TRAVEL
TIPS
| Driving |
TBA |
| Currency |
(GNF)
Guinean Franc |
| Electrical |
220 Volts |
| Telephones |
Country
Code 224, City Code, Fria 24+4D, Boki 31+4D, Conakry 41+4D
|
Travel
Warning
Visitors are strongly recommended not to travel to the borders
with Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire and Sierra Leone. For
further information seek official advice.
Time:
GMT.
Electricity:
220 volts, 50Hz.
Telephone:
IDD service is available. Country code: 224. The communication
is relatively poor and outgoing international calls must be made
through the operator. Limited telephone and fax lines are usually
available 1800-0600.
Climate:
The climate is tropical and humid with a wet and a dry season.
Guinea is one of the wettest countries in West Africa. The wet
season lasts from May to October; dry season lasts from November
to May.
Required
clothing: Tropical or washable cottons throughout the
year. A light raincoat or umbrella is needed during the rainy
season.
Food
& Drink: Restaurants, except in the capital where
Western-style food is available, generally serve local dishes
including jollof rice, stuffed chicken with groundnuts and fish
dishes. These are usually served with rice and may be spicy. Staples
are cassava, yams and maize. Guineans are fond of very hot maize
soup, served from calabashes.
Main hotels, mostly in the capital, have reasonable restaurants
where a wide variety of alcoholic beverages is served, including
good West African brands of beer. This is also available in local
bars.
Photography:
A permit (applied for in advance) has to be obtained from the
Ministère de l’Intérieur et de la Sécurité
when photographing government buildings, military and transportation
facilities or public works. It is inadvisable to photograph buildings
at present, and visitors should always ask local people if they
want to photograph them.
Tipping:
A 5 per cent service charge will usually be included
in the bill.
Currency:
Guinea Franc (FG) = 100 centimes. Notes are in denominations of
FG5000, 1000 and 500. Coins are in denominations of FG25, 10,
5 and 1.
Currency
exchange: Hotels will accept some foreign currencies
in payment. Inter-bank fund transfers are frequently difficult,
if not impossible, to accomplish.
Credit
& debit cards: Limited acceptance. Check with your
credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability
and other services which may be available.
