Country Information

Capital: Nouakchott

Time zone: GMT

Telephone services: Country Code: 222
Outgoing Code: International calls go through the operator.

Emergency telephone numbers: Not present.

Tourist information: Société Mauritanienne de Tourisme et d’Hôtellerie (SMTH), BP 552, Nouakchott, Mauritania Tel: 251 353 Fax: 253 351.

Passport information: Required by all except nationals of Burkina Faso, Cameroon Central African Republic Chad Congo Côte d’Ivoire Gabon Gambia Guinea Republic Italy Madagascar Mali Niger Senegal and Sierra Leone who may enter on a national identity card or passport which has expired for no longer than 5 years. Return Ticket Required. Requirements may change at short notice. Contact the embassy before departure.

Visa information: Required by all except nationals of France and Italy (all other EU member states do need a visa) Members of the league of Arab states (except nationals of Morocco who do need a visa) Burkina Faso Cameroon Central African Republic Chad Congo Côte d’Ivoire Gabon Gambia Ghana Guinea-Bissau Liberia Mali Niger Nigeria Romania Senegal Sierra Leone Togo and Tunisia.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended.
Malaria: Risk exists throughout the year in the falciparum variety.
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required for all travellers above one year of age, except travellers arriving from non-infected areas and staying less than two weeks in the country. Other Health Risks: Bilharzia, 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: Mauritanian Ougiya (U) = 5 Khoums NOTE: Import and export of local currency is prohibited
Credit cards and travellers cheques (in French francs) have limited acceptance.
ATM availability: Unavailable.

Cost of living: Very inexpensive.

Languages: Arabic and French. English is rarely spoken

Weather: Most of the country is dry and hot with little rain. South – Raining season is July to Sept. The deserts are cool and windy in March and April.

Electricity: 127/220 Volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs = round 2 pin usually used.

Post: 2 weeks to Europe. Postal facilities limited to main cities

Transport: RAIL: 1 line operates between Nouadhibou and Nouakchott which serves passengers for free, however this is not recommended as journeys are often long and arduous. ROADS: Adequate but require 4 wheel drives. Sand storms may obscure vision in the dry season and may be impassable in the wet season.

Special information: Respect should be paid to the Islamic traditions.

Capital: Castries

Time zone: GMT – 4

Telephone services: Country Code: 1 758 Outgoing Code: 011

Emergency telephone numbers: 999

Tourist information: St Lucia Tourist Board, 421A Finchely Road, London NW3 6HJ Tel: (020) 7431 3675 or 431 4045 Fax: (020) 7431 7920.

Passport information: Valid passport required by all except nationals of Canada and the USA with valid proof of identity ( for visits up to 6 months). Return Ticket required. Requirements may be subject to short term change. Contact embassy before departure

Visa information: Required by all except nationals of: Great Britain, Australia, Canada, the USA, EU countries, Japan. Commonwealth countries (except Namibia and South Africa). Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, South Korea, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Mexico, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Peru, Philippines, San Marino, Suriname, Switzerland, Taiwan, China, Turkey, Uruguay and Venezuela. Transit visitor who continue their journey within 14 days do not require a transit visa. This does not apply to nationals of Cuba or East European countries

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required from travellers over 1 year of age coming from infected areas

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

Currency: Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$) = 100 cents Exchange: US$ gain a better rate All major credit cards are accepted. Travellers cheques in US dollars are preferred
ATM availability: 3 locations

Cost of living: Caters for all types of budgets, with deluxe to self-catering accommodation

Languages: English. Local French patois is spoken

Weather: Hot tropical climate with cool sea breezes. Most rainfall occurs during the summer

Electricity: 220 volts AC 50 Hz

Post: Up to 1 week

Transport: ROAD: All major centres are served by a reasonably good road network. BUS: Services connect rural areas with the capital. TAXI: Cheap and easy to use – tipping is unnecessary. CAR HIRE: Available in the towns or at the airport. DOCUMENTATION: On presentation of a national or IDP a local licence will be issued

Special information: St. Lucia is an island of contrasts with lush, green, volcanic vegetation in the interior, and long, unspoilt, white, sandy beaches. Beach wear should not be worn in towns

Capital: Plymouth

Time zone: GMT – 4

Telephone services: Country Code: 1 664
Outgoing Code: 011

Emergency telephone numbers: Police – 999, Ambulance – 911.

Tourist information: Montserrat Tourist Board, Suite 433, High Holborn House, 52 – 54 High Holborn, London WC1V 6RB Tel: (020) 7242 3131 Fax: (020) 7242 2838.

Passport information: Valid passport required by all except: Nationals of Canada, the USA and the UK and its colonies who may enter as tourists with a valid national ID card or other form of identity for a maximum stay of 6 months. Nationals of Australia, EU and Japan providing they enter as tourists for a maximum stay of 14 days. Return Ticket required. Requirements may be subject to short-term change. Contact embassy before departure.

Visa information: Required by all except: Nationals of Great Britain Australia USA. Nationals of Commonwealth countries (except Bangladesh Brunei India Maldives Namibia Pakistan South Africa and Sri Lanka who do require visas if their stay exceeds 14 days and if entering on business.) Nationals of EU countries (except nationals of Finland, Ireland and Portugal who do require visas if their stay exceeds 14 days and if entering on business) Nationals of Fiji, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland and Tunisia. NOTE Other nationals may not require a visa if entering as a tourist and not staying for longer than 14 days. However this does not apply to all nationalities therefore contact the passport office.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Other Health Risks: Bilharzia, Dengue Fever, Dysentery and Hepatitis A are present.

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

Currency: East Caribbean Dollar (EC$) = 100 cents Exchange: Commercial banks in Ulan Bator and bureau de change at certain hotels.
Visa is widely accepted. Travellers cheques are accepted in tourist areas. Pound sterling or US$ are the preferred currency.

ATM availability: 1 location only.

Cost of living: Following the volcanic eruption in 1996, the economy and the tourist industry have suffered.

Languages: English

Weather: Subtropical climate and warm all year round. Most rain falls between Sept and Nov. The heavy cloud-bursts refresh the climate and once cleared the sun re-appears.

Electricity: 120/220 volts AC, 60 Hz

Post: 1 Week

Transport: ROAD: A good network exists connecting all towns, but driving can be difficult for those not use to winding mountain roads. BUS: Scheduled buses run hourly. CAR HIRE: Available at the airport and hotels and is often included in the price of accommodation. DOCUMENTATION: A valid foreign licence can be used to purchase a temporary licence either at the airport or Plymouth police station.

Special information: The airport is currently closed, travel to the island is by ferry from Antigua. Access to some parts of the island is forbidden because of volcanic activity. Volcanic ash poses health problems. Consult your local Embassy for further information.

Capital: Colombo

Time zone: GMT + 5.30

Telephone services: Country Code: 94 Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: All services – 1 691095 / 699935

Tourist information: Sri Lanka Tourist Board, 22 Regent Street, London SW1Y 4QD Tel: (0171) 930 2627 . Fax: (0171) 930 9070.

Passport information: Passport valid for 3 months required by all. Return Ticket required. Requirements may be subject to short-term change. Contact the relevant authority before departure

Visa information: For tourist visits, nationals of the following countries will be issued a visa free of charge on arrival at Colombo airport: nationals of EU countries for a maximum stay of 30 days (nationals of Finland and Sweden may stay up to 90 days) nationals of Australia, Bangladesh, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines and the USA for a maximum stay of 90 days. nationals of Albania, Bahrain, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, CIS, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania, Maldives, Norway, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, South Korea, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and Yugoslavia, (Serbia and Montenegro) for a maximum stay of 30 days

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Malaria: May be present
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required from travellers over 1 year of age coming 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: Sri Lankan Rupee (SL Re, Rs (plural) = 100 cents Exchange: An exchange form is issued on arrival, which must be stamped for all exchange transactions. Banks, hotels exchange currency. All major credit cards are widely accepted. Travellers cheques are accepted, for a better exchange rate offered than cash. US dollars are the preferred cheque currency
ATM availability: Over 12 locations

Cost of living: Suitable for all travellers and budgets

Languages: Sinahala, Tamil and English

Weather: Tropical climate. The coastal areas are cooled by the sea winds. The Monsoons are May – July and Dec – Jan

Electricity: 230/240 volts AC, 50 Hz. Round 3 pin plugs are usual

Post: Airmail to western Europe takes up to 1 week

Transport: RAIL: Connects Colombo with all tourist towns. New fast service operates on the principal routes. Rail services to the Northern area have been greatly reduced because of the violent disruptions. ROAD: Most roads are tarred. BUS, An extensive network of services of reasonable qualities provided. CAR HIRE: Available from several international agencies. DOCUMENTATION: An IDP should be obtained before departure to avoid lengthy red tape in Sri Lanka

Special information: EXTREME RISK in North and East. Please check before travelling – fighting between the security forces and the Tamil Tigers (LTTE) continues particularly in the North and East of the country. Do not visit these areas. There have been terrorist attacks resulting in fatalities in Colombo.
It is considered impolite to refuse the offer of tea.
Punctuality is considered important.
Arms and legs should be covered when visiting religious sites and shoes and hats must be removed. Sea bathing is dangerous as there are strong riptides and undercurrents. There are severe penalties for drug offences. PHOTOGRAPHY of military installations or government buildings is prohibited.

Capital: Port Louis

Time zone: GMT + 4

Telephone services: Country Code: 230
Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: Not present.

Tourist information: Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority. At High Commission, Tel: (020) 7584 3666 Fax: (020) 7225 1135.

Passport information: Required by all. The passport must be valid for 6 months. Passports issued by the government of Taiwan will not be recognised. Return Ticket required. Requirements may be subject to short-term change. Contact the relevant authority before departure.

Visa information: Required by all except: Nationals of EU countries for stays up to 3 months. Nationals of Commonwealth countries for stays up to 3 months (Except nationals of Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Swaziland do require a visa). Nationals of Bahrain Iceland Liechtenstein Monaco Norway Oman Qatar San Marino Saudi Arabia Switzerland Tunisia Turkey United Arab Emirates USA and Vatican City for stays up to 3 months. Nationals of Albania Bulgaria CIS the Comoros Czech Republic Estonia Fiji Hungary Latvia Lithuania Madagascar Poland Romania and the Slovak Republic can obtain a visa on arrival for a stay up to 15 days.

Health information: Malaria: Exists in the vivax variety in the Northern rural areas, except on Rodrigues Island.
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate will be required from travellers over 1 year of age coming from infected areas. Other Health Risks: Bilharzia.

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: Mauritian Rupee (Mre) = 100 cents All major credit cards are accepted. Travellers cheques, preferably in US dollars or pounds sterling, can be exchanged at banks and hotels.
ATM availability: Over 125 locations.

Cost of living: It is possible to live relatively inexpensively by shopping away from the main tourist centres.

Languages: English is the official language. The most widely spoken languages are Creole, Hindi, and Bhojpuri. French, Urdu and Chinese are also spoken.

Weather: Warm coastal climate, especially from January to Apr. Tropical storms are likely to occur in the cyclone season (Dec – Mar). Sea breezes occur throughout the year.

Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50 Hz. UK 3 pin type plugs are often used in hotels.

Post: Airmail to Western Europe takes approx. 5 days. Surface mail takes 4 to 6 weeks.

Transport: ROAD: There is a good network of paved roads covering the island. BUS: There are excellent and numerous bus services to all parts of the island. CAR HIRE: There are numerous car hire firms. DOCUMENTATION: IDP is recommended, although a foreign licence is accepted.

Special information: Visitors should always respect local customs and traditions. The hospitality received by visitors will be dependent on the religion and social customs of the host. Some prescription drugs available in most countries are banned in Mauritius, so ensure you retain the case for the drugs with chemist’s prescription label on it.

Capital: Amman

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

Telephone services: Country Code: 962
Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: Police – 192, Fire / Ambulance – 193. All services – 62111 (Jerusalem only)

Tourist information: Jordan Tourist Information Office, 211 Regent Street, London W1R 7DD Tel: (020) 7937 9499 Fax: (020) 7937 6741.

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 Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Untied Arab Emirates providing holding valid passports for a stay of up to 3 months. Nationals of certain countries including all Western countries, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan can obtain visas on arrival at the airport in Jordan. Visas can be obtained on arrival EXCEPT if entering via the King Hussein Bridge when the visa MUST be obtained in advance of travel.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended.
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required from all 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: Dinar (JD) = 1000 fils.
CC: Accepted. TC: Those issued by British banks are accepted in authorised bureaux de change.
Amex and Visa are accepted widely, but MasterCard and Diners Club have more limited use. Travellers cheques issued by British banks are accepted in authorised bureaux de change. US dollars are the preferred currency
ATM availability: Over 50 locations.

Cost of living: Jordan is one of the smallest countries in the Middle East. It is also one of the most expensive, since most of the accommodation is in Amman.

Languages: Arabic. English and French are also spoken.

Weather: Summers are hot and dry with cool evenings. November to March are the cooler months with rainfall.

Electricity: 220 volts Ac, 50 Hz.

Post: Packages should be left open for customs officials. Airmail to Western Europe takes 3 to 5 days

Transport: ROAD: Good network of roads exists but vehicle needs to be in good working order and plenty of water and supplies should be taken on journeys. BUS: Services are efficient and cheap. TAXIS: Shared taxi service to all towns on fixed routes, also available for private hire. CAR HIRE: International companies are available from hotels.

Special information: Because of the situation of global and regional insecurity at present, travellers should excercise extreme caution and make only necessary journeys to this country. If you intend to travel despite this advice you should be aware that tourists should be sensitive and behave courteously and respect local customs. Jordan has been safe to travel in. However you should check with the FCO before travel as the reginal security situation can change very rapidly. The military keep a low profile and you are unlikely to experience anything but friendliness and hospitality. It is very important that Muslim beliefs and local customs are respected. Beach wear should be confined to the beach/pool.