GO ASK JOAN:Your travel questions answered by JOAN SCALES
Going solo to Russia
Could you guide me towards a company that offers a seven–10 day trip to Moscow and St Petersburg – visits to key sights and perhaps a night at the ballet/opera would be terrific. I would like to travel half-board if possible but don't want to be hit with high single-supplements. I don't want to cruise between the two cities. Flying from Ireland direct would be great but I can go out of Britain and I would prefer to go towards the end of August 2012 .- MK, Belfast
There are a numbers of escorted tours from Ireland to Russia but most of them include a cruise as part of the trip. In England, Go Russia has an extensive programme of trips to Russia, including the Highlights of Russia tour which has what you are looking for.
Flying from London, the trip is for seven days and will include a walking tour of Moscow city centre and its underground, famous for its ornate stations. Another day will be devoted to Red Square, the Kremlin, cathedrals and museums. An evening at the ballet or opera can be arranged separately.
There will be a guided tour to the Sergiev Posad Monastery, the heart of Russian Orthodox religion. There will also be an opportunity to see the countryside.
The journey to St Petersburg is on the Grand Expresstrain overnight in hotel-style comfort. The next three days will be spent exploring St Petersburg with guided tours, visits to the Hermitage Museum, and a trip to see the Catherine Palace and Amber Room in Tsarskoye Selo.
The basic price is £775 (about €917) in August, single supplement is £155 (about €183) and there is an option of purchasing half-board for an extra £129 (about €152). You must factor in the Belfast to London flight. Contact Go Russia, tel: 0044-2033557717, or justgorussia.co.uk.
A family holiday in the west
We have some family arriving from the UK and would like to book a holiday home on the west coast of Ireland for a week during July 2012. There are three children (all under 10 years of age) so somewhere near a beach would be great. Somewhere near a golf course would be handy for the bigger kids. Can you please recommend a town and or holiday booking website that would suit. - NC, Dublin
There are a number of towns on the west coast that would be ideal for your mix of generations and activities. Clifden in Connemara has great beaches nearby, a theatre/cinema, and lots of activities during the summer. The Connemara Golf Links at Ballyconneely has beautiful views. Find accommodation on cc-cottages.com.
Also have a look at the Clifden Station House Hotel, where they have self-catering apartments with the benefit of hotel services and during the summer a children's club, clifdenstationhouse.com.
Westport in Mayo has not only a great variety of accommodation, lots of beaches, but also Westport House where there is the Pirate Adventure Park for children. From Westport you are close enough to visit Achill and also enjoy walks or cycling on the Greenway, and for golf there's the Westport and Clew Bay golf clubs and Carne golf links. Daft.iehas around 80 properties in the Westport area for rent.
Lahinch in Co Clare has established itself as a popular surfing destination for all ages and it is lovely to see the little children practising on surfboards on the beach, before they take the sea. This might be something they would enjoy. There is also a fine leisure centre in the town.
There are a few beaches around Lahinch and some of Ireland's best golf courses including Lahinch and Doonbeg. Find rental properties on holiday-rentals.com. There is excellent self-catering accommodation at Doonbeg and a lovely beach, doonbeglodge.comand discoverireland.ie
Interrail for mature travellers
We are trying to recreate our youth and while we know its never wise to go back, could you suggest an Interrail-style trip taking in some of the best European cities that could be condensed into two weeks for a couple in their 50s, this time staying in hotels. We don't want to visit too many places – just an attempt to relive some of the magic. Suitable websites for travel and hotels would be welcome or is there is a travel company that specialises in this area? - MR, Dublin
Adults can travel on Interrail too, no reason why you can’t relive your youth and visit the places you loved or missed first time round. Interrail passes for 26-59 year-olds cost from €207 for five days travel over 10 days and from €381 for 10 days travel in 22 days. You could give in to age and travel first class from €409 and €583.
Part of the fun of planning the journey, interrailnet.com.
However, if you would like to just join a train in London and relax, here are some companies that will do it for you. Greatrail.comhas over 30 countries in Europe to visit. Grand Imperial Cities visits Vienna, Prague, Budapest and Berlin over 13 days and includes most dinners in the price from £1,878pps (about €2,222). Or over 12 days you could enjoy Venice, Lake Bled and the Adriatic, from around the same price.
Treyn.co.ukhas a great range of holidays in Europe from all-inclusive trips from £1,100pps (about €1,396), to one-country tours from £600pps (about €710). Most of these are for a week, but you could add in an extra week in your favourite place.
Email queries, with your name and address, to jscales@irishtimes.com