Responsibilties Of Traders

This guidance explains the types of holiday and holiday businesses to which the Package Travel, Package Holiday and Package Tour Regulations 1992 apply, with particular reference to financial security arrangements. The Regulations also cover other aspects of the package holiday business, such as advertising, brochures, contracts, surcharge limitations and compensation responsibilities. You will need a copy of the Regulations to find out what you have to do to comply fully with the law. The Regulations are available from HMSO bookshops (www.hmso.gov.uk).

Pre-arranged means that the combination of the components is organised prior to completion of the contract, (this could mean you selecting the holiday for the consumer where there is no suitable holiday found in a brochure). Tailor-made combinations, where the customer selects the components, e.g. the method of travel and the hotel, are covered by the Regulations.

What constitutes ‘other tourist services’?

If the provision of services, e.g. entertainment or sports facilities, is restricted to those who have paid for them in advance in the cost of their holiday, or these services are a feature of the holiday, they are ‘other tourist services’. However, if an additional charge is made for the use of the facilities during the holiday, so that their use is optional, it is unlikely that they could be considered ‘other tourist services’. For example, if the use of the hotel swimming pool is available to all who stay there, it is not a feature unique to that holiday, but if swimming tuition is included in the price of the holiday, it is, and therefore it is a component of the package.

 Who needs to arrange security?

The Regulations state that, if you are ‘the other party’ to a contract with a customer to provide them with a holiday that is classed as a package, you must provide evidence of the arrangements you have made to secure money to refund customers should you be unable to complete the contract. The ‘other party’ can be the organiser, the retailer or both.

What is our responsibility?

As the ‘other party to the contract’ you are liable for the proper performance of the whole package holiday. (This means you have a responsibility for all individual components when put together and sold as a package).

Who is an ‘organiser’?

An organiser is defined as the person who ‘otherwise than occasionally’ organises package holidays and sells them, either through a retailer or himself. The term ‘occasionally’ is not defined by the Regulations, but if a package is arranged on a regular basis, even if not frequently (e.g. only once a year), the person making the arrangements is an organiser.

Who is a ‘retailer’?

A retailer is the person who sells package holidays put together by the organiser (note that this may be the same person).

With each Trading Standards Service dealing with package holidays sold within its own area, it is important that there is uniformity. If you have any specific questions on the interpretation of the Act, and your business has a Head Office outside the area in which you operate, you are encouraged to ask your Head Office to seek the advice of their local Trading Standards Service, in the first instance.

Finally: The Package Travel, Package Holiday and Package Tour Regulations 1992 is just one piece of legislation Trading Standards Services enforce that affect your business. Important issues, regarding clear and accurate pricing is covered in the Consumer Protection Act 1987 and the Trade Descriptions Act also affect your business, when selling the separate individual components.

Advice or literature to assist you in complying with such issues is available on this website (for example, the leaflets on ‘Trade Descriptions’ and ‘A trader's guide to the civil law relating to the sale and supply of goods and services’) and from your local Trading Standards office.

Another leaflet you may find useful is the LACORS (Local Authorities Co-ordinators of Regulatory Services) due diligence guidance for the package travel trade, available direct from LACORS on 020 7840 7200.

Bruce Treloar, TSI Lead Officer, hopes recent actions by Trading Standards will highlight the problems and he gives a checklist at the end of the article to help provide advice to consumers and businesses to avoid the most serious problems.

The Booking Process

Since February 2006 Trading Standards have been lobbying for transparent pricing on websites and in brochures. The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has been supplied with evidence from consumers and have now outlawed the practice of stating one headline price and then adding on mandatory extras. At the end of January, OFT will be taking action against those Operators or airlines who split out costs like Fuel Supplements, Taxes, Ticket on departure charges or any other extra charges.

Baggage for the holiday….

The whole issue of baggage is making dream holidays turn into nightmares even after the consumer has returned home. A recent survey showed consumers could be charged double the cost of ‘online’ baggage check-in, if they forget and check their baggage in at the airport! Major budget airlines were reviewed. One charged £5 to check-in baggage online but £10 at the airport. Another charged £3.99 online but £10 at the airport!

Unfortunately this wasn’t the end of consumer’s baggage problems! Trading Standards officers check the baggage weighers at airports. Prior to testing this year, we surveyed the excess baggage charges of major airlines.

If a consumer was as little as 1 kilogramme (2.2lbs) over the airlines limit then they will be charged from £5.50 to £6 per extra kilogramme. One West Sussex consumer was going to Spain just before Christmas and was worried about her baggage being over the limit, so she asked the budget airline check-in desk to check the weight. She was 3kg over the limit, so took out some articles. She had a coffee came back to the check-in and found she was still over 2 kg heavy. She paid an extra £12 but complained to us on her return. We checked the scales and found some needed adjusting to give the proper weight.

Secure parking?....

There has been a problem with secure parking at airport’s which has caused a problem to consumers and legitimate business before they have even got to the airport. We have sometimes found cars parked on a public road and an industrial estate. We have resolved this issue but we do need help to identify these types of problems.

Delays and cancellations….

So just what rights are available when the flight is delayed or even cancelled? Too much confusion is generally the situation when this happens. Depending on the distance travelled, the options are usually available after about 5 hours. Delays mean welfare provisions must be provided by the airline, e.g. phone, fax and refreshments. Only when the flight is cancelled is compensation payable! If the airline doesn’t want to pay compensation, it has to show the flight is cancelled because of ‘extraordinary circumstances’. At any time delays and cancellations do occur, so it’s worth remembering your rights!

Lost luggage….

So the holiday may have been to an idyllic destination and the flight wasn’t delayed, but when arriving back in the country, did the luggage come back as well? For these sorts of problems, the International Convention for flights (the Montreal Convention) applies but consumers must remember that they must fill out a Product Irregularity Form at the airport, or their claim will be affected in any future action!

So, Trading Standards Advise ...

When making a holiday booking check

‘Have I bought a package holiday?’ If it is then you will be protected if the business collapses or there is a problem abroad.

‘Does this headline price include all the mandatory extra charges, like taxes’ If it does, then you can compare like for like!

Identify what the baggage allowance is BEFORE you reach the airport, and check whether you pay more to check in at the airport!

Make sure the baggage weigher at the airport is at zero, before you put your baggage on the conveyor belt! Bear in mind that if you as little as 1Kg (2.2lbs) over the airlines baggage limit; you may have to pay more.

If you are delayed at the airport then the airline must look after your welfare. You will get NO compensation unless the flights cancelled and there aren’t any extraordinary circumstances!

If your luggage gets lost at the airport, you must fill out a Product Irregularity Form at the airport - otherwise there may be problems when you claim .

The Product Irregularity Form is available from xxxx .

Package holidays can offer the traveller a cheap and easy way of visiting foreign destinations. Can the disabled traveller take advantage of such holidays being offered by the high street travel agents?

Yes, is the answer, but there are problems to overcome if the benefits offered by such holidays are to be enjoyed.

The information in this article is intended to help you to minimise some of these potential problems.

Who qualifies as disabled?

Figures from the newly-formed government department, the Disability Rights Commission ('DRC'), estimate that one in seven of the British population is disabled. It may help to consider that the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 provides a broader definition of disability than has been conventionally used. A disabled person is "someone who has a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his or her ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities". Note the distinction here of long-term as opposed to permanent. By way of example, a man who contracted skin cancer on holiday was classified disabled by the DRC.

Effect of the Disability Discrimination Act -DDA

Part three of the DDA allows disabled people to challenge discrimination by the providers of goods, facilities and services. This could be at the point of booking or on arrival at the destination. The DRC has brought a number of successful cases on behalf of the community and its details are provided in the contacts section below, should you feel you have been unfairly treated on the basis of your disability. Note that, since October 2004, landlords (including those who rent holiday cottages) will be required to make reasonable adjustments to physical features of buildings to make them more accessible.

Destination Choosing your destination and a suitable resort is the first step to any successful holiday. To ensure your choice is right for you, it is worthwhile doing some research on the country and area to be visited- paying special attention to key areas such as the following:

Terrain - the accessibility to hotel, beach, shops, and places of special interest. climate - the type of temperatures to be expected when you are intending to travel, remembering that high temperatures can exacerbate some conditions.

Transport - how easy will it be to get around in the area and resort being visited? Is suitable transport easily available?

Access to medical facilities if required how close is a major town and how long would it take to reach?

In an emergency - how easy would it be to get home? Will the tour operator arrange travel tickets and transport or will I have to make my own arrangements? Who will have to pay any extra cost? Do I have adequate insurance coverage? Or, if the destination is within the EU, do I have a valid E111?

Relevant up-to-date information can be difficult to find, but most countries have an Embassy or Tourist Information Centre in the UK, which will be able to give you information on the country and any health requirements. See Euromost Consulate Info. Some will also be able to provide lists of hotels that offer facilities for disabled travellers.

Your library should carry some publications with specialised information for the disabled traveller, and it is worth asking your travel agent to help you with your research, as agents do carry information on resorts and hotels offered in all the travel brochures. The standard brochures can be of some help, as the photographs they contain can give clues to the resort and its terrain.

Many also give a guide to the average temperatures that can be expected. However, do not rely on the brochures alone for your information.

Once you have decided on your preferred destination, book as early as you can to ensure that the hotel of your choice is available and you do not have to settle for second best.

Booking your holiday

An increasing number of tour operators claim to cater for the disabled traveller, but this is only by way of reference in their brochures to clients with special needs, and referring to special requests. The problem here is that the tour operator will not guarantee that special requests will be met. There are, however, a number of tour operators, hoteliers and transport agents who will make every effort to accommodate disabled clients, but insist that specific requirements are put in writing.

It is therefore advisable, before paying a deposit and booking the holiday, to put in writing to both the tour operator and the travel agent your specific needs. You will need to outline the help you require when travelling and the facilities necessary at your hotel and destination. It is essential that you are completely honest about your disability, its effect and the limitations imposed by it.

Extra Help: If extra help is needed on the journey, you should state exactly when and where such ssistance will be required. The special facilities you may need at your hotel should be clearly defined, e.g. ground floor room.

Try to find out whether there is a person/organization at your destination who ensures that accommodation is compliant with local codes, or whether a particular carrier or tour operator uses a key to show particular holidays which will be more suited to the disabled traveller.

Check that the resort has handrails or particular accessibility, as required, but remember to be reasonable about a particular destination. For example, Greece is hilly and some of the smaller islands won’t have taxis to take you to your destination.

Wheelchairs: If you are a wheelchair user, you should include the measurements of the wheelchair to ensure that access is available to your accommodation, and that there is sufficient space in the bedroom and bathroom for you to manoeuvre.

You should request confirmation in writing from the tour operator that your requirements will be met. This form is part of your holiday con- tract and necessary evidence if things subsequently do go wrong.

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)

If you are flying, you may want to consider whether your particular condition makes you more susceptible than other travellers to DVT. If so, consider requesting a seat which will afford you more space, and take the recommended precautionary measures of moving where you can and drinking lots of water. It is crucial that you do this because, to date, the airlines have refused to take responsibility for incidences of the condition because, in their view, it does not qualify as an unforeseen event under the Warsaw Convention.

Travel insurance: Travel insurance requires special attention, as the majority of insurance policies offered by travel agents contain exclusion clauses that make them totally inadequate for the disabled traveller.

The exclusion clauses include no cover for medical treatment for pre-existing conditions, or only cover the cost of treatment appropriate to the country being visited. Loss or theft of any specialised equipment taken is also omitted and there may be an age exemption.

It is therefore very important that you check any policy being offered by your travel agent for such clauses. If the policy does not cover all your requirements, ask the travel agent to check with the company involved to find out if they will offer you the cover required, but be prepared to pay a higher premium for the extra liability. If they cannot, there are companies that specialise in travel insurance designed especially for the disabled traveller.

Remember, if you are using another company’s insurance, the details of the policy will be required before your booking can be confirmed by the tour operator.

In the event that you feel an insurer is refusing to pay out on a claim where it should, you may contact the underwriter first. If the appeal is unsuccessful, refer it to the Financial Ombudsman Service for further consideration (details in the contacts section). Exclusion clauses may not be valid if they were not pointed out to you, and the Service makes a distinction between pre-existing conditions and pre-existing symptoms.

Transport

Travelling By Air: If flying, the airlines do require prior notice of any passengers who have special needs. It is important that this information is passed on to the airline when the flight is booked. For example, they can accommodate particular dietary requirements, so that if you are diabetic you will be provided a low-sugar meal and may be served ahead of other passengers.

Different airlines have adopted different practices regarding disabled passengers so it is important to check the policy of the airline with which you will be travelling. Your travel agent should be able to help you in this matter, but if in doubt contact the airline direct. There is a form issued by the airlines, called the Incapacitated Passengers Handling Advice form (INCAD), which the passenger fills in and returns to the airline concerned. This should ensure that the journey is trouble free regarding suitable seat allocation, boarding and leaving the aircraft.

Airport facilities are the responsibility of the airport management and not the airlines, and facilities do vary. Most UK airports have disabled facilities and access to duty free shopping areas. In relation to airports abroad, it is difficult to obtain the necessary information as to facilities provided, including help with boarding and leaving the aircraft. Only by contacting the airport directly can you ensure that the facilities you require are available. The major airlines may be able to provide these details on the larger foreign airports.

Travelling By Ferry & Car: Ferry companies that operate to Europe have incorporated good facilities for their disabled passengers on their newer ships, and if you wish to take your car or camper van, there can be substantial fare reductions for members of disabled drivers' motoring organisations (DDMC & DDA).

In Northern Europe there are parking arrangements for blue badge holders, similar to those in the UK, and motorway services with disabled facilities are increasing. Several countries will supply lists of those available, making it easier to plan your route.

Travelling Around Your Resort This can cause major problems, as most public transport is not designed with the disabled individual in mind. Taxis are always an option, but even though fares in many countries are cheaper than in the UK, when used on a regular basis the cost will soon mount up. Car hire is a possible option, but again this does depend on your destination and if a suitable vehicle is available. You may also find that insurance could be problematic.

Travelling From HomeTo Your Departure Point: If you require help with travel to and from your point of departure, there are a number of organisations that are able to give up-to-date information on this subject, and will be able to help organise your transport (see contacts section).

Holiday Helpers: If anyone wants to travel, but is unable to do so because they need help in some areas, and have no one who can travel with them, it may be possible to engage a ‘helper’ to accompany them. If you are considering this type of help, there are organisations which specialise in matching up individual holiday-makers with a suitable helper.

The most important factor in these matches is that both the disabled person and the potential helper are frank and honest in what they expect from each other.

Medical Matters: The majority of disabled travellers should not require medical clearance prior to flying, although it is possible that passengers could be asked to provide proof of medical fitness before the airline will allow them to board the aircraft. In order to cover this eventuality, disabled travellers with stable medical conditions should obtain a ‘Frequent Travellers Medical Card’, which is issued by most of the major airlines and will be accepted as proof of fitness to fly.

When travelling to countries which require a visa, problems can arise when applying, and again proof of medical fitness may have to be provided before the visa is issued. It is therefore important that, if a visa is required, you allow sufficient time prior to travelling for your visa to be granted.

Specialised Equipment: Your research should have made you aware of the conditions that you are likely to encounter during your trip. It will, therefore, be possible to ensure that any equipment you may require is taken with you. If using electrical equipment, check the voltage used in the country to be visited, so you take the correct adapters.

If you use a wheelchair, it is a good idea to take an emergency repair kit and spares. These should be carried in your hand luggage. Also check with your tour operator if the representative in your resort will be able to offer assistance in the case of an emergency, and if any of your equipment will be subjected to additional baggage charges from the airline concerned.

Equipment Lost or Stolen In Transit: If you have organised flights separate from a package and the carrier misplaces some key equipment, compensation will be awarded at the levels determined by the Warsaw Convention. Exactly what you receive, since it is based on weight only, may fall far short of the cost of replacement of the goods not to mention the inconvenience suffered for which the Warsaw Convention also does not provide.

Levels of compensation under the Hague and Athens Conventions, which cover sea travel, are even lower. If you are travelling as part of a package, you may have a claim against the tour operator, but again this will not help in the short-term. If the equipment is not too cumbersome, take more than you might need and ensure you have a travel insurance policy which will cover you for such eventualities.

Your Health & Medication: It is important that you carry sufficient medication for the duration of your holiday. This should be kept in your hand luggage for easy access during the journey - any back-up medication can be placed in your suitcase.

You should also carry a letter from your doctor, explaining your condition and giving a list of your prescribed drugs. This should be clearly written, using standard, not trademark names in case it is necessary to consult a doctor whilst on holiday - when the language could present a problem and a clear understanding of your drug regime and your disability is essential. A letter can also be useful if you are asked to explain the presence of drugs in your luggage. see Euromost Airport Security Measures.

It may be prudent too, if you’re travelling abroad, to take a dictionary, or to translate some words before you go, so that you can explain key terms in an emergency. At a hospital, there may be a doctor who speaks English, but that cannot be presumed for all emergency medical staff.

In addition, a basic first aid kit should be taken, the contents of which will depend on your destination, but it is worth remembering that insect bites, diarrhoea and sun burn can ruin a perfect holiday. Do consider taking a sterile kit which contains not only emergency medical supplies but also dental supplies. These kits are easily obtained from chemists, your own doctor and travel clinics, and provided they are not opened will remain sterile for a number of years.

Lastly: Remember to consult your doctor regarding any vaccinations that may be required and if a course of malaria tablets is needed.

Recap: Research your destination. Confirm your specific requirements in writing with the tour operator prior to booking your holiday. Choose a travel agent who is sympathetic to your needs and is willing to ensure that all your requests are passed on to the relevant agents involved in the holiday. Be honest with both the tour operator and the travel agent with regard to your disability and your limitations. Prior to travelling, check with the tour operator that your specific requirement will be available both en route and at your destination, and have this confirmed in writing. Check with the airline that any requests have been noted and will be met.

Checklist Of Information Advisable To Give To Your Tour Operator:

Name and nature of disability. The effects/limitations of your disability.
Details of any other conditions requiring treatment. Any sight roblems.
Any difficulties with speech/hearing. If so, what type of communication is used, e.g. lip reading, sign language (many airlines have at least one attendant fluent in Makaton). Special dietary requirements.

The names of any medication you are taking. Name and address of your doctor, and whether you are willing to have the doctor contacted, if necessary. Details of any help needed en route , e.g. assistance at the airport and transfer assistance from airport to hotel. Facilities required at the hotel. Emergency contacts, name and telephone no's.

Checklist Of Information Advisable To Give To Your Airline:

Check if the airline will allow disabled passengers to travel alone. The Disability Discrimination Act does not apply to aircraft or cruise ships. Passengers have unsuccessfully challenged rulings by ship operators who are entitled to restrict the number of disabled passengers travelling on the basis of marine law embodied in the Hague Convention.

Check the necessary medical clearance required, if any. Check what facilities the airline is able to offer, regarding seating and toilet arrangements – an aisle seat may be requested several days ahead but cannot be guaranteed. Likewise, a request may be made for a bulkhead seat to afford you more room but, as a matter of policy, many airlines won’t allocate these seats to travellers with certain disabilities, including the visually impaired, because they are situated adjacent to emergency exits and passengers are expected to help in the event of an accident.

Check if any specialised equipment needed can be carried, and if it would be classified as excess baggage. State what kind of help is required in the aircraft, at the departure and arrival airport at your destination, and at any intermediate stops.

Disability Rights Commission (DRC):

DRC Helpline
FREEPOST MID02164
Stratford-upon-Avon
CV37 9BR
Telephone: 08457 622 633
Textphone: 08457 622644
Website

The DRC will investigate and may prosecute any organisation which subjects you to unfair treatment on the basis of your disability. In recent months it has done the following:

Obtained £1,500 compensation for a man who was told he would have to pay more for a caravan large enough to accommodate his wheelchair.

Brought about a change in policy at a large chain of hotels which could not guarantee twin bed rooms for a man travelling with a helper who was forced to take a double room; he also received £1,000 in damages.

Won a refund and a week's free accommodation for a woman who was told to take an older caravan if bringing a guide dog on holiday.

Reversed an £18 surcharge for wheelchairs by a no-frills airline and £1,500 compensation for the man who was the centre of the claim.

Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS):

South Quay Plaza, 183 Marsh Wall, London, E14 9SR.
Tel: 0845 080 1800
Fax: 0207 964 1001
Email: complaint.info@financial-ombudsman.org.uk
Website

Contact the FOS if you feel that an insurer hasn’t paid out on a claim it should have and you have already contacted the underwriter.

Holiday Care Service:

7th Floor, Sunley House, 4, Bedford Park, Croydon, Surrey, CR0 2AP.
Telephone: 0845 124 9971/020 8760 0072
Minicom: 0845 124 9976
Fax: 0845 124 9972
Email: info@holidaycare.org

Information available includes transport, accommodation and holiday companions.

RADAR (The Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation):

 12 City Forum, 250 City Road, London, EC1V 8AF.
Telephone: 0207 2503222
Minicom: 0207 2504119
Fax: 0207 250 0212
Email: radar@radar.org.uk
Website

Extensive information available on all aspects of a holiday.

Tripscope:

The Vassall Centre, Gill Avenue, Bristol, BS16 2QQ.
Tel: 08457 585641/0117 939 7782 or Fax: 0117 939 7736

Advice on all types of transport.

Mobility & Inclusion Unit:

Disabled Living Foundation:

380-384 Harrow Road, London, W9 2HU. Telephone: 0845 130 9177/ Textphone: 0207 432 8009
Email: dlfinfo@dlf.org.uk
Website

A booklet is available called ‘Flying High - A Practical Guide to Air Travel for People with Disabilities’.

The Travel Advice Unit:
Consular Directorate, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Old Admiralty Building, Whitehall, London, SW1A 2PA.
Telephone: 0870 6060290
Fax: 0207 008 0155
Website

Provides travel advice relating to personal safety on some 120 countries. Leaflets available are: ‘Checklists for Travellers’; ‘British Consular Services Abroad’, ‘Backpackers & Independent Travellers’ and ‘Dos and Don’ts’.

Post Office Customer Care:

FREEPOST, P.O. Box 740, Glasgow, G2 1XX.
Helpline: 08457 223344
Website :

On-line advice and leaflets on Travel Insurance, Medical care in the EU (E111) and Travellers’ Checklists.

Diabetes UK:

Central Office, 10 Parkway, London, NW1 7AA.
Telephone: 0845 120 2960/020 7424 1000
Fax: 0207 424 1001
Email: info@diabetes.org.uk
Website

Leaflets and information sheets include: ‘Travel insurance’, ‘Air travel and insulin’ and ‘Travel and discrimination’.

Haemophilia Society:

Chesterfield House, 385 Euston Road, London NW1 3AU
Freephone: 0800 018 6068
Telephone: 0207 380 0600
Fax: 0207 387 8220
Website

The website has a very useful link to an organisation called ‘Haemophilia abroad’, which provides information and contacts throughout the world.

National Eczema Society:

Hill House, Highgate Hill, London, N19 5NA.
Telephone: 0207 281 3553
Helpline: 0870 241 3604/0207 263 8909
Email: helpline@eczema.org
Website

Factsheets include ‘Sunscreens and Ingredients’ and ‘Eczema and the Sun’.

Dialysis:

The Directory of the European Dialysis & Transplant Association lists dialysis centres in Europe & the Mediterranean, where visitors can receive treatment, but this must be arranged in advance through the person’s own dialysis centre.

Personal Safety - How Safe Is The City I Am Going To Stay In - European Tourist Traps

Some official and commercial city guides may not tell you about the darker side of the city the dangers that tourists can face. Every euromost city guide features this information where we are aware of it. Are there landmines in Serbia - When is a lady of the night in Prague not a lady - and is St Petersburg safe for a black person to visit?

Every city guide has a 'crime and personal safety and security guide' which outines essential information a visitor should know. This information is rarely found on a tourist board site and unlikely to be detailed in a holiday brochure. Yes there are still landlines in parts of Serbia, but not in the capital. Ladies of the night in Prague may actually be robbers and skinheads do attack Asians and Afro Carribeans in St Petersburg.

For some countries we have near the top of the left handside of the page put a flashing beacon alongside a travel warning link. These countries have areas or regions where there are occasionally political or social unrest, military conflicts or dangers from earlier such situations.

The link along side these beacons should be followed as it will give you more specific and updated information. This section contains specific travel warnings and advice in Eastern European countries where in some areas there may be personal safety concerns and dangers because of social unrest or a terrorism threat.

There is a link to the British Foreign & Commonwealth Office which a source of reliable information and which is updated within hours of any incident. Specific travel warnings in Eastern Europe exist for areas in The Balkans, the former Yugoslavia and the Russian Causces. The travel warnings for these areas of East Europe should checked before departure. >>>

Few cities anywhere in the world are without their own problems but it does help if one has some idea of what they are. If you have information or advice for other travellers which you feel we should publish please email us: post@euromost.info

Personal Safety & Crime In European Cities

Wheelchairs Finally Welcomed