I WOULD LIKE TO TRAVEL TO SICILY AND THEN ON TO NEW YORK TO VISIT MY DAUGHTER AND GRANDCHILDREN. WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST IS THE BEST WAY OF DOING THIS, LEAVING IN JULY OR AUGUST FOR ITALY AND THEN NEW YORK FOR SEPTEMBER? I SUFFER WITH ARTHRITIS AND RECENTLY HAVE HAD SURGERY FOR CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME. I AM PREPARED TO TRAVEL IN A SMALL GROUP AND PAY MORE FOR MY SIX TO EIGHT WEEKS' TRIP. A. LA BOZZETTA, ELSTERNWICK
July and August are extremely hot in Sicily. The average daily maximum in Palermo is 28 degrees in July and 29C in August and if your health is not the best I fear you'd find the going difficult. Many of Sicily's attractions are outdoors and you won't feel much affection for temples and baroque facades if you're forced to admire them in the hot sun. May is far more comfortable in Sicily. If you were to begin your travels there in the middle of the month that would put you in New York in June, which is also a fine time to be there.
If you're committed to the later time you would probably be better off travelling first to New York in August then to Sicily in September, although August is hot and sticky in New York City. September in New York and October in Sicily would be a happier choice for comfortable travelling.
Most Australia-based operators with tours of Sicily bundle the island together with more extensive tours of southern Italy. Based in Palermo, Tour of Sicily, tourofsicily.com/, is one operator that offers Sicily as a standalone tour. As well as several small-group tours with a maximum of 18, Tour of Sicily also offers private tours that vary from five to 10 days and if you have health issues this might be a good option for you. Reviews of their tours on TripAdvisor are outstanding.
Whether you choose a group or private tour, discuss any health concerns you might have with your tour operator to make sure what they have planned is well within your ability to enjoy.
I HAVE BEEN SURFING THE INTERNET TO FIND A SMALL RENTAL CAR FOR A THREE-WEEK STAY IN PROVENCE. I AM 81 AND A NUMBER OF RENTAL COMPANIES INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT RENT A CAR TO ANYONE OVER 80. ANY ADVICE? SHOULD I TRY AND SECURE A CAR FROM A FRENCH AGENCY OR LOOK LOCALLY? H. ROBERTS, SYDNEY
The person to speak to is Paul Hodges of Renault Eurodrive, renaulteurodrive.com.au, tel 1300 551 160. This is a tax-free car lease deal that takes advantage of French taxation laws to put you behind the wheel of a brand new Renault or Peugeot at a decent price and there is no upper age limit for drivers. There's also no lower age limit. Anyone 18 or over who holds an Australian driver's licence can drive one of their vehicles. Minimum hire period is 21 days so you're a perfect fit, but if you'd like to extend a little you can have the car for another seven days with no extra charge.
Renault Eurodrive have delivery and return centres at several places in France and if you're looking to start driving in Provence the best choices would probably be Lyon or Nice.
Another plus – the car comes with no insurance excess, which makes hiring from Renault Eurodrive practically unique in the European car-hire game.
WE ARE PLANNING A TRIP TO MOROCCO AND SPAIN FOR THREE WEEKS IN MID MAY. MY THOUGHT IS A 12-DAY, SMALL-GROUP ADVENTURE TOUR TO EXPERIENCE MARRAKECH, ESSAOUIRA, SAHARA, ATLAS MOUNTAINS, FES, CHEFCHAOUEN, AND THEN FERRY FROM TANGIER TO SPAIN. WE LIKE TO WALK AND I'M MORE INTERESTED IN ACTIVE, CULTURAL TOURS WITH GOOD ACCOMMODATION. I PREFER ADVENTURE TOURS LIKE INTREPID OR PEREGRINE BUT CAN'T FIND ONE THAT SUITS OUR ITINERARY OR DATES. WE WILL CONSIDER A PRIVATE TOUR. I HAVE BEEN TO BARCELONA BUT NOWHERE ELSE IN SPAIN, AND AM OPEN TO ALL SUGGESTIONS. L. COLLARD, NARRABEEN
A private tour might well be your best option for Morocco and there a couple of operators qualify. Mad About Morocco, madaboutmorocco.com, is owned and operated by Mark Willenbrock, a Brit who has lived in Fes for more than a decade with his Moroccan wife. Willenbrock's specialty is putting together customised trips, using airconditioned four-wheel-drive vehicles to experience the highlights. Drivers are all Europeans who speak French and some Arabic along with English. Local guides are used in some towns. Another option is Morocco Tours, moroccotours.org/, another customised tour operator with the emphasis on affordable luxury. They have several off-the-shelf tours that would fit into your time frame, available anytime.
In Spain it would make sense to spend the other half of your holiday exploring Andalucia. You'll be right on the spot when you get off the ferry from Tangier and cities such as Seville, Granada and the amazing countryside have more than enough to keep you fully entertained. Don't miss Ronda on your drive north, it's a beauty.
The question was "Travel teaches us things, about ourselves as well as about the world. Learned anything about either you'd like to share?"
M. Funnell writes: "Travel has taught me about the absolute kindness of strangers. In Italy many times we have found people more than willing to help us lost travellers to find our way again by providing directions, walking alongside to show us the way, driving us to a destination, and generally going out of their way to be generous with their time. Makes you believe in humanity in a rapidly uncertain world."
P. Russell writes: "I have long been an advocate of travel as a means of learning more about myself, others and the world in which we live. I believe this is because I grew up in a family that did not possess a car. My time came to get a driver's licence, work and get paid – I was off! Firstly to lots of Australia and then to destinations far and wide. The ways of the world, its customs and history have taught me tolerance. I have been lucky to travel regularly with my wife and children. This is the best place on earth by far and nothing brings this home like flying home into Sydney across the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. People who complain about Australia should be sponsored to travel to and experience other places."
From M. Williamson: "The main travel lesson is to absorb new sights, sounds and smells as different, awesome, exciting. Total travel enjoyment means greeting each day with a feeling of "Wow!"
Next question: Whenever I book a hire car over the internet it always seems to end up costing more than the quote. What's your experience?
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