Michael Gebicki
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Continuing the theme of a snow vacation is tougher in Croatia. There are a couple of ski resorts near Zagreb but facilities pale in comparison with Austria. It's the islands and coastline that attract most visitors and, in February, you'll find accommodation bargains and empty cafe tables in such honeyed spots as Dubrovnik, Split, Trogir and on the islands. The website of the Croatian National Tourist Board has plenty of useful information.
I have stopped over in all the popular places in south-east Asia on the way to Germany, and always had a holiday breaking up the trip. So next time, July 2013, I'm considering South Korea as a stopover and want to spend about five days there each way. I have no idea what to focus on, to see or do or where to stay. Can you give advice?
- A. Just, Frankston.
Although Seoul is a huge and dynamic city that never calls it quits, South Korea also has serene hermitages in its mountains where the loudest sound is the rustling of leaves.
Among the many activities that might draw you to South Korea are wonderful shopping for IT goods; the traditional tea houses of Insadong; a visit to the Demilitarised Zone, where communism and democracy still confront one another over the barrel of a gun; and the chance to marinate yourself in a bathhouse.
South Korea also has a distinctive cuisine whose signature dish, kimchi, never fails to leave an impression on the visitor. This is also the home of K-pop - current fascination of the music world - and the place to learn to dance "Gangnam Style".
One good source of information is the Frommer's online guide to South Korea, which also has suggested itineraries for a one-week stay.
For accommodation, check the best picks based on travellers' reviews on TripAdvisor. The official website of the Korea Tourism Organisation, visitkorea.or.kr, is another prime resource.
Outside Online is the internet site for the leading adventure magazine in the US, Outside, and it tackles the world with an ice axe in one hand and a satellite phone in the other. It is packed with dangerous ideas for restless spirits, fitness tips and dispatches from the field, and has a Gear section that gets down to the nitty-gritty of hydration systems and the innards of camp stoves. outsideonline.com.
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