Middle East - Anthony Ham [384]
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PHOTOGRAPHY
There are plenty of shops selling memory cards and batteries for digital cameras all around Beirut, but especially along Rue Hamra. Outside Beirut, you may have problems finding memory cards, though batteries (rarely rechargeable) are widely on sale. A 1GB memory card goes for around US$25; a pack of four AA batteries costs around US$5.
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TELEPHONE
Mobile Phones
Mobile-phone coverage extends throughout most of the country (bar a few remote, mountainous areas). Some car-hire agencies rent out mobile phones for around US$6 per day, plus a deposit and call charges. Otherwise, your mobile phone from home will probably work on a local network, though of course you’ll pay heavily for the privilege of making calls or sending text messages.
Phone Codes
The country code for Lebanon is 961, followed by the local area code (minus the zero), then the subscriber number. Local area codes are given at the start of each city or town section in this chapter. The area code when dialling a mobile phone is 03 or 70. The international access code (to call abroad from Lebanon) is 00.
Phonecards
Prepaid calling cards come in two different types. The Telecard costs LL10,000 or LL30,000 and can be used in the many card-operated telephone booths on city streets. The alternative is the Kalam card, which costs LL15,000 or LL45,000 and allows you to make calls from any phone, public or private, with the use of a code. Cards can be bought at newsagents, post offices, kiosks, or anywhere an ‘OGERO’ sign is displayed. Calls cost LL100 per minute to a landline and LL300 to a mobile phone.
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VISAS
All nationalities need a visa to enter Lebanon, though costs and visa requirements are constantly changing. For the most up-to-date information, visit the website of Lebanon’s General Security Office (www.general-security.gov.lb). At the time of writing, tourist visas were free of charge.
Citizens of Jordan and Gulf Cooperation Countries (Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman) are entitled to a free three-month visa at the airport.
Citizens of the countries below are entitled to a free one-month visa at the airport: Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Great Britain, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Lichtenstein, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Macau, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Samoa, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkmenistan, Venezuela and Yugoslavia.
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ISRAELI PASSPORT STAMPS
Lebanon denies entry to travellers with evidence of a visit to Israel in their passport (Click here for more details). If asked at a border crossing or at the airport if you’ve ever been to Israel, bear in mind that saying ‘yes’ (if you have) will mean you won’t be allowed into the country.
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The same visa policy applies, in principle, at all Syrian–Lebanese border crossings, but be aware that visas may not always be issued free of charge (some travellers have reported being charged LL50,000 to obtain their one-month entry visa).
For other nationalities, visas must be obtained in advanced at any Lebanese embassy or consulate: you’ll need two passport photos, and possibly a letter from your employers stating that you’ll be returning to your job. Visas are usually issued the next day, but may take longer.
If you’re planning onward travel into Syria, it’s crucial to note that you can’t get a Syrian visa in Lebanon (though some lucky travellers have nevertheless managed to do so at the border – not a method we’d recommend