Best way to travel from Greece, Portugal and Spain that's not by bus

I'M PLANNING A TRIP TO GREECE, PORTUGAL AND/OR SPAIN FOR TWO TO THREE WEEKS WITH MY 70-YEAR-OLD MOTHER WHO HAS CHRONIC BACK PROBLEMS. WE'D LIKE TO AVOID LONG BUS RIDES. CAN YOU SUGGEST A STOPOVER? IS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER A GOOD TIME? H. LAI, RYDE NSW

A cruise might be a far better option for you and your mother. Travelling on trains and buses with a bad back is not much fun and if her condition flares up it's going to make travel difficult. Stairs, cobblestones and even something as simple as unfamiliar mattresses can cause pain. If you travel in a group you'll be moving fairly quickly and most itineraries don't allow much time for relaxation and recovery. If you travel independently her condition probably means you'll have to take care of all the baggage yourself, and that's tough. On the other hand, your cruise ship is your floating hotel. Once on board you don't have to go anywhere, the ship does it all for you. You only have to unpack once, there's a big choice of dining and entertainment close at hand and good medical facilities on board. If your mother doesn't feel like participating in a particular shore excursion, she can stay on board and there's still plenty to keep her occupied. It can also be good value since your accommodation, food and transport are paid for in advance. In the Mediterranean countries you mention you have a big choice of cruise ships and itineraries. Talk to the experts at Cruise Express cruiseexpress.com.au/. The stopover cities of Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok and Shanghai generally offer a better choice of activities and cheaper hotels than the Middle Eastern airports. September and October are excellent months for travel in Mediterranean Europe.