Country Information

Capital: Almaty

Time zone: GMT + 6 – East (Main Zone), + 5 – Central, + 4 – Western, (GMT + 7, + 6, + 5 respectively during the summer)

Telephone services: Country Code: 7 (3272 for Almaty).

Outgoing Code: International calls are made at reduced rate between 2000 – 0800 local time.

Emergency telephone numbers: All services – 03

Tourist information: Proftour’ Association (former Kazakh Council for Tourism) 5 Mitina Street, Almaty, Kazakhstan Tel: (3272) 640 567 Fax: (3272) 531 928.

Passport information: As regulations are expected to change at short notice visitors are advised to contact the consulate for an up to date list of passport/visa requirements. Carry your passport, or an Embassy certified copy, at all times. Return Ticket Required. Requirements may be subject to change at short notice. Contact the relevant authority before travelling.

Visa information: Visas are required by all. Travellers are advised to contact the consulate for current visa requirements. Visitors should obtain a visa before travelling to Kazakhstan. Applications MUST be made in advance of travel. A letter of invitation must be included with all visa applications. Local hotels can provide such letters. The local authorities have recently restricted the issue of visas at ports of entry and will only do so in extreme circumstances. The agreement allowing visas issued for one Commonwealth of Independent State (CIS) country to be used to transit another CIS country is no longer valid. Visitors planning to visit two or more CIS countries should contact the relevant embassies for advice before travelling.Visitors staying longer than three days need to register with the local authorities. The police can arrest visitors who do not carry identification.

Health information: Other Health Risks: Anthrax, Diptheria, Hepatitis A., Rabies, and Tuberculosis, Tick-borne encephalitis and Crimean haemorrhagic fever in the mountains, Bubonic plague in southern and western regions.

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: 1 Tenge = 100 tigin
Exchange: must be made at authorised bureaux and receipts should be retained for all transactions. US Dollars are preferred
Major credit cards are accepted in large hotels. US Dollar travellers cheques are preferred
ATM availability: 3 locations.

Cost of living: Generally inexpensive

Languages: Kazakh, Russian.

Weather: Continental climate: Summers are hot and winters are cold. The hottest period is between July and August.

Electricity: 220 volts Ac, 50 Hz. Plugs are the round 2 pin continental type.

Post: 2 – 3 weeks. Addresses should be laid out from top to bottom: country, postcode, city, street, house number/name, and finally the name of the person.

Transport: RAIL: Cost is minimal to Western fares and there are regular connections between all major centres. NOTE: There has been an increase in robberies on rail and road. Passengers should travel in groups and compartments should be locked on overnight trains. Muggers often target Western looking people as it is assumed that they will be carrying valuables. ROAD: A reasonable network connects all towns. BUS: There are reliable connections between all main towns. CAR HIRE: Hertz has agencies at the airport and the large hotels in the city centre. DOCUMENTATION: IDP is required.

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 robberies and personal attacks have increased especially in the larger cities. Do not walk alone on the streets at night or travel in unmarked taxis. Keep expensive items out of sight. Kazakh’s are very hospitable. Shorts should not be worn except for sports. Formal dress is often required for evening engagements.

Capital: Malabo

Time zone: GMT + 1

Telephone services: Country Code: 240
Outgoing Code: Operator assistance may be required.

Emergency telephone numbers: Not present

Tourist information: The Centro Cultural Hispano-Guineano gives out good maps of the Island and mainland.

Passport information: Valid passport required by all. Return Ticket Required. Requirements may be subject to change at short notice. Contact the relevant consular authority before finalising travel arrangements.

Visa information: Required by all Business and Tourist.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination Required.

Malaria: Precautions required. Falciparum exists throughout the country and resistance to chloroquine has been reported.

Yellow Fever: Vaccination certificate will be required by all travellers.

Other Health Risks: Bilharzia, River blindness in unchlorinated water, oriental lung fluke (recently reported) and Cholera are 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: CFA Franc (CFA Fr) = 100 centimes.
NOTE: Export of local currency is limited to CFA Fr3000. CFA Franc can not be easily exchanged outside of the CFA Fr area

Diners Club is accepted on a limited basis in large towns only. Travellers cheques are not accepted.
ATM availability: Unavailable.

Cost of living: Tourists can expect to pay high prices for services.

Languages: Spanish, African dialects including Fang and Bubi are spoken.

Weather: Tropical climate throughout the year. Rainfall throughout the year although less falls between Dec and Feb.

Electricity: 220/240 Volts. AC

Post: Approximately 2 weeks

Transport: FLIGHTS: Advisable to book in advance. ROADS: There are few tarred roads and car hire companies are unavailable but taxis can be hired. SEA: there is a ferry between Malabo, Bata and Doula, allow 12 hours for the trip.

Special information: Although the current situation is calm caution should be exercised. Travelling after dark should be avoided. Visitors have recently experienced problems with corruption and petty theft. Europeans are likely to be met with curiosity and even suspicion. Foreign cigarettes are often accepted as gifts. PHOTOGRAPHY: A photo permit, available from the embassy is essential.

Capital: Athens

Time zone: GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in September)

Telephone services: Country Code: 30 + 1 for Athens, 31 Thessaloniki, 81 Heraklion, 661 Corfu.
Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: Dial 112 anywhere in the EU to reach the emergency services. Additional local numbers:-Police – 100, Ambulance – 166, Fire – 199.

Tourist information: National Tourist Organisation of Greece (GNTO), 4 Conduit Street, London W1R 0DJ Tel: (020) 7724 5997 Fax: (020) 7287 1369.

Passport information: Passports are required to be valid for at least 6 months required by all except: EU Nationals with a valid ID card who have sufficient funds for the length of their stay. Requirements may be subject to change at short notice. Contact the relevant authority before travelling.

Visa information: Visas Required by all except: Nationals of Great Britain, Australia, Canada, USA, EU, Japan for a period of 3 months. Nationals of Andorra, Argentina, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Liechtenstein, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Poland, San Marino, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, South Korea, Switzerland, St Christophe, Taiwan (China) for a period up to 3 months. Nationals of Brazil, El Salvador, and Uruguay for a period of up to 2 months. Nationals of Peru for a period up to 1 month. Nationals of Singapore for a period of up to 2 weeks. NOTE: Visitors using chartered tickets, leaving Greece on an overnight trip to another country, may risk having their return ticket invalidated by the authorities.

Health information: Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required from visitors over 6 months of age coming from infected areas.

Food & drink: Water is of variable quality. Bottled water is widely available.

Currency: Drachmar (Dr)
Currency can be changed at banks and money exchangers. NOTE: Import of local currency is limited to Dr100000 and export to Dr20000 for non-residents and Dr40000 for residents.

All major credit cards are accepted. Travellers cheques are accepted in all major currencies, and can be easily changed at banks.

ATM availability: Over 1500 locations.

Cost of living: Tourist centres can be very cheap when compared to other European countries.

Languages: Greek. Most people connected with tourism will speak some English, German, Italian or French.

Weather: Warm Mediterranean climate. Nov – Mar is when most rain falls. Winters are mild in the South but much cooler in the North.

Electricity: 220 volts AC 50 Hz.

Post: All postcards and letters for overseas will be sent by airmail. Poste Restante is available at the post office.

Transport: RAIL: Regular trains operate between Athens and the main cities. There is a 20% discount on return fares and other offers available. ROAD: Good road network. BUS: Link Athens and all the main towns in Attica, Northern Greece and Peloponnese. TAXI: Run on a shared basis. Rates are reasonable an based on a Km basis. There is an extra charge on journeys from / to airports, ports, stations. CAR HIRE: Most firms operate throughout Greece, DOCUMENTATION: A national driving licence is acceptable for EU nationals.

Special information: Diverse traditions and customs prevail throughout Greece but a sense of unity prevails. The Greek Orthodox church has an important place in the community. Throwing back the head is a negative gesture. It is offensive to sell your belongings doing so can lead to arrest.

Capital: Guatemala City

Time zone: GMT – 6

Telephone services: Country Code: 502
Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: Police – 120 / 137 / 138, Fire – 122 / 123, Ambulance – 125 / 128.

Tourist information: Guatemala Tourist Commission, 7a Avenida 1 – 17, Centro Civico, Zona 4 Guatemala City, Guatemala Tel: (502) 311 333 Fax: (502) 331 4416 or 331 3004.

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 EU countries for a stay of 1 month with a possible extension to 3 months (except Greece and Portugal, and those on business from the UK or Republic of Ireland who do require visas, and tourists from the UK and Republic of Ireland who may stay for a maximum stay of 90 days without a visa to whom a tourist card will be issued by the authorities at the airport.). Nationals of Argentina, Andorra, Belize, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Israel, Japan, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Nicaragua, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland, Uruguay and Vatican City for stays of I month with possible extensions to 3 months. Nationals of Australia, Canada, Mexico and the USA entering Guatemala by air do not need a visa providing they are entering for tourist purposes, for a maximum stay of 90 days.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Malaria: Exists throughout the year in areas below 1500m.
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required by travellers arriving from infected areas
Other Health Risks: Hepatitis, Rabies, Onchocerciasis, American trypanosomiasis and Altitude sickness can occur in higher areas.

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: Quetzal (Q) = 100 centavos
Visa and Amex are widely accepted other cards have only a limited acceptance. Travellers cheques in US dollars are recommended.
ATM availability: Over 120 locations.

Cost of living: For the budget traveller prices can be very reasonable. Accommodation is diverse and priced accordingly. Food and local merchandise are relatively inexpensive especially in markets.

Languages: Spanish. English and over 20 indigenous languages are also spoken.

Weather: Climate varies according to altitude. Lower altitudes being far hotter than highlands. The rainy season occurs between June and Oct.

Electricity: 110 Volts AC 60 Hz. There are some regional variations.

Post: 7 – 21 days

Transport: FLIGHTS: Air transport is by far the most efficient means of internal travel since there are over 380 airstrips. RAIL: There is a daily service between the Pacific and Caribbean coasts. ROAD: There is an extensive road network but only a small amount are all weather. BUS: The bus services are cheap but crowded. TAXI: A flat rate is often charged within the city but prices are often expensive. CAR HIRE: International companies operate in Guatemala City and rates are low. DOCUMENTATION: A local licence will be issued on presentation of a national driving licence.

Special information: Travel arrangements are slowly returning to normal after Hurricane Mitch. Some regions may still be politically volatile. Visitors should register with the Embassy upon arrival. Violent crime is rife throughout the country.

Capital: Agana

Time zone: GMT + 10

Telephone services: Country Code: 671
Outgoing Code: International calls must go through the operator

Emergency telephone numbers: All services – 911.

Tourist information: Guam Visitors Bureau, PO Box 3520, 401 Paci San Vitores Rd, Tumon, Agaña, Guam 96911 Tel: 646 5278/9 Fax: 646 8861.

Passport information: Valid passport required by all except those entering directly from the USA. As for the USA

Visa information: See USA Entry.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended

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

Currency: US Dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Credit cards are widely accepted. Travellers cheques in US dollars can be exchanged.

ATM availability: Over 30 locations.

Cost of living: Appropriate to all tastes and budget.

Languages: English and Chamorro. Japanese and Tagalog also spoken.

Weather: Tropical climate with rains July – Nov.

Electricity: 120 Volts AC 60 Hz.

Post: Up to 2 weeks.

Transport: BUS: A reasonable bus service is available on a limited number of routes. TAXI: Fare are metered. CAR HIRE: Available from most major companies. DOCUMENTATION: AN IDP is required.

Special information: Guam’s tourist industry is geared towards the Japanese market, which make up 80% of visitors. As a result other travellers will observe an abundance of Japanese customs in the tourist areas. Usual social courtesies should be applied.

Capital: Bissau

Time zone: GMT

Telephone services: Country Code: 245
Outgoing Code: All outgoing calls must go through the operator

Emergency telephone numbers: Not present

Tourist information: Centro de Informação e Turismo, CP 294, Bissau, Guinea Bissau. Tel: 213 905 or 212 844

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

Visa information: Required by all (can be extended in central police station), except nationals of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended.
Malaria: Falciparum the most serious variety exists throughout the year. Resistance to chloroquine has been reported. Protection from mosquito bites is the best defence, use a 33% deet based repellent.
Yellow Fever: Strongly recommended to all visitors. A vaccination certificate must be provided by visitors arriving from infected areas.
Other Health Risks: Bilharzia 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: Guinea Bissau Peso (GBP) = 100 centavos.
Travellers cheques can be cashed at major banks only. US dollars is the preferred currency. Credit cards are not accepted.
ATM availability: Unavailable.

Cost of living: Guinea Bissau is one of the poorest countries in the world. Some hotels are very expensive.

Languages: Portuguese. The majority of the population speak Guinea Creole.

Weather: Tropical climate. May – Nov = Wet season. Dec- Apr = Dry season. Temperatures vary with altitude.

Electricity: Limited electricity supply on 200 volts AC 50 Hz.

Post: Post to Europe will take over a week.

Transport: FLIGHTS: The national airline provides regular internal flights. SEA / RIVER: most towns are accessible by ship. Coast hopping ferries operate from the North coast to Bissau. ROADS: Only 1/5 are tarred and suitable for all weather conditions. DOCUMENTATION: IDP is recommended though not legally required. A temporary driving licence can be obtained on presentation of a valid British Driving licence.

Special information: EXTREME RISK: The Foreign & Commonwealth Office advise against all travel to Guinea Bissau