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We want to do a special train holiday with our kids (aged 13, 11 and nine), probably overseas, and were wondering what you would suggest. We could make the trip part of a longer holiday, but we haven't an unlimited budget (so not silver service, at least not much!), and I think maybe four days would be the maximum the kids would take on a train, unless there were lots of stops. - Sue Bielby
Taking a train holiday will be a truly memorable experience for you and your family. There are some classic railway journeys to choose from, depending on how far and where you want to travel. Here are some ideas.
The Trans-Siberian Express and Orient Express (www.orient-express.com) instantly spring to mind, but the former is perhaps too long (Beijing-Moscow in six days; sleeper from $595 per person) and the latter too expensive (overnight Paris-Venice $3340 per person).
If you like the sound of keeping it local, you could take the Ghan (www.theghan.com.au) right through Australia's red centre from Adelaide to Darwin via Alice Springs. A sleeper for the two-night trip costs $1660/1027 per adult/child aged four to 15 years.
Switzerland's Glacier Express (www.glacierexpress.ch; 1st/2nd class $278/167) chugs along from St Moritz to Zermatt, with panoramic views of the Alps. It's only a 7.5-hour journey, but it could form part of a longer European train holiday.
A scenic European route could take in Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Zurich, Lausanne, Avignon, Nice, Geneva, Milan, the Italian Lakes, Venice ... Check out the German railways' fabulous online schedule tool at http://bahn.hafas.de for European timetables and routes.
If you decide to take the family to the US, you could travel by train across the breadth of the country. The journey with Amtrak (www.amtrak.com) between New York City and Los Angeles travels via Chicago in three days (four days via New Orleans), with sleeper fares starting at around $470 per person.
The two-day California Zephyr section between Chicago and San Francisco is particularly recommended.
Canada has some spectacular train journeys, so another option could be to take the train from NYC to Montreal and Toronto, then pick up the cross-country Canadian from Toronto to Vancouver. A sleeper for the three-night journey starts at $1165 per person.
The Rocky Mountaineer (www.rockymountaineer.com) is another incredibly scenic route, running between Vancouver, Calgary and Banff, but the fares are pretty hefty as it's a tourist train.
For more ideas, have a look at the all-inclusive packages on the Rail Plus website (www.railplus.co.nz). For tips on travelling on trains with children (and just about anything to do with trains), read what the wonderful Man in Seat 61 has to say (www.seat61.com/Europe.htm#Children).
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Is independent internal travel safe in Madagascar, or is it best to go on escorted tours? Can bookings be made after arrival for local tours, and what tours are available, especially focusing on the Polynesian influence? John Langdon
Madagascar has a great reputation among independent travellers who like a bit of adventure when they hit the road. Internal travel is mainly limited to overcrowded "bush taxis", which carry a car or vanload of people heading roughly in the same direction. For longer distances there's Air Madagascar (www.airmadagascar.com), with connections to more than 60 internal destinations.
Taking an organised tour or hiring a private driver and/or guide are popular options. You should be able to jump on the smaller tours without booking in advance, but it's a good idea to get in touch earlier in order to nail the tour that's right for you. You'll get a good sense of the Malagasy people's Polynesian background by enjoying the cuisine, visiting tribal villages and dropping into traditional craft workshops.
Rija Tours (www.rijatours.mg) is a popular company whose tours combine relaxation and adventure. An eight-day tour including a river trip, cultural excursions and local cuisine starts at $1128. Send Rija an email (contact @rijatours.mg) to ask about options.
Ortour (www.ortour.c) is based in Antananarivo and has a great range of tour options, from budget to luxury. Get in touch via the contact form on the company's website. You can do an island loop or focus on Nosy Be in the north, the eastern beaches, Fort Dauphin and the south or a river trip in the island's west.
Madagascar is friendly and welcoming but its reputation has become a little tainted by the presence of touts and a surge in petty crime. Government travel advisories favour guides or tours due to the risk of pickpockets and robbery, as foreigners can be a target for thieves. You'd do well to avoid travel at night. Driving can be hazardous due to poorly maintained roads and vehicles, plus the high likelihood of coming across animals or pedestrians wandering along roads.
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My wife and I and two other couples intend to spend about a week touring Sicily in the latter part of next year to celebrate combined 60th birthdays. We are all seasoned travellers and do not wish to undertake an organised tour. We are looking to possibly hire a minivan and self-drive, and employ the services of a local guide(s). Are you aware of a company that we can contact that can provide small group-guiding services to cities/places of our choice? - Richard Leader
The aptly named Sicily Guides and Drivers (www.regalis.com/sicilyguides.htm) offers the services of both guides and driver-guides. You decide what you'd like to see, and your English-speaking guide will take you there, whether it be to beaches, museums, churches, Greek temples, Roman ruins, medieval castles or palaces. Email the company for rates.
Similar services are offered by The World's Island (www.worldsisland.com/planning.htm; tour guide $478 per day plus expenses), which can also advise on itineraries and accommodation; Sicily Tour (www.sicily-tour.com; tour guide $388 per day), which can also arrange car hire; and Sicily Travel (www. sicilytravel.net). To give you an idea of car rental rates, weekly rental of a Fiat minivan through Auto Europe (www.autoeurope.com) costs from $1670, a Ford wagon from $765. Petrol costs around $1.97 a litre.
Another option could be to take a self-drive package, with your itinerary and accommodation organised in advance. Companies organising this sort of thing include Around Sicily (www.around-sicily.com), Auto Plan Holidays (www.autoplanhols.co.uk; 14-night itinerary $1708 per person) and AutoVenture (www.autoventure.com; seven-day luxury itinerary $3754 per person including minivan hire).
*Prices in NZ$
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I had considered taking my family on a cruise. However, if recent publicity is typical of the people on board and what happens on each voyage, most families would be too frightened to make a booking. Are there any cruises that are "family-friendly", where the singles scene is actively discouraged? I am aware of different islands in Fiji being rated as either for families or singles. Do the ocean liners do the same? - Dan McDonald
Recent events and bad publicity over cruises and their clientele have certainly shattered that idealistic image many of us once had of cruise holidays.
While the idea of an ocean cruise once evoked glamour and sophistication or good, clean fun and high spirits , many people now see cruises as floating Bachelor & Spinster balls, with groups of young singles determined to party hard and get their money's worth.
Although the singles market (or groups of young friends travelling together) makes up a small part of cruise ticket sales, the reality is that most cruises have a large variety of passengers, of all ages and interests.
So families should not despair: cruise ships do cater to you, too. Most ships have kids' clubs where children can be entertained all day while parents take a bit of time out for themselves. There are movies, activities and entertainment for all age groups, including young kids.
Yes, there may be late-night discos and bars for those passengers interested in such things, but they are generally positioned on the ship so as not to disturb other passengers.
Although the standard of ship and fares may vary, you'll find that there is generally a large cross-section of people. This certainly makes for a more interesting and varied cruise holiday, and you should not be put off by bad publicity.
We suggest that you speak to a travel agent who specialises in cruise holidays and who can point you to the type of cruise most suited to your interests and budget.
