Every day I receive an inbox full of travel questions and I love helping consumers – some I can answer confidently, and some I have to refer to other travel resources and experts. This week has been especially busy, so I thought I would feature the ten most popular travel questions this week.
What is the best package holiday site?
That’s a difficult question to answer because they are so many holiday sites, but Travel Republic recently won an award for best travel agency website. Then you have Thomson and Thomas Cook. Independent travel agencies, Co-op Travel and Barrhead Travel, both reputable companies.
Do you have advice for finding camping sites in the Lake District?
Good question – I have stayed at a few National Trust campsites in the past when camping in the Lakes. Great Langdale was my favourite, and it’s cheap, but it’s in the middle of no-where and whilst it has a bus service, it’s not regular – also try Find a Campsite.
Where is the best place to exchange foreign money?
I usually choose between Marks and Spencer or the Post Office but no matter where you go to exchange currency, you’ll find the rates are pretty much the same, and for the amount you save it’s not worth the hassle of wandering around the high street for the best deal.
Do I need travel insurance for a weekend in Amsterdam?
Yes. It doesn’t matter if you are travelling abroad for 2 days or 2 weeks, anything can happen; your baggage may be lost (especially if you fly with BA), you might have your passport or possessions stolen, or end up in hospital, especially if it’s a boozy stag weekend.
How do I reclaim tax from cancelled flights?
I am assuming you are referring to the air passenger duty. Initially, contact the airline direct by telephone and back it up with an email or letter, bear in mind though that most of the airlines will charge an administrative fee for refunding you the money, which I know is outrageous.
Does the National Express free Wi-Fi access actually work?
I’ve travelled twice with National Express since they took over the East coast line from GNER, and in both occasions I was impressed with their customer service and the fact that the Wi-Fi is free of charge. I had no problems with the Wi-Fi but remember that technology isn’t 100% reliable.
Do you know of a hotel at Royal Ascot?
I usually start off by searching Google but one of my favourite hotel sites for sporting events is Match Hotels – Late Rooms and Active Hotels are hotel booking sites with a good selection of hotels, alternatively search on comparison sites Travel Supermarket and Kayak.
Why are holiday prices so expensive during school holidays?
Travel companies will say it’s simply because of supply and demand, but they don’t realise that parents are backed up into a corner and have no option but to take a holiday during the school holidays as they can now be fined for taking their child out of school during term time.
What is so good about booking holidays on line?
For me it’s for convenience because I only have a 30 minute lunch break, so it does not give me time to run around the city centre and book with a travel agency, so instead I go online and research, plan and book my holiday online. The downside is that you loose human contact which is important.
What is Barcelona like for wheelchair accessibility?
I struggled to answer this question because I have never been to Barcelona, but whilst wheelchair accessibility in most European cities has improved, there is room for improvement. The best site I could find for information on wheelchair accessibility is Tourist Guide Barcelona.
If you have any travel related questions then please complete my contact form and I will either respond to you personally, or mention your question on the blog. Readers, please feel free to leave your responses to any of the questions above.
