Country Information

Capital: Muscat

Time zone: GMT + 4

Telephone services: Country Code: 968
Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: All services – 999

Tourist information: Directorate General of Tourism, PO Box 550, 113 Muscat, Oman Tel: 774 253 Fax: 794 238

Passport information: Valid passport required by all. Return Ticket required. Requirements may be subject to short-term change. Contact the relevant authority before departure.

Visa information: Tourist and Business visas are required by all except: Nationals of Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Malaria: Cases have been reported – take advice from your medical advisors
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required from travellers arriving from infected areas Other Health Risks: Cholera, Rabies.

Food & drink: Water is considered drinkable, normal precautions should be observed with food.

Currency: Omani Rail (OR) = 100 baiza. All major credit cards are accepted although a commission charge may be made for their use. TC: Easily exchanged.
All major cards are accepted, although a commission may be added to charges when using a card. Travellers cheques in US dollars or pound Sterling are easily exchanged.
ATM availability: 50 locations.

Cost of living: It is impossible to travel on a tight budget. There are few middle range hotels and restaurants. There is a large contrast between budget and the remaining hotels.

Languages: Arabic and English.

Weather: June – July are very hot. Rainfall varies according to the region.

Electricity: 220/240 volts Ac, 50 Hz.

Post: Up to 2 weeks to Western Europe.

Transport: BUS: Services exist in Muscat and North Oman. TAXI: Prices are high and should be agreed in advance. DOCUMENTATION: Those who have a tourist visa can use their driving licence for up to 7 days. After 7 days a local licence is required and is available from the police station. Off-road driving conditions can be hazardous and road rescue very expensive.

Special information: Because of the situation of global and regional insecurity at present, travellers should exercise extreme
caution and make only necessary journeys to this country. If you intend to travel depite this advice you should be aware that Oman has only been open to the outside world for a short period therefore visitors should be sensitive to this. PHOTOGRAPHY: Signs will indicate areas where photography is prohibited. Collecting seashells; abalones corals, crayfish and turtle eggs is also forbidden. Avoid wearing shorts and tight fitting clothes.

Capital: Panama City

Time zone: GMT – 5

Telephone services: Country Code: 507
Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: Police – 104, Fire – 103, Ambulance – 225 1436 / 228 2187.

Tourist information: Instituto Panameño de Turismo (IPAT), Apartado, 4421, Centro de Convenciones ATLAPA, Via Israel, Panamá 5, Republic of Panama Tel: 226 3167 or 226 4614 or 226 7000 Fax: 226 3483.

Passport information: Valid passport required by all. Requirements may change at short notice. Contact the embassy before departure.

Visa information: Regulations are expected to change at short notice. Contact the consular authority before finalising travel arrangements. Panamanian immigration procedures are rigidly enforced and non-compliance will result in transportation at the visitors expense to their country of origin

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended (for Typhoid).
Malaria: Exists in the Vivax variety throughout the year in certain areas. The Falciparum variety is also present in certain areas and is reported to be highly resistant to chloroquine.
Yellow Fever: Vaccination is strongly recommended for travellers planning to travel outside the urban areas. A vaccination certificate is recommended for those planning to visit the province of Darien.
Other Health Risks: Rabies. Dengue Fever.

Food & drink: Water is untreated and not safe to drink.

Currency: Balboa (Ba) = 100 centesimos Exchange: Banks and Gambios All major credit cards are accepted. Only US dollar travellers cheques are accepted.
ATM availability: Over 150 locations

Cost of living: Caters for all travellers and budgets.

Languages: Spanish. English is also spoken.

Weather: Hot all year with rains from May – Sept especially on the Pacific coast

Electricity: 120 Volts AC, 60 Hz. Plugs are flat 2 pin American type

Post: 5 – 10 days

Transport: FLIGHTS: Internal air services are operated by local companies which Panama City with all centres in the Interior. ROAD: BUS: Services between most large towns although they are very slow. TAXI: Fares are often not metered so agree fare in advance. CAR HIRE: Available in city centres and airports. DOCUMENTATION: A national driving licence will be sufficient

Special information: Crime is rife in areas of the city. In the San Felipe district most of the cheap accommodation can be found, but it is not safe to venture out at night in this area. Colon is renowned for danger. Common sense precautions should be taken, deposit valuables in the hotel safe. The Foreign & Commonwealth Office advises against travelling to, or transiting in the Darien as there are risks of violence and kidnapping.

Capital: Lima

Time zone: GMT – 5

Telephone services: Country Code: 51
Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: All services – 011 / 5114.

Tourist information: Fondo de Promoción Turística (PROMPERU) Calle Uno Oeste, s/n Urb, Edificio Mitinci, 14th Floor, Corpac, Lima 27, Peru Tel: (1) 224 3142 or 224 3133 Fax: (1) 224 3408 or 224 3396. e-mail postmaster@promperu.gob.peru

Passport information: Valid passport required by all. Return Ticket Required. Requirements may change at short notice. Contact the embassy before departure.

Visa information: Refer to the embassy for the latest list of exceptions to those nationalities, which require visas.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Malaria: Exists throughout the year in rural areas below 1500m in the Vivax variety. The Falciparum variety exists sporadically near national borders and where petroleum is being exploited. Resistance to chloroquine for the Falciparum variety has been reported.

Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required by visitors over 6 months of age travelling from infected areas. Vaccination is strongly recommended to all travellers who plan to journey out of the urban areas.
Other Health Risks: Cholera, Rabies

Food & drink: Water is untreated and not safe to drink. – NOTE: Street vendor food is not recommended

Currency: Nuevo Sol = 100 centimos Exchange: Changing currency other than US$ can be difficult Credit cards have limited acceptance outside Lima. Exchanging travellers cheques can prove a complex process outside of Lima. US dollar cheques are recommended
ATM availability: Over 430 locations

Cost of living: Costs have increased dramatically in the last few years. Budget travellers can still find cheap accommodation, although the cities are much more expensive than rural areas.

Languages: Spanish and Quechua. English may also be spoken

Weather: Coastal areas: Summer is Oct – Apr which is the rainy season in the mountainous regions. May Sept is regarded as the best time to visit the mountains.

Electricity: 200 Volts AC 60 Hz

Post: Up to 2 weeks. Postal facilities are limited outside Lima.

Transport: RAIL: Can provide a scenic view of the landscape and sections are of the highest railway in the world. Connections however are limited. ROAD: A recently built highway connects Lima with other cities. NOTE: Landslides are common in the rainy season making for slow travel. A ‘Customs Duty Payment’ badge must be displayed at all times. BUS: ‘Greyhound’ type buses operate along the Pan-American highway TAXIS: Do not use meters so agree fare in advance. CAR HIRE: International companies have outlets in the major cities and Airport. DOCUMENTATION: IDP is required

Special information: Register with your Embassy when you arrive in Lima. Terrorist action may occur. Travel in groups is recommended. Street crime is common.

Capital: Maseru

Time zone: GMT + 2

Telephone services: Country Code: 266
Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: Police – 123 / 124, Ambulance – 121, Fire – 122

Tourist information: Lesotho Tourist Board, PO Box 1378 Masseru 100, Lesotho, Tel: 313 760 or 312 896 (information). Fax 310 108.

Passport information: Valid passport required by all. Return Ticket Required. Requirements may be subject to change at short notice. Consult embassy before departure.

Visa information: Visa required by all non-Commonwealth members

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination required.
Malaria: No special precautions considered necessary
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required by travellers arriving from infected areas.
Other Health Risks: Rabies is a threat. Lesotho is Bilharzia (schistosomiasis) free and people may swim in fresh water without this danger. There is a very high prevalence of AIDS/HIV. Visitors should seek medical advice before travelling.

Food & drink: Water outside of the main urban areas is untreated and not safe to drink. Dairy products are pasteurised. Fruit and vegetables should be peeled before consumption.

Currency: Loti (M) = 100 Lisente.
Limited acceptance of Visa, MasterCard. Travellers cheques are widely accepted. US dollars are the preferred currency.
ATM availability: Unavailable

Cost of living: A developing small African nation with a growing economy.

Languages: Sesotho and English.

Weather: The climate is temperate. Rain falls mostly between Oct – Apr. The hottest period is between Jan and Feb.

Electricity: 220 Volts AC.

Post: 7 days.

Transport: ROADS: Few roads are tarred and are impassable during the raining season. DOCUMENTATION: IDP is recommended.

Special information: Visitors should take care particularly at night as as incidents of mugging are on the increase. Religion plays an important part in traditional life. PHOTOGRAPHY: Do not take photos of the palace; police establishments; government offices or anything connected with the military.

Capital: Lilongwe

Time zone: GMT + 2

Telephone services: Country Code: 265
Outgoing Code: 101

Emergency telephone numbers: Not present.

Tourist information: Department of Tourism, PO Box 402, Blantyre, Malawi Tel: 620 300 Fax: 620 947

Passport information: Valid passport required by all. Return Ticket Required. Requirements may be subject to change at short notice. Consult embassy before departure.

Visa information: Not required. On arrival a 3 month Visa will be issued . Extensions will not normally be granted in Malawi.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Malaria: Exists throughout the year in the Falciparum variety. Resistance to chloroquine has been reported.
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required by visitors travelling from infected areas within the last 6 days.
Other Health Risks: Bilharzia and Rabies, high prevalence of AIDS/HIV. Visitors should seek medical advice before travelling.

Food & drink: Water is untreated and not safe to drink. Avoid dairy products as they are not pasteurised. Fruit and vegetables should be peeled before consumption.

Currency: Kwacha (Mk) = 100 Tambala Exchange: Less well known currencies are difficult to exchange
Limited acceptance mainly in the capital and main hotels. Travellers Cheques: Sterling and US$ can be exchanged in banks and hotels. There is limited acceptance of credit cards. American Express MasterCard and Diners Club are accepted in the capital city and main hotels. US dollars and Pound sterling are the preferred currency in travellers cheques. ATM availability: Unavailable

Cost of living: Malawi’s economy fluctuates with developments in the climate. Currently the cost of living is reasonable due to the country’s heavy borrowing.

Languages: English, Chichewa and various other African languages

Weather: Winter: May – July and gets cold at night. Nov – Mar is the raining season

Electricity: 220/240 Volts AC, 50 Hz Plugs = Various types used. Most modern buildings use square 3 pin

Post: 10 Days to Europe

Transport: RAIL: Regular but slow and expensive services. ROAD: All major and most secondary are all weather roads. DOCUMENTATION: UK licence is sufficient

Special information: Dress laws should be observed and respected. Long hair for men is disliked. Bag snatching is a problem in the main towns and cities. Be cautious of people who offer to act as guides.

Capital: Vilnius

Time zone: GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 during the summer)

Telephone services: Country Code: 370 (2 for Vilnius, 5 for Kaunas, 6 for Klaipeda)
Outgoing Code: 810

Emergency telephone numbers: Ambulance – 03, Fire – 01, Police – 02

Tourist information: Lithuanian Tourist Board, Ukmeriges 20, 2600 Vilnius, Lithuania Tel (2) 622 610 Fax (2) 226 819

Passport information: Valid passport required by all. Requirements may be subject to short term change. Contact the relevant authority before departure.

Visa information: Regulations are in a state of change. Contact the Embassy for an up to date list

Health information: Other Health Risks: Rabies, Tick Bourne Encephalitis, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Diphtheria are present.

Food & drink: Water is considered drinkable, normal precautions should be observed with food

Currency: The Litas = 100 centas. Exchange: Currency can be exchanged at banks and exchange bureaux
NOTE: The import of local and foreign currency is unlimited but must be declared on arrival
All major credit cards are accepted in large hotels, shops and restaurants. Most banks will cash travellers cheques, but commission rates are high. US dollars are the preferred currency. ATM availability: Over 10 locations.

Cost of living: Tourists can expect to pay higher prices than the locals

Languages: Lithuanian and a large number of dialects.

Weather: Temperate climate but with considerable temperature variations. Summers are warm and spring and autumn are usually mild. Winters can be very cold.

Electricity: 220 volts Ac, 50 Hz. European 2 pin plugs are used

Post: To Western Europe takes up to 6 days

Transport: RAIL: There are good connections from Vilnius to the other main cities. ROAD: There is a good network of roads. BUS: Generally more frequent and quicker than domestic trains and serve almost every town and village. CAR HIRE: Several local firms provide car hire services. DOCUMENTATION: European nationals should be in possession of the new European driving licence. Otherwise, a national driving licence is sufficient

Special information: Robbery and Car theft are rife. Avoid poorly lit areas after dark. Petty crime is rife on public transport. Do not accept food or drink from strangers, as these are sometimes ‘spiked’. Lithuanians appreciate a show of respect for their culture and national heritage.