Travel Notes
SPRING TOURS AND CRUISES
Tan steady increase in popularity of Norway. Sweden, and Finland of recent years is already making itself felt for the 1939 holidays, and there is no doubt that the quiet, peaceful friendliness of these countries is finding more and more favour with travellers from Great Britain. Each of these countries is beautiful, yet different from the others. The beauty of Norway, of course, is of the kind which is majestic; that of Sweden is quieter and more restful, per- haps; Finland, larger in area than England and Scotland, is intersected by innu- merable rivers and streams, with many lakes of remarkable beauty. The Koh Heights in Eastern Finland afford magni- ficent views ; but a new and popular development is the opening to tourists of Finnish Lapland. All the people of Scandinavia welcome very warmly visitors from this country; their cities and hotels are exceedingly clean and comfortable ; the cuisine is good, and of a refreshing novelty to those who have not previously visited these countries. The Finnish Travel Bureau, 7 Victoria Street, London, S.W.t, issue an excellent handbook to Finland, while the Swedish Travel Bureau, 21 Coventry Street, London, have several interesting handbooks on Sweden as a holiday centre. There are a very large number of Scandinavian Tours and Cruises being offered this year, ranging from £5 for 5 days in Sweden, to a 21- days' " Round the North Cape " tour for £38, by Messrs. Thos. Cook and Son. Messrs. Dean and Dawson have an inter- esting variety of Scandinavian Tours : one, of 15 days' duration, covers the Scandina- vian Capitals, the fare being £22 5s., from London Another, visiting Norway, Sweden, and Denmark (2 weeks) costs £3i; a third, suggests a fortnight's holi- day to the mountains and fjords of Western Norway and costs £20 5s. The Workers' Travel Association also have some tempting suggestions, notably a motor tour through Western and Central Norway. There will be regular depar- tures from the beginning of July—the earliest date on which some of the mountain roads included in the itinerary are open to traffic.
Those who prefer cruising holidays have an equally wide choice. The Swedish Travel Bureau suggest a delightful cruise through the Gota Canal, which provides both a first-class holiday and a very in- teresting insight into the industries and habits of the people. Messrs. Lamport and Holt have a cruise to Norway by Vandyck ' on June 17th lasting for 13 days and costing from 17 guineas. The Orient Line also includes Norway amongst its first-class cruises. The Blue Funnel Line have a special cruise to Norway and the Baltic, sailing from Glasgow on May 6th. The Royal Mail Line announce three Spring Cruises. The first, on April 14th, is to the Mediterranean and Adriatic : 25 days from 34 guineas. The second leaves on May 6th for the Mediterranean, visit- ing Algiers, Cannes, Leghorn (for Pisa), Amalfi, Naples and Lisbon: 17 days from
27 guineas. The third is a Whitsun Cruise from Southampton to the Kid Canal and Copenhagen, and leaves Southampton on May 26ti, : 6 days from to guineas. The Bibby Line have a series of 8-day coastal cruises visiting Antwerp, Rotterdam, and Hamburg for first-class passengers, with fares from to to 12 guineas, and short-sea voyages to Gibraltar for Tangier, Marseilles for the Riviera, and Egypt. The Arandora Star' has three luxurious Spring Cruises, the first on April 14th to Malta, Athens, Corfu, Naples, Villefranche, &c., lasting 21 days and costing from 4o guineas. Another on May 6th visits Corfu, Split, Abbazia, Venice, Brioni, Lisbon, &c., tak- ing 20 days and costing from 35 guineas. The third leaves on June 2nd. This is the Annual Birthday Cruise to Palermo, Athens, Gallipoli, Constantinople, Rhodes, Malta and Algiers. The duration is 21 days, from 37 guineas. The Rotterdam Lloyd Line suggest sea tours to Lisbon, Tangier and Marseilles, and there are regular departures from Southampton. This firm publishes an interesting booklet entitled " Mediterranean Magic," which gives full particulars and will be sent gratis on request. The ever-popular Booth Line - cruises up the Amazon have reduced fares from May to September, the cost during that period being from £60 for seven weeks.
The New York World Fair is attract- ing a large number of people to Canada and America this year, and special arrangements have been made by the ship- ping companies to bring the World Fair within the reach of holidaymakers from Great Britain. The Cunard White Star Line have five itineraries, some of them so planned that visitors can return on the same vessel. These will be available to tourist and third-class passengers taking advantage of the excursion fares during the periods April 3rd to April 23rd, and June 26th to July 23rd. This company have a wonderfully-varied selection of tours, from 4 days, visiting New York, Niagara, Toronto and Montreal, to the " Across Canada " tour visiting Quebec, Montreal, Ottawa, Minaki, Jasper, Prince Rupert, Vancouver, Victoria, Lake Louise, Banff, Winnipeg, Toronto, Niagara Falls and New York. The Canadian Pacific Railway also offer special excursion rates for the World Fair. A series of short tours have been arranged which, from April to October, will leave Liverpool, Belfast, Glasgow, or Southampton. Tours are personally escorted, and visit Quebec, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Niagara and New York. All-in-fares, including ocean passages from £48. A special booklet giv- ing full details may be obtained from travel agencies. • A wide selection of holidays is to be found in the various books and leaflets recently published by the travel agents.
Every type of holiday at home and abroad will be found amongst them. Messrs.
Dean and Dawson publish " Britain and Ireland," " Holidays on the Continent," " Easter Holidays," and " Cruises and Sea Tours." Messrs. Thos. Cook and Son offer " Easter Holidays," " Open Air Holi- days Abroad," " Scandinavia," &c. any
of which are obtainable through, the travel agencies, or any branch of the firm concerned.
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