Country Information

Capital: Georgetown

Time zone: GMT – 3

Telephone services: Country Code: 592
Outgoing Code: 001

Emergency telephone numbers: Ambulance – 56900 (Georgetown only).

Tourist information: Caribbean Tourism Organisation, 42 Westminster Gardens, Artillery Row, London SW1P 1RR Tel: (0171) 222 4335 Fax: (0171) 222 4325.

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

Visa information: Visas not required for full nationals of Great Britain, Australia, Canada, USA, EU countries (except Austria who do require a visa). and Japan for stays up to 30 days. NOTE: Contact the High Commission for a up-to-date list of nationals requiring visas as requirements often change

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Malaria: Exists throughout the year in certain areas in the Falciparum variety. Resistance to chloroquine has been reported. NOTE: Sleeping under a mosquito net and using insect repellents is recommended.
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required for travellers arriving from infected countries (contact High Commission for list of infected countries according to Guyana).Vaccination is strongly recommended to any traveller planning to travel outside the urban areas.

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

Currency: Guyana Dollar (Guy$) = 100 cents. Limited acceptance of credit cards. Travellers cheques (in US$) are accepted, but can take a long time to exchange.
ATM availability: Unavailable.

Cost of living: Relatively inexpensive. Most accommodation is located in populated areas.

Languages: English. Hindi, Urdu, Creole and Amerindian are also spoken.

Weather: Hot tropical climate with the most rain between Nov – Jan and Apr – July.

Electricity: 110 Volts AC, 60Hz

Post: 7 – 10 days. Post services can be unreliable so recorded delivery is recommended.

Transport: FLIGHTS: The only reliable means of travelling into the interior is by air. ROAD: All weather roads are concentrated in the Eastern coastal strip. Most journeys will involve crossing waterways with ferries, which may create delays. BUS: Regular but crowded services operate in Georgetown. TAXI: Recommended as a method of transport at night. A supplement is added to evening fares and for long journeys it is recommended that fares are agreed in advance.

Special information: Guyana, Georgetown in particular, are notorious for street crime. Do not expose valuable possessions at any time and avoid showing signs of wealth. Travel with caution after dark. Men should not wear shorts.

Capital:

Time zone: GMT + 8

Telephone services: Country Code: 852
Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: All services – 999 (subject to change)

Tourist information: Hong Kong Tourist Association, 125 Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5EA Tel: (020) 7930 4775 Fax: (020) 7930 4777.

Passport information: Valid passport required by all.

Visa information: Visa requirements for all nationals are issued subject to duration of stay. Visitors are advised to check for current information.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended.
Malaria: There may occasionally be a risk in rural areas.

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

Currency: Hong Kong Dollar (HK$) = 100 cents All credit cards and travellers cheques are widely accepted. Pound sterling and US dollars are the preferred currency.
ATM availability: Over 1000 locations.

Cost of living: Although Hong Kong is a tax haven, commodities and accommodation can be expensive. However, transport is cheap and some luxury items are often cheaper than in Europe.

Languages: Chinese and English, Cantonese is most widely spoken.

Weather: Winter: influenced by the North – Northeast monsoon. Summer: is influenced by the Southwest monsoon. Summers are very hot with the rainy season June – Aug. Spring and autumn are warm with occasional rain and cooler evenings. Winters can be cold.

Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50.

Post: Airmail to Europe takes 3- 5 days.

Transport: RAIL: More expensive than the ferry, but quicker. BUS: Services are often very crowded. DOCUMENTATION: IDP is recommended but not legally required.

Special information: Hong Kong has reverted to Chinese rule as a Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic. Contact the Embassy or tourist office prior to travelling for up-to-date information on passport and visa requirements. Usual social courtesies should be applied. When addressing a national of Hong Kong the family name comes first, for example, Wong Man Ying is Mr Wong. Casual dress is acceptable.

Capital: Tegucigalpa

Time zone: GMT – 6

Telephone services: Country Code: 504

Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: Police – 119, Fire – 198, Ambulance – 37 8654.

Tourist information: Instituto Hondureño De Turismo, Apartado Postal 3261, Centro Guanacaste, Barrio Guanacaste, Tegucigalpa, Honduras Tel: 383 975 Fax: 382 102

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 Argentina, Costa Rica, Chile, Curacao, El Salvador, Guatemala, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Malta, Monaco, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, San Marino, Switzerland, Uruguay, and Vatican City. Those in transit continuing their journeys within 48 hours. Nationals of Great Britain, Australia, Canada, USA, EU Countries and Japan.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended

Malaria: Exists throughout the year in the Vivax variety within certain regions.

Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required from all travellers arriving 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: Lempira (L) = 100 centavos.
All credit cards are accepted. Travellers cheques in US dollars are recommended.

ATM availability: Over 20 locations.

Cost of living: Relatively inexpensive. Accommodation is graded. Food and transport are also inexpensive

Languages: Spanish. English is also spoken.

Weather: Tropical climate which is cooler in the mountains. Raining season = May – to Oct. The North coast is usually very hot with rain all year round.

Electricity: 110/220 Volts AC, 60Hz

Post: 7 days.

Transport: FLIGHTS: Local airlines operate services between principle towns and is much more convenient for business visitors. ROAD: Over half the roads are suitable for all weather conditions. BUS: Services operate to most large towns but the services are well used and booking in advance is essential. TAXI: Usually are not metered so agree the fare in advance. CAR HIRE: Available at the airport. DOCUMENTATION: Foreign and international licences are accepted.

Special information: The impact of Hurricane Mitch is severely affecting travel, personal safety and other factors such as water purity. However some main tourist areas are open. Exercise caution – beware of bag slashing, and muggings. Beware of poisonous snakes, alligators, scorpions, wasps and other stinging insects. Beachwear should not be worn in towns. Visitors should register with the Embassy or consulate on arrival.

Capital: Cidade de Praia

Time zone: GMT – 1

Telephone services: Country Code: 238
Outgoing Code: Outgoing calls must go through the local operator

Emergency telephone numbers: All services – 87

Tourist information: Ministry of Tourism, Palacio Do Governo, Praia, São Tiago, Cape Verde Tel: 615 697 Fax: 613 897.

Passport information: A valid passport is required by all with a minimum validity of at least 6 months. Return ticket required. Requirements may change at short notice. Contact the Embassy before departure.

Visa information: Required by all except national of the following countries, Benin Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended.
Malaria: Take precautions.
Yellow Fever: Vaccination certificate required from visitors over one years of age arriving from an area where incidents of yellow fever have been reported within the last six years.
Other Health Risks: Cholera

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: Cape Verde Escudo (CVEsc) = 100 centavos
CC: Not usually accepted.
Note: Import and export of local currency is prohibited. Import of foreign currency unlimited but declaration on arrival required. Maximum export of foreign currency is CVEsc 25000 or the amount declared on arrival, whichever is the larger.
Credit cards are not accepted.
ATM availability: Unavailable

Cost of living: Tourism is very undeveloped but this may change with the government’s recent decision to promote tourism.

Languages: Portuguese, Creole and some English and French

Weather: Temperate with a low rainfall.

Electricity: 220 Volts 50 Hz

Post: To and from Europe over 1 week.

Transport: ROAD: There are 2250km of road on the islands of which one third are paved. There is currently a road improvement programme taking place. BUS: Services are satisfactory. TAXI: Fares should be agreed in advance. DOCUMENTATION: IDP is recommended.

Special information: Usual European social courtesies should be observed.

Capital: Port Stanley

Time zone: GMT – 4

Telephone services: Country Code: 500
Outgoing Code: 0

Emergency telephone numbers: All services – 999

Tourist information: Falkland Islands Tourist Board, Old Transmitting Station, Stanley, East Falkland Tel: 22215 or 22281 Fax: 22619.

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 and commonwealth countries, Chile, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey and Uruguay. NOTE: Completion of visitor forms from the government office is required before, or on, arrival.

Health information: No information available at present

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

Currency: Falkland Islands Pound (FI£) = 100 pence. FE facilities available in Stanley and the Standard Chartered Bank.

Cheques issued by the main UK bank (up to £50) can be cashed with a valid cheque card. Credit cards have only a limited acceptance.

ATM availability: Unavailable.

Cost of living: Comparable with United Kingdom but tends to be more expensive, due to the importation of most requirements.

Languages: English.

Weather: Temperate climate conditioned by the surrounding sea.

Electricity: 240 Volts AC, 50 HZ

Post: 4 -7 days.

Transport: FLIGHTS: Light aircraft services can be used to travel between most of the Islands. ROAD: A 4 -wheel drive is recommended if travelling outside the capital where vehicles may become bogged down.

Special information: To visit the Falkland Islands an application has to be made to the Falklands Islands Government as they provide the transportation. The islands are made up of a small population, living in and around the capital.

Capital: Nicosia

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

Telephone services: Country Code: 357 Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: All services – 199

Tourist information: Cyprus Tourism Organisation, 213 Regent Street, London W1R 8DA Tel: (0171) 734 9822 or 734 2593 Fax: (0171) 287 6534

Passport information: PASSPORTS, must be valid for 3 months after date of departure for visitors not requiring visas. Those requiring visas must have their passport valid for at least 6 months from the point of departure. Return Ticket Required, may be subject to change at short notice. Contact consulate before travelling

Visa information: VISAS required by all except: Nationals of Great Britain, Australia, Canada, USA, EU, Japan. Nationals of Commonwealth countries (except nationals of Bangladesh, Bermuda, Pakistan who do require visas. Nationals of Bahrain, Fiji, Iceland, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Norway, Oman, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates and Yugoslavia (Consult Embassy if passport as issued before the outbreak of civil war).

Health information: No vaccinations are compulsary. Please seek medical advice prior to travel

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

Currency: Cyprus Pound (C£) = 100 cents
Travellers cheques can be cashed in all banks, US dollars, Pound sterling and the Deutschemark are all accepted currencies. All major credit cards are accepted
ATM availability: Approximately 200 locations

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