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Michael Gebicki is an expert Traveller’s Tripologist. Every week he tackles the thorniest issues in travel and also answers your questions. What? Do you have a question for Tripologist? Email tripologist@traveller.com.au
I am planning to find a family in July 2028 for a group of about 20, aged six to 74. Children and grandchildren will join us from England, USA, France, Melbourne and Darwin. I need warm accommodation, good access and an accessible pool. I’m thinking Broome, but an overseas location is an option, preferably a short direct flight from Melbourne and not too difficult to reach from all other locations.
E. Fitzgerald, Camberwell, Vic
Broome is difficult to reach for your international long-distance travelers. Flights from Perth, the nearest international gateway, are expensive, as is accommodation in Broome. The main attraction in the immediate area is the rugged, sun-kissed and gorgeous Kimberley region, but that’s not to everyone’s taste.
One area that works well for such gatherings is Sri Lanka. You can get there with a one-stop flight from Melbourne and two stops from other places where your family members are located and there is a lot to love about Sri Lanka. It is compact yet the island has beautiful beaches, misty tea plantations, rice fields, Buddhist temples and historical buildings, national parks with wild elephants and leopards, interesting culture, good food prices and competitive accommodation.
I have been booked on a Mediterranean cruise which includes a stop at Gibraltar. My father was born in England and moved to Australia. Will I need to get a British passport to join the shore excursion, as Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory? If I don’t have a UK passport and travel on my Australian passport, will I be refused entry?
K. Wade, Ringwood, Vic
Currently, it appears that Australians with a British parent can enter Gibraltar on their Australian issued passport they have an Electronic Transport Permit. However, this may change during your visit, bringing Gibraltar in line with UK entry requirements. In that case, a British citizen, who can include you as a descendant of a British-born father, can only enter Gibraltar with a British passport. It would be in your best interest to cover all the bases and apply for a UK passport before your trip.
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Can you recommend a resort or villa in southern Japan to accommodate eight adults and seven children between the ages of 3-12 for a 50th wedding anniversary? If you look at either February/March or June/July and one family is traveling from Toronto.
L. Iacovangelo, Dondale, Vic
While the resort will probably work well for your large family, villa accommodation for large family groups is rare in Japan and catering can be problematic. Miyako Resort Shima Bayside Terrace it is in a good location on the south coast of Nagoya. Quiet and comfortable, the rooms at the Spanish-style resort are large by Japanese standards and the landscaped gardens include a pool.
However, Japan is a difficult choice for a large family group like yours, with many different ages and needs. Although Miyako Resort does have non-Japanese guests, the resort’s accommodations are generally aimed at the domestic Japanese market and the Japanese diet may pose a problem for the youngest members of your group. English is not widely understood outside the capital cities, and even there it can be problematic.
In your case, I would prefer to find a resort or villa in Thailand. Phuket is one option, and Twin Palms Surin Beach is the best choice for families, or Krabi, where ShellSea Krabi or Luxury Family Homes it can get you the vacation you’re looking for. One caveat – June/July is wet and sticky in southern Thailand, February/March is the best time.
We intend to spend a month between July and September driving around Scotland. Any itinerary suggestions? We definitely need to avoid Glasgow during the Commonwealth Games and would like to visit an island or two.
J. Butler, Balaclava, Vic
A month in Scotland is perfect for a road trip and this anti-clockwise loop starts in Edinburgh. Start your trip in early September and you’ll be traveling in quieter times, missing the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow from July 23 to August 2. Start with three to four days in Edinburgh visiting the castle and Arthur’s Seat and walking the Royal Mile. Remember the Edinburgh International Festival and the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo are scheduled for August 7-30, a great time to visit but expect crowds. Take your car and drive Aviemore in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park. There is plenty to keep you busy for several days including the Strathspey and Rothiemurchus Steam Railway, 10,000 hectares of ancient Caledonian woodland, lochs, rivers, glens, mountains and home to a variety of wildlife.
Continue north to Inverness, the “Gateway to the Highlands”, and visit nearby Loch Ness. Go north from here along the North Shore 500a typical road trip known for its castles, marine reserves, sea beaches, lochs and Pictish paths, but suffers from overtourism, another reason to travel in September. The notion of a 500-mile journey defies belief in little Scotland, yet the route winds its way out and around the long fingers that reach its sea and glacier-carved coastline in a 830km loop.
Expect to spend seven days in the car, there is so much to see and do and anything less feels rushed. In Kyle of Lochalsh on the west coast, take the Skye Bridge to the Isle of Skye and spend at least three nights here. Drive inland to Fort William, along the southern shores of Loch Linnhe en route to Glencoe in its picturesque valley, continue to Oban and take a car ferry trip to Craignure on the Isle of Mull. The final leg of your journey takes you to Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, from where Glasgow is only a short drive away. For accommodation, see Visit Scotland website.
Travel advice is general; readers should considering their personal circumstances
Michael Gebicki is a Sydney-based travel writer, best known for her Tripologist column published for over 15 years in Traveller. With four decades of experience, his expertise is practical advice, destination knowledge and problem solving for travelers. He also designs and leads slow and deep tours to some of his favorite destinations. Connect via Instagram @michael_gebickiConnect through email address.
