Letter of the week
We have a stopover in Tokyo for just one night. Could you recommend the best way to spend it and how would we return to our airport hotel in the early hours of the morning, from central Tokyo.
Nicola Roberts by email
Unless you fancy a £125 taxi ride back to your hotel from central Tokyo, you're looking at an all-nighter. Public transport back to the airport doesn't start until five or six in the morning. A great start to the evening would be to watch the sunset over Tokyo from one of the city's skyscraper bars - the Aurora Lounge in Shinjuku, on the 45th floor of the Keio Plaza Hotel, comes highly recommended. You'll find dinner with a view comes at a price, so hit the streets and grab a bowl of ramen - noodles in a broth served with a variety of toppings.
There are plenty more bars to hop around in Shinjuku, but for serious clubbing the Roppongi district is the place to be. There are clubs offering every type of music, though the best places charge up to £30 to get into, so you need to be sure you're going to enjoy where you go! Check out the listings at www.tokyo.to and www.tokyoclassified.com for a full rundown of what's going on. Leaving your jeans and trainers in the hotel room will make sure you're let in to most places. And if it all gets a bit too much, Yutopia, close to the Ogikubo subway station is a 24-hour bath and sauna complex to steam away the effects of the evening.
Sicily on a budget
Three of us are renting a house on the south coast of Sicily for the last two weeks of September. We are renting a car when we get out there, but we were wondering what would be the most reasonable way of getting to Sicily. There seem to be no cheap flights to Palermo.
Gerd Browne by email
The south of Italy has been poorly served by budget airlines since Ryanair discontinued its Reggio di Calabria service, which left travellers with a short hop across the Strait of Messina to reach Sicily. However, Alitalia flies there in September for £224 including taxes (from Dial-a-flight 0870 566 6666), which isn't much more than you could have expected to pay for a no-frills flight at peak time. For example, we were quoted £163 including taxes to travel to Naples with Go at the same time of year, not including your transport costs on to Sicily. By going direct to Palermo you can maximise the time you spend on the island, which is well worth the extra on the fare.
Car hire in Ireland
My partner and I are travelling to Eire in August and intend to fly into Dublin and from there pick up a hire car and travel around at our leisure for two weeks. However, we are unsure where we should hire a car from. Do we rely on one of the big companies like Avis, which has a booking desk at the airport, or do we shop around? Also, is it better to book the car in advance? It's been suggested we book a fly-drive package, but the adverts we have seen for these seem quite limiting, so we don't feel this is an option.
Ian Cardwell by email
Car hire in Ireland is generally expensive, and as you are travelling in peak season you should book in advance. The national companies such as Avis and Hertz often have special advance prepaid rates. Two weeks' rental in August will cost £378 if you book through Hertz (0870 599 6699). This rate gets you a two-door hatchback, includes collision waiver, tax, unlimited mileage and allows you to pick up the car from Dublin airport. Although you'll find lots of rental booths at the airport, don't be tempted to leave the booking until arrival - the later you leave it, the more you will pay. Ensure that unlimited mileage is included in the package, so that you have complete freedom with your itinerary. Remember to check the restrictions on return times and dates, as late delivery often results in heavy penalties. To rent a car in Ireland you need to be over 25 years of age and hold a current, clean driving licence.
Letting in London
In a recent issue of Escape, I read the article about New York which suggested renting an apartment from an agency specialising in sub-letting to tourists on a short-term basis. A friend in South Africa wants to come to London for a few weeks in the summer. Are there similar agencies in this country and, if so, how much do they charge?
Madeleine Thornton by email
Yes. This sort of letting has become increasingly popular in the capital over the last few years, and a surprising number of agents have sprung up to meet the demand. They deal in properties ranging from basic bedsits to luxurious flats. You'll find there is something to suit most travellers. Prices depend on which area you prefer (the centre tends to be expensive). They start at about £40 a night, based on two people sharing in the low season.
Holiday Serviced Apartments, based in central London, rents places nightly or weekly. Prices often vary according to season. Check for restrictions before making a reservation, and find out what is included in the fee (020 7373 4477, or email reservations@holidayapartments.co.ukx).
Cruising Chile's fjords
I've been recommended by a friend to take a boat trip through the Chilean fjords. Do you have any information about this and can we book in advance?
Harvey Williams, email
The ferry trip, which runs from Puerto Montt in the Chilean Lake District to Puerto Natales in Patagonia, takes you through some of the continent's most breathtaking scenery. En route, you'll pass glaciers, waterfalls, isolated fishing communities, and if you're lucky have dolphins and seals for company along the way. The trip on the Puerto Eden, a cargo and passenger ferry, takes four days and three nights and is a brilliant introduction to the natural wonders of the tip of South America. It's also a great way to meet fellow travellers heading on into the Torres del Paine national park. A day trip or an extended trek in the park is another absolute must for visitors heading south.
The trip costs from £90pp for a bunk sharing with four others to £210pp for a double occupancy cabin; all meals are included but drinks are extra. See www.australis.com for booking information, or fax 00 56 2 2035025 - advance reservations are recommended, as the trip is rightly popular.
• We welcome letters and our experts Tom Hall and Rachel Suddart try to answer as many as possible on this page. We cannot answer those not published. Include a daytime phone number and postal address. Email us at travel.tips@observer.co.uk, or write to Escape, 119 Farringdon Road, London EC1R 3ER. Lonely Planet will send the writer of the star letter a free guidebook of their choice.
