1. About the travel

1.1. When is the best time to arrive and to leave?

Arrival: Sunday 1st August. Departure: Saturday 21 August.

1.2. I'm arriving in Plovdiv before Sunday 1st August, will the hostel already be available?

If you arrive before Sunday 1st August, please contact Mary, marsta@ulcc.uni-plovdiv.bg, to tell us when you arrive. In principle the hostel should be available, but we cannot garantee it unless you contact us in advance.

1.3. What if I need a visa to go Bulgaria, and an acceptance letter to get the visa?

Contact Iliyana Krapova as soon as possible, she will arrange for the letter to get to you.

1.4. What is the nearest airport?

Sofia.

1.5. Changing money.

Try NOT change money at the airport. It is apparently better to change money in hotels around the Sofia central station, in particular in the big hotel called "Princess".
To go downtown from the airport, you can try and pay in dollars (see next questions)

1.6. I fly to Sofia, how do I get from the Sofia airport to the Sofia (bus/train) station ('Tsentralna Gara')?

If you want to take a taxi to go downtown, you can pay it in dollars (don't go above 10$ though). If you don't want to take a taxi, here is the bus connection: from the airport, take bus N 84 up to Pliska Hotel. There get out and take one of N 213, 313, 305, 413 These go to the Central Station, which is the last stop.

1.7. Once I am in Sofia, how do I go to Plovdiv?

You can choose the train or the bus. The trip is about two hours long. The bus is recommended: it both faster and more convenient.

Bus: the bus terminal is across the boulevard from the Central Station (on the big parking lot behind the Princess Hotel) The buses leave leave on the hour, every hour.
Arriving in Plovdiv: There are several stops in Plovdiv, get of at the last one.

Train: here is the timetable - 6.30*, 7.15, 9.15, 10.15, 12.15, 14.15, 15.15*, 16.15, 17.15*, 18.15, 19.15, 22.40. The ones with a star are faster (2h vs. 2h30), the ticket is around 3 dollars.

1.8. How do I get from the Plovdiv (bus/train) station to the hostel where we are staying?

First, the Plovdiv bus station and the train station are next to each other, so these instructions apply to both.

People from Plovdiv university have offered to help us find our way: on Sunday August 1, every hour sharp, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., there will be one of them waiting for you in front of the Central Railway Station, on the parking lot.

In case you can't take advantage of the above service, here are instructions: The easiest way (surprise!) is to take taxi, it costs about 1$. Otherwise:

From the train station: When you get out of the train station, you'll see a bus station on the same side of the street. Wait for trolley N19. The trolley ticket can be bought on the trolley, and costs about 10 cents.
It goes about every 10mn until 7pm, and then every 20mn until 10pm. After that you're fried ;-)
Get off on the 7th stop (after the second turn of the trolley). Once you get off the trolley, continue to walk in the same direction, until you reach a little restaurant named Prois. There, turn right onto Arhitect-Kamen-Petkov street. The hostel is right there, after aroun 200m, on your left.

From the bus station: When you get off the bus, cross the main street to reach the bus stop.
It goes about every 10mn until 7pm, and then every 20mn until 10pm. After that you're fried ;-)
Wait for trolley N19. Get off the trolley on the 6th stop. Once you get off the trolley, continue to walk in the same direction, until you reach a little restaurant named Prois. There, turn right onto Arhitect-Kamen-Petkov street. The hostel is right there, after aroun 200m, on your left.

1.9. What is the address of the hostel anyway?

Hostel Kamenitsa
1A Arhitect-Kamen-Petkov Street

1.10. Will there be enough place for all in the hostel?

Yes, the hostel is supposed to be able to host up to 240 persons.

2. About the hostel

2.1. What kind of place are we staying in?

The student hostel/dorms of the Plovdiv university. Be ready for austere (but fun) conditions.

2.2. I have living grant, how many people will I share my room with?

There should be three persons per room for grant-receiving people.

2.3. When should I pay for the hostel?

Upon arrival.

3. About the grants

3.1. Is it really true that grants are given only to people who stay for the whole school?

Yes! And we are pretty strict on this (see question 3.5 also)

3.2. What's the difference between an "accomodation" grant and a "living" grant

None. They are the same thing by two different names. Terminological confusion.

3.3. I have an accomodation grant, do I need to pay the hostel and be reimbursed after?

No, the school pays the hostel directly.

3.4. I have an accomodation grant, I heard in includes some money for my every day needs.

Yes, it includes a small sum which is will help you out, but will not cover your entire expenses. It was 1$/day last year in Debrecen (Hungary), and will probably be the same this year.

3.5. I have a travel grant, how does reimbursement proceed?

You are expected to pay your travel, and then be reimbursed during the school. The reimbursement will be at the end of the school. We will be pretty strict on this, as there has been some abuse last year.

4. About the classes

4.1. Am I supposed to attend all the classes?

No way! This school is supposed to be benefit you, not stuff too much down your throat! So attend as much as you can digest, and only the parts you are really interested in.