In brief

Summer bargains have landed

The best European air bargain this summer has arrived: under pounds 100 to any of four European cities. Because of flat bookings on charter flights from Gatwick to Budapest, Prague, Athens and Salonika, Campus Travel (071-730 3402) has introduced a fare of pounds 99

return. Departures are at least twice weekly, so lengths of stay are flexible; the maximum is one month.

Hop it with BA

The latest crop of British Airways World Offers (0345 222111) is a little short on bargains, reflecting the heavy demand on most of its flights. The best deals are for short hops: Amsterdam pounds 77, Paris pounds 83 and Barcelona pounds 165. These fares are for sale between now and 28 July; bookings for weekends are already heavy.

Children go free

Travel from Stansted to

Amsterdam or Paris with Time Off (071-235 8070), and you can take a child under 12 free. Adult prices are from pounds 184 to Paris and pounds 213 to Amsterdam, including two nights' B&B. Two adults

travelling together can take two children free.

Brittany Ferries is also offering free places for children (when two adults travel together) for gite and apartment holidays in France. Bookings must be made within a month of departure. You must book through a travel agent.

Tax avoidance

Avro (081-715 1999) is offering a 'tax-buster' on bookings made before next Friday; buy a ticket now for departure after 1 November, when the Air Passenger Duty comes into effect, and the firm will pay the charge.

Latvia direct

Baltic International Airways now flies daily between Gatwick and the Latvian capital, Riga. The lowest fare is pounds 259; three-night packages including hotel accommodation are available for pounds 312 from Regent Holidays (0272 211711), and have no date restrictions.