Country Information

Capital: Sofia

Time zone: GMT + 2

Telephone services: Country Code: 359
Outgoing Code: 00, some calls go through the international operator.

Emergency telephone numbers: Ambulance – 150, Fire – 160, Police – 166

Passport information: A valid passport with at least 6 months remaining validity at time of departure is required. Requirements may change at short notice. Contact the relevant authority before finalising travel arrangements.

Visa information: Visa required by all.

Health information: No information available at present.

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

Currency: Lev (Lv) = 100 stotinki. Exchange: A bordereau receipt will be given and must be kept until departure. NOTE: Import and export of local currency is prohibited. Amounts of currency over US$ 1000 have to be declared. Diners Club American Express and Visa have limited acceptance. Traveller’s cheques can be exchanged in major banks. US dollars and Pound sterling are the preferred currency.
ATM availability: Over 100 locations (MasterCard/Cirrus only).

Cost of living: Inexpensive when compared with Western Europe.

Languages: Bulgarian. English is spoken in resorts. Turkish, Russian, French and German may also be spoken.

Weather: Summers are the warmest with some rainfall. Winters are cold with snow. Rain falls frequently in the Spring and Autumn.

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

Post: 4 days to 2 weeks to Western Europe

Transport: FLIGHTS: Air travel is only slightly more expensive than rail and more convenient. RAIL: Reservations are essential, 1st Class is advisable. ROAD: Speed limits are strictly enforced as are drinking and driving penalties. CAR HIRE: Can be arranged through hotels. DOCUMENTATION: AN IDP should be obtained although foreign driving licences are acceptable for short journeys. A ‘Green’ card is compulsory.

Special information: A nod of the head means “No” and shaking the head means “Yes”. Dress should be conservative but casual. It is advisable to register with the police, a hotel or guest house within 48 hours of arrival. Do not accept food or drink from strangers. Exercise caution in Sofia particularly at night.

Capital: St John’s

Time zone: GMT – 4

Telephone services: Country Code: 1 268

Outgoing Code: 011

Emergency telephone numbers: 999/911

Tourist information: Antigua Department of Tourism, PO Box 363. Nevis Street Friendly Alley, St John’s, Antigua Tel: 462 0480 or 462 0029 Fax: 462 2483.

Passport information: Valid passport required by all except nationals of the USA do not require a passport providing they have other documents with proof of their identity. Passports have to valid for at least 6 months beyond the intended period of stay. Return Ticket required. Requirements may be subject to short-term change. Contact embassy before departure.

Visa information: Required if stay is longer than 6 months.

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

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

Currency: Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$) = 100 cents Exchange: US$ and Sterling can be exchanged at hotels and larger shops.
CC: Accepted TC: Exchanged at banks, large hotels and shops.
ATM availability: Over 70 locations.

Cost of living: Can be very expensive, especially in the tourist centres. Accommodation is cheaper in the summer than in the winter

Languages: English, English Patois is also spoken.

Weather: Tropical, warm climate. Rainfall is minimal.

Electricity: 1220/110 volts AC 60 Hz. American style 2 pin plugs are generally used. Some hotels have outlets for 240 volts to be used in which case European type 2 pin plugs are used.

Post: 5 – 7 days.

Transport: ROAD: Mostly all weather. Buses are irregular. TAXI: Available everywhere charging standard rates, US$ commonly accepted. CAR HIRE: Can be arranged before arrival although is easy to arrange on arrival. DOCUMENTATION: A national driving licence is acceptable but a local licence must be obtained.

Special information: Embracing is the common method of greeting friends and family. Dress should be appropriate for the occasion and location i.e. keep beachwear for the beach / pool. Special events such as International Sailing Week and Tennis Weeks require accommodation to be booked well in advance.

Capital: Manama

Time zone: GMT + 3

Telephone services: Country Code: 973
Outgoing Code: 0

Emergency telephone numbers: All services – 999

Tourist information: Bahrain Tourism Company (BTC) PO Box 5831, Manama, Bahrain Tel: 530 530. Fax: 530 867

Passport information: Valid Passport required 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 Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Citizens of the UK for a maximum of 4 weeks (providing their full passport is valid for 6 months).

Health information: Health Risks: Cutaneous leishmaniasis, typhoid fevers and hepatitis A and B occur

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

Currency: Dinar (BD) = 100 fils All credit cards and travellers cheques are accepted. US dollars are the preferred currency
ATM availability: Over 60 locations

Cost of living: Can be relatively cheap if you travel around by foot and make purchases from the souk. Accommodation ranges from the deluxe to cheaper family-run guest houses

Languages: Arabic. English may also be spoken

Weather: Summers are very hot. Winters are much cooler. Rainfall is only likely in the winter. Spring and autumn are pleasant

Electricity: 230 volts AC, single phase and 400 volts, 50 Hz. (Awali – 100 volts AC, 60 Hz. Plugs are normally the 13-amp pin type

Post: 3 – 4 days to Europe

Transport: SEA: Transport between the smaller islands is by motor boat or dhow. ROAD: Manama is served by an excellent road system. BUS: Routes now serve most towns and villages. TAXI: Identifiable by their orange and red colouring. Those waiting outside hotels may charge more and between midnight and 0500 – fares increase by 50 %.

Special information: Because of the situation of global and regional insecurity at present, travellers should exercise extreme
caution and make only necessary journeys. Normally Bahrain is relatively liberal in comparison to other Gulf countries. Non Muslims may not enter mosques except during prayer times. Violent crime is quite rare but visitors should avoid village areas especially after dark. It is polite to drink 2 small cups of tea when offered.

Capital: The Valley

Time zone: GMT – 4

Telephone services: Country Code: 1 264

Outgoing Code: 011

Emergency telephone numbers: 911

Tourist information: Anguilla Tourist Office 3 Epirius Road London SW6 7UJ Tel: (020) 7937 7725 Fax: (020) 7938 4793.

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 May be required by some nationals check with the Passport office Clive House Petty France London SW7.

Health information: Polio Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required from passengers over 1 year of age arriving from infected areas

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

Currency: Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$) = 100 cents Exchange: Currency may be exchanged in the capital.
Amex is the most widely used credit card. Visa has a limited acceptance. Travellers cheques in US dollars are the easiest to exchange.
ATM availability: Unavailable.

Cost of living: Hotels range from deluxe class to self-catering but all are expensive.

Languages: English.

Weather: Generally hot. Oct – Dec is the raining season July – Oct hurricanes may occur.

Electricity: 110/220 volts AC 60 Hz.

Post: 4 days to 2 weeks.

Transport: ROAD: There is a good but basic network of roads. TAXIS: Are available at the airport and seaports with various fixed prices to hotels and resorts. CAR HIRE: Agencies are present. DOCUMENTATION: A temporary licence can be issued by the police station in the capital on presentation of a valid national driving licence.

Special information: Relaxed lifestyle with predominant English culture. Beachwear should be confined to the beach and resort areas

Capital: Bujumbura

Time zone: GMT + 2

Telephone services: Country Code: 257
Outgoing Code: 90

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

Tourist information: Office National du Tourisme, BP902, 2 ave des Euphorbes, Bujumbura, Burundi Tel: (2) 24208 or 22202 22023 Fax: (2) 29390

Passport information: A valid passport is required by all. Return ticket required. Regulations may be subject to change at short notice. Contact the Embassy before departure.

Visa information: Visa required by all. Tourist and Business. Passengers arriving at Bujumbura airport will be issued entry stamps, providing they have previously informed their travel agency of their passport number and identity.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended.
Malaria: Take precautions as Falciparum variety exists of which resistance to chloroquine has been reported. The recommended prophylactic is mefloquine.
Yellow Fever: Strongly recommended. If arriving from an endemic area a vaccination certificate will be required. proof of vaccination against meningococcal meningitis.

Other Health Risks: Cholera, Bilharzia, Rabies, Meningitis present.

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: Burundi Franc (BIF) = 100 centimes.
Unlimited import of foreign currency, subject to declaration, export limited to amount declared on import. Import and Export of local currency is limited to BIF 2000.
Limited acceptance of MasterCard and Diners Club. Travellers cheques are not currently accepted
ATM availability: Unavailable

Cost of living: Due to the coup of 1996 the country’s economy has been all but wiped out.

Languages: French and Kirundi, Kiswahili is also spoken.

Weather: The climate is mostly mild and pleasant, although a hot equatorial climate is found near lake Tanganyika and in the Ruzizi river plain.

Electricity: 220 Volts 50 Hz

Post: There is a main post office in Bujumbura. Delivery times uncertain.

Transport: FLIGHTS: There are no regular internal flights. ROADS: Most are sealed but often impassable during the raining season. DOCUMENTATION: IDP is required.

Special information: NOTE: EXTREME RISK. The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office advises against all travel to Burundi. People outside the cities may not be used to visitors. Therefore respect should be shown for local traditions. Dress should be conservative.

Capital: Tirana

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

Telephone services: Country Code: 355
Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: Police – 24445, Fire – 23333, Ambulance – 22235

Tourist information: Albturist (Travel Agency) c/o Regent Holidays (UK) limited, 15 John Street, Bristol BS1 2HR Tel: (01179) 211 711, Fax: (01179) 254 866.

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 Great Britain, Canada, the USA, EU countries (except nationals of Greece who do require a visa). Nationals of Bulgaria, Norway, Switzerland and Turkey. Transit passengers continuing their journey on the same or next aircraft.

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: Hepatitis A and B, 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: Lek (Lk) = 100 qindarka
Banks offer the best rate of exchange.
CC: MasterCard and EuroCard are accepted by banks and several tourist hotels. AMEX is not accepted.
TC: Accepted by some banks.

MasterCard and EuroCard are accepted in banks and some hotels. Travellers cheques will be cashed by some banks. U.S. dollars are preferred.

ATM availability: Unavailable.

Cost of living: Albania is one of the poorest countries in Europe, although it’s economy is improving. Visitors will be charged a far higher rate for services and goods than locals.

Languages: Albanian. In the South Greek is spoken. Italian may also be spoken.

Weather: Warm and dry periods occur between Jun – Sept. Cool and wet between Oct – May. Best time to visit is May – June and mid Sept.

Electricity: 220 volts AC 50 Hz.

Post: Subject to delays and may take up to 2 months. Send recorded delivery to avoid loss.

Transport: RAIL: mainly single track, dilapidated and overcrowded. ROAD: Most are in poor condition. BUS: The major form of transportation in Albania. TAXIS: Can be found in the capital in front of the main hotels.

Special information: EXTREME RISK In view of the volatile situation we recommend against all travel to Albania. Apart from safety considerations accommodation is extremely difficult to obtain. The crime rate in Albania has always been high and it is steadily rising. Foreign visitors and their vehicles are an attractive target for criminals. Visitors should not overtly display valuables. Avoid remote areas especially at night. It is greatly appreciated if you attempt to speak Albanian. More specific advice is available from the Foreign and Commonwealth Officer.