admin

Capital: Charlotte Amalie

Time zone: GMT – 4

Telephone services: Country Code: 1 340
Outgoing Code: 011

Emergency telephone numbers: All services – 911

Tourist information: US Virgin Islands Division of Tourism, Molasses House, Clove Hitch Quay, Plantation Wharf, York Place, London SW11 3TW. Tel: (020) 7978 5262 Fax: (020) 7924 3171.

Passport information: See the USA entry

Visa information: See the USA entry

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended

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

Currency: US Dollar (US$) = 100 cents
All major credit cards and travellers cheques, preferably in US dollars are accepted All credit cards are accepted. Travellers cheques in US dollars are acceptable
ATM availability: 10 locations approximately

Cost of living: Expensive, especially in the tourist centres. However, luxury items up to $1200 are cheaper, as they are duty-free

Languages: English, Spanish, Creole is widely spoken

Weather: Hot climate with cool winds. Aug – Oct is the wettest period

Electricity: 120 volts AC, 60 Hz

Post: Up to 1 week

Transport: SEA: Ferries operate services between islands. ROAD: Well-maintained roads connect all main towns but not much else. TAXI: Available on all the islands. They follow set routes and their prices are published. CAR HIRE: There are international agencies operating at the airport and in the main towns. DOCUMENTATION: A national licence is acceptable

Special information: The islands have more hotels per square mile than any other in the Caribbean

Capital: Road Town

Time zone: GMT – 4

Telephone services: Country Code: 1 284
Outgoing Code: 001

Emergency telephone numbers: Police 114, Ambulance 112.

Tourist information: British Virgin Islands Tourist Board, PO Box 134, Waterfront Drive, Roadtown, Tortola, British Virgin Islands Tel: 43134 Fax: 43866.

Passport information: A valid passport is required by all. Return Ticket required. Requirements may be subject to short-term change. Contact embassy before departure.

Visa information: Nationals of Great Britain, Australia, Canada, the USA, and Japan may stay up to 6 months, including nationals of EU countries (except nationals of Austria, Ireland and Portugal who do require visas, and nationals of Germany who may stay for up to 30 days) without a visa.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended

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

Currency: US Dollar (US$) = 100 cents.
All major credit cards are accepted. Travellers cheques, preferably in US dollars, are accepted
ATM availability: 6 locations.

Cost of living: Generally expensive and may prove difficult for the budget traveller.

Languages: English.

Weather: Tropical climate with cooling winds. Low rainfall and comfortable night temperatures.

Electricity: 110/60 volts AC 60 Hz. American 2 pin plugs are used.

Post: Up to 1 week.

Transport: ROAD: There is a good road network. TAXI: Usually operate according to fixed rates. CAR HIRE: There are 9 car hire companies. DOCUMENTATION: A temporary British Virgin Islands licence is required which will be issued for a small fee on production of a valid foreign licence.

Special information: Backpacking is actively discouraged. Beachwear should be kept for the beach or pool. Sixty islands to explore.

Capital: Oranjestad

Time zone: GMT – 4

Telephone services: Country Code: 599 Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: All services – 599 382211

Tourist information: Caribbean Tourism, same as Aruba

Passport information: Valid passport required by all except nationals of: Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg and The Netherlands holding an Identity card. The USA holding voter’s registration cards or birth certificate, and alien residents of the USA with an Alien Registration card. Canada with proof of citizenship. San Marino holding a national ID card or a passport not expired by more than 5 years. Brazil, Mexico, Trinidad, and Tobago and Venezuela with a national ID card. Return Ticket required. Requirements may be subject to short-term change. Contact embassy before departure

Visa information: Up to date visa requirements can be obtained from the Office of the Minister Plenipotentiary of the Netherlands Antilles

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required from all travellers over 6 months of age coming from infected areas

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

Currency: Netherlands Antilles Guilder or Florin (NAG) = 100 cents NOTE: Import and export of local currency is restricted to NAG 200.
Visa and MasterCard are accepted in large establishments. Travellers cheques, preferably in US dollars are accepted.
ATM availability: 10 locations approximately

Cost of living: Despite the island’s small size it has a variety of restaurants and accommodation at moderate prices

Languages: English is the official language. Papiamento, French and Spanish are also spoken

Weather: Hot climate with cooling sea breezes

Electricity: 110/220 volts AC 60 Hz

Post: 4 – 6 days

Transport: ROAD: A very small island with very few roads. The whole island can be walked around in a few hours. CAR HIRE and TAXI: Companies operate in Oranjestad. DOCUMENTATION: National licence is sufficient

Special information: Twice a year sea turtles clamber onto the volcanic black sand to lay their eggs, and giant land crabs hunt on the beaches every night

Capital: Sana’a

Time zone: GMT + 3

Telephone services: Country Code: 967
Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: Not present.

Tourist information: Yemen Tourist Company, PO Box 1526, Sana’a, Republic of Yemen Tel: (1) 330 039

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: Visa required by all except nationals of Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, UAE and other holders of re-entry permits.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Malaria: Exists in the falciparum form throughout the year. Resistance to chloroquine has been reported.
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required from all travellers over 1 year of age coming from infected areas.
Other Health Risks: Cholera, 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: Yemeni Riyal is preferred (YR) = 100 fils Yemeni Dinar is also in circulation. NOTE: Import and export of local currency is limited to YAR 5000 or equivalent Diners Club and Amex are widely accepted. Travellers cheques can be exchanged in most banks and hotels. US dollars are the preferred currency.
ATM availability: Unavailable

Cost of living: If you conform to traditional Yemeni lifestyle you can live relatively cheaply but if you want to purchase western food and enjoy en-suite facilities this will be expensive. All accommodation has to be booked in advance.

Languages: Arabic and English.

Weather: Climate varies according to altitude. Highland are warmer in the summer. During the winter (Oct to Mar) the nights can be very cold in the mountains. Temperatures in the summer can be very high. The best time to visit is Oct to Apr.

Electricity: 220/230 volts AC, 50 Hz.

Post: Airmail to Western Europe from Sana’a takes about 4 days, mail to and from other towns may take longer.

Transport: SEA: Local ferries connect ports. ROAD: The road network is mainly limited to desert track. Use of 4-wheel drive vehicles with a guide is recommended. BUS: There are regular intercity bus services. TAXI: Sharing taxis is the cheapest form of transport between cities. Fares should be negotiated before hand. CAR HIRE: Available in main towns. DOCUMENTATION: An IDP is required.

Special information: NOTE: EXTREME RISK: – FCO advise against any travel to the Yemen at present. The rest of this advice applies when the situation improves – the potential for instability is likely to remain. The risk of random kidnapping remains. Travellers to Yemen should register with their local Embassy. Beachwear and shorts should be confined to the beach / pool. Smoking is forbidden in public during Ramadan. Where possible travel in organised groups with well-established tour agents. Armed theft of vehicles is common. There remains some danger from mines laid during the civil war in the Southern and Eastern Governances. Off-road travel is not recommended. Respect local sensitivities regarding religious sites.

Capital: Ankara

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

Telephone services: Country Code: 90 Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: Ambulance – 112, Fire – 111, Police – 155

Tourist information: Turkish Tourist Office, First Floor, 170 – 173 Piccadilly, London W1V 9DD Tel: (020) 7629 771 Fax: (020) 7491 0773.

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

Visa information: Visa required by al except: Nationals of Barbados, Belize, Chile, Ecuador, Fiji, Grenada, Iceland, Iran; Israel, Jamaica, Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Monaco, Morocco, New Zealand, Northern Cyprus, Norway, Oman, Qatar, St Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Singapore, Switzerland, Trinidad & Tobago, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay and Vatican City for stay of up to 3 months. Nationals of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Romania, Slovenia for stays of up to 2 months. Nationals of Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and South Africa for stays up to 1 month. Tourists from the following countries can obtain their visas on arrival for a fee, Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Italy, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom, Hong Kong and the USA for visits not exceeding 3 months. CIS, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Jordan, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovak Republic and Taiwan (China) for visits not exceeding 1 month. Albania, Guatemala, and Georgia, for visits not exceeding 15 days.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended.
Malaria: Potential risk in the vivax form exists during period throughout the year in various areas.
Other Health Risks: Cholera incidents have not been evident over recent years but simple precautions when eating and drinking are advised. Rabies is present.

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

Currency: Turkish Lira (TL)
Exchange: Certificates of exchange must be retained to prove that legally exchanged currency was used. Money can be exchanged at all PTT branches.
Major credit cards are accepted. Travellers cheques in US dollars can be easily exchanged.
ATM availability: Over 5 000 locations.

Cost of living: Relatively inexpensive. The Ministry of Tourists advised tourists to stay in approved guest houses (Cost US$20+).

Languages: Turkish, Kurdish. French, German and English are also spoken.

Weather: The coasts have a hot Mediterranean climate with hot summers and mild winters.

Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50 Hz.

Post: Airmail to Europe takes 3 days.

Transport: ROAD: There is an extensive road development and maintenance programme. Care must be taken if driving as accidents can lead to serious complications and delay your travel. RAIL: Fares are comparatively cheap. COACH: Many companies provide services between major cities. CAR HIRE: Available in all main towns. DOCUMENTATION: IDP is required for visits over 3 months.

Special information: Do not deface or tear up currency it is an offence. There are risks of terrorism. The PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party) has warned tourists against visiting Turkey but have kept a low profile recently – this may alter at any time. Avoid all travel to Eastern Turkey and do not attempt to climb Mount Ararat in Eastern Turkey. Respect the Islamic traditions. Particular care should be taken while the tensions in the Middle East are heightened. Women should dress modestly and cover shoulders and arms. Informal wear is accepted but beach wear should be confined to the beach or pool. Drunkenness is not really tolerated. PHOTOGRAPHY: Do not take photographs of anything connected with the military.

Capital: Port of Spain

Time zone: GMT – 4

Telephone services: Country Code: 1 868 Outgoing Code: 01

Emergency telephone numbers: Police – 999, Ambulance/Fire – 990

Tourist information: Trinidad and Tobago Tourist Office, TIDCO’s UK representatives, Morris-Kevan International, International House, 47 Chase Side, Enfield, Middlesex EN2 6NB Tel: (020) 8342 0225 or (0800) 960 057 Fax: (020) 8367 9949 or 623 3848.

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

Visa information: Visa required by all except: Nationals of EU countries for stays not exceeding 3 months. Nationals of Canada and the USA for stays not exceeding 3 months. Nationals of Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Brazil, Colombia, Cyprus, Dominica, French Guiana, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Iceland, Israel, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Malawi; Malaysia, Malta, Martinique, Mauritius, Nauru, Netherlands Antilles, Norway, Pakistan, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & The Grenadines, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Suriname, Swaziland, Switzerland, Tonga, Turkey, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Western Samoa, Zambia and Zimbabwe for stays not exceeding 3 months. Nationals of Venezuela arriving from Venezuela for stays not exceeding 14 days.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended.
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required from travellers over 1 year of age coming from infected areas.
Other Health Risks: Rabies, Dengue Fever.

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

Currency: Trinidad & Tobago Dollar (TT$) = 100 cents Exchange: Foreign currency can only be exchanged at authorised banks and some hotels. NOTE: The export of local currency is limited to the amount declared on arrival.
Both credit cards and travellers cheques are widely accepted. Any international currency is acceptable.
ATM availability: Over 100 locations.

Cost of living: Caters for all types of traveller whatever their budget.

Languages: English. French, Spanish, Hindi and Chinese are also spoken.

Weather: Tropical climate with cooling trade winds. Hottest June – Oct.

Electricity: 115-220 volts Ac 60 Hz. Continental two pin plugs are standard although variations may occur.

Post: Up to 2 weeks

Transport: SEA: A regular passenger service operates between Port of Spain and Tobago. ROAD: The network of roads between major towns is good but traffic around Port of Spain can be difficult. BUS: Services operate in most town, although they are cheap they can become crowded. TAXI: Official Taxis can be identified by ‘H’ symbol. Some taxi fares are fixed rate but others aren’t so it is advisable to find out the price before undertaking the journey. CAR HIRE: Available from the city or hotels. DOCUMENTATION: National driving licences are valid for 3 months. NOTE: Travel documents stating date of entrance to Tobago should be carried when driving.

Special information: Attacks on travellers, especially in Trinidad around the Port of Spain have risen over recent years. Tobago the smaller of the two islands enjoys a relatively crime-free existence.