travellers' checks

Local safari outfit Asia to Africa Safaris has started selling trips for June departures onwards to a new safari lodge in northern Kenya called Saruni Samburu, which is close to the Samburu National Reserve. Mid-season (June 1 to 30, October 1 to December 23) prices start at HK$11,000 per adult, which includes three nights' accommodation, local airstrip transfers, all drinks except luxury spirits, day and night game drives, dinner, breakfast, bushwalks, bird-watching, laundry service and one massage. During high season (July 1 to September 30 and December 24 to 31) the price increases to HK$12,600. Child rates are about HK$3,000 cheaper year-round. These prices, which will be available until the end of the year, do not include international flights. For further details, call Asia to Africa Safaris on 2525 2776 or visit www.atoasafaris.com.

It's probably not the most scientific method of gauging the cost of a trip, but a quick visit to The Price of a Pint will at least give you an idea of how much to budget for beer. Just type in your destination, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, and up comes the titular tariff (US$5.12 and US$1.75, respectively, and rapidly counting in these two cases). The total is based on the average prices sent in by people on the ground and, this being a new website, data for many of the 145 countries is lacking. To find out the price of a pint at your next destination, go to www.pintprice.com.

A two-night package to the South Korean port city of Pusan (above) is available from Cathay Pacific Holidays from HK$2,549 per person, twin-share. Hotel accommodation is at the Novotel Ambassador (www.novotel-asia.com) or you can stay in a deluxe city view room at the optimistically named Paradise Hotel (www.paradisehotel.co.kr) for HK$2,779. These prices, which include flights with Dragonair, will be available until the end of June but not for travel on May 1, 9, 10 or 11, or June 6 and 7. Tickets are valid for seven days and extra nights are available at both hotels for HK$430 and HK$580, respectively. If you have a few days to spare you can take the ferry to the rustic Japanese island of Tsushima, which is only a couple of hours away. See www.city.tsushima.nagasaki.jp for an introduction. For further details, call 2747 4388, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.cxholidays.com.