Where to find the best scuba spots in Europe and how to cruise from the UK to Russia: The Holiday Guru answers traveller queries
The Holiday Guru is always on call to answer your questions.
This week visiting the Isles of Scilly and the best way to see ‘cowboy’ attractions in the U.S are also on the agenda…
Q. My friend and I aim to visit St Mary’s island on the Isles of Scilly. How can we get there? We live in South Yorkshire and Norfolk.
Judith Walls, via email.
Peninnis Head on St Mary’s Island in the Isles of Scilly. The best way to get here from Penzance is to take the ferry or get a flight from Land’s End Airport
A. Meet in London, then take the Paddington-Penzance train — five-and-a- half hours (about £70) — or the sleeper service in a twin cabin departing at 11.45pm and arriving at 8am; from £220 for both of you, with a wake-up call, breakfast and Paddington lounge access included.
Return Penzance-St Mary’s ferries are from £110, or return flights from Land’s End Airport from £181 (islesofscilly-travel.co.uk).
Q. My wife and I would like to take a cruise from the UK next summer to include St Petersburg in Russia and Tallinn in Estonia. Any suggestions?
Denis Micallef, via email.
A. Cunard (cunard.com, 0344 338 8641) has a 14-night Baltic Highlights cruise departing Southampton on July 14 from £1,869 pp full-board, calling at St Petersburg for two days and Tallinn for a day, plus Helsinki and Stockholm. Russian visas not required for passengers taking official Cunard excursions in St Petersburg.
Q. Could you please advise me on good European scuba diving spots?
Mag Davenport, via email.
Gozo, pictured, north of the main island of Malta is home to interesting rock formations
A. In the UK, try Scapa Flow in the Orkney Islands, where intriguing World War I shipwrecks can be explored (but you need a thick wetsuit).
Or, for somewhere warmer, try the Blue Hole and Azure Window on Gozo, north of the main island of Malta, which is home to interesting rock formations as well as moray eels and parrotfish. See divein.com.
Q. We would like to visit the site of Custer’s Last Stand and the Alamo in the U.S. and any other ‘cowboy’ attractions. What do you advise?
Janeen Talbot, via email.
A. Bon Voyage can organise a twin-centre 14-night fly-drive with four days in San Antonio in Texas to see the Alamo, where Mexican troops besieged Texan settlers in 1836, as well as Bandera, the ‘Cowboy Capital of the World’.
Then fly to Rapid City, South Dakota, to see Mount Rushmore, the Crazy Horse Memorial and the site of the Battle of Little Big Horn, where Custer’s troops were defeated in the Great Sioux War of 1876, venturing into Montana and Wyoming.
The price is from £2,495pp, with flights, car hire and hotels (bon-voyage.co.uk, 0800 316 0194).
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For advice, send your questions to holidayplanner@dailymail.co.uk or write to Daily Mail Travel, Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT. Please include your contact details.