Travel Departures: Crime warning

THE Travel Advice Unit (071-270 4129) of the Foreign Office warns visitors to Venezuela that violent street crime is increasing in all the cities. The FO advises travellers to take 'sensible precautions': do not carry large amounts of cash or wear expensive jewellery, avoid the poorer parts of cities, be cautious after dark - visitors are frequently robbed. The FO says tourists should use only official taxi ranks: 'metro and bus services are generally safe in Caracas'.

The Travel Advice Unit says that, while Bulgaria is still 'a relatively safe country', there has been an increase in crime, particularly mugging and vehicle hijacking, sometimes with violence. 'Visitors should be vigilant,' says the FO.