What’s a good (but inexpensive) river cruise down the Rhine?

My partner and I plan to visit Germany’s Rhine Valley in October. A river cruise of between five and eight days is ideal, but quite expensive if booked from Australia, and cheaper on European websites. We are looking for quality wine and local experiences.
M. Hilton, Berkeley Vale, NSW

The Rhine Valley in October is perfect for wine experiences and autumn colour. Vineyards will be in full swing, towns will be celebrating festivals and a river cruise is a great way to enjoy it. As an alternative to a European river cruise booked from Australia, there are river vessels operated by German tour companies other than the big global brands. Examples include A-Rosa Cruises, which offers several Rhine River cruises and prices from less than €600 ($1000) a person. The Rhine River cruises with the UK’s ROL Cruise are more expensive, but these are longer. Another intriguing option is KD Rhine, which has day trips by boat along the Rhine from Dusseldorf and Cologne. Its vessels operate daily until October 18 this year and call at more than 30 landing stages. With KD you can hop off, explore and re-board one of their following vessels. Rather than a cruise, you might consider basing yourselves in one of the towns along the Rhine – such as Rudesheim, Bacharach or Koblenz, where there are plenty of small, atmospheric hotels – and do day trips by boat and train. In October you should score well-priced accommodation.

We are planning a trip to Algeria and Tunisia this October and are considering a private tour by car in each country for about three weeks all up. Any recommendations for reputable companies or travel operators?
R. Robinson, Carlton North, Vic

Mosaic North Africa is a Canada-based tour operator specialising in private, custom tours across Algeria and Tunisia. It can design an itinerary that takes account of your timeframe and interests, from arrival to departure, including assistance with visas. Customer reviews on independent sites, including Trustpilot, note good communication, professional guides and drivers and attentive service. If you want a single operator to handle both countries and craft a seamless route this could be a good choice. In Tunisia, Othentic Travel & Services creates custom private tours with flexible pacing, private drivers and guides covering major sites from Tunis to the Sahara, including medinas and coastal towns. Its reviews are outstanding. In Algeria, Magic Tours is a long-established destination management company based in Algiers that offers tailor-made tours with private vehicles, experienced drivers and local guides. It designs custom itineraries, from northern coastal cities to deep Sahara explorations. Also based in Algiers, Adventure Algeria is a high-end operator that offers individual and group itineraries. Reviews on Tripadvisor are excellent. Advice from Smartraveller is, “exercise a high degree of caution” for both countries.

We are a couple flying to Europe with two 20-hour stopovers in Chengdu, China. We have visited the pandas and the retail centres of Chengdu on previous visits, so want advice about other destinations we could visit in a day trip from Chengdu’s Tianfu Airport.
K. Chadwick, Altona, Vic

Located in Dujiangyan, about a 90-minute trip from Chengdu by train and taxi, Mount Qingcheng is one of the cradles of Taoism, and an important Taoist religious site in China. The ascent of the mountain takes about two hours, and Front Mountain is the more popular of the hiking trails. Past Yuecheng Lake, a cable car hoists you up to where the trail continues through the forest, past Taoist temples on the one-hour hike to the summit. On the return journey take the trail past Chaoyang Cave, Wudongtian and Quanzhen Temple. On your second stopover, you might visit Huanglongxi Ancient Town, a traditional Sichuan water town about an hour from Chengdu. Huanglongxi’s old wooden houses, stone lanes, ancient banyan trees and riverside temples make it one of the best-preserved ancient towns in this region, and a tranquil option if you want a low-intensity escape between long flights. Another ancient town is Anren, 40 kilometres from Chengdu, known for its elegant Republican-era mansions and the vast Jianchuan Museum Cluster, the largest folk museum in China. The town is rarely visited by foreign tourists. Tianfu Airport is south-east of Chengdu, allow between 45 and 60 minutes to reach central train stations. For a 20-hour layover, aim to be back at the airport at least three hours before departure.

In late September we are doing a cycling tour from Prague to Budapest. Any suggestions for a few extra days at either end, using public transport?
G. Buttel, Shellharbour, NSW

These are two sensational cities, each with plenty to keep you occupied for several days. You might arrive in Prague at least four days before your tour begins to get over jet lag and explore the city’s baroque wonders. The old city is relatively compact and can be traversed on foot, no need for public transport. If you had more time, you could make day trips to the medieval town of Cesky Krumlov and even take a two-hour train trip to Dresden. At the end of your cycle tour, take the opportunity to explore Budapest. Tram Number 2 operates along the Pest side of the embankment, allowing you to enjoy views of the baroque parliament building, Buda Castle and the Chain Bridge. Visit St Stephen’s Basilica, centrepiece of the Roman Catholic faith in Hungary. Cross the river via the Chain Bridge to explore the Buda Castle District, and don’t miss the Matthias Church and the city view from Fisherman’s Bastion. From Budapest you could easily take a train to Vienna, just two hours away, and well worth a few extra days.

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