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HOTEL & TRAVEL INFORMATION

HOTELS

USENIX has negotiated special room rates for workshop attendees at Hotel Monte Verità and Hotel La Perla. Please make your reservation as soon as possible by emailing conference@usenix.org directly. You will need to indicate your arrival and departure dates, room type, and hotel preference. We will be submitting your reservation directly to the hotels on your behalf.

There are several different options for accommodation. We will handle requests on a first-come, first-served basis and we will do our best to honor your first choice. However, the hotel has a limited number of single rooms available and it may be necessary to assign you a double for single use. If you would like to share a room with a colleague or if you are bringing your spouse, please indicate that when you email us and we will assign you a double room.

Headquarters Hotel: Hotel Monte Verità

(breakfast buffet included)
Via Collina
CH-6612 Ascona
Switzerland
Map of Hotel Monte Verità (PDF)

  • Sessions will take place at Centro congressuale (5)
  • Single and double rooms are available at Albergo Bauhaus (6) and Villa Semiramis (7)
  • Apartment Casa Gioia (19)

Fees

  • Single: 120 CHF/night (approx. $100 US)
  • Double: 210 CHF/night (approx. $179 US)
  • Double for single use: 140 CHF/night (approx. $119 US)
  • Apartment Casa Gioia: Sleeps six people at 400 CHF/night (approx. $340 US)
    This apartment consists of six private single rooms and two shared WC. It is perfect for a group of six that would like to stay together. It is located downhill, near the entrance to the park, but is only a five-minute walk from the workshop center.

Overflow Hotel: Hotel La Perla

(breakfast buffet included)
Web site
Hotel La Perla is located approximately 0.5 km from Monte Verità. There will be a free shuttle to transport attendees staying at La Perla to the workshop center at Monte Verità before and after sessions.

  • Single: 120 CHF/night (approx. $100 US)

Room Sharing

Need a roommate at HotOS XII? Subscribe to the roomshare email list.

AIRPORTS & GROUND TRANSPORTATION

Map
Download a map of the region around Monte Verità in PDF format.

By Air and Train

We recommend that you fly into the Swiss airport Zurich-Kloten to get to Monte Verità, Ascona, Switzerland. Travel time from the Zurich airport to the conference center is approximately 3.5 hours (not including the time between connections), but the train ride through the mountains is spectacular.

The Italian Milano-Malpensa airport is closer to Monte Verità, but it is not recommended because the public transportation connections to Ascona are not very convenient. Travel time from the Malpensa airport to the conference center is approximately 4 hours.

Travel via Zurich, Switzerland

Trains leave Zurich Airport for Zurich Main Station (a ten-minute ride) several times every hour from the train station just beneath the main airport building.

From Zurich Main Station to Locarno (the city next to Ascona that has a train station):
At odd hours: At Zurich Main Station, change to a train to Bellinzona. Trains to Bellinzona leave at 5, 21, and 23 minutes past every odd hour. The trip takes about 2 hours and 27 minutes. In Bellinzona, change to one of the local trains to Locarno, which leave every 30 minutes. The journey time from Bellinzona to Locarno is about 26 minutes.

Odd Hours Train Schedule

At even hours: At Zurich Main Station, change to a train to Locarno (continues to Bellinzona and sometimes to Locarno), leaving at 9 minutes past every even hour. The train has a travel time of 3 hours. You can remain comfortably seated and enjoy the scenery all the way to Locarno.

Even Hour Train Schedule

Check the timetable of the Swiss Federal Railways for your individual train connection.

From Locarno to Monte Verità, Ascona:
From Locarno to Ascona it takes about 15 minutes by bus number 31. The bus stop in Locarno is located opposite the railway station and bus number 31 leaves every 15 minutes. The bus stops at the post office in Ascona. From there to Monte Verità you can either walk (15 minutes uphill!), take a taxi for 10 CHF, or the BUXI (Bus & Taxi) for 1 CHF at limited times (leaving opposite the Otello Cinema, on the right).

A taxi from Locarno train station to Monte Verità costs approximately 30 CHF (regular taxi), or approximately 17 CHF (EcoTaxi, Phone 0800 321 321). You can also make a reservation in advance to have a taxi pick you up from the Locarno train station.

Travel via Milan, Italy

From Milano Malpensa Airport to Bellinzona via Bus and Train:
You can take the Malpensa Express Bus to Bellinzona. Travel time is approximately 2.5–3 hours. For rates, schedules, and online reservations, please see the Malpensa Express Web site.

At the Bellinzona Train Station, change to a local train to Locarno, which leaves every 30 minutes. The journey time from Bellinzona to Locarno is about 26 minutes.

Travel Schedule from Milan

From Locarno to Monte Verità, Ascona:
See above.

From Milano Malpensa Airport to Monte Verità, Ascona, by Car

The distance is 128 km and the travel time is about 1 hour and 36 minutes.

  • From the airport, take the ramp to A8/Milano-Varese/Milano and merge onto SS336 for 14.4 km.
  • Take the exit onto A8/E62 toward A9/Como-Chiasso/E35/Milano for 13.4 km.
  • Take the exit onto A9/E35 toward Como/Chiasso for 32.0 km. There will be a partial toll road to enter into Switzerland.
  • Continue on A2 for 42.6 km.
  • Take exit 47-Bellinzona-Sud toward Locarno, turn left at 2/Via Cantonale, continue to follow 2 for 3.0 km. The road will split; continue on Via San Gottardo.
  • At the traffic circle, take the 2nd exit onto Via Stazione heading to Gambarogno/Locarno.
  • Go through 2 more traffic circles; at the 3rd traffic circle, take the 2nd exit onto Via Monte Ceneri (3.4 km).
  • At the traffic circle, take the 2nd exit onto A13 heading to Tenero/Locarno (10.5 km). Take the exit toward Ascona; turn right at Via Locarno.
  • At the traffic circle, take the 1st exit onto Viale Monte Verità.
  • Turn right at Via Losone, and then make a slight left at Strada Madonna della Fontana.
  • Turn left at Via Monte Verità and turn left at Strada della Collina. Turn left into Monte Verità-Ascona, Switzerland.

DISCOUNT CAR RENTALS

Avis USENIX has partnered with Avis to provide a discount to receive the best available rates on car rentals, including unlimited mileage. The discounts are available from seven days before to seven days after the conference. Please use the Avis Worldwide Discount (AWD) number assigned to our group:

  • Avis Worldwide Discount (AWD) number: AWD: G027999
  • Valid Travel Dates:
    • May 11–27, 2009
  • Call Avis directly at (888) 754-8878
  • Discount Reservation Web Site
?Need help? Use our Contacts page.

Last changed: 7 April 2009 jp