Letter of the week
I want to visit a friend in the Ukraine, but it's proving difficult to arrange. As well as getting a visa, you apparently have to report to the Ministry for Internal Affairs every three days. I wonder why, as my friend Olga came here with no bother. Do you have any advice on this and booking a flight to Kiev?
Eileen Robson by email
Although the spirit of Soviet bureaucracy lives on in visa regulations for the Ukraine, it isn't an impenetrable fortress and welcomes visitors. An invitation from an individual in the Ukraine, plus other necessary documentation, can get you a private visa (different from the normal tourist visa), valid for up to 90 days, costing £30 plus a £10 handling fee. Full information is available from the Ukrainian Consulate Visa Information Line (0900 188 7749); have a pen and paper ready as it's a premium-rate call that will take you several minutes to get everything you need.
Once in the Ukraine, you and Olga will need to register your passport within 72 hours of arrival to a VVIR (Ministry of Internal Affairs) office, but after that you're free to do as you please. You should be able to get flights to Kiev for around £260 including taxes; British Airways, Austrian Airlines and Lufthansa all operate services from London.
Change for change
You mention (Escape, 15 July) a Unicef scheme urging tourists to donate leftover currency in the run-up to the euro. I have £20 in small amounts of European currencies which I would gladly give to charity, if I could do so in the high street.
Robert Morris, London
Unicef's Change for Good campaign, which raises funds for needy children worldwide, will accept any amount of any currency. Just drop it in at a BA Travel Shop; your nearest ones are in Victoria Station and at 156 Regent Street. You can also post them (if quantities aren't too large) to Unicef Change For Good, Africa House, London WC2B 6NB (020 7405 5592).
One charity that allows you to drop currency off on the high street is Ockenden International (01483 772012) which promotes self-reliance for refugees and other displaced people. They send out bags that can be used for unsorted foreign funds, which can then be handed in at any branch of Barclays Bank.
Down Under your way
When I retire next year, my husband and I would like to spend a couple of months 'doing' Australia and New Zealand, where we have friends and family. There's a 22-day tour of Oz with an 'add-on' 15-day tour of NZ, at a hefty £3,500 per person. Younger friends tell us the only way to see the real Australia is backpacking. We've got used to creature comforts, but we do like our independence, too. Is the OZ/NZ package a cop-out?
Jo Sexton, Cheshire
Doing a tour is by no means a cop-out. It will show you some of the highlights of the region quickly and in comfort. Make the most of any time you're allowed in between to recover from what will be an exhilarating whistlestop trip.
There's no reason why you can't do it yourself, though, and there's no reason why travelling independently means missing out on creature comforts. As time isn't really an issue, why not think of the friends and relatives you'll be visiting as a framework for your travels? If they're in any of the big cities, you could rent a car and drive between them. Melbourne to Adelaide, for example, is a fantastic, scenic drive and hiring a car can work out well financially. Australia also boasts two of the best railway journeys in the world - Sydney to Perth and Adelaide to Alice Springs. Where trains don't go, there's an extensive bus network; both are good value, fast and comfortable. Hotels in Australia and New Zealand are happy to take bookings for one or two nights, many have websites and email, making advance reservations easy. There are also cottages, farm stays and other countryside accommodation available.
New Zealand is made for touring. You can often drive into the heart of some of the country's finest locations. Anywhere is rewarding, but the west and south-east coast of the South Island are particular favourites of ours. A visit to the country really benefits from a few days extra, as lots of it is unspoilt and wild. Explore and you won't regret it.
Cuba into US does go
We are visiting the States in September. We visited Cuba last year and still have the stamps in our passports. Will this give us a problem with US immigration?
Josie Hamnett, Manchester
There's no law against US citizens travelling to Cuba, but there are regulations against them spending money there, which, in effect, legislates against travel there by Americans. As a result, it's irrelevant whether visitors to the States have been to Cuba or not. We haven't heard of any instances where US immigration has refused UK nationals (or any other travellers) entry to the US because they've got a Cuban passport stamp.
Spanish steps
In November, I will be 60 and I hope to celebrate my birthday by taking my family away for a long weekend. I have saved up lots of airmiles so hope these will cover most of the trip. For my fiftieth birthday, we went to Amsterdam for a wonderful weekend, so I am hoping to find a similar place that we can all enjoy. We will be five adults in the party. Stansted would be the most convenient airport.
Marian Borrows, Bucks
If you want to use your airmiles then you should consider flying from Gatwick or Heathrow for a much larger range of destinations. (The only Stansted flights on offer at the moment are to Manchester.) For full details on airmiles and how the scheme works visit www.airmiles.co.uk or telephone 0870 5577788.
A great all-year-round city is Barcelona. Although November is technically the 'low season', there are still plenty of activities and attractions on offer. Barcelona is steeped in history, boasts amazing architecture and has a sense of style that few cities can match. Once you've been sightseeing, you can reward yourself with a meal in one of the many cafés and restaurants. Catalan cuisine is famous for its richness and diversity and most of the food is traditionally prepared.
For more information, contact the Spanish Tourist Board on 020 7486 8077.
