Avoid dairy products as they are not pasteurised. Fruit and vegetables should be peeled before consumption. Amex and MasterCard are widely accepted. Visa and Diners Club are only accepted on a limited basis. Travellers cheques are accepted in major hotels and some shops.
French francs are the preferred currency.
Local dialects of Dioula and Baoule are also spoken. Also Muslim and Christian. POST Airmail can take up to 2 weeks. Women can expect to enjoy a more multi-cultural society than in the rest of West Africa. Road system of poorly maintained tarmac roads with frequent petrol stations in the North.