Although the French are streets ahead when it comes to haute couture, they have never really competed with British designers' urban panache. What do all French exchange students sport? Bulging rucksacks in fluorescent colours.
This is all set to change with the new French r.town range of accessories and bags. Backpacks, wallets and holdalls, in dusty shades and modern designs, are made from lightweight, waterproof nylon and are perfect for day trips. The price is equally attractive: most bags cost from £10 to £30. Call 0116 244 0880 for your nearest stockist.
Don't mind the gap
More teenagers than ever intend to take a gap year. Of 3,000 school-leavers asked by STA Travel, 83 per cent said they were planning to travel abroad before starting university. With employers having an increasingly favourable attitude towards those with such experience, many parents may find themselves making impromptu travel arrangements this summer. STA has a gap-year hotline: 0161 830 4715.
If you are planning a gap year, an excellent starting point is Lonely Planet's new range of guide books for first time travellers: Read This First . The series covers the obvious locations and offers candid and detailed advice on pre-departure issues such as visas and budgeting. If you are unsure about what you are letting yourself in for they are a great reassurance, for less than £10.
Web links:
www.lonelyplanet.com
www.statravel.co.uk
www.usitcampus.co.uk
www.vacationwork.co.uk
Clued up for the long drive
Long car journeys are the bane of summer holidays and this compact quiz game, educational rather than banal, might provide more than a few minutes' respite from the cries of 'Are we there yet?' and 'I feel sick...' It took me a while to work out how to use Quiz Master (right) but there are varying levels of difficulty and while one person reads the questions the other can see picture clues on the back of the card.
Websites to watch...
If there was a byword for wholesome childrens' entertainment it would be Disney. Not content with films, theme parks and TV channels, Disney has moved online and is offering four summer fun packs to print out over the holiday season to keep younger children busy. The UK site also features delights such as a Toy Story colouring book, comics and Winnie's 'Pooh-sonality Test'.
At a loose end? Desperate for something, anything, to do with the family? Log on to whatsonwhen and find out what events are going on in your area. The guide is arranged by theme and date and location, with a family and kids selection and a convenient 'Summer Holiday Days Out' section, but there are loads of ways to search the site for the perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
Now that you know where you want to go, you'll want to find the best route there. This site covers most of Europe and can supply detailed maps of large road networks and small town streets. It also highlights petrol stations and hotel or restaurant breaks. You can even access the site on the move from a WAP phone, thus removing a common source of parental discord - the upside-down map.
