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The Beetle
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Who Can Travel Where?
According to a new study by Zurich-based firm private client and business advisors Henley & Partners AG, citizens of Denmark, Finland and the United States have the greatest freedom to travel without needing visas. The study team found that Danes, Finns and Americans can travel to 130 countries or territories without a visa. Next are…
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The Beetle
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Google Gives In To China
Yes, it’s a dammed nuisance when travelling in China not to be able to find an internet café. Now, you should be able to find more, but at a price. Google, the world’s largest search engine will now be offering Google services to China’s 110 million online users. Google is the latest internet company, after…
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The Beetle
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Mac's Travel Reminiscences
Mac has not been very well, but is still e-mailing strong. In this edition of the Globetrotter e-newsletter, Mac sympathises with the Beetle for being given a hard time in Sydney and talks about some of his time in Japan whilst based there shortly after WW2. A few years back I took a train to…
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The Beetle
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Our Friends Ryanair
The French Transport Ministry has instructed its civil aviation authority to discuss the security practices of the low-cost airline Ryanair with regulators in Ireland and Britain. The ministry issued a statement after the broadcasting of a television documentary in Britain in January 2006 that alleged that security practices were occasionally flouted by the Ireland-based airline.…
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The Beetle
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Being Careful: Nepal
The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office advise against all but essential travel to Nepal. The political situation in Nepal remains tense and unpredictable following the end of the Maoist ceasefire and elections, which took place on 8 February 2006. There is a possibility of further violence and disturbances with planned blockades in Kathmandu and other…
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The Beetle
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Globetrotters Travel Award
A member of Globetrotters Club? Interested in a £1,000 travel award? Know someone who is? We have £1,000 to award each year for five years for the best submitted independent travel plan. Interested? Then see our legacy page on our Website, where you can apply with your plans for a totally independent travel trip and…
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The Beetle
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Crime Fighting Dogs
Spotted by Globetrotter Steve: police in India’s Bihar state in northern India are so short of resources they are using a pack of stray dogs to protect themselves from Maoist rebels. A recent BBC report says that the 24 policemen are spending around 5% of their salaries to feed and keep the dogs who perform…
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The Beetle
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New LP Comments on London
The latest edition of the Lonely Planet Guide to London says that London has become “dynamic and forward-looking” full of great places to visit, eat and stay, chic inner-city neighbourhoods, excellent architecture and is therefore richly deserving of its Olympic success. Previous editions of the London LP have criticised London for being the home of…
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The Beetle
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Oz Overheats
It’s a little recognised fact that Australia (as well as the US) is not a signatory to the Kyoto agreement to cut greenhouse gases. Australia’s meteorology bureau has found that 2005 was the country’s hottest year on record, prompting renewed fears of global warming. The average temperature was 22.89ºC – a rise of more than…
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The Beetle
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Mosquito Virus Reunion
If you have plans to visit Reunion in the Indian Ocean, be warned that in late Jan 2006, France drafted 400 troops to help fight a mosquito-borne virus there. The troops, already stationed on the island, will join more than 1,500 people already engaged in the campaign to eradicate mosquitoes. Some 30,000 islanders have been…
The Globetrotters Club
The travel club for independent travellers.