Meet Breaking Away Bicycle Tours

Soon after I’d fallen in love with Italy (ie: Italian women), it was clear that I had to see the Giro d’Italia up close. So in 1994 I joined Breaking Away Bicycle Tours to see my first Giro. They've been doin' it right for almost 25 years, so I talked with founder Greg Hogan about what makes them so good.

France 2008: activities and special interests

Andante Travels (01722 713800, www.andantetravels.co.uk) runs academic-led, archaeological and ancient history tours that are also very much enjoyed. French trips (several with train travel from the UK) explore Dordogne cave art, megaliths in Brittany, and Roman Provence.

The best new French holiday ideas

Great news for surf-lovers: easyJet (www.easyjet.com) is starting a new route from Bristol to Biarritz, providing a useful link between the Atlantic beaches of North Devon and Cornwall and the crashing waves of the Basque coastline. There will be four flights a week, starting in April. Stay at the renovated Sofitel Thalassa Miramar, which draws on Biarritz’s spa heritage to offer a mind-boggling programme of thalassotherapy treatments and therapies to soothe your wave-bashed limbs. Doubles from about £120 a night, room-only,

Rail travel up as more Brits take train to Europe

Fancy giving it a try - then how about hitting the tracks to Florence to try some camping Italy style? Depart from St Pancras for Paris, before changing and heading out to Italy and the glorious Tuscan hills, where the stunning Norcenni Girasole Club campsite awaits.

Set in the heart of the Chianti region, just 28 miles from Florence and an hour’s drive from Siena, Norcenni is as popular a choice for gourmets as it is culture vultures, and offers a wide range of facilities including superb water park, gym, sauna, wine tasting, cookery classes, volleyball and tennis.

Mobile access for Air France passengers

The controversial Mobile OnAir system will allow passengers aboard one of the airline's Airbus A318 planes to send and receive SMS and MMS messages as well as using Internet services.

During the second phase of the trial, passengers will also be allowed to make and receive phone calls - though the French national carrier has emphasised its commitment to ensuring a balance is struck between convenience and customer well-being.