Xref: world wstd.travel.advisories:655 Newsgroups: wstd.travel.advisories Path: world!daemon From: Wally Doerge <76702.1202@compuserve.com> Subject: NEW TRAVEL INFO -- Cote d'Ivoire Message-ID: <950123141445_76702.1202_CHN52-1@CompuServe.COM> Precedence: bulk Sender: daemon@world.std.com (daemons) Organization: The World @ Software Tool & Die Distribution: wstd Date: Mon, 23 Jan 1995 14:14:46 GMT Approved: usenet@world.std.com Lines: 100 STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Cote d'Ivoire ============================================================ Cote d'Ivoire - Consular Information Sheet January 20, 1995 Country Description: Cote d'Ivoire is also known as the Ivory Coast. It is a developing west African nation. Tourism facilities in the capital city of Abidjan include some luxury hotels. Other accommodations, especially outside the capital, may be limited in quality and availability. Entry Requirements: U.S. citizens are required to have passports. A visa is not required for a stay of up to 90 days. If a longer stay is anticipated, a visa is required. Visa applications and further information on entry requirements may be obtained from the Embassy of the Republic of Cote d'Ivoire, 2424 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008, telephone (202) 797-0300. There are honorary consulates for Cote d'Ivoire in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Phoenix. Areas of Instability: Because of the civil war in neighboring Liberia, the Liberia/Cote d'Ivoire border region is unsettled and potentially dangerous. Travelers may encounter road blocks, armed military personnel, and vehicle searches. Medical Facilities: Medical facilities in Cote d'Ivoire are adequate in Abidjan, the capital, but may be limited elsewhere. Not all medicines are available. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services. U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States. The Medicare/Medicaid program does not provide for payment of medical services outside the United States. In some cases, supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas and medical evacuation coverage has proven useful. Additional health information can be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control's international travelers hotline at (404) 332-4559. Information on Crime: Street crime of the "grab and run" variety, as well as pickpocketing in crowded areas, has increased. Robbery, burglary and automobile theft are common offenses. Armed criminals have used force when faced with resistance. Travelers displaying jewelry and carrying expensive cameras are particularly at risk. Travelers have found it useful to carry limited amounts of cash and only photocopies of key documents. It is particularly dangerous to visit the Treichville area or the Plateau business district in Abidjan after dark. The DeGaulle and Houphouet-Boigney bridges, which cross the lagoon in Abidjan, are dangerous areas for pedestrians, even in the daytime. However, many hotels, restaurants, nightclubs and supermarkets provide security guards to protect clients and their vehicles. The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and to the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. The pamphlets "A Safe Trip Abroad" and "Tips for Travelers to Sub-Saharan Africa" provide useful information on protecting personal security while traveling abroad and on travel in the region in general. Both are available >from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. Drug Penalties: U.S. citizens are subject to the laws of the country in which they are traveling. Laws regarding possession or transportation of drugs are strictly enforced. Driving Hazards: Automobile accidents are one of the greatest threats to the well-being of Americans in Cote d'Ivoire. Night driving is particularly hazardous due to poorly lit roads and vehicles. Direct or indirect requests for bribes from the police and other security officials are commonplace, especially at highway checkpoints and near Abidjan's Port Bouet airport. In-Country Travel: Airline travel in west Africa is routinely overbooked; schedules are limited, and airline assistance is of varying quality. Prudent passengers get the required seat reconfirmation stamped on the ticket; ensure that they have emergency funds for food and lodging in the event of unexpected delays; and arrive at the airport at least two hours before the scheduled departure time. Registration: U.S. citizens who register at the U.S. Embassy can obtain updated information on travel and security in Cote d'Ivoire. Embassy Location: The U.S. Embassy is located in Abidjan at 5 Rue Jesse Owens; the mailing address is 01 B.P. 1712, Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire; the telephone number is (225) 21-09-79, and the fax number is (225) 22-32-59. No. 95-008 This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated October 18, 1993, and is reissued without change, following an annual review. ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- The "travel-advisories@stolaf.edu" mailing list is the official Internet and BITNET distribution point for the U.S. State Department Travel Warnings and Consular Information Sheets. To unsubscribe, send a message containing the word "unsubscribe" to: travel-advisories-request@stolaf.edu Archives of past "travel-advisories" postings are available at the URL: "http://www.stolaf.edu/network/travel-advisories.html" or via Gopher: gopher.stolaf.edu, Internet Resources/US-State-Department-Travel-Advisories