Where are we staying?
The exact location will be given closer to the time of the conference. It is in the City Center of Warsaw. It is very easy to get to and is within walking distance of almost the whole city!
Your conference fee covers the conference, lodging, most meals, and a guided tour.
Lodging:
Meeting 1:
Meeting 2:
Breakfast:
Is WiFi included at the hotel?
Yes! WiFi is free and works well.
When should I arrive in and depart from Warsaw?
Please arrive in time for dinner, about 17:00, on December 28, 2023, and depart any time on January 3, 2024.
What should I know about Polish money?
The Polish currency is the złoty. You can exchange money at change booths and ATMs. While the exchange rate changes regularly, the average exchange rate is 4 złotys to the US dollar. Please check the current exchange rate for your own country. Make sure you leave the Warsaw airport with some Zlotys. Make sure its small bills/coins too. There are numerous ATMs and change booths at the airport that give fair rates, this way you enter Warsaw prepared.
If you use a credit card, make sure there are no foreign transaction fees and that you get the best possible exchange rate.
- If you are getting cash from a bank’s ATM, be aware that there may be fees from your local bank, so make sure you withdraw enough money to make the fees worth the transaction.
- Alert your bank and credit card companies that you are traveling.
When should I book my ticket?
The earlier you purchase your flights, the more affordable they will be. Please plan to arrive by the afternoon of December 28 and depart on January 3. Note: There are no sessions on January 3.
Are meals included with the registration cost?
Most meals will be served at the hotel ‘buffet style,’ with the exception of two or three that you will need to purchase yourself during your free time. The meals are “kosher style,” meaning there will be a selection of meat and dairy options on the buffet counter to choose from. While there may be pork and ham on the buffet counter, due to us sharing the meals with other hotel guests, there will always be an alternative selection. We encourage you to choose according to your dietary convictions. We apologize if this arrangement is not suitable for you, but unfortunately this is out of our control. However, we encourage you to send an email to [email protected] with your food allergies and preferences. We will do our best to accommodate your needs, but we also ask for flexibility when necessary. There is also a small refrigerator in your room, so feel free to bring and buy extra food.
How should I travel from Warsaw airport to the hotel?
Public transportation is a very affordable and Uber is convenient and extremely affordable! You will receive more details as we approach the conference. Our hotel is located in the city center.
Uber safety is imperative! Before stepping into your Uber, double check the license plate number and also confirm the driver’s face matches their photo. When opening the car door, confirm your driver’s name and wait for your driver to confirm your name. Uber has a feature where you can share the details of your ride with someone else, and we encourage you to use this feature. If possible, make your travel plans so as to be with someone else for this part of your journey.
What kind of electric plugs/outlets are in Warsaw?
Make sure you use either an adapter or a converter for your electronics. Poland uses Plug C.
A converter will change the current or voltage for your specific device, but most modern devices like cell phone chargers and laptop power cords only need an adapter. You DO NOT NEED a converter if your equipment says “110-220 Volts.” If it says this, you will only need an adapter. Do not hesitate to ask questions.
Visiting Treblinka Concentration Camp and/or the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews
This year, you will have the opportunity to visit the award-winning POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews, which is an interactive museum spanning 1,000 years of the flourishing Jewish community of Poland up until World War II. It was built within the former Warsaw Ghetto and is sure to be an unforgettable experience. While the museum is an optional excursion, we highly recommend you make plans to join us. We feel so strongly enough about it, we will pay your entry fee, lunch, and even the cost of the optional informational headphones if desired.
We will also provide you with plenty of free time in Poland. In addition to the many wonderful opportunities you will have to explore locally, you could also use your free time to visit the Treblinka concentration camp. Treblinka is ninety minutes outside of Warsaw, and it is easy to catch an Uber there. It is a powerful experience to visit and remember even though the Germans dismantled the entire concentration camp in the fall of 1943. Today, the site is comprised of plaques, descriptions, memorial stones placed upright, and a walk in the forest to the place where there was a mass graveyard. During our time in Poland, it will likely be covered in snow and quite cold, but it is an opportunity to remember our people who were lost there. The entry fee is only a few dollars, but there is no café and only limited restroom facilities at the site. Check opening hours before you go. Check the Muchan Conference schedule for available free time to visit Treblinka.
Can I use my cell phone in Warsaw?
Your cell phone may work in Warsaw, but it is guaranteed to be very expensive. We suggest you call your phone company and buy a data/phone package for your European travels or purchase a sim card for your phone while you are in Warsaw. Also, there are WiFi hot spots available for free online use.
We will have a WhatsApp Muchan Warsaw group for announcements and information. The hotel has free WiFi. It is easy to stay in touch with friends while in Warsaw via WhatsApp.
Passports and Visa?
You will need a valid passport to travel to Poland with an expiration date at least three months after the expected date of your return.
For United States residents:
- The process of applying for a passport can be lengthy, so it is very important for you to begin this process several months before your trip.
- Please visit this website for assistance with applying for a United States passport: http://travel.state.gov/passport/forms/ds11/ds11_842.html
For citizens of the United States, Canada, the European Union, Australia, and Israel:
- There is no need to acquire a visa before the trip (unless you plan on staying longer than 90 days in the Shengen zone); it will be issued to you upon arrival in Poland.
Citizens of Russia and Ukraine:
- You must apply for a visa before your trip. Talk to us if you need help with a sponsor for your paperwork.
For other countries:
- Please research your country’s visa requirements for visiting Poland.
How do I register for this conference?
In order to register for the conference, you must first submit the preliminary information form. After you are approved, our team will send you a code to finalize your registration for the conference. This conference is intended for young Messianic adults and those involved in intentional Jewish outreach ministry. Children are not able to come.
Is Warsaw a safe city?
Warsaw is a safe city. However, it is always recommended that if you decide to separate from a group, please do so with someone else. It is a good idea to travel in groups. This general principle goes for any big, foreign city.
Will there be free time?
There is free time built into the schedule of the conference so that you can explore Warsaw. We encourage you to make plans with new friends and visit places not included in the group tour. Before you arrive at the conference, we will give you a packet of information on interesting sites and maps, and we will do our best to communicate these opportunities even before you arrive via Facebook and email. However, it is always good to do your own research before the trip and scope out the places you want to see, the restaurants where you want to eat, etc. This way you can make sure you experience all you intended for your trip!
There will also be a private guided tour of Warsaw’s famous sights and history scheduled for the conference. This city has incredible Jewish history, and our guided tour will take the time to explain important places to remember. All other entrance fees are at your expense. Please account for this in your financial planning. Again, there are many places to eat, explore, and shop at reasonable prices throughout Warsaw.
We recommend exploring the Old Town, the POLIN Jewish History Museum, Mila 18 Bunker, the remains of the Warsaw ghetto walls, and tasting delicious perogies, potato pancakes, and goulash.
Can I arrive early/stay later?
Of course you can. You will need to arrange/pay for your own housing if arriving early or staying later. We recommend you take advantage of being in Europe by visiting other interesting places! Krakow, Poland is a 3-hour train ride from Warsaw, Copenhagen, Berlin, Budapest, and Prague, with many other cities under an hour and a half plane ride away.
What should I pack?
Warsaw will be cold, so dress accordingly. Bring warm shoes, socks, a hat, scarves, gloves, and clothes which are easy to layer. We will be outside for a two-plus hour walking tour and you will have additional free time to explore during the day and night, including New Year’s Eve. Dress warm!
- Bible, pen, notepad
- Passport and a copy of it simply for precaution
- Water bottle—one that keeps liquids hot or cold is a great option!
- Toiletries (keep your medicines in your carry-on bag while you travel)
- Comfortable and warm walking shoes
- Hand and foot warmers
- Weather-appropriate clothing (37-42ºF [3-6°C] at night, 53-60ºF [12-15°C] during the day, with the possibility of rain). We recommend you bring a coat, hat, and gloves to stay warm.
- Dress is casual, but we often dress a bit nicer for Sabbath eve (Friday evening).
- Money for exchanging with zloty and/or credit card for purchases
- Electricity converter or adapter (most items like cell phones only need adapters)
- Snacks from your country to share (optional)
- Do not bring your whole closet!
- There is a refrigerator in your room if you have special dietary needs and need to purchase foods you can eat from a local grocery store
Interesting Books, Movies and People to Know About Before Arriving in Warsaw
Film
The Pianist (2002)—Roman Polanski: The biographical story of Polish-Jewish pianist Wladyslaw Szpilman, who survived WWII in occupied Warsaw. (Szpilman also wrote an autobiographical book.)
The ZooKeeper’s Wife (2017)—Niki Caro: The real-life heroism of Jan and Antonia Zabinski, who saved 300 Jews by smuggling them from the ghetto to the Warsaw Zoo during WWII.
(This is a book and a movie.)
Schindler’s List (1993)—Steven Spielberg: The true story of Oskar Schindler, a businessman who tried to make his fortune in Krakow during the Second World War by exploiting cheap Jewish labor, but ended up penniless, having saved over 1000 Polish Jews from near-certain death during the Holocaust. (Also, a book called “Schlinder’s Ark.”)
Literature
Mila 18 by Leon Uris: Tells the story of one of the most heroic struggles of modern times, the uprising of the Warsaw ghetto against Nazi Germany in 1943.
Rising ’44 The Battle for Warsaw by Norman Davies: A history book about the major Polish underground resistance operation to liberate Warsaw from German occupation. Written by an Oxford University professor who is one of the top historians on Poland.
Important People to Research
Irena Sendler—smuggled 2,500 Jewish children out of the Warsaw Ghetto. A movie is being made about Irena, played by Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman).
Janusz Korczak—was the director of an orphanage for Jewish children in the Warsaw Ghetto, where he used very modern educational principles and was dearly loved by all. He refused to be freed and willingly went with his children to Treblinka where they were all murdered.
Mordechai Anielewicz—was the leader of the Jewish Fighting Organization, which led the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising; the largest Jewish insurrection during World War II, which inspired further rebellions in both ghettos and extermination camps.
Pope John Paul II—helped revitalize Polish Catholicism, which greatly contributed to the fall of Communism. He also significantly improved the Catholic Church’s relationship with Judaism, as well as Islam and the Eastern Church.
