WE ARE CONSIDERING A HOLIDAY TO EUROPE FOR ABOUT THREE WEEKS IN JANUARY. THERE WILL BE TWO FAMILIES WITH FIVE CHILDREN AGED 10 TO 17. THE MAIN AIM IS TO SEE THE NORTHERN LIGHTS WITH A POSSIBLE SKI TRIP ON THE SIDE. WHERE WOULD YOU RECOMMEND FOR AURORA BOREALIS AND IS IT BEST TO DO A TOUR?
J. GARD, DRUMMOYNE
The Scandinavian countries offer the best prospects for experiencing aurora borealis, and especially the inland regions, where night skies are generally clearer. Prime time is around the new moon, when the dark night sky allows the full impact of the northern lights to shine. Norway has some great locations for seeing the phenomenon, but this is also the most expensive country in Europe.
According to the specialist aurora website Service Auro (aurora-service.eu), top place goes to the Utsjoki region of Finland, because it's less expensive and very far north. On the other hand, getting there is difficult, and accommodation choices are limited. One of the most practical options is the city of Rovaniemi (visitrovaniemi.fi), in Finnish Lapland. Rovaniemi has good flight connections and plenty of accommodation choices.
Bentours (bentours.com.au) is a Melbourne-based Scandinavian specialist that can put together a trip.
Scandinavian countries are not the best choice for a ski holiday but France, Italy, Switzerland and Austria all offer fantastic skiing. The main difference between them is one of style.
OUR CRUISE SHIP STOPS AT CASABLANCA IN NOVEMBER, ARRIVING AT 7 AM, LEAVING AT 11 PM. WE WOULD LOVE TO VISIT MARRAKESH. IS IT POSSIBLE TO TAKE A TRAIN FROM CASABLANCA AND BE BACK IN TIME? I HAVE READ THAT YOU CAN'T BOOK RAIL TICKETS OUTSIDE MOROCCO, BUT COULD WE DO THIS FROM TANGIER A COUPLE OF DAYS BEFORE?
P. O'BRIEN, BATEMANS BAY
Marrakesh is fantastic, nothing in Casablanca comes close. You would need to make the 8.50am train from Casablanca, the next is going to leave you short of time. On the return journey take the 4.55pm train, the 6.45pm train is cutting it too fine. In theory you can book tickets online at the Morocco Rail website (oncf.ma), but it's in French; buying tickets from Tangier should work. I can see this being a stressful day; getting taxis to and from the stations, finding your way around Marrakesh and dealing with the city's hustlers.
Why not book a private driver and guide? You could be picked up from your ship, driven straight to Marrakesh in three hours, spend a day exploring this fabulous city, have dinner in Jemma el Fnaa to the sound of the muezzin singing the sunset call to prayer from the Koutoubia Mosque and return to your ship.
Search "private tour with driver from Casablanca to Marrakesh", make a shortlist of the best candidates, check them out on Tripadvisor (tripadvisor.com), email each with your proposal and see what comes out on top.
WE ARE VISITING ISTANBUL IN OCTOBER FOR A WEEK AND HAVE INQUIRED ABOUT A PRIVATE TOUR FOR TWO DAYS VISITING TOPKAPI PALACE, THE GRAND BAZAAR AND SO ON. AND HAVE BEEN QUOTED A PRICE OF €280 ($400) A DAY, NOT INCLUDING LUNCH OR ENTRY FEES. IS THIS THE GOING RATE? WE HAVE DONE SIMILAR TOURS IN NEW DELHI AND BANGKOK AND BOTH WERE SUBSTANTIALLY LESS AND INCLUDED MORE.
E. DAL CORSE, BOSSLEY PARK
Prices in Istanbul are on par with other major European cities. English is not widely spoken and anyone with fluency can command a high price for their services. However, you only need a private tour if you have a specialist interest, such as Ottoman architecture.
If you want to focus on the major attractions, take a group tour and save yourselves heaps.
For example: the full day Old City Tour with Istanbul City Tours (istanbulcitytours.net) includes Topkapi, the Blue Mosque, the Grand Bazaar, Hagia Sophia, admission fees and lunch, at €60 ($85) each. I wouldn't sign up for any tour that includes a Bosphorus cruise. You can arrange this yourselves and if you have a guidebook, you don't need a guide. Ditto for the Grand Bazaar.
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CONVERSATION OVER TO YOU . . .
THE QUESTION WAS: "CASABLANCA OR LORD OF THE RINGS, HAS A FILM EVER INSPIRED YOU TO TRAVEL, AND DID IT LIVE UP TO EXPECTATIONS?"
M. Madin writes, "After watching Cliffhanger, starring Sylvester Stallone, my climbing mate and I decided to ascend many of the great faces in the Dolomites in Northern Italy, where much of the film was made. The peaks were awe-inspiring, the valleys beautiful, and the people were friendly. According to Lonely Planet, the pizzas in Madonna di Campiglio were as good as in Naples."
From K. Shanahan, "In 2013, I visited Angkor in Cambodia to see the 12th century Buddhist temple of Ta Prohm which featured in the film Tomb Raider. Ta Prohm sits on the peak of a hill surrounded by jungle. The strangler roots of fig and silk cotton trees are entwined among the damp and shady lichen-clad stone ruins. I felt an air of mystery and intrigue as I explored this amazing temple complex of stone buildings and bas-reliefs."
K. Lee writes, "As an addict of Woody Allen films, from the opening of Manhattan and that sleazy start-up of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue with the grainy black and white images of the city skyline, I was hooked. And New York City remains for me the ultimate urb."
"Charlie's Country, starring David Gulpilil," according to E. Ryan. "It's put Arnhem Land at the top of my wish list."
Next question: I love driving in Italy, but not everyone does. Do you get a rush from driving in a strange place, or are you gripping the wheel with white knuckles?
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