Travel: Departures

More go to France

AFTER a poor year in 1993, bookings for holidays to France have risen by almost 30 per cent. The Association of British Tour Operators to France credits this to the improved exchange rate and the upturn in the UK economy. 'The highest levels of improvement are in the camping and self-catering areas,' said Richard Brierly, chief executive of the association. However, discounts are still widely available. For example, until 23 June Eurocamp (0565 626262) is offering three-week holidays from pounds 189 for two adults and up to four children, including tent and ferry crossings.

For long riders

CYCLING holidays in New Zealand are included for the first time in the 1994 programme of Bath-based Bike Tours (0225 480130). Also featured are Bordeaux-Barcelona and Crakow-Budapest trips, and an autumn tour of New England. For the first time in two years, a major UK tour is offered: a 150-mile Snowdon- Southwold ride.

The New England tour costs pounds 569, with Gatwick-Boston return flight an additional pounds 370. The Bordeaux-Barcelona ride is pounds 489, plus return rail fare of pounds 198. The seven- night Snowdon-Southwold trip costs pounds 298.

Chelsea break

KEITH PROWSE (0800 881882) is offering a short break in London that includes entry to the Chelsea Flower Show on 27 May. The pounds 98 two-night package includes bed and breakfast at the Scandic Crown Victoria Hotel.

Canada by air

AN AIR pass that allows seven days' unlimited flights between a range of Canadian cities, including Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal, is on sale for pounds 99 from Air Ontario (0737 832525), which includes New York and Washington on its network. An air pass covering western Canada is available from Air BC (0737 832525), offering seven days' unlimited flying between a network of cities including Vancouver, Victoria, Calgary, Edmonton, Regina and Winnipeg.

Skip Afghanistan

THE Foreign Office is warning travellers to avoid Afghanistan. 'Continuing tensions between different Afghan groups have led to recurrent outbreaks of fighting in Kabul and other parts of the country. The situation generally remains extremely volatile,' says its travel advice unit (071-270 4129). There is no resident mission in Afghanistan to provide consular help; the travel situation in the country can be checked with the British High Commission in Islamabad, Pakistan.

The unit also says that, while public order in Albania has improved in the past year, tourists going outside Tirana should travel with a guide. 'Health risks (Hepatitis A and B in particular) are high, and medical facilities are poor, with frequent shortages of medicine.' The supply of fuel to petrol stations can be erratic: 'It is advisable to carry full jerrycans for long journeys.'

Travel bookshelf

This month's bestselling travel books:

1. Goa: Practical Travel A to Z (Hayit, pounds 3.95)

2. Central Asia: The Practical Handbook by Giles Whittell (Cadogan Books, pounds 10.99)

3. Desert Biking: A Guide to Independent Motorcycling in the Sahara by Chris Scott (Travellers Press, pounds 9.99)

4. Silk Route by Rail by Dominic Streatfield-Janes (Trailblazer Publications, pounds 9.99)

5. Nomad: One woman's journey into the Heart of Africa by Mary Anne Fitzgerald (Picador, pounds 5.99)

6. Discovery Guide to Jordan and the Holy Land by Diana Darke (Immel Publishing, pounds 12.95)

7. Pilgrim's Road: A Journey to Santiago de Compostela by Bettina Selby (Little Brown and Company, pounds 16.99)

8. Venice: Everyman Guides (Davis Campbell Publishers, pounds 16.99)

9. A Journey in Ladakh by Andrew Harvey (Picador, pounds 5.99)

10. Odyssey Nature Guide to Birds of India by Bikram Grewal (Guidebook Company Ltd, pounds 14.95)

Information supplied by The Travellers' Bookshop, 25 Cecil Court, London WC2N 4EZ (071-836 9132).

Last-minute flights

Quest Worldwide (081-547 3322): Until 31 March Heathrow to Los Angeles, with an optional stopover in New York, pounds 240, stay must include one Saturday night; until 15 March London to New York, pounds 190.

The Travel Bug (071-835 2000): For departures in April or May London to Sydney, with Air France, pounds 305 one- way. The flight departs on Wednesdays and Sundays, with stopovers allowed in Singapore and Jakarta; until 30 June London to Bangkok, with EVA Air, pounds 418: minimum stay seven days, maximum stay of three months.

Unijet (0444 459191): 11 March Gatwick to Orlando, 14 nights, pounds 269; 12 March Manchester to Orlando, 14 nights, room-only, pounds 269.

Late packages

B & B Abroad (0689 855538): 11 March Portsmouth to Caen, four nights bed and breakfast in a small restored chateau in the Loire Valley, pounds 92.50 per person (based on two sharing) including ferry crossings for car and passengers.

Cosmos (061-480 5799): 10 March Gatwick to Faro, seven nights self-catering, pounds 119; 13 March Stansted to Monastir, seven nights bed and breakfast, pounds 159; 15 March Gatwick to Tenerife, seven nights self- catering, pounds 199.

Italian Impulse (081-741 9007): 11 March Gatwick to Rome, three nights bed and breakfast, pounds 185; Gatwick to Venice, three nights bed and breakfast, pounds 185; 12 March Gatwick to Taormina, seven nights bed and breakfast, pounds 230.