Do you have a travel query you need help with? Email it to been.there@guardian.co.uk, or try our travel talkboard.

August 29:

I’ve managed to secure a month off work over Christmas and New Year and I’m keen to explore Thailand, having visited the country on the odd stopover to Australia. Whilst I would like to spend a couple of days in Bangkok, I want to explore as much of the country as possible away from the traditional backpacker spots, but still taking in some of the islands and covering as much ground as possible. Can anyone suggest some good areas to visit?
Adam

I spent New Year on Ko Lipe on the Andaman coast last year and loved it. It's not completely free of tourists (at that time of year you'll be unlikely to find an island that is) but it's a world away from the booze and bongs of the larger islands - no cars (the island has no roads and is small enough to walk around in an hour), electricity for a only a few hours a day and blissful quiet, even in peak season. Be advised to book well in advance if you don't want to sleep on the beach.
Helen

I would heartily recommend a trip to Khao Sok National Park. My girlfriend and I visited at Christmas and had great weather - we stayed at a place called Our Jungle House, in a tree house 30ft up. Magical nights with the calls of monkeys as you go to bed, to be woken by the whine of jungle cicadas in the morning that was eerily reminiscent of the loudest alarm clock known to man.

It's a stone's throw from the entrance to the park, where you can walk unsupervised through the jungle, seeing monkeys and bathing in crystal clear rivers, or take an organised walk with an experienced guide - note - beware of leeches! As an excursion you can also take day trips out on a beautiful lake with amazing limestone islands shooting out of the water, or go elephant riding on your own mount.
Luke Tayler

Head up north and arrange a taxi from Chiang Mai to Pai, enjoy jungle trekking near the Burmese border, river rafting and elephant rides. There are a good few chilled out backpacker types hanging around Pai, but none of your all-inclusive resort types. In terms of island paradise, I'd recommend Bottle Beach on Koh Pha Ngan. Only accessible by boat, two bars, some beach huts and a whole lot of beach. It doesn't get much better... enjoy!
Suzanne Bullivant

Unfortunately, there are very few places left in Thailand where you can
escape the backpackers - especially the islands. However, if it's sun,
sea and sand you want then catch a train from Bangkok and head south to
Nakhon Si Thammarat province. Get off at Phun Phin (the backpackers will
catch one of the many buses waiting to take them to Koh Samui but head
into town instead). Pick up a motorbike and drive along the coast to Nai
Plao beach. For the moment at least the beaches are both clean and quiet.

For lesser-known but still very impressive Khmer temple ruins head
east this time on a coach to Buriram province. Stay at the town of Nang
Rong and visit Phanom Rung and Muang Tam temples. Remember to pop into Sai Ngam to see Thailand’s biggest and oldest Banyan tree.

Finally, take the night train from Bangkok north to Den Chai. Head to
Nan via Phrae (both have some excellent wats to visit) and pick up a
jeep and then travel around the remote north which has some of the most
amazing scenery in Thailand. More information here.
Jackie McAvoy

For Thailand, try kayaking the Mergui Archipelago on the Thai-Burmese border. There are professional outfits that do this. The far north is less touristy, eg. around Mae Kok. The Mae Kok River Village Resort is run by UK expats who should know what they are doing. Otherwise, consider Laos (easily accessible by road or air from Thailand), which is much less visited, safe (in my experience) and special. But you'll need to be more self-sufficient - or else pay for a customised tour.
Robert D

I would highly recommend going to Khao Sok national park in the south of the country. It is amazing, and so untouristy. We went elephant riding, trekking and stayed overnight on a floating village. I would also recommend Chiang Mai for trekking and visiting hill tribes.
Eleanor

Christmas is peak time in Thailand so it is best to organise bookings as soon as possible. We live in Thailand and often stay at Dolphin Bay resort which is in Pranburi near Hua Hin. By car it takes about 3-4 hours to drive. It is on the doorstep of a national park and is peaceful and untouristy. The prices are very reasonable too.

it is good to travel north in winter as it is the cool season in Thailand. Our favourite town in Mae Hong Son in the north of Thailand which you can reach by plane. The town is very attractive as it has two beautiful temples; one set by a lake and the other perched on a hilltop overlooking the town. It is surrounded by mountains and unlike touristy Chiang Mai is still quite unspoilt. We stayed at the Fern resort which is set in the hills within walking distance of the national park. The resort staff will arrange airport pick up and transport to and from town which is five kilometres away. The setting is gorgeous with the hills behind, a river running alongside and the rice paddies below.

One of my favourite trips was to Isaan - we travelled by car but you could fly to Ubon Ratchathani. From there visit the Toh Sang Kong Jiam resort which is right on the banks of the River Mekong. From there you can visit the two coloured river where the Mon and the Mekong meet. You can see prehistoric cave paintings, flower meadows and Neolithic mushroom-shaped stones. The hotel can arrange airport pick up and trips. You may even be lucky like us and get to see the Khmer temple, Preah Viharn which is currently closed due to disputes between Thailand and Cambodia. It is a stunning temple set atop a hillside overlooking Laos, Cambodia and Thailand.
Kathryn

I strongly recommend going to Khao Sok National Park with Limestone Lake Tours. You can enjoy the jungle and swim in the most wonderfully clear water
without encountering another human being.
Sasha C

Head to Trang - and get a boat for Koh Mook, worth a few days relaxing and very few tourists. Trekking across the island through rubber plantations to get there is good fun! There is a Muslim fishing village to explore for a glimpse into local culture. The Emerald cave is popular for locals on holiday so best avoid that part of the island if you require isolation.

Koh Ngai and Koh Kradan are nearby for further island-hopping. Snorkelling trips are also offered. You can also get a speedboat to Koh Lipe if the weather is good.

Better still, why not scrub Thailand and head for the Philippines? The Bacuit archipelago near El Nido on the island of Palawan is one of the world's best kept secrets and offers many more beautiful islands than Thailand with a fraction of the tourists... and it was the real inspiration for Alex Garland's book The Beach.
Richard Cooper

Lots of the areas around the borders with Burma and Laos offer excellent sites and temples for viewing, amazing local food and handcrafts at ridiculously low prices, plus the people are at their Thai best - friendly, accommodating and hospitable. Further south, I highly recommend a visit in the area around Ao Phangan (not to be confused with Ko Pha Ngan), where cheap tours of the local islands in the 'James Bond' island mangrove forests can be had - just be sure to tip the boat driver since he's often not the owner and gets little in wages). There are also other amazing parks in that immediate area just north of Ao Phangan. You could easily spend several days there given the scenery and low cost of everything.

That being said, even if you're into avoiding very touristy spots, a trip to Ko Pha Ngan is great for various reasons. Despite its fame (infamy?) as the Full Moon party destination, very little of the island is developed, meaning you can stay in areas on the island with hardly a car or a soul in sight - and you'll pay very little, too, as it's usually only the places in the southeast of the island around Haad Rin, where the parties are, that are more expensive. Also, given that it's such a big destination with young people, the large tour operators and hotel developers have not arrived, meaning you don't see the rather obvious displays of wealth and the contrast between poverty/excess that you do elsewhere in the country. Great snorkelling and diving, great food (including cookery courses!), great hikes and scenery to take your breath away!
Paul M


Any advice for travelling with a toddler (18 months) from London to New Zealand? We will be flying around Christmas time and suspect that doing it in one go may be too much – he is very active. Is it best to try and split the journey, and if so, where (somewhere not sweltering hot)? And does anyone have general tips and tricks for long-haul flying with a tot?
Alan

Don't stop off! Put your effort into finding a good airline, with staff who will offer a helping hand; get medical advice about giving your child antihistamine to help them sleep; book an evening flight so that most of the journey coincides with your child's natural sleep pattern. Oh, and remember to book a seat with a bassinet. These seats do not have a chair in front of them, which is just as well when you have a kicking toddler. You can rarely get these seats at the airport and have to book them ahead of time.
Edwina Hunter

Make sure you are rested and relaxed, and switch on the cartoons as soon as they are available. There are other kids to walk around with, there are grannies and staff to chatter with and then dinner arrives. All very exciting! As soon as I notice my daughter's getting bored, I'll offer her a new activity even if it's a walk down to the toilet. We've had only one flight where she ended up screaming and that was when I was tired and grumpy myself and forced her to stay in her seat. As for take off and landing, I sing songs with her. When she was a baby this calmed her down, now it distracts her from the seatbelt. Staff have always been brilliant, going out of their way to help us out.
Betty de Jongh

Hah! Best advice is get yourself upgraded and leave the kid in cattle class.
Seriously... don’t pack your book. You will need to give your toddler your undivided attention for most of the flight. Ignore him and there will be crying. Loud crying. The kind that gets you dirty looks from passengers several rows ahead.

Be very nice to the stewardesses. They will be your best allies! They'll bring you treats and toys during the flight and chat with your child. So if he makes a mess, make an effort to clean it up, and don’t take the flight staff for granted. They’ll appreciate it and therefore help you in any way they can.

Bring a change of clothes for yourself. I have been vomited on during one long haul flight, and peed on in the other. Your child will want to walk around. Deal with it. Smile and apologise when he grabs someone’s toes or sticks his hand in their drink. Try to minimise his impact on others, but realise that he has to walk around a bit, and he’s probably bored to death. Try to make the whole thing an adventure, explain everything and hope to God that you have someone in the row behind you who loves to play peekaboo with a kid. Because your kid will be playing it with them whether they like it or not!
Tina N

I would definitely say that breaking the trip is a good idea. Our flight took off around 6pm and we made a point of tiring our children out during the day by taking them swimming so that they spent a good part of the first leg asleep and we even got to watch a film or two. One thing that nearly tripped us up on a previous UK-NZ trip was bottles and formula. We had packed many more pre-measured formula sachets and clean bottles than we should have needed but due to a delay of several hours, we ended up throwing ourselves on the mercy of other passengers! Forget books etc. for yourselves - you will need all your hand luggage for nappies, changes of clothes, bedding, special blankets/teddies, bottles, water, toys and bribes.
Coralie Farmer

Singapore Airport (Changi) is possibly the nicest in all the world, and the transit hotel (within the airport itself) is great. You hire a room in six-hour blocks, and it's a great opportunity to have a sleep, a shower, watch some TV and just stretch out. We pre-booked, which is advisable because it gets very busy, and had prearranged a cot.

Try and get a night flight if possible. Our toddler was still able to go in the bassinet, and he slept for a few hours. It's worth having lots of snacks to hand, although Singapore Airlines were great about food - they always had something to offer outside of regular meal times, even including spare jars of organic baby food.
Isla Grant

I went to New Zealand with my 13-month-old son last September. We travelled with Air New Zealand and they were brilliant. We asked for aisle seats so my son could play on the floor and the staff on board helped me keep him occupied. As I was travelling alone, they gave me regular breaks so I could stretch my legs, which was great! I would not advise stopping over though, as this will make journey feel longer and only serve to agitate him even more.
Simone Betsy

A friend of mine with a very active toddler said two things:
- Get a seat for him (even if you don't have to as he is under two).
- If possible, sit him away from the aisle and don't let him see the aisle - once he sees it he will want to run up and down it.
Mun-Ling Liu

Let him know how many planes you're going on, if there are any buses or other kinds of travel, and let him know what you're doing before getting on each one. Children have complex minds, and a lot of imagination, and they can easily scare themselves... mine thought we were meant to wait on the tarmac for the next plane, so she didn't want to enter the building.
Merida McCarthy

Alan, at the risk of sounding like a grumpy old git, I think the idea sounds like a recipe for all-round stress. For you as parents, for the little boy himself and, potentially, for your fellow passengers. It's hard enough for adults to endure a long-haul flight, let alone an infant who's probably too young to grasp why he's suddenly confined to a seat for seemingly endless hours. You don't say much about his temperament but I'm guessing that, like most children his age, he'll react by protesting loudly!

I'm sure you have good reasons for wanting to subject your son and yourselves to this marathon journey, but will any of them be of direct benefit to him? Lovely though it may be to introduce him to (I'm guessing) relatives and part of his heritage, will he be old enough to remember it or even to enjoy it at the time? If there's any possibility of delaying the trip by another year or two, I'd respectfully suggest you do that.
Taffhamster

Do not break the journey up. Doing so simply means that you all spend much longer travelling and even worse, you have at least two journeys to the airport, check-in, and security to go through. Just do the whole trip in one go - your toddler will zone out on the flight, and as long as you don’t attempt to curb their TV watching all will be fine. To help break up the journey a bit for them take pyjamas for them to change into at 'bedtime'.

Overall the journey will be a lot harder on the adults than the toddler. Just remember to pander to their every whim unless it’s impossible - if a tantrum kicks off it’ll be very hard to stop it mid-flight.
Matt

As your toddler may be too old to use a bassinet, and will be walking rather than just crawling, I suggest you do what we did on our recent flight, which is to divide the flight into two manageable - night time - chunks. And, if possible, fly premium economy, which has been worth every penny both times. And, as a matter of last resort: whisky (for you, not your boy!).
Rutger

My advice is to go straight through. A stopover only prolongs the agony.
If you go straight through the little one usually crashes out on the
second leg.

Also an 18-month-old must have their own seat. Technically they don't need
one but you will all go nuts otherwise. There is no way you can complete a
journey like that with a squirmy toddler on your lap the whole way!
Carol

Audiobooks on CD! When my son Flint received a purple and green plastic walkman for Christmas when he was only 18 months old, at first I thought it an absurd gift. But audiobooks quickly became a staple of our journeys. And the marvellous thing about them is that he can draw or play at the same time. Now that you can fit several hours' worth of fairytales and adventures as MP3s onto one single CD, you won't need to have your hand luggage brimming with boxes of cassettes as I did for years.
Jimini Hignett

I would split a flight to New Zealand for my own sake, though the children might sleep through quite a lot of it, which would be an advantage. The key is to have lots of things for them to do. I would suggest having a carry-on bag with lots of little 'presents' for them to unwrap and play with. They don't have to be new. I would also suggest trying to keep to some kind of routine. For instance, if you board the plane in the afternoon you can have some play, then supper (from your own food stocks if necessary), then wash and put on pyjamas, a bedtime story and the best you can do in settling down for the night. Keep bottles of water (or milk if they are still using baby bottles) for take off and landing to help with popping ears.
Lesley Moss

Let them walk! The best advice is to ask for a bulkhead seat, so there is no chair in front to kick the back of (saves masses of embarrassment and hassle), and let them walk around the plane (supervised) as much as they want to. Other passengers will be happier with a cheerful walker than a seated screamer.
Campbell

My top tip is Phenergan. You can buy it in any pharmacy - I was recommended this medication by a paediatric specialist in the United States, who says it is completely safe. Simply put, it knocks them out. If one spoon doesn’t do the trick, then two or three will.
Martin B

Things that worked for us:
- Do a night flight first and then with the aid of Phenergan (Trial this before you go as can make some kids bonkers) - all of you will get some sleep.
- Have a decent stopover time. Singapore has a great airport hotel with a pool. You can book in for 4-8 hours and both take turns getting a nap whilst playing with the boy.
- Drink! It is a day of your life; it will pass.
Lisa F

There are two types of children on aircraft; those with well-behaved parents and those without. With proper planning travelling with children can be a pleasure not only for the child but, more importantly, for the parent(s) and other passengers.

A good investment is to buy them their own seat. When they're under two years old they can travel cheaply but only if they are on your lap - forget it. Neither you nor the child will survive. In the old days they could lie on the floor but this is no longer allowed. You can gamble on a free seat being available but that is a big risk on a popular route at a popular time. If the child is a baby you will have priority for the bulkhead bassinet - but these seats go fast so book them in advance. The airline will give these out on a first come,
first served basis.

Never let the children roam the aisles unattended - nothing drives air crew and passengers more mad. But go for walks with them instead. They will want to go to the toilets anyway and that can be turned into an adventure.
David Marshall

On the way up and down, give them fruit (or veg or whatever they like - I have even seen chocolate biscuits used) and water - to stop the ear popping - but wait until the plane is barrelling down the runway before starting the favorite fruit in case of prolonged taxiing where you will find yourself needing more. The airline meal usually provide an hour's worth of entertainment too. All sorts of things they never usually see in the kids meal and then more things in the adults meal that comes afterwards.
Dean, Bach, Honor and Owen

If you can stand a stopover - with all the boarding, checking in and unpacking that it entails - it’s a great idea. Travel only during the day and make sure you are in your new location for the bedtime routine. Works a treat. We stock up on Bach Flower Sleep Remedy and sleep-inducing cough medicine to ease the pain, and grandparents are there to greet us at the other end.
Kaisie Rayner

Make your child part of the process with their own backpack, or a tiny case on wheels filled with favourite books, toys and snacks. Stash a couple of surprises or special treats for emergencies (also very good for queueing and other delays). Presumably you have a routine with your child; comment on what you are doing differently now instead of the regular routine.
C Foster

Fly with an Asian airline. We have flown several times with babies/toddlers, and there is a noticeable difference in the attitude of staff and passangers. Qantas and BA meant lots of glares when the children were being a little loud (which happens, of course), but Cathay Pacific, Thai International and Sri Lankan Airlines flights have been full of much more sympathetic people (of course it depends on the particular flight, you might have good or bad luck either way). At Christmas, Hong Kong and Bangkok would be comfortable temperatures, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur will be hotter. For the flight, make sure you pick up a bottle of Medised from Boots at the airport.
Adam Barnes

Essentials I’d suggest:
- New books and toys
- Snacks, fruit and drinks
- Two changes of clothes for your little one (and a pair of pyjamas)
- Any favourite cuddly blanket or toy
- If you can afford it, a portable DVD player and favourite films or cartoons... invaluable if the screen doesn’t work or you have downtime waiting in airport lounges etc.
- Spare battery, charger and adaptor for the DVD player - most transit airports have areas where you can recharge
- As many wipes as you can manage to squeeze into hand luggage around everything else

You hopefully won’t need it all but it’s good to know you’re prepared!
Fiona

it's best to buy a seat for the child and bring their car seat on the plane if they sleep well in it. At 18 months, kids still nap a lot and our car seat saved us many times on the plane. I always bring a thermometer and Calpol (or similar) on the plane just in case the child gets a fever and you need to give it because you are on a really long flight - this happened to my daughter once. They will need to take walks around the plane every hour or so. Many people are afraid to take long flights with young children but if you have one child and two parents it's acutally not as hard as you'd imagine it to be. You just have to be prepared and don't expect your child to behave exactly as they usually do, as they won't be on their normal schedule.
Anitra Tarpey

Crayola Colour Wonder kits are brilliant as they are completely mess-free and your son can draw and colour. Most airlines will have individual tv screens and kids TV but you will find the headphones are way too big for a toddler - I recommend bringing your own ones for little people. Another way to pass the time is go looking for other little ones to entertain yours - I'm sure there will be plenty. Oh, and we found Medised invaluable!
Susanna Mackie

Regarding a place for a stop over, I can't recommend Singapore enough. Although not all carriers make a stop here, it is well worth finding one that does. The city is clean, safe and has plenty to occupy 24 hours or any short stay on the way through to somewhere else. Take your pushchair and walk along the river, stopping for lunch at a small cafe; take a river tour on a small boat or just admire the architecture. Kids are even welcomed in Raffles if you fancy a Singapore Sling!
Charlie Bellamy

A great tip I was given was to pack some playdough for children to play with during the flight. Unlike other toys, it doesn't slip off the tray table, can't be dropped that easily and provides kids with hours of creative, fun entertainment.

We've used it on many long-haul flights with our two children and have found
it does keep them distracted for quite some time. Good luck!
Catherine Mikton

- Go to a pound shop and buy a bag full of cheap toys which you can drip feed to your kid during the flight
- Let your child pack and transport his/her own cabin luggage - the responsibility is a diversion
- Give yourself plenty of time at airport
- Ask check-in to give you a centre section seat on the aisle side. Often the seats next to you will stay empty and you can spread out after takeoff
- If you can, fly at night
- Give him/her a sippy cup for takeoff and landing - it helps their ears pop
- Cutting the flight in two will add time to your overall journey
- Stay calm and try to have fun
David

Take spare items in your hand baggage (nappies and clothes) in case your check-in baggage gets lost. A stopover can be useful for you and your child - for our child the most important aspect is to ensure a very dark room to get in the sleep routine, and a loud alarm clock to ensure you get up for the next plane.
Alex Jeanes

I've heard of people sedating their kids with antihistamines (with medical advice) but apparently if you get the dose wrong it can go the other way and they'll be bouncing off the walls. You might consider it worthwhile to pay extra for a seat for him; but on the other hand, the seats are designed for adults and unless you can nab two seats together for him to stretch out on, he might keep slipping off it.

Also, if you want to use the baby food that the airline provides, be sure to ask for a supply right away; later on in the flight when they think everyone is sleeping the flight attendants might go on a break and not answer the call button! (This happened to me once on Austrian airlines).
Happy travelling
K Redwood

I wouldn’t break up the trip as the airport paperwork bits (checking in, immigration) are the most stressful, and for me it was better getting it over with. Some basic tips that helped me:
- Get him as knackered as you can the day before so he sleeps as much as possible
- Make sure you get a bulkhead seat
- Go for plenty of walks on the plane and make friends with other passengers
- On stopovers there is often a play room in big airports - find it
- Build up his sense of excitement beforehand so as to create interest in the plane itself
- Forget his routine, it will go to pot anyway
Hope this helps
Jon

Never take the front row seat which is normally offered to people travelling with children. The sides of the seat don't go up and you cannot make the child stretch out. Airlines usually offer cots but at 18 months your child may be too big to sleep comfortably in it. I suggest taking two or three seats together if you can, and then raise the armrests to create a makeshift bed which the child can lie down on comfortably. For toys, try to take one new thing for each hour of flying. ELC on the high street sell some lovely inexpensive toys.
Mandira

Get some sort of homeopathic calming remedy. Cut out gluten, processed foods and any sugars two weeks before the flight. The good thing about traveling with a toddler is that you just don't stop, so the time passes pretty quickly. Does he have his own seat? If not - beg as much as you can to get a seat with a spare one next to you. most people will do what they can not to sit next to babies and young kids. Don't worry about people tutting if your kid goes crazy. Parents do what they can - they are not your problem. I've done the direct long-haul flight so I can just get it over and done with, but in retrospect it may be better to do a stopover. It depends if your son is the type of kid who sleeps on the go - it's a bit of a crap shoot.
Ineke Rapp

Hong Kong is a good place to stop over. It's very easy to travel around with kids - taxis are plentiful and cheap and children are welcomed. You're also never far away from a 24-hour shop, which is handy if your jet-lag wakes you up in the middle of the night. When we were there at Christmas time the temperature was 20-ish, so it won't get sweltering.

Two other tips for Hong Kong. First is to stay at The Salisbury (it's a YMCA but a posh one). You can get a suite for about £150 a night with views of the harbour and the peak. Second is to take the train back to the airport - you can check your bags in at the station in the morning.

Contact the airline before you go and check in early - if you're lucky they'll put you next to an empty seat. If your son sits still in front of the TV then that might buy you a couple of hours, although there tends to be only one film suitable for very young kids so you might consider a portable DVD player.
Hope you have a great time. Focus on the winter sunshine!
Adam Cooper


August 22:

I'm trying to sort out the dream beach holiday week away - I don't mind where, but I do have that stereotypical idyll with white sand and turquoise water thing in my head. I'd like to stay somewhere not too commercial and with a bit of character, that's safe for a solo traveller and accessible (I don't drive). Most importantly I'm looking for somewhere that has horseriding nearby so I can ride on the beach. Also, my maximum budget is £2,000, and I'm vegetarian. Any suggestions?
Bronwyn

For beautiful, clear warm turquoise water and white sandy beaches, I suggest the Perhentian Islands off the east coast of Malaysia. Fly into Kuala Lumpur followed by a connecting flight to Kota Baru, then catch a boat to the islands. There are no roads or shops on the islands, just chalet-type accomodation, some with restaurants/bar. You will not be hassled or bothered here, just grab a few books, hit the loungers on the beach, or have a relaxing swim.
PKeogh

Try south Brazil: fly to Rio or Sao Paulo, and it's a short hop on a budget airline to the city of Florianopolis, which is surrounded by beautiful undeveloped beaches, cheap accommodation and great nightlife. Every beach has its own character: some are sophisticated, some are quiet, some are buzzy, and some are laid-back surf beaches.
Tim Phillips

Almost anywhere in Australia. There are vast stretches of beaches, all
picture perfect, all mostly deserted. Plenty of places up and down the east coast have horseriding. Try Byron Bay, Coffs Harbour north of Sydney and places like Eden, Huskisson or Jervis Bay south of Sydney (which officially has the whitest sand in the world - and it's so fine it squeaks when you walk on it). You can also pretty much guarantee the weather - sunny year-round and free from hurricanes. And if you're spending UK money, Australia is quite a cheap destination as long as you can get here - so the key is to find good flight deals. Once here, car hire, accommodation and eating are cheap. Avoid booking too much ahead from the UK, where they appear to feel free to pile on the pounds.
Graham

I would suggest you go to Lopes Mendes Beach in Ilha Grande, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I don´t know about horseriding, but all the rest you can find around the neighborhood. You could also look for small villages in the north of Brazil.
Valmor

Why not try the south coast of South Africa (the stretch of coast between Knysnaand Port Elizabeth)? It’s truly stunning and if you stay off the beaten track you can find beautiful and completely empty beaches. I’ve been to Mauritius, where the beaches are impressive but always overcrowded - in South Africa I have been to a beach complete with old castle, white sand, lovely weather and not a soul in sight. Be warned though, the water is ICE-cold so swimming is impossible for all but the very brave. I’m vegetarian and while choice is poor, you won’t starve. Flights are not too bad and accommodation and food are very cheap.
David


We are planning a trip to Argentina at Christmas and don't know whether to spend New Year's eve there (in Buenos Aires) or Uruguay. Where has the best party atmosphere?
Valerie

Definitely stay in Buenos Aires, it's a fabulous city; Montevideo is fine, but in a small, more parochial way.
Keiran Maule

Montevideo definitely has a better party atmosphere than Buenos Aires, since it’s smaller and easier to find the street parties and the places to be. In the afternoon everyone makes it down to El Mercado del Puerto in la Ciudad Vieja for asado, espumante, and dancing in the street. Then the neighbourhood beaches are full of party people who revel all night long. If you’re looking for something quieter (but still a party atmosphere), get out to one of the balnearios - Piriapolis is great if you like a bit of comfort but if you’re into roughing it, you can’t go wrong with Cabo Polonio. Uruguay was my plan for New Year until I saw the ticket prices from Canada - now I’m waiting until Carnaval!
Lesley Magee

I was in Uruguay around Christmas in 2002/3 and across the river in Argentina for the New Year with a mate. Punta Del Este is a cool place but due to the economic woes of the Argentineans there were hardly any people there then. Its also one of the few places on the continent where the houses don't have bars on the windows. The locals are very friendly though, we even met Miss Uruguay!

Christmas night was spent in Montevideo. In the afternoon we stumbled upon an open air drinking place which was fun until it closed well before sundown. The evening itself was utterly dead - Christmas is a time for family here, not partying.

Although the night life in Buenos Aires doesn't start until midnight at the earliest, it's absolutely brilliant. Plenty of bars and discos to go to, friendly people and a good atmosphere. We arrived on New Year's Eve and managed to rush to a bar about half an hour before midnight expecting the place to be packed. We were just about the only people there! Nobody else came out until around 1.30am after celebrating with their families (just like in Uruguay) but then the place was rocking.

If I was you I'd go for Buenos Aires but expect to count down the seconds to New Year alone!
Tom
(more info on www.ihana.com)

I live in Brazil but spent last Christmas in Montevideo and New Year's Eve in Buenos Aires with my fiancée and some friends who flew out from the UK to meet us there. Having experienced an awesome NYE party in Barcelona a couple of years ago, we were hoping for something similar in Buenos Aires. We booked a big table for the night at BoBo, a chic hotel in Palermo Viejo, but whilst the food was great, we found the atmosphere to be a bit flat really, and not quite what we were expecting. I think a lot of Porteños get away from Buenos Aires at this time of the year to the beach, especially Punta del Este in Uruguay, and so the city is a bit less raucous than usual. Most fancy hotels will be putting on NYE parties, but I'd guess that most of the revellers will be fellow gringoes. Montevideo was jumping on Christmas Eve though - a chunk of the old town was hosting a mass piss-up/afternoon rave (very drunken antics but good fun). The best part of Buenos Aires was just mooching about, slowly exploring all the barrios, stopping off at the many fantastic cafés for a caffeine injection. Enjoy Argentina - it's fantastic - and if you get the chance, I'd recommend Mendoza for a few days of mountains and good wine.
Tom Burnside
São Paulo, Brazil


August 15:

My partner and I are planning on getting married in Lake Orta, Italy and then touring the rest of the country for three weeks. Can anyone suggest some of the must-sees and places to avoid? We want to use as many different methods of transport and cram in as much as possible so any advice would be really helpful.
Tim

After living in Italy for a year on the Italian Riveria I can honestly say that it’s a part of the country that often gets overlooked in favour of the busy cities. In addition to the stunning Portofino and Sestri Levante resorts, the Ligurian coastline offers the amazing Cinque Terre; a breathtakingly romantic scenic path that joins tiny fishing villages nestled by the mountain along the Mediterranean coastline.
Rebecca Stambridge

Lake Orta is a fantastic, beautiful little town on a tranquil, small (by Italian standards) lake. Drop your luggage off in the town square and take your car back up to one of the car parks above the town, then leave the keys permanently in your room because the streets are so narrow you won't need the car anyway.

There's a very atmospheric little island only five minutes' boat ride away, the ferry to the town at the far end of the lake is a nice trip, and the walks around the lake are excellent.
Peter Whitaker

I toured Italy this summer, and saw a huge amount of the country. Here are some must-sees:

The Cinque Terre in Liguria are beautiful, and the coastal walk above beautiful blue seas is terrific. You can also see the five towns - ancient tangles of streets perched on sheer cliffs, protected by Unesco - by train or boat, if the walk is too much. It was crowded in high season, but it might be worth splitting the whole experience over two nights and staying in one of the delightful villages overnight.

Lake Como is stunning. The town of Como should be treated as a gateway rather than a destination - instead see Bellagio and Mennagio, two beautiful towns across the shore from each other.

Venice after dinner is fabulous. The day-trippers have gone, and if you can stretch to a hotel in central Venice, walk back through the maze of ancient streets. It actually feels like a different city to the one you will probably arrive in - crowded with baying tourists following the well-trodden path to the Rialto Bridge and San Marco. If you are there in the day, steer clear of the Grand Canal and get lost in the back streets, or see some of the islands in the Lagoon.

Siena is better than Florence. It has more atmosphere, more medieval magic and seems to have largely avoided the seedier outcrops that have sprung up in parts of Florence, especially around the train station.

If you do go to Florence, ensure you see Fiesole, a tiny hamlet above Florence offering spectacular views of the city and the Tuscan countryside. Local buses connect up there very easily and cheaply.

From Siena, ensure you see Monteriggioni, also accessible on local buses (although it’s a bit of an uphill walk from the road). This walled village is extraordinary - a beautifully preserved medieval stopping point on the ancient pilgrimage route to Rome. You can walk the walls for amazing views of the Tuscan landscape, and wander the delightful streets of this tiny hilltop hamlet.

Pompeii is a must, but if you go try to be there after 4pm. The heat is manageable, and the crowds (many of them day-trippers) are drifting away by that point. Although the advertised closing time is 7.30, we were still there at nearly 8pm (although I think they lock the gates not long after that!) It’s an incredible, thought-provoking and moving museum to ancient civilisation.

On the Amalfi Coast, see Ravello - utterly enchanting, and home to a great arts festival - and Cetera (home of gastronomy on the Amalfi). If you want to see Amalfi the town, get ready for crowds but also some pretty streets. Make a beeline round the headland, however, for Atrani which is cute and whitewashed and much more laid back.

The island of Procida is a tiny, beautiful outpost in the Bay of Naples. Far superior and far less crowded than Ischia or Capri (which is perhaps the world’s most crowded, overrated island) and offering stunning views of the whole Bay, Vesuvius, etc. Great food too.

Things to avoid:

Venice in the day. Particularly St Mark’s Square, which, when we were there, had a huge scaffold over one of the buildings. Nothing innately wrong in that, except that they had sold off the front of the scaffold to Rolex for advertising, so a vast picture of Roger Federer greeted us when we got off the Vaporetto for our first experience of the fabled San Marco. It’s a crowded, unedifying, totally inauthentic experience, sadly, and the Federer awning summed up Venice’s approach to tourism: never mind the ancient splendour, what can we commercially exploit?

Rome in high season. Stiflingly hot in a way we didn’t find anywhere else, and with vast rip-offs at every turn, Rome is hit-and-miss. The ruins themselves are disappointing if you’ve seen even a tenth of Pompeii’s treasures, and the other 'must-sees' (Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps) are absurdly over-hyped. Truly nothing to see at either, except tourists taking photos of each other. The Colosseum is majestic from the outside, but completely anti-climactic inside. Try the amphitheatre at Nimes in southern France for a genuinely breathtaking monument to Roman sports. Some of the Palladian Squares are fabulous, and the Trastevere is full of character, but much of Rome was rude, hard to navigate, expensive and plagued by hawkers.

Milan, unless you’re seeking a rather soulless city break or are an avid shopper, steer clear. The cathedral is splendid, but that’s about it.

Sorrento, which isn’t too bad but it doesn’t make sense to stop in such a major resort unless you plan to use it as a gateway to more characterful destinations along the Amalfi coast or in the Bay of Naples.

Pisa, which is a long way to go for a leaning tower and has little else to recommend it.
Christopher Price

I think Naples is a must-see, although lots of people would disagree - the city seems to provoke a love/hate reaction. It’s big, noisy, frenetic, and sometimes the uncollected rubbish can be a problem, but if as you say you want to cram a lot in, you can definitely do that in Naples. The food (pizza, mozzarella, seafood and pasta with tomato-based sauces) is incredible, the ruins at Pompeii and Herculaneum are close by, the Amalfi coast is just amazingly beautiful, and if it’s your honeymoon, I’d splash out on a hotel on Capri with a pool or terrace that you can watch the sun go down from. Drink limoncello (or something more manly and less sickly sweet) in the Piazza Bellini on a warm evening. And the trains in Italy are fantastically good value, so touring shouldn’t be a problem. Overnight sleeper trains leave from Naples to Sicily if you want to keep going south!
Sally

I would highly recommend doing some of your travelling on foot: it's a fabulous way to see the country, and you'll feel like you have earned your pasta and chianti at the end of the day. ATG Oxford organise walking tours with idiot-proof instructions - we loved the 'footloose' option, which means you strike out on your own. This is good for honeymooners who don't want to risk being stuck with a group they can't stand. Your luggage magically appears at your hotel each day, so you're not carrying lots of gear. ATG's three-day Tuscany route, from San Gimignano to Siena (both must-see places) is wonderful.
Kate


Myself and two friends are doing a mini road trip down the top half of Spain's east coast, and we want to drive from Barcelona to Valencia. Does anyone know where we can hire a VW camper van and where on the coast we can find good places to stay? We aim to get to La Tomatina festival in Bunol, so if anyone has any advice for the day before (and during) the event that would be great.
Richard McFaul

Don't try to stay in Bunol because it's tiny - get the train from Valencia in the morning instead. Pack goggles to wear when you're throwing, and wear a T-shirt that you never want to wear again.
N Murgatroyd

Can't help with the Tomatina, but can advise on the best way to meander from Barça to the borders of Valencia province.

The Costa Dorada south of Barcelona, beyond the historic attractions of Tarragona (amphitheatre, Roman walls), Tortosa (castle, cathedral) and the Ebro Delta (mussel beds, fish restaurants), is none too special - you can get to Tarragona in about an hour. After visiting Tarragona, try doubling back to the small village of Altafulla (about five miles north of Tarragona), then head inland along the castles/watchtowers of the 9th century Marca Hispanica, following the Gaia river valley (map here), then picnic/camp in a fantastic ruin teetering over a sheer precipice in Santa Perpetua da Gaia (see an image here).

A little further north, head west, taking another of the 'Ruta del Cister' routes towards the walled town of Montblanc before climbing into the Sierra de Montblanc and Priorat region (famous for its red wines). There's a wonderful, hyper-friendly B&B near a village called Porrera in Priorat - it's called Mas Ardevol, and it has deservedly won Spanish magazine awards for many, many years. The owner, Gemma Peyri, conjures up amazing dishes using vegetables from the garden and local wines. From Priorat, it's time to head down through Tortosa towards Valencia...
Peter Thomas


August 8:

My partner and I live in London. We both like camping and try to get away for the weekend whenever possible, but we have recently given up our car and I'm finding it increasingly difficult to find campsites that we can get to on public transport. In particular, we are looking at anything within a couple of hours of London and we don't mind a (shortish) cab ride from the train station.
June

The South Coast offers a great combination of countryside and transport links. Jump on a train at London Victoria and head for Chichester, a 90 minute ride away. From there take the number 52 bus towards the coast. Ask the driver to let you off a few minutes after you reach Bracklesham Bay, immediately after a big S-bend in the road. The site at Stubcroft Farm is a collection of fields with decent eco-friendly facilities, only a short walk from the beaches (and shops) at Bracklesham Bay and East Wittering. From here you can catch some sun on the beach, wander along the coast, head back into town to see Chichester Cathedral, or take a day trip to Arundel.
Joe

I have never succumbed to the temptation of car ownership (though I rent one on occasion), and I camp often. Tents and railways aren't the best of bedfellows as trains are very noisy devices and tents are flimsy wee things with poor sound insulation. When you consider that by their very nature, many train stations are in or near large centres of population you would be most fortunate to find a campsite being nearby. If you are lucky enough to find a rural station with a train service then, as you have found, the connecting public transport is often very poor.

I would suggest purchasing a couple of bikes. They will extend the range you have available, and can add to your trip immensely. As long as you are willing to stay in a small tent it's quite feasable to carry all of your needs for the weekend. My partner and I regularly camp and ride (we've spent our last two summer holidays in France this way) and it's a great way to get about. A second-hand bike with a rack and a few bungee cords needn't cost a great deal, and organisations like the CTC have forums which are full of knowledgable, friendly cycle-campers.
Steve

Try The Elms Caravan & Camping Park, Lippitts Hill, High Beech, Loughton, London, IG10 4AW (telephone 020 8502 5652, email info@theelmscampsite.co.uk) - a small, quiet, family-run park set in 6,000 acres of Epping Forest, yet just a few minutes from the underground and approximately 30 minutes from central London. Cost per night: £6.50 per person. I found it at camp-sites.co.uk.
Rob Dingwall

Try The Elms campsite in Epsom Forest. Lovely set up - I went there this
July. A taxi from the site to the station is £5 and then you can use your travelcard to get to the city. It's completely safe and there are very friendly people on site. The cost was about £15 per night for two of us. Have a good one!
JuliaP


I would like to take my wife and two kids (aged five and eight), to view the solar eclipse on July 22 2009. Can readers outline an independent travel trip, allowing two weeks, to take in the eclipse? We'll need to take into account which country has the best chance of clear skies.
James


If you're in the right spot, a solar eclipse is an amazing thing. The trick
is finding the right spot, at the right time, and knowing how best to view
the eclipse. I can recommend a great book on the subject, called 'Eclipses
2005-2017: A Handbook of Solar and Lunar Eclipses, and other rare
astronomical events' (Floris Books, £9.99) by Wolfgang Held. It had detailed
maps and directions of where best to see all solar and lunar eclipses for
the next nine years, including the July 2009 eclipse, and loads of background
information on eclipses and tips for making the most of the precious few minutes. It even includes a pair of those groovy safety glasses for viewing the eclipse safely (though you will want a pair for each member of the family).
Katy Lockwood-Holmes


Having just returned from viewing the August 1 2008 eclipse in north-west
China, I can honestly say it is a fantastic excuse to travel somewhere you
would never go otherwise, with the added bonus of seeing one of the most
spectacular sights on the planet.

There are plenty of online guides with details on where best to see next
year's eclipse including the Nasa site. The eclipse route next year goes from northern India, through Bhutan, across central China and on to the Pacific Islands. And although it will prove to be one of the longest possible periods of totality next year (more than six minutes), unfortunately there's nowhere along its route where will you be assured of clear skies. Based on climatic history, the locations with the best chance to see it will be near the eastern cities of Shanghai or Hangzhou - the latter being a very tourist-friendly city with the famed 'West Lake'. You should expect about 50% chance of cloud cover on the eclipse day, but don't be surprised if the Chinese plan to use the same
cloud-busting measures they are now using in Beijing to ensure clear skies
at the Olympics opening ceremonies.

The main cities of China are easy places for travel with young children. It would also be easy for you to join organised tours or set your own itinerary to explore some of the other parts of China - the most popular tours would include the historical sites of Beijing and Xian, or the countryside at Guilin or along the Yangtze. The Chinese adore children and will take great interest in your children. Even if you encounter cloudy skies, China is still an exciting country to tour and would make a great holiday.
Mark Kidd (Shanghai)


My partner and I will be travelling to India for a friend's wedding in January. We'll spend a week in Mumbai for the wedding, then we have two weeks to explore more of India. At the moment we are overwhelmed with choice and are looking for recommendations of places to visit and the best way to organise this ourselves. We have vague ideas of taking the train to Kerala or Goa and also travelling up to the Golden Triangle but wonder if this is a bit ambitious? Our only limitation is the need to return to Mumbai for our flight home.
Alison

There's a lot that can be done, very enjoyably, in two weeks in India. Internal flights are very good thanks to some excellent private companies (Jet Airways is the one I have used), so you could fly from Mumbai to somewhere and then stay relatively locally for two weeks, taking trains and buses. India is a very diverse country and can be very overwhelming so best to choose a relatively small portion of it and explore rather than trying to tick all the boxes. I did two two-week trips - one was spent in the Golden Triangle; the other exploring the south, with one week in Tamil Nadu, starting from Chennai, then travelling down by train and up again to Kerala, leaving again from Kochi. It really depends what you like, but personally I found the south much easier to travel around, more friendly and laid-back. We were blown away by the temple cities of Tamil Nadu, and Kerala is simply amazing and a unique place to unwind and relax. I also much prefer south Indian food, so I would vote for the south!
MG

I spent six months in India several years ago (and loved it) - Rajasthan was my favourite place and is where I would recommend spending as much of your holiday as possible. It is beautiful, and the people are stunning. I spent three weeks in the town of Pushkar and surrounding area - the desert is magical. Hampi was another interesting old town, but Goa was very touristy and not really India at all.
Elisabeth Gordon

I would say that you have time to go to Goa or Kerala within a week but it would be a real rush to try and do both. As for the Golden Triangle, at that time of year the airports around Delhi can be closed at short notice due to fog in the cold (yes, it gets cold in January in the north) and you may find yourself stranded, so I would stick to the warmer south. The train sounds like a romantic idea but they are very slow and unless you are on an extended trip I would stick to flights.

The backwater trips of Kerala are amazing. Fly to Kocji, stay a night in Fort Cochin (a sort of bohemian enclave on the edge of the city) and then set off for a backwater trip in an old rice boat. You would also have time to do a short train journey to a beach like Varkala before catching a flight back to Mumbai. Don’t cut it too fine though as fog problems in the north can have knock-on effects on schedules elsewhere too.

Or you could just go to Goa and spend time on the beautiful beaches in the north near Anjuna and Vagator (Mandrem and Morjim beaches are my favourites in the world. Long, white and unspoilt - see here). The town of Old Goa is fascinating and the food is great. Goa has a very laid-back, almost Caribbean feel and will provide a welcome respite after the heat and extreme bustle of Mumbai. I would avoid the big, package tourist centres in Goa and stick to the areas I mentioned before as they are more interesting and there is a wide choice of accommodation available so you don’t have to rough it.

Some of my favourite memories are from the 30-minute bike ride through little fishing villages up the coast from Vagator (where we stayed) to Mandrem every day. Bliss! You could also do a two-day trip to Hampi from Goa which is an amazing place to visit further inland.
M McA

India is vast and I am not surprised that you are feeling overwhelmed with the choice available to you. If you are not into backpacking I would highly recommend talking to a tour operator who specialises in the region, to discuss your interests and what you want to get out of the trip. If they are worth their salt they will devise a well-balanced trip for you without it being exhausting - India is hard work but worth it.

It is pointless going to Rajasthan if you want an element of beach, and equally if you want to see temples, don’t go to Kerala but look at Tamil Nadu instead. If wildlife is your bag then central India is the place to go. Don’t feel that you have to see the Taj, or Varanasi or the backwaters - every part of India is wonderful and inspiring, and you will enjoy whatever part you decide to visit. The key is not to do too much. If you fall in love with India then you will keep going back.
Oli
realholidays.co.uk

You'll have a blast in Mumbai, but after a week there you will be seriously ready to get out of the city and into the country! Travelling in India will wear you out, so I'd discourage you from trying to travel vast distances and cram too much in. There are so many amazing sites to see and experiences to be had all over the country that it's really not necessary.

I'd recommend travelling down the coast through Goa, avoiding the nasty touristy 'package deal' areas (Palolem and Patnem spring to mind), and checking out Gokarna which is just south of Goa in Karnataka state. It's beautiful and relaxed, with a far more Goan feel than many places in Goa now seem to have, and the tourists/travellers there are a much more relaxed than in much of Goa.

One place you simply must see is Hampi and it's environs - an impressive landscape of boulders and cocount trees, scattered with amazing temples and ruins. Possibly my favourite place in India. My basic advice would be to stick pretty close to the west coast, and try to plan your trip so you spend as little time as possible in cities. After your time in Mumbai I think you'll see what I mean!
John-Mark

We are a tour operator based in India but with a difference - our trips allow you to journey and live with communities in family-run homestays (a unique and sustainable way of managing healthy and responsible tourism). Your revenue helps remote communities and in return you experience culture and nature first-hand.

We also try and match your dates with festivals - these are days when authentic India leaps to life. For two weeks my recommendation would be the Himalayan region of Darjeeling-Sikkim and a sample of the north-east for fantastic wildlife. Another option would be Kerala, or Rajasthan and the north.
Shyamal Datta
Green Frontier Ecotours

While it is possible to do both the Golden Triangle and Kerala or Goa in two weeks, part of the joy of India is taking things more slowly and so I would recommend sticking to one or the other. Having spent six months in Rajasthan, I'm prejudiced towards recommending that you go north and explore the beautiful area around the Golden Triangle. From Mumbai, go to Delhi (17 hours by train) and take a trip to the unmissable Taj Mahal at Agra. However, don't bother to spend much time in Jaipur as you will receive more hassle as a tourist there than anywhere else in Rajasthan, and its main sights are easily equalled or bettered by other cities. Instead, travel to the gorgeous blue city of Jodhpur to see the dramatic Meherangarh fort and continue to the golden city of Jaisalmer where you can take a memorable camel ride in the desert. From here, work your way back south to the romantic lake city of Udaipur (as famously seen in Octopussy) and take a 24-hour train back to Mumbai for your flight home. Book trains a few days in advance and go second class if you want the proper Indian train experience, complete with a regular stream of people selling you food and chai. Learn a few basic Hindi phrases and you will find that people appreciate your efforts, however badly pronounced they are!
Katie

If you've only got a short time and you've never been before you really should think about some expert/local guide. I'd recommend something bespoke so you get to pick and chose what you want rather than being bussed around in a group. You get enough attention as it is.

Goa is always a great place to start out in India. A lot of foreigners, true, but it is paradise and a great starting point. Try a company like Koko India, they're particularly good. And go to Hampi - it's like a Star Trek set. Benares is the most mind-bending place on earth, bar none. Proper India at it's best.
Tim Daw


August 1:


This month my friend and I are travelling from Bari to Rome (from where we will get our flight home). I'm looking for suggestions of what we could do in between - our main objectives are sticking to a fairly limited budget, finding some good parties and visiting art galleries. Any suggestions?
Erin

Why fly to Bari when you can just as easily go to Lecce, less then 100 miles further south (fly to Brindisi)? The city may not offer many galleries, but visit the old part of Salento's capital, where you can walk down its alleys in the hot afternoons, admiring the baroque architecture, or sit in one of the many cafes sipping an iced coffee. As for parties, pick any one of the beaches, quite busy in August, where you can go to mix with the local youth and dance until sunset. Then move on to one of the beachside clubs (I suggest Gallipoli in Baia Verde, or Otranto in Baia dei Turchi to begin with - club PRs roam the beaches all day). Do remember that you will need to rent a car to visit the coast though (you can't really party away from the coast in August). I would not rely on public transport (the same applies to Bari or all of southern Italy for that matter).
Max

I’ve just got back from travelling around the south of Italy. The highlight for me was a night in Materain Basilicata. It’s most famous for its Sassi, an ancient town of cave dwellings and houses dug into the rock, which were originally the site of a troglodyte community but many of which were still inhabited up to the 1950s. Recently it appeared in Mel Gibson’s Passion of the Christ, but when I went in July there was a refreshing lack of (non-Italian) tourists. Find a cheap room close to the centre of town in the not-so-attractive but quiet suburbs and wander into town at sunset for the ultimate contrast. A great site for cheap accommodation is Bed and Breakfast.
Gareth

The best parties in the area are in Salento, southern Puglia. It’s a little detour from the route between Bari and Rome, but you will surely find some of the best beach parties in Italy, usually stuffed with reggae music and locals who mix up with tourists. To get to Salento, just take the coastal road from Bari down to Brindisi and Lecce. From Lecce I suggest you hitchhike or get a bus to the coast. To enjoy it better, go and camp close to the seaside.
Luca


I have just inherited £1000 and want to spend it on a memorable trip with my boyfriend. We can probably add another £800 pounds to the budget, and think we could probably take a maximum of two weeks off work (only one of us can drive so a driving holiday would be unfair, and we don't want to go to the USA). We recently went to Oman and had an amazing time - we liked the feeling of being off the beaten track and both thought the snorkelling was one of the highlights, so would be interested in diving, but also surfing, hiking... basically we want an adventure! We are both 24 and haven't travelled much outside of Europe but would like suggestions to make this a really unique trip.
Lizzie

Last year my partner and I had what I would call the trip of a lifetime - in the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico. While there are parts of it that most certainly are on the beaten track, you can easily escape to the most idyllic, untouched places. We did, admittedly, hire a car so that we could be a bit more independent, but the bus links are actually surprisingly good, and you can escape the Starbucks capital of Mexico, Cancun, within a 20-minute drive. Our highlights included watching the lightning storms over the mainland from Isla De Mujeres, an early morning private guided tour around Chichen-Itza, the ancient Mayan ruins, and watching the pelicans dive for fish on a deserted beach in Tulum. Learn a bit of Spanish so that you can assure the locals that you are not Americanos and they will take great care of you!
Anna

Vancouver, British Columbia in Canada is my hometown and I can guarantee that it is full of activities for those seeking an adrenaline rush! The wilderness of the three local mountains and Whistler (approximately two hours' drive from Vancouver) are full of potential. You can go hiking, zip trekking, whitewater rafting and mountain biking all around the same area! If you prefer to do some surfing, Tofino on Vancouver Island is great as well. In addition to the surfing, there are natural hot springs in the area that you can get to only by taking a scenic boat ride, then a hike through the forest.
J Yu

If you enjoy being in the water, you could try Swimtrek holidays for an unusual method of island hopping. They tend to be off the beaten track and combine swimming with some hiking (the strenuousness of the hiking varies depending on location). Their longest trips last for a week so could be combined with something else. They usually split their groups between fast swimmers, medium paced swimmers and 'scenic' swimmers so, provided that you can float and propel yourself forward at a reasonable pace, it's no problem if you're not the next Ian Thorpe. They always operate with a support boat so you can hop into that if you want to relax and survey the scenery instead. Novices always surprise themselves with how far they can swim and it is a totally different experience from ploughing up and down a pool.
Naomi

For an all-round adventure, I would suggest Bali. On this tiny island you will get surfing, diving, snorkelling, hiking, trekking and rafting - every activity you can imagine, plus a good dose of culture thrown in. I know Bali doesn't sound so off-the-beaten-track any more, but there are so many different sides of Bali that it is still possible to walk on one of north Bali's beaches and not see anyone for hours. Bali is also one of those places where tourism blends perfectly with traditional beliefs. The Balinese embrace tourism with open arms and they have been doing so for decades, without ever losing the true essence of their traditions.

With your budget, I suggest going just before or after the high season (July 1 - September 15) so you can have your adventure holiday in the comfort of luxury hotels. Waka Shorea is a lovely hotel located on a national park, and is great for snorkelling and diving. For trekking/hiking, I suggest staying in Sarinbuana eco-lodge, an amazing hotel on the slopes of Mount Batukaru. This is great for village walks and, of course, trekking Mount Batukaru. To finish off in style, why not have one of Bali's famous spa treatments after a day of surfing in countless surf spots in south Bali? As you may have guessed, I love Bali and can't say enough about this magical island!
Caroline


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