Alexandria.Credit: Getty Images
We are cruising the Mediterranean in November, ending the cruise in Cairo. We would like to take a side trip to Alexandria. What is the best way for us to get from Cairo to Alexandria? Do you have recommendations for accommodation in Alexandria and sightseeing of Roman sites?
B. Byrnes, Corlette, NSW.
You can cover the 220-kilometre journey between Cairo and Alexandria, pictured, by bus, train or air. The pick of these options is the train, especially the French-built Turbini that depart Cairo several times daily and take a little more than two hours to cover the distance.
Note there are two stations serving Alexandria, Sidi Gaber station, which is in a suburb, and Alexandria station. In Cairo, you can buy tickets from the Ramses train station, which has good facilities and a tourist office.
The Four Seasons Alexandria is the best in town, with the Sofitel, Raddison and Hilton jostling on the podium. If you prefer something less expensive, Le Metropole or the Windsor Palace are good choices. Both are part of the Paradise Inn Group (paradiseinnegypt.com).
Many tour operators can take you on a tour of the Roman ruins and your hotel can help. If you want to do it in style, consider using Abercrombie & Kent (abercrombie kent.com.au), who are to Egypt what David Attenborough is to the natural world.
Open territory in the dry season
My wife and I plan to fly to Darwin in June or July next year, then travel by ship from Darwin to Bali or Singapore. Are there many options to do this? We would then like to fly to Thailand, return to Darwin and then home. Is it cheaper to buy airfares when in Asia or online in Australia?
D. Smith, Chiswick.
Midyear is a prime time for visiting Darwin. The weather is relatively cool and the wet season is over, which means access to all areas. The waterfalls and wetlands in places such as Kakadu, pictured, should be brimming with water and the countryside glossy and green.
Several cruise lines call in at Darwin on the way to and from Asia but the city is not an embark-disembark port. Darwin to Bali or Singapore is not a major route. However, a new vessel, L'Austral (en.ponant.com) will make a 15-day cruise between Darwin and Singapore, starting from March 31 next year, with stops at Komodo, Bali and Lombok.
If this is too soon, airfares from Darwin to Bali and Singapore are at an all-time bargain. Buy your tickets in Australia and do it as soon as you firm-up your travel plans to take advantage of the cheapest fares.
Free-wheeling in Europe with an in-car guide
My wife and I are going to Europe next month, arriving in London then travelling to Paris via the Chunnel. We want to explore France, Switzerland and Italy for about four weeks and spend a week bike-touring in Provence or the Loire Valley. What is the best way to travel, lease a car or use public transport? What are the sights to see in Paris in three days and what other places are not to be missed in these countries?
D Hauenstein, Geelong, Vic.
Car versus train travel in Europe incites strong opinions but, for me, a car wins every time. Sure, parking can be a pain and those narrow streets in Italian towns, pictured, mamma mia! But for the sheer freedom to explore, to head off on a winding road into hills where no bus will ever take you, to go exactly when and where you like in the gorgeous places you will visit, wheels of your own are priceless.
I would highly recommend an in-car GPS and a Michelin road atlas for each country in which you plan to drive. Rather than hire a GPS from a car-hire company, you might find it cheaper to buy a GPS with Europe maps in Britain, which you can easily resell when you get back to Australia. For the specifics of what to see, it really depends on your interests, whether that might be noshing on farmhouse cheeses, visiting village markets, alpine hikes or castle architecture. Europe is a rich feast, with diverse courses that satisfy different tastes, so it's up to you to make your own must-see list.
To help you do that, get hold of guidebooks. For me, the Eyewitness Travel Guides are in a class of their own. The illustrations alone are enough to set your feet in motion. The Frommer's series is another good choice but if culture and architecture are the focus of your travels, go for the Michelin Green Guides. You can buy all publications I've mentioned over the internet at Amazon (amazon.com).
Heads-up, South America style
We are planning a tour of South America next year. We have received an itinerary and what appears to be a reasonable quote from a Melbourne-based travel wholesaler called South America Tourism. I have not heard of this company before, nor have any of my acquaintances. Because we will need to part with a significant amount of money, I was hoping you could offer some advice about the company. Alternatively, could you suggest steps we should take before parting with our hard-earned dollars?
C. Byrne, Sydney.
The South America Tourism Office (southamericatourism.com) has been operating from Melbourne for 11 years. This is a licensed travel operator and a member of the Travel Compensation Fund, which should cover you if the travel agency were to suffer a financial meltdown. They also know South America at turf level. All their consultants are South American. Between them, they have extensive travel experience throughout the continent.
If you want, you can phone the agency on 1300 857 805 and they will give you contact details for some past clients to discuss their own experiences.
You can also contact the airlines they deal with, namely Lan Airlines, Aerolineas Argentinas and Qantas, for a reference. Typically, travel wholesalers have a lower profile than main-street operations, which might explain why the South America Tourism Office is not a familiar name. I would not hesitate to book a tour with them.
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