Country Information

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.

Capital: Asmara

Time zone: GMT + 3

Telephone services: Country Code: 291
Outgoing Code: Operator assistance required for outgoing international calls.

Emergency telephone numbers: Not present

Tourist information: Eritrean Tour Service (ETS) PO Box 889, 61 Harnet Avenue, Asmara, Eritrea Tel: (1) 124 999 Fax: (1) 126 366 or 127 695

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. Ensure that all visa’s remain current throughtout your stay. Transit passengers who do not leave the airport do not need a visa.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended.

Malaria: Exists throughout the year and high 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. 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)
used in Asmara and the South. The Sudanese Dinar is in circulation in the North and West. US Dollars in cash is the best form of currency.

MasterCard and Diners Club have limited acceptance.

ATM availability: Unavailable.

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

Languages: Arabic and Tigrinya. English and Italian also spoken.

Weather: Hottest period is Apr to Jun but it can be very cold at night. June – Feb raining season depending on the area of the country.

Electricity: 110 Volts AC in Asmara different voltage exists outside the capital. There are occasional power surges.

Post: Delays should be expected

Transport: FLIGHTS:No internal flights or railways. ROADS: Reasonable between tourist and business centres. Improvements are being made. BUSES: Connect all larger towns and cities. TAXIS: Can be found in the capital and at the airport; fares should be agreed in advance.

Special information: EXTREME RISK: Foreign & Commonwealth Office strongly advises against all travel should be avoided at present. For further information see FCO site.

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: La Paz

Time zone: GMT – 4

Telephone services: Country Code: 591
Outgoing Code: 011

Emergency telephone numbers: Not available at present

Tourist information: Direccón Nacionale de Turismo, Calle Mercado 1328, Casilla 1868, La Paz, Bolivia Tel: (2) 367 463 Fax: (2) 374 630.

Passport information: Valid Passport required by all except holders of a ‘Cedula de Identidad’ issued to nationals of Argentina and Uruguay. Return Ticket Required. Requirements may change at short notice. Contact the embassy before departure.

Visa information: Visa required for all tourist purposes except: Nationals of EU countries for stays up to 90 days. Travellers in transit do not require a visa providing they are continuing their journey within 24 hours, and do not leave the airport.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Malaria: Exists in rural and low lying areas below 2500m in the Vivax variety. Resistance to chloroquine has been reported.
Yellow Fever: Vaccination is recommended to all travellers. Those arriving from infected areas must have a vaccination certificate.

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

Currency: Boliviano (B) = 100 centavos.
Sterling can not be exchanged. Most money is changed at Gambios and Hotels. All major credit cards have very limited acceptance. US Dollars travellers cheques are the most acceptable form of currency to take with you. Sterling cheques can be changed with difficulty.
. ATM availability: 70 locations.

Cost of living: Caters for all budgets. Reasonable prices for comfortable accommodation and eating out

Languages: Spanish, English, Inca and other local dialects spoken.

Weather: There can be extreme temperature changes between day and night especially in the mountain areas. The wet season is between November and February. Le Paz has very thin air due to its high altitude

Electricity: 110/220 Volts AC in La Paz. 220 Volts AC in the rest of the country, 50 Hz. Plugs: most houses have 2-pin sockets for both electrical currents. Variations may occur.

Post: 3 – 4 days. A Poste Restante service is available.

Transport: During the rainy season all modes of public transport including airlines may suspend services for weeks at a time without explanation. ROAD: Work is in progress to improve the condition of the road network. Standards of driving are often low which may make rail a preferred option. When driving; a full set of spares; tools; extra petrol; food and water should be carried. DOCUMENTATION: IDP is required. When entering Bolivia a circulation card “Hoja de Ruta” must be obtained from the “Servicio National de Transito” at the border of Bolivia. These will be presented and stamped at all police posts.

Special information: Respect for traditions should be observed. Rural Bolivians should be referred to as campesinos; rather than Indians; which is considered an insult. Petty theft is an occasional problem.