Country Information

Capital: Asmara

Time zone: GMT + 3

Telephone services: Country Code: 291
Outgoing Code: Operator assistance required for outgoing international calls.

Emergency telephone numbers: Not present

Tourist information: Eritrean Tour Service (ETS) PO Box 889, 61 Harnet Avenue, Asmara, Eritrea Tel: (1) 124 999 Fax: (1) 126 366 or 127 695

Passport information: Valid passport required by all. Return Ticket Required. Requirements may be subject to change at short notice. Contact the relevant consular authority before finalising travel arrangements.

Visa information: Required by all. Business and Tourist granted. Ensure that all visa’s remain current throughtout your stay. Transit passengers who do not leave the airport do not need a visa.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended.

Malaria: Exists throughout the year and high resistance to chloroquine has been reported.

Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required by all arrivals over one year of age arriving from infected areas. However everyone is advised to have the vaccination for travel outside the urban areas.

Other Health Risks: Bilharzia, Cholera, Hepatitis, Rabies, Meningitis are present. Tetanus injection is also recommended.

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: Ethiopian Birr (Br)
used in Asmara and the South. The Sudanese Dinar is in circulation in the North and West. US Dollars in cash is the best form of currency.

MasterCard and Diners Club have limited acceptance.

ATM availability: Unavailable.

Cost of living: Prices are generally lower in Eritrea than in surrounding countries.

Languages: Arabic and Tigrinya. English and Italian also spoken.

Weather: Hottest period is Apr to Jun but it can be very cold at night. June – Feb raining season depending on the area of the country.

Electricity: 110 Volts AC in Asmara different voltage exists outside the capital. There are occasional power surges.

Post: Delays should be expected

Transport: FLIGHTS:No internal flights or railways. ROADS: Reasonable between tourist and business centres. Improvements are being made. BUSES: Connect all larger towns and cities. TAXIS: Can be found in the capital and at the airport; fares should be agreed in advance.

Special information: EXTREME RISK: Foreign & Commonwealth Office strongly advises against all travel should be avoided at present. For further information see FCO site.

Capital: Madrid

Time zone: Mainland Spain and Balearics GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 during the summer)

Telephone services: Country Code: 34 Outgoing Code: 07

Emergency telephone numbers: Dial 112 anywhere in the EU to reach the emergency services. Additional local numbers:-Police – 091, Fire / Ambulance (Bomberas) – 085

Tourist information: Spanish Tourist Office, 22-23 Manchester Sq., London SW1A 1LD Tel: (020) 7486 8077 (Customer services or 0891 669 920 brochure request line charged at 50p/min. Fax (020) 7486 8034.

Passport information: Valid passport required by all except: Nationals of EU countries with valid national ID cards and nationals of Austria, Belgium, France, Luxembourg, The Netherlands and Portugal whose passports expired less than 5 years. Nationals of Germany and the UK with passports expired less than 1 year. Nationals of Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Malta, Monaco, Netherland Antilles and Switzerland holding valid national ID cards or expired passports (maximum 5 years). Requirements may be subject to short term change. Contact the relevant authority before departure. It is advisable to have a return ticket. If you have no return ticket you may be asked of sufficient proof of funds to finance your stay.

Visa information: Required by all except Nationals of Aruba, Bolivia, Bonaire, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Curacao, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Kenya, Malaysia, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Singapore, Suriname and Venezuela for up to 3 months. Nationals who do not require a visa to visit a country which is a signatory to the Schengen agreement.

Health information: No information available, please seek medical advice prior to travel

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. All major credit cards are accepted. Travellers cheques in Sterling pounds can be easily exchanged. ATM availability: Over 35 000 locations.

Cost of living: Similar prices to other Western European countries.

Languages: Spanish (Castillan), Catalan, Galician and Basque

Weather: Varies from Temperate in the North to hot and dry in the South. The best months are from April to Oct although it can be excessively hot between July and August except at the coastal regions. The central plateau can be extremely cold during the winter.

Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50 Hz

Post: 5 days. Poste Restante facilities are available at main post offices

Transport: RAIL: Most cities are well served. It is mainly a radial service with connections between Madrid and all the major cities. The Spanish rail system is one of the cheapest in Europe. Discounts and special concessions can be found. ROAD: Motorways are well maintained and connect North and South. Trunk roads between major cities are general well maintained. BUS: Services run between towns and are cheap and efficient. CAR HIRE: all major companies have agencies. DOCUMENTATION: IDP is required or a translation of national driving licence. Insurance is required and a ‘green card’ is strongly recommended.

Special information: The Spaniards are a very hospitable nation, where courtesy is valued. Conservative casual dress is suitable, but some larger hotels may insist that men wear a jacket. Beach-wear should be confined to the beach / pool. Street crime can be a problem in some of the tourist areas and large cities.

Capital: Addis Ababa

Time zone: GMT + 3

Telephone services: Country Code: 251

Outgoing Code: Operator assistance required for outgoing international calls.

Emergency telephone numbers: Not present.

Tourist information: Ethiopian Commission Tourism PO Box 2183, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Tel: (1) 517 470 Fax: (1) 513 899.

Passport information: Valid passport required by all. Return ticket required. Requirements may be subject to change at short notice. Contact the relevant consular authority before finalising travel arrangements.

Visa information: Required by all. Business and Tourist granted. Transit passengers who do not leave the airport do not need a visa.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Malaria: Resistance to chloroquine has been reported.
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required by all arrivals over one year of age arriving from infected areas. However everyone is advised to have the vaccination for travel outside the urban areas.
Other Health Risks: Bilharzia, Cholera, Hepatitis, Rabies, Meningitis are present. Anti Tetanus injection is also recommended.

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: Ethiopian Birr (Br)=100c
US currency is the most convenient. NOTE: Import and export of local currency is limited to Br100. Foreign currency is unlimited but must be declared on arrival.

MasterCard and Diners Club are accepted in the capital only. Traveller’s cheques have limited acceptance. US Dollars are the preferred currency.

ATM availability: Unavailable.

Cost of living: Prices are generally lower than in surrounding countries.

Languages: Amharic. English is the second official language. Italian and French also spoken

Weather: Lowlands – hot and humid, Warm in hill country and cool in the uplands.

Electricity: 220 Volts AC 50 Hz.

Post: Approximately 2 weeks.

Transport: FLIGHTS: Erratic internal flights operate to over 40 towns. ROADS: A good network of all weather roads exist. BUSES: Connect all larger towns and cities. TAXIS: Fares should be agreed in advance.

Special information: HIGH RISK: Because of the continuing tensions with Eritrea visitors are advised against all but essential travel. The security situation could change at any time in other parts of the country. The border with Sudan is closed and travel across the border to Somalia is also effectively prevented. Before travel to and from Kenya seek advise from the FCO and take local advice. Mugging and hijacking is increasingly posing a threat. Tourists should confine themselves to recognised tourist areas and avoid travel after dark. Travelling alone is discouraged. Casual wear is suitable for most places. NOTE: Ethiopia uses the pre-Julian Solar calendar with 12 months of 30 days and the thirteenth month of 5 or 6 days. It is important to check dates before travelling. For further information see FCO site.

Capital: San Jose

Time zone: GMT – 7

Telephone services: Country Code: 506
Outgoing Code: 00

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

Tourist information: Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (ICT), Apartado 777, Edificio Genaro Valverde, Calles 5 y 7; Avenida 4a 1000 San José, Costa Rica Tel 223 1733 or Fax: 223 5452.

Passport information: Passport with a minimum validity of 6 months from date of arrival, except Canadian and US citizens with proof of identity for visits not exceeding 90 days. Return Ticket Required. Requirements may change at short notice. Contact the embassy before departure.

Visa information: Not normally required. Check with the embassy and consulate for the latest information.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended.
Malaria: Exists throughout the year in the Vivax variety in the rural areas below 700m.
Other Health Risks: Bilharzia – do not bathe in untreated water, Dengue fever – Avoid mosquito bites (deaths from secondary infections have occurred).

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

Currency: Costa Rican Colón = 100 centimos
Exchange: Gambios will give the best exchange rates.
All major credit cards are accepted. Travellers cheques in US dollars only will be accepted.
ATM availability: Over 150 locations.

Cost of living: More expensive than other central American countries but still cheaper than North America. All accommodation is graded.

Languages: Spanish. English is also spoken.

Weather: Coastal areas are much hotter than inland valleys. The raining season = May – Nov.

Electricity: 110/220 Volts 60 Hz. 2 pin plugs are standard.

Post: 6 – 10 days.

Transport: FLIGHTS: A number of operators offer domestic flights, but reservations can not be made out side of San José. ROADS: Generally very good standard but heavy traffic can make driving arduous. DOCUMENTATION: A national driving licence is required. BUS: Services operate between most towns but book in advance because overcrowding is common.

Special information: Christian names are preceded by Don for a man and Donna for a woman. Casual dress is acceptable for most occasions but beach-wear should be confined to the pool / beach. Muggings and theft from cars are common.

Capital: Helsinki

Time zone: GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from the last Sunday in March to the Saturday before the last Sunday in September.)

Telephone services: Country Code: 358
Outgoing Code: 990 (for international enquiries from Finland dial 92020).

Emergency telephone numbers: Dial 112 anywhere in the EU to reach the emergency services. Additional local numbers:-Helsinki Police – 002, Doctor – 008 Ambulance and Fire – 000.

Tourist information: Finnish Tourist Board, 30 – 35 Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5LP Tel: (020) 7839 4048 or 930 5871 (trade only) Fax: (020) 7321 0696.

Passport information: Valid passports are required by all except the following nationals providing they hold a valid ID card, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, and Sweden, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Requirements may be subject to short term change. Contact embassy before departure.

Visa information: Not required by the following nationals: Nationals of Great Britain (holders of British Hong Kong passports do require a visa), Australia, Canada, USA, EU, Japan. NOTE: Many other nationals do not require visas – check with the nearest authority for a complete up to date list of visa requirements for Finland.

Health information: No information available at present.

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

Currency: In common with12 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.

All major credit cards are widely accepted. Travellers cheques are accepted throughout the country. US dollars are the preferred currency.

ATM availability: Over 2,000 locations.

Cost of living: Relatively expensive. Similar to other Scandinavian countries.

Languages: Finnish. Swedish and English may also be spoken.

Weather: The climate is temperate, but with considerable variation in temperatures. Summers are warm whilst winters Oct – Mar are very cold. The North has snow cover from mid Oct to mid May.

Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50 Hz. Plugs are continental 2 pin type.

Post: 3 days within Europe.

Transport: FLIGHTS: Cheap tickets can be found to the various airports throughout the country. RAIL: Cheap and efficient, various discount schemes operate depending on status e.g. group travel ‘Interail’ and ‘Scanrail’. ROAD: A well developed road system, use of horns is frowned upon and signs will indicate warnings of reindeer and other wildlife when collision are possible. BUS: An excellent network of routes are available offering cheap offers to specific groups. CAR HIRE: Normally drivers should have at least 1 years driving experience. DOCUMENTATION: Usually National or IDP is required with insurance. A ‘Green’ card is recommended.

Special information: Finnish people often appear reserved, many do not enter into idle chatter easily. They are always helpful and are known to be warm and friendly once you get to know them. PHOTOGRAPHY: Check with the Russian Embassy if you wish to take photos near the Western border. During the summer mosquitoes and gnats can be nuisance, especially in the North where a good supply of repellent is recommended.

Capital: Havana

Time zone: GMT – 4

Telephone services: Country Code: 53
Outgoing Code: 00. (From Havana only. All other international calls must go through the operator.)

Emergency telephone numbers: All services – 26811

Tourist information: Cuba Tourist Office, 167 High Holborn, London, WC1V 6PA Tel: (020) 7240 6655. Fax: (020) 7240 6656.

Passport information: Passports must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the length of stay. Return ticket required. Requirements may be subject to short-term change. Contact Embassy before departure.

Visa information: Required by all except: Holders of a tourist card. Nationals of Barbados for stays of up to 1 days. Nationals of CIS (except Uzbekistan), Czech Republic, Hungary, Mongolia, Namibia, Slovak Republic. Nationals of certain countries travelling on certain kinds of official business. – Enquire at the consulate.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Low risk present.
Other Health Risks: Rabies

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

Currency: Cuban Peso (Cub$) = 100 centavos.
At official tourist shops purchases can only be made in US Dollars.
Exchange: Should only be made at authorised money exchanges as there are severe penalties for black market money exchanging.
NOTE Keep all exchange receipts which will be required when making purchases. Do not enter the place or date details on any cheque until ready to make the transaction or the cheque will be refused. The import of local currency is prohibited. Generally a maximum of Cub$ 10 can be reconverted to foreign currency when leaving on presentation of an official exchange form.
Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted. US Dollars (but not drawn from a US bank) and Sterling are accepted in travellers cheques.
ATM availability: Unavailable.

Cost of living: Not as expensive as some of the other Caribbean Islands.

Languages: Spanish. English and French may also be spoken.

Weather: Hot all year round. Raining season May – Oct. Hurricane possible Aug – Nov. Cooler between Nov – Apr.

Electricity: 110/220 volts Ac 60 Hz. American style plugs are used except for large hotels, which may use European type plugs

Post: Can take up to several weeks.

Transport: FLIGHTS: Cubana operates scheduled services between the main towns. It is essential to book in advance. Avoid flights on older soviet aircraft as some risk is involved. Transatlantic and some regional flights are serviced by more modern DC-10 aircraft.

Special information: The tourist industry is rapidly developing with a growing tolerance of Western influences. Visitors should be alert for bag snatchers and other street theft especially in the area of Old Havana and major tourist sites. Do not carry large amounts of cash. Avoid restricted areas and military zones which are NOT always well signposted. Shorts should only be worn at the beach or pool. The penalties for drug trafficking are severe.