General Information

ABRF 2017 Annual Meeting Location

The ABRF 2017 Annual Meeting will take place at the Town and Country Resort & Convention Center located at 500 Hotel Circle North, San Diego, CA 92108.  It is located in Mission Valley with easy access to malls and trolleys that take you anywhere in San Diego.

The San Diego International Airport is only 7 miles away from the Town and Country Resort & Convention Center. Click here for directions to the Town and Country Resort & Convention Center.

Hotel Reservations

A block of rooms has been secured at the Town and Country Resort & Convention Center for ABRF attendees at discounted rates. Government Rates are also available. Make Your Hotel Reservations!

Visitors Information
Please click here for visitors information.

Banking and Foreign Exchange
The official currency in the United States is US Dollars. The US Dollar ($) is divided into 100 cents; notes are in denominations of $100, 50, 20, 10, 5, and 1. Banking hours in the United States are generally Monday through Friday, 09:00 – 17:00. A few banks are open on Saturdays as well. You can withdraw money from ATM bank machines using your credit card and make purchases in stores and restaurants. Signs display accepted credit cards or you can ask the retailer. Check with your local financial institution to verify if you are able to use your home bank card or credit card prior to travel.

ATM bank machine service is available in the Town and Country Resort & Convention Center. 

City Map
Click here to view regional maps of San Diego.

Climate
The climate of San Diego is categorized as a dry Mediterranean climate. The average high and low temperatures in June are 71 degrees Fahrenheit and 62 degrees Fahrenheit respectively.
 
Dialing Codes
The USA country code is +001, while San Diego landlines start with a 619 area code, followed by a 7 digit number.  The International access code for the United States is 1. While in the United States, you can call the directory information service number 411 for assistance in finding a phone number. Calls to area codes 800, 877, and 866 are toll-free in the United States. To make an international call, dial 011 followed by the country code, city code, and telephone number.
 
Dining Out
San Diego is an up-and-coming culinary destination, thanks to its stunning Pacific Ocean setting, proximity to Mexico, diverse population and the area’s extraordinary farming community. For a list of great places to dine and to make reservations, please visit the San Diego Tourism Authority’s website by clicking here.

Electricity
Electric power is standardized in all states across the USA. It is set at 110 Volts and 60 cycles. If you bring any electrical appliance to the USA, you may need an adaptor to fit the US electrical receptacles. You may also need a converter to change the voltage from 110 volts to 220 volts.

Language
The official language of the meeting is English. Translation service will not be provided.

Name Badge
The ABRF badge must be worn at all times for admission to the scientific sessions, exhibits, and social events.

Smoking Policy
Smoking is banned in all public places including all enclosed or partly enclosed public areas. 

Tax
Sales tax in San Diego is 8.0%.

Tipping
Restaurant prices do not generally include a service charge, unless dining with a large group. It is customary to leave a tip of 15-20%.

Transportation

San Diego International Airport (SAN)
Getting to San Diego is easy and convenient from cities across the U.S. and around the globe. The city offers daily nonstop flights to and from nearly 60 cities and thousands of domestic and international flights weekly.  The airport terminals are easy to navigate. Click here  to visit the San Diego International Airport’s website.

Rental Cars
Effective, January 20, 2016, all car rental pick-ups and drop-offs for rental car companies serving San Diego International Airport will occur at the new Rental Car Center. Free dedicated shuttle busses will run continually to ferry customers between the airport terminals and the Rental Car Center.  Click here for a list of rental car agencies available at the Rental Car Center.

Train
The Santa Fe Depot, located in downtown San Diego on Kettner Blvd and Broadway, is the main hub for Amtrak, providing various coastal train services from downtown San Diego to Oceanside and beyond. 

There are plenty of connecting services from the Oceanside station, including the Sprinter inland rail that can take you out east to Escondido. You may also ride the Pacific Surfliner train from San Diego to Solana Beach and Oceanside plus Anaheim, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and many places in between. Click here for more information about Amtrak.

Public Transportation

Coaster Train
Monday through Sunday, the North County Transit District’s Coaster trains connec downtown San Diego and Old Town with coastal communities throughout the county  including Solana Beach, Encinitas, Carlsbad and Oceanside. These trains offer visitors car-free access to some of the most charming beach communities in the region as well as a relaxing ride with breathtaking coastal scenery. There are more than 20 trains that run on weekdays with additional service on weekends. The entire coaster route from Oceanside to the Santa Fe Depot downtown takes about an hour. An adult round-trip fare from downtown San Diego to Oceanside is $11, and children aged 5 and under ride free.

Old Town Trolley

A great way to get around many of the main tourist areas of San Diego is the Old Town Trolley Tours. The Trolley stops at 11 places including Old Town, Seaport Village, Gaslamp Quarter, Coronado, Little Italy and Balboa Park. They also offer a La Jolla and Mission Bay route. You can either ride on the full two-hour narrated historic tour, or hop on and off at different stops throughout the day. They also offer two-day passes and combination options with SEAL Tours. For more information about Old Town Trolley, click here.

Taxi
Taxicab stands are located at the airport, most hotels, attractions and shopping centers. Base fare and rates are displayed on the meter and include a flag drop charge plus a per-mile and/or a per-hour charge. If you are traveling from the airport, they will also add $1.50 to your final total. Follow this link for more information on taxi rates in San Diego. Uber is also well established in San Diego and now has access to service San Diego’s airport.

Many companies provide taxicab service at San Diego International Airport. If you need a taxi, simply follow the signs leading to the Transportation Plazas. A Transportation Coordinator will place you with the first available taxi, unless you specify a particular taxicab company.

Trains & Trolleys
Travelers from along the West Coast and beyond can book a seat or berth on an Amtrak train and relax while they enjoy great views of the Pacific Ocean.  While in San Diego, visitors can also use the region’s San Diego Trolley and Coaster trains to explore the region by rail.

There are three trolley lines (Blue, Orange and Green) that service the downtown San Diego communities and beyond, covering 51 miles of track, and 53 stations total. Fares run from $1.50 to $3 one-way and trolleys run an average of every 15 minutes, 7 minutes during peak and 30 minutes during off-peak hours.  For current information on Bus and Trolley Service, visit the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System.

Water Taxi
San Diego Water Taxi offers on-call transportation services in San Diego Bay Friday through Sunday.  Service runs between Downtown and Coronado, where you can relax and enjoy the scenery and beautiful downtown skylines from the water. Hop serenely from place to place conveniently from your hotel to nearby shopping centers and restaurants. Click here for more information about the San Diego Water Taxi.