Country Information

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.

Capital: N’Djamena

Time zone: GMT + 1

Telephone services: Country Code: 235 It may be necessary to go through the operator
Outgoing Code: Calls must go through the operator.

Emergency telephone numbers: Not available at present.

Tourist information: Direction de la Promotion Touristique, BP 86, N’djamena, Chad Tel: 524 416, Fax: 524 397 or 522 261.

Passport information: A valid passport is required by all except by nationals of:- Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, and Togo. Return Ticket Required. Requirements may be subject to change at short notice. Contact embassy.

Visa information: Visa required by all except nationals of, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, and Togo.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended.
Malaria: The falciparum variety is present.
Yellow Fever: Vaccination required with certificate for travellers over one year of age.
Other Health Risks: Bilharzia, River blindness, Sleeping sickness and Meningitis.

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: CFA Franc (CFAfr) = 100 centimes.
Advisable to bring US Dollars rather than sterling into the country.
Credit cards and travellers cheques are not accepted.
ATM availability: Unavailable.

Cost of living: The economy is very unstable due to civil unrest.

Languages: French. Arabic and Sara are also widely spoken. There are over 50 local languages.

Weather: The climate is hot and tropical. South has a raining season from May – Oct. Central has a raining season from Jun – Sept. The North has little rain. It is often cool in the evenings

Electricity: 220/380 Volts Ac 50 Hz

Post: Airmail takes about one week.

Transport: FLIGHTS: Very limited. ROAD: N’Djamena needs 4-wheel drive and permits are usually required. Due to security conditions and lack of petrol and repair facilities the government have prohibited travel especially in central and northern areas. Most roads are impassable during the raining season. DOCUMENTATION: Carnet de passage is required and is issued by the Tourist Association in the country of origin. An IDP is also required and either a Green card or ALL RISKS insurance obtained in Chad. Documentation must be obtained at all times as travellers may encounter road-blocks.

Special information: NOTE: MODERATE RISK. Visitors to Chad should be vigilant at all times. Respect for traditional beliefs and customs is expected. SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS: Chad’s Northern provinces bordering Libya constitute a military zone and remain heavily mined. Travel to and from this area is very dangerous and should be avoided. Rebel activity is spreading avoid travel to Tibetsi plateau and Bardai. Travel to the SW border area is also dangerous. Do not travel at night. We strongly advise against travelling at night. Pay close attention to all military road blocks.

Capital: Montevideo

Time zone: GMT – 3

Telephone services: Country Code: 598
Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: All services – 999 (Police – 109, Ambulance – 105, Fire – 104, in Montevideo only)

Tourist information: Ministerio de Turismo, Avenida Libetador 1409, Montevideo, Uruguay Tel: (2) 904 148

Passport information: Valid passport required by all except: Nationals of Uruguay who arrive from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay with a valid ID card, and foreign residents of Uruguay arriving from Argentina with an ID card or residence permit valid for 3 years. Nationals of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile and Paraguay with appropriate identification for stays of up to 90 days. Return Ticket Required. Requirements may change at short notice. Contact the embassy before departure.

Visa information: Visa required by all except the following for stays not exceeding 3 months: Nationals of Great Britain, EU countries, USA, Japan, Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Peru, Poland, Seychelles and Switzerland, and holders of re-entry permits.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Recommended for Typhoid, incidents of Polio have not been reported
Other Health Risks: Rabies

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

Currency: Uruguayan Peso = 100 centesimos
Exchange: Hotels not recommended as they tend to give unfavourable rates – use gambios and banks. NOTE: Inflation tends to lead to wide fluctuations in exchange rates All credit cards are accepted. Travellers cheques in US dollars are acceptablec
ATM availability: Over 60 locations

Cost of living: The coastal resorts tend to be more expensive than the capital. Travellers are advised to book well in advance if visiting Uruguay. More people visit Uruguay than any other South American country.

Languages: Spanish. English may also be spoken.

Weather: Mild summers and winters. Summer is Dec – Mar and the most pleasant time. Nights are often cool.

Electricity: 220 Volts AC 50 Hz. Plugs are continental flat 3 pin or round 2 pin.

Post: Airmail to Europe takes 3 – 5 days. Postal rates are reasonable but the service can be unreliable. It is recommended that important items are sent by registered mail.

Transport: FLIGHTS: Domestic flights are operated between major centres but can be very expensive compared to other modes of transport. RAIL: Services operate between the capital and the major towns. Buffet service is available, air conditioning isn’t. ROAD: 80% of roads are suitable for all weather. BUS: Services connect all the main towns and border points. CAR HIRE: Available in Montevideo. DOCUMENTATION: IDP is recommended but not required. A temporary driving licence must be obtained from the town hall.

Special information: Although Uruguay is relatively peaceful, visitors should be wary of street crime, especially in Montevideo. Shaking hands is the usual social greeting. Normal social courtesies should be applied.

Capital: Lomé

Time zone: GMT

Telephone services: Country Code: 228 Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: Not present

Tourist information: TDirection des Professions Touristiques, BP 1289; Lomé, Togo Tel 215 662 Fax: 218 927

Passport information: Valid passport required by all except nationals of Great Britain, Australia, Canada; USA. Nationals of: Ghana, Mauritania, and Nigeria bearing a Carnet de Voyage. Nationals of: Benin, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea Republic, Mali, Niger, and Senegal bearing a Carnet de Voyage or a valid national ID card. Return Ticket Required. Requirements may change at short notice. Contact the embassy before departure

Visa information: Visa required by all except nationals of those countries marked (*) above. Nationals of Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Spain, Sweden. Nationals of Andorra, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea Republic, Liberia, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Monaco, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Senegal, Sierra Leone. Nationals of Cameroon for a period of 10 days

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Malaria: Exists throughout the year in the Falciparum variety reported to be highly resistant to chloroquine
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required for all passengers arriving over one year of age
Other Health Risks: Bilharzia, Cholera, Meningitis, 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: CFA Franc (CFA Fr) = 100 Centimes Amex is widely accepted, but all other credit cards are unacceptable. Travellers cheques are only accepted in the capital city, The preferred currency is French francs
ATM availability: Unavailable

Cost of living: Hotels are of international standard, but accommodation in general is in short supply. Consequently prices are high

Languages: French and local African languages. English is spoken very little

Weather: Raining season: Apr – June. Hottest months: Feb – Mar. Short rains: Oct – Nov

Electricity: 220 Volts AC 50Hz single phase. Plugs are square or round 2 pin

Post: Up to 2 weeks by airmail to Europe. Postal facilities are limited to the main towns. Post Restante is available and very reliable

Transport: FLIGHTS: Air Togo runs flights to the main cities. ROAD: Are generally impassable during the raining season. RAIL: Services operate between Lomé an main cities. BUS/TAXI: Most are efficient and cheap. CAR HIRE: Available in Lomé. DOCUMENTATION: IDP is required

Special information: Visitors should be vigilant at all times. Beachwear to be worn at the pool/beach side. Voodoo is still practised in some areas, which also serve the tourist industry. Visitors should stop at all check points on request

Capital: Tashkent

Time zone: GMT + 5

Telephone services: Country Code: 7 (3712 for Tashkent).
Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: All services – 03

Tourist information: Uzbektourism, 13 Marylebone Lane, London W1 Tel: (020) 7935 1899 Fax: (020) 7935 9554

Passport information: Passports required by all and must be valid for 6 months prior to departure date. Requirements may be subject to short-term change. Contact the relevant authority before departure

Visa information: Visa required by all except nationals of CIS countries and some of the former Eastern block countries. All visitors are advised to contact the relevant authority for a full list of regulations

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Malaria: Risk exists near the Afghan border
Other Health Risks: Diphtheria is endemic. Rabies and Cholera are also health risks. Vaccinations for Hepatitis are also recommended

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: The Som is now the official currency, which was introduced in 1994
Cash is the only real form of currency, US Dollars are the preferred foreign currency. Exchan ge: use banks and official bureau de change. NOTE: The import and export of local currency is prohibited
Credit cards and travellers cheques are not accepted
ATM availability: Unavailable

Cost of living: The limited variety of goods that are available are extremely inexpensive

Languages: Uzbek. Russian, Tajik, Kazakh and English are also spoken

Weather: Continental Climate. South is the warmest. Summer temperatures can be very hot. The most comfortable time to visit is during the spring or Autumn

Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50 Hz. Round 2 pin continental plugs are standard

Post: Letters to Western Europe and the USA take between two weeks and two months

Transport: ROAD: A reasonable road network exists. BUS: Services connect the major towns and cities. TAXIS: Can be found in all major centres. Many licences are unlicensed which should be avoided. Travellers are advised to agree the fare in advance and not share with strangers. Use the old and new (since independence) street names when asking for directions. DOCUMENTATION: IDP will be required when car hire is introduced

Special information: Because of the situation of global and regional insecurity at present, travellers should exercise extreme
caution and make only necessary journeys to this country. If you intend to travel depite this advice you should be aware that due to recent bombings in Tashkent tourists are advised to exercise caution. Although the situation is returning to normal; there is still a possibility of further bombing. Keep valuables out of sight. There is terrorist activity and kidnappings in some areas of the country. Long distance travel by train should be avoided. Do not leave the compartment unattended and lock the door. It is not recommended to use local airlines as they are not always regularly maintained. Shorts are rarely worn and women should be prepared for unwelcome attention from the local male population if they wear them.

Capital: Bangkok

Time zone: GMT + 7

Telephone services: Country Code: 66 Outgoing Code: 001

Emergency telephone numbers: Not present

Tourist information: Tourism Authority of Thailand, 49 Albermarle Street, London W1X 3FE Tel: (020) 7499 7679. fax: (020) 7629 5519.

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

Visa information: Overstaying visas can result in detention. Due to the complexity, and frequent changes to passport/visa requirements travellers are advised to check current regulations with their consulate prior to travel.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended.
Malaria: Exists in the Falciparum variety in rural areas throughout the year. Resistance to chloroquine has been reported.
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required to those over 1 year of age arriving from infected areas.
Other Health Risks: Cholera, Japanese Encephalitis, Rabies Dengue Fever, Dysentery and Hepatitis A and E.

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: Baht (Bt) = 100 satang. NOTE: Export of local currency is limited to Bt 50000.
All credit cards are accepted. Travellers cheques, preferably in US dollars or Pound sterling, are accepted in large hotels and shops.
ATM availability: Over 2300 locations.

Cost of living: Relatively inexpensive. especially outside of Bangkok.

Languages: Thai. English, Malay and Chinese are also spoken.

Weather: Generally hot particularly between mid Feb and June. The monsoon season = mid May to Oct when the climate is hot with torrential rain. The most comfortable time for travelling is Nov to Feb.

Electricity: 220 Volts AC, 50 Hz. A variety of plugs are used.

Post: Up to 1 week.

Transport: FLIGHTS: The national airline runs services between the main towns. ROAD: There is a reasonable network of which all the major roads are paved. DOCUMENTATION: IDP is required. BUS: Very cheap but very crowded. Privately owned buses are more comfortable and are moderately priced. When taking the bus in the city leave the back seat free for the Saffron robed monks. BOAT: Services are good. NOTE: Obtain a good map as finding your way around can be confusing to the newcomer.

Special information: NOTE: Always keep hold of your passport. Do not give it to hotel owners, hire shops etc. There have been recent incidents of assaults on foreign tourists using unlicensed taxis. Be wary of accepting food or drinks from strangers as it may be drugged. Thai laws on the use and transportation of narcotics are stringent. Tourists should be vigilant of any packages or gifts given. Also note that there are no government ‘gem shops’ only gem scams! The Thai/Myanmar[Burmese] border is dangerous – check with local authorities before travelling to remote or border areas. The monarchy and religion are very sacred in Thailand. Insults to either, such as climbing on statues of Buddha will not be tolerated. Beach-wear should be confined to the beach / pool side. Take care when swimming off the coast of Phuket as strong riptides make swimming dangerous. Shoes should be removed before entering houses. PHOTOGRAPHY: Discretion should be used and permission obtained before taking photos.