- Simon Calder RSS Feed

Simon Calder's Helpdesk: Can you clear up a disagreement over International Driving Permits in California?

Thu, 23 May 2013 00:00:23 +0100

Q. Can you clear something up for me please, a colleague is insisting that I need to purchase an International Driving Permit to drive in California; I have been going to California for nigh on 20 years and I have a full picture driving licence which has always been sufficient. Would you recommend getting an IDP for the future? It seems a bit of a money-making racket to me.

Ed Dunham

Simon Calder's Helpdesk: Other than Paris, any ideas for a city break where I can take my daughter?

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:08 +0100

Q. Simon, it's my daughter's 21st birthday in late August, I'd like to take her on a city break to somewhere not too expensive to get to but which will give her great memories. By the way, we've been to Paris.

Sarah Gee

Simon Calder's Helpdesk: Can I avoid immigration queues in the US?

Tue, 21 May 2013 11:26:47 +0100

Q. I have flight to New York JFK from Bristol via Dublin in July. You said on Saturday that JFK is among the worst in America for long immigration queues. Can I avoid them, and can you point to a web link to show what we do at Dublin?

Patrick Mason, Taunton

Simon Calder's Helpdesk: How much do I need to worry about the scary advice on Quito in Ecuador?

Mon, 20 May 2013 10:14:39 +0100

Q. We've booked to go to Quito in Ecuador, but the advice from the FCO is scary to say the least. Can you advise?

Mike Pennick, Hindhead, Surrey

Battle of the bulge on before-breakfast Berlin-bound jet

Sat, 18 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Cabin bags at dawn: not a pretty sight. Just about everyone aboard easyJet's Monday morning flight from Gatwick to Berlin has been up since 4am or earlier, in order to be ready for the 6.50am departure. The vast majority are business travellers, with busy days ahead. So still to be stuck at the gate after seven turns the mood in the Airbus distinctly grumpy. The reason the flight is late? The cabin crew are wrestling.

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: What currency do I take to Macedonia?

Fri, 17 May 2013 00:01:15 +0100

Q. What currency do I take to Macedonia? The denar is not easily exchangeable, and the country is not yet in the EU. Please advise if taking euros or sterling would be the best option

Crispin Yeates

Simon Calder's Helpdesk: Should I buy a separate ticket for a side trip from Australia to New Zealand?

Thu, 16 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Q I am attending a conference in Melbourne in September, and have been able to secure an extra five days off at the end of it. I want to take a side trip to New Zealand. Should I book a separate ticket or get the flights to and from as part of my main ticket?

John Slater, Stafford

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: Can you advise about my Heathrow change-over to a connecting flight?

Wed, 15 May 2013 00:01:41 +0100

Q. I have just purchased a return flight on Virgin Atlantic to Los Angeles from Manchester, changing at Heathrow. (The extra cost was just £50 in total by the way, which I thought was superb.) I have just over 90 minutes between flights. I have never used a connecting flight before, so have looked up the process online, only to find a wealth of conflicting information. Can you advise?

Andy O'Dwyer, Ilkley, West Yorkshire

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: What's the best Indonesia travel guide?

Tue, 14 May 2013 00:01:36 +0100

Q. What, in your opinion is the best travel guide for Indonesia?

Suzanne Calder

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: What time of day is best for departures to JFK?

Mon, 13 May 2013 00:01:45 +0100

Q. I'm going to New York JFK in October. All the fares seem to be about the same, at about £450 return. So what time of day is it best to depart?

Peter Reynolds, Ealing

Simon Calder: No happy ending to 'The Great Escape' from Paddington

Sat, 11 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Few trains these days have names, but the 5.45pm each Friday night from Paddington to Swansea deserves to be called The Great Escape. It is packed with commuters heading home from work, augmented by Londoners escaping the capital to weekend hideaways from Gloucestershire to the Gower. Except last Friday night, that is. At the height of the bank holiday weekend getaway, seven miles and seven minutes outside London, the emergency brakes went on and stayed on. More than 500 passengers stopped escaping and began several hours of incarceration.

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: Can you advise me on minimum-validity passport rules to the US?

Fri, 10 May 2013 00:01:15 +0100

Q. I am going to the USA in Oct 2013 and Feb 2014 and my full UK passport expires in Mar 2014, does the passport have to be valid under the six months clear rule or do I need to renew in September?

Peter Kendal

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: Can they force us to pay for allocated seats so we can check in online?

Thu, 09 May 2013 00:01:33 +0100

Q. Is it legal for Monarch Airlines to force us to pay for allocated seats so we can check in online?

David Keenan, Spain

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: BA or Virgin on Premium Economy to New York?

Wed, 08 May 2013 00:01:55 +0100

Q. I am planning a visit to New York, early November, and wonder is there anything to choose between British Airways and Virgin Atlantic using their Premium Economy rate? Having had a very uncomfortable BA flight to Singapore recently, in economy, I am not doing that again, ever. And Trailfinders are offering a very good deal at the moment from Heathrow to New York, for £900 return in Premium Economy.

M James, Esher, Surrey

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: Can you suggest a restaurant treat in Paris that caters for vegetarians?

Tue, 07 May 2013 00:01:44 +0100

Q. I'm travelling to Paris with my wife in May for our silver wedding anniversary. I'm a vegetarian but my wife is not. I want to find a reasonable restaurant that serves both veggie food (not just pizza, risotto, pasta, etc) and traditional French cuisine for my wife. Do you know of any options?

Stephen Clyde, Belfast

Simon Calder: Why airports are unlike theme parks (besides the obvious)

Sat, 04 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Which large and crucial UK institution is described by its main customer as "Over-priced, over-rewarded and inefficient"? No, not the House of Lords, but Heathrow. Those are the words of Willie Walsh, chief executive of British Airways' parent company, IAG. He controls more than half the slots at Europe's busiest airport.

48 Hours In: Stockholm

Sat, 04 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Travel Essentials

Why go now?

Maximise your enjoyment in the capital of Minimalism. Sweden's happy, handsome capital makes an ideal escape in early summer. The long days make it easier to appreciate the glorious setting. And: can you hear the drums? Opening next week, ABBA The Museum (1).

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: Do I need an "Esta" for transit in Miami?

Fri, 03 May 2013 08:06:00 +0100

Q. I am travelling to South America via Miami. On the way out I just change planes there, but coming back I will be stopping off for a couple of days. I registered for an Esta for the way back, with my inbound dates, but someone said I need it for outbound journey too - even though I'm not leaving the airport. Is that the case? I tried to buy a second one to cover me but it just wouldn't go through.

Name withheld

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: Is booking half-board in Marmaris daft?

Thu, 02 May 2013 00:01:23 +0100

Q. Is booking half-board in Marmaris daft?

Michael Christie

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: Am I really out of time for claiming on delayed flight?

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 00:01:15 +0100

Q. I have written to BA trying to claim for a delay in November 2006 from Gatwick to Madeira. They have written back to say as flight was more than 6 years ago I am now "out of time for pursuing a compensation claim". But I understood the EU ruling related to flights back to February 2005?

Carol Frost

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: What's on your must-do list for Santorini?

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 00:01:31 +0100

Q. I'm jetting off to Santorini next week. What's on your must-do list?

Jamie Lewis, London

Simon Calder: Edinburgh – where the geology and geometry are magic

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0100

The magic geometry of Scotland's capital is best revealed at the Elephant House. You wander in from a busy, ordinary street just off the Royal Mile, through the model pachyderms that give the "gourmet tea and coffee shop" its name. Order a drink and take it through to the big, bright back room, where the light, and the views, flood in.

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: Can you recommend some light luggage?

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 00:00:48 +0100

Q. There is a plethora of luggage. Have you written about travelling light, and can you recommend something suitable for me as a frequent traveller to the Continent?

Gerry O'Donnell, Belfast

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: What's the most economical way to San Sebastian?

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 00:01:40 +0100

Q. We’re looking to book a trip for two to San Sebastian in Spain’s Basque region. We live in between Manchester and Liverpool. Can you suggest the most economical way to get there? Also, we’d like to stay within easy walking distance of the best tapas bars – can you recommend a couple of good value-for-money hotels please?

Geoff Robinson, Ashton-in-Makerfield

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: Can I drive in Nevada and California with my old-style driving licence?

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 00:01:26 +0100

Q. Can I drive in Nevada and California with just my old-style driving licence?

M K Belcher

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: Must I accept a voucher for flight delay?

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 10:36:17 +0100

Q. My flight was delayed last year. Thomas Cook have offered £1,083 in compensation - but only as a voucher. Must I accept this, or can I insist on a cash or cheque payment?

Rod Brittle

Simon Calder: A short hop from Seoul, budget flights in Europe, and a billion passengers in Asia

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0100

A short hop from Seoul, but a giant in aviation terms

Sunday afternoon in spring on Jeju Island, off the south coast of mainland Korea, is a delight. You can wander from flower-strewn gardens to silvery beach, hike along the rockier parts of the corrugated coastline or bike across the hills and far away.

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: Flight delays and responsibility

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 00:01:48 +0100

Q. We were on a Thomas Cook holiday package in May 2008. The airline was British Midland. We were delayed over seven hours, and want to claim compensation. Thomas Cook refer us to British Airways for compensation, but surely the responsibility is with Thomas Cook as the holiday was booked with them?

Mr and Mrs Dobson

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: Driving in Florida

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 00:01:02 +0100

Q. I have been renting cars in Florida for the past 15 years, but you recently said to hire a car in Florida we would now need an international permit. I am unable to find any information or clarification on this. Can you please update me on this situation?

Roger Penny

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: Where the sun shines brightly

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 00:01:08 +0100

Q. We are a family of four, including two girls of 12 and 14. Due to work commitments we can only go away for a week in August. Whilst we are not all beach lovers, the girls are determined that we take them abroad this year to experience some sunshine and the thrill of going on an aeroplane! We are at a loss of where to go. Ideally we would like somewhere with culture, shops and a pool, but also with places of historical interest close at hand.

Corinne, Ashford, Kent

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: Cyprus cash

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 00:01:13 +0100

Q.In three weeks myself and my family will be flying to Cyprus to stay in an all-inclusive hotel in Paphos. Could you please advise me on how many euros I ought to take? I'm thinking about emergencies such as medical bills etc, where they may not accept a debit or credit card.

Ian Webb

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: How reliable is Mexican airline Interjet?

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 00:00:16 +0100

Q. I am arranging a trip involving Mexico and Cuba. The best deal from Mexico City to Havana seems to be Interjet. How is this airline's reliability? My Australia-based sister is a nervous flyer and asked me what their record is like.

Mary Leaming, Stoke Newington

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: We cancelled our booking after reading bad reviews on TripAdvisor but the holiday firm refuses to give us a refund, what are my chances if I contest this?

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 00:00:33 +0100

Q. The day before my wife and I were booked to go to a hotel in the Canaries, I looked up the hotel on TripAdvisor. To my shock I discovered that the recent reviews of the hotel all seemed to be by people who had got sick there. Reading more reviews revealed that this problem seems to have been current at the hotel for more than three years. Accordingly we cancelled our booking. The holiday firm says we will get no refund. As I feel they have behaved scandalously by continuing to book guests into a hotel with a very poor health record, I wish to contest this. What are my chances?

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: What are our options if we want to fly from Liverpool to Naples?

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 00:00:55 +0100

Q. For the last 25 years I have been holidaying with my University mates, plus kids and now grandkids. The adults are going to the Naples area in late October for four days.

The six adults from the South had to book the planes quickly as the BA flights were going fast. We saw that easyJet flew from Liverpool, but they have not released the flights yet, any idea when they will?

Or any ideas how the Northern lot (Stafford and Liverpool) can get there - as at this rate it will be just the Southern lot going on their own for the first year for 25 years.

Bev Keech

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: I would like to fly from Adelaide to Heathrow, what are my options?

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 00:00:59 +0100

Q. I am visiting a friend in Adelaide in February 2014. I have booked the outbound flight (to Sydney) in business class with BA using all of my Avios. He is meeting me in Sydney for a couple of nights before we fly on to Adelaide. I have yet to book my return. However I have had a quick look and Malaysia and Singapore Airlines from Adelaide to Heathrow look to be my best option. These both have stopovers in Asia which is fine with me. Any comments or advice would be welcome.

Gary Crump, Evesham

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: Can I visit the US with only six months remaining on my passport?

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 00:00:03 +0100

Q. I am going to the US in late June. My current passport is valid until mid-December. Will it be OK to use this passport or should I get a new one?

Mike Truss

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: Any recommendations for where to stay on the Amalfi Coast in Italy to experience Roman history?

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 00:00:05 +0100

Q. My girlfriend and I are looking to spend a week on the Amalfi Coast in Italy in early June, on a combined beach and sightseeing holiday. We’d like your recommendations for hotels to stay in that are close to the beach but have easy access to day trips to Pompeii, Herculaneum, Vesuvius, etc, to experience the culture and history of southern Italy.

Mike Hawdon, Sutton

Living the High Life, Seventies style

Sat, 06 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Forty years ago this week, passengers on British European Airways (BEA) perusing the seat pocket in front of them found a novel addition. Alongside the emergency instruction card and sick bag was the first edition of High Life. The mission of this pioneering inflight magazine was spelled out by the founding editor, William Davis, opposite a full-page ad for Benson and Hedges Special Filter:

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: Jabs for India's Golden Triangle

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 00:01:36 +0100

Q. I would like to know what jabs I should have for travelling to India in November 2013. It is a tour of the "Golden Triangle".

Marian Ivory

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: Flights from Detroit to the UK

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 00:01:29 +0100

Q. Do you know of any airline that flies direct to Detroit from the UK? Who, and from where, please?

Jenni Willows

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: Recommendations for Perth

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 00:01:56 +0100

Q. Any recommendations for staying in Perth this month? I had an apartment booked in the Fremantle but the owner has just cancelled my booking. My young family and I are staying in Perth only for 20 nights.

Edith Owusu

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: Advice for a Cyprus wedding

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 00:00:50 +0100

Q. We are about to pay £3,000 for a one-week all inclusive holiday in Cyprus for a family wedding. We are worried that with all the banking issues that we might pay five-star and get two-star because staff, suppliers and even the hotel have not been paid. Can you advise?

Claire Binmore

Time to fix the date for Easter to ease the airport squeeze

Sat, 30 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000

As far as I can tell, the travel industry was not represented at the First Council of Nicaea. This event in AD325 was where, you will recall, Easter was defined as the first Sunday following the first full moon after the spring equinox.

All change at the airport

Sat, 30 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000

The beginning of, er, British Summer Time marks the traditional "seasonal boundary" between winter and summer schedules. Many new services start up, which the airlines are very keen to tell you about – and some long-running services are permanently grounded, which they tend to keep quiet about. That is why you need this guide to the main changes for British travellers.

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: Chasing April sunshine on a budget

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 00:01:06 +0000

Q. My girlfriend and I are looking to go away in the second week of April for a week. We're on a budget, looking for sun, preferably half board or all inclusive. Any suggestions?

Marc Doman

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: Will we have any problems on our Cyprus trip?

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 00:01:51 +0000

Q. We are going to Cyprus on 14 April. Do you think we will have any problems?

Lesley-Jane Smith

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: When your plane's stuck on the Tarmac

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 00:01:44 +0000

Q. During the weekend's snow, my wife and daughter were sitting on a plane at Belfast for over three hours heading to Scotland. Did they have any rights to food or water?

David Lofthouse

Ouigo: welcome to troisième classe

Sat, 23 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Seven months ago, you may recall, I revealed the French rail authorities' plan to take on the budget airlines. While five out of six citizens have travelled on a Train à Grande Vitesse (TGV) at some time in their lives, only one in four takes a high-speed train during the course of a typical year. The first no-frills train is scheduled to depart on Easter Monday. The parent company, SNCF, could accurately have called it troisième classe, but instead settled on the awkward Franglais name "Ouigo".

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: Don't cancel your Cyprus holiday

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 00:01:20 +0000

Q. I have booked a family holiday for a two-week trip to Cyprus this August. We've only paid a small deposit so far. Given the economic crisis do you think it prudent to cancel now rather than risk thousands on a holiday which is now at risk?

Peter Gross

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: The allure of the Istrian peninsula in the far north-west

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 09:29:25 +0000

Q. I am working in Croatia in early May. Then I have two weeks off. I'd like to stay in the region - but I feel I have already seen everything in Croatia. So I am thinking: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Belgrade in Serbia, going into Romania and flying out of Bucharest. Any must-sees in this area, and also best mode of transport?

Brad Allemand

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: EU Passengers' Rights

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 00:01:20 +0000

Q. Thank you for your advice on EU flight cancellation compensation. I have made a successful claim from Flybe. I have been offered the required €250 payment in cash, but I have been offered €300 as a credit for future travel from Flybe. Which is best?

David Brennan, Ayrshire

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: Not so clever? Is this hotels site too good to be true?

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 00:01:39 +0000

Q. I've been checking prices for hotels in the USA on a comparison website and there are some really good deals with Clever-hotels.com. But are they too good to be true?

Joanne Hill

No need to fume about flight risks or budget airlines

Sat, 16 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Headlines, as The Independent's Guy Keleny notes in his excellent Errors & Omissions column, can sometimes provide a misleading impression of the article that follows. This week, the dark nether world where travel meets the media decided to take this notion to extremes – with no fewer than three headlines about aviation that turned out to be the exact opposite of the real story.

48 hours in: Nuremberg

Sat, 16 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Travel essentials

Why go now?

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: Poor compensation for 24-hour delay

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 17:21:30 +0000

Q. Our Delta flight from Bloomington, USA to Manchester was cancelled after waiting at the airport for seven hours, due to "technical reasons". We were rebooked and flew the next day, in effect 24 hours later. The only compensation KLM - which handles Delta customer services in UK - has offered is a £300 voucher (£100 per passenger) valid for 12 months.

It appears that as the flight was from a non EU airport, the carrier was a non EU carrier, and it was technical reasons for cancellation and not overbooking, the airline is under no obligation to compensate me. Is this correct? It seems scandalous that non EU airlines have this "get out of jail free" card, tough luck to the passenger. Do I have any other avenues to pursue this further?

"JK"

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: Is it safe to holiday in Marrakech?

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 00:01:41 +0000

Q. Is it safe to holiday in Marrakech at the moment? We were thinking of going early in April.

Al Bye, Southend

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: Is Thomas Cook in good health?

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 00:01:58 +0000

Q. I am due to pay the balance of just over £3,000 for a holiday in Crete with Thomas Cook. It will be paid with a debit card. What you think of the security of this travel company?

Bill Rogers

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: Help me plan a first-time visit to Japan

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 12:57:32 +0000

Q. I am planning a first trip to Japan, and wondered where to stay in Tokyo - and which other places to visit?

Name Withheld

Simon Calder: Selling the dream – but not the reality

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 07:00:00 +0000

Two conflicting views of flying: a plane is a plane; and "If it ain't a Boeing, I'm not going". The first opinion belongs to those who regard aviation as a necessary chore to be endured en route to somewhere delicious. They could not care two inflight pretzels whether they board an Airbus A320 or a Boeing 737 for a short-haul flight, or an A330 or a 767 for a longer stretch. They just want to arrive alive and on time. True, at the XL end of the aircraft spectrum, you might notice the distinctive double-deckerness of the original Jumbo (747) and the so-called Super Jumbo (A380). But since Concorde stopped flying 10 years ago, most jets look and perform the same.

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: Europe, from Scotland, on a budget

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 00:01:37 +0000

Q. I hope to have a family holiday this year with my husband, two sons (aged six and four), along with my 73-year-old mother in law. We are on a tight budget this year and are interested in France/Italy/Spain, however the internet is a mine field! We can drive if it's not too far. Can you recommend anything?

Caroline McDonald, Glasgow

Simon Calder: So Thomas Cook branches are closing - but travellers who book holidays on the internet instead will miss their expertise

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 18:58:31 +0000

The internet is made for travel, connecting millions of people with billions of combinations of flight seats, hotel beds and rental cars. You can understand anyone with a broadband connection concluding that, as they have access to the same products as the traditional travel agent, they too must be a travel agent.

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: Coping with two currencies in Cuba

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 00:01:32 +0000

Q. My daughter is off to Cuba. Her worry is money. If the Cubans don't accept dollars, should she take pounds? And what is the best way of getting cash?

Name withheld

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: In search of a sunny holiday in March

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 00:01:49 +0000

Q. We are seeking the sun in March. Would you recommend Marawila in Sri Lanka, or Sinai in Egypt - or should we look elsewhere? We want a hot climate but we don't want high humidity or high winds.

Hillie MacLaren

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: How a 32-hour Christmas Day can save you money flying to LA

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 00:01:33 +0000

Q. I want to go to Los Angeles over Christmas and New Year but flights are so expensive. When can I bag a good deal?

Peter May, Romford

Simon Calder: No smoke but plenty of ire

Sat, 02 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000

What, Steve Ridgway asks me, were you smoking? Like the Pope, Mr Ridgway stood down this week; the former as head of the Catholic church, the latter as chief of Virgin Atlantic – another post involving red shoes, at least as worn by female cabin crew. But he (Mr Ridgway, not the Holy Father) took time out of his busy last day to heckle on the subject of smoking.

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: What are Madeira prices like in May?

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 10:46:24 +0000

Q. I am going to Madeira in May and would like to the prices for eating out, and also the cost of drinks.

Karen Eaton

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: What are the rules about changing cash for India?

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 00:01:25 +0000

Q. I'm travelling to India next month. Is it true that I should buy my rupees in India, and that I can’t bring them back to the UK?

Susan Persaud

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: How best to combine Toronto, Detroit and Niagara Falls

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 10:14:09 +0000

Q. I am planning a summer holiday this year with my husband and would love to go to Toronto, see the city and also visit Niagara Falls. We have friends in Detroit so I thought this would be a good opportunity to see them as well. I wondered how best to get ourselves to Detroit from Toronto. We're more than happy to hire a car but will crossing borders cause a huge problem that is best avoided? As we’re on holiday we’d prefer not to sit in airports when we could be seeing the scenery.

Alison Lawton

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: Do we have to pay for an Australian visa if we hold British and Irish passports?

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 00:00:04 +0000

Q. We hold British and Irish passports. Do we have to pay for an Australian visa, or can we get them free?

Tracey Kelly, Luton

Simon Calder: Cash for check-in - British Airways joins the weight list

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 07:00:00 +0000

Seven years ago this month, Flybe broke with the tradition that an airline ticket was a travel permit for your possessions as well as yourself. Passengers paid a princely £2 extra to check in a bag. Ryanair followed suit but raised the stakes, claiming its luggage fees were to persuade passengers not to check bags, thus cutting handling costs and fuel burn. While easyJet initially insisted the free baggage allowance would stay, it soon ditched the policy and now charges a minimum of £9.

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: When should I book my Faro flight?

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 00:01:13 +0000

Q. I want to book a flight to Faro in September. Will the price go up every day from now, or could it get cheaper?

Loule Lou, by Twitter

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: What's the best deal for one-way to Oz?

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 00:01:20 +0000

Q. I am planning a one-way trip to Oz from Edinburgh, time and changes no object. Any suggestions? My dad says you're in the know.

@WeeSlice, by Twitter

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: Ideas please for a trans-world meet-up

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 00:01:57 +0000

Q. We want some destination ideas for three girlfriends to meet this year. Two of us are London-based and the third lives in Auckland. We're keen to find somewhere which offers a fairly even flight time (and investment) to get to, whilst still being budget conscious. Our previous holidays together have been European city breaks, but the beach also appeals. We're considering July, or October-December as options.

Catherine Webber, Surbiton

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: A heart patient chasing a flight extension

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 00:00:46 +0000

Q. Last July I booked a holiday to South Africa through Expedia, flying on KLM, in April. I then discovered I will need a heart operation at that time. I asked Expedia to contact KLM and ask for a one-year extension. KLM would only give a year's extension from date of purchase of tickets, ie until July 2013. Is there any way we could persuade KLM otherwise? I have sent a fax to KLM with a doctor's letter but had no reply. As we are pensioners, nearly £1,500 on flight tickets is a lot to lose.

Gordon Hamman, Kendal, Cumbria

Simon Calder: Car hire in Florida takes a giant leap... back to the Forties

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 12:00:00 +0000

America has many great strengths, but public transport from airports is not one of them. Sanford airport in Florida has no public bus link to Orlando, the city it serves. The airport's slogan – "Next Exit: Fun" – emphasises that the vast majority of British travellers who touch down there will rent a car. But this weekend, they may be turned away – leaving families stranded on the sidewalk, all packed up with nowhere to go.

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: It looks as if Spanish economy has hit another link from the UK

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 00:01:56 +0000

Q. It has been widely reported in the Spanish media that Ryanair will stop flying to Valladolid from 5 March. If you try to book a flight on the website you cannot book from this date. We have booked tickets for April but we have not received any communication from Ryanair. There is nothing on their news page.

Michael Lynch

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: Can I claim compensation for delayed flights?

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 00:01:23 +0000

Q My wife and I were on a flight from Manchester to Madeira in May 2006. It was delayed for several hours. The return flight was delayed even longer – instead of returning in the early evening, we got back early the next day. Can I claim compensation?

Barrie Wilkinson, Lincolnshire

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: Where is safe for two young women in New York?

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 00:01:44 +0000

Q I'm sending my daughter and her friend to New York City as a 21st-birthday present. Could you advise me as to which areas I should look for a hotel that would be central and safe for two young women?

Name withheld

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: A good guide book for Rome

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 00:01:05 +0000

Q A friend is going to Rome to celebrate her 60th birthday. Can you recommend a good guide book which I could buy for her? More doing than reading. The internet is awash and I am confused.

Janet Lloyd

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: A holiday with a nine-year-old daughter

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 00:01:57 +0000

Q. My partner and I are middle aged and reasonably active with a nine-year-old daughter. But we haven't had a holiday since her birth.

Simon Calder: Look sharp if you want a Shard sunset

Sat, 09 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0000

The train just arriving at platform 16 of London Bridge station has been on a journey of less than 40 minutes – yet it has touched all four compass points. The service begins in West Croydon, and snakes through the suburbs pausing, in the correct order of rotation, at North Dulwich, East Dulwich and South Bermondsey.

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: Sightseeing in deepest Finland

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 12:35:11 +0000

Q I am flying to deepest Finland from Heathrow, with a five-and-a-half-hour stopover in Helsinki. Is this enough time for sightseeing or am I doomed to wander the corridors and gift shops waiting for the hours to tick by?

Alastair Kleissner, South Wales

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: Pre-booking a parador

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 00:00:55 +0000

Q We would like to tour around Spain, in our own car, staying in paradors. We want to pre-book - what is the best way to do this?

Sue Wright, Worcester

48 hours in: Turin

Sat, 02 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Travel Essentials

Why go now?

Between now and Easter, this stylish city at the foot of the Alps is welcoming, uncrowded and accessible, thanks to the frequent ski flights. Turin is much more than a gateway to the mountains: it is one of Italy's great cities, offering visitors a spectrum of indulgence from high culture to rich chocolate.

Dine out despite the pathetic pound in your pocket

Sat, 02 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0000

The intensity of the thimble-sized espresso demanded a drenching of sugar. Once the bitterness turned sweet, it became the perfect digestif.

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: Ash cloud compensation

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 13:37:09 +0000

Q We live in Spain but were stranded in the UK in 2010 because of the ash cloud. We had to return by ferry and plane from Santander to Alicante. We also incurred extra costs in the UK. Can we claim from Ryanair?

David Chapman

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: How can I find out about train travel in Europe?

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 22:17:50 +0000

Q I'm having real trouble trying to find any useful websites for train travel in Europe! I only want to know how much, roughly the individual tickets will cost me compared to buying a rail pass. but I just can't find any websites that will help me. Can you recommend anything?

Alice Robeson

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: Is Las Vegas suitable for our two adult kids?

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 08:58:38 +0000

Q We have two adult kids (23 and 19) and are thinking of visiting Las Vegas. Because of US licensing laws our 19-year-old cannot go to most of the venues we had hoped to visit and many of the alternatives suggested seem more appropriate for younger teenagers. Should we forget Vegas until he is older?

Keith Bradley-Adams, Swansea

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: Why can't I buy a cheap rail ticket from London to Penrith at Easter?

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 11:38:13 +0000

Q Virgin Trains has only just released tickets for the Easter weekend, and already there are no cheap ones between Euston and Penrith.

Simon Calder: Another winter of airport discontent

Sat, 26 Jan 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Amie Richan was among the luckier passengers. Last Saturday morning she woke up in a hotel bed, rather than on a thin plastic mat on the floor of Europe's most expensive building, Heathrow Terminal 5. Even so, she shared the oft-quoted sentiment attributed to W C Fields: "All in all, I'd rather be in Philadelphia." She had been heading home to Pennsylvania, but was one of tens of thousands of BA passengers whose flights were cancelled at short notice last Friday when the snow arrived over London. Once again, Europe's busiest airport proved unable to cope. We pick up her story just after her flight has been abruptly cancelled and she was told to return "landside".

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: What do you think about Austravel?

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 00:01:30 +0000

Q. Could you please tell me what you think about Austravel as a company? We would like to use them when we travel to Australia at the end of the year.

Les Collins

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: What do you think about Austravel?

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 00:01:24 +0000

Q. Could you please tell me what you think about Austravel as a company? We would like to use them when we travel to Australia at the end of the year.

Les Collins

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: Should I cancel Tunisia break because of North Africa 'terror risk'?

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 00:01:59 +0000

Q. I have just booked a week in Tunisia with First Choice in May 2013. I am a woman travelling alone with two children. I am now scared because of what happened in Algeria and the prime minister saying North Africa is a terrorist risk. Should I cancel my holiday, also do I have all my deposit back if I booked less than 14 days ago.

Tracy Kyriakoulis