Answers to travelers' most frequently asked questions. Money, weather, security, health, languages, clothing, water and electricity, telephone, postal service, photography and videos, tips, internet…

Money. The official currency is the Lebanese Pound. However along with the Lebanese Pound, the US dollar is used • Payment cards: Many shops, hotels, restaurants, bars etc accept international payment cards such as Visa or American Express • Automatic bank tellers: Withdrawal can be made from any automatic bank teller found in any region of the country • Traveler's checks: Lebanese banks can exchange them very easily.

Health. Lebanese medical care is well known for its quality. Hospitals, clinics and well supplied pharmacies can be found in all towns • No particular vaccine is required to visit the country.

Security. Security is a constant worry for those visiting Lebanon for the first time. In Beirut, as in other towns and villages, streets are particularly safe day and night. The culture encourages the community to watch out for all members; hence random violence is seldom experienced by both locals and visitors.

Bargaining. If it exists, the practice of bargaining cannot be regulated and is limited to specific situations. It is common to bargain the fare with taxi drivers, with street sellers or for a wholesale purchase. However, bargaining for some products such as food is considered to be ill mannered.

Tipping. You usually tip porters, waiters, hotel staff, guides, doormen, etc. The average rate in restaurants in 10-15%, whereas with other service providers anywhere between 2,000LBP and 10,000LBP are acceptable (depending on service and quality provided).

Weather. Lebanon gets 300 days of sunshine a year. Coastal temperatures rarely fall bellow 15°C during the rainy winter, and may reach 31°C on average during the humid summer. This applies also to the region of the Beqaa valley. On higher altitudes, the air becomes drier and fresher. Major snowfalls allow skiing during the months of December until April. The intermediate seasons, spring and fall, vary between one and two months, and the average temperature is usually 21°C.

Languages. Arabic is the Lebanese national language. However, it is also common to speak French and/ or English. The spoken language is a dialect called Lebanese Arabic, often combined with English and French. This dialect differs from the formal Arabic called “fos'ha” in that it is much less formal.

Water. Most Lebanese homes have two water taps; one for domestic use and another one for potable water. It is not recommended to drink tap water, unless you are certain of its cleanliness.

Clothing. Generally there are no particular cultural rules for this matter in Lebanon. Diversity appears also in the Lebanese clothing. For instance, mini skirts can be seen beside Islamic veils. However, wearing short clothing, such as short pants, is to be avoided in certain places such as the souk of Tripoli or Sidon… To visit religious places, modest clothing is required. Women need headscarves when visiting mosques, usually provided there.

Photo and Video. All photography and video equipment are available in Lebanon, and at better prices than in Europe and North America. Concerning development and printing, photo shops are abundant in any of the cities.

Telephone. The first two digits of Lebanese telephone numbers are the area code (see table) • Telephone booths are accessible for local and international calls • Payphone cards are available in post offices, kiosks and smoke shops at 10 000 LBP and 30 000 LBP • Mobile phones are very popular in Lebanon; however most businesses and homes have land lines • In case of an emergency useful numbers are: Internal Security Forces: 112; Red Cross: 140; Civil Defense: 125.

Internet. Internet connections are very common in Lebanon. Cyber-cafes are widespread in cities as well as most villages. Many hotels also provide internet connections.

Postal service. It is recommended to go directly to the post office for any postal needs, since there are few letterboxes in the streets. The mail forwarding is fairly fast (about one to two weeks for Europe and North America). International express parcels services are also represented.

Car driving. It is necessary to have an international driving license in case you don’t have a Lebanese one. Be sure at all times to drive on the right side of the road.