Enter the dragon ... Hong Kong for Christmas. Photograph: Robert Essel/Corbis

This week, Lonely Planet's Tom Hall offers advice on spending Christmas in Hong Kong, trekking in Ethiopia, cutting costs in Venice, and how to get the best exchange rate on holiday

Somewhere decent to wet your whistle ... Dewsbury's West Riding Licensed Refreshment Rooms

Tony Naylor is delighted to see decent station pubs making a comeback, especially in the north. But we want to find more all over the British Isles

Head to ball ... it's time to enjoy the summer. Photograph: Jennifer Robbins/Getty Images

Live Q&A:Left it to the last minute again to plan your summer holidays? Or do you have a general travel question? Lonely Planet's Tom Hall offers expert advice live online

Young fans in Soweto, Johannesburg, celebrate a South Africa goal against France in the host country's final World Cup game. Photograph: Ramon Espinosa/AP

Sowetans have embraced the World Cup as passionately as anyone in South Africa, but why has the World Cup failed to embrace the country's most famous township?

Ancient attractions ... see Komodo Dragons on Komodo Island in Indonesia. Photograph: Joe McDonald/Corbis

Lonely Planet's Tom Hall answers this week's questions on the best way to see dragons on Komodo island, planning a trip to India, and autumn in Rome

Life's a beach ... teenagers on holiday. Photograph: A Inden/Corbis

With exams almost over, many teens will soon be taking their first parent-free holiday. Andy Pietrasik remembers his brother's maiden trip – now tell us about yours

The old city wall of Xian decorated with lanterns and flags. Photograph: Mike McQueen/Corbis

Lonely Planet's Tom Hall offers advice on backpacking around China on a budget, a summer trip to the Channel Islands and how to enjoy Orlando without a car

Geiranger and Geirangerfjord, Norway. Photograph: Dallas and John Heaton/Free Agents Limited/Corbis

This week Lonely Planet's Tom Hall gives advice on travelling around Scandinavia by train, a group trip to Thailand, and the best deals to Las Vegas

Ask Tom ... what's the best way to see France by bike this summer? Photograph: Peter Adams/Getty Images

Lonely Planet's Tom Hall offers expert advice on budgeting in Australia, saving on credit card charges overseas, boutique stays in Milan and a cycling holiday in France

Foursquare is 'a bar game, a city guide and a friend-finder a the same time'. Photograph: Foursquare

Location-based social networking sites mean that being at a loss for things to do in a new city could be a thing of the past. Benji Lanyado puts Foursquare's tips to the test in central London

Where can I find a beach like this?

From beach holidays with a baby to a city stop in Ecuador, plus heaps of advice on ash cloud conundrums, see Tom Hall's solutions from today's live clinic

Sri Meenakshi temple complex in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India Photograph: Christophe Boisvieux/Corbis

This week, Lonely Planet's Tom Hall offers advice on whether to book flights while the ash cloud threat remains, a history buff's trip to Germany, and travelling in southern India

Escape the heat of the day, and catch ruins near Aswan at their most captivating, by visiting at night. Photograph: Goran Tomasevic/Reuters

This week, Lonely Planet's Tom Hall offers expert advice on visiting Egypt at the height of summer, the merits of Couchsurfing and adventurous travels for twentysomethings

An Indian Tiger in Madhya Pradesh state. Photograph: Thorsten Milse/Getty Images/Robert Harding World Imagery

Banning tourism won't save the tiger in India - it will hasten its extinction, argues Kevin Rushby

Zurich, Switzerland Photograph: José Fuste Raga/Corbis

Lonely Planet's Tom Hall offers expert travel advice in his weekly blog