Dinkelsbuhl, Germany - Sections of the Romantic Road linking Wurzburg to Fussen in southern Germany are to be re-routed as part of a plan to avoid stretches that have been broadened from two to four lanes. Some parts of the road are frequently used by drivers trying to avoid paying highway tolls thus changing the route's character and scenery, according to the Romantic Road's tourist office in Dinkelsbuhl.
The new sections link Donauworth, Leitheim, Marxheim, Thierhaupten and Augsburg which means the road will pass through the historic town of Rain.
The road then continues through Friedberg, Kissing and Mering towards Landsberg am Lech.
The new sections are due to be fully signposted by the beginning of the 2009 holiday season. ---- Swiss cuts passenger fuel surcharges =
Frankfurt, Germany - Air carrier Swiss has lowered fuel surcharges on all flights from Germany.
Long distance flights originating in Germany and flying via Zurich now have fuel surcharges of 165 dollars each way down from 183 dollars, according to the carrier's office in Frankfurt.
Surcharges on European flights have been reduced from 44 to 40 dollars each way.
--- Hurtigruten to offer more cruises to Spitsbergen =
Hamburg - The Hurtigruten cruise company has chartered another ship to ply the waters around the island of Spitsbergen in the Svalbard archipelago north of Norway.
Together with the Nordstjernen and the Polar Star, the MS Expedition will offer trips to the archipelago from summer 2009.
The Expedition was constructed in 1972 and is being overhauled to make it suitable for use in the cold polar waters, according to Hurtigruten's office in Hamburg.
Previously Hurtigruten used the Expedition as a ferry in the Baltic Sea linking Sweden, Finland and the Aland Islands.
There is room for 120 passengers aboard the ship which is 105 metres in length.
From June 8 to September 8, the Expedition will travel 13 times on nine-day cruises to the islands which are above 80 degrees latitude. ---
Slovakia gets new currency and highway laws =
Munich - Slovakia introduced the euro as its currency on January 1. Anyone with Slovakian Crowns at home will still be able to exchange them at banks until the end of 2009.
There are also changes for car drivers in Slovakia who will have to travel with their headlights switched on during daylight hours, according to the Munich-based ADAC, Europe's largest automobile club.
The penalty for driving without headlights could be up to 187 dollars.
Using a mobile phone while driving will also be against the law and users incur a fine of up to 187 dollars.
