Destination of the week: Ukraine

The largest country wholly in Europe becomes more accessible in the next few weeks.

The Hungarian-based no-frills airline, Wizz Air (00 48 22 351 9499; wizzair.com ) is launching flights from Luton to Ukraine's capital, Kiev, on 17 December. This big, handsome city is bitterly cold for much of the winter, but by Easter will be welcoming. Kiev is also a gateway to the Crimea, accessible on a short domestic flight or a long overnight train.

Slightly closer to home, Wizz Air is also set to fly from Luton to Lviv in the extreme west of Ukraine, close to the Polish border. The link begins on 4 January to a city touted as the "new Prague" but hitherto tricky to reach from Britain.

Given the lack of competition, fares are likely to be higher than to many destinations of a similar distance. If Lviv is your target, Ryanair has been selling flights from Stansted to Rzerzow in south-east Poland for £10 each way; the onward journey takes about half a day.

Warning of the week: rental risk

"This isn't a complaint but a cautionary tale," writes Chris Parry. "I left my hire car at Murcia airport, but realised that I hadn't picked up the rental contract from the glove box. I went back to what I thought was my car and took out the contract.

"I went into the departure lounge. It was then that I saw it wasn't mine and realised that I must have gone into the wrong car. I wasn't too bothered until I saw all the information about the person who had hired that car, her address, her passport and driving licence number, her date of birth, and even some details of her credit card.

"I persuaded the Guardia officer to allow me out of the departure lounge and I went back to the car park and found my own contract. The moral must be take your contract home with you."

Bargain of the week: Sleeper trains

Many of Britain's rail services change tomorrow when new timetables come into effect. In particular, travellers on the West Coast Main Line from London Euston to Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow will benefit from faster journeys and more frequent services on Virgin Trains. Meanwhile, First ScotRail is selling tickets online between Scotland and London for as little as £19 each way, including bed and breakfast.