Joan Scalesanswers your questions
Some time ago the Ryanair website went offline for a number of days for "upgrading". I noticed that the main change they made to the site is the way in which they calculate taxes and extras on flights.
Prior to the change, taxes were added to your final bill based on your return flight. Last Christmas I got a very cheap flight from Dublin to Cork. The total bill came to about 25 return.
Since the changes, the website now puts taxes separately on each leg of the trip and the same base tickets cost about 50 after the new tax calculation. I don't understand this. Presumably Government taxes on air flights haven't doubled, yet it looks as if Ryanair is charging double for them. I hope you can shed some light on this. ... NH, Dublin
Yes, I can. All airlines operating in Europe have had to adjust their websites to show the full cost of flights - including taxes, service charges, security costs and any other local costs. Ryanair was just a bit slower than others in getting its site ready and for technical reasons had to take it down for three days in February. The taxes have not doubled, you just got lucky and bought seats on a day they had a sale that offered seats without taxes and charges. They have sales quite regularly and you need to check the site often and be ready to pounce.
I would be grateful for any information you can give me in relation to self-catering properties that are suitable for wheelchair users. I have a friend who recently had to start using a wheelchair and his family would love to take a self-catering house in the west of Ireland, preferably Mayo. ... AMcC, Derry
Unfortunately, there is not much information available for easily accessible self-catering homes but I have found two houses in Mayo that might be suitable for your friends, both of differing sizes.
In Belmullet, this large six-bedroom house can accommodate 10 people comfortably. It is at Tipp Pier on the end of the peninsula and five miles from Belmullet town centre. It is newly built and fitted out very nicely, and it has a tennis court. Prices during the summer are €1,080, including all linens and utilities. You can contact the owner at geraldinestapleton@hotmail.com. The other house is smaller, a three-bed that sleeps seven. One of the bathrooms is fully fitted with disabled access shower. It is in Killala, close to the village for shops and pubs. It is an ideal base for touring the northwest. Up to August 23rd, it rents for €580 per week and after that date for €350 per week. You can contact the owner on 096-32221, www.killalabayholidays.com.
My wife, my six-year-old daughter and I are going to Florida for Christmas. We arrive on December 17th and are booked in for 10 days in Orlando. After doing the theme parks we leave on the 27th and head for the Mexican Gulf - hopefully to spend a week on the beach. As this is peak holiday time, should we book before we go? We are looking for something self-catering. Any ideas? ... LA, Co Cork
You would be better off booking a place for the second part of your holiday in advance as it is high season and people flee to the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. There are a number of lovely resorts along this coast and rental properties are plentiful. Florida cities such as Naples, Fort Myers, Sarasota, Bradenton, Sanibel, and Captiva Island, are all perfect for relaxing. There are dozens of websites for vacation rentals, but first I will direct you to the various tourism websites for each area. You will find loads of useful information at www.sarasotafl.org, www.paradisecoast.comand www.fortmyers-sanibel.com. Then have a look at www.homeaway.comfor a great selection of properties for rent by owners and managers.
Do you know of a reputable website through which one can secure a short-term holiday letting of an apartment in Manhattan, for five to seven days? JPG, Cork
And from another reader:
We are four adults travelling to Boston from October 27th to November 1st. Could you suggest a two-bedroom property for us in either a hotel or apartment, central downtown location only... RMC, Kerry
I will direct you both to the website mentioned in the previous piece of advice, www.homeaway.com. It is an American rent by owners site and has a very good selection of properties in New York and some in downtown Boston.
• E-mail questions, with your name and address, to jscales@irish-times.ie