Country Information

Capital: Asuncion

Time zone: GMT + 5

Telephone services: Country Code: 595

Emergency telephone numbers: All services – 00.

Tourist information: Direccion General de Turismo, Ministerio de Obras, Pulicas Y Communicaciones, Palma 468, Asuncion, Paraguay Tel: (21) 441530 or 441 620. Fax: (21) 491230.

Passport information: Valid passport required by all except nationals of Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay with valid ID cards entering as tourists directly from their own country. Return Ticket Required. Requirements may change at short notice. Contact the embassy before departure

Visa information: Required by all except for the following entering as tourists for stays up to 90 days: Nationals of Australia, Japan, and the USA. Nationals of EU countries (except France, Greece and Portugal who do require visas) Nationals of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Israel, Norway, Peru, South Africa, Switzerland, Israel and Uruguay.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Malaria: Exists in the Vivax variety in some rural areas from Oct – May
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required for visitors arriving from endemic areas. A certificate is also required from travellers leaving Paraguay to Endemic areas.
Other Health Risks: Rabies

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

Currency: Guarani (G) Exchange Many of the expensive hotels will accept credit cards and exchange travellers cheques. US$ are preferred to sterling travellers cheques. Major credit cards are widely accepted, although Diners Club has a more limited acceptance.
ATM availability: Over 26 locations

Cost of living: Accommodation is limited to the city and needs to be booked, in writing, well in advance. Other commodities tend to be moderately expensive.

Languages: Spanish. Guarani.

Weather: Sub tropical climate. Hottest and wettest period is Dec – Mar.

Electricity: 220 Volts AC, 50 Hz

Post: 5 days by airmail.

Transport: FLIGHTS: Several visitor flights operate providing a popular view of local sites. RAIL: Services are unreliable and irregular. ROAD: Roads serving the main centres are in good condition. Approx. 10% of roads are unsurfaced and therefore impassable in poor weather. DOCUMENTATION: IDP and national driving licences are all accepted. BUS: The cheapest method of transport NOTE: for longer distances advance booking is necessary. Express links to major cities operate.

Special information: Beware of poisonous snakes. Paraguay is generally safer than its nearby neighbours but common sense precautions should be followed.

Capital: São Tomé

Time zone: GMT

Telephone services: Country Code: 239
Outgoing Code: All international calls must go through the operator

Emergency telephone numbers: Not present.

Tourist information: Refer to the Consulate.

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

Visa information: Required by all, Transit visas are not required by those with tickets for onward journeys on the same day.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended.
Malaria: Exists throughout the year in the Falciparum variety. Resistance to chloroquine has been reported.
Yellow Fever: Vaccination is strongly recommended to all travellers. A certificate is required for travellers 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: Dobra (Db) = 100 centimes Credit cards are not accepted, US$ traveller’s cheques are preferred.
ATM availability: Unavailable

Cost of living: Very inexpensive, without a tourist industry and unspoilt by external influences

Languages: Portuguese and native dialects are most widely spoken. French and English are also spoken

Weather: Dry Season – June to Sept and Dec to beginning of Feb. The South is wetter than the North

Electricity: 220 Volts AC.

Post: Up to 2 weeks

Transport: FLIGHTS: There are 3 flights a week from São Tomé to Principe. ROADS: Generally deteriorating therefore a 4 wheel drive is required to get around. BUSES: A bus service is in operation. TAXIS: operate.

Special information: Usual social courtesies should be shown. Portuguese influence is still dominant

Capital: Doha

Time zone: GMT + 3

Telephone services: Country Code: 974
Outgoing Code: 0

Emergency telephone numbers: All services – 999

Tourist information: Ministry of Tourism and Culture, PO Box 1836, Doha, Qatar Tel: 831 333 Fax: 831 518.

Passport information: Valid passport required by all. Return Ticket and sufficient funds for stay are required. Requirements may be subject to short term change. Contact the relevant authority before departure.

Visa information: Required by all except: Nationals of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate will be required from travellers over 1 year of age arriving from infected areas
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: Qatar Riyal (QR) = 100 dirhams All credit cards and travellers cheques are widely accepted. US dollars and pound sterling are the preferred CURRENCY in travellers cheques
ATM availability: Over 30 locations.

Cost of living: Qatar is one of the richest countries in the world. Accommodation is hotel-based only, ranging from international to standard.

Languages: Arabic. Some English may be spoken

Weather: Summers (June – Sept) are very hot with low rainfall. Spring and autumn are warm and pleasant

Electricity: 240/415 volts AC, 50 Hz.

Post: Up to a week to Europe.

Transport: ROAD: Conditions can be poor when it rains. TAXI: Have black and yellow number-plates and are metered. CAR HIRE: Available from hotels and at the airport. DOCUMENTATION: A 90 day temporary driving permit will be granted on presentation of a national driving licence or IDP.

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 Qatar is more liberal than Saudi Arabia but not as liberal as Dubai or Bahrain. Extra care has to be taken on the roads. It is important to respect Muslim traditions and local customs – dress modestly and behave courteously. There is heavy censorship of pictorial material. Men should not remove shirts in public. Strict Muslim rules apply to all women. Single women may find they are unwelcome in some restaurants and hotels but problems are unlikely for single women in the international hotels. Women should cover shoulders. Swimware is acceptable at hotel pools and on beaches away from the city. Women should dress conservatively and only travel in the back seat when taking a taxi.

Capital: San Salvador

Time zone: GMT – 6

Telephone services: Country Code: 503
Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: All services – 123 / 121

Tourist information: Instituto Salvadoreño de Turismo (ISTU), Calle Rubén Dario 619, San Salvador, El Salvador Tel: 222 0960 or 222 8000 Fax: 222 1208.

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

Visa information: Required by all except: Nationals of Austria, Belgium, Chile, Colombia, Finland, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Norway, Panama, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK for stays of up to 90 days. Nationals of Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, for stays of up to 30 days. Nationals of the USA, Mexico and Israel require a tourist card allowing them stays not exceeding 90 days.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination Required.
Malaria: Exists all year throughout the country in the Vivax variety. Risk is greater in low-lying areas
Yellow Fever: Vaccination certificates are required by travellers over 6 months of age coming from infected areas.
Other Health Risks: Rabies, Cholera – (treatment resistant strain), Dengue Fever, Visceral leishmaniasis, Mucocutaneous leishmanisis.

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: Colón Esc (colloquially Peso) = 100 centavos.
MasterCard, Visa and Amex are widely accepted. Travellers cheques are accepted in banks and hotels on production of a passport. US dollar cheques are preferred. Pounds stirling cannot be changed into local currency.
ATM availability: Over 20 locations.

Cost of living: The main hotels are in the capital. Prices fluctuate, depending on festivals and national events.

Languages: Spanish. English is also widely spoken.

Weather: Hot subtropical climate. Rainy season is May – Oct. The upland areas are cooler.

Electricity: 110 Volts AC, 60 Hz

Post: 7 days.

Transport: ROADS: Approx. 1/3 of roads are suitable for all weather conditions. DOCUMENTATION: AN IDP or national driving licence is required. RAIL: Links main cities. BUS: A good service exists between major towns. TAXI: Are plentiful but are not metered so agree fare in advance.

Special information: El Salvador portrays a more stable political climate than for many years, however the infrastructure remains fragile with rival factions contesting territorial supremacy. Travellers should still contact their embassies for current developments. Tourists should exercise great caution. Travel to El Salvador is not recommended unless it is essential. Youths with guns are a growing problem on the streets of towns and cities. Seek advice as to which areas are safe. There is extreme political unrest and a rising crime rate. PHOTOGRAPHY: Avoid using cameras around military areas.

Capital: St Denis

Time zone: GMT + 4

Telephone services: Country Code: 262
Outgoing Code: 19

Emergency telephone numbers: Police – 17, Fire – 18, Ambulance – 15

Tourist information: Refer to the French Consulate General in London or Comité du Tourisme de la Réunion, 90 rue la Boétie, 75008 Paris, France Tel: (1) 40 75 02 79 Fax: (1) 40 75 02 73.

Passport information: See France. Contact the French Consular authority for up to date information as passport/visa requirements are subjected to constant change.

Visa information: Visa requirements are constantly changing. It is advisable to contact the French Consular authority for current information.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended, There is a risk of Typhoid.
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required from travellers over 1 year of age coming from infected areas.
Other Health Risks: 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: French Franc (Ffr) = 100 centimes. Major cards are widely accepted although MasterCard has a more limited acceptance. Travellers cheques in French francs are the preferred currency.
ATM availability: Unavailable.

Cost of living: Wide range of hotels, inns and guest-houses, all of which are expensive.

Languages: French. Local Creole is also spoken.

Weather: The climate is hot and tropical but temperatures are cooler in the hills. The cyclone season is from Jan to Mar and brings hot but wet weather.

Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50 Hz.

Post: Airmail to Western Europe takes up to 3 weeks.

Transport: SEA: Four shipping lines run services around the island. ROADS: Fair and many of the highways are tarred. The island can be crossed easily by bus, taxi, or hired car. CAR HIRE: Available from the airport and Saint-Denis.

Special information: The locals follow French fashion. Licensing laws are unrestricted.

Capital: Damascus

Time zone: GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 during the summer)

Telephone services: Country Code: 963 Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: Contact hotel operator

Tourist information: Ministry of Tourism, rue Victoria, Damascus, Syria Tel: (11) 223 7940 Fax: (11) 224 2636

Passport information: Valid passport required by all except nationals of Lebanon holding valid ID cards. Requirements may be subject to short-term change. Contact the relevant authority before departure.

Visa information: Visa required by all except nationals of Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania,Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia; Somalia, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

Health information: Malaria: Exists in the vivax variety in tiny pockets of the Northern border areas between May and October.
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required from passengers arriving from infected areas
Other Health Risks: Bilharzia, Visceral leishmaniasis and Hepatitis A and B occur.

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: Syrian Pound (S£) = 100 piastres NOTE: The export of local currency is prohibited
Amex and Diners Club are the most commonly accepted. Some hotels accept MasterCard and Visa. Travellers cheques are accepted but can not always be exchangeable at Damascus airport.
ATM availability: Unavailable.

Cost of living: Can be expensive in the high season, especially in Damascus. Savings can be made by purchasing local food from the markets.

Languages: Arabic. French and English may also be spoken.

Weather: Summers are hot and dry whilst nights are often cool. Winter is cold.

Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50 Hz

Post: Airmail to Western Europe takes up to 1 week. Parcels sent from Syria should be packed at the post office.

Transport: ROAD: Well over half the roads are tarred. Those that aren’t are unsuitable for the wet season. BUS: There are orange and white air-conditioned buses which serve terminals in city centres. Seats must be booked in advance. TAXIS: Shared taxis operate and are available to all parts of the country. DOCUMENTATION: IDP is required. Insurance is required by law and a customs certificate is needed.

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 Syria has been one of the safest places to travel in, but visitors should keep in touch with developments in the Middle East. Most people are friendly and hospitable. It is illegal to change money on the streets. Beach-wear should not be worn away from the pool or beach. Conservative casual clothes are suitable. PHOTOGRAPHY: Ensure you do not photograph anything connected with the military.