Country Information

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: Accra

Time zone: GMT

Telephone services: Country Code: 233

Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: 221 665 (Embassy)

Tourist information: Ghana High Commission (tourist information), 104 Highgate Hill, London N65 HE Tel: (020) 8342 8686 or 342 7588 Fax: (020) 8342 8566 or 342 8570.

Passport information: Valid Passport required. Return Ticket Required. Requirements may be subject to change at short notice. Consult embassy before departure.

Visa information: Required by all except nationals of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Guinea Republic, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo and Zimbabwe.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Malaria: Precautions advised. Falciparum form exists and resistance to chloroquine has been reported.
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required by all.
Other Health Risks: Bilharzia, Rabies, a vaccination against cholera is strongly recommended, a vaccination certificate is required if arriving from an infected area.

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: Cedi (c) = 100 pesewas.
Exchange: Only authorised foreign exchange dealers must be used. NOTE: Import and export of local currency is limited to c3000 and should be recorded in passport.

Credit cards and travellers cheques have very limited use.
ATM availability: Unavailable.

Cost of living: Relatively more expensive the surrounding areas.

Languages: English and local African languages are spoken.

Weather: The climate is hot and humid throughout the year. Apr – July = the raining season.

Electricity: 220 Volts Ac 50 Hz Plugs = 3 pin in larger buildings, older buildings have 2 use plugs

Post: 2 weeks or more to Europe.

Transport: RAIL: Limited CAR HIRE: Available but very expensive, DOCUMENTATION: British driving licence valid for 90 days. IDP is recommended. BUSES: Extensive bus services operate in Accra

Special information: Take local advice about security matters. Exercise care with possessions at the main airport. Ghanaians should always be addressed formally. PHOTOGRAPHY: Be discreet with cameras especially around the Castle in Accra or at the Akosombo Dam. Do not take photos of anything connected with the military.

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: Copenhagen

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

Telephone services: Country Code: 45 Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: Dial 112 anywhere in the EU to reach the emergency services. Additional local numbers:-Police and Ambulance – 112 (in Copenhagen).

Tourist information: Danish Tourist Board, 55 Sloane Street, London SW1X 9SY Tel: (020) 7259 5958/9 Fax (020) 7259 5955.

Passport information: Valid passport required by all except: Nationals of Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland in Possession of a national identity card. Nationals of Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden in possession of identification papers if travelling entirely within Scandinavia. Nationals of Bosnia-Herzegovina in possession of a valid identity card valid for at least 6 months beyond length of stay with a valid visa. Requirements may be subject to short term change. Contact embassy before departure.

Visa information: Required by all except: Nationals of the UK with full British Passports. Nationals of Australia, Canada, the US and Japan. Nationals of EU countries. Nationals of Andorra, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Chile, Columbia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Jamaica, Kiribati, South Korea, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, St Lucia, St Vincent & The Grenadines, San Marino, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Suriname, Switzerland, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad & Tobago, Tuvalu, Uruguay, Vatican, City and Venezuela Nationals of Bermuda carrying a British Dependant Territories Passport.

Health information: No information available at present.

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

Currency: Danish Krone (Dkr) = 100 øre
Exchange: Eurocheques are cashed by hotels and banks and may also be used at most restaurants and shops. Personal cheques can not be used by foreigners in Denmark. Some banks may refuse to exchange large foreign bank notes
All major credit cards are accepted. Travellers cheques can be cashed by banks and hotels, and can be used at most hotels and shops. US dollars and Deutschmarks are the preferred forms of currency
ATM availability: Over 2500 locations.

Cost of living: Slightly cheaper than other Scandinavian countries but still relatively expensive.

Languages: Danish. English, German and French may also be spoken.

Weather: Summer June – Aug. Winter Oct – Mar which is wet with period of frost. Feb is the coldest month. Spring and Autumn are generally mild.

Electricity: 220 volts AC 50 Hz. Continental 2 pin lugs are used.

Post: 2 – 3 days to rest of Europe.

Transport: PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Extensive service provided. SEA: There are frequent ferry services between the islands. RAIL: The main cities on all islands are connected by the rail network. Express trains operate and ‘Inter-Rail’ and ‘Nord-Tourist’ pass (which can be used throughout Scandinavia) can provide good value. ROAD: CAR HIRE: Available to drivers over the age of 20. DOCUMENTATION: National driving licence is acceptable. Visitors taking their own car are advised to obtain a ‘Green Card’ as without will limit their insurance coverage.

Special information: Usual social courtesies should be observed. Casual dress is suitable for most places. Railway porters and washroom attendants will expect a tip.

Capital: Roseau

Time zone: GMT – 4

Telephone services: Country Code: 1 767 Outgoing Code: 1 (for the USA, Canada and most Caribbean Islands), 011 for other countries

Emergency telephone numbers: 999

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 who must have suitable ID and onward travel tickets. Return Ticket required. Requirements may be subject to short-term change. Contact embassy before departure.

Visa information: Not required by: Nationals of commonwealth countries for stays of up to 6 months. Nationals of the USA for up to 6 months. Nationals of all other countries for stays of up to 21 days. Enquire at the nearest Embassy or High Commission for the latest, complete list of regulations regarding visas.

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

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

Currency: East Caribbean Dollar (EC$) = 100 cents. Travellers cheques are accepted in most hotels – US Dollars preferred.
All major credit cards have limited acceptance.
ATM availability: 1 location

Cost of living: Not as expensive as some of the other Caribbean islands.

Languages: English. Creole French is spoken by most of the population.

Weather: Hot, subtropical climate all year round. Raining season June – Oct, which is also the hottest time

Electricity: 220/240 volts AC 50 Hz.

Post: Post to Europe takes approximately 14 days. There is no Poste Restante service.

Transport: ROAD: There are more than 700km of well maintained roads on the island, although even these can be difficult when driving. BUS: Service exists but is unpredictable. TAXIS: Are the most efficient means of transport. CAR HIRE: Available but driving can be difficult. DOCUMENTATION: IDP is recommended. A valid foreign licence can be used to get a temporary visitors licence.

Special information: Beach wear should be kept to the beach or pool side. PHOTOGRAPHY: Permission should be asked before taking photos of local people.

Capital: Santa Domingo

Time zone: GMT – 4

Telephone services: Country Code: 1 809
Outgoing Code: 011

Emergency telephone numbers: 711/809 472 7111

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. Must remain valid for 6 months following date of departure. Return Ticket required. Requirements may be subject to short-term change. Contact Embassy before departure.

Visa information: Required by all except: Nationals of Argentina, Austria, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, Greece, Iceland, Israel,Japan, South Korea, Liechtenstein, Norway, Sweden, the UK, and Uruguay as tourists only for a maximum of 90 days. Nationals of Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Portugal and foreign nationals who are legal residents of Denmark, France, UK, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, The Netherlands, Portugal and Spain in possession of a valid passport and tourist card. Nationals of Australia, Canada and the USA and Peru in possession of a legal tourist card valid for 60 days from point of entry. NOTE: Refer to the nearest consulate for a complete, up to date list of regulations for all countries.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination Required. – Polio is endemic.
Malaria: Exists throughout the year in particular areas in the Falciparum variety, which has been reported as being highly resistant to chloroquine.
Other Health Risks: Rabies, Bilharzia Dengue Fever and Hepatitis

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: Dominican Republic Peso (RD$) = 100 centavos.
NOTE Import and export of local currency is prohibited.
All major credit cards are accepted. Travellers cheques, in any international currency, are accepted by some banks.
ATM availability: Over 100 locations.

Cost of living: The best buys are the island’s own handicrafts, such as amber jewellery and decorative pieces encasing insects, leaves or dewdrops. Other bargains are wood-carvings, limestone carvings and Dominican turquoise.

Languages: Spanish. English is also spoken.

Weather: Hot tropical climate. Rainy season June – Oct when possible hurricanes may also occur.

Electricity: 110 volts AC 60 Hz.

Post: 7 days. Advisable to post all mail from the central post office in Santo Domingo.

Transport: ROAD: There is a reasonable network of roads although not all are all weather and 4 wheel drives are recommended for wet weather. BUS: Cheap and efficient service runs from the capital to the main towns. CAR HIRE: Several car hire companies are present. DOCUMENTATION: IDP or national licence can be used. NOTE: Min. age for driving is 25. Credit cards are recommended when paying for car hire.

Special information: The Dominican Republic is now a major tourist destination. A variety of activities are available for all types of traveller, from a Las Vegas-style review and casinos to classical concerts. Store valuables in hotel safety deposit boxes. Unaccompanied women should exercise vigilance at night around hotels.