I am flying from Sydney to Los Angeles and then KLM to Amsterdam on the same ticket in September. I have two hours and 15 minutes to complete this transit. How confident should I be?

G. Gerrard, Cromer, NSW

That could be cutting it fine. Even though you’re in transit, you will need to clear US border control, present your passport and ESTA or visa and answer travel questions. You’ll also need to collect your checked luggage, clear customs, drop your bags on the transfer belt and pass through TSA security screening. If things don’t go as planned, for example if your incoming flight is late arriving at LAX or if it takes longer than expected to pass through US border control and you miss your connecting flight, since you are travelling on a single ticket, KLM is responsible for rebooking you on the next available service to Amsterdam.

I’m hoping to ride some of The Grand Tour of Catalunya next May, hiring a bike in Girona and doing Sections 4 and 5 from La Seu d’Urgell across to Figueres and down to Barcelona. What do you think about flying into Barcelona and catching a train to Girona where there appear to be lots of bike shops? Would it be easy to find accommodation along the way without pre-booking?

A. Cisneros, Carlton, Vic

Girona is a great place to start your Grand Tour of Catalunya. There are frequent trains from Barcelona Airport, with a change at Barcelona Sants for the high-speed, 40-minute trip to Girona. The city is one of Europe’s premier cycling hubs, with dozens of rental shops, mechanics and cyclist-friendly hotels. The day after you arrive, visit one of the bike shops to get professionally set up, buy any last-minute provisions or gear and do a short shake-down ride. Eat Sleep Cycle, Catalonia Bike Tours and Rocacorba Atelier are some of the local bike shops that can fit you out with everything you need. Sections 4 and 5 are arguably the best part of the Grand Tour.

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You’ll be cycling through medieval villages, often on quieter inland roads, with Pyrenean scenery around La Seu d’Urgell, vineyards in the Emporda wine region and coastal scenery along the Costa Brava. May is shoulder season and, apart from weekends and holidays, you should be okay booking as you go. One caveat is the Costa Brava, which starts to rev up in May. Booking.com works well in the Catalunya region.

Many Girona bike hire companies expect you to bring the bike back to Girona, but some will collect it from Barcelona for an additional fee. If you want to make the most of the tour, allow 10 to 12 days. The Emporda and the Costa Brava have some of the best food in Spain, along with excellent small wineries and beautiful medieval villages, and it’s worth getting off the bike to enjoy them.

As part of a larger trip, I’m planning a three to four day Cairo stopover in early October to visit the Grand Egyptian Museum with a possible side trip to Alexandria. As a solo female traveller, I’d like to organise a driver/guide for the duration. Do you have any companies you’d recommend?L. Watson, Penshurst, NSW

Get in touch with Sherif Khalil at Dunes & Beyond Travel. Based in Cairo, his company specialises in customised itineraries for travellers looking for meaningful experiences along with an all-inclusive, high-quality service. These are branded as luxury tours but you get what you pay for and as a solo female traveller in Egypt, you need assurance that your travels will be seamless. Without exception, reviews of Dunes & Beyond on Tripadvisor and Google are five-star.

I have a relative buried in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery in Etaples, France. Can you recommend someone who could take us there from Arras and return us to Arras later that day? A guided tour of the cemetery would be useful. We would also be happy to include any other sites in the area.R. Oliver, Newington, NSW

Chemins d’Histoire Battlefield Tours is my number one choice. Based in Saint-Quentin, the company is owned and operated by Olivier Dirson whose family village, Montbrehain, is the site of the last infantry battle of the Australian Corps in World War I. Olivier is a vastly experienced guide who brings deep knowledge as well as passion to his battlefield tours. One of his specialties is offering insights to families from Australia and the other Allied Powers that bring to life the conditions their ancestors endured, combining historical precision with the deep respect of a local resident. He speaks fluent English and offers various itineraries with starting points including Arras. These are private journeys aboard a Mercedes GLB SUV. Another great alternative is Terres de Memoire, which also offers customised tours from Arras. Etaples is over an hour’s drive from Arras and either of these operators can suggest other Western Front sites to include.

Travel advice is general; readers should consider their personal circumstances