Deals of the Week: Eurostar snow train, Gillingham FC Ferry, Birmingham to Beijing

A TRAIN

Taking to the mountains by rail can save stress for skiers. This winter, the usual Eurostar snow train is running at weekends from London Waterloo to Bourg St Maurice in the French Alps; book on 08705 186 186 or through www.eurostar.com. But if your destination is the Swiss Alps, the new Lyria service from Paris could be the connection you need. This high-speed train takes four hours from Gare de Lyon in the French capital to Lausanne, and costs €106 (£70) return; combined with a Eurostar train from London to Paris, this could get you there in eight hours for under £150 return.

Once the ski season begins, there will be special services direct from Paris to Martigny (for Verbier) and Visp (for Saas Fee and Zermatt). For information, call 00 33 1 42 93 38 03 or visit www.lyria.biz.

A BOAT

This season is turning out well for Gillingham FC. Thanks to SeaFrance (08705 711 711, www.seafrance.com), Kent's Nationwide League football team may find they win thousands of extra supporters. The French ferry company, which sails 15 times a day between Dover and Calais, gives a discount on a wide range of fares to anyone quoting "Gillingham FC" when they phone to book. For example, a five-day return for a car plus two people is normally £145, but falls by £20 if you name the right team. Extra passengers can travel for £5 return. Proof of having attended a Gillingham home game is not necessary, but to sound convincing note that the club's name is pronounced with a soft g.

A PLANE

Birmingham to Beijing and Humberside to Hong Kong are two items on the Chinese menu offered by KLM. The Dutch airline has given Trailfinders (020-7938 3939, www.trailfinders.co.uk) an exclusive deal for departures from 15 UK airports served by Air UK. The Beijing option costs £378 return from any of the airports served; at £405, Shanghai is almost as good; and Hong Kong is on sale for £439.

There are also exclusive fares to Singapore and South Africa, but these are in the £450-£550 range, which is nothing exceptional. One other choice looks good value: Cairo, which usually sells from London at £250 and up, is a flat £260 from airports all over the UK.

Availability is limited – and you can forget about low prices over Christmas.

A HURDLE

Yet another obstacle has emerged for people who try to reduce hassle, and the risk of lost luggage, by taking everything as hand baggage. At Germany's leading airport, Frankfurt, gauges have been installed at security control points – rather than just at the check-in desk – and there is zero tolerance of oversize bags. Lufthansa has its main hub at Frankfurt, and is warning that "Passengers bringing oversized pieces of baggage to security control will be sent back by the staff to the airline check-in counter and must give up their baggage for check-in."