YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED
Are there any guided tours of Brittany?
Q I'm wondering whether you know of any tours of Brittany, maybe by coach, as I don't drive or speak French but would love to explore this part of France.
JN, Dublin
CIÉ Tours has a lovely nine-day tour each week until October 11th that explores Brittany, Paris and the Loire Valley. After flying to Paris, you'll spend the first day exploring the city. The tour begins with a trip to Versailles and Trouville. There will be time to see second World War memorials as you drive along some of the beaches of the D-Day landings. There will be visits to the
US Military Cemetery of St Laurent and the Rangers Memorial at Pointe du Hoc. You will also visit Mont St Michel, staying overnight in the fortified town of St Malo. The Loire Valley segment will explore the castles of the region and feature wine tastings. The final two nights are spent in Paris, sightseeing. It costs from €1,742. 01-6771871, www.cietours.ie.
An alternative is to make your own plans by flying with Aer Lingus (www.aerlingus. com) to Rennes or Ryanair (www.ryanair.com) to Nantes and exploring Brittany by bus or train. Public transportation is good, and you could make day trips to lots of lovely towns and areas. Brittany has a good website that will help you plan your visit with a variety of accommodation options and suggestions of places to see, www.brittanytourism.com.
Q We would like to get married in Venice at the end of this year or early next year. Do you know of any holiday organiser that offers the whole package, such as translator, venue, hotel, dealing with the necessary documents and so on? I should mention as well that we are of Irish and German nationality (but living in Ireland).
HA, Dublin
Italy is a very popular place for getting married, and there are a number of travel companies that can help with your arrangements. Jessica Hanley at Topflight is experienced in Italian weddings. Contact her on 01-2401701 or at jhanley@topflight.ie. Abbey Travel's wedding co-ordinator is Jenny McDonald. She's at 01-8047119 or jmcdonald@ abbeytravel.ie. They will be able to advise you on what you need to comply with the legal requirements for getting married in Italy.
You should also have a look at sites that offer advice and forums on wedding planning abroad; try www.irishbrides.ie, www.irishweddings.ie and www.confetti.ie.
Q My husband and I, in our 60s, will be travelling to Thailand from January through to March and would like to take a side trip to Vietnam. We will be flying out of Bangkok and will make our booking from there. Can you give us advice on how to secure a visa, as we will not have travel dates prior to leaving Ireland?
JB, Dublin
If you have been following the situation in Thailand then you will know that the country has been severely disrupted by a state of emergency and political unrest. Travel to nearby Vietnam may also be disrupted. Up to now, visitors were only being given a one-month visa for stays in Thailand, necessitating a trip to a neighbouring country to get another visa. If the current situation continues in Thailand, you may find that you will not be covered by insurance if you continue with your plans to travel there. At the moment, I suggest you watch the situation and hope that the political unrest is resolved. You can follow information on the Department of Foreign Affairs website, www.dfa.ie, and also the UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office, at www.fco.gov.uk.
Q I'm planning on taking a five-day trip with my mother in early October. I want sun, and she would like some culture and things to do, apart from sun. I'm thinking Palma in Mallorca, and I was wondering if you could recommend a hotel or apartment in central Palma with an outdoor pool (for me) and near the port and cathedral so that Mum can potter around during the day. Also, will the weather be what I need after this dreadful summer?
RO'H, Cork
Average temperatures in October in Mallorca are 23 degrees, so chances are you will get some sun. Palma is a perfect city for combining culture, shopping and relaxing, and both Aer Lingus (www. aerlingus.com) and Ryanair (www.ryanair.com) have services from Dublin.
The Tryp Bellver Hotel (www.solmelia.com) is on the Paseo Maritimo and has a lovely pool and terrace. It is about 1km from the centre of town, but in an area with lots of restaurants and nightlife. Rooms in October cost about €100 per night.
Just outside Palma in the village of Genova, I have found a lovely villa for rent for a minimum of three nights during October for €160 per night. It has a lovely pool and is decorated in a boutique-hotel style. Palma city centre is easily accessible by local bus. You can contact the owner, Michael, via www.holiday-rentals.com - it's property number 401989 - or call 00-34-626-042475.
• E-mail questions, with your name and address, to jscales@irish-times.ie