Letter of the week
Two years ago we went to the north of Sardinia, fell in love with it and saw people in gulets, biggish wooden traditional sailing boats. This looked like a fantastic way to sail in comfort. This year we want to sail in a gulet-type boat round Sardinia or Sicily, but I haven't been able to find anyone with these boats for hire. Have you have any suggestions?
Lucy Scott-Moncrieff, by email
A good place to start to get an idea of prices and itineraries is at www.sardegnacharter.it, which offers a range of boats for both skippered and bareboat charter. However, they don't offer the sort of older yacht you're after. Closer to what you want are the sailing trips offered by Sardinia Holidays (020 7242 2455; www.sardiniaholidays.co.uk), which has some boats with teak decking. A week's bareboat on an Oceanis Clipper 393 starts at £1,650.
I haven't been able to find long trips on the boats you describe. The ones you saw may have been larger boats on day excursions.
My son, who teaches English in Japan, is coming home to Scotland around 22 July for a family wedding. He was horrified to find that the cheapest return fare he can find, on the internet or in Tokyo, is about £850. I've looked into booking from this end in the past, but was told that UK-based travel agents don't get the same discounts as those in Japan, but I had a feeling I'd read that the rules were changing. Alternatively, could he take a cheaper overland route home?
Sandra Charles, by email
In January there was a complicated change in the International Air Transport Association rules. Agents here selling tickets originating abroad used to have to check the price of the trip in both directions, and charge the higher rate. For most countries this has now been abolished, but Japan is not covered by the rule changes. The week your son wants to travel is bound to be expensive, and high season continues until mid-September. As exciting as the overland option sounds, once your son has travelled out to the port, caught a ferry to Russia or China, travelled to Moscow and on to London he'll almost certainly spend more. The only advice is to persevere with shopping around in Japan.
I am visiting Poland to see Krakow and Auschwitz for a few days at the end of this month. What are the pros and cons of taking euros versus zlotys.
Mike Tynen, Nantwich
Don't bother with euros for Poland. Pounds can be exchanged at commission-free Kantor exchange booths all over Krakow, and these offer better rates than banks.
The banks will happily change pounds. With this arrangement, you can change small amounts so you're not left with too much. Use up spare coins before you leave on buying smoky oscypek cheese and Bison vodka, flavoured with grass.
My girlfriend and I want to go to Malaysia in mid-January.We want to spend three nights in Langkawi, seven in Kuala Lumpur and four on Redang Island. We might also take in the hill resort of Tasik Kenya. Malaysia does not allow in Israeli citizens, but is there any issue with people who have an Israeli stamp in their passport?
Andrew Fennemore, by email
You'll have no problem entering Malaysia with an Israeli passport stamp.
Accommodation is good value. Even top-end places are available for £80 a night. January is in the rainy season, and this puts you in a strong position for getting lower rates, so shop around.
While you should secure the first few nights in advance, booking as you go should yield the best prices.
One problem you may encounter is that rains are heavier and more prolonged on the east coast, so resorts often close in the rainy season. Be sure you have something booked on Redang, or know some places will be open. Boat services are unlikely to be running.
One place on Redang that is open all year is the Berjaya resort (www.berjayaresorts.com/redang-beach/).
A week in Kuala Lumpur is probably too long. Four days is generally enough.
Getting around Malaysia is straightforward. Buses are cheap, clean and frequent.
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