Letter of the week
My partner and I want to take a trip on the Hurtigruten coastal ferry in Norway as part of my 50th birthday celebrations. My birthday is on New Year's Day; we don't want to be away then, but also don't want the holiday to be too distant from the birthday. When is the best time to go, and could we combine it with a trip to Svalbard?
Rosie Wilson, by email
The further into the year you do this journey, the more daylight and better conditions you'll encounter. There are discounts for travelling between January and March, but the short days limit opportunities for appreciation of the beauty on the journey. If you can, go during the shoulder months of May and June, giving you a fair chance of better weather and avoiding the summer crowds. Norwegian Coastal Voyages (020 8846 2600; www.norwegiancoastalvoyage.com) specialises in arranging Hurtigruten itineraries.
Svalbard (also known as Spitsbergen) has an even shorter season, running from mid-June to September. Almost everyone visits this archipelago deep within the Arctic Circle as part of an organised group or signs up with one on arrival in Longyearbyen. Visiting both generally means combining two separate organised tours (try Scantours; 020 7839 2927; www.scantours.co.uk), or making your own Svalbard travel plans once in Norway. Polar bear sightings are common.
My partner and I are planning to visit Tunisia with a nine-month-old. We are slightly worried about travelling around and wonder if we should take a car seat, or can we hire one. Can you advise us?
Alison S, by email
International car-hire companies at Carthage airport will have child seats, but only some offer online booking for this facility. Avis (08700 100287; www.avis.co.uk) has child seats for £2 a day on top of the standard car-rental fee.
Tunisians love children, and you can expect to be stopped in the street to have your baby cooed over. Extra effort will be made to ensure that you are comfortable and all needs are met. Recent travellers with young babies suggest taking the baby food you may need, as international brands can be hard to come by.
A good website on Tunisia is www.lexicorient.com/tunisia. Another useful site, www.babygoes2.com, offers lots of advice and listings of child-friendly hotels.
I am booked to go on a tour to Mali - Timbuktu and Dogon country - in September. I have been reading about the famine in West Africa which seems to extend into Mali, although Niger is worst affected. Should I still be going? I have already made a donation to the emergency appeal, but will my trip benefit the country or would it be better to cancel?
Jennifer Boag, by email
While this decision should be made between you and your tour company, I feel it is better to proceed with your plans. The food shortages in Niger and neighbouring countries have been caused by a combination of a poor harvest, drought and a plague of locusts. This is a terrible situation for already poor people, but you have an opportunity to make a contribution to the local economy which will be of great value and much appreciated. Not going is not going to help the situation get better.
It's hard to get specific information about how the food shortages are affecting travel in the region, but any problems are unlikely to have an impact on your visit. The tourist industry in the area should be functioning as normal, with all facilities running as usual.
You may also wish to consider taking along any clothes or household items you don't need and donating them to local charities - they'll also be much appreciated.
I'm planning a trip to California next year and want to hire a car but have only held a UK driving licence for a year. Do I have to have been driving for longer (I have heard it might be two years)? I'm 30 so there won't be any problems with age.
J Edwards, London
Age is the main qualification for hiring a vehicle in the USA, so as long as you have held a valid UK driver's licence for 12 months and have a credit card in your name you should have few problems renting a vehicle from the major international hire companies. If you have a photo licence, make sure you take both parts of your UK driver's licence with you.
Car rental is a huge business in the states and competition is fierce - shop around. The more flexible you can be with your dates, the better deal you'll get.
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