ASK JOAN:All your travel questions answered
Family holiday options
We have three children aged 18, 15 and eight. We would like to go on a nice holiday this summer (during the first two weeks of August) that could accommodate all three children plus my husband, which I know is difficult. The 18-year-old wants to go to Sardinia because she thinks the sea looks so blue. I had thought about the northern coast of Spain, for example San Sebastián, as I had heard it is very beautiful. My husband thought of Scotland because of the scenery. The eight-year-old, who needs extra protection from the sun, wants to go on an apartment/aparthotel-type holiday to meet children of a similar age. The 15-year-old wants to stay at home with his friends. My husband says that he will only travel on direct flights from Dublin.
– GS, Dublin
Oh the joys of a family holiday and trying to suit everyone. Fortunately from Dublin there are dozens of flights and charter holidays to lots of places, but it is the busiest two weeks of the year and the hottest in most places.
Sardinia has flights from Dublin with Ryanair to Alghero on the west coast and these will cost around €250 each. In and around Alghero, there are a number of aparthotels. You would be looking at around €2,500-€3,100 for two weeks. See ResidencePicale.it.
Lanzarote has been a favourite with Irish people for many years and it does offer a good variety of attractions and entertainment for all the family. In Puerto del Carmen, the Fariones bungalows are on the seaside between the new and old towns. There are many restaurants and bars nearby.
The Princesa Yaiza hotel is also a favourite with Irish families and has terrific facilities. You can book these with most of the tour operators such as Sunway.ie, Topflight.ieand Thomas Cook Holidays.
You may not think of Ibiza as a family holiday destination, but it is a lovely island with a good variety of accommodation outside the busy San Antonio. Most tour operators have programmes to Ibiza.
The variety of accommodation on the Algarve for families is terrific. There is a good selection of resorts that have self-catering and hotel accommodation. The busier resorts, such as Albufeira, Alvor, Praia de Rocha and Lagos, may suit the teenagers better. You have the choice of booking yourself or with a travel agent.
San Sebastián is a beautiful city with beaches in the city centre. It is a busy place in August, and there are no aparthotels available. You would be looking at renting an apartment, and the eight-year-old is not so likely to meet other children, though the teenagers and adults will love it. See apartments to rent on Rentalia.com.
In Scotland you would not have to worry about too much sun, and while it has beautiful scenery, I am not sure how you would keep the teenagers occupied. Have a look at VisitScotland.comfor some inspiration.
An activity holiday, maybe even for part of your trip, might be fun for the family. Sunsail Holidays are shore-based with the opportunity to sail every day and do water sports. They have great children's clubs. Depending on your proficiency, you can join a flotilla and sail around the Aegean. People like to do a week learning to sail and then a week in a flotilla. There will be families with children. Get details from Sunsail.ie.
Boarding pass duplication
My family and I have just returned from a visit to New York. We booked online and it was a ticketless flight. Even though we could have checked in on an iPhone or netbook, we logged on the hotel public computer to print off our boarding passes. This exercise cost us several dollars. When we got to JFK and checked in our suitcases, the Aer Lingus clerk took our printed boarding passes and gave us replacement boarding passes. This has never happened in European airports. Is it necessary to print off our boarding passes or was it a waste of money?
– AME, Kildare
On Aer Lingus transatlantic flights you have to bring email confirmation or printed boarding cards to the airport. It is a security regulation. The reason why the check-in staff changed the printed sheets to a boarding card is that they use machines at the gate to automatically register boarding cards. It was a matter of giving you the cards for the machine.
Amsterdam accommodation
I have reason to visit Amsterdam a number of times each year and while I keep an eye out for hotel offers, I find accommodation expensive. Could you recommend self-catering accommodation that is fairly central and a reasonable price?
– JS, Dublin
Accommodation in Amsterdam is quite pricey and self-catering is not necessarily reasonable. It depends on if you are sharing or not. StayAmsterdam.comhas a variety of apartments to rent in the city and you would be looking at around €120 per night midweek and €150 per night at weekends.
SacoApartments.comhas rentals from around €120 per night, with a minimum stay of one week. You may find a private rental a bit less expensive on AirBnB.com.
Booking early is always the best way to get better deals. EasyHotel.comin Amsterdam has rooms from €49-€79 per night.