GO ADVICE:From taking a bicycle on the Camino to keeping costs down in Jordan,
JOAN SCALESanswers your travel questions
In the saddle on the Camino
I am hoping to take the Camino trail. However, I am disabled and cannot walk more than 500m. The plan is to take a car to northern Spain and use bicycles as I can cycle. I have a friend who is going with me. Is this feasible and is there a ferry from Ireland to Spain?
RB, Cork
Plans for a ferry from Cork to Spain have not yet come to fruition. You can take Brittany Ferries (brittanyferries.com), which operates a weekly service from Cork to France, and then drive.
Or you could take a flight with Aer Lingus (aerlingus.com) to Bilbao, then the train to Pontferrada and fly back from Santiago. Train timetables are available on renfe.com.
It is possible to cycle the Camino de Santiago and there are a number of self-guided and guided cycle trips. The cycle trips cover about 250-300kms in a week and cost between €550-€780pps, which includes cycle hire, accommodation, meals on some trips and luggage transfers.
The most popular route is the French Way and the final leg of the journey would take you from Pontferrada to Santiago. These two companies offer the cycling trips, caminoways.com, 01-5252886 and followthecamino.ie, 01-4433972.
Voucher time is running out
I got a Christmas present of a voucher for Aer Lingus which I must use by December. I can’t really afford to go anywhere but, as the saying goes, life is too short. I am over 55 – but a very young for my age – and the advantage of that is that there might be some discounts.
I want to go to Venice but that might be mad. Other options are Seville, but I don’t see it on the Aer Lingus website. Bordeaux or Bologna are a maybe, and I have never been to Majorca, so Palma might be an option. I would envisage going around late September or early October. I won’t be able to take on the expense of car hire. I like a bit of history and art and, of course, food and wine, preferably sun baked . . .
EF, Wexford
It would be a pity to waste the voucher. However, you can only use it for flights and not for hotel accommodation. Flights are always better value midweek rather than at weekends and hotels can also be cheaper then. Aer Lingus does not fly to Seville, but does have a good selection of warm and sunny destinations in September/October. Prices are keener in October.
Venice would be wonderful and the only way you could do it on a budget is go for a short time – three or four days. Hotels are expensive, even at this time of the year, and there is little available under €100 per night, unless you are prepared to stay in a hostel. If you stay in Mestre on the mainland, you will find better value accommodation and it is an easy commute to Venice.
It is not just the price of accommodation in Venice you need to worry about – eating out, transportation and attraction entry fees will push also up the costs. And stay away from the gondolas, they are very expensive too, unless you could share with a small group. Use the Vaporettas/water taxis for getting around. See venere.com for accommodation.
Three places I think you should consider, especially as you are travelling alone and will be on public transport, are Palma, Lisbon and Nice. These cities have good and cheap public transportation, offer history, arts, culture and eating out, and are beside the sea. Find accommodation on booking.com, roomex.com, hotels.com and hostelworld.com.
Bordeaux is also a good option, especially with package and accommodation offers from Bordeaux Tourism, (bordeaux-tourisme.com). It also has good value tours to vineyards and chateaux.
Cutting the cost in Jordan
We are planning a trip to Jordan and Petra, but are finding it very expensive. I have discovered a website which seems very reasonable Even allowing for the airfares it is hundreds of euro cheaper than any travel site at home. My worry is how do I know if it is a reputable site?
KC, Leitrim
The Jordan tourism website (visitjordan.com) is a good resource for planning your trip and has a list of approved tour operators.
I can see why you are finding it expensive to go on a tour from Ireland to Jordan. Most of the tours seem to cost about €2,500. However, there will be an 10-day tour next spring organised by Map Travel (01-8783111, maptravel.ie) to see Jordan and the price will be about €1,600pps, which includes half-board in four-star hotels and an expert tour guide.
The programme would see you exploring Amman, the old and new city and the Citadel, Jerash, Um Qais, desert castles, Bethany, Mount Nebo, two full days at Petra, then Aqaba and the Dead Sea.
If you were to arrange a trip yourself, you could look at bmi (flybmi.com) for flights. I have seen prices of about €430 including taxes from Dublin via London Heathrow. You will find four-star hotels in Amman for less than €100 and five-star hotels for not much more.
Walking in Greece
I am thinking of going on a walking holiday in Greece for a week in September. Can you suggest some ideas?
AOD, Dublin
Ramblers Worldwide Holidays (00-44-1707-331133, ramblersholidays.co.uk) has a number of departures from London and Manchester in September to Greece for walking holidays. An example is a week’s walking trip that begins from Chania in Crete and covers moderate terrain. Accommodation is in a modest hotel in Kastelli and the price from £839 (€954) includes flights from the UK, accommodation, half-board and guided walks.
Other trips with Ramblers Worldwide include walking on Samos, Skopelos, Santorini and Naxos.
E-mail questions, with your name and address, to jscales@irishtimes.com