The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade suggests reconsidering travel plans to the following places: civil unrest and violence in Indonesia and Fiji, Brazil (violent street crime), Uganda (violence re presidential elections), Laos (bombing in public places).

Maeve recommends Angelina's which can be found opposite Le Louvre for the most fabulous molten chocolate!! It comes in a jug complete with jugs of cream and milk to mix to taste. Yum yum!!

Want to tell us about your favourite coffee corner or watering hole? Then contact the Beetle: Beetle@globetrotters.co.uk

Be a contestant for a new TV quiz show

Does your knowledge span the globe? If you fancy yourself as a modern-day Marco Polo, and have the geographical, cultural and scientific knowledge it will take to get around the world, then Emma at Meridian TV wants to hear from you!

She is working on an exciting new quiz show and is scouring the planet for the person who knows most about our planet. Could it be you? The Beetle has already taken part in a pilot, and sadly has to report that she was not the winner – but it is a lot of fun and you get to meet some really interesting people – and the TV crew are quite nice too! It's a great opportunity!

If you have global general knowledge, think you could be the 8th wonder of the world, live in the UK and would like to take part, then please contact Emma by e-mail on thomase@meridiantv.com or call on 02380 712 118.

Under 24? A member of Globetrotters Club? Interested in a £1,000 travel award?

Know someone who is? We have £1,000 to award each year for five years for the best submitted independent travel plan. Interested?

Then seeour legacy page on our Website, where you can apply with your plans for a totally independent travel trip and we'll take a look at it. Get those plans in!!

Ever wondered where pastry chefs for the QE2 are recruited? Have a look at:http://www.hcareers.com/ This site shows jobs in the travel, tourism and leisure sector.

A late recommendation iswww.ktc.com/~blodwen which is run by the founder of the Globetrotters Club back in 1945. Norman now recommends people to take independent bicycle trips around the world. Have a look at his site! He is happy to give independent and impartial advice on bicycle trips.

Frank from Alabama says that he uses Velcro on his trouser pockets.

He also carries a wallet in his back pocket. It contains two dollars, that is two one dollar bills, between them he has newspapers cut to same size everything in a plastic bag.

In the bag he has Swiss Blue, a chemical, when it comes into contact with hands etc. it turns a very bright blue/purple. It will ruin clothing and anything else that it touches.

Nothing too good for the thieves is his motto!

Got any travel tips for the Beetle? Then e-mail them to:Beetle@globetrotters.co.uk

Need help? Want a travelling buddy or advice about a place or country – want to share something with us – why not visit our Mutual Aid section of the Website:Mutual Aid