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email:[email protected] Gulf Air is offering free economy class tickets as part of its 50th anniversary celebrations. Passengers who buy long-haul first or business class tickets out of Hong Kong will receive a return ticket to Bangkok which is fully transferable and valid for one year. The offer is open until the end of the year. Passengers who travel first or business class to Bangkok with Gulf will be given a free ticket in the same class, until December 15. Gulf Air has daily services from the SAR to the Gulf via Bangkok with onward connections to Africa and Europe.

The eight-day group tours leave Harbin in China, but are not cheap, costing US$1,273 (about HK$9,900) per person, twin sharing, or US$1,470 for singles. For information, contact Intour-Khabarovsk (Intourist), fax: (4212) 328 774, e-mail: [email protected]. Web site: www.intour.khv.ru The Edinburgh International Festival takes place between August 13 and September 2, and will offer more than 180 performances. If you are planning to visit Scotland at that time, check out the Web site, www.eif.co.uk for the festival programme. Packages, including flights, hotels and restaurants are available on-line. Meanwhile, the National Trust of Scotland is offering free entry to its more than 90 attractions for all accompanied under-18s for the rest of the year. They include castles, historic houses and gardens. Web site: www.nts.org.uk P&O is normally associated with cruises, but it has become the sole agent for Contiki Holidays, which offers trips with a difference, group living for people aged 18-35 in small hotels or tented accommodation, with the emphasis on cultural exchange, and friendship. Each tour group includes people from different countries around the world. No single nationality is allowed to comprise more than half the total group membership. Destinations include Europe, the United States and Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Tours are from 10 to 46 days. Contact P&O at 2956 6810 for more details.