JOAN SCALESanswers your travel questions
Q Our eldest son (25) has gone to work in Bangkok for a year and we, and our other two sons, 23 and 17 years of age, would love to visit him for Christmas and New Year, from December 19th to January 10th. Advice on flights (ideally from Shannon), and possible locations to visit after spending a few days in Bangkok would be appreciated. Dad likes places of interest, Mum likes a spa, and the boys like a relaxing location with a good social life. However, as all the cost is coming from one pocket, the price is important.
SL, Galway
Thailand at Christmas would be lovely, but it is also one of the most popular times of the year for visitors and so one of the most expensive times to travel there.
Flights are going to take a substantial part of your budget and if you have not yet booked, don’t delay. The best routing for you is either through London Heathrow or via Dublin with Etihad or Air France.
The cheapest fares I can find are with Jet Airways from London via Mumbai, with prices from £878 (€940). You could also check with gohop.ie (01-2412399) for consolidated fares to Bangkok. They may be able to find you something cheaper if you have a bit of flexibility on dates.
Bangkok will provide lots of interest and entertainment for all the family with its mixture of culture, vibrancy, grand temples, bustling markets, restaurants and lively night life. You will easily find plenty to do for a week in the city.
Consider Phuket for the other destination on your holiday. There is a wide range of accommodation, from fabulous five-star hotels to comfortable family properties. Have a look at phuket.com to see what’s on offer.
On Phuket there is a very good range of activities to keep the boys occupied – diving, snorkelling, canoeing and zip-wiring, as well as a great nightlife. Dad will enjoy visiting Phuket’s old town with its many temples and Buddhist statues. Mum can enjoy spa treatments, cookery courses and shopping in Jungceylon or Central Festival malls.
Going further afield, the islands of Krabi, Khao Lak, Khao Sok, Phi Phi and Koh Lanta are easy to get to from Phuket and may make a nice less-developed alternative to the bustling resort.
I would also suggest you talk to a tour operator here who may be able to put all this into a package for you at a better price than you will get booking each element individually. Twohigs Travel (twohigs.com, 01-6480800) has long experience of arranging visits to Thailand.
You can also find a wide range of tourism information on Thailand on tourismthailand.co.uk.
Q My friend had a conviction and ban for drink-driving, which has now been completed. Would this conviction impact in any way on his entry to the US? I was hoping to book a holiday to New York, but was not sure if he will have to apply for a visa at the embassy rather than online. Could you advise me?
Anon, Dublin
I consulted the consular department at the US embassy and their reply is that your friend should apply for an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) at the website esta.cbp.dhs.gov. You do not need to book flights in advance to do this. If his ESTA is refused, then he can apply to the US embassy in Ballsbridge for a non-immigrant visa. The details are on the website, dublin.usembassy.gov.
Q I have a 12-hour stopover in Atlanta, Georgia, next month. This is one leg of a return trip from Easter Island, with an earlier stop in Santiago, Chile, on the way to my final destination, Dublin. I was thinking of booking an airport hotel, just to get a few hours’ sleep and a shower before the Dublin leg, but what are the implications when filling out my ESTA form? Technically I will be “in transit”, but can I leave the airport and return within that 12-hour window?
FD, Dublin
You have to apply for an ESTA even if you are only transiting in the US. It is not necessary to fill in the address where you are staying. You can leave the airport if you want to. Twelve hours will give you time to explore some of downtown Atlanta. One idea would be to visit the CNN Center (cnn.com/ tour/atlanta), which is open to the public for studio tours.
E-mail questions, with your name and address, to jscales@irishtimes.com