Country Information

Capital: Port Vila

Time zone: GMT + 12

Telephone services: Country Code: 678
Outgoing Code: Calls must be made through the International operator

Emergency telephone numbers: Police – 22 222, Ambulance – 22 100, Fire – 22 333, Doctor – 22 826

Tourist information: Tourism Council of the South Pacific, 375 Upper Richmond Road West, London SW14 7NX Tel: (0181) 392 1838 Fax: (0181) 878 0998

Passport information: Valid passport required by all. Must be valid for at least 4 months beyond period of stay. Return Ticket Required. Regulations may be subject to change at short notice. Contact the embassy before departure

Visa information: Visa required by all except the following for visits up to 30 days, providing they are bona fide tourists in possession of confirmed onward travel documents. Nationals of Great Britain, Australia, Canada, USA, EU countries, Japan, French overseas departments and territories, all commonwealth countries, Cameroon, China, Cuba, Fiji, South Korea, Federated states of Micronesia, Marshall Islands Norway, Pakistan, Palau, Philippines, Switzerland, Taiwan (China), and Thailand

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Malaria: Exists in the Falciparum variety in most parts of the country, throughout the year, which has been reported as being highly resistant to chloroquine

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

Currency: Vatu (V) = 100 centimes
Exchange: Facilities are available at the airport and trade banks
Credit cards and travellers cheques are widely accepted. Australian dollars are the preferred currency in travellers cheques
ATM availability: Unavailable

Cost of living: There are three international standard resorts, which are expensive, as well as smaller resorts and conventional hotel-style accommodation, which are affordable. Moderately priced self-contained apartments and bungalows are available around Port Villa on the main island. Usual services are inexpensive

Languages: Bislama (Pidgin English). French and English are widely spoken. There are many (local dialects totally over 100).

Weather: Hot and Humid. Wet season: Nov – Feb

Electricity: 220 volts AC 50 Hz. Australian type flat 3 pin plugs are used

Post: 7 days

Transport: FLIGHTS: The government’s airline operates domestic flights, private airlines also operate domestic flights. SEA: Inter Island ferries operate from Port Vila and Espiritu Santo to the northern and southern islands. ROAD: BUS: Limited bus service. CAR HIRE: Major car hire operators have offices in Port Vila. DOCUMENTATION: A national driving licence is acceptable

Special information: Traditional customs should be respected. Beachwear should be confined to the pool/beach side. Consumption of alcohol is not permitted outside licensed premises

Capital: Kralendijk

Time zone: GMT – 4

Telephone services: Country Code: 599
Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: Police 11, Ambulance 14. All services – 5997 8004

Tourist information: Caribbean Tourism Organisation, 42 Westminster Gardens, Artillery Row, London SW1P 1RR Tel: (020) 7222 4335 Fax: (020) 7222 4335.

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

Visa information: Nationals of Australia, Canada the USA and Japan are allowed to stay for 14 days without a visa providing they have proof of return or onward tickets. Nationals of Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Spain and the UK are allowed to stay for 90 days without a visa providing they have a return or onward ticket. NOTE: Enquire at the Ministers office at the Hague for a complete up to date list of regulations regarding individual countries.

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

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

Currency: Netherlands Antilles Guilder or Florin (NAG) = 100 cents
NOTE: Import and export of local currency is limited to NAG 200.
Credit cards are accepted in large establishments. Travellers cheques in US currency is the most welcomed.
ATM availability: 10 locations approximately.

Cost of living: Generally inexpensive goods, especially perfume, jewellery and alcohol

Languages: Dutch. Papiamento, English and Spanish are also spoken

Weather: Hot throughout the year with cooling sea winds. Wet season Oct to Dec.

Electricity: 127 volts AC 50 Hz.

Post: 4 – 6 days.

Transport: ROAD: Reasonably good but a 4-wheel drive may be required for extensive tourism of the island. CAR HIRE: Firms are located at the airport and large hotels. DOCUMENTATION: A valid national licence will be sufficient but drivers must be 23 years or older. TAXI: A good taxi service exists on the island

Special information: Beachwear is only suitable for the beach or poolside. Most bars and restaurants outside the two main hotel resorts are closed by midnight.

Capital: Oranjestad

Time zone: GMT – 4

Telephone services: Country Code: 599 Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: All services – 599 382211

Tourist information: Caribbean Tourism, same as Aruba

Passport information: Valid passport required by all except nationals of: Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg and The Netherlands holding an Identity card. The USA holding voter’s registration cards or birth certificate, and alien residents of the USA with an Alien Registration card. Canada with proof of citizenship. San Marino holding a national ID card or a passport not expired by more than 5 years. Brazil, Mexico, Trinidad, and Tobago and Venezuela with a national ID card. Return Ticket required. Requirements may be subject to short-term change. Contact embassy before departure

Visa information: Up to date visa requirements can be obtained from the Office of the Minister Plenipotentiary of the Netherlands Antilles

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required from all travellers over 6 months of age coming from infected areas

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

Currency: Netherlands Antilles Guilder or Florin (NAG) = 100 cents NOTE: Import and export of local currency is restricted to NAG 200.
Visa and MasterCard are accepted in large establishments. Travellers cheques, preferably in US dollars are accepted.
ATM availability: 10 locations approximately

Cost of living: Despite the island’s small size it has a variety of restaurants and accommodation at moderate prices

Languages: English is the official language. Papiamento, French and Spanish are also spoken

Weather: Hot climate with cooling sea breezes

Electricity: 110/220 volts AC 60 Hz

Post: 4 – 6 days

Transport: ROAD: A very small island with very few roads. The whole island can be walked around in a few hours. CAR HIRE and TAXI: Companies operate in Oranjestad. DOCUMENTATION: National licence is sufficient

Special information: Twice a year sea turtles clamber onto the volcanic black sand to lay their eggs, and giant land crabs hunt on the beaches every night

Capital: Taipei

Time zone: GMT + 8

Telephone services: Country Code: 886 Outgoing Code: 002

Emergency telephone numbers: Police – 110 (Chinese only)

Tourist information: Taiwan Visitors Association, 5th Floor, 9 Minchuan East Road, Section 2, Taipei, Taiwan Tel: (2) 594 3261. Fax: (2) 594 3265.

Passport information: All travellers must have passports which must be valid for 6 months. Return Ticket Required. Requirements may change at short notice. Contact the embassy before departure.

Visa information: Required by all except nationals of: Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the UK provided their stay does not excee d 14 days, they are holding a passport valid for at least 6 months and are of previous good character. If staying for more than 14 days and nationals of other EU countries do require a visa. Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand and the USA provided their stay does not exceed 14 days and they are holding a passport valid for at least 6 months and are of previous good character.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended.
Malaria: Not a problem.
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required from anyone arriving from an infected area.
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: New Taiwan Dollar (NT$) = 100 cents NOTE: Import and export of local currency is limited to NT$ 40000. All exchange receipts must be retained. Export of foreig n currency is limited to the equivalent of US$ 5000 for passengers leaving within 6 months of arrival.
Credit cards and travellers cheques are accepted in most hotels, shops and restaurants. US dollars are the preferred currency.
ATM availability: Over 1400 locations.

Cost of living: It is possible to live relatively cheaply by shopping at markets. Good quality, cheap, accommodation may be more difficult to find.

Languages: Mandarin (Chinese), English and Japanese

Weather: Subtropical climate with moderate temperatures in the North where there is a winter season. June – Oct is the typhoon season.

Electricity: 110 Volts Ac 60 Hz

Post: Up to 10 days.

Transport: ROAD: There is an adequate road system joining all major cities. DOCUMENTATION: IDP is required. BUS: Local and long distance bus services operate. TAXI: There a re numerous taxis which are inexpensive – but beware of drivers. RAIL: Air-conditioned, electric trains run hourly.

Special information: Taiwan is sensitive to political discussions regarding neighbouring China, but is still heavily influenced by Chinese culture. However as a major economic force in the Pacific it has adopted western free-market practices.

Capital: Dodoma

Time zone: GMT + 3

Telephone services: Country Code: 255 Outgoing Code: International Calls must go through the operator.

Emergency telephone numbers: Not present.

Tourist information: Tanzania Tourist Board, PO Box 2485, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Tel: (51) 113 145 Fax: (51) 116 420

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: Antigua & Barbuda, Belize, Brunei, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Cyprus, Grenada, Indonesia, Kenya, Kiribati, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritius, Namibia, São Tomé, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tonga, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and holders of Tanzania re-entry pass.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Malaria: Exists all year round throughout the country in the Falciparum variety. High resistance to chloroquine has been reported.
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required for all travellers over 1 year of age travelling from infected countries.
Other Health Risks: Bilharzia; Rabies. There is a very 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: Tanzanian Shilling (Tsc) = 100 cents Exchange: Authorised dealers or bureaux de change NOTE: The import and export of local currency is prohibited.
MasterCard and Visa have only limited acceptance. Travellers cheques can be cashed at authorised exchange bureaux, such as Forex. US dollars are the preferred currency.
ATM availability: Unavailable.

Cost of living: Hotels and accommodation generally are expensive.

Languages: Swahili and English. Other languages are also spoken.

Weather: Tropical climate. The raining season is Mar – May along the coast. Highlands raining season is from Nov – Dec and Feb – May. Cooler season: June – May.

Electricity: 240 Volts AC 50 Hz. Plugs may be round or square 3 pin, fused or unfused.

Post: 5 days by airmail to Europe.

Transport: FLIGHTS: Air Tanzania runs regular flights between the main towns. RAIL: Regular trains run between the main cities. ROADS: The roads network is good, although the rainy season makes minor roads impassable. It is inadvisable to drive at night because of the wild animals. There are often petrol shortages and a lack of spare parts. BUS TRAVEL: Is often hazardous. CAR HIRE: Companies operate but are extremely expensive. DOCUMENTATION: IDP is recommended.

Special information: HIGH RISK: in Zanzibar. Travel is usually problem free but the incidence of robberies and muggings is rising and travellers should exercise caution on beaches; public transport and in stationary vehicles in Dar es Salaam; especially after dark. Beware of bogus policemen. Bus travel can be hazardous because of frequent fatal accidents. Travellers should avoid border areas. Visitors should register with the High Commission.

Capital: Kyiv

Time zone: GMT + 2 (GMT+ 3 during British summer time)

Telephone services: Country Code: 380
Outgoing Code: 810

Emergency telephone numbers: Not present

Tourist information: Intourist, 219 Marsh Wall, Isle of Dogs, London E14 9PD Tel: (020) 7538 8600 or 538 5902 Fax: (020) 7538 5967

Passport information: Valid passport required by all. Regulations may change at short notice and you are advised to contact the relevant consular authority before finalising travel arrangements.

Visa information: Valid visa required by all. Mediacl insurance is required before a visa application can be made. Visas must be obtained before departure.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Not required
Malaria: Not present
Yellow Fever: No
Other Health Risks: Cholera and Diphtheria, Tick borne encephalitis (in forested areas).

Food & drink: Water is untreated and not safe to drink. Boil tap water before drinking it.

Currency: Hryvnya Banks and currency offices will exchange money.
Credit cards are not widely accepted. The preferred currency for traveller’s cheques is US dollars.
ATM availability: only a handful

Cost of living: Less expensive than Western Europe

Languages: Ukrainian is the official state language. Russian is also widely spoken.

Weather: Temperate with warm summers, crisp sunny autumns and cold, snowy winters.

Electricity: 220 volts Ac 50 Hz.

Post: Services are erratic. Letters to Western Europe can take up to 2 weeks.

Transport: AIR: not recommended as flights are far from comfortable and buying tickets is extremely difficult. RAIL: as buying tickets is difficult it is advisable to pre book through Intourist in London. BUSES: exist but are not recommended TAXIS: are available and fares should be agreed in advance. DOCUMENTATION: International driving licence is required to drive in Ukraine.

Special information: All visitors must register with the Ministry of Internal Affairs within three days of arrival. A room in a private home is an excellent accommodation option in the Ukraine as the people are friendly and hospitable. Carry your passport at all times.