Country Information

Capital: Jerusalem

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

Telephone services: Country Code: 972 Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: Fire / Police – 100, Ambulance – 101

Tourist information: Ministry of Tourism, PO Box 1018, 24 King George Street, Jerusalem 91009, Israel Tel: (2) 675 4811 Fax: (2) 56 25 34 07 or 56 25 08 90.

Passport information: Valid passport required by all. They must be valid for 6 months after the intended date of arrival. Return Ticket required. Requirements may be subject to short-term change. Contact the relevant authority before departure.

Visa information: All nationals require a stamp on arrival. Visas are required by all except: Nationals of Australia, Canada, USA, and EU countries (except Germany if born before 1928 and nationals of Spain who have to pay a stamp fee). Nationals of Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Central African Republic, Chile, Columbia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, Gibraltar, Guatemala, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Jamaica, South Korea, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Malawi, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands Antilles, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Philippines, St Kitts & Nevis, San Marino, Slovenia, South Africa, Suriname, Swaziland, Switzerland, Trinidad & Tobago, and Uruguay. All other nationals must obtain visas prior to arrival.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Other Health Risks: Rabies

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

Currency: New Israeli Shekel (NIS) = 100 new agorot.
Exchange: Foreign currency can only be exchanged at authorised banks and hotels. Payment in foreign currency exempts tourists from VAT on certain purchases.
All major credit cards and travellers cheques are accepted.
ATM availability: Over 1000 locations.

Cost of living: Relatively expensive when compared with other middle Eastern countries, excluding Kibbutz.

Languages: Hebrew and Arabic. English is spoken in most major centres. French, Spanish, German, Yiddish, Russian, Polish and Hungarian may also be spoken.

Weather: Summers are hot with winds from the Mediterranean. Winters can be cool in the North. Spring and autumn are usually pleasant.

Electricity: 220 volts Ac, 50 Hz. 3 pin plugs are standard.

Post: Airmail to Europe takes up to a week.

Transport: RAIL: Regular services provided between Tel Aviv and other major centres. All services are closed between sunset on Fridays and sunset on Saturday and during religious holidays. ROAD: There is a good road network. BUS: Services are cheap, quick and efficient. DOCUMENTATION: Full national driving licence and insurance is required. IDP is recommended.

Special information: HIGH RISK: THE FCO ADVISE AGAINST TRAVEL TO THE WEST BANK AND GAZA WE ALSO ADVISE AGAINST ALL HOLIDAY AND OTHER NON-ESSENTIAL TRAVEL TO JURUSALEM. Visitors to Israel whould be extremely vigilant. The northern border with Lebanon (Western and Upper Galilee) should be avoided. In general because the regional security situation can change rapidly, you should keep aware of events and check the FCO travel website. Visitors should always be vigilant with personal possessions, travel documents and valuables especially on the beaches. There are restrictions on movement in and out of the Gaza strip. Dress is casual except in Holy places. In many restaurants and hotels it is considered an insult to smoke. SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS: Do not drive through the occupied territories. Do not hitch-hike. Avoid the centre of Hebron.

Capital: Conakry

Time zone: GMT

Telephone services: Country Code: 224
Outgoing Code: Must be made through the operator.

Emergency telephone numbers: 442 959 (Embassy)

Tourist information: Refer to the Embassy in Paris.

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: Visa for Tourist, Transit and Business are granted. Required by all except nationals of Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Egypt, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Romania, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, Tunisia.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Malaria: Present in the Falciparum variety and resistance to chloroquine has been reported.
Yellow Fever: Vaccination is strongly recommended to all visitors. Those arriving from infected areas over one year of age are required to have a vaccination certificate.
Other Health Risks: Bilharzia, River Blindness, Hepatitis, Meningitis and rabies 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: Guinea Franc (FG) = 100 centimes. NOTE: Import and export of local currency is prohibited. Foreign currency must be declared on arrival.
MasterCard has limited acceptance in the capital city. Travellers cheques can be changed at banks. French francs are the preferred currency.
ATM availability: Unavailable.

Cost of living: Tourist areas tend to be more expensive.

Languages: French and several local languages.

Weather: Hot and Humid climate. Wet season = May – Oct. Dry season = Nov – Apr.

Electricity: 220 Volts, 50 Hz

Post: Post will take over a week to reach Europe.

Transport: ROADS: Only 2/5 are suitable for all weather conditions. RAIL: A limited service exists which is generally not recommended. DOCUMENTATION: IDP is required.

Special information: Do not travel to the borders with Liberia or Sierra Leone. Tourists should not venture out into Conakry at night due to a high level of street violence. Muslim traditions should be respected. Casual dress is acceptable. PHOTOGRAPHY: Permits are no longer required but taking photos of public buildings, bridges, ports or anything connected to the military is prohibited.

Capital: Basse-Terre

Time zone: GMT – 4

Telephone services: Country Code: 590
Outgoing Code: 19

Emergency telephone numbers: Police – 112, Ambulance – 434. All services – 911.

Tourist information: Police – 17, Fire and Ambulance – 18

Passport information: All travellers must have a valid passport except: EU Nationals and nationals of Andorra Liechtenstein, Monaco and Switzerland, who may travel holding an expired passport provided it expired within the last 5 years, or a valid national ID card. Return Ticket required. Requirements may be subject to short term change. Contact the Embassy before departure.

Visa information: See France, but specify Guadeloupe when making application.

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

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

Currency: French Franc (Ffr) = 100 centimes.
All major credit cards are accepted. Travellers cheques in French francs are welcomed.

ATM availability: Unavailable

Cost of living: Expensive due to a 15-30% tax levied on services depending on the time of year

Languages: French. Patois and English are widely spoken.

Weather: Warm weather all year round. Main raining season June – Oct. High humidity at times.

Electricity: 110/220 volts AC, 50 Hz.

Post: Post will take Approx. 1 week to Western Europe.

Transport: SEA: Regular ferry services move around the island. BUS: There is a good bus service. CAR HIRE: Many companies are present. DOCUMENTATION: National driving licence is sufficient. One years driving experience is required. IDP is advised.

Special information: Guadeloupe is a French overseas department and the French culture is clearly evident.

Capital: Algiers

Time zone: GMT + 1

Telephone services: Country Code: 213
Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: Not available at present.

Tourist information: Algerian Consulate 6 Hyde Park London SW7 5EW Tel: (020) 7589 6885 Fax: (020) 7589 7725

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

Visa information: Visa required by all except nationals of the following countries: Argentina, Benin, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Croatia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea Republic, Libya, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Senegal, Seychelles, Slovenia, Syria, Tunisia, Yemen, Serbia and Montenegro.

Health information: Polio Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Malaria: Limited Risk
Yellow Fever: Recommended. Certificate is required if arriving from infected areas.
Other Health Risks: Bilharzia present.

Food & drink: Water is untreated and not safe to drink. Take local advice and normal precations with food.

Currency: Algerian Dinar (AD) = 100 centimes
NOTE: when exchanging money a receipt is required that should be presented on departure. Foreign money must be declared via a declaration form and stamped at arrival.

Very limited acceptance of credit cards. Travellers cheques can only be changed in 4-star hotels. French francs are the preferred currency.

ATM availability: Over 100 locations.

Cost of living: Visitors should expect to pay much more than local people.

Languages: Arabic French and English are spoken in tourist centres.

Weather: During the Summer the temperatures can be very high with humid weather in the North. Travel delays can be caused by sandstorms and coastal towns are also prone to storms.

Electricity: 127/220 Volts. Plugs = European 2-pin

Post: Airmail from the main cities takes 3-4 days from elsewhere it takes much longer.

Transport: RAIL: Daily services between the main centres. COACH: Not recommended for long journeys. ROAD: Most are in good condition. NOTE: For desert travel vehicles must be in good working order as breakdown facilities are virtually non-existent. Water and petrol supplies must be carried. DOCUMENTATION: IDP is required. If your own car is used a Carnet de Passage also be required. Insurance must be purchased at the border. Proof of ownership is essential.

Special information: HIGH RISK. The Travel Advice Unit of the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office advises against travel to Algeria unless on essential business. There have been a number of attacks on tourists. Because of the situation of global and regional insecurity at present, travellers who intend to travel despite this advice should exercise extreme caution and make only necessary journeys in Algeria.

Capital: Tallinn

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

Telephone services: Country Code: 372
Outgoing Code: 810

Emergency telephone numbers: Ambulance – 03 (Tallinn – 003), Police – 02 (Tallinn – 002), Fire – 01 (Tallinn – 001)

Tourist information: Estonian Tourist Board, Mundi 2, EE-0001 Tallinn, Estonia, Tel (2) 411 420 Fax: (2) 411 432.

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

Visa information: Required by all except: Nationals of Great Britain, Australia, Canada, USA, Japan. Nationals of Denmark. Nationals of Andorra, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Monaco, New Zealand, Poland, San Marino, Slovak Republic, and Vatican City. For the latest information contact the relevant authorities at least 3 weeks before finalising travel arrangements.

Health information: Other Health Risks: Rabies.

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

Currency: 1 Kroon = 100 sents. (Br)
Exchange: US$ and Deutsche Marks are widely accepted.
Credit cards are accepted on a limited basis. Travellers cheques can be exchanged at most banks. Preferred currency is US dollars.

ATM availability: Over 200 locations.

Cost of living: No information available at present

Languages: Estonian. Some Russian may also be spoken.

Weather: There is rainfall throughout the year with the heaviest falling in Aug. Heavy snow falls are likely in the winter months. The climate has large temperature variations. Summer can be quite warm but winter, lasting from Oct – Mar, can be very cold.

Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50 Hz. European 2 pin plugs are used.

Post: Approx. 6 days.

Transport: RAIL: The rail system is underdeveloped but the most major cities are connected to the network. SEA/RIVER: Ferries connect the mainland with the main Islands. ROAD: There is a high density of roads although there are few major highways. Careful driving is advised and driving at night is not recommended. It is best to remember that spare parts are not always available. CAR HIRE: Hertz agencies are present in Tallinn. DOCUMENTATION: European nationals should be in possession of the new ‘European Driving Licence’. BUS: A wide network of routes are operated including express services. Prices are very low and buses are still the most important means of transport. TAXIS: Agree fare in advance.

Special information: It is advisable to take a supply of medicines as they are unlikely to be available (Aspirin etc.). Visitors should take care to respect Estonians’ sense of national identity. Crime is an increasing problem for tourists in Tallinn.

Capital: Cairo

Time zone: GMT + 2

Telephone services: Country Code: 20
Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: Not present

Tourist information: Egyptian State Tourist Offic, 170 Piccadilly, London, W1V 9DD Tel: (020) 7493 5282 Fax: (020) 7408 0295. Opening hours Mon. to Fri 0930 – 1630.

Passport information: Valid passport required by all and must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the intended stay in Egypt. Return Ticket Required. requirements may be subject to change at short notice. Contact the appropriate consular authority before finalising travel arrangements.

Visa information: Required by all except: nationals of Malta, and Jordan (if holding a passport valid for at least 5 years) for a stay not exceeding 30 days. Nationals of Bahrain, Djibouti, Guinea, Libya, Mauritania, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, United Arab Emirates and Yemen for a stay not exceeding 90 days. Tourist and Business, single or multiple entry types granted.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination Required.
Malaria: No risk in Cairo or Alexandria but falciparum and vivax varieties exists from June to October in the El Faiyoum area.
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required if arriving from infected areas. Check with embassy as to which areas Egypt considers infected.
Other Health Risks: Bilharzia, Malaria, 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: Egyptian Pound (£E) = 100 piastres
There are 5 national banks and 78 branches of foreign banks.
All major credit cards are accepted. Travellers cheques in US dollars are the preferred currency.
ATM availability: 88 locations

Cost of living: Tourists can expect to pay higher prices than locals.

Languages: Arabic, English and French are widely spoken

Weather: Hot and dry during the summer with dry winters with chilly nights. Dusty winds from the Sahara prevail during April.

Electricity: 1220 Volts 50 Hz are most common. 110/380 volts AC may also be used.

Post: Approximately 5 days by airmail. There are Post Restante facilities at the main post office in Cairo. a small fee is charged when the mail is collected.

Transport: RAIL: A good rail network exists. TAXIS are available in the cities and are metered although it is advisable to agree the fare in advance.

Special information: NOTE: Because of continuing tensions in the region travellers should keep themselves informed of developments. Within Egypt itself, recent attacks in the last few years by extremist groups have been aimed at police and local institutions but have also been aimed at tourists. Care should be taken when travelling in the southern part of the country in Luxor and beyond in the Nile Valley. Take advice from local security authorities.