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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: 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: Victoria

Time zone: GMT + 4

Telephone services: Country Code: 248
Outgoing Code: Calls must go through the operator

Emergency telephone numbers: Not present.

Tourist information: As for the High Commission Tel: (020) 7224 1670 Fax: (020) 7486 1352.

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

Visa information: Please contact:High Commission for Seychelles
Head of Mission: HE Mr Bertrand Rassool
Website:
Address: Box 4PE
2nd Floor
Eros House
111 Baker Street
London W1M 1FE
Telephone: (020) 7224 1660

Facsimile: (020) 7487 5756

Office Hours (GMT): Mon-Thurs: 0900-1600; Fri: 0900-1200

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Yellow Fever: A visitors permit is required from visitors arriving within 6 days of leaving or transiting affected areas.
Other Health Risks: Rabies

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

Currency: Seychelles Rupee (Srs) = 100 cents Exchange: Airport and Banks. Amex and Visa are widely accepted. Travellers cheques, preferably in US dollars, are accepted in hotels, guest houses and most shops.
ATM availability: 3 locations.

Cost of living: The island is a luxurious getaway for affluent holiday makers. Prices are often very expensive

Languages: Creole. English and French.

Weather: Monsoon: Nov – Feb, which brings hot and humid weather. The temperatures rarely fall below 24 ºC.

Electricity: 240 volts AC, 50 Hz. British 3-pin plugs are in use.

Post: Airmail to western Europe takes up to 1 week

Transport: FLIGHTS: An efficient network of scheduled and chartered services operate. SEA: Privately owned schooners provide regular inter island connections. ROAD: There are paved roads only on the two largest islands. BUS: A regular service is operated on Mahè. Prices for buses and coaches are very reasonable. TAXIS: Government controlled. Rates on Praslin are 25% higher. CAR HIRE: Should be booked in advance. Minimum age is 21. DOCUMENTATION: A national licence is sufficient

Special information: Whilst the Seychelles is safe for travellers there has been some increase in theft especially on beaches. Do not walk off main streets after dark, especially if you are a woman. Avoid remote roads after dark as they are often without barriers and may have steep drops. Casual wear is acceptable. Tourism in the Seychelles is regulated to ensure that the character and natural beauty of the islands remain unspoilt.

Capital: Honiara

Time zone: GMT + 11

Telephone services: Country Code: 677 Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: Not present.

Tourist information: Refer to the Consulate.

Passport information: Passport valid for at least 6 months required by all. Return Ticket Required. Regulations may be subject to change at short notice. Contact the embassy before departure.

Visa information: Visa Not required for stays of up to 3 months except for nationals of Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka who do require a visa. A Visitors Permit is required by all other nationals and will be issued on arrival at the airport. A multi entry visa for Australia is advised for long term stays on the Solomon Islands.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended.
Malaria: Exists throughout the year in particular areas in the Falciparum variety, which is reported to be highly resistant to chloroquine.
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required from travellers arriving within 6 days of leaving or transiting infected areas.
Other Health Risks: Immunisation against Hepatitis A recommended. Hepatitis is endemic. Filariasis, Dengue fever, and Typhoid.

Food & drink: Water is untreated and not safe to drink. Avoid dairy products as they are not pasteurised. Boil water before mixing with powdered milk. Fruit and vegetables should be peeled before consumption.

Currency: Solomon Islands Dollar (SI$) = 100 cents. NOTE: Export of local currency is limited to SI$ 250.
Credit cards are not accepted. Australian dollar travellers cheques can be exchanged.
ATM availability: Unavailable.

Cost of living: Accommodation can be quite expensive due to the small number of hotels. However, in the Reef accommodation is cheaper.

Languages: English and Pidgin English and over 87 local dialects are spoken.

Weather: Mainly Hot and Humid with little variation throughout the year.

Electricity: 240 Volts AC 50Hz, Australian-type, flat 3 – pin plugs are commonly used.

Post: Approx. 7 days to Europe.

Transport: FLIGHTS: National airline runs services between main islands and towns. SEA: Large and small ships provide the best means of travelling between the islands. Services are run by the government and a host of private operators. ROAD: General condition is poor resulting in limited use. TAXI: Available in main cities, advisable to agree the fare in advance.

Special information: EXTREME RISK: Because of local tension we advise against travel to Guadalcanal. Permission is required before use of beaches – footpaths etc. Beachwear should be kept for the beach. Swimming is not advised in the sea around Honiara because of the presence of sharks – bristle-worms – stinging corals and sea urchins. Health insurance is essential. PHOTOGRAPHY: Always seek permission before taking photographs of locals.

Capital: Riyadh

Time zone: GMT + 3

Telephone services: Country Code: 966
Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: Not present.

Tourist information: Saudi Arabia Information Centre, Cavendish House, 18, Cavendish Square, London W1M 0AQ Tel: (020) 7629 8803 Fax: (020) 7629 0374.

Passport information: Valid passport required by all except Muslim Pilgrims holding ‘Pilgrim Passes’, tickets and other documents for their onward journey entering the country via Jeddah or Dahran. All passports must be valid for 6 months beyond the intended period of stay. Return Ticket required. Requirements may be subject to short-term change. Contact the relevant authority before departure.

Visa information: Visa should be obtained in advance of travel and are required by all except: Nationals of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates and holders of re-entry permits issued by the Saudi-Arabian government.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Malaria: Exists in the falciparum variety throughout the year within certain areas. Cerebral malaria has been reported in the Jizan area.
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required from all travellers arriving from countries where any parts are infected.
Other Health Risks: Rabies, Bilharzia, Meningococcal Meningitis

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: Saudi Arabian Riyal (SAR) = 100 halalah. All major credit cards are accepted. Travellers cheques in, preferably, US dollars are accepted.
ATM availability: Over 1 000 locations.

Cost of living: Generally expensive and prices increase by 25% during the summer months and hotel charges double in Medina and Mecca during the pilgrimage season. Cheap accommodation and food can be found by the budget traveller.

Languages: Arabic. English is spoken in business circles

Weather: Desert climate. Jeddah is warm most of the year. Riyadh is hot in the summer and cooler during the winter. This is one of the driest countries in the world.

Electricity: 125/215 volts AC, 50/60 Hz.

Post: Airmail to Europe takes up to 1 week

Transport: FLIGHTS: There are 19 domestic airports and flying is the most convenient method of travelling around the country. ROAD: The system is continually being updated and expanded, however standards of driving are erratic and many driving offences carry an automatic prison sentence. TAXI: Available in all centres but are very expensive. Few have meters and fares should be agreed in advance. CAR HIRE: The major international companies have agencies in Saudi Arabia. Minimum driving age is 25. DOCUMENTATION: A national driving licence is valid for up to 3 months. An IDP with translation is recommended.

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 dress codes and behavioural codes are strictly adhered to. Penalties for drug offences are severe and include the death penalty. Non-political criminal activity is minimal, mainly due to the strict implementation of Saudi law. Extreme care must be taken when driving as the blame for accidents may be apportioned in an unexpected basis which may appear to be ‘wrong’ to western visitors. Visitors should be aware that innocent contact with veiled women can be misinterpreted. In view of three car bombings targeting British nationals towards the end of 2000 the Foreign and Commonwealth Office advice [FCO] should be reviewed before any travel plans are confirmed.

Capital: Kigali

Time zone: GMT + 2

Telephone services: Country Code: 250
Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: All travellers should consult the foreign office in their country of residence regarding emergency assistance.

Tourist information: Office Rwandais du tourisme et des parcs nationaux (ORTPN), BP 905, Kigali, Rwanda Tel: 76514 Fax: 76512

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

Visa information: A passport and evidence of yellow fever immunization are required. Visa generally required except for American citizens entering Rwanda for less than 90 days and citizens of Burundi, DRC, Uganda and Tanzania; Those requiring a visa must obtain these in advance of travelling.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Malaria: Exists throughout the year. Resistance to chloroquine has been reported
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required by all travellers arriving over one year of age.
Other Health Risks: Bilharzia, Rabies. There is a very high prevalence of AIDS/HIV. Visitors should seek medical advice before travelling. There are periodic outbreaks of meningitis.

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: Rwandese Franc (RwFr) = 100 centimes NOTE: Import and Export of local currency is limited to RwFr5000.

There is limited acceptance of MasterCard. Travellers cheques have limited acceptance. French francs are the preferred currency.
ATM availability: Unavailable

Cost of living: Due to recent civil unrest, the economy has been decimated

Languages: Kinyarwanda and French. Kiswahili is also spoken

Weather: Rwanda is cool due to its high latitude, but warmer in the lowlands. Mid Jan – Apr and mid Oct – Dec are the raining seasons.

Electricity: 220 Volts AC 50Hz. There is no electricity supply at present but some hotels have their own generators.

Post: Approximately 2 weeks.

Transport: FLIGHTS: Internal flights are operated by the national airline to the main towns. ROADS: Most roads are unsealed and in bad condition. BUS: Services operate and a timetable is available. DOCUMENTATION: An IDP is required.

Special information: Most of this ‘beautiful country of a thousand hills’ is now trouble free but visitors should take particular care on the eastern borders with DRC because of the conflict across the border. Elsewhere visitors should take the normal safety precautions with regard to money and street safety. Normal social courtesies apply. Travel after dark is not recommended because of the state of the roads. The traditional way of life is based on agriculture and cattle.