Go Advice:Your questions answered
Q We have a 20-year-old daughter who is going to Shanghai for a year’s study in September. We want to visit at Christmas, hoping she’ll give us her insight, and we’d like to add on a visit to some exotic, rural or coastal spot as well as the city’s lights. We’ll have a reluctant 18-year-old son, and eager 13-year-old daughter in tow. We can spare about two weeks, and budget is an issue. Are we mad?
MC, Cork
China is a long way away and if you are going that far, you should certainly make the best of it. Whatever way you go there, it is still going to cost quite a lot of money.
It will be winter in China too, and the weather in Shanghai will be similar to here, about 10 degrees during the day. The best value airfares at the moment are with British Airways booking all the way from Ireland, at around €685pp.
Hotels in Shanghai are not too expensive, expect to pay from €70-€140 per room per night or rent an apartment. Howard Johnson suites are around €130 per night (hojo.com) and the citadines.com suite hotel is from €100 per night.
However, you might like to consider taking a package from Ireland that would include a visit to some of the great sights of China and allow time at the beginning or end with your daughter. Tourchina.ie (01-8173575) can arrange a suitable package for your family and I think you would be looking in the region of €2,200 each for two weeks including flights.
As to coastal areas for a side trip, the most famous Chinese resort is the tropical Hainan Islands, the Hawaii of the East. You can fly to Sanya from Shanghai and there are plenty of Western-style hotels on the lovely beaches. Hotel chains like Holiday Inn, Hilton and Crowne Plaza all have properties here.
Your daughter may be able to source packages to Hainan when she is in Shanghai, as it is such a popular destination and probably cheaper booked locally.
Q Can you suggest a Cotswold cottage suiting my needs? I hope to book a cottage to take my Dad to as he recovers from a serious operation. I am looking for the following: a Cotswold cottage/house in quiet(ish) village that sleeps five with a garden and barbecue. A classic Cotswold pub not too far away would also be good. I am confused as to where to stay as everywhere seems really cute. Could you help me narrow down the area by suggesting somewhere gorgeous?
TP, Oxford
The Cotswolds is one of the most picturesque regions of England, covers an area of around 100 square miles and is designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
It is dotted with picturesque villages and honey-coloured stone houses. Some of the nicest villages and towns are Stroud, Lacock, Castle Combe, Stow on the Wold and Chipping Campden.
For cute cottages, visit campdencottages.co.uk, and vacationcotswolds.co.uk. On cottageselection.co.uk, see Horseshoe Cottage and Carlton Cottage in Stow on the Wold. The visitors guide to the Cotswolds is available from 00-44-1242-864171 and cotswolds.com.
Q We plan to visit Barcelona for a week in early September. Can you please tell me what the local beach is like and how far it is from the city centre? As we have not visited this area before, could you suggest where we might stay to combine sun, sand and sightseeing?
VL, Offaly
Barcelona has four beaches within easy reach of the city, from 10 to 30 minutes away. The nearest is Barceloneta and the metro goes right to it. You can even walk from the end of the Las Ramblas to Barceloneta. It is a lively area of the city.
There are a number of hotels in the area you could consider. The Pullman Skipper is quite pricey but very nice. See pullman-barcelona-skipper.com.
The Best Western Hotel 54 is more reasonable and just as well located, bestwestern.com.
The other beaches near the city are Icaria, also on the Metro and hotels are mainly premium properties here. Mar Bella Beach is for nudists, unofficially. And Sitges, 30 minutes by train from Sants station, is a beautiful medieval city, and the gay capital of Spain.
Go contact:Email questions, with your name and address, to jscales@irishtimes.com