Climate: Lebanon has a mild Mediterranean climate and four distinct seasons. The conference date falls in spring, where the temperature usually varies between 15 and 25°C (58-72°F) along the coast.
Currency: The official Lebanese currency is the Lebanese Pound or lira (LBP). Notes are available in denominations of: LBP 1,000; LBP 5,000; LBP 10,000; LBP 20,000; LBP 50,000; and LBP 100,000. There are also LBP 250 and LBP 500 coins.
U.S. dollars are widely used throughout the country.
The US$/LBP exchange rate is relatively stable, hovering around US$1 = LBP 1,500.
The Euro/LBP exchange rate is hovering around 1 Euro = LBP 1,700.
Money or traveler's checks can be exchanged at banks, private money exchange shops, and major hotels.
Major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Diners Club) are widely accepted throughout the country. ATMs are also widely available and will usually dispense both U.S. dollars and Lebanese pounds.
Language: Arabic is the official language. English and French are widely spoken.
Time: Lebanese time is G.M.T. +2 hours in winter (October to March) and +3 hours in summer (April to September), when daylight savings time is observed.
Electricity: Electricity is 220 volts, 50 Hz. A two-pin plug, with round pins is commonly used (Type C, similar to many European countries), but other types of plugs are also in use. Adapters may be needed and can be usually found in the market.
Public Transportation: Public transportation is not well developed. Taxis are the most efficient way of transportation, and taxi fares are not expensive. There are three types of taxis:
Service-taxis: The passenger has to specify his destination and enter the taxi only if it corresponds to the itinerary of the Service-taxi. The driver stops to pick up additional passengers anywhere on the streets and drop them off generally in main squares and main streets. It remains advantageous with very low fares.
Traditional taxis: The driver must not pick up additional passengers. Most of these taxis are not equipped with meters, so it is recommended to negotiate the fare before embarking.
On-call taxis: Pick up people who have pre-booked by phone. They don’t respond to hails in the street. They don’t have a meter so passengers should agree a price before starting a journey.
Tourism: For touristic sites, maps, or additional information about Lebanon, visit the website of the
Lebanese Ministry of Tourism