FINLAND The Finnish Travel Bureau is offering a holiday of

eighteen days in Lapland which will appeal to many who love winter sports. It includes a visit to Copenhagen, two nights in Helsingfors with full board and service, second-class rail and sleeper to Rovaniemi, with full board and service at the Hotel Pohjanhovi for five days. The price also includes full board on Finland Line steamships. The total cost of the holiday, first-class on steamers, is £25 os. 5d., third-class on steamers, £20 los. 5d., and the supplement charged for an additional week at Rovaniemi is £3 18s. tod.

About March 1st a new hotel is being opened at Pallastunturi which will be similar to the Hotel Pohjanhovi at Rovaniemi. Pallastunturi is even farther North than Rovariienii, and is reached by train to Rovaniemi and thenCe by motor 'bus up the valley of the Tornio-Joki, which runs along

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(Continued from page 924.) the Swedish border until the mountains of the North West are reached at Pallastunturi. The only extra cost for this resort is an additional 28s. added to the Rovaniemi prices.

Another resort to be recommended this year is Koli, on Lake Pielinen in East Finland. This is chiefly famous as a summer resort for the Koli Heights. There is a comfortable hotel with 3z rooms, and the prices are the same as at Rovanicmi. Koli is reached by train from Helsingfors to Joensu, and by motor 'bus from there to Koli. The World Ski Championship Competition for 1938 will be held at Lahti between February 24th and 28th.

Among the most attractive of the winter cruises this year is one by the famous Arandora Star ' to Madeira and the West Indies. This cruise begins on January 22nd and ends on March 16th, after steaming nearly 14,000 miles. The Arandora Star ' is a steamer de luxe: there is hot and cold running water in each stateroom, bedsteads with Vi-spring mat- tresses, a ballroom to accommodate com- fortably every passenger couple in the ship : there are card rooms, music rooms, smoking rooms, cafe lounge and writing rooms ; there is a garden lounge gallery, a fine sun deck, a large open-air swimming pool, and a personal service which leaves nothing to be desired. Lastly, the passenger list is limited to 400, which enables all passengers to be accommodated at one sitting in the Louis Quatorze restaurant.

The first port of call after Madeira is Trinidad, an island fi mous for its tropical jungle, orchids, humming birds, gay butter- flies, and pitch lake. La Guayra, the next call, has beautiful mountain scenery, after which conies Cristobal on the Panama Canal, and then Kingston, Jamaica. The harbour at Kingston is comparable in beauty to that of Sydney, and the Blue Mountains make a magnificent setting. From Kingston the cruise continues via the Grand Cayman Islands to Vera Cruz, Mexico, where passengers have an opportunity to visit Mexico City. Cuba is reached on Feb- ruary 21st. Havana, the capital, has a population of half a million. It boasts many fine hotels, and a famous race course. Next comes Miami with its Palm Beach, followed by Nassau in the Bahamas with its rich historical interest, San Juan, Bar- bados and Teneriffe. The cruise costs from 114 guineas, and a booklet is available from the Blue Star Line, at 3 Lower Regent Street, London, S.W. r. Another and shorter holiday in the same ship begins on December 17th, and visits Madeira, Gambia, Gold Coast, Sierra Leone, and the Canary; Islands. The distance steamed is 7,592 miles and the fare is from 45 guineas. The cruise lasts for 24 days.

The Canadian Pacific Railway's world cruise by the ' Empress of Britain ' leaves from Monaco on January 22nd, 1938. The cruise is for First-Class only, and visits twenty-one countries and more than fifty ports. Among the countries visited are Italy, Greece, Holy Land, Egypt, Ceylon, Straits Settlements and Siam. Calls are made at Hong Kong, Manila, Java, Bali, Sydney, Melbourne, Wellington, Auckland, Fiji, Honolulu, Hollywood, Panama, and New York. Fares are from 447 guineas, and the cruise occu- pies four months.

The Cunard White Star Line has two interesting cruises among their New Year arrangements. These are in the 20,000 ton ' Laconia,' another luxury ship with every comfort at the disposal of her passengers. The first cruise is to the West Indies, Mexico and Florida, leaving Southampton on January 26th. Ports visited include Las Palmas, Port of Spain, Grenada, Curacao, Cartagena, Colon, Vera Cruz, Havana, Miami, Kingston, St. Thomas, Madeira and Lisbon. The distance steamed is 14,108 miles, the cruise occupies fifty-two days, the fares being from 95 guineas. The second "cruise is to the Mediterranean,

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Travel Notes

(Continued from page 925:) Adriatic and Egypt, calling at Lisbon, Malta, Kotor, Athens, Alexandria, Naples, Gibraltar, &c. The distance steamed is 7,533 miles, and the fare for the thirty-one days' holiday from 53 guineas.

The Booth Line have a delightful cruise which takes its guests L000 miles up the Amazon, and visits Portugal, Madeira and Brazil. The fares, including some remark- ably interesting organised 'excursions, are from £75. This holiday has some unique features and is to be recommended.

Another cruise of six weeks to the West Indies is offered by the Harrison Line. There are sailings on December 3rd and 31st, January 28th, &c. Visits are made to Antigua, St. Kitts, Barbados, Grenada, Trinidad and British Guiana. First-Class only, fares being from £75.

The Yeoward Line offer autumn and winter cruises to Lisbon, Morocco, Madeira and Canary Islands from zr guineas, and a special Christmas cruise on December 24th which lasts 23 days at 25 guineas.

The Royal Mail Line have a selection of excellent cruises to Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina. An illustrated booklet will be sent on request to Royal Mail House, Leadenhall Street, London, E.G. 3.

The Nederland Line suggests winter voyages to the Nederlands Indies, their ships visiting Sumatra and Java and calling at Mediterranean ports. Special hundred- days return tickets from £154, a supple- mentary charge being made for hotel and shore arrangements, including a visit to Bali. The Rotterdam Lloyd Line have a Christmas and New Year Tour of Morocco from Southampton, via Lisbon to Tangier, sailing date is December 14th. The Tour is one of 15 days' duration and the fares are from £24 3s.

Messrs. Lamport & Holt have Sunshine Cruises in the First-class cruising liners ' Voltaire' and Vandyck ' to Madeira for Christmas. The Vandyck ' leaves Southampton on December loth for the Atlantic Islands, returning to Madeira for New Year's Eve Celebrations and Firework Display, returning on January 5th to South- ampton. The s6 days costs from 25 guineas. On February 5th another cruise starts from Southampton for the West Indies. Ports visited include Madeira, Barbados, Trinidad, Kingston, Havana, Miami, &c. The cruise lasts 46 days and fares are from 8o guineas.

Those who favour winter holidays in the U.S.A. will be interested in four special winter cruises from New York which are offered by United States Lines. The first of these sails on Christmas Eve, and visits Nassau, Havana, and Kingston, Jamaica. On December 27th another cruise leaves for Havana. This cruise is by S.S. ' Man- hattan,' and is made between her regular transatlantic sailings. The third and fourth cruises leave New York on January 5th and January 28th respectively, and visit Nassau, Kingston and Havana. Fare for the first cruise is from £23 los. ; the second costs from £16 ; the third from £28 Dos., and the last from £26 los.

CRUISES BY CARGO LINER

Messrs. Galbraith Pembroke and Co., Ltd., have a programme of cruises by cargo liners of from 3,000 to 7,000 tons, with comfortable accommodation for two to twelve passengers, mostly in double-berth cabins, although several of the boats have one or more single rooms. Cruises are divided into three routes ; the Southern Route, to Malta, Alexandria, Jaffa, Haifa, Beyrouth, Tripoli (Syria), Alesandretta, Mersin, and Cyprus. The Northern Route visits Piraeus, Vole, Salonica, Istanbul, Bourgas, Varna, and Constanza. The Adriatic Route calls at Patras, Corfu, Bari, Venice, Trieste, and Fiume, returning either by the same route or via the Mediterranean ports to Rotterdam. For the Southern Route and Northern Route there are usually two or three sailings every (Continued on page 927.)

Travel Notes

(Continued from page 926.) month. For the Adriatic route about every month. A voyage on the Southern Route lasts eight or nine weeks ; on the Northern Route nine to ten weeks.

Messrs. Elders and Fyffes, Ltd. have weekly railings from Bristol to Jamaica. The Jamaica cruise occupies twenty-eight days, including two days at an hotel in Jamaica, and costs from £52 tos. To Bermuda, the cruise is one of twenty-eight days, and includes nine days at an hotel in Bermuda. The cost is £61 15s.

CURRENT TRAVEL NOTES Dr. C. F. Fothergill, of Camps and Tours Union, has again arranged some attractive Winter Sports Parties to Saas-Fee, Switzer- land, this winter. The main party leaves on December 29th, and will be housed at the Hotel du Glacier, the largest hotel in Saas-Fee. It returns on January 12th. This party is for adults and families, and costs 16 guineas. A Girls' Party from December 29th to January 12th will be housed at the same hotel. The fee for this party is 151 guineas. A Boys' Party from December 28th to January 11th will be housed at the Hotel Pension Supersaxo. The fee is 15i guineas. A second party for adults is arranged to visit Saas-Fee from January nth to January 25th; the cost is 15 guineas. These tours are to be recommended.

Messrs. European Wintersports, a sub- sidiary of European Motorways, have an excellent programme of Winter Sports Parties to Arosa, Davos, Engelberg, Grindel- wald, Murren, St. Moritz, Zermatt, Gannish, Kitzbiffiel, St. Anton-am-Arlberg, Chamonix, &c., at very reasonable prices. An excellent illustrated booklet is obtainable from this firm's offices at 150 Regent Street, London, W.I.

Some attractive Christmas arrangements for Winter Sports have been made by British Overseas and Continental Travel, Ltd., at 136-142 Victoria Street, London, S.W. r. Two special courses of 54 days are offered at Samnaun, with instruction from the Hungarian ski champion S. Devan at a total cost of £23 Is. Full particulars will be sent gratis to readers of The Spectatcr on request.

Swiss Hotel Plan (London) Ltd., 103 Jermyn Street, London, S.W. r, offer 16-day " all-in " holidays in Switzerland from 15s. I'd. per day for the coming Winter Sports Season. Departures on December 18th and 22nd, and every Saturday during January, February and March, 1938. Full arrangements for 9 days from £8 145.: sixteen days from £10 2s. The " all-in " holidays include return rail ticket from London, third class, with second class on Channel Steamer, reserved accommodation on special trains and reserved coaches, services of couriers on trains, transport of baggage, tips, baths, evening entertainments, ski-ing lessons, free skating at certain centres, insurance (personal) up to £Soo, baggage insurance for £50, &c., and even a map of Switzerland !

The British National Union is now organising a tour of the Union of South Africa and Southern Rhodesia, to leave England on January 21st, 1938, returning on April ath. The Tour is of particular interest to farmers and those connected with Agriculture, and other Primary Pro- ducers will find excellent opportunities for the study of their special subjects. The Tour provides chances to see all kinds of farming, the Rand Goldfields, Kimberley Diamond Fields, the Native Areas, Game Reserves, &c. The party will be suitably restricted in number and will in no sense be a group of tourists. The Tot rs will have the co-operation of the Governments and Railways and a warm welcome to (Continued on page 928.)

Travel Notes

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visitors is assured. It may be added that the hotels in South Africa are very com- fortable, and the cousine excellent. Full particulars can be obtained from the Organising Secretary, Major-General F. I. Duncan, The British National Union (Inc.), 25 Victoria Street, London, S.W. r.

HELOUAN-LES-B A INS

This famous Egyptian health resort is situated sixteen miles South of Cairo, and a regular service of comfortable trains is main- tained, half hourly, each way, between Cairo and Helouan-les-Bains. It should not be supposed that it is given over to invalids ; actually, thanks to its excellent climate and situation, it is a popular residential centre. There are many places of interest in the vicinity, such as the Quarries of Ma 'Sara and Tura, the Wady Hof Valley, the native village of Old Helouan, Bedrachein, the starting point for excursions to Memphis and the Saakara pyramids. Other places worth visiting are the Helouan Observa- tory, the Petrified Forest and Red Moun- tain.

The Thermal Establishment is entirely modern, and built on Oriental lines. It is equal, both in convenience and appointments, to any institution of its kind to be found in European Spas. The desert springs give an abundance of sulphur, salt, and iron waters, the sulphur waters being stronger than any obtainable in Europe. Diseases treated include all forms of rheumatism, gout, rheumatoid arthritis and stiff joints, lumbago, sciatica, chronic skin diseases, nerve disorders, and many others. The dry climate of Helouan is particularly suitable for bronchitis and asthma.

TRAVEL PUBLICATIONS

In addition to a large number of excellent photographic illustrations, the October num- ber of The Indian State Railways Magazine contains many articles, among which are : " India's Microcosm," " The Highlands of Coorg," " A-foot in Kulu," Simla— Ancient and Modern," and " Elephants of Sorts." There is also a Foreign Travel Section dealing photographically with Travel in Germany. The price of this publication, which may be obtained from the Manager, Indian Railways Bureau, 57 Haymarket, London, S.W. r, is 14s. 6d. per annum, post free, or Is. 2d. a copy, post free.

A number of interesting Travel booklets have reached me, all of which deal with Winter Holiday Suggestions. Messrs. Thos. Cook publish "Tours in South Africa," which, in addition to a very large selection Of Tours, is full of useful information for those who contemplate a visit to South Africa this winter. The suggestions vary from a six- day Circular Motor Tour through Native Territories at inclusive fares from £14 Is. to a Motor Tour from Cape Town covering everything worth seeing in South Africa in fifty days at inclusive prices from £15417s. The booklet is generously illustrated with photographs. The same firm publish a booklet entitled " Egypt," which offers a tour lasting for thirty days from London and back to London at £89, and the choice of another eight or ten tours if this one does not suit one's taste or' convenience. A third booklet published by this firm is called " Winter Sunshine," and has sugges- tions for Egypt and the Sudan, Palestine and Syria, France and Corsica, the• Swiss Lakes, Italy, Malta, Cyprus, Greece, Yugo- slavia, Portugal, Morocco, Soviet Russia, Winter Sports holidays, druising holidays, Sea ani Land Tours, holidays in Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, etc. Messrs. Dean & Dawson publish " Holiday Overseas " which is full of suggestions for holidays in South Africa at reduced fares, tours to Australia, New Z:aland, India, South America, and many other countries.