Country Information

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: Bissau

Time zone: GMT

Telephone services: Country Code: 245
Outgoing Code: All outgoing calls must go through the operator

Emergency telephone numbers: Not present

Tourist information: Centro de Informação e Turismo, CP 294, Bissau, Guinea Bissau. Tel: 213 905 or 212 844

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: Required by all (can be extended in central police station), except nationals of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended.
Malaria: Falciparum the most serious variety exists throughout the year. Resistance to chloroquine has been reported. Protection from mosquito bites is the best defence, use a 33% deet based repellent.
Yellow Fever: Strongly recommended to all visitors. A vaccination certificate must be provided by visitors arriving from infected areas.
Other Health Risks: Bilharzia and 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: Guinea Bissau Peso (GBP) = 100 centavos.
Travellers cheques can be cashed at major banks only. US dollars is the preferred currency. Credit cards are not accepted.
ATM availability: Unavailable.

Cost of living: Guinea Bissau is one of the poorest countries in the world. Some hotels are very expensive.

Languages: Portuguese. The majority of the population speak Guinea Creole.

Weather: Tropical climate. May – Nov = Wet season. Dec- Apr = Dry season. Temperatures vary with altitude.

Electricity: Limited electricity supply on 200 volts AC 50 Hz.

Post: Post to Europe will take over a week.

Transport: FLIGHTS: The national airline provides regular internal flights. SEA / RIVER: most towns are accessible by ship. Coast hopping ferries operate from the North coast to Bissau. ROADS: Only 1/5 are tarred and suitable for all weather conditions. DOCUMENTATION: IDP is recommended though not legally required. A temporary driving licence can be obtained on presentation of a valid British Driving licence.

Special information: EXTREME RISK: The Foreign & Commonwealth Office advise against all travel to Guinea Bissau

Capital: Georgetown

Time zone: GMT – 3

Telephone services: Country Code: 592
Outgoing Code: 001

Emergency telephone numbers: Ambulance – 56900 (Georgetown only).

Tourist information: Caribbean Tourism Organisation, 42 Westminster Gardens, Artillery Row, London SW1P 1RR Tel: (0171) 222 4335 Fax: (0171) 222 4325.

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

Visa information: Visas not required for full nationals of Great Britain, Australia, Canada, USA, EU countries (except Austria who do require a visa). and Japan for stays up to 30 days. NOTE: Contact the High Commission for a up-to-date list of nationals requiring visas as requirements often change

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Malaria: Exists throughout the year in certain areas in the Falciparum variety. Resistance to chloroquine has been reported. NOTE: Sleeping under a mosquito net and using insect repellents is recommended.
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required for travellers arriving from infected countries (contact High Commission for list of infected countries according to Guyana).Vaccination is strongly recommended to any traveller planning to travel outside the urban areas.

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

Currency: Guyana Dollar (Guy$) = 100 cents. Limited acceptance of credit cards. Travellers cheques (in US$) are accepted, but can take a long time to exchange.
ATM availability: Unavailable.

Cost of living: Relatively inexpensive. Most accommodation is located in populated areas.

Languages: English. Hindi, Urdu, Creole and Amerindian are also spoken.

Weather: Hot tropical climate with the most rain between Nov – Jan and Apr – July.

Electricity: 110 Volts AC, 60Hz

Post: 7 – 10 days. Post services can be unreliable so recorded delivery is recommended.

Transport: FLIGHTS: The only reliable means of travelling into the interior is by air. ROAD: All weather roads are concentrated in the Eastern coastal strip. Most journeys will involve crossing waterways with ferries, which may create delays. BUS: Regular but crowded services operate in Georgetown. TAXI: Recommended as a method of transport at night. A supplement is added to evening fares and for long journeys it is recommended that fares are agreed in advance.

Special information: Guyana, Georgetown in particular, are notorious for street crime. Do not expose valuable possessions at any time and avoid showing signs of wealth. Travel with caution after dark. Men should not wear shorts.

Capital:

Time zone: GMT + 8

Telephone services: Country Code: 852
Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: All services – 999 (subject to change)

Tourist information: Hong Kong Tourist Association, 125 Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5EA Tel: (020) 7930 4775 Fax: (020) 7930 4777.

Passport information: Valid passport required by all.

Visa information: Visa requirements for all nationals are issued subject to duration of stay. Visitors are advised to check for current information.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended.
Malaria: There may occasionally be a risk in rural areas.

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

Currency: Hong Kong Dollar (HK$) = 100 cents All credit cards and travellers cheques are widely accepted. Pound sterling and US dollars are the preferred currency.
ATM availability: Over 1000 locations.

Cost of living: Although Hong Kong is a tax haven, commodities and accommodation can be expensive. However, transport is cheap and some luxury items are often cheaper than in Europe.

Languages: Chinese and English, Cantonese is most widely spoken.

Weather: Winter: influenced by the North – Northeast monsoon. Summer: is influenced by the Southwest monsoon. Summers are very hot with the rainy season June – Aug. Spring and autumn are warm with occasional rain and cooler evenings. Winters can be cold.

Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50.

Post: Airmail to Europe takes 3- 5 days.

Transport: RAIL: More expensive than the ferry, but quicker. BUS: Services are often very crowded. DOCUMENTATION: IDP is recommended but not legally required.

Special information: Hong Kong has reverted to Chinese rule as a Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic. Contact the Embassy or tourist office prior to travelling for up-to-date information on passport and visa requirements. Usual social courtesies should be applied. When addressing a national of Hong Kong the family name comes first, for example, Wong Man Ying is Mr Wong. Casual dress is acceptable.

Capital: Tegucigalpa

Time zone: GMT – 6

Telephone services: Country Code: 504

Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: Police – 119, Fire – 198, Ambulance – 37 8654.

Tourist information: Instituto Hondureño De Turismo, Apartado Postal 3261, Centro Guanacaste, Barrio Guanacaste, Tegucigalpa, Honduras Tel: 383 975 Fax: 382 102

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

Visa information: Visa required by all except: Nationals of Argentina, Costa Rica, Chile, Curacao, El Salvador, Guatemala, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Malta, Monaco, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, San Marino, Switzerland, Uruguay, and Vatican City. Those in transit continuing their journeys within 48 hours. Nationals of Great Britain, Australia, Canada, USA, EU Countries and Japan.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended

Malaria: Exists throughout the year in the Vivax variety within certain regions.

Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required from all travellers arriving from infected areas.

Other Health Risks: Cholera, 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: Lempira (L) = 100 centavos.
All credit cards are accepted. Travellers cheques in US dollars are recommended.

ATM availability: Over 20 locations.

Cost of living: Relatively inexpensive. Accommodation is graded. Food and transport are also inexpensive

Languages: Spanish. English is also spoken.

Weather: Tropical climate which is cooler in the mountains. Raining season = May – to Oct. The North coast is usually very hot with rain all year round.

Electricity: 110/220 Volts AC, 60Hz

Post: 7 days.

Transport: FLIGHTS: Local airlines operate services between principle towns and is much more convenient for business visitors. ROAD: Over half the roads are suitable for all weather conditions. BUS: Services operate to most large towns but the services are well used and booking in advance is essential. TAXI: Usually are not metered so agree the fare in advance. CAR HIRE: Available at the airport. DOCUMENTATION: Foreign and international licences are accepted.

Special information: The impact of Hurricane Mitch is severely affecting travel, personal safety and other factors such as water purity. However some main tourist areas are open. Exercise caution – beware of bag slashing, and muggings. Beware of poisonous snakes, alligators, scorpions, wasps and other stinging insects. Beachwear should not be worn in towns. Visitors should register with the Embassy or consulate on arrival.

Capital: Zagreb

Time zone: GMT + 1 (+ 2 from the last Sunday in March to the Saturday before the last Sunday in September)

Telephone services: Country Code: 385
Outgoing Code: 99

Emergency telephone numbers: Police – 92, Fire – 93, Ambulance – 94

Tourist information: Croatian National Tourist Office, 2 The Lanchesters, 162-164 Fulham Palace Road, London W6 9ER, Tel: (020) 8563 7979, Fax: (020) 8563 2616.

Passport information: Valid passport required by all except those holding a valid identity card. Return Ticket Required, may be subject to change at short notice. Contact the Embassy before travelling.

Visa information: Visas are issued on the border and are required by all except: Nationals of the EU, Nationals of Algeria, Argentina, Bulgaria, Chile, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Hungary, Japan, Liechtenstein, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Malta, Monaco, Norway, Poland, Romania, San Marino, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Switzerland, Turkey and Vatican City. Nationals of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and the USA may obtain visas on arrival in Croatia.

Health information: 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: The Kuna (Kn) = 100 Lipa (Lp).
Exchange: The only true repositories of value and real medium of exchange locally are the German DM and the US$ (Sterling is rarely used).
NOTE: The import and export of local currency is limited to Kn 2000.
All major credit cards are accepted. German DM is the preferred Travellers cheque currency
ATM availability: Over 80 locations.

Cost of living: The Croatian economy is still recovering after civil war. Visitors may be charged higher prices than locals.

Languages: Croat-Serb with the Latinate alphabet.

Weather: Continental climate in the North and Mediterranean on the Adriatic cost.

Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz

Post: May take several days.

Transport: ROAD/RAIL: The main road/rail route to and from Western Europe now effectively stops at Zagreb (coming from Ljublijana) with extensive detours via Hungary for international traffic going South to and from Serbia, Republic of Macedonia and Greece. DOCUMENTATION: National or IDP required. A ‘Green’ card should be carried by visitors taking their own car into Croatia.

Special information: Visitors from Foot & Mouth infested areas may be strip searched and dis-infected at entry points. Everyone MUST be bale to show proof of identification when asked – carry your passport and keep a photocopy of your passport details in a safe place. Tourism facilities are operating normally and normal travel precautions should be taken. Outside the tourist areas there may be some unexploded mines from the war in 1995. Travel should be avoided in areas adjoining Rebublika Srspka (Bosnia-Herzovogena; Serbia and Montegnegro) For up to date information contact the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office advice unit before travelling. Certain restrictions exist on taking photographs in some areas.