YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED
Where are the best places to stay in Rome?
My husband and I are planning to visit Rome in September for our 10th wedding anniversary. Could you recommend any nice hotels from which we could visit the main attractions?
... COC, Dublin
Rome in September will be lovely. The Lancelot Hotel (www.lancelothotel.com) is a small family-run premises and is close to the Coliseum and a good base for sightseeing. Rates are €180 per night.
The Radisson Hotel (www.radisson.com), is a modern, stylish hotel with swimming pool and fitness centre. It is also well located and rates are around €260 in September.
For old-fashioned Italian style, the Hotel Quirinale (www.hotelquirinale.it) is in a great location, near the Via Veneto and the Spanish Steps. In September, they have good-value pre-paid rates from €170 per night.
I am planning to travel on my own to Captiva Island in Florida in mid-November. I would appreciate any advice on places to stay. Would car hire be essential? I am 70.
... JOG, Dublin
Captiva Island is very small and, as such, there is not a huge choice of accommodation. If you like resorts then the South Seas Island Resort (00-1-866-5655089, www.southseas.com) would be ideal. It has its own pools, beach, golf and restaurants. If you prefer somewhere more Floridian, then the Tween Waters Inn (www.tween-waters.com, 00-1-800-2235865), might be more to your liking. There is no public transport on Captiva Island, so a car will be necessary. You can see more about Captiva at www.captivaisland.com, and its sister island of Sanibel at www.sanibelisland.com.
We are a family of six. The children are eight, six, 18 months and five months. Could you suggest a good family resort or website that will accommodate this big family (as most offers are for two plus two)? Would we be better looking in Ireland or abroad, where you nearly always get good weather?
... Eoin, Wexford
With four young children, the easiest thing to do is to put the gang in the car and drive to a holiday destination. There are a number of fine family holiday resorts around the country and one close enough to you is Trabolgan in Cork (021-4661551, www.trabolgan.com). It is a great place for children, with lots of activities. The tropical swimming pool means that you are weatherproof, and it is a great way to while away hours.
A week in a house in Trabolgan, with almost all activities included, from August 22nd will cost from €935.
The other driving option is to go to France and stay on a campsite, where the facilities for children are fantastic. There is a limited availability with Canvas Holidays (01-2421901), and also with Keycamp Holidays (021-4252300).
If you consider flying abroad most tour operators have two-bedroom properties, but these tend to sell out fast. However, Sunworld (01-8814300) has some availability in August. James Villas (1890-943909, www.jamesvillas.ie) has places in Andalucia, Majorca, France, Croatia and Portugal in August, reduced in price to €300-€470 per person.
Can you suggest any suitable accommodation in New York? We are travelling over the Halloween break with four teenagers and three adults. We intend to see the sights and take in some shopping.
... MR, Dublin 3
Halloween is a very popular time to travel to New York so don't delay in making a booking. The Milford Plaza in midtown is a big busy hotel, across the road from Macy's and around the corner from the Empire State Building. The average room rate per night is $374 (about €235), and some of their rooms can fit four. The Comfort Inn near Chelsea is a good location - rates are from $380 (about €240) in October. Another option is to book with a tour operator in Ireland - companies such as Touramerica (www.touramerica.ie) and American Holidays (www.americanholidays.ie) have contract rates with hotels in New York and can sell rooms without flights.
Go contactE-mail questions, with you name and address, to jscales@irish-times.ie