I'M ABOUT TO GO TO TANZANIA AND WONDERING WHAT'S THE BEST SOLUTION TO CARRYING MONEY IF THE PLACES I'M GOING TO ARE QUITE REMOTE. I WILL JUST NEED A SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR WATER, SOUVENIRS, TIPS AND THE OCCASIONAL MEAL. IF I TAKE US DOLLAR TRAVELLERS CHEQUES SHOULD I CHANGE AT THE AIRPORT INTO US DOLLARS CASH OR TANZANIAN SHILLINGS? S. FALKINER, SYDNEY
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If you are travelling as part of a group, your tour operator should be able to advise on this question. If not, your best option is US dollars, in cash. You'll need US$1 notes for tips but it would be useful to have some local currency as well. Change about US$50 when you get to the airport in Tanzania and you may well find you have enough local currency for your stay; ask for small-denomination notes. If you need more local currency, your hotel should be able to do this for you, although the rate will not be to your advantage. If your cash requirements are small, opt for US dollar notes rather than travellers cheques. Google "African Dream Safaris money" and you'll find a page on this topic from a well-respected operator. ADS caters to a well-heeled clientele; their suggested tip list is generous.
I WILL BE TRAVELLING TO VANCOUVER NEXT APRIL FOR A FRIEND'S WEDDING. DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE ON BOOKING FLIGHTS? BETTER AIRLINE, SHORTER STOPOVERS, QUICKER TRAVEL TIME, AND THE CHEAPEST TIME TO BUY FLIGHTS? SHOULD I WAIT UNTIL THE POST-CHRISTMAS SALES, OR BOOK A $2200 FLIGHT NOW? TRAVEL AGENT, OR ONLINE? ALSO DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS ON WEATHER - WOULD IT BE WORTH HEADING OVER A WEEK EARLY AND BRINGING MY SNOWBOARD?
N. JARIAN, CANNING VALE, PERTH
Book now. There is nothing to be gained by waiting, and no such thing as a post-Christmas airfare sale. The longer you wait, the more you'll pay. The quickest way to travel between Australia and Canada is with Air Canada, which operates non-stop flights between Sydney and Vancouver. Using the Air Canada website (book.aircanada.com) and keying in dates for April 2014, I'm getting a starting price of $1218 flying from Perth to Vancouver, with the Perth-Sydney sector aboard Qantas. That's a very keen deal and I'd jump at it if I were you. Flight times are relatively good at 22 hours on the outward flight, 30 hours on the return.
Average highs/lows for Vancouver in April are 13°C/5°C. In a typical year, you will not be able to ski right to the village at Whistler in April but you should still find decent snow higher up. Good conditions are an even-money bet at that time of the year, so either pack your board or be prepared to hire. If snowboarding is a priority and you can head for Canada a week earlier, a better choice for April snow would be the Rocky Mountains in Alberta, with Banff in the spotlight.
WE ARE HEADING TO INDIA FOR THREE WEEKS TO EXPLORE THE NEW DELHI, AGRA AND JAIPUR TRIANGLE. WE WANT TO VISIT THE KEOLADEO GHANA WETLANDS AND RANTHAMBORE NATIONAL PARK AS WE JOURNEY BETWEEN AGRA AND JAIPUR. WHAT TRANSPORT IS AVAILABLE FOR INDEPENDENT TRAVELLERS?
M. CARTON, NEWTOWN
Express trains are by far the best way to travel between Delhi, Jaipur and Agra and there are several departures daily. You can find timetables and fares at the Indian Railways website (indianrail.gov.in). Another option is private taxi and this would be a good choice for your visits to Ranthambore and Keoladeo.
In August, I used taxis extensively to travel throughout Kerala. Some of these journeys took four hours covering up to 150 kilometres and the most I ever paid was 3800 rupees, about $70. Several of these taxis I booked using the internet and there is a wide choice of taxi operators with an online booking facility. On a couple of other occasions, my hotel organised a taxi.
The vehicles were all clean, modern and well-maintained, they arrived on time and the drivers were excellent. Another option is buses, which operate from Delhi and Jaipur.
CONVERSATION OVER TO YOU ...
The question was "What's the best trip you've ever done", and Europe takes the podium.
"A bike-barge trip on the Loire," writes D. Pritchard. "Cycle by day through wine and chateaux country, overnight on a barge, all meals and the barge captain and chef was a former restaurateur, just fabulous, would do it again tomorrow."
"The first time I went to New York," says M. Freeland. "We were at a great hotel near Grand Central Station and, with the help of the New York Card, took in many of the dynamic sights, sounds, shows and tastes of various New York neighbourhoods. Seeing Battery Park covered in flags for the 10th anniversary of 9/11 was amazing."
"The beautiful and spectacular Bernese Oberland area in Switzerland," according to K. and F. Shanahan. "Having flown to the remote island of Tanna by small plane, we then climbed its violently active volcano, visited the village with its Prince Phillip cargo cult and marvelled at the wild horses roaming its plains," says J. Bryan.
Next question: Air Asia X and Scoot are two Asia-based carriers offering separate cabins without children under 12. Are you tempted? Send a response, or your travel question, to tripologist@fairfaxmedia.com.au. All published responses will win a Lonely Planet guidebook.