Country Information

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.

Capital: Kampala

Time zone: GMT + 3

Telephone services: Country Code: 256
Outgoing Code: International calls must go through the operator

Emergency telephone numbers: Not present

Tourist information: Uganda Tourist Board, PO Box 7211, Parliament Avenue, Kampala, Uganda, Tel: (41) 242 196 fax: (41) 242 188 Uganda National Parks and Wildlife Authority Office Tel 232 971

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, Angola, Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Burundi, Comoros, Cyprus, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Grenada, Hong Kong, Israel, Jamaica, Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Lesotho, Libya, Kuwait, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Madagascar, Mauritius, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, St Lucia, St Vincent & The Grenadines, Sudan, Swaziland, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Tonga, Tuvalu, UAE, Vanuatu; Zambia, Zimbabwe. Transit passenger with a connecting flight. With effect from 1 March 1999, British nationals require a visa to enter Uganda. British nationals travelling up country should consult the British High Commission in Kampala (Tel: 257 054/9)

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Malaria: Exists all year throughout the country. Resistance to chloroquine has been reported
Yellow Fever: Vaccination is strongly recommended to all passengers and a vaccination certificate is required by passengers arriving from infected areas
Other Health Risks: Bilharzia, Meningitis, 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: Uganda Shilling (Ush) = 100 cents
Exchange: central bank, commercial banks and exchange bureaux. NOTE: Import and export of local currency is prohibited
Visa is widely accepted, but other credit cards have limited acceptance. Travellers cheques, preferably in US dollars are accepted
ATM availability: Unavailable

Cost of living: Since a new privatisation programme was introduced in the last few years, the cost of living has risen

Languages: English and Luganda and Kiswahili is also widely spoken

Weather: The higher altitudes can be quite cool. There is heavy rain: Mar – May, Oct – Nov

Electricity: 240 Volts Ac 50 Hz

Post: Airmail to Europe can take 3 days to several weeks

Transport: FLIGHTS: Domestic flights operate regularly between major cities. ROAD: Vary in quality and are sparse in the North. DOCUMENTATION: A national driving licence or IDP is required. RAIL: Passenger facilities are limited and timetables can be erratic although regular services operate. BUS: Services are often overcrowded and unreliable

Special information: HIGH RISK Consult the Embassy before travelling. The South and West are not safe for travel after recent kidnapping. Safety can not be guaranteed in the North and Northeast. Risk remains elsewhere of armed robbery and car-jackings. Do not travel after dark. Taking photos of anything connected to the military is prohibited.

Capital: Mbabane

Time zone: GMT + 2

Telephone services: Country Code: 268 Outgoing Code: International calls must go through the operator

Emergency telephone numbers: Not present

Tourist information: Ministry of Broadcasting, Information and Tourism, PO Box 338, Mbabane, Swaziland Tel: 42761 Fax: 42774 or 46 953

Passport information: Valid passport required by all. Return Ticket Recommended though not essential. Requirements may change at short notice. Contact the embassy before departure

Visa information: Required by all except nationals of: Britain, Australia, Canada, USA, Bahamas, Barbados, Botswana, Cyprus, Fiji, Gambia, Grenada, Ghana, Guyana, Iceland, Israel, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Namibia, Nauru, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, San Marino, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sweden, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Uganda, Uruguay, W. Samoa, Zambia and Zimbabwe

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Malaria: Exists throughout the year in certain areas in the Falciparum variety. resistance to chloroquine has been reported
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required for travellers arriving from infected areas
Other Health Risks: Bilharzia, Meningitis (recommended), 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: Lilangeni (E) = 100 cents South African Rand is also accepted as legal tender Amex and MasterCard are widely accepted. Visa is accepted on a more limited basis. Travellers cheques are accepted in Pound sterling preferably
ATM availability: Unavailable

Cost of living: Hotels and recreational facilities in the Holiday Valley complex in Ezulwini are expensive

Languages: English and Siswati

Weather: Weather can be changeable due to the high altitude. Lowlands are the hottest and the higher lands have the most rain between Oct – march

Electricity: 20 Volts AC 50 Hz Plugs = 15amp round pin

Post: Up to 2 weeks

Transport: ROADS: Generally in good condition. BUS: Numerous buses connect various parts of the country some of which are non – stop. CAR HIRE: A number of companies operate. DOCUMENTATION: National driving licences are valid for up to 6 months provided they are printed in English. IDP is recognised

Special information: Those wanting to camp in villages should see the village chief. PHOTOGRAPHY: Permission should be asked. Photos of national buildings and the royal family are prohibited. Do not camp near houses or graveyards without being granted permission. Avoid downtown areas of Mbabane and Manzini after dark

Capital: London

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

Telephone services: Country Code: 44
Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: Dial 112 anywhere in the EU to reach the emergency services. Additional local numbers:-999 for Police, Ambulance, Fire

Tourist information: British Tourist Authority and British Tourist Board, Thames Tower, Black’s Road, Hammersmith, London W6 9EL Tel (020) 8846 9000 Fax: (020) 8563 0302

Passport information: Valid passport required by all except: Nationals of EU countries with a valid ID card for tourist visits not exceeding 3 months. Nationals of Iceland Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway and Switzerland with valid ID cards for tourist/social visits of not less than 6 months and in possession of a British Visitor’s guide available from travel agencies. Requirements may be subject to change at short notice. Contact the relevant authority before travelling.

Visa information: Visa Not required by EU nationals and citizens of Australia, Canada, USA and Japan.

Health information: There are periodic outbreaks of meningitis.

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

Currency: Pound (£) = 100 pence
Exchange: banks, exchange bureaux and many hotels All major credit cards are accepted. Travellers cheques are widely accepted, preferably in Pound sterling
ATM availability: Over 22 000 locations

Cost of living: London and major tourist centres can be especially expensive.

Languages: English. Welsh is spoken in areas of Wales. Gaelic is spoken in parts of Scotland and N. Ireland. French and Norman French are spoken in the Channel Islands. There are a variety of ethnic minorities (Hindi, Urdu, Turkish, Greek, Cantonese and Mandarin).

Weather: The climate is temperate with warm, wet summers and mild, wet winters. It is variable throughout the year and the country as a whole.

Electricity: 240 volts AC, 50 Hz. Square 3 pin plugs are used

Post: Post destined for outside Europe should be sent airmail.

Transport: There is a comprehensive nation-wide rail and bus network

Special information: Although a cease-fire is currently in place in Northern Ireland, sectarian violence still persists. If visiting avoid discussions on religion and politics. Normal social courtesies apply.

Capital: Cockburn Town

Time zone: GMT – 5 (GMT -4 from first Sunday in April to Saturday before the last Sunday in October)

Telephone services: Country Code: 1649
Outgoing Code: 01

Emergency telephone numbers: All services – 911

Tourist information: Turks and Caicos Tourist Information Office, International House, 47 Chase Side, Enfield, EN2 6NB Tel: (020) 8364 45188 Fax: (020) 8367 9949.

Passport information: Valid passport required by all except nationals of Canada and the USA if holding proof of identity. Return Ticket required. Requirements may be subject to short term change. Contact embassy before departure.

Visa information: Visa required by all except: Nationals of Great Britain, Australia, Canada, USA, EU countries, Japan. Nationals of commonwealth countries. Nationals of Argentina, Bahrain, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Cote d’Ivoire, Ecuador, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Mexico, Monaco, Nicaragua, Norway, Oman, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Quatar, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, South Korea, Suriname, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Vatican City, Venezuela, Yemen and Zaire. Transit visas are not required except for nationals of communist countries.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended.

Food & drink: Water is untreated and not safe to drink. Drinking water should be filtered and boiled and visitors should avoid eating food purchased from local street vendors. Avoid dairy products as they are not pasteurised. Fruit and vegetables should be peeled before consumption.

Currency: US Dollar (US$) = 100 cents.
All major credit cards are accepted. Travellers cheques are widely accepted, preferably in US dollars.
ATM availability: Unavailable.

Cost of living: Extremely expensive. Hotels range from standard to 2 luxury and 2 deluxe, with private beaches and moorings.

Languages: English

Weather: Tropical climate with cool winds. Nights are cool with rain in the winter.

Electricity: 110 volts AC

Post: 5 days

Transport: ROAD: Less than a quarter of the roads are tarred. TAXI: Available at the airport but may be scarce meaning they may have to be shared. CAR HIRE: Limited selection available from local firms. DOCUMENTATION: A local licence is obtainable on presentation of a national or IDP licence.

Special information: The islands consist of 30 in total, forming the southern eastern Bahamas chain. Access is primarily by boat, although the larger islands have airports. Turks and Caicos are a British Dependant Territory.

Capital: Washington D.C.

Time zone: USA has 6 time zones ranging from GMT – 5 on the East coast to – 10 in Hawaii

Telephone services: Country Code: 1
Outgoing Code: 001

Emergency telephone numbers: All services – 911

Tourist information: United States Travel and Tourism Administration, Room 1860, 14th Constitutional Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230 Tel: (202) 482 3811 or 482 2000 Fax (202) 482 2887

Passport information: Valid passport required by all except nationals of Canada arriving from anywhere in the Western hemisphere with at least 1 proof of identity and residents of Canada or Bermuda who have a common nationality with the nationals of Canada or with British subjects in Bermuda who are arriving from North, Central or South America. Return Ticket Required. Requirements may change at short notice. Contact the embassy before departure.

Visa information: Visa required by all except nationals of: EU countries (except nationals of Greece and Portugal who do require visas) if not exceeding 90 days and with a valid passport, British subjects resident of the Cayman Islands or Turks and Caicos Islands who arrive directly from those islands. Japan, Andorra, Brunei, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, San Marino, and Switzerland who have a valid passport and are not staying for more than 90 days. NOTE: It may be worthwhile to check with the relevant consular authority before finalising travel arrangements as visa/passport regulations my be subject to change at short notice.

Health information: Health Risks: Rabies

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

Currency: US Dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange: Most hotels do not exchange foreign currency and only a few major banks are willing to do so. It is advisable to take US$ Credit cards and travellers cheques are widely accepted, preferably in US dollars
ATM availability: Over 135000 locations

Cost of living: Food and accommodation and petrol are cheaper than Western Europe allowing budget travel to be a possibility.

Languages: English. Many other languages are also spoken.

Weather: Varies considerably with region.

Electricity: 110/220 Volts 60 HZ. Plugs are of the flat 2-pin type.

Post: Up to 1 week

Transport: A variety of convenient modes of transport exist. When driving IDP is recommended.

Special information: Since the tragic events of Sept 11, 2001, higher than normal vigilance is required when travelling particularly by air. As airport procedures are now much tighter travellers should allow an hour or two longer for check in formalities. Do not carry sharp objects in hand luggage (including manicure scissors and little nail clippers). Inappropriate jokes about these or otherrestrictions could result in a traveler being unpleasantly detained. Within the USA a wide variety of cultures and customs are prevalent which co-exist within a diverse topography. Crime rates vary from state to state.