HeliOffshore Annual Conference and AGM 2020

HeliOffshore Annual Conference and AGM 2020
                          Saturday 25th – Sunday 26th April 2020
                                    Cascais, Portugal

THE DESTINATION: CASCAIS, PORTUGAL

General Information
Cascais is a small coastal town in Portugal within the greater Lisbon area.

Cascais' history as a popular seaside resort originated in the 1870s, when King Luís I of Portugal and
the Portuguese royal family made the seaside town their residence every Summer, thus also attracting
members of the Portuguese nobility, who established a community there.

Cascais is known for the many members of royalty who have lived there, including King Edward VIII of
the United Kingdom, King Juan Carlos I of Spain, and King Umberto II of Italy. Exiled Cuban President
Fulgencio Batista was also once a resident of the municipality. The nearby Casino at Estoril was the
inspiration for Ian Fleming's first James Bond novel Casino Royale.

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Get Around
The town is small enough to explore entirely by foot. Beyond the town centre there are numerous
narrow cobbled streets to explore filled with interesting architecture, flora and fauna.

Riding a bicycle in Cascais is a "must do". Basic bicycles are available to rent for free (providing you
have ID and your accommodation address) through the municipal council's BiCas scheme. Bicycles are
available from several locations around the town. The tourist office will have further information.

A looped bus line, BusCas, serves the town and the nearby surrounding area. For travelling further
afield there is an extensive bus service, mainly operating from the bus station beneath the shopping
centre opposite the train station. Taxis are always available and easy enough to find in the centre of
town. An urban railway transports visitors into the centre of Lisbon in 40 minutes.

Culture, Leisure and Recreation
Dominated by the bay and the imposing Cidadela fort, the historic centre is brimming with
architectural treasures of a religious, military and civil nature. Likewise, the museums of the Sea, Casa
das Histórias de Paula Rego, and the Municipal Museum Condes de Castro Guimarães are renowned
attractions.

Just outside the town is the famous Boca do Inferno in which the sea on rougher days hammers into
the rock and creates a booming noise and a spectacular spray thus creating its name, which in English
means "mouth of hell".

The Parque Palmela is an attractive park created by the Duques de Palmela and now maintained by
the Town Hall and in which open-air concerts are often held.

The next town to the east of Cascais is the resort town of Estoril. You can walk to Estoril from
Cascais along the beachfront esplanade, passing many beachside bars and restaurants.

The Estoril Coast is also a magnet for those looking to practice every type of sport and leisure activity.
Besides excellent facilities and all the professional staff and necessary equipment, the region boasts a
wide range of natural advantages such as pure air, temperate year-round climate and close proximity
to the sea and mountains.

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Language
Portuguese is the main language in Lisbon. However, almost all younger people know enough English
for basic communication, and it is possible to get by speaking only English.

Time (in April)
GMT/UTC +3

Currency
Euro (€)

Electricity
Electrical sockets (outlets) in Portugal are one of the two European standard electrical socket types:
The "Type C" Europlug and "Type F" Schuko. If your appliance's plug doesn't match the shape of these
sockets, you will need a travel plug adapter in order to plug in.

Temperature
The average temperature during the weekend will be 18°C (64°F), while the average low is estimated
at 13°C (55°F).

Opening & Business Hours
Shops are open from Monday to Saturday between 9am-10am and close around 7pm. Most of them
are closed on Sundays.

Most restaurants in Portugal will have one closing day per week as well as national holidays.

Important: Saturday 25th April 2020 is a National Holiday in Portugal, therefore government
departments, banks, offices are all closed for the day. Most small business and shops are closed, while
large supermarkets will have reduced opening hours.

What to Pack
Expect sunshine in late April, but be prepared for rain, too.
A water-resistant jacket, waterproof shoes, umbrella are suggested.
The dinners’ dress-code will be added to the agenda closer to the event date.

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THE HOTEL: HOTEL CASCAIS MIRAGEM

With breath-taking ocean views from its stunning seaside setting and a convenient location five
minutes from the Cascais city centre and 40 minutes from the centre of Lisbon, the Hotel Cascais
Miragem is ideally located. Outside of Conference time Delegates and Partners can enjoy the
oceanfront infinity pool, a stroll on the beach, or take part in a diverse array of recreational activities
available.

The hotel restaurants offer the perfect mix of international cuisine and the flavours of Portugal. Local
cuisine been noted for endless diversity and imagination.

The state-of-the-art Miragem Water Lounge Spa includes a set of indoor swimming pools and on the
third floor Guest can enjoy an “Infinity Edge” outdoor swimming pool with large sundeck and terrace.

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HOW TO GET TO THE HOTEL
When travelling from Lisbon airport to Cascais you can use two different modes of transport: Taxi or
Train. The most convenient and fast method to reach Cascais is by Lisbon airport taxi. The ride costs
approximately 40€ and takes around 35 minutes. The less expensive, but slower and indirect
alternative is the train. The whole journey will cost only 6.20€, but the average travel time is 1 hour
and 25 minutes.

Taxi
Always pick a licensed Lisbon airport taxi from the official taxi ranks which is either cream, black or
mint green coloured. When the traffic flow is moderate, the average trip duration is 35 minutes. The
average cost of the journey is 40€. Additional costs, such as driving on public holidays or late-night
driving, may be applied.

Public Transport (Bus & Train)
In order to catch the CP urban trains that travel from Lisbon to Cascais, first you will have to get from
the airport to Cais do Sodre train station, which is located in the downtown area of Lisbon. The
Aerobus Line 1 operates the route from the airport to the train station every 20 minutes and the travel
time is around 45 minutes (operates from 08:00am to 09:00pm). The urban trains that head to Cascais
depart every 15-20 minutes and the journey takes approximately 40 minutes (operates between
06:30am to 01:00am).

Regular urban train tickets cost only 2.20€. However, the first time you will have to buy a re-loadable
Viva Viagem card for 0.50€, which you can use throughout the public transport network of Lisbon
during your stay.

Train tickets can be purchased from the ticket counters and automated ticket machines of the train
station.

The Aerobus tickets cost 4€ per person and can be purchased from the airport's ticket counters,
straight from the driver or online.

Important Note
If you arrive at the airport late at night (between 12:30am to 07:00am) you can only travel to Cascais
via taxi.

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