travellers' checks
l Fill in the gap between the Glasgow and Edinburgh Jazz Festivals by jetting off to Tunisia's Tabarka Festival, which this year features singers Dianne Reeves and Diana Krall, and will run from July 15-19. Tabarka is Tunisia's newest resort and boasts some of the country's finest beaches. It also is gaining a reputation as a leading destination for scuba divers and golfers. For more information on Tabarka generally, as well as details of accommodation and how to get there, call the Tunisian National Tourist Office on 0171 224 5561.
l Nature lovers should check out the Alaskan cruise itineraries on offer from Travelpack, since they are likely to spot hunchback whales, seals, sea otters, circling bald eagles and even shoreline grizzlies on cruises through the Inside Passage.
Travlepack's Alaskan cruises are onboard the Mercury or the Galaxy, two ships which offer a high standard of service and comfort, with staterooms for every passenger, fine dining and 24-hour individual steward service. All of the five seven-night itineraries include shore trips to the native Indian town of Ketchikan and the gold rush town of Skagway.
Prices for the cruises start at #994 per person (excluding airfares) for June and September departures from Vancouver. Included in the price are seven nights' cabin accommodation (based on two sharing), all meals, entertainment and shore excursions.
The cruises can be taken on their own or added to a 15-day tour of the Canadian Rockies, which costs from #1447 and includes return flights from Glasgow, Manchester or Gatwick, and transfers, coach travel and 14 nights' hotel accommodation. For more information, telephone Travelpack on 0990 747101.
l We are delighted to congratulate Herald travel writer Margaret Stenhouse, whose recent feature Under The Volcano (published Saturday March 30) has been awarded second prize in the International Press Award for Journalism: ''A few words about Sicily'', promulgated by Alitalia, ENIT (the Italian Tourist Board) and the Regional Tourist Board of Catania.
Competition was stiff. Journalists from France, Germany, Spain, USA, Austria, Scandinavia, Canada, Japan, South Africa, the Argentine, Belgium and, of course, Britain, submitted travel features published in their own countries between August '97 and March '98.
Margaret was invited to Catania for the prizegiving ceremony last week. Winning articles will eventually be translated and will appear in the Alitalia in-flight magazines Arrivederci and Ulisse 2000.
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