Travel World's Places

Fingerprinting The Innocent The Rise Of Biometrics

Not so long ago being compelled to give fingerprints meant only one thing you were a suspect in some wrongdoing. Now however it seems you are obliged to give your fingerprints when doing something as innocent as hiring a car; and thats just the beginning as biometric identification enters more aspects of everyday life.

Anyone wishing to hire a car at Stansted airport is now compelled to give a fingerprint before collecting their cars and whilst its not yet a prerequisite of car rental at Londons two major airports Gatwick and Heathrow at the smaller Essex airport it is compulsory under order of the police! All customers fingerprints are collected as part of a new scheme between the hire companies and the Essex Constabulary taken so that if the car is subsequently used in a crime or simply stolen then the fingerprints will be collected from the hire firms and the criminal tracked down.

The scheme has been introduced in an attempt to combat a rise in criminals targeting car hire firms at airports. The crooks have recently taken to presenting forged passports credit cards and driving licences and then once they have taken possession of the hire vehicle drive it away never to be seen again. By taking customers fingerprints the police believe the process will act either as a deterrent to the criminals or as the first clue in tracking them down.

Waving off protests that taking fingerprints is excessive when simply hiring a car Detective Sergeant Vic Murphy based at the CID unit at Stansted airport said: Its not really intrusive. Its different and people will need to adjust. This isnt big brother its about protecting peoples identities. These prints will never see the light of day unless a crime is committed. He insists that the extra checking is already reducing fraud and at least one of the hire firms taking part in the pilot is said to be keen to roll out the scheme to the rest of its airport locations.

Despite the increase in biometric identification around the country and this scheme in particular there are no plans as yet to introduce compulsory fingerprinting for car hire at Gatwick Airport or indeed at Heathrow but if the scheme at Stansted significantly reduces crime or leads to more successful convictions then it may well follow however vociferous the complaints of the civil liberties groups.

About the writer:  Andrew Regan is an online freelance author from Scotland. He is a keen rugby player and enjoys travelling.

Find Out How To Find Hotel Of Your Choice!

India is a dream destination for many. Westerners are fascinated by the country and visit often. It has a rich cultural background and heritage. Every state is unique and has rich history. From mountains to palaces to hill stations every part of the country is unique. It has some of the world’s best beaches in Goa. Some of the best hillstations the magnificent Taj Mahal at Agra draws innumerable travellers every year.

If you are a first time visitor and dont now where to stay you can approach a travel guide. He will guide you and help you get hotel accommodation of your choice. Whatever be your choice budget hotels luxury hotels standard hotels you can get them all by specifying your need.

India Hotels provide excellent facilities. You can look forward to a pleasant stay at any of these hotels. You can even get the relevant information on these hotels online. Update yourself on the types of hotels and accommodation available. You can even subscribe to a newsletter which brings home news on hotels and the types of facility available. By paying a nominal amount you can get the relevant information on hotels. You can also know more about budget discount and deluxe hotels in India. If you or any of your friends plan to visit India and are unaware of the place to stay you can find information on hotels online. Get relevant information on the facilities offered by the hotels the best discounted rates online hotel reservations and a hotel bookings facility.

This will help save a lot of time that would be otherwise spent on looking out for a hotel. Moreover it helps you make a quick decision. If you are visiting a place in a hurry you can get the relevant information in an instant and choose the place of stay. If you were to approach an agent he would charge some amount to provide hotel. The information available online will provides a brief summary customer ratings and reviews for hotels and accommodation. You are assured of getting excellent facilities and security round the clock. If budget is a problem you can find details about the price of accommodation beforehand. Based on the details available you can decide on the choice of hotel. You can also look forward to best rates for your stay in India. Booking a hotel in India is made easy with the online facility. Within minutes you can get the details and book accommodation.

About the writer:nbsp;nbsp;Sadhana D Expert Author Platinum status. Get all your information and guidance related to hotels: Hotel India
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Finding The Right Cruise For You

The most popular cruise destinations now are the Mediterranean the Caribbean and Alaska. Here is how to choose the perfect region for your next cruise.

The Mediterranean

Most cruises focus on one of two regions.

Western Mediterranean including the west coast of Italy the French Riviera southern Spain and Portugal and perhaps Tunisia or Gibraltar.

Eastern Mediterranean. This includes the Greek isles Turkey Croatia and the east coast of Italy.

Mediterranean highlights: Some people fall in love with Rome and Venice. Others prefer less heralded cities such as Lisbon Portugal and Split Croatia.

When to go: The high season runs from late April through early November. The best deals and weather are in late April and May before crowds arrive or September and October after they leave.

The Caribbean

There are three basic itineraries.

Western Caribbean is best for those who want beaches with an occasional visit to a historic site.

Typical ports of call: Cozumel Mexico Jamaica Grand Cayman.

Eastern Caribbean is best for combining sun worship with other activities such as shopping and snorkeling.

Typical ports of call: St. Thomas St. Martin San Juan Puerto Rico.

Southern Caribbean is best for those who enjoy exploring islands the distances between the ports are short.

Typical porfs of call: Curacao Martinique Antigua.

Caribbean highlights: St. Martin/St. Maarten is the smallest island to have been partitioned between two nations France and Holland. St. Thomas features great dutyfree shopping and Grand Turk and Cozumel have exceptional diving and snorkeling.

When to go: High season is January through March. The best deals are during the first two weeks of December when demand plummets between Thanksgiving and Christmas. April and May also are good times for deals.

Alaska

There are two basic itineraries.

Inside Passage is best for those who want to see coastal Alaska with as few hassles as possible. It departs from Vancouver and Seattle and typically gets as far north as Glacier Bay near Juneau before turning back south.

The Glacier Route makes arranging connecting flights tricky but it does give cruisers a chance to explore Alaska’s interior before or after their cruise. The ship departs from Seattle or Vancouver. Or it departs from Seward and ends in Seattle or Vancouver.

Large ships provide more onboard entertainment options but a smaller ship will get you much closer to the gorgeous coastline.

Alaskan highlights: Ships of all sizes cruise the stunning Hubbard Glacier and Glacier Bay.

When to go: Alaska’s cruise season is mid May through mid September. Prices climb from mid June through mid August. Late May and early September offer the best deals. The weather will be cooler but you will see more wildlife.

About the writer:nbsp;nbsp;Ranju Kumar is an assistant editor of TRAVELENTERTAINMENT is an “Under the Radar” Internet Entrepreneur who has been quietly selling various products from past 8 years.Get more moneysaving travel tips at TRAVELENTERTAINMENT