Many Omanis speak English, but Arabic is the official language. German and French are often spoken in hotels.
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The Omani rial breaks down into 1,000 baiza. You can exchange money at banks, hotels, the airport and exchange bureaus. US dollars are easiest to exchange. Most large hotels and shops accept ATMs and many traders in the souk are starting to accept cards as well. ATMs can be found at most banks in cities and towns.
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Oman’s international country code is 968. To call another country from Oman, dial 00 followed by the appropriate country code (0044 for the UK for example). Muscat and Nizwa have Internet cafes and there will be email access at most city hotels.
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A service charge is usually included in bills, so a tip is not necessary. However, it is still customary to add a little extra to the bill – about 5 per cent. If there is no service charge, tip 10 to 15 per cent.
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The risk of terrorism in Oman is high. Visitors rarely have problems with crime though, and using your common sense will go a long way to protect you and your belongings.
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You’ll need shots if you’ve been a country infected with yellow fever in the last six days and you’ll need to provide your yellow fever vaccination certificate. Medical facilities are very good, but very expensive for foreigners. Make sure you’re covered by health insurance. Stick to bottled water and be careful with unpasteurised milk if you’re outside the city. Otherwise, food and water in Muscat should be fine.
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The electrical current is 220/240 volts AC, 50Hz (rectangular, three-pinned, flat blade plugs).
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