Letter of the week
We are travelling independently to Lebanon in December and wondered if you could advise us on the best way to organise a skiing trip when we arrive.
Simon Walker, Sheffield
Lebanon may not spring to mind as a skiing destination, but it has several ski resorts with generally reliable snow and a season that can run from November to May, depending on conditions.
The oldest and best known resort, The Cedars, which overlooks a forest, sits at the highest altitude and boasts the longest season of any skiing area in Lebanon. There's also Faraya-Mzaar, 40 miles north-east of Beirut. It has 17 slopes and 16 lifts, a variety of slopes and a wide array of accommodation.
Every resort is a day trip from Beirut and you can arrange day or longer excursions with local travel agencies when you arrive. Expect to pay around £60 a day, including transfers to the slopes, lift passes and equipment hire. You can get an overview of the various resorts at www.skileb.com.
There's much more to Lebanon, of course, than skiing. It is rich in ancient ruins at sites such as Byblos and Baalbek. Tripoli's Crusader Castle and Islamic monuments are worth a few days.
There's plenty to fascinate in Beirut, a dynamic, cosmopolitan city which is 5,000 years old. You can't miss the ongoing rebuilding as it returns to prosperity after years of war. It now calls itself 'the city that would not die'. It's well worth setting aside time to enjoy its museums, galleries and cafe culture.
Slow boat to Australia
We find the journey to Australia a killer, but have all the time in the world. Is there any way of halving the flight by flying only to Singapore and going the rest of the way by sea. Could I do this and still have change from £1,000?
David Handley, Skipton
Unless you happen upon a kindly yacht skipper willing to transfer you to Australia for pocket money and fine conversation, I'm afraid the answer is no.
Cargo vessels do take passengers from Singapore to Australia and New Zealand, but the fare is far more than £1,000. You'd then need to arrange the return passage and air fare as well as secure a sailing that tied in with your travel dates. If you fancy a try at making this work, however, the best source of information is Strand Voyages (020 7836 6363).
The best alternative is to stop over for a day or two in Singapore. This will ease the jet lag and give you a chance to recharge your batteries.
There's plenty to see in this cosmopolitan city state, from its colonial past to the colourful Chinatown, Arab Street and Little India districts.
If you're keen to stretch your legs, the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve contains what is left of Singapore's rainforest.
Seeing the whole of Thailand
I'm off to Thailand with a friend for two-and-a-half weeks next month, and I'm trying to plan an itinerary that will give a realistic timetable for sampling all the country has to offer.
We would like to take in the culture and see the countryside, though not necessarily the standard beach party life. Have you any suggestions on how to go about it?
Our thoughts were to try a northern loop, travelling by train, and spend some time in in the national parks. Having done that, we thought of going south to the islands, from where a domestic flight would get us back to Bangkok for the flight home. Would spending all the time in the north or the south be better than trying to see the whole country?
N. Sandhu, Hayes, Middlesex
Visitors normally take at least a month to see the major attractions of Thailand, so you will need to prioritise.
The key is how keen you are to hit the beach. As you sound more curious about the history and culture of the country, after seeing the capital why not head north to Chiang Mai, Thailand's northern metropolis and the gateway to trekking and exploring the mountainous national parks.
Chiang Mai is also a great place to learn about the country's history by exploring the museums, temples and night bazaars that give the city its character.
On the way north, stop off at Ayutthaya and Lopburi, two palace and temple complexes in central Thailand that will add some context to your explorations.
After this you can take a train, bus or fly back to Bangkok and enjoy some beach time. The resort of Ko Samet is near Bangkok. There are better places to relax, but it will fulfil your requirements if you have limited time.
Train is the best way to get around (see www.srt.or.th), but the network doesn't go everywhere. Buses are a fine alternative to fill in the gaps.
For more details, contact the Tourism Authority of Thailand Information Service in the UK, on 09063 640 666; or at www.thaismile.co.uk.
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