Will credit cards and mobile charges make life awkward in Ohrid?

Simon Calder answers your questions on North Macedonia practicalities, travelling solo in China, rules on passport expiry dates, and a particular airline’s shortcomings

Lake Ohrid, the oldest lake in Europe, straddles the mountainous border between the southwestern part of North Macedonia and eastern Albania. It has been a Unesco world heritage site since 1979 (Simon Calder)

Q I’m travelling to Lake Ohrid in the first week of June. I wondered if you had any advice regarding money, credit cards and mobile phone use.

Brian R

A I’m delighted to hear you are travelling to this lovely corner of the Balkans. The lake is shared between two fascinating nations, Albania and North Macedonia. Imagine the lake as a clock face: Albania has the portion between 5 and 9, while North Macedonia has the rest. I shall infer that you are planning to base yourself in North Macedonia because the Albanian portion is much less developed for tourism; having said that, I recommend that you make a circuit of the lake.