Country Information

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: Vienna

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

Telephone services: Country Code: 43
Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: Dial 112 anywhere in the EU to reach the emergency services. Additional local numbers:- Police – 133, Ambulance – 144, Fire – 122.

Tourist information: Austrian National Tourist Office, P.O.Box. 2363, 14 Cork Street, London, W1X 1PF Tel: (020) 7629 0461 Fax: (020) 7499 6038.

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

Visa information: Visa required by all except: Nationals of EU countries with a valid ID card.

Health information: Health Risks: Rabies, Ticks.

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. Exchange: All banks, exchange counters at airports, railway stations. Credit cards are not as widely used in Austria as they are in the USA and the United Kingdom, however most major cards will be accepted in large towns. Travellers cheques are accepted in towns and tourist areas.
ATM availability: Over 3000 locations.

Cost of living: Relatively expensive, similarly to other Western European countries.

Languages: German

Weather: Moderate continental climate. Winter – high snow levels but sunny. Summer – warm days cool nights

Electricity: 220 volts AC 50 Hz. Round 2 pin European plugs are used.

Post: 2 – 4 days within Europe.

Transport: RAIL: An efficient rail service operates throughout Austria. Special offers / discounts can often be found. ROAD: Excellent network of roads. There is free assistance from the Austrian motoring association. (OAMTC). Hitching: Institutionalised. DOCUMENTATION: Green card is strongly recommended for driving. The British driving licence is usually recognised. A Motorway Vignette is required on Motorways and A roads, they are available at border posts and larger garages.

Special information: Visitors to the Alps are advised to contact the Austrian Tourist Agency (tel: + [43] (020) 7629 0461 for advice on weather and safety conditions before travelling. It is customary to greet people with the salute Grüss Gott. Austrians tend to be quite formal. The church holds a high position in Austrian society which should be kept in mind by the visitor. It is customary to dress up for the opera or theatre.

Capital: Canberra

Time zone: East GMT + 10, Central + 9.5, West + 8

Telephone services: Country Code: 61
Outgoing Code: 0011

Emergency telephone numbers: Emergency services = 000.

Tourist information: Australian Tourist Commission, Gemini House, 10 – 18 Putney Hill, London, SW1S 6AA Tel: (020) 8780 2227-9 Fax: (020) 8780 1496.

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

Visa information: Visa required.

Health information: Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate will be required if travelling from an infected area.

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

Currency: Australian Dollar (A$) = 100 cents NOTE: Import or export of A$5000 must be reported to customs at entry or departure. All major credit cards and travellers cheques, in any international currency, are widely accepted.
ATM availability: Over 6 000 locations.

Cost of living: Comparatively cheap compared to the UK and USA. Caters for all.

Languages: English and many minority languages.

Weather: Extreme varieties of climate from tropical to temperate. Nov – Mar = warm or hot everywhere. Apr – Sept occasional rain in the South which can be intense.

Electricity: 240/250 Volts AC 50 Hz. Unique 3 pin plugs used – adaptor required.

Post: 7 – 10 days.

Transport: FLIGHTS: Vast size of Australia makes this the most convenient form of intercity travel. ROAD: In the outback a full set of spares should be carried, with water, food and petrol. DOCUMENTATION: National licence valid for 3 months and must be carried whilst driving.

Special information: If travelling into the interior specific precautions should be taken, for instance take adequate supplies, and leave information of your whereabouts. Special care and respect of natural habitats is recommended. Always ask permission before photographing aborigines. Tourists should exercise care in Sydney as a number of backpackers have been attacked. Be cautious when using ATMs.

Capital: Oranjestad

Time zone: GMT – 4

Telephone services: Country Code: 297
Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: Police – 11000, Ambulance – 74300, Fire – 115

Tourist information: Caribbean Tourism Organisation, 42 Westminster Gardens, Artillery Row, London SW1P 1RR Tel: (020) 7222 4335 Fax: (020) 7222 4325.

Passport information: Valid passport required by all except nationals of the USA or Canada holding a naturalisation card and photo ID, alien registration card, birth certificate or affidavit of birth. Return ticket required. Requirements may be subject to short-term change. Contact embassy before departure.

Visa information: Visas are required by nationals of Afghanistan, Cambodia, China, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Libya, Mauritania, Mongolia, Myanmar, Syria and Vietnam. All other nationals may enter for a period of 14 days for tourist purposes providing they have onward or return tickets and proof of sufficient funds for the length of stay. Nationals of Belgium, Bolivia; Burkina Faso, Chile, Columbia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Germany, Israel, Jamaica, South Korea, Luxembourg, Malawi, Mauritius, Niger, Philippines, San Marino, Suriname and Swaziland can enter without a visa for up to 3 months

Health information: Yellow Fever: R. A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over 6 months of age arriving from infected areas.

Food & drink: Water is distilled and treated in a saltwater purification plant, and should be refreshing and safe, normal precautions should be observed with food.

Currency: Aruba Florin (AFL) = 100 cents. Exchange: The US$ is widely accepted. Local currency can not be exchanged outside Aruba. Travellers cheques in US dollars and Dutch Guilders are widely accepted. MasterCard is widely accepted.
ATM availability: 10 locations.

Cost of living: Hotels on the Palm Beach and Eagle Beach resorts are very expensive. Rates for other accommodations are much lower in the summer season.

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

Weather: Warm and dry climate. Average temperature 28ºC. The months of October, November and December experience short showers.

Electricity: 110 volts Ac 60 Hz. – Normal American supply.

Post: Up to 1 week.

Transport: FLIGHTS: Air Aruba offers domestic services between other Caribbean islands. ROAD very good system of roads throughout the island. BUS: Bus services operate between the towns and hotels. TAXI: Fares are fixed and should be checked before journey. CAR HIRE: The most pleasant way of getting around the island. Many cars are available. DOCUMENTATION: A valid national or IDP is required. Minimum age – 23 for driving.

Special information: Beachwear should only be worn around the beach / pool.

Capital: Sarajevo

Time zone: GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 during the summer)

Telephone services: Country Code: 387
Outgoing Code: 99

Emergency telephone numbers: It is advisable to consult the foreign office in your country of residence before departure, regarding emergency assistance.

Tourist information: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nusala Omladinska 4, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina. Tel: (71) 663 813 Fax: (71)472 188.

Passport information: Valid passport required by all. The partition of the republic make legal border crossing and airport (Sarajevo) entry for all foreign nationals difficult. Check before travelling to the country.

Visa information: Not required by British nationals but situation can change at border crossings. Check before travel.

Health information: Other Health Risks: Rabies

Food & drink: Care should be exercised with drinking water, dairy foods are not generally pasturised, fruit and vegetables should be washed prior to consumption.

Currency: Konvertibilna Marka .
Acceptance of credit cards has just started in Sarajevo. No credit cards nor travellers cheques are accepted anywhere else in Bosnia-Herzegovina yet.
ATM availability: Unavailable.

Cost of living: Limited commodities and high inflation as a result of the war.

Languages: Serbo-Croat (Serbs) and Croato-Serb (Croats).

Weather: The climate is variable with moderate continental conditions. It is usually cold in the winter and hot in the summer.

Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50 Hz.

Post: Uncertain service due to the civil war.

Transport: Because of the lengthy time being taken to implement the peace and reconstruction programme, travel in some parts of the country may be difficult.

Special information: Care is necessary because violent incidents can occur. Avoid crowds and demonstrations. Large areas of the country are still mined – exercise care particularly off main roads. Check the situation before travelling

Capital: Bridgetown

Time zone: GMT – 4

Telephone services: Country Code: 1 246
Outgoing Code: 011

Emergency telephone numbers: Police – 112, Ambulance – 115, Fire – 113. All services – 119.

Tourist information: Barbados Tourism Authority, 263 Tottenham Court Road, London, W1P OLA Tel: (020) 7636 9448 Fax: (020) 7637 1496.

Passport information: Passport must be valid for 6 months after date of entry by all except: Nationals of the USA and Canada, who hold a valid return ticket, who have embarked from their home country for stays not exceeding 3 months and who have a naturalisation certificate or original birth certificate accompanied by a driving licence with photograph or employment identification with photograph. Nationals of Commonwealth countries for stays up to 6 months (except nationals of India, Pakistan and South Africa where special conditions apply) for stays of up to 6 months Return Ticket required. Requirements may be subject to short-term change. Contact embassy before departure.

Visa information: Visa not required by nationals of EU countries for stays up to 6 months.

Health information: Seek Advice from GP before travel.
Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended.
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate if required from passengers over 1 year of age coming from infected areas.

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

Currency: Barbados Dollar (Bds$) = 100 cents.
All major credit cards are accepted. Travellers cheques, preferably in US dollars and Pound sterling, are accepted.
ATM availability: 45 locations.

Cost of living: Generally expensive. Avoid the tourist centres if travelling on a budget, although prices throughout the island are quite expensive.

Languages: English. Local Bajan dialect is also spoken.

Weather: Subtropical climate cooled by sea breezes. Wet season – July till Nov when brief showers occur. Dry season – Dec till June.

Electricity: 110 volts AC 50 Hz American style 2-pin plug are used.

Post: Up to 1 week.

Transport: FLIGHTS: Several operators run flights between neighbouring islands. ROAD: A good network of roads run throughout the island. BUS: Frequent comprehensive coverage of the island. Although cheap buses are crowded during the rush hour. CAR HIRE: Various vehicles can be hired at the airport or large hotels. DOCUMENTATION: A Barbados driving licence is required, a valid national or IDP should be held.

Special information: Attacks and thefts are rare although persistent salesmen are likely to continually approach you. Visitors should exercise common sense precautions such as not exhibiting conspicuous signs of wealth and not to visit deserted beaches at night.