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Yangshuo: where to chill out in China
This week's winner: scenic journeys on the Li River
Further to Gill Charlton’s guide to the best escorted tours in China (“Create you own stories of China”, January 23), in September 2006, as part of a tour of China, my wife and I stayed at the Yangshuo Mountain Retreat Hotel, a short taxi ride from the busy resort town of Yangshuo – itself a wonderful scenic journey on the Li River from the equally popular town of Guilin.
The Mountain Retreat has since undergone a major upgrade and renovation but it remains a delightful oasis of calm amid the karst landscape, as my picture taken from the hotel gardens shows.
A daily sideshow of Chinese holidaymakers being carried down river on bamboo rafts provides entertainment, particularly when the rafts negotiate a small waterfall near the hotel. Gentle walks in the local countryside, early morning tai chi lessons, and a visit to a country kitchen for lessons in wok cooking were also available.
On the same trip, on a visit to the major city of Hangzhou, we were fortunate to see a magnificent night-time water show as only the Chinese can put on, choreographed by the producer of the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games.
Reg Smart wins a £250 Railbookers voucher
Finding perfection in the Alps
Further to Ben Ross’s article (“Late is great for families in the Alps”, January 23), we returned on Saturday from Belle Plagne as a group of eight “boring old holiday whenever they like adults”. As ex-teachers with 30 years of skiing, we know the costs and lengthy queues involved in going skiing during school holidays.
Wonderful blues converging at Plagne Centre or Plagne Bellecôte were great for relaxing and practising style. For those wishing to cover terrain, the pistes were brilliantly connected enabling us to complete circuits of the resort without covering the same ground. The run through stunning scenery from a spectacular restaurant at Roche de Mio, was our favourite. Finally for the more adventurous (even oldies can be!), there were enough reds and blacks to keep us interested. The compactness meant we could separate but meet up for lunch in differing locations daily.
Our ski in-ski out chalet on the edge of gentle Arpette piste was perfect for tired legs at the end of the day.
Skiing out of peak times was a dream and the many villages that make up La Plagne resort were perfect for our varied needs. A good resort for oldies too – but not at half-term.
Jill Stewart
Krakow airport transfer bargain
Oliver Smith’s news piece (“Cut-price deals for Heathrow Express service”, January 23) made me reflect on a recent trip to Krakow, where you can take the bus from the airport to the city centre for four zloty – approximately 72 pence. That’s what I call a real deal!
Trevor Hunter
More Cretan adventures
We totally agree with Anne Williams’s comments on staying in Chania and combining a beach holiday by taking a coach to Paleochora (Travel views, January 16).
However, instead of retracing your steps back to Chania we would recommend taking the ferry as a foot passenger from Paleochora to Agia Roumeli via Sougia. This would give you a chance to walk the bottom section of the Samaria Gorge (not steep and it’s the most dramatic).
Then continue by ferry to beautiful Loutro where some of the b&bs will collect you from the ferry by boat. Finally, travel to Chora Sfakion where you can take a coach back over the mountains to Chania making a great circular itinerary. There are plenty of good priced b&b to stay in en route and no car hire required.
Richard and Steph Wakelin
China girl
The colourful piece by Michael Wood (“Garden glory and silk on the water”, January 23) reminded me of the time, just over 15 years ago, when I backpacked alone in China and spent a couple of lovely days in Suzhou spending the nights at the university.
One of the highlights of Suzhou was when I was eating alone in a restaurant, Chinese of course, the waitress asked me to make up a four for dancing later in the evening – she was the best ballroom dancer I have ever danced with. Sadly I had to leave the next morning.
Peter Caspar
Win a £250 Railbookers voucher
Telegraph Travel readers have the chance to win £250 worth of gift vouchers courtesy of Railbookers, a specialist company that can arrange inspirational rail journeys in scenic settings across the world, combined with flights, overnight stays in hand-picked hotels and exciting excursions.
Why not head out east for a genuinely exotic long-haul holiday. Meander languidly by train through tropical landscapes and dense jungle; admire rugged coastlines. Stop off and soak up the atmosphere in cities such as Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Travel in style aboard the Eastern & Oriental Express, or more modestly by local train. Contact Railbookers on 020 3780 2110 or visit railbookers.com. Your adventure starts here.
How to enter
Do you have views on any of the places in this week’s section – be it cruising in the Caribbean or discoveries in the Azores? Please email relevant feedback (max 200 words) and contact details by midnight on Feb 2 to travelviews@telegraph.co.uk. Visit telegraph.co.uk/travelviews for full terms and conditions.
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