Go Tobago
To celebrate our silver wedding anniversary next October, we hope to fulfil a longstanding wish to visit the Caribbean. Our preferred holiday is a quiet island resort where we can relax, explore and enjoy the local atmosphere. Would Tobago be a good choice? Can you suggest good places to stay? When is a good time to go?
Judith and Peter Bates, Cheltenham
October is low season in the Caribbean. Many establishments will be gearing up for the new influx of winter sunseekers, so what places are open should be showing off their smartest new paint-jobs and general spruce-ups. You'll be lucky to avoid the rain, but there will be much less than in the summer months and generally you should miss the hurricane season, though this can vary from year to year.
Tobago is affordable and laid-back, with great beaches, diving and snorkelling and a good balance between developed tourism and the feel of an authentic Caribbean experience. The island offers good facilities for ecotourism, with birdwatching and rainforest exploration popular options, centred on the fishing villages of Speyside and Charlotteville.
Other destinations to think about include the green, friendly island of St Lucia. Staying there is particularly fun if you opt for local guesthouses rather than large international resorts; both are on the road north of the capital, Castries, a fun place to stroll around or have a night out.
For a full rundown on Caribbean options see www.doitcaribbean.com and try BWIA (020 8577 1100) for a good range of fares.
The Northern Lights
We would very much like to visit the north of Norway in winter to enjoy the Northern Lights. I've been considering the Norwegian coastal voyage as a way of doing this but my wife gets seasick and is a bit apprehensive about weather conditions. As an alternative, are there trains that run from the south into the Arctic Circle and, if so, would they provide a scenic journey?
John Owen, Preston
According to the operator Norwegian Coastal Voyagex (020 8846 2600), the weather in February can be rough, although its boat only spends seven hours in open water so the likelihood of encountering very difficult conditions is fairly low. The rest of the trip is spent in sheltered waters close to the coast.
The best organised alternative I've found is a Beyond the Arctic Circle tour with Taber Holidays (01274 594656).
This nine-night tour costs £1,234 per person and involves a train journey from Trondheim to Bødo beyond the Arctic Circle, and a trip to the Lofoten Islands. If this doesn't suit, Norsc (01297 560033) and Specialised Tours (01342 712785) both organise tailor-made trips. As a starting point, the train from Oslo to Bødo (which is as far north as it goes) takes 18 hours, and a one-way overnight trip in a sleeping car costs about £120. The views will be fantastic although, unless you have lots of time, both companies recommend flying to Tromsø and perhaps on to Alta. You'll then have plenty of time to explore the area and increase your chances of seeing the Northern Lights.
Prize sights in Cape Town
My husband has just won a seven-night trip for two to Cape Town in February. Can you suggest an itinerary so we can make the most of the area?
Jackie Phillips, London
Congratulations! February is a lovely time to visit Cape Town. You can enjoy its stunning location, delicious wines and beautiful beaches while the rest of us struggle with post-festive gloom. There's also the opportunity to put the city into context and learn about its tumultuous past and the possibilities for its future.
No visit to Cape Town is complete without a trip up Table Mountain. Take the cable car (www.tablemountain.net) for £5 return - the views are phenomenal. Pack a picnic lunch and you can spend some time exploring the summit.
Another area worth visiting is the Waterfront. Popular with tourists and locals alike, this remains a working harbour with shops, restaurants and an excellent aquarium.
For a greater understanding of Cape Town's history, a visit to the District Six Museum is a must. This neighbourhood was dismantled in the 1960s and the residents forcibly moved to the townships. Take a township tour - Grassroute Tours begin at District Six - to meet present-day township residents. A half-day tour costs £15. A trip to Robben Island is also essential.
If you want to get out of the city, the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve has some fantastic walks and deserted beaches. Hire a car for the day - organised tours tend to whip you around far too quickly.
And, finally, the wine. Mother City Tours does a full-day trip to Stellenbosch and Franschhoek for £26.
It goes without saying that you need to be aware of your personal safety in Cape Town, as you would anywhere else in South Africa or in any big city. Take particular care of your valuables and travel by taxi if you're sightseeing after dark - and ask your hotel about any areas that are to be avoided.
Unusual London
Some years ago I heard about a book of unusual historic sights in London, such as original city gates. Unfortunately I never made a note of the title. My children have now flown the nest and my next visit to the capital will not entail the planetarium, Tower of London etc. Can you help out: what was that book?
Jeff Richards, by email
I'm afraid I haven't been able to track down the mystery book but I can recommend some alternatives. Eccentric London: The Bradt Guide to Britain's Crazy and Curious Capital by Benedict le Vay (Bradt Travel Guides £12.95) looks at the capital's weird and wonderful places. Secret London by Andrew Duncan (New Holland Publishers £9.99) focuses on aspects of the city that you won't find in mainstream guides and has some excellent walks. A Traveller's History: London by Richard Tames (Cassell Reference £8.99) uses a historical perspective to reveal the city's treasures. Alternatively, get a copy of City Secrets - London edited by The Observer 's Tim Adams (Granta £11.99).
· We welcome letters. Tom Hall and Fiona Christie from Lonely Planet address as many as possible here. Email travel.tips@observer.co.ukx or write to Escape, 119 Farringdon Road, London EC1R 3ER. The writer of the week's star letter wins a Lonely Planet guide of their choice (so include a daytime telephone number and postal address). No individual correspondence can be entered into.
