Country Information

Capital: São Tomé

Time zone: GMT

Telephone services: Country Code: 239
Outgoing Code: All international calls must go through the operator

Emergency telephone numbers: Not present.

Tourist information: Refer to the Consulate.

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

Visa information: Required by all, Transit visas are not required by those with tickets for onward journeys on the same day.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended.
Malaria: Exists throughout the year in the Falciparum variety. Resistance to chloroquine has been reported.
Yellow Fever: Vaccination is strongly recommended to all travellers. A certificate is required for travellers arriving from infected areas.

Other Health Risks: Bilharzia, 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: Dobra (Db) = 100 centimes Credit cards are not accepted, US$ traveller’s cheques are preferred.
ATM availability: Unavailable

Cost of living: Very inexpensive, without a tourist industry and unspoilt by external influences

Languages: Portuguese and native dialects are most widely spoken. French and English are also spoken

Weather: Dry Season – June to Sept and Dec to beginning of Feb. The South is wetter than the North

Electricity: 220 Volts AC.

Post: Up to 2 weeks

Transport: FLIGHTS: There are 3 flights a week from São Tomé to Principe. ROADS: Generally deteriorating therefore a 4 wheel drive is required to get around. BUSES: A bus service is in operation. TAXIS: operate.

Special information: Usual social courtesies should be shown. Portuguese influence is still dominant

Capital: Doha

Time zone: GMT + 3

Telephone services: Country Code: 974
Outgoing Code: 0

Emergency telephone numbers: All services – 999

Tourist information: Ministry of Tourism and Culture, PO Box 1836, Doha, Qatar Tel: 831 333 Fax: 831 518.

Passport information: Valid passport required by all. Return Ticket and sufficient funds for stay are required. Requirements may be subject to short term change. Contact the relevant authority before departure.

Visa information: Required by all except: Nationals of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate will be required from travellers over 1 year of age 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: Qatar Riyal (QR) = 100 dirhams All credit cards and travellers cheques are widely accepted. US dollars and pound sterling are the preferred CURRENCY in travellers cheques
ATM availability: Over 30 locations.

Cost of living: Qatar is one of the richest countries in the world. Accommodation is hotel-based only, ranging from international to standard.

Languages: Arabic. Some English may be spoken

Weather: Summers (June – Sept) are very hot with low rainfall. Spring and autumn are warm and pleasant

Electricity: 240/415 volts AC, 50 Hz.

Post: Up to a week to Europe.

Transport: ROAD: Conditions can be poor when it rains. TAXI: Have black and yellow number-plates and are metered. CAR HIRE: Available from hotels and at the airport. DOCUMENTATION: A 90 day temporary driving permit will be granted on presentation of a national driving licence or IDP.

Special information: Because of the situation of global and regional insecurity at present, travellers should exercise extreme
caution and make only necessary journeys to this country. If you intend to travel depite this advice you should be aware that Qatar is more liberal than Saudi Arabia but not as liberal as Dubai or Bahrain. Extra care has to be taken on the roads. It is important to respect Muslim traditions and local customs – dress modestly and behave courteously. There is heavy censorship of pictorial material. Men should not remove shirts in public. Strict Muslim rules apply to all women. Single women may find they are unwelcome in some restaurants and hotels but problems are unlikely for single women in the international hotels. Women should cover shoulders. Swimware is acceptable at hotel pools and on beaches away from the city. Women should dress conservatively and only travel in the back seat when taking a taxi.

Capital: San Salvador

Time zone: GMT – 6

Telephone services: Country Code: 503
Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: All services – 123 / 121

Tourist information: Instituto Salvadoreño de Turismo (ISTU), Calle Rubén Dario 619, San Salvador, El Salvador Tel: 222 0960 or 222 8000 Fax: 222 1208.

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

Visa information: Required by all except: Nationals of Austria, Belgium, Chile, Colombia, Finland, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Norway, Panama, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK for stays of up to 90 days. Nationals of Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, for stays of up to 30 days. Nationals of the USA, Mexico and Israel require a tourist card allowing them stays not exceeding 90 days.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination Required.
Malaria: Exists all year throughout the country in the Vivax variety. Risk is greater in low-lying areas
Yellow Fever: Vaccination certificates are required by travellers over 6 months of age coming from infected areas.
Other Health Risks: Rabies, Cholera – (treatment resistant strain), Dengue Fever, Visceral leishmaniasis, Mucocutaneous leishmanisis.

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: Colón Esc (colloquially Peso) = 100 centavos.
MasterCard, Visa and Amex are widely accepted. Travellers cheques are accepted in banks and hotels on production of a passport. US dollar cheques are preferred. Pounds stirling cannot be changed into local currency.
ATM availability: Over 20 locations.

Cost of living: The main hotels are in the capital. Prices fluctuate, depending on festivals and national events.

Languages: Spanish. English is also widely spoken.

Weather: Hot subtropical climate. Rainy season is May – Oct. The upland areas are cooler.

Electricity: 110 Volts AC, 60 Hz

Post: 7 days.

Transport: ROADS: Approx. 1/3 of roads are suitable for all weather conditions. DOCUMENTATION: AN IDP or national driving licence is required. RAIL: Links main cities. BUS: A good service exists between major towns. TAXI: Are plentiful but are not metered so agree fare in advance.

Special information: El Salvador portrays a more stable political climate than for many years, however the infrastructure remains fragile with rival factions contesting territorial supremacy. Travellers should still contact their embassies for current developments. Tourists should exercise great caution. Travel to El Salvador is not recommended unless it is essential. Youths with guns are a growing problem on the streets of towns and cities. Seek advice as to which areas are safe. There is extreme political unrest and a rising crime rate. PHOTOGRAPHY: Avoid using cameras around military areas.

Capital: St Denis

Time zone: GMT + 4

Telephone services: Country Code: 262
Outgoing Code: 19

Emergency telephone numbers: Police – 17, Fire – 18, Ambulance – 15

Tourist information: Refer to the French Consulate General in London or Comité du Tourisme de la Réunion, 90 rue la Boétie, 75008 Paris, France Tel: (1) 40 75 02 79 Fax: (1) 40 75 02 73.

Passport information: See France. Contact the French Consular authority for up to date information as passport/visa requirements are subjected to constant change.

Visa information: Visa requirements are constantly changing. It is advisable to contact the French Consular authority for current information.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended, There is a risk of Typhoid.
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required from travellers over 1 year of age coming from infected areas.
Other Health Risks: 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: French Franc (Ffr) = 100 centimes. Major cards are widely accepted although MasterCard has a more limited acceptance. Travellers cheques in French francs are the preferred currency.
ATM availability: Unavailable.

Cost of living: Wide range of hotels, inns and guest-houses, all of which are expensive.

Languages: French. Local Creole is also spoken.

Weather: The climate is hot and tropical but temperatures are cooler in the hills. The cyclone season is from Jan to Mar and brings hot but wet weather.

Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50 Hz.

Post: Airmail to Western Europe takes up to 3 weeks.

Transport: SEA: Four shipping lines run services around the island. ROADS: Fair and many of the highways are tarred. The island can be crossed easily by bus, taxi, or hired car. CAR HIRE: Available from the airport and Saint-Denis.

Special information: The locals follow French fashion. Licensing laws are unrestricted.

Capital: Damascus

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

Telephone services: Country Code: 963 Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: Contact hotel operator

Tourist information: Ministry of Tourism, rue Victoria, Damascus, Syria Tel: (11) 223 7940 Fax: (11) 224 2636

Passport information: Valid passport required by all except nationals of Lebanon holding valid ID cards. Requirements may be subject to short-term change. Contact the relevant authority before departure.

Visa information: Visa required by all except nationals of Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania,Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia; Somalia, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

Health information: Malaria: Exists in the vivax variety in tiny pockets of the Northern border areas between May and October.
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required from passengers arriving from infected areas
Other Health Risks: Bilharzia, Visceral leishmaniasis and Hepatitis A and B occur.

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: Syrian Pound (S£) = 100 piastres NOTE: The export of local currency is prohibited
Amex and Diners Club are the most commonly accepted. Some hotels accept MasterCard and Visa. Travellers cheques are accepted but can not always be exchangeable at Damascus airport.
ATM availability: Unavailable.

Cost of living: Can be expensive in the high season, especially in Damascus. Savings can be made by purchasing local food from the markets.

Languages: Arabic. French and English may also be spoken.

Weather: Summers are hot and dry whilst nights are often cool. Winter is cold.

Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50 Hz

Post: Airmail to Western Europe takes up to 1 week. Parcels sent from Syria should be packed at the post office.

Transport: ROAD: Well over half the roads are tarred. Those that aren’t are unsuitable for the wet season. BUS: There are orange and white air-conditioned buses which serve terminals in city centres. Seats must be booked in advance. TAXIS: Shared taxis operate and are available to all parts of the country. DOCUMENTATION: IDP is required. Insurance is required by law and a customs certificate is needed.

Special information: Because of the situation of global and regional insecurity at present, travellers should exercise extreme
caution and make only necessary journeys to this country. If you intend to travel depite this advice you should be aware that Syria has been one of the safest places to travel in, but visitors should keep in touch with developments in the Middle East. Most people are friendly and hospitable. It is illegal to change money on the streets. Beach-wear should not be worn away from the pool or beach. Conservative casual clothes are suitable. PHOTOGRAPHY: Ensure you do not photograph anything connected with the military.

Capital: Bucharest

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

Telephone services: Country Code: 40

Outgoing Code: Dial 971 for international operator assistance.

Emergency telephone numbers: Ambulance – 961, Police – 955, Fire – 981

Tourist information: Romanian National Tourist Office (Carpati), 83A Marylebone High Street, London W1M 3DE Tel: (020) 7224 3692.

Passport information: Valid passports with a minimum validity of 3 months after return require by all. Return Ticket required. Requirements may be subject to short-term change. Contact the relevant authority before departure.

Visa information: Visa required by all. Heavy penalties are imposed for incorrect or expired visas. Visas should be obtained in advance if travel is by train otherwise visas are obtainable on arrival at airports and land crossings.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Other Health Risks: Cholera reported – travellers may want to take precautions. An epidemic of entrviral meningitis is currently affecting some parts of the country including Bucharest. The ministry of health does not consider visitors to be at risk.

Food & drink: Water is untreated and not safe to drink. Do NOT bathe in lakes and rivers. Drink bottled water.

Currency: Leu (plural Lei) = 100 bani Exchange: Visitors are advised to take hard currency, particularly US Dollars. Sterling can be easily exchanged in most resorts. Visitors are advised to shop around for the best rates of exchange. Do not use the black market as it is illegal. NOTE: The import and export of local currency is prohibited.
Major credit cards are accepted in large hotels only. Travellers cheques can only be used at the tourist office and for paying hotel bills. US dollar cheques are preferable
ATM availability: Over 60 locations

Cost of living: Romania remains relatively inexpensive, since the move to modernise the economy following the 1989 revolution.

Languages: Romanian. Hungarian and German in border areas. English and French may be spoken by those involved with tourism.

Weather: Summer: inland is hot but the exterior is cooled by a sea breeze. Snow can fall throughout the country. Winters are mildest along the coast.

Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50 Hz. Plugs are of the 2-pin type.

Post: Airmail to Western Europe takes up to 2 weeks.

Transport: RAIL: ‘Romanian State Railways’ run efficient and cheap services. Seats must be reserved in advance for express and rapid trains. ROAD: COACH: Local services operate to most towns and villages. TAXI: Can be hailed in the street or called from hotels. Prices are relatively low but drivers expect a tip. CAR HIRE: Available at hotels and at the airport. Driving is very erratic so it may be wise to hire a driver. DOCUMENTATION: National driving licence or International Driving Permit and ‘green card’ insurance is required

Special information: Fines for expired visa’s are being levied on travellers, with the possible addition of an exclusion order. Ensure you extend your visa at least three days before it is due to expire. Petty crime in large towns especially Bucharest is on the increase, particularly incidents by pickpockets and bag snatchers in crowded areas near exchange shops, on buses (especially to the airport), main railway stations and inside airport areas. Changing money on the streets is illegal. Visitors should be aware that some policement may be bogus and they should not hand over identification documents or money but should go with them to a police station. PHOTOGRAPHY: Some tourist attractions charge visitors who wish to take photographs. Dress tends to be quite conservative but casual clothes are usually suitable.