WHICH GREEK ISLAND?
Hydra, a refuge for bohemians.Credit score: iStock
My husband and I are travelling to the Greek Islands in September. We have now three weeks together with journey time. Any ideas for stopovers and the most effective islands for that point of the yr? P. Lucas, Brisbane, Qld
Bangkok is thrilling, enjoyable, nice worth and ideal in case you like Thai meals and whereas Dubai and Qatar are nearer to your vacation spot, and higher for recovering from jet lag, they’re costlier. My first cease on an island-hopping tour out of Piraeus could be Hydra, or Idra, celebrated as a refuge for writers, poets, musicians and dreamers for the reason that Nineteen Seventies, and nonetheless identified for its bohemian tastes. There aren’t any vehicles on the island, including to its attraction. September is an efficient time to go to the Cycladic Islands for the reason that summer season crowds ought to have departed and my subsequent cease could be Paros, some of the engaging of all of the islands, with its villages of sugar-cube homes clustered round tiny harbours full of dancing fishing boats. Subsequent cease, Santorini, a surreal hunk of purple rock that erupts from the ocean, with glittering white homes and blue-domed church buildings mounted to the rim of its cliffs. Greatest place to remain is Oia, the smaller of the 2 important villages and simply the winner in any magnificence contest. Lastly, Crete, largest of all of the Greek Islands, the supply of myths and legends, website of a number of the most flagrantly lovely surroundings within the Mediterranean together with mountains that rear as much as 2400 metres and cities that weave collectively Turkish bathhouses, Venetian fortifications and Byzantine structure.
THE HILLS ARE ALIVE
Mirabell Gardens, Salzburg.Credit score: iStock
My accomplice and I’ll spend 4 weeks travelling round Switzerland, Austria and Hungary in Could and June. After Vienna we head to Budapest for 4 nights earlier than departing for Australia 12 days later. Are you able to counsel an itinerary for the eight days between Vienna and Hungary? V. Pryse, South Yarra, Vic
Vienna to Budapest is only a 2½-hour prepare journey and there’s nothing between them that’s more likely to maintain you occupied for eight days. However from Vienna you’re spoiled for alternative. To the south you’ve received the mountains and lakes of Slovenia, Slovakia’s Bratislava is simply 90 minutes’ prepare journey to the east, Prague is a half-day rain journey or you might fly to Poland’s former royal capital of Krakow in an hour. With out even leaving the borders of Austria you’ve received some fantastic cities together with Salzburg, Innsbruck and Klagenfurt and if the Sound of Music landscapes enchantment, there may be hardly wherever higher for alpine strolling.
GET ONLINE
Cruise ships often cost exorbitant costs for Wi-Fi in cabins – it may be $400 for seven days – is there a SIM card to be used on Mediterranean cruises? C. Sinclair, West Pennant Hills, NSW
It’s tough to attain connectivity with out utilizing your cruise operator’s satellite-based system. Even with a neighborhood SIM card, you’d should be in vary of a land-based cell tower for that to work and other than these occasions whenever you’re docked, that’s not more likely to occur. Nonetheless getting your self on-line by way of your vessel’s Wi-Fi community is rather a lot inexpensive than previously. For instance Carnival’s Premium Wi-Fi plan begins at $21.25 per day, aboard Holland America’s ships the Premium Plan prices $US20 ($30) per day.
ON SAFARI
Along with three different relations, we’re planning an 8-12 day safari journey to Africa in December. We don’t have an enormous finances ($2500-$4500 every) and we need to keep away from lengthy every day drives between camps. We need to see the massive 5, Okavango Delta and Victoria Falls with a aspect journey to see gorillas if attainable. S. Clarke, Como, NSW
That means a tenting safari, and you may count on an early morning sport drive which could final till 9.30 or 10, and one other in late afternoon. Transfers between camps often occur in the midst of the day, when there’s not an excessive amount of else taking place. Nonetheless, some tenting safaris contain six to 10 hour drives between in a single day stops and that’s going to affect on the period of time you’ve got obtainable for sport viewing. It’s additionally not a lot enjoyable. With the time obtainable you’re higher off focussing on only one area, and Botswana’s Okavango Delta has a lot of what you’re on the lookout for. What you might do is fly into Maun from the place the safari camps within the delta are only a quick drive away. African Price range Safaris (africanbudgetsafaris.com) has a number of tenting and finances lodge-based safaris on this space that don’t contain lengthy journeys between camps. You possibly can fly from Maun to Victoria Falls however each time and finances put the gorillas out of attain. Rwanda and Uganda are essentially the most dependable and most secure choices however both would add a number of days to your itinerary, and the steep price of trekking permits, guides and lodging within the highlands the place they reside make this an costly expertise.
Bought a journey query? Embody your identify and suburb or city and ship it to Michael Gebicki – tripologist@traveller.com.au
Journey recommendation is basic; readers ought to think about their private circumstances.
