Tripologist: Where can I have a Thailand beach stopover en route to Europe?

I have four nights in Thailand to break my economy flights to and from Europe with a mid-journey stopover. I had thought of Koh Samet but I hear it’s become overdeveloped since my last visit some 20 years ago. D. Mackinnon, Rushcutters Bay, NSW

Koh Samet has come a long way over the last 20 years and if you want somewhere relaxing, friendly and undisturbed, it might be best to leave that memory intact. If you’re looking for somewhere that doesn’t involve a flight from Bangkok, my preference would be Hua Hin. It has a few downsides – seedy bars, touts who don’t take “no” for an answer, some tacky developments – but proximity to Bangkok makes it the best option.

Choose a resort with beach access and you can insulate yourself from some of the area’s seedier aspects and prices are keen at top-level resorts such as the Anantara and the Cape Nidhra Hotel, my personal choice.

I have four days to fill at the end of June in Japan. Can you suggest a quiet ryokan with both an indoor and outdoor onsen within an hour or two of Tokyo? L. Maskell, Balaclava, Vic

One that might work for you is Takaragawa Onsen, about a three-hour train and bus trip from Tokyo in the Japan Alps. These are the largest rotenburo or open-air pools in Japan and some of the most serene. Since it’s a foreigner favourite, Takaragawa is a great starting point if you’re new to the onsen world. The four spring-fed, rock-lined bathing pools are set along the banks of the Takaraga stream as it glides through a forested river valley. There is also one indoor pool, and pools exclusive to women as well as mixed bathing.

Shrines, bridges and pinewood changing rooms enhance the beauty of the natural surroundings. Each pool offers different depths and temperatures, and three are konyoku, mixed, while the Maya bath is women only. Accommodation is provided at the riverside guesthouse, Osenkakau, which has English-speaking staff.

I would like to go to Gallipoli, staying close to the battlefields rather than in Istanbul and explore both the Australian and New Zealand sites. Any recommendations for accommodation and tour guides for these areas? R. Dawson, Wollongong, NSW

For your tour of Gallipoli, Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours operates private tours while Crowded House Gallipoli Tours is a less expensive option, with tour guide Bulent Korkmaz singled out as knowledgeable and passionate. Another guide who also gets excellent reviews is Kenan Celik. The Hamzakoy Blue Park Heritage Hotel is a small, three-star hotel close to the town of Gallipoli, with moderate prices and good reviews for its warm service and comfort.

How can I see the Caribbean without going on an enormous cruise ship? I’d like to visit Cuba, Jamaica, New Providence and Tortuga. Is flying between islands still feasible and maybe cycling once on the island? When is the best time for independent travel?
S. Craze, Ashburton, Vic