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Capital: Helsinki

Time zone: GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from the last Sunday in March to the Saturday before the last Sunday in September.)

Telephone services: Country Code: 358
Outgoing Code: 990 (for international enquiries from Finland dial 92020).

Emergency telephone numbers: Dial 112 anywhere in the EU to reach the emergency services. Additional local numbers:-Helsinki Police – 002, Doctor – 008 Ambulance and Fire – 000.

Tourist information: Finnish Tourist Board, 30 – 35 Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5LP Tel: (020) 7839 4048 or 930 5871 (trade only) Fax: (020) 7321 0696.

Passport information: Valid passports are required by all except the following nationals providing they hold a valid ID card, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, and Sweden, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Requirements may be subject to short term change. Contact embassy before departure.

Visa information: Not required by the following nationals: Nationals of Great Britain (holders of British Hong Kong passports do require a visa), Australia, Canada, USA, EU, Japan. NOTE: Many other nationals do not require visas – check with the nearest authority for a complete up to date list of visa requirements for Finland.

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 are widely accepted. Travellers cheques are accepted throughout the country. US dollars are the preferred currency.

ATM availability: Over 2,000 locations.

Cost of living: Relatively expensive. Similar to other Scandinavian countries.

Languages: Finnish. Swedish and English may also be spoken.

Weather: The climate is temperate, but with considerable variation in temperatures. Summers are warm whilst winters Oct – Mar are very cold. The North has snow cover from mid Oct to mid May.

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

Post: 3 days within Europe.

Transport: FLIGHTS: Cheap tickets can be found to the various airports throughout the country. RAIL: Cheap and efficient, various discount schemes operate depending on status e.g. group travel ‘Interail’ and ‘Scanrail’. ROAD: A well developed road system, use of horns is frowned upon and signs will indicate warnings of reindeer and other wildlife when collision are possible. BUS: An excellent network of routes are available offering cheap offers to specific groups. CAR HIRE: Normally drivers should have at least 1 years driving experience. DOCUMENTATION: Usually National or IDP is required with insurance. A ‘Green’ card is recommended.

Special information: Finnish people often appear reserved, many do not enter into idle chatter easily. They are always helpful and are known to be warm and friendly once you get to know them. PHOTOGRAPHY: Check with the Russian Embassy if you wish to take photos near the Western border. During the summer mosquitoes and gnats can be nuisance, especially in the North where a good supply of repellent is recommended.

Capital: Addis Ababa

Time zone: GMT + 3

Telephone services: Country Code: 251

Outgoing Code: Operator assistance required for outgoing international calls.

Emergency telephone numbers: Not present.

Tourist information: Ethiopian Commission Tourism PO Box 2183, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Tel: (1) 517 470 Fax: (1) 513 899.

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. Transit passengers who do not leave the airport do not need a visa.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Malaria: 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. Anti 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)=100c
US currency is the most convenient. NOTE: Import and export of local currency is limited to Br100. Foreign currency is unlimited but must be declared on arrival.

MasterCard and Diners Club are accepted in the capital only. Traveller’s cheques have limited acceptance. US Dollars are the preferred currency.

ATM availability: Unavailable.

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

Languages: Amharic. English is the second official language. Italian and French also spoken

Weather: Lowlands – hot and humid, Warm in hill country and cool in the uplands.

Electricity: 220 Volts AC 50 Hz.

Post: Approximately 2 weeks.

Transport: FLIGHTS: Erratic internal flights operate to over 40 towns. ROADS: A good network of all weather roads exist. BUSES: Connect all larger towns and cities. TAXIS: Fares should be agreed in advance.

Special information: HIGH RISK: Because of the continuing tensions with Eritrea visitors are advised against all but essential travel. The security situation could change at any time in other parts of the country. The border with Sudan is closed and travel across the border to Somalia is also effectively prevented. Before travel to and from Kenya seek advise from the FCO and take local advice. Mugging and hijacking is increasingly posing a threat. Tourists should confine themselves to recognised tourist areas and avoid travel after dark. Travelling alone is discouraged. Casual wear is suitable for most places. NOTE: Ethiopia uses the pre-Julian Solar calendar with 12 months of 30 days and the thirteenth month of 5 or 6 days. It is important to check dates before travelling. 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: 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: 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: 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.