Our travel expert answers queries on routes and destinations around the world

We hope to visit Alice Springs in Australia early next year and would love to stay on one of the cattle ranches. Is this possible? - Graham Carleton

A number of farms in the Australian Outback offer travellers the chance to experience farm life. One of the most interesting is the Ooraminna Homestead (www.ooraminnahomestead.com.au). This 2500km2 cattle station is only a 30-minute drive from the town's airport but offers a chance to experience the serenity and vastness of the outback. Activities include learning about the farm, rock climbing, bush walking, bird watching, star gazing or just relaxing on the farmhouse verandah with a book. Accommodation ranges from a luxury bush cabin to a former police station and jail. You can also sleep under the stars like the men do while on stock camp. You will be issued with a swag, a bedroll with mattress, linen and blanket. Prices for bed, breakfast and dinner range from A$150-250 per night (A$1=R7.57).

Another option is the Bond Springs Outback Retreat ( www.outbackretreat.com.au ), 20 minutes' drive north of Alice Springs in the MacDonnell mountains. This 1515km 2 cattle ranch offers accommodation in two self-contained cottages, with breakfasts delivered to the rooms. Rates range from A$231 per night for the two-bedroom cottage sleeping four and A$277 for the three-bedroom cottage sleeping five.

Zanzibar hotels

We plan to visit Zanzibar and would like to stay in Stone Town as we are more interested in the history and architecture than a beach holiday. Where can you recommend? - Shirley Raubenheimer

Stone Town has a wonderful selection of hotels - check out some of the nicest on www.zanzibartravel.co.uk website. If you really want to splash out, the Mashariki Palace Hotel (www.masharikipalacehotel.com) is the place to stay. This former palace of the first sultan of Zanzibar has been restored and is now a stunning boutique hotel. All 18 rooms are different, but all feature thick walls, Arabian beds, stucco decoration and carved doors. Rates range from à170 to à346 for a double room, including breakfast and taxes.

A great little hotel is the Beyt Al Chai, also known as "The House of Tea". The building was once a tea house, but has been converted into a boutique hotel with only six rooms. Located in a quiet square only two minutes from the heart of Stone Town, it offers rooms from $115 per night (www.bluebayzanzibar.com).

Stargazing in Mumbai

On a visit to Mumbai I would like to take an organised tour of Bollywood, especially one that allows you to visit the set of a movie being made. Is there such a tour and how much does it cost? - Benny Naidoo

You can book a day tour on the www.bollywoodtours.com website. For the first half of the tour you will get to visit a Bollywood studio, watch filming, be exposed to behind-the-scenes activities and see technicians at work. You may also be given a tour of a film star's make-up room and a chance to pose with some stars. Finally, you get to drive past the homes of some of the biggest stars. The tour takes 7-8 hours and the charge for a single traveller is $135, but the per-person rate is reduced for larger parties.

Flat rates in Istanbul

We are looking for self-catering accommodation for two in Istanbul for a week in April 2012. Can you suggest something central a bit out of the usual tourist area? - Pam Reeders

There are plenty of apartments for short-term rental on the European side of the city, especially in the Taksim Square area. This is a great place to stay if you want to be close to restaurants, shops and entertainment. If you prefer to be close to the Bosphorus River, the areas to choose are Bebek, Kurucesme, Arnavutkoy and Rumeli Hisar. Good areas in the hills overlooking the river include Etiler, Ulus, Levent and Ortakoy.

Go to the Istanbul section of the www.housetrip.com website for a selection of decent apartments. The rates of those I checked were around à70-90 per night, but some were as low as à47 per night. You can find other low-cost options on www.flatsinistanbul.com. If you are considering an upmarket apartment, try www.istanbulplace.com, which features units selected and renovated by a Turkish-British family.