GO ASK JOAN:
Getaway break in the new year
I am considering retirement at the end of this year, having reached the age of 68. As my wife has just been diagnosed with MS, we would like to get away for a few weeks early in the new year – somewhere with a mild climate and a good selection of restaurants that would not have closed down for the off-peak season. We would consider renting an apartment, house, villa or staying in a hotel with character.
PD, Dublin
A break in the new year would be a perfect way to shorten the winter and give you both time to relax. I think staying in a hotel would be a better option, rather than worrying about managing an apartment and all that goes with it.
The island of Madeira has mild weather during January, around 14-18 degrees, and a good variety of nice hotels. There is also a direct flight from Dublin with Sata airlines on Sundays.
A number of travel agents have Madeira on their programme for this winter, and a reasonable four-star hotel would cost about €750-€980pps for two weeks.
Sunway Holidays (01-2886828, sunway.ie) has the five-star Pestana Carlton Hotel available in mid-January from €1,034pps. It is in Funchal and ideal for getting out and about and visiting the city.
The Tivoli Madeira Hotel in the Lido area of Funchal is friendly and well located for eating out. The Eden Mar suite hotel is also available from €1,084, and combines the facilities of an hotel with rooms that are equipped with kitchenettes.
Concorde Travel (01-7759300, concorde travel.ie) has a selection of three-star hotels for about €760-€890 for two weeks. And Panorama Holidays (0818-202020, panorama holidays.ie) also has a good mix of hotels and self-catering accommodation.
Also worth considering is the Senior Travel offer subsidised by the Spanish Government. A two-week stay in a hotel in the Costa del Sol, with flights, transfers, full board, and wine with dinner, a tour each week and baggage allowance, would cost €619pps.
Hotels in the programme include the Best Hotel in Benelmadena, the Fuengirola Park in Fuengirola and the Lago Rojo by the beach in Torremolinos. Further details from John Galligan Travel (01-2076555, jgt.ie) and Rathgar Travel (01-4909311).
Spanish trip by camper van
My wife and I are taking our first long-distance trip in our camper van on December 15th to Cherbourg. We will then drive down to Tarragona in Spain and spend about six weeks there.
What is the best route to take through France? Some of our friends say go by Caen, Le Mans, Tours, Poitiers, Limoges, on to Toulouse and Perpignan. Others say Rennes, Angers, Nantes, Bordeaux, then to Toulouse and Perpignan. Our concern is road conditions as we think it will take about three days to cover the 1,100km journey.
RL, Wexford
Having looked at your route and consulted my bible for travel in France, the Michelin Guide (viamichelin.com), and having crossed the Pyrenees in winter, I think the second route is the best. It will give you the option of seeing some lovely parts of France, and then taking the safest route to Tarragona in winter.
As your ferry does not arrive in Cherbourg until 5pm, you will probably spend the first night somewhere nearby. The second day would take you to Bordeaux in about six to seven hours. The third day from Bordeaux to Perpignan will take four to five hours, leaving you time to stop and explore the rose city of Toulouse. The final leg from Perpignan to Tarragona will take around three hours.
Family skiing with options
My brother is anxious to plan a family skiing holiday departing on December 27th and returning after the new year. He has a daughter aged 12 and son aged 13. He is an experienced black run skier and will be travelling on his own with his children who have never skied before. His daughter is very anxious to have alternative activities to do if she cannot master the art of skiing. She likes swimming, horse riding, dancing and art.
Can you recommend a family-friendly hotel with swimming pool in the Alps, either France or Italy, which has easy access to a ski school and any of the activities mentioned above?
RMG, Sligo
Flights to ski resorts from Dublin at Christmas will be on December 26th to Italy and France and on December 28th to Austria. You say Italy or France, but my first choice would be to Austria, where I think they put families first and there are good ski schools and facilities. Two resorts spring to mind: the Bad Gastein and Lermoos.
Bad Gastein is a short transfer and there are many things to do, as well as skiing or snowboarding. The Palace Hotel has terrific leisure facilities. There is also Alpentherme, an indoor pool and water fun park nearby. A week in this four-star hotel half board with transfers, ski school for the children, equipment and lift passes would cost about €5,065 for the three with crystalski.ie.
Lermoos is about an hour’s transfer from Innsbruck. The Edel Weiss Hotel is busy and there will be lots of children around. It is popular with Irish families and there is easy access to the ski school from here.
In Lermoos, there are also sleigh rides, tobogganing and a train ride into Garmisch or bus trips to the Zugspitze, Germany’s highest mountain, nearby. Prices are from €1,019pps, half board. Ski school and equipment are extra, topflight.ie.
In France, I can recommend Avoriaz and Morzine. Highlife (highlife.ie) specialises in chalet-type holidays and there is still some accommodation available in Morzine. There will be children around the same ages staying in the chalets.
Highlife organises ski lessons for children and each afternoon there is an option for them to join in outdoor or indoor activities, leaving dad time to tackle some serious skiing. The price from €5,017 includes flights to Geneva and transfers, all meals and drinks. Skiing lessons for the children are extra.
Avoriaz is a family-friendly resort and it has a great sports centre as well as sleigh rides, cinema, bowling and snowshoeing. Learning to ski is a bit cheaper here for the children. Expect to pay around €899pps, plus ski school, lift passes, equipment etc, with topflight.ie.
In Italy, the Planibel resort in La Thuile offers accommodation in self-catering apartments or full service hotel. It has an indoor pool and games room. The week half board with ski lessons, equipment, lift passes and transfers from Turin would cost about €4,950 for the three, from crystalski.ie.
E-mail questions, with your name and address, to jscales@irishtimes.com