Country Information

Capital: Beirut

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

Telephone services: Country Code: 961
Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: Police – 386 440 425 (Emergency police – 16), Fire – 310 105, Ambulance – 386 675

Tourist information: Lebanon Tourist and Information Office, 90 Piccadilly, London W1V 9HB Tel: (020) 7409 2031 Fax: (020) 7493 4929.

Passport information: Valid passport required by all except: Nationals of Syria arriving from their country with valid national ID. Passports must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the estimated duration of stay. Return Ticket required. Requirements may be subject to short term change. Contact the relevant authority before departure.

Visa information: Required by all except: Syrians, Nationals of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates can obtain their visas on arrival at Beirut airport. Do not enter with Israel stamps on your passport. Obtain a visa in advance – three month visa costs 100,000 Lebanese Lira. If you have an Israeli stamp in your passport you will be refused entry to Lebanon even if you have a valid visa.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended.
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required from travellers coming from infected areas.
Other Health Risks: Cholera, Rabies.

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

Currency: Lebanese Pound (L£) = 100 piastres.
Credit cards and travellers cheques have limited acceptance
ATM availability: Over 30 locations.

Cost of living: Relatively expensive. Accommodation can be especially expensive for the traveller looking for a cheap place to stay. Food, however can be cheap if purchased from sandwich and snack bars.

Languages: Arabic. French and English are spoken. Kurdish and Armenian are spoken by a small minority.

Weather: Summer (June – Sept) is hot along the coast and cooler in the mountains. Winter (Dec to mid Mar) is mostly rainy with snow in the mountains. Spring and Autumn are cool and pleasant.

Electricity: 110/220 volts, AC 50 Hz.

Post: Usually 5- 6 days to Europe, up to 8 days to the USA.

Transport: BUS: Intercity buses are cheap and efficient but may be uncomfortable. TAXI: Fares should be agreed in advance. They are usually shared and a 50% surcharge will be added after 2200 hours. CAR HIRE: chauffeur-driven cars are recommended although self drive cars are available. DOCUMENTATION: IDP is recommended although not legally required.

Special information: Because of the situation of global and regional insecurity at present, travllers should exercise extreme caution and make only necessary journeys to this country. If you intend to travel despite this advice you should be aware that you should always carry ID. Muslim traditions and practices should be respected. Casual must modest dress is suitable for day-time clothing. The main danger spots are in the south which can be subject to Israeli shelling or air raids. Do not travel in the Israeli Occupied Zone. PHOTOGRAPHY: Only take photographs at obvious tourist sites.

Capital: Rome

Time zone: GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 in summer)

Telephone services: Country Code:39 Note the leading zero IS required for city codes eg. 06 for Rome; 02 for Milan; 011 for Turin; 081 for Naples; 041 for Venice and 055 for Florence including when dialling locally. Mobile phones DO drop the zero. IDD: International Direct Dialling is avilable-NOTE telephone codes changed in December 1998. From then, the leading zero is required when calling both within Italy and from abroad; even within the same telephone district. For example, to call the British Embassy in Rome, previously 482 5441 from within Rome; 06 482 5441 from the rest of Italy; and +39 6 482 5441, has now become 06 482 5441 from anywhere in Italy (including Rome) and +39 06 482 5441 from outside Italy. This does not apply to mobile phones (for which there are many “area” codes), which still drop the leading zero. Outgoing Code:00

Emergency telephone numbers: Dial 112 anywhere in the EU to reach the emergency services. Additional local numbers:-Police – 112, Ambulance – 113, Fire – 115

Tourist information: Italian State Tourist Office (ENIT), 1 Princes Street, London W1R 8AY Tel: (020) 7408 1254. Press 1 to bypass recorded message. Fax: (020) 7493 6695.

Passport information: Valid passport required by all except nationals of Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden with a valid national ID card. Nationals of Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino, and Switzerland if carrying national ID cards. Requirements may be subject to change at short notice. Contact the relevant authority before travelling.

Visa information: Visa required by all except: Nationals of the EU, Australia, Canada, USA, Japan. Nationals of Andorra, Argentina, Bermuda, Bolivia, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong (British Nationals), Hungary, Iceland, Jamaica, Kenya, South Korea, Liechtenstein, Macedonia, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Poland, San Marino, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Switzerland, Uruguay, Vatican City, Serbia and Montenegro, for stays not exceeding 3 months. Nationals of Venezuela for visits not exceeding 60 days. Nationals of Israel for stays not exceeding 30 days.

Health information: Other Health Risks: Rabies.

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

Currency: In common with 12 Member States of the European Union (EU), here the Euro is the currency. There are seven different banknotes and eight coins of the Euro. Each participating EU country has coins with one common side and a reverse side specific to each country, while the banknotes look the same throughout the euro area. Mastercard, Visa and Diners Club are all widely accepted. ATM availability: Over 20 000 locations.

Cost of living: Cities and tourist centres can be very expensive, especially at centres of historical or religious importance.

Languages: Italian with dialects in different regions. French (in border areas from the Riviera to the area North of Milan. Slovenian spoken in provinces. German, French and English may be spoken in cities and resorts.

Weather: Summer is hot, especially in the South. Spring and Autumn are mild. Winter is much drier in the South. Mountain regions are colder with heavy snowfalls.

Electricity: 220 volts Ac, 50 Hz.

Post: 7 – 10 days but may be subject to delays. Letters for Poste Restante should be addressed to Fermo Post and the Town. When sending mail underline the destined country and write the person’s surname in capitals.

Transport: RAIL: Simple, but cheap and efficient. ROADS: BUS: Services connect main towns and local services also operate. CAR HIRE: Available in all the main towns. DOCUMENTATION: A ‘Green Card’ must be carried or other insurance. A UK licence is valid but ‘Green’ licences will need to be translated.

Special information: Considerable seismic activity is continuing on Mt. Etna (Eastern Sicily.) Climbing Mt. Etna is prohibited without a guide. The Roman Catholic church holds a high position in Italian society. Visitors must dress conservatively when visiting religious buildings and smaller traditional communities. Theft is quite common, especially in the cities. It is advisable to remain extremely alert at all times. The Mont Blanc Tunnel will be closed for the forseeable future due to an accident early in 1999.

Capital: Kingston

Time zone: GMT – 5

Telephone services: Country Code: 1 876
Outgoing Code: 011

Emergency telephone numbers: Police – 119, Fire/Ambulance 110.

Tourist information: Jamaica Tourist Board (at High Commission in London) Tel: (020) 7224 0505 Fax: (020) 7224 0551.

Passport information: Valid passport required by all except nationals of the USA and Canada entering Jamaica from the USA or Canada who hold a valid national ID. If entering from other countries they do require a passport. Return Ticket required. Requirements may be subject to short-term change. Contact embassy before departure.

Visa information: Visa required by all except: Nationals of EU countries (For varying lengths of stay – see the High Commission). Nationals of commonwealth countries for stays not exceeding 6 months. Nationals of the USA for stays not exceeding 6 months. Nationals of Iceland, Israel, Liechtenstein, Mexico, Norway, Turkey, for stays not exceeding 3 months. Nationals of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Japan, and Uruguay for a period not exceeding 30 days. Nationals of Venezuela for stays not exceeding 14 days.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required from travellers over one year of age coming from infected areas.

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

Currency: Jamaican Dollar (J$) = 100 cents.
Exchange: Visitors should only change money at airport bureaux, banks or hotels.
All major credit cards are accepted. US dollar travellers cheques are recommended

ATM availability: Over 45 locations.

Cost of living: Expensive in the tourist centres.

Languages: English. Local patois is also spoken.

Weather: Tropical climate. Offically the rainy season is May/June and September/October although showers can occur at any time. Evenings tend to be cooler. Jamaica is in the Caribbean hurricane path, hurricanes if they strike are most likely July through November. Check for likelihood before travel.

Electricity: 110 volts AC, 50 Hz. American 2 pin plugs are mainly used.

Post: 4-5 days

Transport: ROAD: One third of the 17.000 km network is tarred. BUS: Reliable in Kingston and Montego bay less so for trans island travel. TAXI: Not all taxis are metered. CAR HIRE: Most major towns and airport have hire facilities. DOCUMENTATION: A full UK licence is valid for up to 1 year.

Special information: HIGH RISK: Most visits to Jamaica are trouble free but travellers need to be constantly vigilant because violent crime and robbery are continuing problems. Do not resist robbers. Do not walk out or use public transport at night, avoid isolated areas in daytime and do not walk alone on beaches. There are severe penalties for drug offences. Be cautious travelling to and from Kingston Airport as this route traverses inner city areas which can be violent.

Capital: Amman

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

Telephone services: Country Code: 962
Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: Police – 192, Fire / Ambulance – 193. All services – 62111 (Jerusalem only)

Tourist information: Jordan Tourist Information Office, 211 Regent Street, London W1R 7DD Tel: (020) 7937 9499 Fax: (020) 7937 6741.

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

Visa information: Required by all except: Nationals of Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Untied Arab Emirates providing holding valid passports for a stay of up to 3 months. Nationals of certain countries including all Western countries, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan can obtain visas on arrival at the airport in Jordan. Visas can be obtained on arrival EXCEPT if entering via the King Hussein Bridge when the visa MUST be obtained in advance of travel.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended.
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required from all travellers over 1 year of age coming from infected areas.
Other Health Risks: Rabies.

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: Dinar (JD) = 1000 fils.
CC: Accepted. TC: Those issued by British banks are accepted in authorised bureaux de change.
Amex and Visa are accepted widely, but MasterCard and Diners Club have more limited use. Travellers cheques issued by British banks are accepted in authorised bureaux de change. US dollars are the preferred currency
ATM availability: Over 50 locations.

Cost of living: Jordan is one of the smallest countries in the Middle East. It is also one of the most expensive, since most of the accommodation is in Amman.

Languages: Arabic. English and French are also spoken.

Weather: Summers are hot and dry with cool evenings. November to March are the cooler months with rainfall.

Electricity: 220 volts Ac, 50 Hz.

Post: Packages should be left open for customs officials. Airmail to Western Europe takes 3 to 5 days

Transport: ROAD: Good network of roads exists but vehicle needs to be in good working order and plenty of water and supplies should be taken on journeys. BUS: Services are efficient and cheap. TAXIS: Shared taxi service to all towns on fixed routes, also available for private hire. CAR HIRE: International companies are available from hotels.

Special information: Because of the situation of global and regional insecurity at present, travellers should excercise extreme caution and make only necessary journeys to this country. If you intend to travel despite this advice you should be aware that tourists should be sensitive and behave courteously and respect local customs. Jordan has been safe to travel in. However you should check with the FCO before travel as the reginal security situation can change very rapidly. The military keep a low profile and you are unlikely to experience anything but friendliness and hospitality. It is very important that Muslim beliefs and local customs are respected. Beach wear should be confined to the beach/pool.

Capital: Tokyo

Time zone: GMT + 9

Telephone services: Country Code: 81
Outgoing Code: 001

Emergency telephone numbers: Tokyo English Life Line (TELL) – 3403 7106, Japan Helpline – 0120 461 997. (operator service)

Tourist information: Japan National Tourist Organisation, Heathcote, House, 20 Saville Row, London, W1X 1AE Tel: (020) 7734 9638 Fax: (020) 7734 4290.

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

Visa information: Valid passport required by all except: Nationals of Germany, Republic of Ireland and the UK for a stay not exceeding 6 months. Nationals of Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Sweden for a stay not exceeding 3 months. Nationals of Canada and the USA not exceeding 3 months. Nationals of Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Chile, Columbia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Finland, Guatemala, Honduras, Iceland, Israel, Lesotho, Malta, Mauritius, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Surinam, Tunisia, Turkey, Uruguay, and Yugoslavia, for stays not exceeding 3 months. Nationals of Liechtenstein, Mexico, and Switzerland for a stay of 6 months. Nationals of Brunei for a stay not exceeding 14 days. Requirements may change at short notice, check with embassy for an up to date list of requirements.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended

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

Currency: Japanese Yen. (¥)
Exchange: At authorised banks and money-changers. NOTE: Import of local currency is limited to ¥5000000. All major credit cards are accepted. Travellers cheques, preferably in US dollars, can be exchanged in banks and large hotels.
All major credit cards are accepted. US dollar travellers cheques are recommended

ATM availability: Over 700 locations.

Cost of living: Japan can be extremely expensive in comparison with other Asian countries.

Languages: Japanese. English may also be spoken in main cities

Weather: Winter: Cold and sunny in the South and around Tokyo. Very cold around Hokkaido. Summer = June – Sept can be warm to very hot. Spring and Autumn are generally mild. Sept – Oct Typhoons may occur.

Electricity: 100 Volts AC 60 HZ in the west. 50 Hz in Eastern Japan and Tokyo.

Post: 4 – 6 Days.

Transport: RAIL: Network is one of the best in the world. ROAD: Driving in Japan is not recommended. DOCUMENTATION: IDP is required. Public transport is well developed and efficient.

Special information: Bowing is the customary form of greeting although handshaking is becoming more common. Remove shoes when entering a host’s home. Public toilets are often unsegregated. Blowing your nose in public is frowned upon. Japanese etiquette is very complex but foreign ignorance is tolerated.

Capital: Nairobi

Time zone: GMT + 3

Telephone services: Country Code: 254
Outgoing Code: 000

Emergency telephone numbers: All services – 336886 / 501280.

Tourist information: Kenya Tourist Office, 25 Brooks Mews, off Davies Street, Mayfair, London, W1Y 1LG Tel: (020) 7355 3144 Fax: (020) 7495 8656.

Passport information: Valid passport required by all. Must be valid from 6 months from the date of entry. Return Ticket Required. Requirements may be subject to change at short notice. Consult embassy before departure.

Visa information: Required by all except nationals of the UK and others. Valid up to 3 months which can then be renewed at Nyayo House, Uhuru Highway, Nairobi. Refer to tourist office for further visa requirements.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended.
Malaria: Prevails throughout the year. Falciparum variety is present and high resistance to Chloroquine has been reported.
Yellow Fever: Vaccination is strongly recommended to all visitors if travelling outside the urban areas. A vaccination certificate will be required by anyone arriving from infected areas.
Other Health Risks: Bilharzia, rabies, and their is the risk of aids, therefore take sterilised needles if injections are required.

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: Kenyan Shilling (Ksh) = 100 cents.
NOTE: Import and export of local currency is prohibited. Black market transactions are inadvisable.
Diners Club and Visa are accepted. Travellers cheques can be changed at banks. Pound sterling is the preferred currency.
ATM availability: 40 locations.

Cost of living: Kenya is greatly influenced by Western European standards of living

Languages: English and Kiswahili.

Weather: Coastal areas are tropical and the lowlands are hot and dry. The rainfall can be heavy.

Electricity: 220/240 Volts AC 50Hz Plugs = UK type 3 pin.

Post: About 4 days to Europe. Letters can be sent c/o Poste Restante in any town. Poste Restante is well organised in Nairobi and free to collect.

Transport: ROADS: All major roads are now tarred. TRAIN: Overnight to Mombassa and Nairobi. BUS: Matatus (normally mini buses) are notorious for their involvement with accidents. BEWARE: Bandits are common on the roads leading to the Somali border. Walking alone at night can be dangerous. DOCUMENTATION: British licence is valid for 90 days but must be endorsed by the police.

Special information: Western European habits prevail. Be alert for muggings and armed attacks if travelling in Nairobi or Mombassa. Avoid travelling after dark and isolated places. This is particularly relevant, following the civil unrest during the 1997 elections Game reserves and tourist areas on the coast are generally very safe.