the border and join Hwy #401 East to Toronto.
• Drive about 2 hrs, then take exit Hwy #403 toward Hamilton
• Drive about 1 hour, then join QEW to Toronto.
• Take the next Exit on the QEW -- Guelph Line (Exit #102) and go South.
• The hotel is at the SE corner of interchange #102.

Total driving time from Detroit/Windsor border to the hotel is about 3 hours.

3) If you are driving and crossing the border at Port Huron/Sarnia:

• Cross the border and join Hwy #402 to London/Toronto.
• Drive for about 1 hour, then join Hwy #401 East toward Toronto.
• Drive about ½ hour, then take exit Hwy #403 toward Hamilton.
• After about one hour’s drive, join the QEW to Toronto.
• Take the Guelph Line exit (Exit #102), the next exit on the QEW, and go South.
• The hotel is at the SE corner of interchange #102.

The total driving time from Sarnia to Burlington is about 2-1/2 hours

Take a taxi from the airport to Holiday Inn, Guelph Line, Burlington. The distance is about 30 miles and cost is about $35 U.S. (Unfortunately, there is no shuttle bus). You may also rent a car at the airport for the weekend.

If you are driving from Toronto airport:

• Take Hwy #427 South from the airport
• After driving about 6 miles, take QEW West toward Hamilton
• After driving about 25 miles on the QEW West, take the Guelph Line exit (Exit #102) in Burlington. Take Guelph Line South.
• The hotel is at the SE corner of the interchange #102.
• Total driving time from the Airport to Burlington is about 45 minutes, depending on traffic conditions.

5) If you are arriving at Buffalo Airport:

The best option would be to rent a car. See 1) above for directions.

American Citizens and Green Card holders do not require visas to come to Canada. Certain American visa holders also do not require a Canadian Visa. (Please check your visa status and make sure that you have the proper documents.) Indian citizens visiting the U.S. require a visa to enter Canada. Please note that they insist on photo ID at the border.

There is no inspection/check on the American side when you enter Canada. Similarly, there is no inspection on the Canadian side when you return to the U.S.

(D) Health Insurance

Canadian residents are covered by government health care. Unfortunately, this coverage does not extend to visitors and non-residents. Please make sure that the health insurance you carry in the U.S. will cover you during your stay in Canada.

(E) Weather

Weather conditions in Toronto during July are comparable to Detroit, Chicago, and Boston, with temperature in the high 70s and 80s. Sometimes, the temperature can fall into the 60s at night, or go up into the 90s during the day. So dress accordingly. Headgear and sunscreen are recommended on the boat, if it turns out to be a Sunny & hot day on the 4th of July.

(F) The Program

We have tried hard to put together a program which would be of interest to the young and the not-so-young. The tentative schedule of events is attached.

(G) Babysitting:

Babysitters will be provided at the hotel, for young children, during the dinner and evening performances.

(H) Surroundings

If you are planning on arriving a few days earlier, or staying behind, other places to visit in the immediate area would be Niagara Falls and Toronto.

Niagara Falls is about an hour’s drive from Burlington. The attractions include Maid of the Mist boat tours, tunnels, towers and Marineland. Please visit the following website http://niagara.falls.net/default.html for more information.

Toronto is about 45 min drive from Burlington. The attractions in Toronto include: the CN Tower, Ontario Place, Ontario Science Centre, City Hall and the Parliament Buildings. Toronto is a lively city, and there is a lot to see and do, and it is safe to go around. Please visit the following website for more information: www.Toronto.com

(I) Golf

If you are an avid golfer, you are in the right place. There are countless golf courses in the area. The two nearest to the hotel are Millcroft and Tyandaga. (Greens fees are about $50 plus cart rental about $20). If you really like challenges, the renowned Glen Abbey Course is a few minutes down the road in Oakville. It is a Jack Niklaus-designed PGA course and is the home of the Canadian Open. It is tough; and the green fees plus the cart rental would drain you for about $200U.S. (in addition to the cost of golf balls you are likely to lose in the valley, on holes 11 through 15).

Golf Courses in Burlington:

• Burlington Golf & Country Club
• Millcroft Golf Club
• Burlington Springs Golf Club
• New Course at Hidden Lake Golf & Country Club
• Camilse Course at Camisle Golf Club
• Old Course at Hidden Lake Golf & Country Club
• Land of Legend Course at Camisle Golf Club
• Tyandaga Municipal Golf Course
• Lowville Heights Golf Club

Please visit the following website for more information

(J) Sports/Fitness

The hotel has a swimming pool, fitness centre, a basketball court, and tennis courts. For quiet strolls, Burlington has an excellent waterfront park.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call or email us. (Tel: 905-639-7369, sardesai@sympatico.ca ).

Have a safe trip, and we look forward to welcoming you in two weeks.

Saturday, July 3, 2004:

2:00pm - 4:30pm – Registration

5:00pm - 6:00pm - Cocktails

6:00pm - 7:30pm - Dinner

8:00pm onwards - Family Night

(Participants will include family members, followed by DJ)

Sunday, July 4, 2004:

7:00am - 9:00am - Breakfast

9:00am - 10:30am – Presentations/Lectures

(Presenters: Dr. Hede; Dr. Ramani; Mr. Ben Antao)

11:00pm - 4:30pm – "A Taste of Toronto"

A scenic cruise (with lunch and music) through Toronto’s

impressive Harbourfront, aboard a chartered cruise liner

5:00pm - 6:00pm - Cocktails

6:00pm - 7:30pm - Dinner

8:00pm onwards – "An Evening of Geet Sangeet"

(Natya Sangeet, Gazals, Film Songs, etc., followed by DJ)

Monday, July 5, 2004:

8:00am - 10:00am - Breakfast

10:00am - 12:00am - Biennial General Meeting

- Venue for 2006 GOA Convention

12:00pm - 1:00pm - Lunch

- Adjourn and good byes

MUSIC:

Live Band by " The Illusions"