Country Information

Capital: San Juan

Time zone: GMT – 4

Telephone services: Country Code: 1 787
Outgoing Code: 011

Emergency telephone numbers: Police – 787 343 2020; Fire – 787 343 2330; All services – 911

Tourist information: Puerto Rico Hotel and Tourism Association; Suit 702; Plaza Centre; 954 Ponce de León Avenue; Miramar; Sancturce 00907; San Juan; Puerto Rico Tel: 725 2901 Fax 725 2913.

Passport information: Same as the USA

Visa information: Same as the USA

Health information: Polio; Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Other Health Risks: Bilharzia and Rabies

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

Currency: US Dollar (US$) = 100 cents. All major credit cards accepted. US dollars are preferred for travellers cheques
All credit cards are accepted and travellers cheques are easily exchanged
ATM availability: Over 630 locations

Cost of living: Accommodates all types of travellers.

Languages: Spanish. English is widely spoken.

Weather: Hot tropical climate. The temperature varies little throughout the year. Cooler in upland areas

Electricity: 120 volts AC; 60 Hz.

Post: Up to 1 week

Transport: ROAD: TAXI: A special service called a ‘Linea’ will pick up and drop off passengers where they wish. They operate between San Juan and most towns at a fixed rate. CAR HIRE: Available at the airport and city agencies. DOCUMENTATION: An IDP is required. BUS: Services operate in the cities although usually stop at 2100.

Special information: As well as offering lavish entertainment, notably casinos and a variety of nightlife, in the interior there are anthropological sights of interest, such as a replica of a Taino Indian village, near Guayama.

Capital: Niamey

Time zone: GMT + 1

Telephone services: Country Code: 227

Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: Not present.

Tourist information: Office Nationale du Tourisme, Bp 612, avenue du Président H Luebke, Niamey, Niger Tel: 732 447 Fax: 733 940

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

Visa information: Visa required by all except nationals of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Nigeria, Norway, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo and Tunisia.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Malaria: Exists throughout the country in the Falciparum variety. Resistance to chloroquine has been reported.
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required by all travellers arriving from all countries over one year of age.
Other Health Risks: Bilharzia Cholera and 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
Access and MasterCard are accepted on a limited basis. Hotels, restaurants and most shops exchange travellers cheques. French francs are the preferred currency.
ATM availability: Unavailable.

Cost of living: Moderately expensive for tourists.

Languages: French, Hausa – spoken widely in addition to other African languages

Weather: Summers are very hot from Oct – May. Heavy rains and high temperatures are common from July to Aug.

Electricity: 220/380 Volts Ac, 50 Hz

Post: Up to 2 weeks. Poste Restante operates.

Transport: ROAD: Many are impassable during the raining season. It is prohibited to travel on any other route than the one entered on your passport by the police in the previous town. BUS: Daily buses operate between the cities although can be unreliable. DOCUMENTATION: IDP, Carnet de Passage and 2 photos are required. The min age to drive is 23.

Special information: HIGH RISK: Following the coup in early April all travel to Niger should be avoided. For essential travel contact the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office Travel Advice Unit for up to date information. Niger remains politically unstable and travellers should be careful when visiting rural areas. Those travelling outside the capital should contact the Embassy first. Traditional Muslim beliefs prevail and should be respected. PHOTOGRAPHY: Permits are required from the police.

Capital: Abuja

Time zone: GMT + 1

Telephone services: Country Code: 234
Outgoing Code: 009

Emergency telephone numbers: Not present.

Tourist information: Nigerian Tourist Board, PO Box 2944, Trade Fair Complex, Badagry Expressway, Lagos, Nigeria Tel: (1) 618 665

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 ECOWAS countries for stays of up to 90 days, and nationals of Cameroon and Chad for up to 90 days.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended.
Malaria: Exists throughout the year mainly in the Falciparum variety. Resistance to chloroquine has been reported.
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required from passengers over one year of age arriving form infected areas. Travellers arriving from non infected areas are advised to have the vaccination if travelling outside the urban areas.
Other Health Risks: Bilharzia, Cholera and 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: Naira (N) = 100 Kobo
NOTE: Import and export of local currency is limited to N50 in notes
Credit cards have a limited acceptance, and due to a prevalence of credit card fraud, their use is not advised. Travellers cheques are accepted but expect to pay a high commission. US dollars and pound sterling are the preferred currency.
ATM availability: Unavailable.

Cost of living: Local produce can be bought inexpensively, but accommodation and foreign imports such as spirits, are very expensive.

Languages: English. There are over 250 local languages

Weather: The Southern coast is hot and humid with rainy season Mar – Nov. The North’s rainy season Apr – Sept. Nights are cold between Dec and Jan.

Electricity: 210/250 Volts AC, 50Hz.

Post: Unreliable and takes about 3 weeks.

Transport: FLIGHTS: Operate between the main cities. It is advisable to book in advance and account for delays which frequently occur. ROADS: Secondary roads are often impassable during the rainy season. Caution is required when travelling in the South. DOCUMENTATION: IDP is required

Special information: EXTREME RISK: in Kaduna area. Violent street crimes and armed robberies are prevalent as is police and military harassment. Visitors should ensure they are met on arrival to ensure safe travel to their destinations. Armed robberies are prevalent in Lagos. Incidents of kidnap have been reported this year. So far they have been released without harm; take local advise on travel arrangements. Visitors are advised not to travel after dark outside the main tourist areas. Business ‘deal’ fraud is widespread. Casual wear is suitable. Smoking in public places is illegal.

Capital: Bamako

Time zone: GMT

Telephone services: Country Code: 223
Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: Not present

Tourist information: Ministry of Industry, Handicrafts and Tourism BP 1759, Bemako, Mali Tel: 228 058. Fax: 230 261

Passport information: Valid passport required by all except nationals of Benin Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Senegal, Togo and Tunisia in possession of a valid ID or a passport expired not more than five years. Return Ticket Required. Requirements may be subject to change at short notice. Consult embassy before departure.

Visa information: Required by all except the nationals exempt from passport requirements.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Malaria: Exists throughout the year in the falciparum variety. Resistance to chloroquine has been reported.
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required by travellers over one year of age arriving from all countries.
Other Health Risks: Bilharzia, Cholera and 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: XOF Franc (XOF Fr) = 100 centimes Exchange: should be available from most banks however sufficient time must be allowed. French Franc notes are sometimes accepted in cash transactions.
Limited use of MasterCard and Visa. They are accepted in the capital city only. Travellers cheques: French francs are the preferred currency.
ATM availability: Unavailable

Cost of living: Mali is one of the poorest countries in the world and is looking to develop a tourist industry.

Languages: French and some African languages are also spoken.

Weather: Jun – Oct is the rainy season. Oct – Feb = Cool season. Mar – May = Hot season.

Electricity: 220 Volts Ac, 50 Hz. Larger towns in Mali have their own locally generated supply.

Post: Airmail takes approximately two weeks to Europe. International post is limited to main towns and central post offices.

Transport: FLIGHTS: Limited provision. ROADS: Range from moderate to very bad. Driving can be difficult during the raining season. Police check points frequently interrupt journeys.

Special information: There has been a rapid increase in violent incidents in Northern Mali. Three Dutch citizens were found murdered on 7 March in the north-east and Western aid workers have been attacked. The FCO advise against travel in the Kayes region near the border with Mauritania and in the area near the border with Niger. Religious customs should be respected. The people are very proud of their traditions. Discussion of politics should be avoided. Travel to the north of the country should be avoided; and in some cases visitors should only travel in groups.

Capital: Yangon (Rangoon)

Time zone: GMT + 6.30

Telephone services: Country Code: 95
Outgoing Code: 0

Emergency telephone numbers: Not present.

Tourist information: Myanmar (Burma) Travel Ltd., 95 Lillie Rd., London, SW6 7SX. Tel (020) 7610 3779 or Burma (Myanmar) Travel Services, 36c Sisters Avenue, London SW11 5SQ, Tel/Fax: (020) 7223 8987.

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.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Malaria: Exists in certain areas especially below 1000m in the Falciparum variety, which is reported as being highly resistant to chloroquine with resistance to Sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine.
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate will be required if arriving from an infected area.

Other Health Risks: Cholera is a serious risk, Japanese Encephalitis, Plague, Filariasis, Dengue fever and Rabies. Trachoma is present.

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: Kyat (MMK) = 100 pyas NOTE: Import and export of local currency is prohibited. Only 25% of foreign currency changed to Kyats can be re converted on exit. Keep receipt for customs checks on exit.
Credit cards are not accepted, but travellers cheques can be exchanged.
ATM availability: Unavailable.

Cost of living: Can be high when compared with South East Asian countries standards especially when considering the low cost tourism facilities Myanmar has to offer.

Languages: Burmese. Over 100 district languages are spoken. English is often spoken in business circles.

Weather: Monsoon climate with 3 main seasons: Feb – May = hottest season with little or no rain. May – Oct = Rainy season. Oct – Feb = cooler.

Electricity: 220/230 Volts Ac 50 Hz

Post: Up to 1 week to Europe. It is recommended that correspondence is taken to the post office and registered for which a small fee will be charged.

Transport: FLIGHTS: Is the most efficient way to move around Myanmar, but delays are frequent and scheduled flights are limited. Following two fatal crashes in 1998 British Government employees have been instructed NOT to use Myanma Airways (NOTE: this is a different company from Myanma Airways International) SEA/RIVER: Regarded as the best way to see Myanmar but as delays are frequent allow plenty of time. ROAD: DOCUMENTATION: IDP is required. BUS: There are long distance buses but these are not recommended due to their condition and the condition of the roads. RAIL: Several good services operate. Tickets should be purchased 2 hours in advance.

Special information: HIGH RISK: in travel to Tachilek and Mai Sai border areas. Keep to officially designated tourist areas. All internal travel must be by train road or air. Cycling and hitchhiking are strongly discouraged. Do not photograph military personnel or installations. Political tension is high causing risk of sectarian violence. Avoid discussion of politics. Respect towards religious beliefs should be shown.

Capital: Ulan Bator

Time zone: GMT + 9 (GMT + 8 during the summer)

Telephone services: Country Code: 976 (Followed by 1 for Ulan Bator).
Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: Not present

Tourist information: Mongolian Tourism Association PO Box 10/195, Ulan Bator, Mongolia.- 1 Prime Minster Amar Street, Ulan Bator 13, Mongolia Tel: (1) 323 363 or 320 219 Fax: (1) 323 363 or 320 219.

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

Visa information: Required by all except nationals of Kazakhstan (up to 90 days), nationals of Malaysia (for up to 28 days), nationals of the Philippines (up to 21 days), nationals of Singapore, Poland, Romania and North Korea (up to 14 days).

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
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: Tugrik (MNT) = 100 mongos Exchange: Commercial banks in Ulan Bator and bureau de change at certain hotels.
Credit cards are accepted by main commercial banks and large hotels. US dollars are the preferred currency in travellers cheques.
ATM availability: Unavailable

Cost of living: Very cheap for Mongolians although visitors are expected to pay ten times the prices charged to locals. Ask the price before you eat. Independent travel can be relatively cheap although tour groups may be charged very high prices.

Languages: Khalkha Mongolian. Many dialects are spoken

Weather: Cool climate with short, mild summers and longer severe winters.

Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50 Hz.

Post: Airmail to Europe takes up to 2 weeks

Transport: FLIGHTS: Internal flights are operated by Air Mongol. NOTE: It is not known whether maintenance procedures are properly carried out on internal flights. RAIL: The main route runs from North to South. ROAD: Paved roads can only be found in or near major cities. Most of the roads are unpaved. BUS: Services run between towns. CAR HIRE: Available through tourism companies.

Special information: NOTE: As communications within Mongolia are poor, providing consular assistance can be difficult. Visitors may only enter Mongolia by air or train. Entry overland by other means is not permitted. Religious customs should be respected. Do not talk about death, divorce or accidents as mentioning these is considered a bad omen and will be taken seriously. SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS: Street crime is on the increase in Ulan Bator and visitors should exercise caution, do not go out on foot after dark.