I am going to Europe soon. I previously used an Aldi SIM card with prepaid data, but on my last trip it became quite expensive. I hear Airalo is good, but you have to make phone calls using WhatsApp. That’s fine except my mother only has a landline. Any suggestions?R. Kernecker, East Sydney, NSW

Airalo works well and is a great alternative provided your phone is compatible with eSIMs, and most recent models are. One eSIM covers all of Europe and you can top up easily if you run short of data. To make calls to landlines, there are a couple of apps that will solve this problem. One is Viber Out. Download the app, add some credit – $10 is plenty – and you can dial any landline or mobile number in the world via your internet connection. Another similar service is Talk360.

We are visiting Rome over Easter 2027 and then would like to go to Naples for a few days. We are in our late 70s, with the usual bad backs and knees, and thinking of booking local tour guides who can transport us via car. We would like to see Pompeii or Herculaneum and the Amalfi Coast. Any suggestions for a local guide?

J. Clark, Bateau Bay NSW

Giovanna Donadio is a tour guide who works with her driver husband to offer tours of the region south of Naples and her reviews are excellent. She can also arrange a transfer from the train station in Naples to take you to your hotel and that’s a great service because the queue for taxis at the station tends to be long. You can contact Giovanna by email: giovanna_dona@hotmail.com. Askos Tours is another option, and it too receives outstanding reviews. For the sake of convenience, you could make Naples your base and take day trips from there. If you were to stay on the Amalfi Coast, the town of Amalfi would probably be your best choice because it’s relatively flat, which is not the case with Positano. Pompeii is larger and more spectacular than Herculaneum and thus receives far more visitors.

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I am going to Cambodia in November for a Hash House Harrier running club get together in Siem Reap. I have never been to Cambodia and would like to see as much as I can over 10 to 12 days after the H3 event.W. Collins, Southbank, Vic

Assuming the H3 trip includes sightseeing in Angkor, that takes care of Cambodia’s main drawcard. If you’re keen on temple architecture, you need three days minimum to explore this sprawling site – there are more than 1000 temples and shrines scattered across 400 square kilometres. Chances are you’ll spend a night or two in Phnom Penh, either on the way in or out, and the National Museum, the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, and the chilling Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and Choeung Ek Genocidal Centre will keep you occupied.

Most visitors skip Phnom Penh in favour of the coast. Sihanoukville, the one-time backpacker haven, has been joined by Kep, a former French resort which is slowly returning to life. Kep is a model of the laid-back, unimproved version of tourism. The bay is a flashing sheet of turquoise, the jungle steals into the town’s backstreets and many of the best beaches are occupied by ramshackle fishermen’s huts. Swim, explore the coral reef, hire a bike and pedal along the coast road. Watch the sunset, feast on fresh crab on the beach, get up the next day and do it all over again. Take a trip out to Rabbit Island and stay in a bungalow for a few dollars a day.

Another 20 kilometres to the north, the riverside town of Kampot is straight out of Joseph Conrad, with a few bars and guesthouses along the waterfront. The main reason to come to Kampot is to make the bumpy two-hour ride up Bokor Mountain, one of the few places in South-East Asia with populations of elephants and tigers. At the top is Bokor itself, a former hill station shattered in fighting between the Khmer Rouge and government forces, now silent and atmospherically wreathed in mist. Due to military action along the Thai-Cambodia border, current advice from Smartraveller is “We continue to advise do not travel to areas within 50 kilometres of the Cambodia-Thailand border.” That removes Battambang and the temples along the Thai border from your itinerary, but check for updates before travelling.

We are in our late 50s and have booked an Antarctic cruise. Can you recommend any travel insurance as we are unsure if the likes of Cover-More or NIB are sufficient and/or have good claim refunds for emergency medical evacuations?C. Casey, Melbourne, Vic

Cover-More and NIB are both reputable insurers and they offer comprehensive cover for travellers in remote areas such as Antarctica. For several years, I’ve been relying on the free travel insurance that comes when I pay for my air ticket using my American Express card and I’ve been happy with the outcome of the two claims I’ve made, one for severely delayed baggage which required a new wardrobe and another for expenses incurred when a delayed flight caused a cancelled car hire and unexpected hotel expenses. Several other cards include complimentary travel insurance when you meet their minimum spend criteria. Whichever insurer you choose, check the Product Disclosure Statement to ensure it meets your needs. Medical evacuations from vessels in Antarctic waters are extremely unlikely. If you have specific concerns, check that your vessel has the staff and equipment required for treatment.

Travel advice is general; readers should consider their personal circumstances