Travel Update-Weekly Edition

December 20th, 2007

Airline News

 

Rental Car News

 

Avis - To help business travelers make their journeys less stressful and maybe even entertaining, Avis Rent A Car System, LLC today launched a new service at http://www.avis.com/mywhere2 to connect its customers with information on concerts, sporting events, museums, galleries, festivals and other popular activities at 25 major business travel destinations in the United States.  Avis customers who rent Where2 (TM), the Company's portable GPS navigation system, can also save destination information found at myWhere2.com or anywhere else on the Web in to a Secure Digital (SD) memory card that can be transferred into the Where2 unit when they pick up their rental vehicle.  To use this feature, customers must first download a plug-in available at http://www.avis.com/mywhere2 and creat a bookmark to send addresses of places they want to visit their personal SD card.  When finished, customers can use any Web site or tool to find an address or point of interest and save the addresses directly to their SD memory card, and thus quickly and conveniently program their GPS unit to be able to maximize their free time.   

 

 

 

Miscellaneous

Afghanistan - The U.S. Embassy in Kabul released the following Warden Message on December 17: "The U.S. Embassy wishes to inform American citizens in Afghanistan that sustained terrorist activity through the holiday period of Eid-al-Adha is likely. Travel of Embassy personnel in the greater Kabul area is being carefully evaluated. "We take this opportunity to remind the community to review their safety precautions, particularly during the holiday season. The Department of State remains concerned about the continued threat of terrorist attacks, demonstrations and other violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests overseas. Current information suggests that al-Qaida and affiliated organizations continue to plan terrorist attacks against U.S. interests in multiple regions, including Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. These attacks may employ a wide variety of tactics including assassinations, kidnappings, hijackings and bombings."

 

Bahamas - On December 13 the U.S. Embassy in Nassau issued the following Warden Message: "This Warden Message is being issued to remind American citizens residing and traveling in the Bahamas to remain vigilant and constantly aware of their surroundings. As reported in the local media, the crime rate tends to increase this time of year. Please take a moment to review the following security considerations and share them with your family: "Always be vigilant - look for possible threats in your surroundings. While traveling on foot, walk as though with a purpose. Think through what you would do if your vehicle broke down, you were assaulted, robbed, or followed etc. Mental and psychological preparation plays a crucial role in the practice of good personal security. Criminals frequently plan their crimes by first conducting surveillance: watching potential victims on the street, at the ATM, or watching their residences. Schedules that are the most predictable leave you the most vulnerable. Vary routes, routines and times to avoid predictability in work and social schedules. Avoid using ATMs at night, in dark areas or when alone. Avoid traveling with large amounts of cash. Do not carry too many bags at one time when shopping, particularly if when alone. Criminals will quickly single out easy targets. If being followed, go to a more populated location or to a police station to summon help. Never lead the person back to your home or confront the person. At night, park in a well-lit area. Avoid spots where persons can hide. Before getting in your vehicle, walk all the way around it and look inside to ensure there is no one in the vehicle or lying in wait near the vehicle. If approaching a parked vehicle or a home, have keys in hand and look around the area for suspicious persons or activity. If confronted by a criminal, it is essential to readily cooperate. Remain calm, do not make any furtive or quick movements that could be misinterpreted by the attacker, and surrender all property as requested. Keep car doors locked and windows rolled up when driving. Do not go out alone. Know where you are going. Avoid clothing that clearly identifies you. Ensure someone knows where you are going and when you can be expected to return. Keep house keys separate from car keys. If consuming alcohol, assign someone as a designated driver who is well known to you, AND agree to follow that person’s directives. DO NOT DRIVE. Maintain good key control. Do not 'hide' keys outside your house. If a taxi is required, have the establishment arrange for the taxi and ensure it is a real taxi (license plate number beginning with the letters NP-). Note the number on the taxi. Know where medical units and police stations are located in the event of an emergency. Visitors to The Bahamas are encouraged to notify the consular section to advise them of their itinerary and contact information."

 

Belgium - On December 19 the U.S. Embassy in Brussels issued a Warden Message, which reads in part: "This Warden Message is being issued to alert U.S. Citizens traveling to and residing in Brussels that the Belgian police have informed the Embassy that a demonstration to protest (a) against a possible US military invasion of Iran and (b) against the current Iranian regime will take place on Saturday, December 22, at 10:30am in front of the U.S. Embassy (Boulevard du Regent/Regentlaan 27, 1000 Brussels); and at 1:00pm in front of the Embassy of Iran (Avenue F. D. Roosevelt/ F.D. Rooseveltlaan, 15, 1050 Brussels). The demonstration is being organized by Iranian Students and will encompass approximately 50 to 200 protesters. This Warden Message expires on 20 December 2007. "As with any demonstration we wish to remind American citizens that even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and possibly escalate into violence. American citizens are therefore urged to avoid the areas of demonstrations if possible and to exercise caution if within the vicinity of any demonstrations."

 

Benin - The U.S. Embassy in Cotonou released the following Warden Message on December 17: "The U.S. Embassy in Cotonou is issuing this Warden Message to inform Americans that the U.S. Embassy has noted a marked increase in petty crime in Benin. In addition to a general increase in petty crime, the holiday season has been associated with increased criminal activity in Cotonou. Incidents of burglaries, muggings and pick pocketing tend to rise this time of year due to the increased expenses surrounding holiday events."

 

Niger - On December 14 the U.S. Embassy in Niamey issued the following Warden Message: "This Warden Message is being issued to alert U.S. citizens in Niger to a change in Embassy travel restrictions. "There have been no further landmine incidents since the ones in Tahoua and Maradi on Monday, 12 December. As a result, the US Embassy in Niamey has lifted the travel restriction for areas in Niger directly east of Dosso - to include the towns of Birnin Konni, Maradi and Zinder. At the same time, however, the U.S. Embassy is now temporarily prohibiting all U.S.Embassy personnel from traveling to the city of Tahoua and all points north - to include the towns of Abalak, Agadez, Arlit, and Iferoune. This warden message will be updated as new information on the security situation on Niger’s roads becomes available or by Friday, December 21."

 

Saudi Arabia - On December 19 the U.S. Department of State issued the following Travel Warning: "This Travel Warning updates information on the security situation in Saudi Arabia and reminds U.S. citizens of recommended security precautions. It supersedes the Travel Warning issued 14 June 2007. "The Department of State urges U.S. citizens to consider carefully the risks of traveling to Saudi Arabia. The security threat level remains high due to the continued presence of terrorist groups, some affiliated with al Qaida, who may target Western interests, housing compounds, and other facilities where Westerners congregate. These terrorist groups may also target Saudi Government facilities and economic/commercial targets within the Kingdom. "In February 2007, four French tourists were killed in a terrorist incident on a desert track north of Medina. A gunman fired shots at the U.S. Consulate General in Jeddah in May 2006. In February 2006, terrorists attempted an attack on Saudi oil facilities in Abqaiq in the Eastern Province. An armed attack on the U.S. Consulate General in Jeddah on December 6, 2004, resulted in five deaths and eleven serious injuries among non-U.S. staff members. "Although extremists have not conducted a successful attack against Westerners since February 2007, the United States Mission in Saudi Arabia remains an unaccompanied post as a result of continued security concerns. The Department of State has approved limited family visitation by adult dependents, in part because of the significant progress Saudi security forces have made in counteracting the terrorist threat within Saudi Arabia as they continue to arrest and break up terrorist cells."

 

Previous Updates

December 13, 2007
December 5, 2007
November 29, 2007
November 21, 2007
November 15, 2007
November 8, 2007
November 1, 2007
October 25, 2007
October 18, 2007
October 11, 2007
October 4, 2007
September 27, 2007
September 20, 2007
September 13, 2007
September 6, 2007
August 30, 2007
August 23, 2007
August 16, 2007
August 9, 2007
August 2, 2007
July 26, 2007
July 20, 2007
July 12, 2007
May 31, 2007
May 17, 2007
May 10, 2007
May 3, 2007
April 27, 2007
April 26, 2007
April 19, 2007
April 12, 2007
April 9, 2007