JOAN SCALESanswers your travel queries
What’s the best way to take a tour of the south of England?
Q Can you tell me if there are any tours from Ireland to Devon and Cornwall? As far as I can see, the British tourist board does not have offices here, so I would be grateful if you could let me know how I could contact it or let me know how I could join a British tour in London or elsewhere so that I could visit the area.
MK, Dublin
Unfortunately, VisitBritain closed its offices in Ireland about 18 months ago, making it difficult for people to get information for travel to the UK, and CIÉ Tours closed its overseas coach-touring division. However, Pabtours in Dublin has a seven-day coach tour that explores Devon and Cornwall. Based in Jurys Inn in Plymouth on a half-board basis, the tour will also take in Glastonbury, Wells Cathedral, Dartmoor and the Cotswolds. It is available each month from June to September and costs from €649pps, with a €169 single supplement. 01-8733411, www.pabtours.com.
For tours departing from English cities, you can have a look at the selection provided by www.door2tour.com. It has a good range of tours to the southwest of England lasting from three to seven days.
Q Can you please advise on a train trip to Norway via Scotland for a family of four? We hope to go to Scotland at the end of July for two weeks and, during that time, make a short trip to Norway. Where is the best place in Scotland to get to Norway, assuming that we will go by train and take a short cruise while we are in Norway?
OOH, Belfast
Scotland and Norway used to be linked by ferry, and there is talk that they will be again, but there are no crossings at present. You can fly from Glasgow Prestwick to Oslo with Ryanair (www.ryanair.com), from Aberdeen to Bergen with Wideroe (www.wideroe.no) and from Aberdeen to Oslo with SAS (www.flysas.com). See www.visitscotland.com for details of getting around the country by train and bus.
Q We are a family of four – two adults and two children aged eight and six. For the past few years we have had some fantastic holidays on campsites in France but this year would like to try something different. We really enjoy the combination of outdoor life and activities such as cycling that you get on the campsites. We are considering going to Greece as an alternative but don’t want to stay in a large hotel and would like to have options to do appropriate activities for young children. We are also open to two-centre holidays.
MK, Dublin
Greece is a lovely destination for a family holiday and quite different from France. Sani Resort, in Halkidiki in Thessaloníki, is a family resort on the Aegean with views of Mount Olympus. Located on a 400-hectare ecological site with seven kilometres of beaches, it offers a variety of accommodation, 15 restaurants, a marina, a spa and a children’s club. Expect to pay from €275 per day half-board for the family. You can fly to Thessaloníki with Malev Hungarian Airlines (www.malev.com) from Dublin via Budapest or via London Gatwick with easyJet (www.easyjet.com).
James Villas (www.jamesvillas.ie) has properties to rent in Corfu with swimming pools. It is a lovely island for a family trip, with lots to do and explore. A villa for a week with flights from Ireland will cost about €3,000 for the four of you.
If you want to do a two-centre holiday you will have to arrange it yourself. You can fly from Dublin to Athens with Aer Lingus (www.aerlingus.com) four days a week, or take a charter flight to Corfu, Crete or Zakinthos with Budget (www.budget travel.ie) and Falcon (www.falconholidays.ie). Getting around the Greek islands is easy by ferry. You can get information on accommodation from the Greek tourist office at www.gnto.co.uk.
Q We are a group of five school friends who will each be celebrating the same significant birthday this year between January and May. We are hoping to get together within that period, possibly April, for a weekend away. We are a mixed bunch: some into spas, others happy to while away the weekend in the bar with a few good meals thrown in. Shopping and a spot of outdoor exercise wouldn’t go amiss, either. I would prefer to stay native and wonder if you could suggest a good hotel to base ourselves for all of the above. Nothing too expensive, as we are all feeling the credit crunch, but as it is a special occasion we could possibly push the boat out this time. We will be travelling from the four corners of Ireland, so any location is acceptable, although I know most of us are keen on the coast.
VD, Dublin
Watch the date, as Easter falls in the middle of April this year and rules out two weekends for your planned get-together. The House Hotel (www.thehouse hotel.ie) in Galway is perfect for a girlie weekend. The hotel is very welcoming and has comfortable rooms. It is also just a step from the highlights of Galway, an excellent city for shopping and entertainment. At the end of April, the hotel has weekends for €135pps, including dinner one night. This rate is available from www.irelandhotels.com (click on value breaks).
Whites of Wexford (www. whitesofwexford.ie) is in the centre of town with good shopping nearby. You can also relax in the spa. Weekends in April cost €165pps, including dinner one night.
The Carlton Hotel just outside lively Kinsale has a weekend spa offer of €189pps that includes two nights’ BB, dinner one night and a spa treatment. www.carlton kinsalehotel.com.
Go contact
E-mail questions, with your name and address, to jscales@irishtimes.com