Country Information

Capital: Vienna

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

Telephone services: Country Code: 43
Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: Dial 112 anywhere in the EU to reach the emergency services. Additional local numbers:- Police – 133, Ambulance – 144, Fire – 122.

Tourist information: Austrian National Tourist Office, P.O.Box. 2363, 14 Cork Street, London, W1X 1PF Tel: (020) 7629 0461 Fax: (020) 7499 6038.

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

Visa information: Visa required by all except: Nationals of EU countries with a valid ID card.

Health information: Health Risks: Rabies, Ticks.

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. Exchange: All banks, exchange counters at airports, railway stations. Credit cards are not as widely used in Austria as they are in the USA and the United Kingdom, however most major cards will be accepted in large towns. Travellers cheques are accepted in towns and tourist areas.
ATM availability: Over 3000 locations.

Cost of living: Relatively expensive, similarly to other Western European countries.

Languages: German

Weather: Moderate continental climate. Winter – high snow levels but sunny. Summer – warm days cool nights

Electricity: 220 volts AC 50 Hz. Round 2 pin European plugs are used.

Post: 2 – 4 days within Europe.

Transport: RAIL: An efficient rail service operates throughout Austria. Special offers / discounts can often be found. ROAD: Excellent network of roads. There is free assistance from the Austrian motoring association. (OAMTC). Hitching: Institutionalised. DOCUMENTATION: Green card is strongly recommended for driving. The British driving licence is usually recognised. A Motorway Vignette is required on Motorways and A roads, they are available at border posts and larger garages.

Special information: Visitors to the Alps are advised to contact the Austrian Tourist Agency (tel: + [43] (020) 7629 0461 for advice on weather and safety conditions before travelling. It is customary to greet people with the salute Grüss Gott. Austrians tend to be quite formal. The church holds a high position in Austrian society which should be kept in mind by the visitor. It is customary to dress up for the opera or theatre.

Capital: Canberra

Time zone: East GMT + 10, Central + 9.5, West + 8

Telephone services: Country Code: 61
Outgoing Code: 0011

Emergency telephone numbers: Emergency services = 000.

Tourist information: Australian Tourist Commission, Gemini House, 10 – 18 Putney Hill, London, SW1S 6AA Tel: (020) 8780 2227-9 Fax: (020) 8780 1496.

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

Visa information: Visa required.

Health information: Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate will be required if travelling from an infected area.

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

Currency: Australian Dollar (A$) = 100 cents NOTE: Import or export of A$5000 must be reported to customs at entry or departure. All major credit cards and travellers cheques, in any international currency, are widely accepted.
ATM availability: Over 6 000 locations.

Cost of living: Comparatively cheap compared to the UK and USA. Caters for all.

Languages: English and many minority languages.

Weather: Extreme varieties of climate from tropical to temperate. Nov – Mar = warm or hot everywhere. Apr – Sept occasional rain in the South which can be intense.

Electricity: 240/250 Volts AC 50 Hz. Unique 3 pin plugs used – adaptor required.

Post: 7 – 10 days.

Transport: FLIGHTS: Vast size of Australia makes this the most convenient form of intercity travel. ROAD: In the outback a full set of spares should be carried, with water, food and petrol. DOCUMENTATION: National licence valid for 3 months and must be carried whilst driving.

Special information: If travelling into the interior specific precautions should be taken, for instance take adequate supplies, and leave information of your whereabouts. Special care and respect of natural habitats is recommended. Always ask permission before photographing aborigines. Tourists should exercise care in Sydney as a number of backpackers have been attacked. Be cautious when using ATMs.

Capital: Oranjestad

Time zone: GMT – 4

Telephone services: Country Code: 297
Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: Police – 11000, Ambulance – 74300, Fire – 115

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 the USA or Canada holding a naturalisation card and photo ID, alien registration card, birth certificate or affidavit of birth. Return ticket required. Requirements may be subject to short-term change. Contact embassy before departure.

Visa information: Visas are required by nationals of Afghanistan, Cambodia, China, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Libya, Mauritania, Mongolia, Myanmar, Syria and Vietnam. All other nationals may enter for a period of 14 days for tourist purposes providing they have onward or return tickets and proof of sufficient funds for the length of stay. Nationals of Belgium, Bolivia; Burkina Faso, Chile, Columbia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Germany, Israel, Jamaica, South Korea, Luxembourg, Malawi, Mauritius, Niger, Philippines, San Marino, Suriname and Swaziland can enter without a visa for up to 3 months

Health information: Yellow Fever: R. A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over 6 months of age arriving from infected areas.

Food & drink: Water is distilled and treated in a saltwater purification plant, and should be refreshing and safe, normal precautions should be observed with food.

Currency: Aruba Florin (AFL) = 100 cents. Exchange: The US$ is widely accepted. Local currency can not be exchanged outside Aruba. Travellers cheques in US dollars and Dutch Guilders are widely accepted. MasterCard is widely accepted.
ATM availability: 10 locations.

Cost of living: Hotels on the Palm Beach and Eagle Beach resorts are very expensive. Rates for other accommodations are much lower in the summer season.

Languages: Dutch, English, Spanish and Papiamento are also spoken.

Weather: Warm and dry climate. Average temperature 28ºC. The months of October, November and December experience short showers.

Electricity: 110 volts Ac 60 Hz. – Normal American supply.

Post: Up to 1 week.

Transport: FLIGHTS: Air Aruba offers domestic services between other Caribbean islands. ROAD very good system of roads throughout the island. BUS: Bus services operate between the towns and hotels. TAXI: Fares are fixed and should be checked before journey. CAR HIRE: The most pleasant way of getting around the island. Many cars are available. DOCUMENTATION: A valid national or IDP is required. Minimum age – 23 for driving.

Special information: Beachwear should only be worn around the beach / pool.