Your question answered by JOAN SCALES
Q We are four friends who have spent some time walking in the Alps during the summer. This year we were persuaded by people we met that walking with snowshoes would be an even better experience. They claimed that we could join a group, or find a guide for a day or so, who would be able to help with technique. We thought we might go on a package trip, so that we wouldn’t have to worry about driving in the snow, but are concerned that it would be expensive. We are not tied to dates and could take up bargains. While not crazy about the ambience of ski resorts, we are quite open to all ideas.
Gang of Four, Dublin
A package holiday to a ski destination would be the best way to keep the price down, and there is some value around if you are flexible with your dates. Many ski destinations have snowshoeing available, but you will need to check each one individually in advance. The resorts of St Johann, Bad Gastein and Lermoos, in Austria, all offer snowshoeing with guides. The tour operators (topflight.ie, panoramaholidays.ie, inghams.ie, crystalski.ie and directski.com) will be able to advise.
Snowshoeing is very popular in Norway, and Topflight will be operating weekly and short-break trips to Lillehammer, Oslo and Trysil. Snowshoeing is also popular in the east-coast snow resorts in the US. I have seen guided snowshoeing in New Hampshire.
Undiscovered Alps (undiscoveredalps.com, 00-33-6-77362942) is a company that organises guided snowshoeing holidays in the French Alps. A week’s bed and breakfast with guided walks each day will cost from €499 per person sharing without flights and transfers. Self-catering is a bit cheaper.
Q We have booked flights with our two daughters, aged 12 and 15, to Bergamo airport in mid-February with the intention of going skiing for a week. I’m trying as best I can to source information on ski resorts in the vicinity that would be suitable for novices, but I’m a bit bewildered at this stage. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. AL, Dublin
There is fantastic skiing in the Dolomites, with a good variety of resorts. I have skied at Madonna di Campiglio, which was lovely, with all levels of ability catered for. The village has plenty of restaurants, entertainment and shopping. The best place to start your hunt is to contact Trentino tourist board (00-39-0461- 219500, visittrentino.it).
Q We are considering driving from San Francisco to San Diego, in California, for our honeymoon over three weeks next May. Would it be better to do it the other way around? Can you recommend the best towns and beaches to stop at along the way? Is it realistic to fit in a visit to Yosemite National Park? How long should we spend in San Diego? Flights seem very expensive with Aer Lingus. What is our best bet: go through a travel agent or book independently? If the latter, which airline?
BOD, Dublin
The flights look very pricey for next May – more than €1,000 each – but there will be sales after Christmas, and the cost should come down. Your local travel agent should be able to source a good deal, or you could try one of the specialist agencies, such as Gohop.ie. A friend did a similar trip for her honeymoon this year, and she used Tour America (touramerica.ie) to make the all the arrangements.
San Francisco to San Diego is definitely the right way to do the trip, as you will be on the side of the road nearest the ocean. Three weeks will give you enough time to divert to Yosemite, as the drive along the coast on Highway 1 takes only about 12 hours altogether.
Monterey and Carmel – famous for its former mayor Clint Eastwood – would be a good place to stop along the way. The Post Inn (postranch inn.com) at Big Sur is a venue worth splashing out on for your honeymoon. It is one of the top-rated honeymoon hotels in the US.
The extraordinary Hearst Castle (hearstcastle.org) is worth a detour, and you could stay in San Luis Obispo. Santa Barbara is a good stopover for a couple of nights, to visit the winelands of the Santa Ynez Valley and the Channel Islands.
In LA, consider staying in Santa Monica for some beachside fun or West Hollywood for shopping. Huntington Beach, in Orange County, is known as Surf USA; Laguna Beach is a little more sophisticated.
San Diego could be split between the Gaslamp Quarter, where all the bars and restaurants are, and Mission Beach for a taste of both sides of the city. An amazing hotel in Mission Beach is Tower 23 (tower23hotel.com); in the Gaslamp quarter, the Ivy, Keating, Solamar, Se San Diego and Hotel Indigo are all new and well located.
Yosemite (yosemite park.com) is about four hours’ drive from San Francisco. The best hotel there is the Ahwahnee; a camping option is Curry Village tented camp.
E-mail questions, with your name and address, to jscales@irishtimes.com.