Your questions answered by our panel of travel experts

Is it possible to get frostbitten in Britain?

John Dorff

Swansea

Dr Larry Goodyer replies: Frostbite can occur when an exposed part of the skin literally becomes frozen. This can be caused by such things as: the air temperature, the "wind-chill" factor, the length of time exposed and the blood circulation to the affected part.

It will usually affect hands, feet or face. If not treated permanent damage can be done. In very severe conditions therefore it could potentially be a problem to hikers in the UK .

Frostbite can be avoided by correct clothing, but if it should occur the first warning sign will be intense pain in the affected area. It is essential to stop at this point to rewarm, for instance by placing the hand underneath an armpit or even using a companion's body warmth. And seek medical advice as soon as possible.

Chilblains are a much milder form of skin damage caused through the cold. They are found on the fingers and toes and are a result of reputedly allowing cold and wet feet or hands to rapidly rewarm. This results in a quite painful and itchy sore.

Dr Larry Goodyer is superintendent of the Nomad Pharmacy (3-4 Turnpike Lane, London N8, Tel: 0181-889 7014) which caters for travellers' medical needs.

Caucus holidays

Are there any companies that organise walking or trekking holidays in parts of the Caucasus mountains

Bill Presley

Inverness

The travel editor replies: The Caucasus are fascinating and beautiful , if politically unstable in certain places.

One tour operator which is pioneering trips in this part of the world is Regent Holidays of Bristol (Tel: 0117 921 1711). They have been going to Georgia - which has the best mountains and facilities of the three republics - for some time. Armenia is also possible though facilities are not as good.

Regent Holidays can tailor-make your tour; they typically propose an eight-day all-inclusive tour, including direct British Airways flights, for pounds 1080 for two people. This starts from Tbilisi and takes in Byzantine churches as well as high mountain passes. Accommodation ranges from hotels to tents.

Are courier flights a good idea?

I am a single pensioner, fit but on a tight budget. I have heard about the possibility of very cheap courier flights, but my enquiries with airlines about travel to South America (Quito, if possible) have been frustrating so far. I would also like to avoid single-person supplements.

John Robinson, Norwich

The travel editor replies: Attempting to buy a courier flight can be a frustrating enterprise and may involve ringing back or being put on hold - but the only way to find out about them is to ring the airline direct. BA offers courier flights to Buenos Aires; they can be contacted on 0181 564 7009. The cheapest courier prices before the Christmas period are pounds 380, including tax. After Christmas these prices are likely to increase. There are three flights a week from Gatwick.

The big advantage of these flights is that you are travelling non-stop and on a nice airline; the downside is that you have to travel alone (only one seat a flight is allocated); your maximum stay is two weeks; you cannot change your return date. You may also have to book a long time in advance if you are particular about the date you travel (you can however take a normal amount of luggage).

If you are planning to travel for a longer period, you might be better- off getting a normal discounted ticket through a travel agent. If Quito is your goal, STA Travel (0171 361 6262) offers pounds 587 travelling with Iberia, while KLM offers pounds 558 (prices dependent on when you travel).

For specialist advice the best people to contact are Journey Latin America (0181 747 3108): they deal solely with South America and offer very competitive prices. They will be able to help you with your accommodation as well.

What is there to do in Bahrain?

My friend and I are flying to India over Christmas on Gulf Air. We have a 13-hour stopover in Bahrain on the way back; this will give us at least an afternoon and an evening in the city. Is there anything interesting to do there?

Waltraud Loges

London

The travel editor replies: In January the weather in Bahrain will be perfect - sunny and warm but not too hot. It is a tiny, quiet place, very easy for getting around either by rented car or taxi, inexpensive (petrol is dirt cheap). It is also virtually crime-free.

What I suggest (assuming that your visit is not on a Friday) would be a visit to the National Museum at the northern end of the Al-Fatih Highway. The museum holds an excellent display of traditional Arab crafts, such as dhow-building. The nearby Al-Fatih mosque, the country's largest building, can also be visited (though again, not on a Friday).

Beyond the cultural attractions, the main pleasure is to stroll around the busy souq area of town, which is very largely dominated by expatriates from the Indian sub-continent.

If you want to relax by a swimming pool or on a beach you could enter one of Bahrain's beach clubs on a day ticket (on a Friday you may need to be accompanied by a member), which will cost a few pounds; the two main clubs are the Bahrain Yacht Club and the Al-Bandar Club, both at the southern tip of Sitra Island (take a taxi).

It is possible to book a stop-over package through Gulf Air themselves - call 0171 4081717 for enquiries. They can provide a tour with meals, transport and hotel facilities to freshen up during your stop-over from $50 per person, based on two sharing.