Country Information

Capital: Buenos Aires

Time zone: GMT – 3

Telephone services: Country Code: 54
Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: Police – 101/107, Police helpline (24hrs) in English on 101, for victims of crime.

Tourist information: Argentine Consulate, 27 Three Kings Yard, London W1Y 1FL Tel: (020) 7318 1340 Fax: (020) 7318 1349

Passport information: Valid passport required by all except nationals of Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay who, for journeys that do not go beyond these countries, can use their national ID cards. Return ticket required by Australia, Japan and others. May be subject to change at short notice. Contact the Consular authority before departure.

Visa information: Required by all for business purposes, refer to the relevant authority for visa requirements for tourists.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended.
Malaria: Exists in the Vivax variety in rural and areas below 1200m.
Other Health Risks: Rabies, noteworthy risk of Hepatitis A, Trypanosomiasis, Gastroentiritis, Intestinal Parasitosis and Anthrax. Anthrax is not at this time seen to be significantly more prevalent than in many rural economies worldwide.

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

Currency: Nuevo Peso (P) = 100 centavos
Diners Club, American Express and MasterCard. Travellers cheques can be exchanged in larger towns for US Dollars.
ATM availability: Over 800 locations.

Cost of living: Budget travel is not impossible. Reasonably priced lodging, food and transport is available. Allow for fluctuating prices between cities and rural areas.

Languages: Spanish is the official language. English, German, French and Italian are sometimes spoken

Weather: The central area is hot and humid between December and February and cooler in the winter. The north has a sub-tropical climate, the south has a sub-arctic climate.

Electricity: 220 Volts AC, 50 Hz. Plugs = older buildings require 2-pin, but 3-pin can be used in more modern buildings.

Post: Airmail to Europe takes between 5 to 10 days. Surface mail can take as long as 50 days, so airmail is advisable.

Transport: FLIGHTS: Air travel is the most convenient way to get around the main cities but is often in heavy demand and subject to delay. ROADS: Cross- country high ways are well built, although road conditions off the main routes can be unreliable. DOCUMENTATION: IDP is required and this must be stamped at the offices of the Automovil club Argentina. Minor violations are subject to large fines. RAIL: One of the largest domestic rail- networks in the world. Good facilities and low class travel can be good value. There are six main routes out of Buenos Aires, but information can be hard to find elsewhere in Argentina.

Special information: Avoid casual discussion of the Falklands/Malvinas islands. Due to an increase in crime occasionally involving violence, avoid poorly-lit areas at night. Avoid carrying large amounts of cash at all times. Beachwear is not suitable for town. Avoid military installations, which usually allow no stopping.

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.