We want to spend two weeks in Canada in January, one skiing and one in a city. Where do you suggest?
Kate Miles, Norfolk
Sean Newsom replies: Whistler and Vancouver is the obvious combo: Whistler has the best pistes in Canada and Vancouver is one of its buzziest cities. I’d stay in Whistler for nine nights, so you have time for all the winter sports, including biathlon, a mix of cross-country skiing and shooting (two-hour taster £45; whistlerolympicpark.com). Then head to Vancouver for its inimitable mix of mountains, sea and Asian-infused culture. Two weeks start at £1,798pp, including flights and transfers (ski-i.com).
Or see Canada through a Gallic lens with a visit to Quebec province. The skiing will suit beginners and wobbly intermediates at best, but I love the mix of North American grandeur and Francophone spirit in the cities. A week on the slopes of Tremblant, followed by three nights in Montreal and four in Quebec City, starts at £1,695pp, including flights and SUV hire (skisafari.com).
We would like to go on a foodie break in Sicily, with a mix of cookery lessons and visits to markets and food producers. Our budget is generous. Can you help?
Jennifer Nash, Hampshire
Mia Aimaro Ogden replies: Sicily’s food culture is so rich that there’s a lot to pack into just one week. An all-inclusive trip with Sicily Tour splits seven days between Syracuse, Noto, Agrigento, Modica and Taormina. You’ll fish from a local’s boat, meet chocolate-makers, do wine and olive oil tastings, and eat lunch on Mount Etna. Prices start at £2,380pp, excluding flights (sicily-tour.com). Fly to Catania with easyJet.
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Real Holidays has a seven-night tour that kicks off near Menfi, at a boutique hotel belonging to a family of winemakers, with tastings and cookery lessons on the menu. You’ll move to an olive oil farm near Agrigento, then to Syracuse for a street-food tour. Prices start at £1,060pp, B&B, including flights (realholidays.co.uk).
Or push the boat out with an eight-day gastronomic masterclass from Peter Sommer. Stopping in Syracuse, Ragusa, Scicli and Vittoria, the trip includes visits to an olive oil producer and a ricotta farm, a tour of the food market in Ortigia, a cookery class and a wine tasting. It costs £3,375pp, full-board, excluding flights to Catania (petersommer.com).