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I am trying to organise a 10-day family reunion in Europe with my siblings who live in France and England, as well as my parents. There will be eight adults and six children (aged 1 to 7). We can travel any time between July and September, and
we'd like to rent a house. It will need seven bedrooms, and a swimming pool if possible. The cost of accommodation can't exceed 4000 (around $7800) for the 10 days. Jessica Moore
With all of Europe to choose from, you really are spoiled for choice. A summer holiday suggests the beach, and Italy's Amalfi coast immediately springs to mind. Along with Tuscany, it's one of Italy's most popular vacation destinations. If a cool mountain retreat appeals, why not go for a spot of George Clooney hunting in the lake district around Como? If the mountains are calling, you could try a summer ski resort such as St Anton in Austria. And if sandy beaches are what you'd prefer, how about the Costa Brava north of Barcelona?
The key is to choose your spot (ideally within day-trip distance of interesting towns) and get in early to nab the best sleeping arrangements. It should help that your time is flexible and you can opt for the end of the season in September.
Check a couple of websites and send off your query emails. Italy Villa Rentals (www.italy-vacationrental.com) and Italian View (www.italianview.com) specialise in gorgeous villas and houses for larger groups. Positano Villas (www.positanovillas.it) specialises in the Amalfi Coast and has details of villas in your price range. Italian Lakes (www.italianlakes.com) also has options in your price range around lakes Como, Lugano and Maggiore. Chalets Direct (www.chaletsdirect.com) has details of summer rental of Alpine ski chalets from $4000 per week. For something on the Costa Brava, Owners Direct (www.ownersdirect.co.uk) has villas for larger groups, plus options in many other destinations.
Baby on board
We are travelling to Europe with our 7-month-old baby. Do you have any tips for travelling with a young baby that will make the journey more adventure and less headache? Julia & John Domeney
The first thing to organise is night flights. Your baby might be sleeping through by 7 months, but even if not, they should do better on a night flight as it will be quieter and darker. It might be a good idea to break up the long flight from the Southern Hemisphere with a decent stopover en route. Put in an order for a bassinette on the flights; but beware, sizes vary between airlines. To prevent sore ears when taking off or landing, feed your baby so that they swallow and alleviate the pressure. Bring along a few new toys for emergency distractions.
You won't be able to heat formula in a microwave on the plane; you'll have to stand bottles in a jug of warm water, so plan ahead.
Bring along a lightweight, portable stroller, such as a Maclaren, although they weren't made for old cobbled streets and cities with lots of stairs (the Paris metro springs to mind, but you can use buses).
For some great tips for travelling with a baby, read parenting author Elizabeth Pantley's helpful checklist (clubmom.com/display/253301). Lonely Planet's Travel with Children is also full of great advice.
Make time for Macau
We have three days in Hong Kong as a stopover on our way to Europe and we were thinking of an overnight trip to Macau. How feasible is this and would there be any problems with visas? Libby Quinn
The vibrant city of Macau was the first European enclave in Asia and predates Hong Kong by about 300 years. The fusion here of Mediterranean and Asian architecture, food, lifestyles and temperaments is fascinating.
Macau has always had a reputation as a dirty, crime-ridden backwater, but the city has changed a lot during the past decade. This is due to the departing Portuguese colonial government renovating and refurbishing many areas, and the new Chinese Government spending a fortune on ambitious infrastructural and tourist facilities.
Getting to Macau is easy. It lies only 65km west of Hong Kong and can be reached by high-speed ferry from Hong Kong Island or Tsim Sha Tsui every 15 or 20 minutes (one hour, from $23). Book your ticket in advance and allow 30 minutes to get through customs and immigration first. New Zealanders don't need a visa. Hotels are generally cheaper than in Hong Kong and discounts apply if you book accommodation from the travel agents at the Shun Tak Centre from where the ferries depart. Avoid weekends and public holidays, as ferry seats are scarce and hotel prices skyrocket.
Highlights in Macau include a visit to the ruins of the 17th-century Church of St Paul, followed by an escalator ride up to Monte Forte. The Macau Museum is worth a visit and you'll enjoy a wander along the Avenida de Praia Grande and Avenida da Republica, one of the prettiest streets in Macau. If you're intrepid types, then a climb to the top of Macau Tower for some terrific views will leave you exhilarated. On the islands of Coloane and Taipa, striking colonial villas preside over quiet lanes and there's a couple of decent beaches. The Portuguese and Macanese restaurants of Taipa village alone are worth the trip.
Time to kill in Kolkata
We are a group of four people travelling through Kolkata to Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. Could you suggest some interesting accommodation in Kolkata? We would like to stay somewhere that is friendly, informal and reasonably comfortable. We have a few days in Kolkata and wonder if you could suggest how best to get around the city to see some of its attractions. Ann Hole
Kolkata (Calcutta in British times) is an Indian metropolis and one that seems to capture the heart and imagination of anyone who's been there. It's rich in history and a cultural powerhouse, crammed with colonial architecture and bursting at the seams with energy. Food is a highlight for many.
Getting around Kolkata isn't too difficult. There's a clean and efficient metro system and taxis are frequent and inexpensive. If you like exploring by foot, most of the city's attractions are within walking distance.
Kolkata's main attractions are the Kali Temple, the city's holiest spot; the Indian Museum, occupying a glorious colonnaded palace with exhibits ranging from fabulous Hindu bronzes to elephant skeletons; the Botanical Gardens, home to a remarkable 250-year-old banyan tree with a canopy that stretches a whopping 400m from side to side; and Park Street Cemetery (built in the 1760s) with its Raj-era graves, a place of calm.
A quirky, interesting accommodation option for Kolkata is the Fairlawn Hotel (fairlawnhotel.com), built in 1783 and run since 1962 by the welcoming Violet Smith.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade's (MFAT's) travel advisory for India at www.safetravel.govt.nz currently advises travellers that there is extreme risk to their security in Assam (among other places).
