GO ASK JOAN:From taking a boat to the US to climbing Kilimanjaro and renting an apartment in Auckland Joan Scalesanswers your travel queries
Taking a boat to the US
We want to travel to the US next year – early summer – and want to avoid flying due to the planetary destruction it causes. Is it feasible to take a boat? We would consider a cargo ship, and how long does it take?
MP, Waterford
There are transatlantic crossings with Cunard next year and it usually takes seven days each way. These are fully inclusive voyages with all meals and entertainment. See cunard.co.uk for dates and prices.
There are always discounts on cruises, so shop around for the best value. The following travel agents should be able to help, cruiseholidays.ie and e-travel.ie, jgt.ie and heffernans.ie. I have also seen some good cruise prices on cruise.expedia.com.
Travelling by cargo ship is possible and will take in the region of 10 days for the crossing. These are working ships and do not necessarily have all the comforts of a cruise liner. They also do not always arrive in the biggest cities.
Prices will be around €100-€140pps per day and you may need a visa to enter the US by cargo ship. It may be possible to pick up a cargo ship in Liverpool. There is an agency in London, Strand Travel, that specialises in cargo ship passengers. Tel: 00-44-207-9214340 or strandtravel.co.uk.
Action holiday in Tanzania
I’m a 25-year-old male who wants to do something adventurous next summer, probably late July/August. I have been thinking about visiting Tanzania and climbing Mount Kilimanjaro on my own. I am unsure when the best time of year is to go and how to organise the trip on a reasonable budget. Also, could you suggest other places in the region that would be worthwhile to visit?
IOM, Dublin
Mount Kilimanjaro is 5,895m and not one that you can climb alone. Late June to mid-October is a good time to climb it. You will need guiding and porterage.
Even though it is a mountain that you can walk up without climbing equipment, it is still dangerous – about 50 per cent of people do not make it to the top due to altitude sickness. Getting acclimatised is important, that’s why it usually takes seven days for the climb.
There are a number of companies that organise trips to climb Kilimanjaro, and Exodus would be one of the better known. They are based in the UK but have a telephone service from Ireland and price in euros. Tel: 01-8047153 or exodus.co.uk.
Other companies that organise trips to climb Kilimanjaro are kumuka.com and intrepidtravel.com.
The basic climb of Kilimanjaro is around €1,170, not including airfares and Kilimanjaro National Park fees of around $600 (€430). This is an eight-day trip and it includes accommodation, guiding, transfers and meals. The airfare will cost around €850.
If you are booking via the UK, be sure to book a through ticket rather than two separate tickets as the air passenger tax in the UK is very expensive. Kenya Airways via Nairobi may be a bit cheaper, kenya-airways.com. Use an agent such as gohop.ie, Ebookers.ie or usit.ie to find best fares.
Climbing Kilimanjaro will involve some preparation, fitness training and also you will need some specialist clothing and equipment as you will pass though five different climate zones on the way up.
You could combine the trip to Kilimanjaro with a safari in Tanzania, an overland trip or enjoy the spice island of Zanzibar. All of the companies I mention have options to extend the trip with additional places to see.
Apartment in Auckland
We are travelling to Auckland for Christmas to meet up with our two children and friends who have been travelling for the past year. We would like to rent an apartment for the time we will be there, as it would give us more freedom and be more homely for our children and their friends to come and go, rather than a hotel room. Can you suggest apartment sites I can check out or any other advice you may have on accommodation in Auckland?
HF, Dublin
Auckland at Christmas will be lovely. The Mercer Quality of Living Survey ranked it as the fourth most liveable place in the world. Auckland is situated by the water with two harbours and is surrounded by stunning coastlines and nature reserves. For tourism information on things to see and do in Auckland see aucklandnz.com.
Waldorf Apartment Group is Auckland’s largest serviced apartment company and has a selection of two and three-bedroom apartments for accommodating up to seven. See waldorf.co.nz.
There is also an international company for apartment reservations and it has properties in Auckland. See apartmentservice.com.
Send your questions with name and address to jscales@irishtimes.com