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Cars 4 Rental Information on Luxembourg

General

Area: 2586 sq km (999 sq miles).

Population: 448,300 (official estimate 2003).

Population Density: 173.4 per sq km.

Capital: Luxembourg-Ville. Population: 78,300 (official estimate 2003).

GEOGRAPHY: The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg shares borders to the north and west with Belgium, to the south with France and to the east with Germany. One-third of the country is made up of the hills and forests of the Ardennes, while the rest is wooded farmland. In the southeast is the rich wine-growing valley of Moselle. The capital, Luxembourg-Ville, is built on a rock overlooking the Alzette and Petrusse valleys.

Government: Constitutional monarchy. Luxembourg is a founding member of the European Union and the only Grand Duchy in the world. Head of State: Grand Duke Henri since 2000. Head of Government: Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker since 1994.

Language: Ltzeburgesch, a German-Moselle-Frankish dialect, became the officially recognised national language in 1984. French and German are generally used for administrative and commercial purposes. Many Luxembourgers also speak English.

Religion: Around 88 per cent Roman Catholic, with Protestant, Anglican and Jewish minorities.

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

Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz.

Communications:

Telephone

Full IDD is available. Country code: 352 (no area codes). Outgoing international code: 00. International phones have a yellow sign showing a telephone dial with a receiver in the centre.

Mobile telephone

GSM 900 and 1800 networks. Network operators are P & T Luxembourg (website: www.luxgsm.lu), Tango SA (website: www.tango.lu) and Vox Mobile (website: www.vox.lu).

Fax

There is a fax booth at the Luxembourg-Ville main post office. Faxes may be sent to a central number (491 175) for delivery by express mail within Luxembourg.

Internet

Internet and e-mail services are available in Internet cafes. ISPs include Visual Online Sarl (website: www.vo.lu).

Telegram

There are facilities at the post office at 25 rue Aldringen, Luxembourg-Ville, and in all major towns. Hotels often allow guests to use their facilities.

Post

Post to other European destinations takes two to four days. There are poste restante facilities throughout the country. Prospective recipients must first register for a PO Box. Mail will be held for up to one month. Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1200 and 1330-1700. The Luxembourg-Ville main office (opposite the railway station) is open Mon-Fri 0600-1900, Sat 0600-1200. Smaller offices may open for only a few hours. Telephone 49911 for details.

Press

There are several daily newspapers including the Ltzebuerger Journal, Luxemburger Wort, Tageblatt/Zeitung fir Letzebuerg and Zeitung vum Ltzeburger Vollek. There is one weekly English-language newspaper, The Luxembourg News.

Radio: BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online.

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Money

Single European currency (Euro): Single European currency (Euro): The Euro is now the official currency of 12 EU member states (including Luxembourg). The first Euro coins and notes were introduced in January 2002; the Luxembourg Franc was completely replaced by the Euro on 28 February 2002. Euro (€) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of €500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of €2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents.

Currency exchange: Foreign currencies, travellers cheques and cheques can be exchanged at banks, bureaux de change, the airport, railway stations, the post office and major hotels (generally at a less advantageous rate).

Credit & debit cards: American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard, Visa and others are all widely accepted, as well as Eurocheque cards. Many retailers require a minimum (eg €10 to 25) before accepting credit/debit cards. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.

Travellers cheques: Widely accepted. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in Euros, Pounds Sterling or US Dollars.

Currency restrictions: There are no restrictions on the import and export of either local or foreign currency.

Exchange rate indicators
The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the Euro against Sterling and the US Dollar:

Date Nov ’03 Feb ’04 May ’04 Aug ’04
£1.00 1.46 1.46 1.50 1.49
$1.00 0.87 0.80 0.84 0.80

Banking hours: Generally Mon-Fri 0900-1200 and 1400-1600, but may vary greatly.

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Health

Special Precautions Certificate Required
Yellow Fever No No
Cholera No No
Typhoid and Polio No N/A
Malaria No N/A

Food & drink: Tap water is considered safe to drink. Milk is pasteurised and dairy products are safe for consumption. Local meat, poultry, seafood, fruit and vegetables are generally considered safe to eat.

Other risks: Rabies may be present in wildlife. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay. For more information, consult the Health appendix.

Health care: There are reciprocal health agreements with all other EU member states. UK citizens should obtain form E111 from the Department of Health before travelling. Hospital treatment is normally free on presentation of the E111 but patients must pay a standard daily fee which is not refunded. For health information, contact the Caisse Nationale d’Assurance Maladie des Ouvriers.

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Climate

Warm weather from May to September and snow likely during winter months. The north (the Ardennes region) tends to be wetter and colder than the south.

Required clothing: Waterproofs are advisable at all times of the year.

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Passport

Passport Required Visa Required Return Ticket Required
British Yes No No
Australian Yes No 2
Canadian Yes No 2
USA Yes No 2
OtherEU 1 No No
Japanese Yes No 2

Note: Luxembourg is a signatory to the 1995 Schengen Agreement. For further details about passport and visa regulations in the Schengen area see the introductory section How to Use This Guide.

PASSPORTS: Passport valid for three months beyond length of stay required by all except:
(a) 1. nationals of EU countries who hold a valid national ID card;
(b) nationals of Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino and Switzerland, providing they hold a valid national ID card.

Note: 2. It is advisable to have a return ticket, but not obligatory. If a visitor is not in possession of a return ticket, proof of sufficient means of support may be required.

VISAS: Required by all except the following nationals for periods not exceeding three months and as long as the passport is still valid for three months beyond length of stay:
(a) nationals referred to in the chart above;
(b) nationals mentioned under passport exemptions above;
(c) nationals of Argentina, Brazil, Brunei, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Iceland, Israel, Korea (Rep), Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Singapore, Uruguay, Vatican City and Venezuela;
(d) passengers continuing their journey by the same or first connecting aircraft within 72 hours provided holding valid onward or return documentation and not leaving the airport (except nationals of Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Congo (Dem Rep), Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Syrian Arab Republic and Turkey who always need a transit visa).

Types of visa and cost: A uniform type of visa, the Schengen visa, is issued for tourist, business and private visits. All Schengen visas, regardless of the duration of stay and whether single- or multiple-entry, are available for approximately €35 (£27), although prices are subject to change.

Note: Spouses and children of EU nationals (providing spouse’s passport and the original marriage certificate is produced) receive their visas free of charge (enquire at Embassy for details).

Validity: Short-stay visas are valid for up to six months from date of issue for single- or multiple-entries of maximum 90 days per entry. Transit visas are valid for single- or multiple-entries of maximum five days per entry, including the day of arrival. Long-stay visas are valid for up to one year. Visas cannot be extended; a new application must be made each time.

Application to: Applications must be made in person to the Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy) of the Benelux country which the applicant will enter first.

Application requirements: (a) One completed application form. (b) One passport-size photo. (c) Passport valid for at least three months longer than the validity of the visa (with a blank page to affix visa stamp). (d) Proof of the purpose of visit (official letter of invitation/confirmed hotel booking; onward or return ticket). (e) Evidence of sufficient funds to cover the duration of stay. (f) Evidence of medical coverage for the Schengen countries (eg form E111). (g) Fee.

Working days required: Two days to three weeks depending on purpose of visit and nationality.

Temporary residence: Enquire about special application procedures at Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy); see Contact Addresses section.

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