· My wife, twin 18-year-old daughters and I spent three wonderful weeks in Oman from the end of August to mid-September this year. It was still quite hot then, but by now I would expect the weather to be very pleasant and remain so until about April.

There is plenty to do, though to get about it's best to hire a car. A saloon will take you around Muscat, out to the forts at Nizwa and Jabrin and even down to Salala or over to the Emirates for sight-seeing. However, if you want something more adventurous - trips up wadis or off the hard-top roads - a four-wheel drive is required. Trips into the desert are safest done with two vehicles in case one gets stuck.

A read of any one of the several guides will give a good impression of what there is to see and do - I have the Maverick Guide To Oman by Peter Ochs, which is packed with information. Relatives living in Oman should also be able to provide good advice on what to see and how to get around.

Is it safe? Driving standards are poorer than here, and one should be aware of land guard against local dangers such as getting stuck in the desert and flash floods in the wadis. I would think there is no particular danger resulting from the September 11 attacks, though we left the day after the attacks (as planned) and do not have a direct feeling for this. Omanis are immensely friendly and hospitable and there is no security risk - crime is practically unheard of. Local custom dictates reasonably modest dress and bikinis are not recommended on public beaches. But there are several hotel beaches where European dress codes apply and one can even have a drink or two.

John E.G. Savage

· We are visiting Dubai at the end of November. Apparently in the United Arab Emirates things are quiet as the visitor arrivals have dropped, but nothing else has changed. People have this perception that Middle Eastern countries have been affected by the war in Afganistan, but the reality is that like us, they are getting on with their lives. Everyone should realise that all countries - barring Afganistan and probably Pakistan - are safe to visit.

Mercedes Conde-Nieto