A look at the latest travel and holiday news and some of the special offers and good value deals now available from the tour operators

EUROSTAR, the high-speed train operator that links the UK to the Continent, has launched a series of expansion works at Paris Gare du Nord which will improve the station’s Eurostar check-in area - delivering faster and easier access to the departure lounge. The continued success of High Speed 1, which opened in November cutting Eurostar journey times, has seen a significant increase in the numbers of travellers using the station. The new check-in gates will accept bar-code ticketing which Eurostar will trial later this year.

YOU can sail to Spain on a three-night mini cruise with P&O Ferries from just £15 per person each way, as the company celebrates the 15th anniversary of its Portsmouth - Bilbao service. The special fare covers a range of travel dates in April and May with a cut-off date for bookings to be made by April 25. The price includes an en suite cabin and is based on two people sharing. On arrival in Bilbao there's time for a shore excursion, with the renowned Guggenheim gallery a firm favourite, before the return trip on the Pride of Bilbao cruise ferry. On board facilities include live entertainment, casino, a range of bars and restaurants, two cinemas showing the latest releases, a beauty centre and fitness suite. For more information or to book visit www.POferries.com/minicruise or call 08716 648007 quoting 15th anniversary.

HOLIDAY firm DialAFlight's website has won the prestigious Travel website of the Year award from consumer site Review Centre - despite not accepting on-line bookings. Customers said they found the site easy to navigate and preferred to speak to a sales adviser once they had found a flight or hotel.They were also impressed with DialAFlight's pledge that the phone would be answered live within eight seconds. The firm, which has 350 travel advisers and is one of the country's leading travel companies, is celebrating its 27th year in business. "Our customers tell us they love the website but do not want to spend hours completing forms on-line. They also loathe automated phone systems and like the fact that our sales advisers have so much experience." said managing director Peter Stephens. "It's just good old fashioned service."

CANADIAN Affair, the UK’s largest tour operator to Canada, has launched its summer 2008 flight schedule to Canada and has held fares at 2007 prices, with flights available from £99 one-way, including taxes and charges. Travellers have a choice of 58 direct non-stop flights each week, with nine UK airports to choose from including Gatwick and Heathrow. Canadian Affair flies to seven destinations: Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Halifax, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver. It also specialises in quality, tailor-made holidays offering hotels, Rocky Mountaineer train tours, self-drive holidays, cruises, motor-homes and more at competitive prices. For information and reservations, visit www.canadianaffair.com or call 0207 616 9999 or 0141 248 6777.

EUROSTAR and Southeastern are providing international travellers with free connections to and from Ashford International and Ebbsfleet International stations. The deal means Eurostar passengers will be able to travel free on Southeastern services to Ashford International or to local rail stations near Ebbsfleet by showing confirmation of their ticket and a passport. Passengers also get free travel on the Fastrack bus service that connects Dartford, Gravesend and Greenhithe stations to Ebbsfleet, as well as Bluewater. Eurostar's daily parking charge at Ashford is matched at Ebbsfleet, at £11.50 a day. Travellers in Business Premier and holders of Eurostar’s frequent traveller card, receive free parking for trips of up to four days at both stations. To book Eurostar tickets visit www.eurostar.com or call 08705 186 186 or contact your travel agent.

THE chef at a Lake District hotel has put food from the Beatrix Potter books onto his menu. Graham Gelder, chef at the Lindeth Howe Country House Hotel in Windermere has recreated some of the tasty treats enjoyed by characters in the author’s books, including herb pudding and jam tarts. He says: "Beatrix Potter has strong links with the hotel. She stayed here on two summer holidays and then bought the house for her mother to live in. Her characters enjoyed their food. In fact, they seem to spend much of their time eating or searching for food. So I thought it would be appropriate to include some of the tastiest items from the stories in our menus. For more information on the Lindeth Howe visit www.lindeth-howe.co.uk.

SAGA, the Folkestone-based holiday company for the over 50s, has celebrated a special birthday. It is 10 years since it began its popular cruise operation when the Saga Rose left on her inaugural trip. Now with the Saga Ruby joining the Rose, there are exciting future cruise plans in the pipeline. As well as the usual world cruises, there are a whole range of shorter itineraries. For details of all Saga cruise holidays ring free on 0800-056-5880 or log on to www.sagacruising.co.uk