Country Information

Capital: Sofia

Time zone: GMT + 2

Telephone services: Country Code: 359
Outgoing Code: 00, some calls go through the international operator.

Emergency telephone numbers: Ambulance – 150, Fire – 160, Police – 166

Passport information: A valid passport with at least 6 months remaining validity at time of departure is required. Requirements may change at short notice. Contact the relevant authority before finalising travel arrangements.

Visa information: Visa required by all.

Health information: No information available at present.

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

Currency: Lev (Lv) = 100 stotinki. Exchange: A bordereau receipt will be given and must be kept until departure. NOTE: Import and export of local currency is prohibited. Amounts of currency over US$ 1000 have to be declared. Diners Club American Express and Visa have limited acceptance. Traveller’s cheques can be exchanged in major banks. US dollars and Pound sterling are the preferred currency.
ATM availability: Over 100 locations (MasterCard/Cirrus only).

Cost of living: Inexpensive when compared with Western Europe.

Languages: Bulgarian. English is spoken in resorts. Turkish, Russian, French and German may also be spoken.

Weather: Summers are the warmest with some rainfall. Winters are cold with snow. Rain falls frequently in the Spring and Autumn.

Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50 Hz. Plugs are 2 pin.

Post: 4 days to 2 weeks to Western Europe

Transport: FLIGHTS: Air travel is only slightly more expensive than rail and more convenient. RAIL: Reservations are essential, 1st Class is advisable. ROAD: Speed limits are strictly enforced as are drinking and driving penalties. CAR HIRE: Can be arranged through hotels. DOCUMENTATION: AN IDP should be obtained although foreign driving licences are acceptable for short journeys. A ‘Green’ card is compulsory.

Special information: A nod of the head means “No” and shaking the head means “Yes”. Dress should be conservative but casual. It is advisable to register with the police, a hotel or guest house within 48 hours of arrival. Do not accept food or drink from strangers. Exercise caution in Sofia particularly at night.

Capital: St John’s

Time zone: GMT – 4

Telephone services: Country Code: 1 268

Outgoing Code: 011

Emergency telephone numbers: 999/911

Tourist information: Antigua Department of Tourism, PO Box 363. Nevis Street Friendly Alley, St John’s, Antigua Tel: 462 0480 or 462 0029 Fax: 462 2483.

Passport information: Valid passport required by all except nationals of the USA do not require a passport providing they have other documents with proof of their identity. Passports have to valid for at least 6 months beyond the intended period of stay. Return Ticket required. Requirements may be subject to short-term change. Contact embassy before departure.

Visa information: Required if stay is longer than 6 months.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required from passengers over 1 year of age arriving from infected areas

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

Currency: Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$) = 100 cents Exchange: US$ and Sterling can be exchanged at hotels and larger shops.
CC: Accepted TC: Exchanged at banks, large hotels and shops.
ATM availability: Over 70 locations.

Cost of living: Can be very expensive, especially in the tourist centres. Accommodation is cheaper in the summer than in the winter

Languages: English, English Patois is also spoken.

Weather: Tropical, warm climate. Rainfall is minimal.

Electricity: 1220/110 volts AC 60 Hz. American style 2 pin plugs are generally used. Some hotels have outlets for 240 volts to be used in which case European type 2 pin plugs are used.

Post: 5 – 7 days.

Transport: ROAD: Mostly all weather. Buses are irregular. TAXI: Available everywhere charging standard rates, US$ commonly accepted. CAR HIRE: Can be arranged before arrival although is easy to arrange on arrival. DOCUMENTATION: A national driving licence is acceptable but a local licence must be obtained.

Special information: Embracing is the common method of greeting friends and family. Dress should be appropriate for the occasion and location i.e. keep beachwear for the beach / pool. Special events such as International Sailing Week and Tennis Weeks require accommodation to be booked well in advance.

Capital: Manama

Time zone: GMT + 3

Telephone services: Country Code: 973
Outgoing Code: 0

Emergency telephone numbers: All services – 999

Tourist information: Bahrain Tourism Company (BTC) PO Box 5831, Manama, Bahrain Tel: 530 530. Fax: 530 867

Passport information: Valid Passport required Return Ticket required. Requirements may be subject to short-term change. Contact the relevant authority before departure

Visa information: Required by all except: Nationals of Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Citizens of the UK for a maximum of 4 weeks (providing their full passport is valid for 6 months).

Health information: Health Risks: Cutaneous leishmaniasis, typhoid fevers and hepatitis A and B occur

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

Currency: Dinar (BD) = 100 fils All credit cards and travellers cheques are accepted. US dollars are the preferred currency
ATM availability: Over 60 locations

Cost of living: Can be relatively cheap if you travel around by foot and make purchases from the souk. Accommodation ranges from the deluxe to cheaper family-run guest houses

Languages: Arabic. English may also be spoken

Weather: Summers are very hot. Winters are much cooler. Rainfall is only likely in the winter. Spring and autumn are pleasant

Electricity: 230 volts AC, single phase and 400 volts, 50 Hz. (Awali – 100 volts AC, 60 Hz. Plugs are normally the 13-amp pin type

Post: 3 – 4 days to Europe

Transport: SEA: Transport between the smaller islands is by motor boat or dhow. ROAD: Manama is served by an excellent road system. BUS: Routes now serve most towns and villages. TAXI: Identifiable by their orange and red colouring. Those waiting outside hotels may charge more and between midnight and 0500 – fares increase by 50 %.

Special information: Because of the situation of global and regional insecurity at present, travellers should exercise extreme
caution and make only necessary journeys. Normally Bahrain is relatively liberal in comparison to other Gulf countries. Non Muslims may not enter mosques except during prayer times. Violent crime is quite rare but visitors should avoid village areas especially after dark. It is polite to drink 2 small cups of tea when offered.