KEY POINTS:
My son, his wife and I would love to hire a yacht in Marmaris or Bodrum and cruise along the coast, perhaps venturing over to Rhodes. My son has the requisite certificates but we are wondering if there is anything we need to be aware of. I visited Marmaris and Rhodes in 1998 and I know there can be some friction between the Turkish people and the Greeks. We plan to go in July or August for two weeks.
Maureen McMillan
Sailing the Greek Isles - now, that's the way to see this part of the world.
Nothing beats the freedom of being able to visit remote bays and uninhabited islands at your whim. The free booklet, Sailing the Greek Seas, contains information about weather conditions, weather bulletins, entry and exit regulations, ports and guidebooks for yachties.
You can pick one up from any national tourist office (EOT) in Greece or get one from the Greek National Tourist Office in Sydney (hto@tpg.com.au; there's no GNTO office in New Zealand).
You can hire a bare boat only if two members of your crew have certificates. Hellenic Yachting Charter has more information about chartering.
As there is a passenger and car ferry between Rhodes and Marmaris, as well as numerous cruise organisations that take people directly from Greece to Marmaris, you won't have any trouble sailing this route. Just ensure all necessary documentation and visas are in order.
For further safety information, have a read of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade's travel advisory for Turkey at safetravel.govt.nz.
Spanish hot spot a must-see
My wife and I are planning on taking a Mediterranean cruise that ends in Barcelona in July. Is it worthwhile spending a week there? What is the weather like at that time of the year?
Warren Taylor
Barcelona enjoys a Mediterranean climate, with cool winters and hot summers. July and August are the hottest months, when highs can reach 37C and the humidity can be stifling.
Although sea breezes offer some relief, nights can be uncomfortably warm. If you are affected by high humidity, it would be worth booking a hotel room with a fan or air-conditioning, which will make all the difference to a good night's sleep.
Unfortunately, though, air-conditioning isn't as common as you'd think in Barcelona - try Hotel Jazz (doubles from $220) in atmospheric El Raval, or the historic Raco del Pi (doubles from $150) in the medieval Barri Gotic. As July is one of the busiest months for travellers, it is advisable to book accommodation in advance.
As to whether you should spend a week in Barcelona, the answer is a resounding yes! It would be a real shame to miss out on the opportunity to spend a week in one of Europe's most vibrant and exciting cities.
A sunny seaside location, magnificent medieval heart, grand boulevards and world-renowned Modernista architecture are a great kick-start for anyone thinking about visiting Barcelona.
But a city is nothing without its citizens, and the infectious joie de vivre and work-hard-play-hard attitude of Barcelona's populace are the lifeblood of the city.
Barcelona has a remarkably flamboyant cultural heritage, and lovers of art and architecture flock here to soak up the curvaceous and hallucinatory buildings of Antoni Gaudi. But you don't have to be an architecture buff to walk away goggle-eyed and in wonder after a visit to Park Guell or La Sagrada Familia (Gaudi's unfinished masterpiece).
Artists Pablo Picasso and Joan Miro are also much celebrated, with must-see museums dedicated to their work.
Of course, Barcelona also attracts those who love the good life, and there is an endless choice of cafes, bars, restaurants and late-night haunts to while away the days and nights.
With a week to play with, you could take advantage of the summer weather and head down the coast to Sitges (30 minutes by train), playground of everyone from jet-setters to backpackers and weekending families.
Alternatively, you might head inland to Montserrat (50km northwest of Barcelona), where the historic Benedictine Monestier de Montserrat (one of Catalonia's most important shrines) sits perched on the mountain side at a height of 725m.
