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Cars 4 Rental Information on Virgin Islands - British

General

Area: 153 sq km (59 sq miles).

Population: 21,000 (2002).

Population Density: 137.3 per sq km.

Capital: Road Town, Tortola. Population: 13,568 (1991).

GEOGRAPHY: The 60-plus islands, rocks and cays of the British Virgin Islands, only 16 of which are inhabited, make up the larger part of an archipelago forming the northern extremity of the Leeward Islands in the eastern Caribbean. They are situated approximately 100km (62 miles) east of Puerto Rico, adjoining the US Virgin Islands. The islands are volcanic in origin, with the exception of Anegada, which is formed of coral and limestone and is the lowest lying. The topography is otherwise mountainous, the highest point being Tortola’s Sage Mountain, which rises to 550m (1800ft). There are remnants of a primeval rainforest on Tortola.

Government: British Overseas Territory since 1672. Head of State: HM Queen Elizabeth II, represented locally by Governor Tom Macan since 2002. Head of Government: Chief Minister Orlando Smith since 2003.

Language: English.

Religion: Mainly Christian, including Methodist (45 per cent), Anglican (21 per cent) and Roman Catholic (6 per cent).

Time: GMT - 4.

Electricity: 110/60 volts AC, 60Hz. American two-pin plugs are used.

Communications:

Telephone

IDD is available. Country code: 1 284 49. There are no area codes. Outgoing international code: 00.

Mobile telephone

GSM 900/1900 operated by Caribbean Cellular Telephone (website: www.bvicellular.com). Handsets can be hired.

Fax

Cable & Wireless provides a service.

Internet

ISPs include Cable & Wireless (website: www.candw.vg) and Caribsurf (website: www.caribsurf.com). Services are available in some hotels. There are a few Internet cafes.

Post

Airmail to Europe takes up to a week.

Press

The BVI Beacon, The BVI StandPoint and the Island Sun are published weekly. The tourist board publishes The Welcome every 2 months.

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

Currency: US Dollar (US$) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of US$1000, 500, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1. Coins are in denominations of 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1 cents.

Credit & debit cards: Major credit cards are accepted in some establishments. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.

Travellers cheques: Accepted in some places, particularly US Dollar cheques. All cheques are liable to a 10c stamp duty.

Currency restrictions: The import of local and foreign currency is unlimited, subject to declaration. The export of local and foreign currency is restricted to the amount declared on import.

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

Date Nov ’03 Feb ’04 May ’04 Aug ’04
£1.00= 1.70 1.82 1.79 1.84

Banking hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1400. Barclays Bank opens until 1500 and Chase Manhattan until 1600.

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Health

Special Precautions Certificate Required
Yellow Fever No No
Cholera No No
Typhoid and Polio 1 N/A
Malaria No N/A

1: A small risk of typhoid exists in some rural areas.

Food & drink: Mains water is normally chlorinated and, whilst relatively safe, may cause mild abdominal upsets. Bottled water is available and is advised for the first few weeks of stay. 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: Outbreaks of dengue fever and dengue haemorrhagic fever can occur, and bacillary and amoebic dysentery are common in the Caribbean. Hepatitis A has been reported in the northern Caribbean.
Rabies is present, particularly in the mongoose. If you are bitten, seek immediate medical advice. Anyone at high risk should consider vaccination before departure.

Health care: There is only one hospital on the British Virgin Islands, as well as Government Community Clinics. Since medical facilities are limited, certain medical cases may be transferred to hospitals in the US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico or mainland USA. There is a reciprocal health agreement with the UK. Hospital and other medical treatment for persons aged 70 or over and school-age children is normally free on presentation of proof of UK residence. Other visitors are charged for all services at rates applicable to residents and are advised to take out medical insurance before departure.

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Climate

The climate is sub-tropical and tempered by trade winds. There is little variation between summer and winter. Rainfall is low, varying slightly from island to island. Night-time temperatures drop to a comfortable level. Visitors should note that the British Virgin Islands are susceptible to hurricanes and earthquakes, although these are by no means a frequent occurrence. The primary hurricane season is from June to November.

Required clothing: Tropical lightweights. Dress is generally informal but beachwear is confined to beaches.

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Passport

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

PASSPORTS: Passport valid for 6 months after date of entry into the British Virgin Islands required by all except:
1. nationals of Canada and the USA with an original birth certificate and official photo ID.

VISAS: Required by all except the following for stays of up to 30 days:
(a) nationals of countries referred to in the chart above;
(b) citizens of Commonwealth countries (except nationals of Bangladesh, Cameroon, Fiji, The Gambia, Ghana, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Tanzania and Uganda who do require visas); (c) nationals of American Samoa, Andorra, Anguilla, Argentina, Aruba, Bolivia, Bonaire, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Chile, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Curaao, East Timor, El Salvador, Falkland Islands, French Guinea, Gibraltar, Greenland, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala, Guernsey, Honduras, Iceland, Israel, Jersey, Korea (Rep), Liechtenstein, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Montserrat, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Niue, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Reunion, Saba, St Eustatius, St Maarten, Switzerland, Tahiti and her Islands, Uruguay, US Virgin Islands, Vatican City and Venezuela.

Note: Nationals of the following countries require Direct Airside Transit Visas (DAVTs) to transit through Anguilla, even if not leaving the airport: Afghanistan, China (PR), Colombia, Congo (Dem Rep), Croatia, Ecuador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Nigeria, Serbia and Montenegro, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Turkey and Uganda.

Types of visa and cost: Tourist, Business, Transit: £28.

Validity: All visitors are initially allowed for a stay of up to 30 days, but extensions to a maximum of 6 months can be granted by the British Virgin Islands Immigration Department, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands (tel: 43471).

Application to: UK Passport Agency (see Contact Addresses section) or the nearest British Consulate or Embassy.

Application requirements: Tourist and Business: (a) Valid passport. (b) One application form. (c) Proof of onward or return ticket. (d) Fee payable in cash.

Working days required: Generally 4 weeks.

Temporary residence: Work permit and residence permit required. For further details, contact the Immigration authorities in the British Virgin Islands.

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