Useful Information Ararat Travel

Useful Information

Climate and Seasons
Armenia packs the true range of the four seasons; hot and sunny summers, cold and icy winters, and the beautiful flora of spring and fall.
Armenia has an astounding array of landscapes within its borders, including seven geographic zones, from deserts and semi-deserts to alpine and subalpine meadows. The largely volcanic mountains and the tectonic activity they once promoted has pushed Armenia up above the clouds, stimulating the true range of the four seasons; hot and sunny summers, cold and icy winters, and the beautiful flora of spring and fall. Average summer temperatures exceed 25ºC; while in the winter, the average temperature is -5ºC, although in places it is known to go as low as -20ºC! The best time to visit the country is from April to November when it is not too cold, the snow has melted, and the fields are ripe with fruits and flowers.

Time Zones and Daylight Saving
Local time in Armenia is four hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT + 4), eight hours ahead of Eastern Time (EST +8) and eleven hours ahead of Pacific Time (PST +11). There is no daylight saving time in Armenia.

Currency
Armenia’s national currency is the Armenian Dram (AMD). Coins are available in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 dram and notes are available in denominations of 1,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000 and 100,000 dram. Exchange rates vary, but in general float around 480 AMD to 1 USD, or 520 AMD to 1 EUR. You can exchange most common currencies in banks, supermarkets and exchange shops throughout the city any day of the week and at any time. Many establishments accept credit cards.

Customs and Regulations
Customs at Zvartnots International Airport is a quick and easy process. If you have goods to declare, you go to the designated “red section.” If you have no declarations, go to the “green section.” For more detailed information, follow the links to Zvartnots International Airport.

Postal Service
You can send and receive anything from postcards to large packages to and from anywhere in the world via HayPost, the Armenian post office. There are also logistics companies available. The following are the most widely used providers:

EMS Armenia Express Mail Service
UPS express
DHL Worldwide Express
Federal Express
TNT Express Worldwide
Garant tour

Communication
Cellular network carriers in Armenia include: Vivacell, Beeline, U!com, and Rostelecom.
To get a prepaid SIM card, visit one of the above carriers with your passport, and sign up; it should take about five minutes and cost 500 AMD. Most major international carriers also provide roaming services, which you should activate prior to arrival.
Internet and Wi-Fi is widely available throughout Yerevan, especially in cafes and hotels. Many parks also offer free Wi-Fi! Availability of Wi-Fi outside Yerevan is limited, but available at most major hotels.

Medication and Vaccinations
There are no obligatory immunizations required for travelers visiting Armenia. Armenia's climate is generally pleasant and does not pose unusual health risks. Medical facilities vary in quality and breadth, with many qualified doctors and dentists running a variety of practices. There are registered pharmacies on virtually every corner in the center of Yerevan, carrying all of the basic and many over-the-counter drugs, some of which can also be purchased in hotels and supermarkets. If you have special health needs, speak to your physician before traveling. If you travel during the summer, it is a good idea to pack sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses, as the Armenian sun is strong!

Insurance
Even though Armenia is one of the safest countries to travel to, boasting one of the lowest crime rates worldwide, and ranking eighth on this year’s Gallup Poll on how safe people feel, taking out a travel insurance policy that covers theft, loss, accidents and medical problems is highly recommended. If you plan to do any adventure or extreme sports such as scuba diving, bungee jumping, motorcycling, skiing and even hiking, check that your policy fully covers you.