Travel: Departures: Late availability

WITH the school holidays approaching, cheap deals within Europe are drying up fast; the real bargains are to be found to destinations farther afield.

Avro (081-715 1999): 19 July, Gatwick-Malaga, pounds 95.

Bluebird Express (0444 235678): book by 20 July, Gatwick, Manchester, Glasgow and Belfast to Vancouver, pounds 359

Austravel (071-734 7755): Brisbane/Cairns/Sydney, pounds 699. Outbound travel on Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines or Malaysia Airlines (with free trip to Borneo). Return travel must be in October or November, direct on Britannia.

Last-minute packages

Belleair (081-785 3266): 22 July, Edinburgh-Malta, 14 nights self-catering, pounds 330.

The Imaginative Traveller (081- 742 3113): 21 July, Gatwick to Luxor and Aswan, pounds 445 for seven days, including Nile cruise.

Jasmin Tours (0628 531121): 22 and 29 July, Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow or Heathrow to Dubai ( pounds 399) or Oman ( pounds 480) on British Airways, plus three nights B & B.

Jetset Tours (071-436 6757): 12 August, London-New York (United Airlines), three nights room only, pounds 489 plus pounds 22 tax.