Arrival and Departure

The arrival day for all participants is
Saturday, June 20, 2009

Please note: In case you arrive earlier, you must find alternative accommodation until June 20, either in a youth hostel or in a hotel in Kassel.

• Youth Hostel Kassel
• Hotels in Kassel                                 

Arrival at Frankfurt Airport
The international airport nearest to Kassel is Frankfurt am Main.

If you arrive at Terminal 1:

• Pick up your luggage at baggage claim
• Follow the signs to the Regional Train Station (Regionalbahnhof) or Long Distance Train Station (Fernbahnhof)
• Buy a train ticket to Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe in the “Deutsche Bahn” Travel Center (DB Reisezentrum) or online prior to your departure to Germany (http://www.bahn.de > Intern. Guests)

Arrival at Terminal 2:

• Pick up luggage at baggage claim
• Take the direct shuttle bus to Terminal 1 and the airport train stations (the shuttle stop is on level two just outside the terminal.) The Shuttle leaves every 10 minutes starting at 5 am the whole day. There are no trains between 12:30 am and 5:00 am, so please follow the signs “Train Stations via Sky Line" during that time
• Buy a train ticket to Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe in the “Deutsche Bahn” Travel Center (DB Reisezentrum) or online prior to your departure to Germany (http://www.bahn.de > Intern. Guests)

Trains from the airport to Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe train station depart approximately every half hour and take about 1 ½  to 3 hours depending on which train you take. Train connections can be found at http://www.bahn.de. You can either purchase your train ticket online prior to departure (requires registration and credit card), or directly at the German railway travel center (DB Reisezentrum) at Frankfurt airport

You can either take

• an Inter City Express (ICE) from the station for long-distance trains “Fernbahnhof” for approx. 45 Euro one way; duration 1 ½-2 hrs.
  or
• a Regionalexpress (RE) from the station for regional trains “Regionalbahnhof” for 25 Euro one way. If you take the Regionalexpress you should buy the “Hessenticket”. (Valid from Monday to Friday for one day from 9 a.m. until 3 a.m. of the following day / on Saturday and Sunday and bank holidays  from 12 a.m. until 3 a.m. of the following day.)
  Please note: Up to five people can travel on one Hessenticket. The more people you are the cheaper it gets for every single person. Duration: 2 ½ - 3 hours.
   [» German Railway Service]

Arrival in Kassel:
After your arrival at Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe train station, you will go to the Intercity Hotel (a mere 2 minutes from the train station). In case you need any information at the station just ask the German Railway staff at the information counter in the center of the entrance hall. For detailed directions to the hotel, please see travel information. In the evening, a member of the ISU team will pick you up for the opening ceremony.

Departure from Kassel:
The day of departure for all ISU participants is Saturday, July 18, 2009.

Please note: If you are planning to stay longer it is your own responsibility to find alternative accommodation, e.g. in a youth hostel or hotel in Kassel.

• Youth Hostel Kassel
• Hotels in Kassel

Depart from Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe to Frankfurt Airport. The duration and the prices will be similar.

Travel Tip:
We recommend that students travelling from the U.S.A  purchase TSA-approved secure luggage locks for all their baggage. The cost is about US$8-10 per lock and they are available at specialized luggage stores. These locks can be opened by security personnel, if required. Other locks may simply be cut leaving no protection whatsoever after they are removed.