My 21-year-old daughter wants to spend 4/5 days skiing/snowboarding before March but none of her friends are able to go with her this year. Are there any organisations that single travellers can go with? - Suzanne Dufton, via e-mail
Girlie Camps (www.girliecamps.com) runs women-only courses, with technique aimed specifically at the different requirements of the female physique. The Scandinavian-based company was set up five years ago for young board riding women who want to meet other girls with the same passion. For skiers, Ski Freshtracks, the holiday arm of the Ski Club of Great Britain (www.skiclub.co.uk), has this season launched a women-only off-piste week in Argentière. The Women Will powder week, held with ski firm Salomon, runs from January 28 and costs £995 half board on a twin-share basis, including flights and transfers. A women-only weekend is also available.
There are several firms which cater for single travellers. Try Friendship Travel (www.friendshiptravel.com); Kindred Spirits www.kindredspiritstravel.com); Solo's Holidays (www.solosholidays.co.uk) or Travel One (www.travelone.co.uk).
December 23
I am writing to pass on our feelings after our recent break in Lapland (December 17/18). Our flight was delayed two hours; there were no childrens' meals available there or back (although one-third of passengers were kids); the film was rated category 12; the flight was 90 minutes late coming back (with some very tired children); we were all delighted with the Hotel Yllas, Saaga and thought the accomodation, food and staff exceptional and worthy of praise. Whilst we think that the break was memorable, it was certainly not worth the £1,500 we paid for the three of us and we feel somewhat ripped-off! - Ian Lee, via e-mail.
December 20
Living in the Algarve, a large number of friends regularly drive through Spain. There have a large number of reported hijack attempts in Spain, usually in and around the larger cities of Seville, Madrid and Barcelona. Drivers of foreign registered cars are warned to especially vigilant of robbers pretending to be police on lonely roads.
Incident 1 - November 2005
A friend was travelling alone with a van and trailer taking materials to his Algarve holiday home. Just north of Madrid, he was flagged down by three men who stated they were police and wanted to search his van and trailer for drugs - they had rudimentary identification and were in plain clothes. They took his car keys, cash and credit cards and drove away. The local police told him he was very lucky because he could have easily been shot and left by the roadside.
Incident 2 - A couple were driving in north-west Spain when they were passed by what looked like a police car containing four men who waved them down. As there were no flashing lights the couple ignored the car and drove on .
Incident 3 - Caught in traffic in Barcelona, a couple noticed a young man on a scooter wearing a rather bulky glove on one hand - suddenly there was a shout from a taxi driver and the young guy drove away through the traffic. The taxi driver explained that scooter man was about to either smash their side window and grab what he could or he would have punctured their tyre and then, when they pulled over, offer to help and help himself to the car contents.
Motorists are advised to keep items out of sight such as cameras and handbags; to take keys out of car when refuelling; keep a watch on the car when stopping to eat; park somewhere safe when stopping overnight and ask the hotel staff. As for being stopped by police, I think I would ignore all such requests unless they were policeman dressed in full as policemen with clearly marked police cars, blue lights the lot - Stephen Cook, Vilamoura, Portugal
December 15
