Country Information

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: Madrid

Time zone: Mainland Spain and Balearics GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 during the summer)

Telephone services: Country Code: 34 Outgoing Code: 07

Emergency telephone numbers: Dial 112 anywhere in the EU to reach the emergency services. Additional local numbers:-Police – 091, Fire / Ambulance (Bomberas) – 085

Tourist information: Spanish Tourist Office, 22-23 Manchester Sq., London SW1A 1LD Tel: (020) 7486 8077 (Customer services or 0891 669 920 brochure request line charged at 50p/min. Fax (020) 7486 8034.

Passport information: Valid passport required by all except: Nationals of EU countries with valid national ID cards and nationals of Austria, Belgium, France, Luxembourg, The Netherlands and Portugal whose passports expired less than 5 years. Nationals of Germany and the UK with passports expired less than 1 year. Nationals of Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Malta, Monaco, Netherland Antilles and Switzerland holding valid national ID cards or expired passports (maximum 5 years). Requirements may be subject to short term change. Contact the relevant authority before departure. It is advisable to have a return ticket. If you have no return ticket you may be asked of sufficient proof of funds to finance your stay.

Visa information: Required by all except Nationals of Aruba, Bolivia, Bonaire, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Curacao, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Kenya, Malaysia, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Singapore, Suriname and Venezuela for up to 3 months. Nationals who do not require a visa to visit a country which is a signatory to the Schengen agreement.

Health information: No information available, please seek medical advice prior to travel

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

Currency: In common with 12 Member States of the European Union (EU), here the Euro is the currency. There are seven different banknotes and eight coins of the Euro. Each participating EU country has coins with one common side and a reverse side specific to each country, while the banknotes look the same throughout the euro area. All major credit cards are accepted. Travellers cheques in Sterling pounds can be easily exchanged. ATM availability: Over 35 000 locations.

Cost of living: Similar prices to other Western European countries.

Languages: Spanish (Castillan), Catalan, Galician and Basque

Weather: Varies from Temperate in the North to hot and dry in the South. The best months are from April to Oct although it can be excessively hot between July and August except at the coastal regions. The central plateau can be extremely cold during the winter.

Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50 Hz

Post: 5 days. Poste Restante facilities are available at main post offices

Transport: RAIL: Most cities are well served. It is mainly a radial service with connections between Madrid and all the major cities. The Spanish rail system is one of the cheapest in Europe. Discounts and special concessions can be found. ROAD: Motorways are well maintained and connect North and South. Trunk roads between major cities are general well maintained. BUS: Services run between towns and are cheap and efficient. CAR HIRE: all major companies have agencies. DOCUMENTATION: IDP is required or a translation of national driving licence. Insurance is required and a ‘green card’ is strongly recommended.

Special information: The Spaniards are a very hospitable nation, where courtesy is valued. Conservative casual dress is suitable, but some larger hotels may insist that men wear a jacket. Beach-wear should be confined to the beach / pool. Street crime can be a problem in some of the tourist areas and large cities.

Capital: Addis Ababa

Time zone: GMT + 3

Telephone services: Country Code: 251

Outgoing Code: Operator assistance required for outgoing international calls.

Emergency telephone numbers: Not present.

Tourist information: Ethiopian Commission Tourism PO Box 2183, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Tel: (1) 517 470 Fax: (1) 513 899.

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 granted. Transit passengers who do not leave the airport do not need a visa.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Malaria: Resistance to chloroquine has been reported.
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required by all arrivals over one year of age arriving from infected areas. However everyone is advised to have the vaccination for travel outside the urban areas.
Other Health Risks: Bilharzia, Cholera, Hepatitis, Rabies, Meningitis are present. Anti Tetanus injection is also recommended.

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: Ethiopian Birr (Br)=100c
US currency is the most convenient. NOTE: Import and export of local currency is limited to Br100. Foreign currency is unlimited but must be declared on arrival.

MasterCard and Diners Club are accepted in the capital only. Traveller’s cheques have limited acceptance. US Dollars are the preferred currency.

ATM availability: Unavailable.

Cost of living: Prices are generally lower than in surrounding countries.

Languages: Amharic. English is the second official language. Italian and French also spoken

Weather: Lowlands – hot and humid, Warm in hill country and cool in the uplands.

Electricity: 220 Volts AC 50 Hz.

Post: Approximately 2 weeks.

Transport: FLIGHTS: Erratic internal flights operate to over 40 towns. ROADS: A good network of all weather roads exist. BUSES: Connect all larger towns and cities. TAXIS: Fares should be agreed in advance.

Special information: HIGH RISK: Because of the continuing tensions with Eritrea visitors are advised against all but essential travel. The security situation could change at any time in other parts of the country. The border with Sudan is closed and travel across the border to Somalia is also effectively prevented. Before travel to and from Kenya seek advise from the FCO and take local advice. Mugging and hijacking is increasingly posing a threat. Tourists should confine themselves to recognised tourist areas and avoid travel after dark. Travelling alone is discouraged. Casual wear is suitable for most places. NOTE: Ethiopia uses the pre-Julian Solar calendar with 12 months of 30 days and the thirteenth month of 5 or 6 days. It is important to check dates before travelling. For further information see FCO site.

Capital: San Jose

Time zone: GMT – 7

Telephone services: Country Code: 506
Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: Police – 104, Fire – 103, Ambulance – 225/1436 and 228/2187.

Tourist information: Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (ICT), Apartado 777, Edificio Genaro Valverde, Calles 5 y 7; Avenida 4a 1000 San José, Costa Rica Tel 223 1733 or Fax: 223 5452.

Passport information: Passport with a minimum validity of 6 months from date of arrival, except Canadian and US citizens with proof of identity for visits not exceeding 90 days. Return Ticket Required. Requirements may change at short notice. Contact the embassy before departure.

Visa information: Not normally required. Check with the embassy and consulate for the latest information.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended.
Malaria: Exists throughout the year in the Vivax variety in the rural areas below 700m.
Other Health Risks: Bilharzia – do not bathe in untreated water, Dengue fever – Avoid mosquito bites (deaths from secondary infections have occurred).

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

Currency: Costa Rican Colón = 100 centimos
Exchange: Gambios will give the best exchange rates.
All major credit cards are accepted. Travellers cheques in US dollars only will be accepted.
ATM availability: Over 150 locations.

Cost of living: More expensive than other central American countries but still cheaper than North America. All accommodation is graded.

Languages: Spanish. English is also spoken.

Weather: Coastal areas are much hotter than inland valleys. The raining season = May – Nov.

Electricity: 110/220 Volts 60 Hz. 2 pin plugs are standard.

Post: 6 – 10 days.

Transport: FLIGHTS: A number of operators offer domestic flights, but reservations can not be made out side of San José. ROADS: Generally very good standard but heavy traffic can make driving arduous. DOCUMENTATION: A national driving licence is required. BUS: Services operate between most towns but book in advance because overcrowding is common.

Special information: Christian names are preceded by Don for a man and Donna for a woman. Casual dress is acceptable for most occasions but beach-wear should be confined to the pool / beach. Muggings and theft from cars are common.