Tripologist: Should I fly Qantas or Emirates to the UK?

A family member from Perth and myself are visiting relatives in Birmingham before travelling to France. What would be a good stopover as the family member has mobility issues? I believe Emirates flies direct, or would Qantas be a better choice?
A. Dennis, Canberra, ACT

If you’re planning to board an international flight from Sydney rather than flying to Perth to accompany your relative, what you might do is take an Emirates flight to Dubai. Your Perth relative could also take a non-stop Emirates flight to Dubai. You could then meet there, enjoy a stopover and continue together aboard your non-stop flight to Birmingham. Emirates has package deals with several hotels in Dubai and this would ensure a smooth stopover.

Another alternative would be for you to fly to Perth, meet your relative there and both take the Emirates flight to Birmingham via Dubai. You could take the Qantas non-stop flight from Perth to London and then a domestic flight to Birmingham however that Qantas flight takes 17½ hours on average and that might be a challenge for your relative. In that case, the Emirates flights with a stopover would be a better solution.

We have a weekend stopover in Japan and wish to use the bullet train from Osaka to Tokyo and the Yamanote line and Narita Express in Tokyo. How do we buy tickets?
R. Phillips, Templestowe, Vic

You can buy tickets for trains from Osaka to Tokyo and for the Narita Express on the Baolau website, also on the 12Go website. For train travel around Tokyo on the Yamanote line, rather than buying individual tickets for each trip, a more convenient option is an IC card, a pre-paid card which lets you tap and go at the turnstiles on Tokyo’s metro system. Physical cards are currently unavailable, but you can add one to your smartphone through the Pasmo or Suica apps. Don’t bother with a Pasmo passport, which is designed for foreign visitors intending to travel more widely in Japan.

With my partner and 10-year-old daughter, we plan to fly to Albania and visit Montenegro. We are happy to hire a car, any advice on travelling through Albania and Montenegro and places to stay and see?
A. Heazlewood, Warrnambool, Vic

Some car-hire operators in other parts of Europe will not allow you to take their vehicles into Albania but it is possible to hire a vehicle in Albania for travels within the country. Having a vehicle allows you to stay outside major tourist areas in places that are inaccessible by public transport, giving you a deeper experience of traditional Albanian culture. Roads can be challenging in the country’s mountainous region and if this is part of your plans, a large SUV would be a better choice than a regular sedan.

Sixt, Hertz, Enterprise and Alamo all have car-hire outlets in Albania. There might be no cellular connection in remote parts of the country so don’t rely totally on navigation apps. Be sure to take out full insurance cover, book accommodation with a parking space included and don’t use a phone while driving. In Albania, the highlights include Tirana, Berat, the Albanian Alps, Gjirokaster and Apollonia. Montenegro is more straightforward as far as car-hire is concerned. Highlights include Kotor, Durmitor National Park, Budva, Lustica Bay, Ostrog Monastery and Lake Skadar.

We plan two weeks in the Baltic States, starting in Vilnius and returning home from Tallin. Would a rental car be better than using public transport?
R. S. Ward, Wantirna, Vic