A travel warning to American citizens in Zimbabwe urging them to leave the African country has been issued by the US government.

The US State Department says that Zimbabwe's current political, economic and humanitarian crises have serious implications for security and it recommends that people should consider leaving.

The warning says: “All US citizens in Zimbabwe are urged to take those measures they deem appropriate to ensure their well being, including consideration of departure.”

The Zimbabwe government's appropriation of land from farmers and suppression of political opposition has helped to fuel a crisis, raising the possibility of violent protest.

If you have a travellers tale that your aching to tell. Then why not visit the “Travel Sized Bites” section of the Website and share it with the world. Travel Sized Bites

French-Australian Chateau owner, M Norbert-Andre is offering a special offer till end March 2003: third night free if two nights with evening meals taken at the Chateau. Meals from 28 Euros per person incl. wine, 43 Euros per person incl. wine, champagne. There are golf facilities at 10 km, equestrian facilities on site plus car racing ring near Abbeville just 10 km away.

For more info, contact: Email: norbert-andre@cuvelier.com or take a look at http://www.cuvelier.com

Under 30? 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 we'll take a look at it. Get those plans in!!

Someone sent the Beetle a link to: http://travellady.com/, which is a travel web site that has lots of travel stories, book and food reviews.

They say: Welcome to TravelLady Magazine! Most people think professional travel and food writers are some of the luckiest people in the world. They visit exciting destinations and taste some of the best food. Now, the TravelLady experts will share some of their glorious times, but, they will also tell you about the places you want to avoid, the things you don't want to try, and the meals you never want to eat.

A new website offers an alternative way to stay in the UK – free! YouStayFree.com offers unlimited free hotel accommodation for members at selected UK hotels.

Members pay a yearly fee (presently £24.95) and must pay a minimum amount for meals at the hotel. There are some restrictions, but average savings for a couple on a 2 night break could easily be over £100. Website: youstayfree.com

Source: britainexpress.com The UK travel and heritage guide

If you were thinking of travelling to northern Congo to see the gorillas – don’t. At least 48 people are believed to have died in a suspected outbreak of Ebola in the north of Congo-Brazzaville, near the border with Gabon. Ebola is reported to have killed 43 people in Congo and 53 others in neighbouring Gabon between October 2001 and February 2002. The WHO says more than 1,000 people have died of Ebola since the virus was first identified in 1976 in western Sudan and in a nearby region of Congo. There is no cure for Ebola, which causes up to 95% of its victims to bleed to death.

The authorities were first alerted to a possible outbreak of Ebola when a clan of gorillas in the region began to die in December. Tests carried out on the bodies confirmed that the gorillas had died from the Ebola virus, which has now claimed more than 80% of that gorilla clan. According to on the scene World Health Experts, it seems likely that eating bush meat such as gorilla, gazelle and antelope caused the human deaths.

A new booklet from the London Tourist Board gives suggestions on making your holiday budget go further and exploring the capital off the main tourist trail. “Go Further in London” is available free from British Tourist Authority offices overseas (in English, French, German and Italian), or look on the website: www.visitlondon.com

Cheryl, from Canada wrote in to say: “just wanted to write and say “thanks” for putting me on the globetrotters list – I really enjoy the newsletter.

Hey, write to us – drop us a line, e-mail – we want to hear from you!

If you find yourself at a loose end in Amsterdam’s Schipol airport, you can now visit a branch of the world renowned Rijskmuseum in the terminal after passport control on Holland Boulevard which connects Piers E and F. There is also a museum shop.

The museum includes works by Rembrandt, Jan Steen, Peter de Hooch and other painters from the Dutch Golden Age.

The joint initiative between the airport and the museum has cost around EUR2.5 million (USD$2.54 million) to establish. The museum is housed in a specially designed suspended area and is open between 7am and 8pm daily.