new Yemen - General Info (Part I)

Visa/Crossing the border

A visa has to be obtained from the Yemen embassy. You need a passport which is valid for 6 months after your application and 2 photos. Maximum stay is 1 month.

Price depends on the kind of visa and your nationality:
+/- 30 US$ for a tourist visa single entry
+/- 60 US$ for a double entry visa

Your visit to the country has to be done within 3 months of your application.

Money matters

There's not much difference anymore between the rates you get in the banks and the rates you get with the money changers in the streets, they all give you about 130 YR for a US$. The rates at the airport are a little bit lower, so just change the necessary 20 US$ you need to get around the first day.

When taking cash US$, make sure the notes are issued after 1990 and preferably after 1994. It's also best to take new notes, used notes will sometimes be refused.

Be careful changing money around Bab Al Yaman in Sana'a, there are some crooks here who will try to give you less for your US$.

Credit cards are only accepted in expensive hotels and shops, and even there only AMEX (not VISA).

TC's are not so popular and can only be changed in Sana'a, and usually at a lower rate (about 120 YR).

Bus

Public transport is very cheap here and are a good option. However, make sure you're allowed to travel by bus as a tourist. There are frequent roadblocks, and for some destinations tourists can be sent back (f.i. Marib). Check before you leave, since this situation can change fast according to the safety situation.

You should be one hour ahead in the busstation to buy your ticket, since buses tend to be full rapidly.

The bus is the best choice for longer distances, stops will be made to eat and to chew qat.

Taxi

For shorter trips, its better to use a taxi.

Collective taxi
These taxis do the same roads as the buses, but they also do some dirt roads.They don't have a fixed schedule, they just leave when they're full, i.e. about 10 people. If you can have some contact with your fellow passengers, they won't mind to stop for you to allow you to take pictures.

Private taxis
For transport within cities, it's easy to take a taxi. In Sana'a they will charge about 300 YR, in other cities 200 YR (9/97).

Renting a car

Renting a car without driver is not such a good idea in a country where islamic law is the rule.

It's easy but also quite expensive to rent a 4x4. It'll cost you about 55 US$ a day. This includes fuel, but also the food and accomodation for the driver. If it's not, 5 US$ should be enough.

Make sure you have a driver who speaks english well, and also make sure you decide where you're going, not the other way round! It can be extremely frustrating and really spoil your day if your driver refuses to go somewhere, because it was not on his list.

Here are some examples of agencies in Sana'a:
- Al Mamoon: in a side street of Zubairy street, 50 US$/day for the north, 80 US$/day for the desert and 60 US$/day for the South.
- Moka Tours: 65 US$/day, they work a lot for Nouvelles Frontieres.
- Al Mohalla: they have few english speaking drivers. They charge 55 US$/day.

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