Organize your stay Armenia
Money Armenia
Since 1993, Armenia has had its own national currency, the dram (the same root as the ancient Greek drachma) whose ISO code is AMD. If transactions are less common in cash since the banking system has been developed, with many ATMs, it is preferable to carry banknotes, especially in small towns, and the green banknote is still popular.
- Banknotes: 100,000, 50,000, 5,000, 1,000, 500, 100.
- Coins: 200, 100, 50.
Exchange rate. In 2021: 1 € = 554 AMD and 1 000 AMD = 1,80 € / 1 US$ = 477 AMD and 1 000 AMD = 2,10 US$.
Budget & Tips Armenia
Standard of living. The average monthly salary in Armenia is US$300, which is still insufficient to meet the needs of families, one or more of whose members have had to go abroad, usually to Russia, to work and send the precious foreign currency that contributes significantly to the country's finances. That said, the poverty line has fallen sharply in recent years, and in 2020 less than 25% of the population was considered poor, compared to almost 50% at the beginning of this century. For the foreign visitor, expenses will generally not be in line with the local standard of living, especially for accommodation, which requires a budget that is out of reach for the average Armenian
Average budget per day. Relatively more expensive in Yerevan, where most of the infrastructure is concentrated, life is very affordable for Western visitors. Accommodation is out of proportion with the local standard of living, whether in hotels, which mostly aspire to luxury, or in apartments, which can reach Western prices. It is necessary to count 50 US$ per person and per night in a hotel claiming comfort if not luxury, but the small budgets are not forgotten any more, with a growing number of guesthouses, B&B and hostels which propose nights from 15 US$. As far as apartment rental is concerned, it can reach several hundreds of euros per month, sometimes per week, in the heart of Yerevan, for fully furnished accommodations, and if some agencies propose apartments at 150 or 200 US$ per month, it will necessarily be in the outskirts of the capital (it is then necessary to think about checking the hot water and the electricity). In the regions, the prices are more affordable and the accommodation at the inhabitant's house will be convenient for the small budgets. Restaurants, in Yerevan and even more in the regions, are much cheaper, and you can eat and drink very well for 10 US$. Public transport and taxis are still very cheap, but renting a car with a driver, which is very popular to travel around the country, will cost you at least 40 US$ per day, the price varying according to the vehicle and the route.
Passport and visas Armenia
Since January 10, 2013, nationals of the EU Member States and countries applying the Schengen provisions are exempted from the requirement of a tourist visa for the stay in the Republic of Armenia, where they can reside up to 180 days per year.
Passport :
for French visitors, a passport valid for another 6 months after the date of return is sufficient to enter Armenia.Embassy of Armenia in France, 9 rue Viète 75017 Paris, ✆ 01 42 12 98 00 / 01 42 12 98 02; Embassy of France in Armenia, 8 rue Sourp Krikor Loussavoritch, Yerevan ✆ (+374) 60 65 19 50, open daily from 2 to 4:30 p.m., except Saturday and Sunday.
To visit Nagorno-Karabakh, a passport and a visa are required, which should be issued at the headquarters of its representation in Yerevan, 17a Zarian Street, ✆ +374 10 24 97 05; in France, 10 rue Degas, 75016 Paris, ✆ 01 53 75 17 40. The visa application must be sent at least 7 working days before arrival, i.e. the date indicated in the application. Visitors are kept informed of the outcome of their visa application on the day of their entry to Nagorno-Karabakh. It is important to ensure that you enter Nagorno-Karabakh on the day indicated in the application
Driver's license Armenia
Car rental companies of all kinds have multiplied, especially in Yerevan, where you can get a car as soon as you arrive at the airport, provided you have a valid driver's license. Several incoming travel agencies in the capital also offer cars, starting at US$15 per day. Driving in Yerevan is difficult, however, due to traffic jams, but it is just as difficult in the rest of the country, where some mountain roads require 4X4s. Also, car rental with driver, a little more expensive, is generally recommended.
Health Armenia
Entry into Armenia is not subject to any health regulations, and there is no fear of disease, although it is advisable to update your hepatitis A or tetanus vaccinations. Depending on the length of your stay, it is also advisable to be vaccinated against hepatitis B, rabies and typhoid. It is also necessary to prevent intestinal and gastric disorders, which owe much to the local diet, which is rather rich and often alcoholic. Therefore, plan a pharmacy that can shield your stomach. Don't forget to take your usual medication with you, especially for HIV-positive people who, as in Russia or the United States, are theoretically obliged to report themselves when entering the country. The risk of dehydration should also not be underestimated, even at higher altitudes where it is cooler. So always take something to quench your thirst
No special instructions for eau : if it is preferable to drink it at the source and mineral, like the famous and excellent Djermouk, rather than from the tap, it is generally drinkable. It is also important not to neglect the risk of snake bites, especially vipers, in certain stony regions of the country
In case of serious problems, call 103 for medical emergencies
Yerevan has modern hospitals. However, do not hesitate to contact the French consulate, which provides a list of French-speaking doctors and decides on repatriation if necessary. To find out about emergencies and facilities that meet international standards: consult the government's website (www.diplomatie.gouv.fr), which will also inform you about the risks in conflict zones, and the Paris Pasteur Institute (www.pasteur.fr)
Mandatory vaccination Armenia
For information on the state of health in the country and to receive some advice, you can contact the Society of Travel Medicine at the Institute's medical centre Pasteur au ✆ 01 40 61 38 46 / 03 20 87 78 00 (www.pasteur.fr) or go to the site of Cimed (www.cimed.org) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at " Conseils to voyageurs " (www.diplomatie.gouv.fr). Visiting Armenia does not require any special vaccinations. However, in addition to the indispensable tetanus vaccine, which must be updated every 10 years:
- For hepatitis A, the existence of prior immunity makes vaccination unnecessary. It is frequent when you have a history of jaundice, a prolonged stay abroad or are over 45 years of age. Hepatitis A is usually mild, but can be serious, especially after the age of 45 and in cases of pre-existing liver disease. It can be caught through poorly washed water or food. If you are a carrier of liver disease, vaccination against hepatitis A is highly recommended before any type of trip where hygiene is precarious. It must be given twice, but the first injection, one month before departure, is enough to ensure protection for a short trip. The second (six months to a year later) reinforces the duration of immunity for decades.
- Hepatitis B is more serious than hepatitis A. It is contracted during sexual intercourse or through blood. The hepatitis B vaccination should be given twice a month apart (but there are accelerated vaccinations in one month for travellers in a hurry), followed by a booster six months later to increase the duration of protection.
- Rabies is still present, so contact with dogs, cats and other mammals that may carry the virus should be avoided. The onset of the first symptoms (air and water phobia) varies between 30 and 45 days after the bite. Once these symptoms are noticed, death occurs within a few days, in 100 % of cases. In case of doubt, following a bite, it is thus absolutely necessary to consult a doctor, who will administer an anti-rabies vaccine associated with an adapted treatment. The preventive vaccine does not exempt from the curative treatment in case of bite.
- Typhoid fever is a bacterial infection that results in high fevers, febrile diarrhoea and disturbances of consciousness. The most serious forms can lead to digestive, neurological or cardiac complications. The incubation period of the disease varies between ten and fifteen days. Contamination can occur through faeces or saliva, either directly (contact with a sick person or a healthy carrier) or indirectly (ingestion of food contaminés : raw vegetables, seafood, water and ice cubes). The vaccine is active after two to three weeks and protects you for three years. In case of contamination and preventive non-vaccination, treatment with fluoroquinolones is recommended.
In case of illness, contact the French consulate. They will help you, accompany you and provide you with a list of French-speaking doctors. In the event of a serious problem, it is also the consulate that notifies the family and decides on repatriation
Security Armenia
Armenia does not present a significant security risk. Tourists have rarely had to complain about robbery or assault, and this is also true for women, who feel safe in the streets of Yerevan, even when they look like cut-throats at dusk (just in case, the police emergency number is 102). This is a paradox, however, as Armenia is located in a conflict zone, in the process of settling the conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh. Since 9 November 2020, a ceasefire has been in force between Armenia and Azerbaijan, but renewed tensions are possible. That said, with basic precautions of staying away from the front line, one does not become aware of this conflict when visiting Armenia and even Nagorno-Karabakh, which can be accessed by getting a visa (in Yerevan or at its "border"), with no record in your passport, as Azerbaijan blacklists people visiting Nagorno-Karabakh without its permission.
Areas to avoid: In general, it is best not to venture too close to the border with Azerbaijan. This is especially true in the southwest, on the ridge of the mountains separating Armenia from Nakhichevan, and in the northeast, in the border areas of Tavush province, which is regularly targeted by Azeri soldiers. The closed border with Turkey is also sensitive and highly protected, although there have been no incidents.
Time difference Armenia
GMT + 4, 2 hours more in Yerevan than in Paris in summer, and 3 hours more in winter.
Spoken languages Armenia
Armenian is the official language, but Russian is still widely spoken, although English competes with it among young people, as does French, especially as Armenia belongs to the Organisation of Francophone Countries, whose summit it was hosting in October 2018. Armenian has had its own alphabet since the 5th century, but signposts and restaurant maps are generally in Armenian, Cyrillic and Latin letters.
There are different ways to learn some basics of the language and the offer for self-study can be made on different supports : CD, video, workbooks or directly on the Internet.
For more serious and advanced studies, the Institute of Oriental Languages and Civilizations (INALCO- 2, rue de Lille 75007 Paris, ✆ 01 81 70 10 22); the ASSIMIL method (11, rue des Pyramides 75001 Paris ✆ 01 42 60 40 66 - www.assimil.com). This method consists of two phases. During the first phase, you listen, read and repeat simple sentences aloud for 20 to 30 minutes each day. During the second, from the fiftieth lesson onwards, in addition to the usual exercises, you translate the lesson. And finally, the POLYGLOT Method (www.polyglot-learn-language.com) is a site that offers people who want to learn a language the opportunity to come into contact with others whose mother tongue is that language. A user-friendly way to learn the language and to exchange ideas.
Communication Armenia
Mobile telephony has developed at a rapid pace in Armenia, overcoming the shortcomings of the traditional network, which are still visible if we rely on fixed lines, and which give rise to misunderstandings sometimes worthy of French sketches from the 1950s. Several mobile phone operators are present in Armenia, where Internet communications are also widely facilitated, with free wifi access in most places of accommodation, and Armenian youth have become adept at social networking, in Yerevan as well as in the larger localities. French laptops are perfectly adapted to Armenia, especially since Orange has established itself there, boosting the local market. Operators offer SIM cards with a recharging system for 1,500 or 2,000 AMD, and terminals in the city allow you to top up your account with cash. If you wish to use your usual line, you will need to unblock the international option (at no extra charge) by contacting your operator before you leave. When you use your French phone abroad, you pay for the call, whether you make the call or receive it. In the case of an incoming call, your correspondent also pays, but at the price of a local call. All calls made from or to a foreign country are outside the flat rate, including calls to the voicemail. Finally, don't forget to deactivate your smartphone's mobile data to avoid extra costs.
Payphones and prepaid cards. International phone cards and ArmenTel, the major local operator, are available at local post offices for local calls from phone booths. Communication is less obvious in rural communities, where the mobile age has been directly introduced
Electricity and measurements Armenia
Armenia is plugged in everywhere on 220 volts, and the plugs comply with the standards in force in France and in Europe, with two inputs (no three-input mains connection requiring an adapter). Beware, however, of untimely power cuts. Vodka is counted and measured according to the metric system, except for certain products and in certain shops, where vodka is still sold by the gram, as is customary in Russia. In Yerevan, and even in the most remote provinces, cash registers have replaced the old abacus, which was used in shops in Soviet times for accounting and giving change, and the credit card has become widespread.
Luggage Armenia
Packing for Armenia depends on the season, of course, as it is very hot in summer and very cold in winter, but in any case, there is no longer any need to worry about losing it at Yerevan's Zvartnots airport, where luggage, which a few years ago was the subject of a grab-and-go fair when it was received, is now served on international-standard carpets. And if you forgot some accessories, Yerevan has no shortage of shops and shopping malls...
What to put in your luggage? Bring appropriate equipment for mountain trekking, shoes and backpack, and warm clothing, whatever the season. In all seasons, your usual sun creams are de rigueur, as the high altitude sun quickly darkens the skin. This is particularly the case at Lake Sevan, where good sunglasses are also indispensable, due to the reverberation. Rainwear is recommended in spring and autumn, which is a very busy season and appreciated for the golden finery that nature wears. Your wardrobe will have to do justice to it, by including dressy outfits. The lack of clothing, although tolerated, is rather frowned upon in a population that, despite the hardships, likes to get dressed for going out; Armenian women in particular closely follow Western fashions and show an undeniable concern for elegance. Don't forget a bathing suit, for the great dive into Lake Sevan, at an altitude of 2,000 m (in summer only!)
