Your Questions Answered
I want to treat my husband to an escorted wine tour
Q My husband has always had an interest in wine, especially French wine. I would like to treat him to an affordable escorted wine tour, possibly next autumn. Would you have any suggestions? Neither of us would like big groups and, as we do not speak French, would like an English speaking guide.
ANON, Dublin
I have three ideas for you that will give your husband a chance to explore his interest in wine. The first is a tour of Bordeaux wine region with Maria Madigan, a certified wine expert. She is also multilingual, so no language worries for you.
The tour, from September 17th to 20th, will explore the Medoc and St Emilion with at least three wine chateaux visits with tastings. The price, from €929, also includes flights, accommodation, dinner each evening, two lunches, a guided tour of Bordeaux and private transport. You can book on 01-4939444 and justsplit.com.
The next tour explores the region around Carcassonne and the Languedoc and will be accompanied by a representative from Mitchell Sons Wine Merchants.
The group will stay in Carcassonne in the lovely Hôtel de la Cité in the citadel, from September 12th to 17th for five nights. There will be two full day’s guided tours to wine chateaux including those at l’Engarran, Pennautier and Lorgeril.
There will also be a one-day tour to the picturesque seaside town of Collioure and a guided walking tour of Carcassonne. The price is from €1,299. Details: 01-6371600 and thetraveldepartment.ie.
Alternatively, you can make your own arrangements and create your own wine tour by flying to Bordeaux with Aer Lingus, and staying in the city.
You could then take part in a great range of tours, both in the city and by coach to the grand chateaux that are organised by the office of tourism. All tours are conducted in French and English.
You can then choose how much you want to see and pay. Tours begin from around €20, see bordeaux-tourisme.com.
Q We have always flown to Karlsruhe-Baden with Ryanair but I have been trying to check flights with Ryanair from Dublin to Karlsruhe-Baden Airport, Germany but it would appear that they no longer fly there. Can you confirm if that is the case and if any other airlines fly from Dublin to that region or Stuttgart.
PM, Kildare
The service to Karlsruhe-Baden has ended. Other than Stuttgart where you would have to take two flights, the next nearest airport is Memmingen, with a Ryanair service from Dublin. It is about an hour and half by train to Stuttgart, see timetables on bahn.de.
Q I have a family wedding near Girona in northeast Spain at the end of June and I would like to get there by an unconventional route. Maybe take three or four days to get there by ferry, rail and road that would be relatively inexpensive and stress-free. I am not too worried about the return trip, so the outward journey would be a kind of adventure as I am only 67 years old and spent most of my younger holidays hitch-hiking all over the world.
BM, Waterford
Hitch-hiking is a bit more difficult these days so I can give you a route by bus, ferry and train.
Book on Eurolines.ie for the bus from Waterford to London – it costs €35.
From London you have the option of taking the Eurostar train to Paris, changing for Montpellier and changing again for Girona.
Altogether not too bad a journey, this takes about 10 and a half hours on the trains and another few hours waiting. It will cost around €236 one way, and there may be some concessions for seniors. Check out raileurope.com for fares and timetables.
From London you could go the long way, 27 hours by coach to Barcelona with National Express (nationalexpress.com) and it will only cost £69 (about €81).
You can take the train from Barcelona to Girona, about an hour, and costs around €12 (renfe.com). Ryanair has services from Girona back to Dublin.
I want to treat my husband to an escorted wine tour
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Send your questions with name and address to jscales@irishtimes.com