We’re keen on visiting the ‘Stan’ countries. What’s the best way?

Do you have any insight into tours of the Stans? We are three lively 67- to 74-year-olds who are excited by the prospect of a grand 21- to 28-day adventure on the Silk Road. Culture, comfortable accommodation, limited travelling times and a small group are key. My two friends will be coming from Nairobi, and I’m departing from Sydney.
S. Pilkington, Sydney NSW

Wild Frontiers is a UK-based operator with many years’ experience in taking travellers to extraordinary places. It has several Silk Road tours, including a 16-day tour of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan that might work well for you. Another 15-day tour takes in the Silk Road cities of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. It also has more intensive trips such as Classic Kyrgyzstan and Classic Tajikistan, which could be linked to the Silk Road tour. Group size is a maximum of 12.

Whichever company you choose, some of the cities you visit are far apart, and a couple of long rides in a bus or four-wheel drive are unavoidable. Apart from the 600-kilometre Tashkent-Bukhara rail line, there are no high-speed trains. Tashkent is likely to be your starting point, and your friends coming from Nairobi would most probably transit through Dubai, from where there are non-stop flights to Tashkent. Coming from Australia, you can take a non-stop flight to Tashkent from Kuala Lumpur or Bangkok.

My partner and l have four nights in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, before our Caribbean cruise. Can you suggest the best area to stay, relying on public transport? Hotels in the Dania Beach area are quite close to local shopping, restaurants, the airport and cruise terminal. We are considering a day trip down to Miami as well as a day trip to Cape Canaveral – is this too far? A. Chinn, Sandringham, Vic

Dania Beach would not be your best choice. While it is close to the airport and cruise port, public transport is limited and you will probably end up using taxis or Uber. However, there are several better choices, including Fort Lauderdale Beach and the Las Olas area. The Downtown Fort Lauderdale area around Las Olas Boulevard gives you easy access to the Brightline train to Miami and museums, and the area is packed with restaurants, bars and shops. The Sun Trolley connects this area with the beach and the cruise port.

For your day trip to Miami, the Brightline train takes less than 40 minutes to make the journey from Fort Lauderdale station to Miami Central. Once in Miami, you can use the free MetroMover to get around or Uber.

Cape Canaveral is more difficult. It would be almost impossible to reach via public transport, and even in a hire car it would be at least a three-hour drive each way. Other activities that are easier from Fort Lauderdale include an Everglades day trip, exploring Miami’s Little Havana, Wynwood, South Beach and Vizcaya and a day at Palm Beach, accessible via the Brightline northbound.

We are a family of four with a 48-hour stopover in Harbin, China, in late December. Should we get a driver, or is it fairly easy to travel using public transport? Any tips for the cold?
C. Wong, Kew, Vic

A driver would be the best choice for your short stay. Public buses are slow and crowded, and while taxis and DiDi rideshares are widely available, you might find yourselves waiting in sub-zero temperatures. A private driver gives you door-to-door transfers between the various sights of the Ice Festival Harbin if your visit takes place in late December, with Central Street and St Sophia’s Cathedral as other highlights.

In December, you can expect temperatures to vary between -20°C and -11°C, and an average of six hours of sunlight a day. Layering is key, with a thermal base layer, a mid-layer of wool or fleece and a puffer jacket on top. Hats and gloves are essential, and a scarf is optional but recommended. Take lip balm and moisturiser, the air is very dry, and sunglasses will protect your eyes. If you start to feel cold, head for a cafe or shop to defrost.

My wife and I are heading to Northern France, travelling by train from Paris to Saint Malo, and we would like to spend eight days exploring the area before making our way to Bordeaux. Places of interest are Mont-Saint-Michel, Honfleur and Bayeux. Can you suggest a time frame for visiting sites and places to stay using public transport? Also, how to get from Saint Malo to Bordeaux?
B. Stubbs, West Hobart, Tas

You’ll be exploring some of France’s most atmospheric towns, a blend of Norman and Breton history, food and landscapes. Since you’re relying on public transport, you need to base yourselves in hubs with good rail and bus links and make day trips.

The fastest trains from Paris Montparnasse Station take less than three hours to reach Saint Malo, with one change at Rennes. Spend your first afternoon or evening exploring the walled port town, the ramparts and streets of the old town. Saint Malo is noted for its shellfish dishes – and galettes, Breton buckwheat crepes, which are a local specialty.

Next day, take a train to Pontorson, then a bus to Mont-Saint-Michel and spend the day exploring the abbey and medieval village. The following day, take the 507 bus to Dinan: it’s a lovely riverside medieval town with cobblestone streets threaded through half-timbered houses.

On the following day, take a train or bus to transfer to Bayeux, spend four nights and visit the Bayeux Tapestry and cathedral, take a guided tour to visit the D-Day landing beaches and visit Honfleur by bus. Rather than travelling all the way back to Saint Malo, you could take the train from Bayeux to Paris. The trip takes two hours to reach Gare Saint-Lazare, from where you’ll need to take a 15-minute taxi ride to Gare Montparnasse for the two-hour train trip to Bordeaux.

Travel advice is general; readers should consider their personal circumstances