Bath and the River Avon - good choice for a short stay.Credit:iStock
Three days is not long,so my choice would be the handsome Georgian city of Bath. It’s pocket-sized and easy to get around yet has plenty of cultural and scenic attractions to keep you busy for the time you have,and its location fits well with your needs. The highlights of this World Heritage-listed city include the Roman baths,Number One Royal Crescent,the Jane Austen Centre,the Victoria Gallery,Bath Abbey and Sally Lunn’s Historic Eating House and Museum. Take a look atVisit Bath for an in-depth view of what the city has to offer. Bath to Heathrow is just over two hours by train. You can book tickets easily throughRail Europe.
My girlfriend and I want to go to Malta this year. Should we book a tour or wing it when we get there? Is it safe to drive over there? What’s the best time to go? We were thinking five days might be enough,then to Italy for a week – does that sound reasonable?
L. Corradin,Penrith,NSW
Malta is very user-friendly.
Malta is incredibly user-friendly. English is widely spoken,the food is heavily influenced by Italy and,by European standards,prices are a bargain. You’re probably going to stay somewhere in or close to Valletta or Sliema,where most main attractions are located,and these you can easily explore on foot. From there,you can take a tour to places further away such as the Blue Grotto,Marsaxlokk,Mdina and Hagar Qim,but Malta is compact and there really aren’t too many reasons to hire a car. Take a boat tour to the nearby islands of Gozo and Camino. Unless you go in peak season,you don’t need to book tours in advance. Malta Tours covers everything you need and Viator has more options. Either April-May or October until mid-November would be my choice – the weather should be comfortable and warm – although there’s a greater chance of rain in November. Five days is perfect.
From Malta,you could take the ferry to Pozzallo,in the south of Sicily. The trip takes less than two hours aboard Virtu Ferries. From Pozzallo,you might take the one-hour train journey to Syracuse using the Omio website,and stay on the nearby island of Ortigia,which is beyond gorgeous. From here,you can easily make trips to explore other parts of Sicily. Noto,Ragusa,Modica and Taormina are all essential viewing. A week here is ideal.
We are looking at a cruise in the Arctic and Norwegian waters,preferably on a smaller vessel up to 100 passengers and ideally for seven to 10 days.
R. Dawson,Wollongong,NSW
One of the smaller vessels operating in the polar regions is Aurora Expeditions′ Greg Mortimer,which carries about 132 passengers. Launched in 2019,this is a state-of-the art expeditionary vessel that offers a high level of comfort as well as the ability to cruise safely in the world’s most challenging regions. One of the unique features of this vessel is the curving Ulstein bow,which cuts through the swell for greater passenger comfort.
Another possibility is the Ortelius,operated by Oceanwide Expeditionsand which carries just over 100 passengers. Built in Poland,the Ortelius was originally used as a research vessel by the Russian Academy of Science. Facilities on board are more basic than aboard some of the other vessels cruising polar regions but the price reflects that difference. Quark Expeditions′ Ocean Adventurer is a 128-passenger vessel that has recently undergone a multimillion-dollar renovation.