International Cultic Studies Association
Formerly AFF, American Family Foundation &
The Psychology Faculty, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid

presents

Psychological Manipulation, Cultic Groups, and Other Alternative Movements

Madrid, Spain, July 14-16, 2005

The International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA) is an interdisciplinary network of academicians, professionals, former group members, and families who study and educate the public about social-psychological influence and control, authoritarianism, and zealotry in cultic groups, alternative movements, and other environments. Founded in 1979 as AFF (American Family Foundation), ICSA took on its current name in late 2004 to better reflect the organization's focus and increasingly international and scholarly dimensions.

 Travel Information

Ω 1-Home Conference
Ω 2-Program
Ω 3-presenters/speakers
Ω 4-Fees
Ω 5-Ways to Register
Ω 6-Facility and Lodging
Ω 7-Travel Information
Ω 8-Registration Fax/Mail Form

Travel Information

Airport Shuttle

Airport shuttle service (www.aerocity.com) +34 91 747 75 70 (approximately $26-$30)

www.softguides.com/madrid_guide/transport/arriving.html

Directions and Public Transportation

Autonomous University of Madrid has its main location on the Campus of Cantoblanco which is located 15 kilometers north from Madrid downtown at M-607 Highway. It is near the municipalities of Alcobendas, San Sebastián de los Reyes, Tres Cantos y Colmenar Viejo.

Well connected by the following buses: 714 (Plaza de Castilla - Cantoblanco), 827 (Canillejas – Cantoblanco - Tres Cantos), 827A (San Sebastián de los Reyes - Cantoblanco) and 828 (Campo de las Naciones - Cantoblanco); and also by several train lines: C1, C7, C10 (Cercanías RENFE), destination Tres Cantos and Alcobendas - San Sebastián de los Reyes calling at Cantoblanco Universidad station.

From the Airport of Barajas

To get from the Airport of Barajas to the Erasmo Residence (Dormitory) which is located on the campus of La Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM): 

You need to take two public modes of transport: first, the Subway or underground (identified as Metro) and, second, the Train (known as Cercanias). 

Once you have your luggage (in the airport), you have to look for the signs, specifically, the one for Metro.  Madrid Metro has a net-map (called Plano), which is divided into at least 12 main lines (see map of Metro). Take the fuchsia line 8 from the station named "Barajas." It is almost a six-minute walk. From the Metro Barajas station, take the underground in the direction of Nuevos Ministerios, the last station, which almost takes 15 minutes. In this station, you need to change from Metro to Train, or "cercanias."  It is easy because once you get out of the Metro, you can see the train station on the other side.  This relocation takes just about 3 minutes.  Follow the sign for the train and take one of the three lines that go in the direction of Tres Cantos, Colmenar Viejo, or Alcobendas (see map of Cercanias - move you cursor beneath the bottom right corner of the picture and you can click to expand it).  Any one of these lines (C1, C7, C10) leads to the station of Cantoblanco Universidad.  The train from Nuevos Ministerios to the station at Cantoblanco Universidad takes about 15 minutes.
 

Once you get to the station of Cantoblanco Universidad, you are in the campus of La Universidad Autonoma de Madrid.  Once there, you will see two lanes.  Please take the left narrow road.  At the end, make a left and keep on till the end. Take a right and you will see the Erasmo Residence on your left.  From the train station to the Residence is about a six-minute walk.     

All in all, you have to take the Metro from the Airport to Nuevos Ministerios.  In this station, you need to go to the train station, where you will take the train in the direction of Cantoblanco Universidad.    

After you do it, you will feel that it is easier done than said.

For detailed information on Madrid's public transportation system go to http://www.ctm-madrid.es/  where you will find an option for English.

Driving Directions

Madrid has 6 principal highways entering and leaving the city; the N-I to N-VI (now renamed to A-1 to A-6). It also has two major ring roads, the inner-one is known as the M30, the outer one known as the M40. See Map 1.

To get to the Campus of Cantoblanco from the airport take the A-10 highway following the signs to the N-I (Burgos Highway, M-607 is also indicated in orange all the way) until you reach the M-40 Norte.

Follow the M-40 until you reach the M-607 Highway exit 57 for Tres Cantos and Colmenar Viejo. Follow the indications for Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (in purple). See Map 2.

Getting Around Madrid

 See www.descubremadrid.com/en/index.asp and

www.softguides.com/madrid_guide/transport/arriving.html  

Travel Advice

If you feel you have found a good deal on an air fare or car rental and would like to share that information with others, let us know.  If appropriate, we can post the information on this page.

Let us know if you are looking for a travel partner or somebody to share a room during the conference.  We can try to put you in touch with others who indicate such an interest.

Check with the Spanish consulate in your country, if you think a visa might be needed to travel to Spain.  The New York Spanish consulate's Web site says: "US citizens with ordinary passports, valid for a minimum of 6 months, who wish to stay in Spain for tourist or business purposes for up to 90 days DO NOT NEED A VISA."  Citizens of Canada and Mexico do not need Visas for stays of 90 days or less with a passport valid for a minimum of 3 months.

Make sure your passport is up-to-date.  If not, renew it soon to make sure your new passport is ready in time.

It is wise to carry travelers checks, rather than large amounts of cash.  Visa and MasterCard is accepted widely in Europe.

If you are planning to rent a car and travel through several European countries, you might find it desirable to shop around.  Car rental fees can vary considerably from country to country, as can air travel.  For example, on 12/31/04 air fares from New York to Madrid tended to be in the $850 range, but we found an air fare to Frankfurt, Germany for $751 and one to London for $739.  Travel agents can be helpful, although one can often do quite well browsing the Web oneself.  Sometimes fares can be lower closer to the travel date; however, predicting fares can be risky. 

Summer is peak season for European travel.

Euro Railways passes offer inexpensive travel.

In this era of heightened security, especially on international flights, make sure you pay attention to air carrier recommendations about early arrival at your departure airport.

If you've ever watched Rick Steves' travel videos on PBS, you've heard him say time and again, "Travel Light!" 

Air Fare Tips From Registrants

If you find a good price on air fare, please let us know so we can pass the information on to others interested in the conference.  Thus far, we have:

"we found good flights with Easyjet from Luton Airport [England] for £111.96 for the two of us. Everything else was approximately this price for one of us, so that was very good."

"You asked for information about travel arrangements. I have already booked a return air ticket for 116,00 € (euros) through on-line agency which I found using the "kelkoo" search engine. I would suggest anyone traveling from France do the same."

"The train journey takes all night, and costs just over 100 €. This could save night in an hotel, I guess, but I'm not sure you would get in early enough not to miss the beginning of the conference on the 14th."
 

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Related Information

* ICSA
* ICSA boards
* Polices
* Terms
◊ About ICSA an Overview of Issues
◊ Refund and return policies
◊ Shipping policies

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