Avoiding hassles in Eygpt
A friend and I booked a last-minute trip to Luxor, Egypt, excited by the thought of seeing ancient empires. Every time we mention it to friends, we are greeted with tales of horrible heat, bloodthirsty insects and woman-thirsty locals. Have we made a terrible mistake?
Sarah Lary, Hove, E.Sussex
Don't let others dampen your excitement. The delights of Egypt are well worth the odd discomfort. Between June and August it's unbearably hot. Dress sensibly in cool, light clothing, use high-factor sunscreen and avoid the midday sun. The insects can be held at bay with a heavy-duty repellent, while malaria is not really a problem outside the el-Fayoum area.
There are misconceptions on both sides between Western women and Egyptian men. You'll undoubtedly attract male attention, but dress appropriately and you'll probably encounter no more than a few non-threatening comments. Advances can be discouraged with a firm and simple 'no'. Serious physical harassment does not constitute a significant threat.
Taking it easy on holiday
We are energetic pensioners and usually take our holidays in late August, September or October. We spend £1,000-plus together and include walking and cultural visits. This year, though, we'll need a different type of holiday as my husband is recovering from a leg operation. Any suggestions?
Susan Dury, Brighton
If seems unlikely you'll enjoy being cooped up on a cruise for your fortnight, so why not consider exploring countries relatively close to home that offer all the culture you could hope for, a bit of sun and won't break your budget? The further from August, the better the destination you'll have to yourself.
You don't say where you've been before, but exploring Andalusia by car or train could take in Seville, Granada, Córdoba and as many great little towns as you please. Even if walking isn't on your agenda, the Alpujarras offers breathtaking ravines, slopes and white villages. Contact the Spanish Tourist Board on 020 7486 8077 for more details.
If this doesn't appeal, consider the Baltic states. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania which are easy to get around, good value and have some great historic cities and natural areas. Contact the relevant embassies for more details.
Doing Aruba on the cheap
We're off to Peru at the end of August for two weeks and have taken the option to stop off at Aruba for two days. Aruba is a package resort. Could you give us tips on accommodation we can rent on a nightly basis, and what to do on the island for such a short stay. We'll be there on a Friday and Saturday night but don't want to spend more than $70 a day. We're prepared to be self-catering.
Sinead Morrin by email
Aruba is a speck of land just off the coast of Venezuela that deals in top-end tourism - the island is overflowing with duty-free shopping, watersports operators and casinos. All this makes it pretty pricey: most accommodation starts at £200 a day. August is the low season, so you may well be able to negotiate a good rate, though you're still unlikely to get anything within your price range. You'll pay less if your hotel isn't right on the beach.
Try www.aruba.com for an excellent discussion board where you can exchange tips with other travellers, while www.visitaruba.com offers a good sample of the type of lodgings available.
Once on the island, the cheapest way to spend your time is to enjoy the free pleasures of sun, sea and sand - the beaches are the best in the Dutch Antilles. Orangestad, the capital, has a few interesting museums squeezed in between the boutiques, and the eighteenth-century Fort Zoutman is worth a look.
Exploring the island can also be rewarding, with a large part of it making up the Akirok National Park with its caves, abandoned mines and the islands highest point - Mount Jamanota, which towers 620ft (188m) above the sunbathing masses.
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