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Capital: Zagreb

Time zone: GMT + 1 (+ 2 from the last Sunday in March to the Saturday before the last Sunday in September)

Telephone services: Country Code: 385
Outgoing Code: 99

Emergency telephone numbers: Police – 92, Fire – 93, Ambulance – 94

Tourist information: Croatian National Tourist Office, 2 The Lanchesters, 162-164 Fulham Palace Road, London W6 9ER, Tel: (020) 8563 7979, Fax: (020) 8563 2616.

Passport information: Valid passport required by all except those holding a valid identity card. Return Ticket Required, may be subject to change at short notice. Contact the Embassy before travelling.

Visa information: Visas are issued on the border and are required by all except: Nationals of the EU, Nationals of Algeria, Argentina, Bulgaria, Chile, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Hungary, Japan, Liechtenstein, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Malta, Monaco, Norway, Poland, Romania, San Marino, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Switzerland, Turkey and Vatican City. Nationals of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and the USA may obtain visas on arrival in Croatia.

Health information: 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: The Kuna (Kn) = 100 Lipa (Lp).
Exchange: The only true repositories of value and real medium of exchange locally are the German DM and the US$ (Sterling is rarely used).
NOTE: The import and export of local currency is limited to Kn 2000.
All major credit cards are accepted. German DM is the preferred Travellers cheque currency
ATM availability: Over 80 locations.

Cost of living: The Croatian economy is still recovering after civil war. Visitors may be charged higher prices than locals.

Languages: Croat-Serb with the Latinate alphabet.

Weather: Continental climate in the North and Mediterranean on the Adriatic cost.

Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz

Post: May take several days.

Transport: ROAD/RAIL: The main road/rail route to and from Western Europe now effectively stops at Zagreb (coming from Ljublijana) with extensive detours via Hungary for international traffic going South to and from Serbia, Republic of Macedonia and Greece. DOCUMENTATION: National or IDP required. A ‘Green’ card should be carried by visitors taking their own car into Croatia.

Special information: Visitors from Foot & Mouth infested areas may be strip searched and dis-infected at entry points. Everyone MUST be bale to show proof of identification when asked – carry your passport and keep a photocopy of your passport details in a safe place. Tourism facilities are operating normally and normal travel precautions should be taken. Outside the tourist areas there may be some unexploded mines from the war in 1995. Travel should be avoided in areas adjoining Rebublika Srspka (Bosnia-Herzovogena; Serbia and Montegnegro) For up to date information contact the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office advice unit before travelling. Certain restrictions exist on taking photographs in some areas.

Capital: Port-au-Prince

Time zone: GMT – 5

Telephone services: Country Code: 509
Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: Police – 114, Ambulance – 118.

Tourist information: Caribbean Tourism Organisation, 42 Westminster Gardens, Artillery Row, London SW1P 1RR Tel: (020) 7222 4335 Fax: (020) 7222 4325.

Passport information: Valid passport required by all except nationals of Canada and the USA, over 18 years of age with proof of nationality for a stay of up to 30 days. However because of recent political relations between the USA and Haiti, the US Embassy is advising travellers from the USA to be in possession of a valid passport. Return Ticket required. Requirements may be subject to short-term change. Contact embassy before departure

Visa information: Visa required by all except: Nationals of the UK holding passports that indicate right of abode in the UK. Nationals of Austria, Denmark Germany, Luxembourg and Sweden for a stay not exceeding 90 days. Nationals of the USA and Canada for a stay not exceeding 90 days. Nationals of Argentina, Israel, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, South Korea and Switzerland for stay not exceeding 90 days. Visas are available on arrival for nationals of France for a stay of up to 3 months and for nationals of Spain and Italy for a stay of up to 1 month. Travellers in transit who do not leave the airport.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Malaria: Exists throughout the year on the Falciparum variety below 300m.
Yellow Fever: Recommended. A vaccination certificate s required from all passengers coming from infected areas.
Other Health Risks: Bancroftian filariasis, 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: Gourde (Gde) = 100 centimes Exchange: US$ accepted and exchanged everywhere. CC, AMEX is widely accepted, others less so. TC: Accepted in banks and major shops.

Amex is widely accepted, but others less so. Travellers cheques are accepted in banks and major shops. US dollars are the preferred currency.

ATM availability: Unavailable.

Cost of living: Accommodation is limited in Haiti, varying form luxury hotels to modest small inns and guesthouses.

Languages: French and Creole. English is widely spoken in tourist areas.

Weather: Tropical climate with high humidity. Intermittent rain throughout the year. Hill resorts are much cooler.

Electricity: 110 volts AC, 60 Hz.

Post: Up to 1 week.

Transport: ROADS: All weather roads have been constructed. BUS: Operate on an unscheduled basis. TAXI: Station wagons run between the capital and the large towns. CAR HIRE: Available independently or through the hotels. NOTE: Petrol can be scarce outside the capital. DOCUMENTATION: Some national licences are accepted but IDP is recommended.

Special information: RISK of personal crime and violence, especially for tourists due to their relative affluence. It is estimated that 85% of the population live below the poverty line. Do not leave your accommodation after dark and do not travel to rural areas.

Capital: Budapest

Time zone: GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 in the summer)

Telephone services: Country Code: 36
Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: Police – 107, Ambulance – 104, Fire – 105

Tourist information: Tourinform (Hungarian Tourist Board), H 1052 Budapest, Süt? u. 2, Hungary Tel: (1) 117 9800 Fax: (1) 117 9578.

Passport information: Valid passport required by all except nationals of France and Germany holding a national identity card . All passports must be valid for at least 6 months. Requirements may be subject to short term change. Contact embassy before departure.

Visa information: Required by all except: Nationals of Canada, USA, Japan for a stay of up to 90 days. Nationals of the UK for a stay of up to 6 months. Nationals of Austria, Finland and Spain for a stay up to 30 days. Nationals of Argentina, Bulgaria, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Iceland, Israel, South Korea Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, Poland, Seychelles, South Africa, Switzerland and Uruguay for a stay up to 90 days. Nationals of CIS (with the exception of citizens of Uzbekistan who do need a visa), Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Malta, Nicaragua, Romania, San Marino, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) for at stay up to 30 days. Nationals of Singapore for a stay up to 14 days

Health information: Other Health Risks: Rabies

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

Currency: Hungarian Forint (HUF) = 100 fillér
Exchange: banks, hotels, airports, railway stations, some restaurants. NOTE: Import and export of local currency is limited to HUF 10000. Retain all exchange receipts.
All major credit cards and travellers cheques are widely accepted. German DM is the preferred currency.
ATM availability: Over 1000 locations.

Cost of living: Westerners will not experience great disparity in local and Western prices

Languages: Hungarian (Magyar). German is widely spoken. Some English and French may also be spoken, mainly in the West.

Weather: June – Aug. is usually very warm. Spring and autumn are mild and winters are very cold. There is rainfall throughout the year and snow in winter.

Electricity: 220 volts Ac, 50 Hz.

Post: 3 – 7 days to other European destinations.

Transport: RAIL: All main cities are connected by regular services but facilities are often inadequate. Concessions are available to groups of six or more and the young and elderly. ROAD: Generally the road system is good. Zero alcohol is permitted when driving. BUS: Services link Budapest with the major provincial towns. CAR HIRE: Available at large hotels and the main airports. DOCUMENTATION: Pink national UK licence is accepted but IDP is required if a green licence is held.

Special information: Petty crime is rife in Budapest especially in tourist areas. Only carry a photocopy of your passport. Do not carry large amounts of money. Very few people speak English outside of large hotels and restaurants. A knowledge of German is very useful. Usual social courtesies apply. Both Christian and surname should be used in introductions. PHOTOGRAPHY: Do not take photographs of anything connected with the military. Other restrictions will be sign posted.

Capital: Jakarta

Time zone: GGMT + 7 -West, + 8 – Central, + 9 – East.

Telephone services: Country Code: 62

Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: Police – 110, Fire – 113, Ambulance – 118.

Tourist information: Indonesian Tourist Promotion Office, 24 Hour Brochure & Information Line Premium (Higher) Charges Apply 3 Hanover St, London, W1R 9HH Tel: 0891 600180.

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

Visa information: Tourist visas required by all except the following: (providing their stay does not exceed 60 days) Nationals of EU countries except Portugal. Nationals of Argentina, Brazil, Brunei, Chile, Egypt, Hungary, Iceland, South Korea, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Maldives, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela and Yugoslavia. Nationals of any country travelling for conference purposes who have documentary proof of approval from the Indonesian government.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Malaria: Exists in the Falciparum variety everywhere except the main tourist resorts of Bali, Java and large cities.
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required from those arriving from infected areas.

Other Health Risks: Bilharzia, Rabies.

Food & drink: Outside of urban areas 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: Rupiah (Rp) = 100 sen.
Exchange: Not a problem in tourist areas, may be more difficult in less commercialised areas. NOTE: Import and export of local currency is limited to Rp 50 000.
Travellers cheques are easily exchanged in large hotels and banks. Preferred cheque currency is US dollars. Visa MasterCard and Amex are all accepted. Diners Club has a more limited use.
ATM availability: Over 1300 locations.

Cost of living: Tourist resorts are more expensive although cheap accommodation can be found in the form of bungalows in the main resorts. Provisions may be difficult to find in rural areas.

Languages: Bahasa Indonesian and 250 local dialects. Dutch and English are also spoken.

Weather: The climate is tropical and varies from area to area. Jun – Sept is the Easter Monsoon which brings the driest weather. The Western monsoon brings the main rains from Dec – Mar. However rainstorms can occur all year round.

Electricity: 110 Volts AC 50Hz, but may vary between areas,

Post: Up to 10 days.

Transport: FLIGHTS: Good internal air system. ROADS: Good roads within Java but less so in Bali and Sumatra. The other islands have poor road systems. TAXI: Available in all main cities, all are metered. DOCUMENTATION: IDP is required.

Special information: EXTREME RISK: in some areas (Aceh – Maluku Provence – please see FCO site for further details) because of ethnic tensions. There is a risk of disturbance and unsettled conditions though not as problematic as anticipated. Travellers should exercise caution and avoid large crowds which can turn into demonstrations Please consult the FCO website for details of specified areas of the country where you should not travel. Never pass or accept anything with your left hand as this is insulting. Foreigners are regarded as walking bank accounts. Pickpockets are common. Visitors are advised to avoid crowds and not to travel alone. British nationals are advised against all non-essential travel to Ambon and Maluku Province; East Kalimantan (East Borneo); Lombok; North Aceh; Pidie and East Aceh Regencies; West Timor and East Timor. Permits are required to travel to Most of Irian Jaya where there is an independence movement.

Capital: Dublin

Time zone: GMT

Telephone services: Country Code: 353
Outgoing Code: 16

Emergency telephone numbers: Dial 112 anywhere in the EU to reach the emergency services. Additional local numbers:-All services – 999

Tourist information: Irish Tourist Board, 150 – 151 New Bond Street, London W1Y 0AQ Tel: (020) 7493 3201 Fax: (020) 7493 9065.

Passport information: Valid passport required by all except: Nationals of EU countries providing they carry a national ID card, persons born in the United Kingdom travelling directly from the United Kingdom. Nationals of Liechtenstein, Monaco and Switzerland providing they carry a national ID card. 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 Australia, Canada, USA, EU, Japan. Nationals of Andorra, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Botswana, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, Gambia, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Jamaica, Kenya, South Korea, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Malawi, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Nauru, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, San Marino, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Swaziland, Switzerland, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Uruguay, Vatican City, Venezuela, Western Samoa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Health information: No information available at present.

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

Currency: In common with12 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 and travellers cheques are accepted throughout Ireland.
ATM availability: Approximately 1 000 locations.

Cost of living: Food and drink can be quite expensive. However ‘Bed and Breakfast’, or camp sites offer cheaper accommodation.

Languages: Irish (Gaelic) is the official language and is mainly spoken in the west. English is more widely spoken.

Weather: Rain falls all year. Spring and autumn are very mild. Summers are warm, winters are much cooler.

Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50 Hz.

Post: Irish postage stamps must be used on all mail. Poste Restante correspondence is available.

Transport: RAIL: Extensive network between the main cities. ROAD: The network links all parts of Ireland. TAXI: Services available in the main cities. BUS: A nation-wide network of buses serves all the main cities but services to remote areas will be infrequent. CAR HIRE: Available from the major air and sea ports and large hotels. DOCUMENTATION: Owners taking their own cars into Ireland require the vehicles registration book, nationality plates, insurance for the Republic and a full EU licence or IDP. A ‘green card’ is strongly recommended.

Special information: The Irish are a very gregarious people and usually have very close community bonds. Visitors will find people very friendly. Casual wear is acceptable.

Capital: Jerusalem

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

Telephone services: Country Code: 972 Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: Fire / Police – 100, Ambulance – 101

Tourist information: Ministry of Tourism, PO Box 1018, 24 King George Street, Jerusalem 91009, Israel Tel: (2) 675 4811 Fax: (2) 56 25 34 07 or 56 25 08 90.

Passport information: Valid passport required by all. They must be valid for 6 months after the intended date of arrival. Return Ticket required. Requirements may be subject to short-term change. Contact the relevant authority before departure.

Visa information: All nationals require a stamp on arrival. Visas are required by all except: Nationals of Australia, Canada, USA, and EU countries (except Germany if born before 1928 and nationals of Spain who have to pay a stamp fee). Nationals of Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Central African Republic, Chile, Columbia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, Gibraltar, Guatemala, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Jamaica, South Korea, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Malawi, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands Antilles, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Philippines, St Kitts & Nevis, San Marino, Slovenia, South Africa, Suriname, Swaziland, Switzerland, Trinidad & Tobago, and Uruguay. All other nationals must obtain visas prior to arrival.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Other Health Risks: Rabies

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

Currency: New Israeli Shekel (NIS) = 100 new agorot.
Exchange: Foreign currency can only be exchanged at authorised banks and hotels. Payment in foreign currency exempts tourists from VAT on certain purchases.
All major credit cards and travellers cheques are accepted.
ATM availability: Over 1000 locations.

Cost of living: Relatively expensive when compared with other middle Eastern countries, excluding Kibbutz.

Languages: Hebrew and Arabic. English is spoken in most major centres. French, Spanish, German, Yiddish, Russian, Polish and Hungarian may also be spoken.

Weather: Summers are hot with winds from the Mediterranean. Winters can be cool in the North. Spring and autumn are usually pleasant.

Electricity: 220 volts Ac, 50 Hz. 3 pin plugs are standard.

Post: Airmail to Europe takes up to a week.

Transport: RAIL: Regular services provided between Tel Aviv and other major centres. All services are closed between sunset on Fridays and sunset on Saturday and during religious holidays. ROAD: There is a good road network. BUS: Services are cheap, quick and efficient. DOCUMENTATION: Full national driving licence and insurance is required. IDP is recommended.

Special information: HIGH RISK: THE FCO ADVISE AGAINST TRAVEL TO THE WEST BANK AND GAZA WE ALSO ADVISE AGAINST ALL HOLIDAY AND OTHER NON-ESSENTIAL TRAVEL TO JURUSALEM. Visitors to Israel whould be extremely vigilant. The northern border with Lebanon (Western and Upper Galilee) should be avoided. In general because the regional security situation can change rapidly, you should keep aware of events and check the FCO travel website. Visitors should always be vigilant with personal possessions, travel documents and valuables especially on the beaches. There are restrictions on movement in and out of the Gaza strip. Dress is casual except in Holy places. In many restaurants and hotels it is considered an insult to smoke. SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS: Do not drive through the occupied territories. Do not hitch-hike. Avoid the centre of Hebron.