Safety Tips in Armenia

Don't change more money at the air-port in Yerevan. The rate is very bad. The signs are in Armenian and Russian and no one spoke English when I was there. The sign said 550 and beside it stood 55. It turned out that the 55 was some commission for every dollar you changed. In Yerevan you get between 580 - 586 drams for a dollar.

The rates above was in 2003. When I left Yerevan in August 2006 the lowest rates in town was 493 drams for a dollar.

Most Armenians are nice and helpful to foreigners and Armenia is a very safe country as long as you watch your step (for various road holes etc.). But when sitting behind the steerwheel those friendly Armenians sudenly change and strictly impose "the law of the stronger" towards pedestrians. So whatever the colour of the traffic light, take care when crossing the road. The running figure of the green pedestrian traffic light exactly instructs you about these things

At many places where the public gathers, you will see many stray dogs scavenging around. Some can be dangerous, so be careful if you try to befriend them. Most are harmless, however, and the mean ones will scatter if you pick up a rock and make like you will throw it at them.

The only danger I can think of in this country are the Marshutnis-or minivans. They are designed to hold 10-14 people but frequently double this. If you are claustrophobic - watch out! I seriously don't know how the drivers keep these things on the road.