ASK JOAN: A family break to London:Our family would like to go to London for the February mid-term break. We would like to stay in central London and are travelling on a budget. Once the accommodation is clean and safe we are happy enough. Also are there any unmissable family attractions? DD, Dublin.
Last mid-term Steintravel had a family special to London for four that included flights, an apartment, and tickets to Matilda the musical and the London Eye for about €1,300, tel: 1850 408408.
Otherwise, watch out for the flight sales and find budget family accommodation on londontown.com. Things not to miss are the Natural History Museum, Science Museum, Tower of London, London Dungeon, Buckingham Palace, a river boat trip, Emirates Cable Car, red bus tour, and Camden town markets for the teenager. Take a guided walk with walks.com.
A trip with elderly parents:I would like to take my elderly parents to Rome. Dad has some mobility issues and Mam is reasonably fit but she gets tired. My plan is to go for four or five nights to include visits to Vatican and some of the major Roman sights. I am considering options: to try to book us on to a tour or to organise it myself. – JOT, Sligo.
A tour would probably be a good idea as the companies from Ireland that do tours are used to getting people around easily and in comfort. It may also be worth thinking about using a wheelchair for your father, the sheer scale of the Vatican and places to see in Rome mean a lot of walking.
All dates for next year's tours are not yet finalised but you can contact the following companies, joewalshtours.com, thetraveldepartment.comand citiescapes.ie. The first two have seven-day tours, including over Easter, and citescapes.iewill have 15 departures next year for shorter breaks either Thursday to Sunday or Monday to Thursday.
If you want to plan the trip yourself, I suggest you have a look at sagetravelling.comfor advice on getting around Rome. Sage Travelling can also make all the arrangements for you including hotels and tours.
Darkrome.comorganises private tours of the Vatican and Sistine chapel after hours which might be a good for your parents as it is small group and no queuing.
Lovely La Graciosa
We are interested in going to the island of La Graciosa for a week in january if possible (after reading an article in the Irish Times). Can you suggest a tour operator who would organise travel and accommodation for us or alternatively how we could organise it for ourselves? I presume we would get flights to Lanzarote and a ferry to the island and book accommodation independently. However I am having difficulty finding information on ferries and accommodation. UB, Dublin
La Graciosa is not available through any tour operators so you will have to make your own arrangements to get there.
It is a tiny island, think Inish Bofin in the sun, eight by four kilometres. The main activity is fishing. There are a few shops and restaurants, and no paved roads and no mad nightlife. If you like quiet then La Graciosa will appeal. There are lovely beaches and you can hire bicycles to get around.
It is also in a marine reserve and there are boat and fishing trips.
The ferry runs from Órzola in the north of Lanzarote to La Graciosa and costs about €20 return, see lineasromero.com. Telephone them before you go as times vary during the year. Fly to Lanzarote with Aer Lingus or Ryanair. You can book a taxi transfer on lanzarotetaxi.com, it costs around €52. Find accommodation to rent on La Graciosa on Ownersdirect.co.ukand casa-candido.com.
Send your questions with name and address to jscales@irishtimes.com