JOAN SCALESanswers your travel questions
Ten years ago you helped me set up a small holiday group of
ladies in the 60-plus age group who had no one to travel with, when
you gave the idea a mention in your holiday column. We have had
years of pleasure, discussing, planning and looking forward to our
trips both in Ireland and abroad. To celebrate our 10th anniversary
we would like to go to the south of France. We would be glad to
know the names of hotels and places of interest that aren't too
expensive.
Cara Holiday Group, Newcastle, Co Dublin
It is nice to hear that your holiday group is still going strong. Nice is a great place to base yourselves to explore the south of France. Aer Lingus and Ryanair fly there daily, and fares are good if you book early.
As Nice has been a holiday city for many years - Queen Victoria loved it - it is well set up for getting around. The new Tramway whisks visitors around the city, and buses and trains run along the coast and into the mountains, regularly and cheaply. There are discounts for seniors on public transport, so show your passports when buying tickets.
You can spend a day exploring the cemetery at Cimiez, the Franciscan Friary and Matisse museum. Enjoy a day exploring the Cours Salaya, the old port and La Coline, a lovely park above the city.
Monaco is also a short hop away. Visit the palace and the cathedral, and splash out on a visit to the casino, which has a €10 entrance fee. The port is worth a ramble.
Villefranche, about 20 minutes from Nice, is perfect for a portside lunch and a visit to the fisherman's chapel, featuring murals by Jean Cocteau. There is an antique fair on Sundays. Ventimiglia, over the Italian border, has a market on Fridays.
Hotels are reasonable in Nice except in high season. Hotel de la Fontaine (www.hotel- fontaine.com), in the city centre, is near the old city and Promenade des Anglais. Rooms cost about €100 per night.
Heading west, the train will take you to some lovely towns - Cannes, St Tropez, Beziers, Aix en Provence and Avignon.
Marseilles is also a good entry point into the south of France. Aer Lingus and Ryanair have some very good fares there, too. The city is very big, though, so it would be nicer to base yourselves in nearby Aix en Provence.
Aix has Roman ruins, museums and galleries, and is perfect for exploring. It was the home of Cézanne. Take a day trip into the Provence countryside and to Grasse, to see perfume being made. Hotel La Rotonde ( www.hotel-rotonde.com) is recommended by the tourist board, as is Hotel St Christophe ( www.hotel-saintchristophe.com).
The board also suggests a stay in Avignon at the Hotel d'Angleterre ( www.hoteldangleterre.fr); €45 to €80. Hotel St Roch ( www.hotelstroch-avignon.com) is five minutes from the centre and has a garden where breakfast is served in summer; rooms cost €45 to €65.
I intend to take a holiday in Egypt with CIÉ Tours in
the autumn. This will include a visit to Cairo and take in a Nile
cruise and ancient historical sites in the desert. I am in my 60s.
Do I need to take medical precautions in advance?
Peter Geraghty
On the trip you describe there usually is no need to take any special medical precautions or vaccinations. The Tropical Medical Bureau, which has clinics around the country, can advise on travel precautions. You can check the nearest location on www.tmb.ie. Your GP can also advise.
You should be careful of water; only drink the bottled variety and take no ice in your drinks. Food, including vegetables, should only be eaten cooked, and fruit should be peeled (preferably by you). Stay away from salads and mayonnaise.
Swimming or paddling in fresh water is not advised. Chlorinated swimming pools should be fine. Antibacterial hand wipes are useful, especially after handling money. It is also advisable to bring medications for diarrhoea and an upset stomach, and a small nip of brandy each day keeps the bugs at bay.
Is there any way of knowing when Ryanair's winter schedules
will pop up? Aer Lingus's winter flights to Salzburg are already
bookable, but not Ryanair's. Is there an alternative to checking
the site every day?
Liz J
I'm afraid not. Ryanair says: "The winter schedule will come in a phased basis from the start of May across Ryanair's bases." I think you'll have to keep logging on each day until the timetables appear. Aer Lingus lets you book up to 330 days in advance.