MY 21-YEAR-OLD SON AND A FRIEND ARE VISITING EUROPE IN DECEMBER/JANUARY, FLYING INTO LONDON AND TRAVELLING THROUGH EASTERN EUROPE AND FINISHING IN BUDAPEST. HE IS KEEN TO SEE VENICE AND FLORENCE BUT THE PROBLEM IS FINDING A TIMELY, CHEAP WAY OF GETTING THERE FROM BUDAPEST.
HE HAS ONLY FIVE DAYS BETWEEN THE END OF THE TOUR AND HIS FLIGHT BACK TO SYDNEY. ANY SUGGESTIONS? ALSO, WHERE THEY MIGHT SPEND NEW YEAR'S EVE? THEY ARE THINKING AMSTERDAM.
L. FREELAND, NORTHWOOD
Flights between Budapest and Venice or Florence are either long or fantastically expensive. I'm getting a price of more than $700 for a one-way ticket to either city in mid-January for a reasonably direct flight, or as little as $149 to Venice but that's for a flight time of 22 hours. However using Momondo (momondo.com.au), I'm looking at a direct, non-stop 90-minute flight from Budapest to Milan for the same date for just $29 aboard Ryanair, or $33 aboard Wizz Air.
From Milan he could catch a train to either Florence or Venice. According to the Trenitalia website (trenitalia.com) a train from Milan's Centrale Station to Santa Lucia right on the Grand Canal in Venice costs as little as €18.80. He could also take a train all the way from Budapest's Keleti Station to Santa Lucia, which takes about 13 hours, and there's an overnight train, arriving at 5.20 am. This saves a night's accommodation costs, however train is a more expensive option. From Rail Europe (raileurope.com.au), I get a price of $215 for the cheapest ticket.
If he has to choose between the two cities, and time is tight, my vote would be Venice rather than Florence. If your son is returning home from London there are plenty of cheap flights between Venice and London. Just make sure the flight goes to Heathrow, not Luton or Stansted.
Amsterdam would be a good choice for New Year's Eve, but two young men on the road in Europe, wherever they spend it, will have a cracker of a night.
I HAVE A GREAT LOVE OF THE HISTORY OF IRELAND. I HAVE VISITED BELFAST, LONDONDERRY AND THE GIANT'S CAUSEWAY. I'M GOING NEXT IN DECEMBER AND AS WELL AS VISITING THOSE TWO CITIES AGAIN AND DUBLIN, I NEED ADVICE ON OTHER AREAS OF THE REPUBLIC I SHOULD INCLUDE. I HAVE ABOUT SIX TO EIGHT DAYS AND DON'T MIND DRIVING.
J. VINCE, MARRICKVILLE
Why not plan a driving trip between Belfast and Dublin? You could have a wonderful journey driving down the west coast through Donegal, Connemara, Galway and either the Ring of Kerry or the Dingle Peninsula. From there, turn eastward to take you through Kilkenny and Waterford and round it off with Dublin.
On Tourism Ireland's (ireland.com) homepage, The Wild Atlantic Way is a series of detailed self-drive itineraries that you could use to construct your journey along this coast, although you'll need to take a few shortcuts to fit it into the time you have available.
In December it's going to be cold, bleak and windswept, but that adds something special to the magic and mystery of the Irish landscape. You've a fair chance of spotting the Northern Lights at this time of the year.
WITH A GROUP IN OUR 50s, I AM PLANNING TO CLIMB MOUNT KILIMANJARO NEXT YEAR. CAN YOU RECOMMEND THE BEST ROUTE AND TIME OF YEAR? I HAVE READ THERE ARE CHEAPER COMPANIES BUT THEY PAY THEIR PORTERS VERY BADLY. COULD YOU ADVISE ME OF A REPUTABLE COMPANY THAT LOOKS AFTER THEIR PORTERS AND PAYS THEM A FAIR WAGE?
J. LUM, THIRROUL.
Since this is a demanding adventure in a remote part of the planet, I recommend you go with an Australia-based operator, which will allow you to talk directly to your tour organiser who can answer any questions you might have.
According to Sue Badyari of World Expeditions (worldexpeditions.com): "The main trail is the Marangu route but in line with our philosophy of delivering off-the-beaten-track experiences, World Expeditions uses the more remote Rongai or Shira routes. Rongai is an eight-day scenic route with highlights such as forests with colobus monkeys, superb view points of Kibo and the beautiful Mawenzi Tarn in the cirque beneath the spires of Mawenzi. Shira is a 10-day ascent with plenty of scenic variety including huge heather groves, an incredible trek to the summit of Shira Cathedral and the beautiful Lent Hills before pushing on to the summit at Uhuru Peak."
I've heard of groups being stranded on Kilimanjaro when their porters abandoned them, in protest against unfair pay and conditions. On this question, Badyari adds: "Our Kilimanjaro porters are paid a rate in excess of the Kilimanjaro Porter Assistant Project (KPAP) recommended minimum wage for porters. They are also provided with a suitable mountain kit that includes a sleeping bag and mat as well as waterproof boots, gloves, hat, torch and warm clothes."
The best time to climb is during the dry season months, January to mid-March and June to October.
CONVERSATION OVER TO YOU…
The question was "The inflight seat-recline issue generates plenty of heat. How do you feel if the passenger in front chooses to recline?"
B. Craig writes: "I just came off a 15½-hour flight from Vancouver. The cabin crew were great in ensuring everyone had the seats upright during meal service. I don't mind if seats are in the reclining position during other times - it makes it a bit more comfortable when you're in economy on such a lengthy trip, and Air Canada was great!"
From R. Day: "This century we reduced our frequency of travel by one-third so we can afford to travel business class because of impact that a reclined seat has on the already tight seat spacing at the cheap end of the plane. I like to sit upright unless I am sleeping and it drives me nuts when someone reclines their seat to within two inches of my nose. I believe that the appropriate amount to pay for an air ticket is a discount business class fare. Airlines are competing to reduce the quality of the experience of economy travel to the point where it is almost, but not quite, intolerable. Economy is more acceptable on the outbound trip because it is the start of an adventure, but a 23-hour economy trip home pretty much destroys the benefits of the holiday. Our new maxim is: travel less, travel longer and travel better. And where possible, travel by train."
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