Have a holiday dilemma?

A reader asks: We are going to Argentina next year and wonder if it is possible to go by train from Buenos Aires to Salta. Is it easy to arrange and are there sleeper carriages? Can you recommend a reasonably priced estancia near Salta?

A: There are now no trains between Salta and Buenos Aires. There are buses, which take about 20 hours. La Veloz del Norte (www.lavelozcallcenter.com.ar) is one of several operators. Most visitors from Buenos Aires go by air. Andes Lineas Aereas (www.andesonline.com), LAN (www.lan.com) and Aerolineas Argentinas (www.aerolineas.com.ar) fly between the capital and Salta, from £75 (Dh450) one way. Note that flights leave from downtown Aeroparque Jorge Newbery rather than Ezeiza, the international terminal. If you go by land, the logical place to break your journey is Cordoba, with its galleries and colonial buildings. Cordoba is reachable by a twice-weekly train from the capital. From there, it's about 12 hours by bus to Salta. See www.plataforma10.com for timings. In Salta, the famous Train to the Clouds (www.trenalasnubes.com.ar) is now operating again. This train does the 270-mile journey from Salta to La Polvorilla Viaduct once a week, climbing to an altitude of 4,200 metres. The round trip takes 16 hours.

Estancia Colome (www.estanciacolome.com) is a luxury bodega with a museum designed by avant-garde artist James Turrell. Three-night packages including road transfer from Salta and horse-riding cost from £387 (Dh2,323). Visit www.estanciastravel.com for details.

 A reader asks: My husband and I are travelling to the Andaman Islands via Delhi shortly after Christmas. On our way home, we have two nights and one day — a Friday in Delhi, when we were hoping to visit Agra. However, I have discovered that the Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays. Can you confirm whether this is the case and, if so, whether we would be able to visit Agra on our way out? We arrive in Delhi at 10.30am and leave the following day at 6am.

 A: You usually have to wait until arrival in Agra for someone — usually a rickshaw driver — to inform you that the Taj Mahal is closed that day. And wouldn't you rather visit this nice crafts shop run by his brother-in-law? In this case, though, your discovery is true: The Taj is closed on Fridays to anyone not attending prayers at the mosque.

Going there on the journey out could work but time will be tight. You'll lose time arriving by air to Delhi, clearing immigration and getting into town. It will be lunchtime before you are downtown and late afternoon before you're at the Taj Mahal. Agra is two hours away from Delhi and trains leave frequently from New Delhi or Hazrat Nizamuddin (also in Delhi) stations. Get schedules online at www.indianrail.gov.in. You will need to know the station codes, which are NDLS and AGC, and carry printouts so you know which station to aim for. There's no time to stop at your hotel, so use left luggage at the train station. Book your tickets on arrival, since you can't be sure beforehand exactly what time you'll arrive. Trains from either station run to Agra Cantonment station, from where you can take an autorickshaw to the Taj. You should get a couple of hours until the Taj closes at dusk. You can take an evening train back to Delhi.

If Friday is all you can do, Agra Fort and Akbar's Mausoleum are open and you can always see the Taj from the other side of the Yamuna River.

 A reader asks: My husband and I are expecting twins at Christmas. We would like to go on holiday next year but are unsure where to go. Having two infants will not put us off long-haul flights. In the past, we have visited places such as Japan, India, the US, Peru, Mauritius and Cuba and we would like an exciting alternative with a mix of culture, sights and relaxation. Which places do you recommend?

A: Your attitude to long-haul flying may change once your twins arrive, so hold off making plans until then. Within the first few months, it may seem implausible to think of anything other than a short trip.

The main practical concern is health. Even places as family-friendly and easy-to-get-around as Thailand and Mexico generally require some immunisations in addition to what your babies will normally receive.

You can check with your local hospital or doctors' sugery to see what they will be getting and then compare this with what you'll need for various countries at www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk

One suggestion is Egypt, which requires no additional immunisations and involves a reasonably short flight. Bear in mind, though, that the main ancient sights are a long way from the Sinai beach resorts. You might find it easier to base yourself at one or two locations and explore in short bursts.

 A reader asks: I have a milestone birthday coming up and want to travel to Rwanda to celebrate. We are used to backpacking, so don't mind staying in cheap hotels along the way. We have two weeks in April. Can you recommend where to go and what to see?

A: Unfortunately, most visitors to Rwanda don't stay long and base their visit around a gorilla encounter in the Parc National des Volcans. You'll get the chance to explore Africa's most densely populated country more widely. If you want to see the great apes, arrange this in advance. Rwanda Tourism (www.rwandatourism.com) has contact details. Don't leave this until you arrive in Kigali — gorilla treks should be booked as soon as you have firm travel dates.

Visitors to the park are increasingly sticking around to see the rare golden monkeys in the area. In fact, you could easily spend five days in this area of northern Rwanda, doing the park justice. The town of Musanze is the usual staging post for reaching the park and you can arrange any non-gorilla tours and treks there or in Kigali. Round off seeing the northwest of Rwanda, with a few days in Gisenyi, on the shore of Lake Kivu, facing the hills of the Democratic Republic of Congo.