■ I'll be working in Athens during the first week in January, but have discovered that Tuesday 6th is a bank holiday in Greece, so I will have a free day to explore. During a trip last summer I managed to fit in a walk around the centre of the city and the Plaka/Acropolis. Any other suggestions as to how I might spend a free day in Athens or the surrounding area? I had not planned on hiring a car, so it would be helpful to know if it is possible to use public transport on a bank holiday.
Ned Lammas, by email
If you were in Athens last summer, you won't have had the opportunity to visit the New Acropolis Museum (www.newacropolismuseum.gr/eng) which has opened in stages over this year and is scheduled to be fully running by early 2009. Even if only the ground floor is open when you visit, the Bernard Tschumi-designed building is the big thing in Athens right now. There are 130 other museums and galleries to visit; the National Archaeological Museum (www.culture.gr), the Benaki Museum (www.benaki.gr) and the Byzantine and Christian Museum (www.byzantinemuseum.gr – in Greek only) are some of the best.
The Monastiraki area has a lively market and the streets of the Psyrri neighbourhood are some of the trendiest in Athens, with galleries and smart places to eat and drink. Public transport operates, but services may be limited.
The island of Aegina is only 35 minutes from Athens's port, Piraeus, by fast ferry. Return fare is €21. It is a popular hangout for Athenians but doesn't get too many foreign visitors. The Temple of Aphaia, a taxi ride from the harbour, is a great focal point for a visit.
■ I am planning an August walking trip in the Crimea. I'm a keen birdwatcher and know this area of the Ukraine is well worth visiting. Could you advise on ways of getting there? I'm on a limited budget for travel – £350 – but am not adverse to taking several days getting there as I have plenty of time. I've looked at budget airlines via Istanbul, south-eastern Poland etc, but can't find anything that falls into my budget. Any suggestions, especially flights into Simferopol?
Jonathan Forgham, Little Hadham, Hertfordshire
With both cost and convenience in mind, your best option is to book a flight with an expert such as Bob Sopel Ukraine Travel (0161 6525050; www.ukraine.co.uk). It offers return flights to Simferopol, the capital and transport hub of the Crimea, starting at £280 plus around £60 taxes with British Airways and Ukraine Airways via Kiev.
From Simferopol you can hop on buses or trains to other parts of the peninsula. While you will almost certainly find your own vehicle useful to access remoter parts, and international car hire agencies can be found in Simferopol, driving in Crimea is not for the faint-hearted and road conditions are questionable in many places. Buses and private minibuses link most destinations. There's some excellent information at www.tryukraine.com.
■ For 10 years we have convinced our children (now 14, 12 and 10) of the advantages of a quiet holiday in a sleepy part of Brittany. Running the family on loosely democratic lines, and rubbish weather in north-west France for the past two years mean we need a different option for 2009. The children want sun, watersports, a little independence and flirting practice; we want peaceful surroundings, comfortable accommodation, interesting places to visit, and no flirting practice. All the sites I have researched offering activities for older children seem to assume the parents want to play too. We don't – and nor do we want an all-inclusive package, but we do want self-catering close to good local markets and restaurants for days we can't be bothered to cook. If the children can then walk or cycle from our holiday to theirs, we will have found perfection.
Sarah Bonallo, Luxembourg
Seaside urban self-catering might tick all your boxes. In Biarritz you can find a host of houses. Try Chez Nous (0870 3367679; www.cheznous.com) and www.holidayrentals.co.uk for a good selection of properties close enough to the beach that your youngsters can stroll there and try surfing and sea kayaking. There are plenty of cafes and markets to browse in. Towns such as St Jean de Luz, easy to get to by bike or train, make interesting excursions too.
A self-catering property in Nice would put you in the heart of a very lively part of the world and close to beaches. Alternatively, if you retreated into the Provençal hinterland you'd have a quieter base and could make day trips. The other option if you want to be in this area but find self-catering prices on the high side would be to head for a campsite with social opportunities and activities for your kids. Canvas Holidays (0870 1921154; www.canvas.co.uk) can tailor-make holidays across Europe. Other readers' suggestions are welcome.
