A report from Malaysia's Star newspaper gives examples of how soaring fuel costs are impacting on air fares in certain instances. They gave two examples: a return ticket to Colombo, Sri Lanka from Kuala Lumpur costs RM400 but the fuel surcharge is RM450. Another bargain – a two-night return package to Bangkok from KL on Thai Airways costs RM399 but the fuel surcharge, airport tax and insurance will cost an additional RM323. With the rising demand for oil and hurricanes hitting the United States, world oil prices are not expected to come down in the near future. One Malaysian travel agent commented: “It looks like the days of cheap air travel are over as the high fuel prices are here to stay.” Another agent said: “Some of the fuel surcharges are so expensive that they make a mockery of their special cheap short flights from KLIA to regional destinations like Jakarta and Bangkok.”

Spotted by the Beetle. I like this: www.entrances2hell.co.uk

Visitors to Florida are being warned that they could be at risk due to a new state law that allows gun owners to shoot anyone they believe threatens their safety. A spokeswoman for The Brady Campaign to Control Gun Violence, said “tourists should be wary of getting into an “aggressive argument” during their stay”. The law which is now in force says that people in their house or vehicle do not have to become victims before shooting an attacker. Previously, they could only use their weapons if they had first attempted to withdraw and avoid a confrontation.

A spokeswoman for Visit Florida in the UK accused the Brady Campaign of employing scare tactics and claimed the new law would not have any impact on tourism to the state. “There are 28 other states that do not require people to retreat if they are being attacked, so it is just bringing Florida into line,” she said. “I don’t think many UK holidaymakers are going to attack someone in their car or their house, so they have nothing to worry about. It is not a real issue. According to the state’s annual crime report, Florida’s crime rate is at a 34-year low.” Florida is the most popular US destination for Britons, attracting 1.5 million people from the UK each year.

Helvetic Airways has begun operating a twice-daily service between Luton and Zurich. The first 10 seats on each morning and evening flight are available from about £15, plus taxes, from www.helvetic.com

Environmentalists have announced that the Mediterranean’s largest nesting population of loggerhead turtles is facing extinction due to tourism. Their reports states that one of only two marine turtle species that reproduce in the Mediterranean, would face extinction unless the authorities took more steps to control tourism in the region.

The Greek island of Zakynthos is home to the National Marine Park, where between 800 and 1,100 turtles nest every summer. Officials have been accused of failing to implement sufficient regulations to prevent tourists from disturbing the turtles that hatch at the height of the tourism season in August. The Worldwide Fund for Nature monitored the park this summer and found that thousands of tourists placed their sunbeds and umbrellas beyond authorised limits on the beaches. Illegal bars, tavernas and parking areas also lined the shores, disturbing the turtle settlements, according to the report. Three years ago the Greek government was found guilty under European Union law of failing to protect the animals. But, despite the ruling, tourism has continued to damage the population, according to this week’s WWF report.

You can now hire Gems, or Global Electric Motorcars in Cordoba, southern Spain as a safe, convenient, and environmentally friendly way to see the town. Gems are made in the US by a division of Daimler-Chrysler. A fully charged car can travel around 50 miles, (80km). Each car comes with a touch-screen computer system mounted in the dash. By using GPS technology, the computer keeps track of exactly where you are in the city. When you pass a certain landmark, the computer then knows to display the appropriate text, audio and video information about that landmark on the screen. Through a USB port, you can plug in a flash drive containing information on Cordoba in Spanish, English or French. Hire costs are around US$50 for a two-hour rental period.

Need to convert currency?

Take a look at The Globetrotters Currency Converter – get the exchange rates for 164 currencies The Globetrotters Currency Cheat Sheet – create and print a currency converter table for your next trip.

If you are sailing around the world, you’d be advised to avoid Somalian water. Somali pirates have hijacked (another) ship with 10 crew on its way to the Somali port of El-Maan. The MV Torgelow was carrying fuel and food to a UN-chartered vessel freed last week by gunmen who had held it and its cargo of food aid for three months. The International Maritime Board says there have been at least 20 attacks on ships in Somali waters since March. It urges ships in the area to stay as far away as possible from the shore.

Travel Facts

One in three adults aged 15-49 are infected with HIV/AIDS in Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Swaziland.

If you thought Antarctica was inhospitable, think again – its land area is only 98% ice. Reassuringly, the other 2% is categorised as ‘barren rock’.

The Mall in Washington, D.C. is 1.4 times larger than Vatican City.

Moldova has one of the lowest rates of movie-going of any nation, and the highest rate of death by powered lawnmower. Coincidence? Surely not.

In 2002, every 1000 Swedes made a bus.

· Looking for geniuses? Head straight to Iceland. There are more than 3.5 Nobel Prize Winners for every million Icelanders.

· People might eat oats when they’re hungry, but people from Hungary don’t eat oats.

· Japan’s water has a very high dissolved oxygen concentration – but not enough to prevent drowning in the bath.

· The four largest nations are Russia, China, USA, and Canada.

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