travel news review


9 March '99
While duty free shopping is officially scheduled to end in the member countries of the European Union (EU) on 1 July, 1999, many countries are hopeful duty-free shopping can be extended for another couple of years. Of the 15 member countries in the EU, Germany, France and Britain are the main campaigners for an extension for duty-free shopping. It is estimated that if duty-free shopping goes, more than 140,000 jobs would also go. When the end of duty-free sales in EU countries eventually does come into place, travellers to Europe will still be able to obtain duty free items, as the new restrictions will only apply to intra-EU travel. As an example, if you travel between Switzerland, which is not a member of the EU, and France, duty-free purchases will still be possible. Current member countries of the EU are Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

9 March '99
The Budapest Tourism Office has recently announced increased funding for the renovation of the city's thermal baths, one of Budapest's major attractions. The "taking of the waters" at one of the city's many spas is a real Budapest experience. Some of the spas date back to Turkish times, while others such as the Art Nouveau Gellert Hotel baths have been likened to soaking in a bath in a cathedral. Other funding has been allocated to free sightseeing bus tours around the city and number of free guided walks. The walks start at a number of well-known areas in the city including the Fisherman's Bastion, the Citadella and the Basilica of St. Stephen.

22 February '99
Weather forecasters across most of Europe are predicting a week of snow and more snow. In many Eastern European countries, recent snowfalls have closed roads and cut essential services to many towns in Hungary, Czech Republic and Bulgaria. Food drops have been organised for towns cut off by heavy snows and the army has been called in to clear the roads.

20 November '98
Three American theme restaurants that opened in Budapest in December last year have been declared off-limits for Americans travelling or working in Hungary. The US Embassy in Budapest advised last week that the restaurants, Henry J Bean's Bar and Grill, Chicago Rib Shack and Blues Alley, are owned or controlled by the government of Libya and as such it is illegal for US citizens to patronise these restaurants. The owners of the restaurants have denied any connection with the Libyan government.

13 November '98
Many Eastern European countries have been severely affected by heavy rains and flooding over the past week. Slovenia, in particular, has been inundated by heavy rains and other countries including Romania, Czech Republic and Hungary have also reported severe flooding, caused by both heavy rains and flooded rivers. In Northeastern Slovenia the flooding is especially severe, many people have been evacuated from their homes, roads have been cut and there is no electricity in many towns.

Flooding is expected to peak by the end of the week but it's likely to be wet and soggy in Eastern Europe for a while yet, so keep an eye on the news.

6 May '98
The British Embassy in Budapest has received a number of complaints recently from visitors. Most complaints were against restaurants in the cityÆs tourist district that tried to overcharge diners and taxi companies that fix their own rates. The Embassy has called upon HungaryÆs Foreign Ministry to investigate the complaints of crime against foreign visitors.