KEY POINTS:
My husband and I (aged 71 and 64 respectively) are planning a trip to Scandinavia, spending three nights each in Copenhagen, Stockholm, Oslo and Helsinki. Could you direct us to some budget accommodation with private facilities? Osvaldo & Laxmi Fonseca
The big four - Stockholm, Oslo, Copenhagen and Helsinki - are essential stops on a winner takes it all tour of Scandinavia.
Travelling around Scandinavia is a cinch thanks to the top-notch public transport system. It's also a big plus that English is widely spoken but don't let that fact stop you from packing your Scandinavian phrasebook and wrestling with the local lingo.
Unfortunately, it has to be said that Scandinavia isn't a cheap travel destination. The standard of living is high, with dining out and accommodation in particular both potential travel-expense guzzlers. Standard hotels may seem less of a budget-priced option than in the rest of Europe but the following options are worth looking into.
In Copenhagen, try the Somandshjemmet Bethel (hotel-bethel.dk; doubles from $220) in a period building by Copenhagen's atmospheric port in Nyhavn. The rooms are bright, airy and inexpensive, especially if you don't mind missing out on a view of the quays.
In Stockholm, the A&Be Hotel (http://www.abehotel.com; doubles from $153) is a no-fuss budget to mid-range hotel in the popular Ostermalm area of the city. Also try the Bed & Breakfast Agency (www.bba.nu), which can help you track down reasonably priced B&B accommodation in Stockholm.
The simple but comfortable rooms at Oslo's Cochs Pensjonat (www.cochspensjonat.no/englishindex.html,; doubles from $184) are only a hop, step and a jump from the Royal Palace and city centre.
Finally, in Helsinki the Hotelli Finn (www.hotellifinn.fi; double with/without bath $175/130) has comfy rooms with TV. All rooms have a toilet and hand basin but you'll need to stipulate that you'd like a room with private bath/shower.
Eastern bloc beauties
My husband and I are travelling to Budapest before going to Corfu to join friends on a two-week yacht charter. Our intention is to have a few days in Budapest then train it to Prague. What would be a good way to see the best of these two cities over a week? Michelle Palmer
Straddling a gentle curve in the Danube River, Budapest has all the romance you'd expect from Paris or Rome. It's a lucky dip crammed with baroque, neo-classical and Art Nouveau architecture.
A series of bridges links Buda to the west and Pest to the east. Buda is the city's more majestic side and features many of its most famous landmarks including Castle Hill, where you'll find Budapest's most important medieval monuments and museums. Pest is fuelled with a little more urban grunt and there's plenty of cafe and bar activity to balance out your trips to museums, soaking up the architecture and taking in the sights.
Pick up a Budapest Card (www.budapestinfo.hu) to cover admission to most museums and galleries in town, and unlimited travel on all public transport. The card is valid for 48/72 hours and costs $48/60.
While you'll be able to get around much of the time on foot, Budapest's metro system is a great way to get to the more out-of-the-way attractions.
Then on to Prague, one of Europe's most popular tourist destinations. Prague's compact medieval centre remains an evocative maze of cobbled lanes, ancient courtyards, dark passages and churches. It's a great city to wander around on foot, so pack a good pair of walking shoes. You'll need at least three days to take in the Prague sights.
Choice German transport
My wife and I are touring Europe in May and June next year. We are hiring a car in Germany, then will join a tour in Italy. I seem to have a problem in finding transport from the south of Germany into the north of Italy. We will be staying in Berchtesgaden. I was not planning to drive the hire car to Como, as this would attract an fee of ¬1000, so I was planning to drive to Munich, drop off the car and take public transport to Como. Can you tell me of a bus or train that runs this route? John Marshall
There's no better online resource for train travel in Europe than the brilliant German website bahn.hafas.de. It's straightforward, easy to use and provides in-depth coverage and train timetables for travelling across Europe.
A quick search on the site shows that there are a few timetable schedules that will get you from Berchtesgaden Hbf in Germany to Como S Giovanni in Italy.
While some train trips can be booked online using this website, more involved cross-Europe journeys need to be broken down into sections to allow the entire trip to be bookable online. Simply click on the station name on your search results page to pull up the list of scheduled stops your train will make.
Obviously, there will be no need to book domestic tickets where no advance booking is necessary (for example, Berchtesgaden to Salzburg). All trains where reservations are necessary are listed in the scheduled stops list.
