Country Information

Capital: Beijing

Time zone: GMT + 8

Telephone services: Country Code: 86
Outgoing Code: 00

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

Tourist information: China National Tourist Office, 4 Glentworth Street, London NW1 5PG Tel: (020) 7935 9787 Fax: (020) 7487 5842.

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. Visas cannot be obtained on arrival. Heavy fines are levied for overstays of visa validity.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended.
Malaria: Exists throughout the country below 1500m in the Falciparum variety, which has been reported being highly resistant to Chloroquine.
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required by anyone arriving from infected areas
Other Health Risks: Bilharzia, 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: Yuan (Renminbi RMB) = 10 chiao/jiao or 100 fen Exchange: there is only one national bank which has 30 000 branches. In hotels and certain stores luxury items such as spirits may be bought in Western currency. All credit cards are valid in major provincial cities in designated establishments. US dollars are the preferred currency in travellers cheques.
ATM availability: Over 60 locations

Cost of living: China is still predominantly an agrarian community in spite of the recent Westernisation of it’s major cities. Consequently, prices vary substantially from region to region and city to city.

Languages: Mandarin Chinese. Cantonese, Fukienese, Xiamenhua and Hakka. English may sometimes be spoken.

Weather: Great variations in climate. Northeast = Hot and Dry summers with very cold winters. North and central has a continental rainfall, hot summers and cold winters. Southeast = Substantial rainfall, with semi tropical summer and a cool winter.

Electricity: 220/240 Volts AC, 50Hz.

Post: Approx. 1 week. All postal communications should be addressed “People’s Republic of China’

Transport: Independent travel is becoming increasingly possible and further information can be obtained from the Chinese National Tourist office (address above.) ROAD: Most places can be reached by road but many are of poor quality. BUS: reasonable bus services operate in the main cities.

Special information: Visitors are sometimes greeted by applause as a sign of welcome. The usual expected response is to applaud back. People often stare and spit. Personal theft is common. Since 1988 free travel to Tibet has ceased. China issues approximately 1000 visas a year for guided excursions. PHOTOGRAPHY: Do not take photos of airports and always seek permission before taking pictures of individuals.

Capital: La Paz

Time zone: GMT – 4

Telephone services: Country Code: 591
Outgoing Code: 011

Emergency telephone numbers: Not available at present

Tourist information: Direccón Nacionale de Turismo, Calle Mercado 1328, Casilla 1868, La Paz, Bolivia Tel: (2) 367 463 Fax: (2) 374 630.

Passport information: Valid Passport required by all except holders of a ‘Cedula de Identidad’ issued to nationals of Argentina and Uruguay. Return Ticket Required. Requirements may change at short notice. Contact the embassy before departure.

Visa information: Visa required for all tourist purposes except: Nationals of EU countries for stays up to 90 days. Travellers in transit do not require a visa providing they are continuing their journey within 24 hours, and do not leave the airport.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Malaria: Exists in rural and low lying areas below 2500m in the Vivax variety. Resistance to chloroquine has been reported.
Yellow Fever: Vaccination is recommended to all travellers. Those arriving from infected areas must have a vaccination certificate.

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

Currency: Boliviano (B) = 100 centavos.
Sterling can not be exchanged. Most money is changed at Gambios and Hotels. All major credit cards have very limited acceptance. US Dollars travellers cheques are the most acceptable form of currency to take with you. Sterling cheques can be changed with difficulty.
. ATM availability: 70 locations.

Cost of living: Caters for all budgets. Reasonable prices for comfortable accommodation and eating out

Languages: Spanish, English, Inca and other local dialects spoken.

Weather: There can be extreme temperature changes between day and night especially in the mountain areas. The wet season is between November and February. Le Paz has very thin air due to its high altitude

Electricity: 110/220 Volts AC in La Paz. 220 Volts AC in the rest of the country, 50 Hz. Plugs: most houses have 2-pin sockets for both electrical currents. Variations may occur.

Post: 3 – 4 days. A Poste Restante service is available.

Transport: During the rainy season all modes of public transport including airlines may suspend services for weeks at a time without explanation. ROAD: Work is in progress to improve the condition of the road network. Standards of driving are often low which may make rail a preferred option. When driving; a full set of spares; tools; extra petrol; food and water should be carried. DOCUMENTATION: IDP is required. When entering Bolivia a circulation card “Hoja de Ruta” must be obtained from the “Servicio National de Transito” at the border of Bolivia. These will be presented and stamped at all police posts.

Special information: Respect for traditions should be observed. Rural Bolivians should be referred to as campesinos; rather than Indians; which is considered an insult. Petty theft is an occasional problem.

Capital: Santa Fe de Bogota

Time zone: GMT – 5

Telephone services: Country Code: 57
Outgoing Code: 90

Emergency telephone numbers: All services – 112 (01 in smaller towns and rural areas)

Tourist information: Ministerio de Desarollo Economico, Carrera 13, No 28-01, Pisos 5-9, Santa Fe de Bogota DC, Columbia. Tel: (1) 320 0077 Fax: (1) 287 6025., Corporacion Nacional de Turismo, Apdo Aereo 8400, Calle 28, No 13A-15, 16º-18º, Santa Fe de Bogota DC, Columbia. Tel: (1) 283 9466 Fax: (1) 284 3818.

Passport information: Valid passport required by all with 6 months validity except nationals of Chile and Ecuador travelling direct from their respective countries and holding national identity cards. Return Ticket Required. Requirements may change at short notice. Contact the embassy before departure.

Visa information: Not required by tourists staying less than 90 days. NOTE: Visitors must show proof of sufficient funds to cover their stay. Nationals of The People’s Republic of China, Taiwan and Haiti do require visas, whatever the purpose of their visit. All visitors must obtain an exit stamp from the security police before leaving. (Best obtained at the airport or in the main cities.)

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended.
Malaria: Exists throughout the year in low lying and rural areas in the Falciparum variety. Resistance to chloroquine has been reported.
Yellow Fever: Vaccination recommended
Other Health Risks: Cholera, Hepatitis 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: Peso (Col$).
Exchange: The US$ is the easiest to exchange at hotels, banks, shops and travel agencies.

All major credit cards are accepted. Travellers cheques in US dollars are preferred. These are easier to exchange in the larger towns.
ATM availability: Over 2,500 locations.

Cost of living: Accommodation and commodities are moderately priced in the cities

Languages: Spanish. Local Indian dialects and English is also spoken

Weather: Hot and humid with a raining season between May – Nov. Cooler climate in the upland areas

Electricity: 110/120 Volts AC, US 2 pin plugs are used.

Post: Airmail usually takes 5 – 7 days. International post boxes are yellow.

Transport: FLIGHTS: There is an excellent network of domestic flights and the large distances between cities makes this method of transport more convenient. ROAD: Highways connecting the main cities have recently been completed. Roads are usually passable except during the raining season. DOCUMENTATION: An IDP is required.

Special information: Guerilla attacks on the periphery of Bogota and other urban centres are intensifying. Kidnapping and criminal violence remain problems especially in rural and border areas extreme caution is therefore required. Road journeys are dangerous and so is travel after dark. Personal safety and possessions are at risk at all times. Thus, whilst not specifically advising against travel to Colombia, great caution is needed and conditions cannot be guaranteed. Corruption is commonplace in Columbia.

Capital: Brasilia

Time zone: Spans several time zones:
Eastern Standard Time = GMT – 3, North East States and East Pará = GMT – 3,
Western Standard Time = GMT – 4, Amapá and West Pará time = GMT – 4,
Acre State = GMT – 5, Fernando de Noronha Archipelago = GMT – 2.

Telephone services: Country Code: 55
Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: All services: 0.

Tourist information: Brazilian Tourist Office and Embassy of the Federal Republic of Brazil, 32 Green Street, London, W1Y 4AT. Tel: (020) 7499 0877 Fax: (020) 7493 5105 or 7493 4621.

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

Visa information: Visas required unless travelling as tourists for stays of under 3 months. Required by all except: Nationals of the EU (except nationals of France who do require a visa)

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended.
Malaria: Exists throughout the year below 900m in some rural areas. Falciparum variety has been reported as being highly resistant to chloroquine.
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required by all travellers over 9 months of age arriving from infected areas.
Other Health Risks: Bilharzia, 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: Real’ (RI) = 100 centavos. All banks and Gambios exchange foreign currency.
All major credit cards are accepted. Travellers cheques can be easily exchanged. US Dollar cheques are the preferred currency.
ATM availability: Over 10000 locations.

Cost of living: Deluxe hotels are generally restricted to the cities in the south whilst all other accommodation may be found in inhabited areas.

Languages: Portuguese. French, German, Italian and English are also spoken.

Weather: Climate varies considerably across the different areas. Arid scrub land in the interior to impassable tropical rain forest of the northerly amazon jungle and tropical eastern coastal beaches. The rainy season in the south is from January to April, in the north, it is from April to July and in Rio and Sao Paulo from November to March.

Electricity: Brasilia – 220 Volts AC, 60 Hz. Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo – 100 Volts AC, 60 Hz. 2 pin plugs are used.

Post: 4 -6 days. Reasonably reliable. Sending mail registered or franked will eliminate the risk of having stamps steamed off.

Transport: TAXI: Recognised by red number plates and fitted with meters. DRIVING: Car hire is possible but parking is difficult as is driving through the congested city streets. DOCUMENTATION: IDP is required. RAIL: Limited services exist between the major cities but there has been a substantial decline in the number of long distance services operated.

Special information: SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS: Crime is a growing problem, particularly in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. Taking extreme caution and avoidance of showing expensive possessions is recommended. By law, a passport should be carried at all times.

Capital: Nassau

Time zone: GMT – 5

Telephone services: Country Code: 1 242

Outgoing Code: 011

Emergency telephone numbers: All services – 911 For Travelers In Distress (242) 326-HELP

Tourist information: Bahamas Tourist Office, 3 The Billings, Walnut Tree Close, Guildford, Surrey GUI 4UL Tel: (01483) 448 900. Fax: (01483) 571 846. E-mail: btogfd@bahamas.com

Passport information: Valid passport required by all, except nationals of Canada (for 3 weeks providing they hold a birth certificate, a citizenship card or a landed resident care with photo ID) and the USA (for 8 months providing they hold an original or certified birth certificate accompanied by a police clearance record and a driver’s licence or a voter’s registration card along with an official photo ID). 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 visits of less than 8 months (3 months for nationals of Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Portugal and Sweden). Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Russian Federation, Slovak Republic and the Ukraine for visits of less than 1 month. Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela, for visits of less than two week. Common wealth countries (with the exception of the Maldives, Pakistan and Nauru who do require a visa), South Africa, and Namibia for visits of less than 3 months. Israel, Japan and Mexico for visits of less than 3 months. Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, San Marino Switzerland, Turkey and the USA for visits of less than 8 months. South Korea, Andorra, Djibouti and Sao Tomé and Principé for a length of visit to be determined upon entry.

Health information: Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required from travellers over 1 year of age arriving within 6 months of visiting an infected area.

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

Currency: Bahamian Dollar (Ba$) = 100 cents US dollars (par value) are also in use.

All major credit cards are accepted. Travellers cheques, preferably in US dollars or Pound sterling, are accepted.
ATM availability: Over 25 locations.

Cost of living: Avoid the tourist centres when looking for cheaper accommodation and food. Staying in the Bahamas may prove difficult for the budget traveller.

Languages: English

Weather: The Bahamas are slightly cooler than other islands in the Caribbean. More refreshing September to May.

Electricity: 120 volts AC 60 Hz

Post: 5 days.

Transport: SEA: A mail boat serves the outer island which may also be used by passengers. ROAD: Inexpensive and frequent buses are available. TAXIS: Metered. CAR HIRE: Major companies have agencies at the airport and in Nassau. DOCUMENTATION: A valid British driving licence is valid for 3 months

Special information: Bahamas has 700 islands in total. The tourist may consider visiting those that are less commercial. Beach wear is not acceptable in towns where informal dress should be worn. Men are expected to wear Jackets in the evenings in resaurants and casinos. It is illegal to work without a work permit. Employment is scarce so do not expect to find work to finance your visit. Violent crime is increasing and a number of incidents have taken place in tourist areas. Lock balcony doors in hotel rooms. Penalties are severe for involvement in drugs – (Possession and /or trafficking).

Capital: Thimphu

Time zone: GMT + 6

Telephone services: Country Code: 975
Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: Not available at present.

Tourist information: Tourism Authority of Bhutan, P.O.Box.126, Thimpu, Bhutan. Tel: (2) 23251/2. Fax: (2) 23695., Bhutan Yod Sel Tours and Treks. PO Box 574, Thimpu, Bhutan. Tel: (2) 23912. Fax (2) 23589.

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: Visa required by all except for nationals of India. Tourists must pay a minimum sum in Bhutan (about 220 US dollars) NOTE: There are two ways of entering Bhutan, by air to Paro Airport or by road to the Bhutanese border town of Phuntosholing. All travellers entering by road must ensure they have the necessary documentation for transiting through India.

Health information: Polio and Typhoid: Vaccination Recommended.
Malaria: Exists throughout the year in the Southern belt. Resistance to chloroquine has been reported in the falciparum variety of the disease.
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required if coming from an infected area.
Other Health Risks: Cholera, Rabies, Meningitis. Altitude sickness affects some tourists. – Medical facilities are very limited in Bhutan.

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: 1 Ngultrum (NU) = 100 chetrum (Ch).
Exchange: Leading foreign currencies can be exchanged at the Bank of Bhutan. Major hotels may also exchange currency. Amex and Diners Club have a very limited acceptance. Traveller’s cheques can be exchanged at the Bank of Bhutan branches.
ATM availability: Unavailable.

Cost of living: Caters for all budgets, but predominantly very inexpensive. Accommodation varies from hotels in the capital to guesthouses and cottages elsewhere.

Languages: Dzongkha is the official language. A large number of local dialects are spoken due to the isolation of many villages. Nepali is common in the South of the country.

Weather: June – Aug: The temperatures drop dramatically as this is the monsoon period. Nights are cold. Generally Oct, Nov and Apr – mid Jan are the best times to visit when rainfall is slight and temperatures are pleasant.

Electricity: 220 volts Ac, 50 Hz.

Post: Airmail to Europe can take up to 2 weeks.

Transport: ROAD: The country has a fairly good internal road network. The Northern regions of the High Himalayas have no roads. YAKS/PONIES/MULES: The main form of transportation. DOCUMENTATION: IDP is required.

Special information: Due to the high terrain altitude sickness would be a problem for some and medical evacuation is difficult. Tourists are required to pay a minimum daily sum (aprox. US$ 220.) Religion has a strong influence on traditional ways of life. Travel to the country has been restricted to visitors for many years and some areas are closed to foreigners. The country must be entered via India or Bangladesh.