ASK JOANS:All your travel questions answered
What to see, where to stay?
I would love to travel to Berlin for the Christmas markets during November. Can you recommend things to do and restaurants to visit? Also, please suggest a suitable place to stay near the centre so that we can walk to the main attractions and ideally with the Best Western Hotel group as I have points on a loyalty card that I would like to cash in. – SH, Dublin.
Getting to Berlin is easy – and good value in November. Aer Lingus has flights every day and Ryanair has flights four days a week. The Best Western Hotel am Spittelmarkt is in a good location, at Neue Grünstrasse 28, and is within walking distance of Unter den Linden, Gendarmenmarkt and the eastern Berlin Christmas markets. Rates are from €85 per night in November, bestwestern.com.
There are dozens of Christmas or Advent markets in Berlin and they usually begin around the last weekend in November. Some of the better ones include the market at the Staatsoper behind the opera house on Unter den Linden, the one at Gendarmenmarkt and across town the market at Charlottenburg Palace (Schloss Charlottenburg) is classy and atmospheric when it begins to get dark.
Other things to do in the city include a visit to Checkpoint Charlie (now owned by Nama) and see the new attraction, a massive 360 degree panorama showing the wall as it was. Skip the museum here and instead visit the Tränenpalast (Palace of Tears) beside Friedrichstrasse station. This was the former border crossing for people arriving by train.
The passport inspection hall has been turned into a small museum about the partition of Germany and the old passport control cabins are still there. The Holocaust Memorial near the Brandenburg gate is also worth a visit.
The boat trip on the Spree from near the Dom cathedral heading towards Museum Island is a great way to see the modern and reinvigorated architecture of Berlin. Museum Island is also a place to spend a good few hours exploring some of the great collections on view.
The food court at the KaDeWe department store on Kurfürstendamm (Ku’Damm) is a busy place to enjoy lunch. The Oyster Bar has a great selection from all around Europe, delicious with a glass of Champagne.
For a charming coffee house Cafe Einstein on the Ku’Damm is perfect for Wiener Schnitzel. Paris Moskau, on Alt-Moabit serves a lighter version of German food and the Ritter Sport chocolate shop on Französiosche Str is great for a hot chocolate pitstop.
A short trip to Scotland
I have a 28-year-old son coming home for a month in December from Oz and we'd like to take him away for a few days so we can catch up with him before he sees the pals. I had thought of a few days in Scotland maybe – and be lucky enough to see the Northern Lights – but I haven't a clue where to go in Scotland and whether to bring the car, go on the train or fly? Failing that any suggestions for Ireland or elsewhere would be great. We want to keep the budget as tight as possible. – MMB, Dublin.
Getting to Scotland is the easy part; Ryanair has daily flights to Edinburgh and Glasgow Prestwick. Aer Lingus flies to Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen in the far north of Scotland. Prices are reasonable, under €100 if you book in advance, and maybe even less if you pounce on some sale fares.
You can rent a mid-size car from around €35 per day, less for a small vehicle.
Stena Line has a service from Belfast to Cairnryan and a car and three passengers will cost around €320 return and you would need to consider the cost of petrol. Or take the ferry to Holyhead and drive or take the train from there.
The most likely places in Scotland to see the Northern Lights are the Northern Highlands, the Isle of Skye and the Shetland Isles. There is no guarantee that you will see them, but this year is the peak of the solar cycle and if you have Twitter you can follow @AurorawatchUK for sightings.
The following bed and breakfasts are in potentially good places, Ashaig BB in Skye, skye-bed-and-breakfast.co.uk. Sharvedda is in Caithness, sharvedda.co.ukand Vadsdal on Shetland, vadsdalbedandbreakfast.shetland.co.uk.
Otherwise my suggestion is to go to Edinburgh and enjoy the city. There is lots to see and do, like the Royal Mile from Holyrood Palace and the Parliament Building to Edinburgh Castle. Maybe take a walk up to Arthur’s Seat for views over the countryside.
Jurys Inn in Edinburgh has rooms for three adults and is well located for exploring the city.
Rome with friends
Three friends are going to Rome on December 29th for three nights – any suggestions for accommodation? – MC, Dublin.
Rome for new year sounds like a great idea. Hotel Lancelot always has a new year's eve dinner with music and dancing ( lancelothotel.com). It is close to the Colosseum and a warm, family run property. For something modern and reasonably priced the Radisson Blu near Termini might suit at about €100 per night, Radisson.com. Or push out the boat for the old style Quirinale, and a triple room over the new year will cost around €285 per night, hotelquirinale.it.
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