The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office advise against all travel to the west African country of Togo. They say: following the death of President Eyadema on 5 February 2005, the internal situation in Togo is very uncertain. The capital city, Lome is calm but tense in most areas. Demonstrations in the central south of the city have led to clashes between the opposition and police, and resulted in some fatalities. Further demonstrations are possible. The situation could flare up without warning. Borders have now reopened but restrictions at entry and exit points could be re-imposed without warning. We advise against all travel to Togo until the situation clarifies.

The sea front area in Lome, particularly around the Hotel Sarakawa is dangerous and you should avoid this area as far as possible. Walking is not advisable in this area. Pick-pocketing and theft are common, especially along the beach and in the market areas of Lome. Some taxis are poorly maintained, and you should take particular care when seeking to use one. Attacks on pedestrians happen in broad daylight as well as at night. You should enter and exit public places such as restaurants in groups rather than individually.

Be prepared for checks of passport/identity papers and possible vehicle checks by the local Police and Military. There have been reports of people being killed when attempting to resist car-jackings. It is generally better not to resist armed attack.

If it is necessary to travel by car at night you should do so in a convoy of at least two cars. You should stop at all control points on request, turn on interior vehicle lights and only continue when permission has been given to do so.

Did you know, you can change the format of this e-newsletter? This e-newsletter is available in 4 formats:

1. This format with 2 columns.

2. A single column print friendly version available online, see the link in every e-newsletter (or click here).

3. The text only version, if you'd like your e-newsletter in plain text format, just send a blank email to The Globetrotters Webmaster with “Text+Enews” as the subject

4. Have a link emailed to you pointing to the online version, just send a blank email to The Globetrotters Webmaster with “Link+Enews” as the subject

We have developed a malaria information website (www.preventing-malaria.info) and also have a pharmacy website (www.stratford-pharmacy.co.uk) where people can browse and order medication if they require it. Customers can order from us safe in the knowledge that we are a UK registered pharmacy which is both regulated by and subject to inspection by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. Orders are placed over the internet via our Pharmacy website or when internet access is not available, we can take telephone orders. Our website is very user-friendly, and clearly states whether the medication being ordered requires a prescription or not. Our credentials can be checked at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, and we would be happy to discuss any matter of concern at any time.

I'm a writer for Win & Go magazine, we specialise in true-life holiday stories. At the moment, we're putting together a feature looking at gap years for all ages – from the teens and twenties, to the mid-thirty's-forties and post-retirement. I was just wondering if any of your members have taken a year out to travel and would be wiling to share their experiences. We're going to include safety tips, practicalities and case-studies. Anyone who wishes to talk to us, will of course receive payment and we will include details of this website. Kerry Win & Go Magazine. Kerry can be contacted by e-mail: kerry.sutch@bauer.co.uk

From the end of March until May, Keukenhof gardens, Holland's most famous spring gardens, will burst into a kaleidoscope of colour as spring comes to life in a stunning display of breathtaking beauty. Millions of tulips and other bulb flowers will burst in bloom, a fantastic experience for everyone and a wonderful spectacle to photograph. Keukenhof is situated on the west coast of Holland, in the Holland Rijnland area, with its flower fields, the beaches of Noordwijk and Katwijk, beautiful villages and the historical city of Leiden. Click here for more information on Keukenhof Gardens.

For UK travellers returning to the UK after a shopping spree could be in for good news. In the recent Budget speech, the Chancellor Gordon Brown announced the amount travellers can bring into the UK tax-free is likely to rise from £145 to £1,000.