11 hours ago
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December 8, 2025 — 5:09am
I’ve visited Japan previously and want to go again, but where to go where I won’t see too many other tourists?
Japan continues to fascinate, amaze and attract an ever increasing number of Australian visitors, to the swelling annoyance of the Japanese. Many travellers become addicted, notching up two, three or five visits, and now look for fresh pastures far from the tourist hordes. Iya Valley, on the island of Shikoku, is one for the outdoor lover, a deep fissure in the mountain range that takes its name from the island, where kazurabashi (suspension bridges made out of mountain vines), cross the surging Iya River and nights are spent in rural guesthouses. Another Shikoku gem, are the backroads beyond Takamatsu, where rural roads wind through green farmlands and tiny villages with ryokans and onsen, but a car is essential. Another brilliant drive is the Noto Peninsula, extending a long finger into the Sea of Japan and known for its sea salt farms and lost-in-time fishing towns.
How can I make sure I’m not hit with any unexpected charges when I rent a car overseas?
The Tripologist is seeing a growing number of complaints relating to car rentals. Suspicious damage claims, disputed fines, charges for an extra day when a vehicle is returned within the rental period but after the rental office is closed: there are plenty of ways that some rental agencies have found to squeeze a few extra dollars out of your pocket. Rent direct from the car-hire agency and you’re in a strong position if anything goes amiss. When you take delivery of your vehicle, walk around it with your phone’s camera and make a video, noting any scratches, dents and other signs of wear and tear. If there’s any subsequent dispute over damages, you’ve got proof.
How can I spend six months in Europe on an Australian passport?
Remember the days when you could show up at the airport, slap down your passport and head off to Europe without a second thought? True, the rule that allows you to spend a total of just 90 days in any 180-day period in Schengen Areas countries has been in force for more than two decades, but the introduction of the electronic travel authorisation (ETIAS) system which will apply to Australians in the last quarter of 2026 adds another complication.
However, staying in Europe for six months or even longer is feasible. Australia still has agreements with some European countries such as Germany and the Netherlands that allow Aussies to stay in those countries outside the 90 days they’re allowed to spend in the other Schengen zone countries, but the rules for each country are very specific and care is needed to avoid transgression. An easier way to extend a European holiday is to spend time in another country outside the Schengen zone, and that includes the UK, Ireland, Albania and Cyprus.
We’re a family with two kids looking for a holiday in Asia that has plenty of cultural interest, great food, a mix of relaxation and family-friendly activities and mid-range budget. Is Vietnam a good choice?
Vietnam is emerging as a family favourite, and with a line-up that includes scenery, shopping, great food, cultural diversity, built-in charm and serenity in a compact package, Vietnam scores big. Although the gateway cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are compelling, they’re also exhausting whirlpools of entrepreneurial energy. Head out into the countryside to discover a tapestry of jade-green rice paddies and villages against a backdrop of blue hills that rise in a distant echo of the Himalayas.
Don’t rush it. Northern and southern Vietnam are distinctly different experiences, and you’ll need at least 10 days to experience either. December is the beginning of the dry season in the south, and prime time for exploring the liquid landscape of the Mekong Delta. Along with the floating markets, the fecund bird life and the water meadows, don’t miss the staggeringly beautiful region to the south-west of Chau Doc, close to the Cambodian border. Even more persuasive for a family getaway, it’s also extraordinary value. Rooms in a four-star luxury hotel in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City or a beach resort can be had for $200 a night in peak period. Restaurant meals, spa treatments and activities cost about half the price of the same in Thailand.
We’re picking up a hire car in Split, Croatia. Can we drive into Albania?
There’s been a slow and steady southwards march as travellers discover the hothouse charms of the eastern Adriatic coastline. First came Croatia, then Montenegro and now Albania, one of Europe’s final frontiers. The drawcard is the Albanian Riviera, a 130-kilometre strip of coast from Vlora to Saranda that includes the 1027- metre Llogara Pass, rivalling the journey along Italy’s Amalfi coast, although local driving habits make even Italian journeys seem pale. It’s worth it for Drymades Beach which has yet to experience the full force of overtourism.
Behind the coast is a raw and untamed landscape of mountains, lakes and expanses of grassland, a paradise for walkers. Finding a bed is no problem, and you can expect to pay about half what you would for accommodation, food and drinks in neighbouring Corfu. The Albanians themselves are an asset for the tourism cause, both friendly and flattered that foreigners find something in their country worth seeing. But driving a car into Albania is a “maybe”. Some operators allow it, but only with express permission and usually a cross-border fee. Many major fleets prohibit drivers from taking their cars into Albania.
Do you have a travel question you need answered?
Email Michael Gebicki, the Tripologist, at [email protected] and include your name and suburb. Travel advice is general; readers should consider their personal circumstances.
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