Travel Europe: Something To Declare

NEWS FROM THE TRAVEL WORLD

A good idea

Mosquitoes are a menace to every traveller in the tropics, spreading a repertoire of diseases from dengue fever to malaria. Luckily, there is a natural predator: tilapia, a mosquito-eating fish. Unfortunately, when the Green Hotel in Mysore, southern India (00 91 821 51 2536) decided to populate its ponds with the fish, it reckoned without the attention of the local frogs, which are never happier than when eating tilapia. But, when they had gobbled them all up, at least the frogs turned their attention to mosquito larvae.

Over in the US, some fish are managing to elude being on the menu at the Hotel Monaco in Seattle (001 206 621 1770). TTG Europa reports that guests who are missing their pets can order a goldfish complete with bowl to keep them company in their room.

Not such a good idea?

Warnings about bus travel around the world from the new Thomas Cook Overseas Timetable (pounds 8.40)

South America: Even if you can pin a company down to a specific route, they are reluctant to advertise fixed departure times because if they do, their competitors will simply run a service immediately in front ... At least they don't shoot you if you try to get on someone else's bus as they do in some African countries.

Angola: Difficulties with unsealed roads and land-mines make services fairly unreliable.

Democratic Congo: Few bus services are operated in this vast country, and those that do run are frequently delayed, or stopped altogether, in wet weather.

North Korea: An infrequent service of inter-urban buses is operated, but details are virtually impossible to obtain.

Saudi Arabia: Non-Muslim passengers may not travel on buses which travel to, or via, Makkah [Mecca] or Al Madinah [Medina]. Unaccompanied women are not allowed to travel on Saptco buses.