Holiday hazards

DEPARTURES

Holiday hazards

The Foreign Office has upgraded its travel advice service with a series of enquiry lines covering 11 countries. Travellers who want the latest advice should dial 0374 5009 followed by the following two numbers: Egypt - 26; the Gambia - 29; India - 35; Israel - 40; Jamaica - 41; Kenya - 47; Nigeria - 62; Russia - 68; South Africa - 74; Turkey - 86; US - 90. The lines are at local-call rates. Advice for other countries continues to be available on 0171-270 4129 or 4179. It can also be found on BBC2 Ceefax, from page 564.

The Foreign Office warns that despite the ceasefire between Ecuador and Peru, visitors to the latter country face potential problems: "Armed robbery is a possibility, and with the run-up to the presidential elections on 9 April, there is an increased risk of terrorist bombings." This applies particularly to the capital, Lima, where, you are warned, "Muggings and street crime are common."

"All non-essential visits to Azerbaijan should be postponed," according to the Foreign Office, following a mutiny by Interior Ministry forces. BA, none the less, is going ahead with its new service from Gatwick to the Azeri capital, Baku. The twice-weekly flight goes via Bucharest and takes seven and a half hours; the lowest fare is £919 return.