Live webchat with Debbie Marshall, MD of Silver Travel Advisor

Good afternoon Gransnetters from the lovely offices in Kentish Town. I'm sitting with the team and will do my best to answer your questions today.

inky

Can you recommend a lovely Alpine resort to visit in summer that doesn't require hours in a bus to get there and doesn't incorporate lots of nausea inducing hairpin bends. In an ideal world it would be a train ride from the airport and you wouldn't need a car once you got there but I appreciate I may be living in cloud cuckoo land

Hi Inky
I love the Alps in summer, it is my No.1 holiday choice. My favourite country is Switzerland, because I think it is the most beautiful, but also because you can catch a train from Geneva Airport to some of the most incredible picture postcard resorts. My favourite is Wengen because it is traffic free (so no car needed, or indeed allowed!), but that is a longer transfer - around 3 hours. Closer are resorts such as Champery, Chateau d'Oex and Leysin. The Swiss Tourism website www.myswitzerland.com/en/home.html?gclid=CK6Truee47YCFdQctAod0zgA7Q has great information, or you could book with a quality tour operator such as Inghams who have a wide range.

marissa

Which are the best airlines to fly long haul in economy (ie most space, best facilities). May dream of business class but it's never going to happen

Hi Marissa

My suggestion is that you vist the very helpful site - seat guru - www.seatguru.com/charts/longhaul_economy.php who compare all the different airlines with respect to space, seat pitch etc. My auntie was very complimentary about Malaysia Airlines with whom she flew to Kuala Lumpur last year (she is in her 80's). Virgin Premium Economy is very good if you can consider this within your budget.

locococo

Hope you can help. I always thought you needed to have six months minimum left on your passport to travel out of the UK. Someone told me for the USA it's a year. Is this true?

Hi Locococo

That's a good question - I have checked on the US Embassy website for you, and surprisingly they state that the 6 month rule is waived for UK citizens. Here's the link for you www.usembassy.org.uk/visaservices/?p=485. However, I would recommend that you always have 6 months remaining on your passport just in case you encounter delays or find yourself in another country unexpectedly.

Galen

I sail regularly with Cunard. I love them but find their single supplements of 100% horrific. Is there a comparable more reasonably priced company?

Hi Galen

Single supplements are always a real bone of contention and not just for cruising. Most lines do charge a supplement varying between 50% and 100% which I know is very steep. The problem is that the majority of cruise ships have only double cabins hence the larger supplement. The good news is that the cruise lines are recognising this and the newer ships are starting to have single berth cabins specified from the start. Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL) has 128 such cabins, and the P&O Cruises ships Azura and Ventura also have good numbers of single cabins. Not surprisingly these do book out quickly so you will need to plan ahead.

Granny23

Although we have a small budget for holidays, we have been to many wonderful places, simply by picking up late deals off season. However now that DH is over 70 the travel insurance required is proving prohibitive, sometimes almost as much as the holiday itself! Neither of us has any serious health problems and when I fell on our last holiday, the ambulance, treatment and medication were all covered under EU rules and our Travel Insurance was not required. Is it really necessary to have expensive travel insurance in Europe?

Hi Granny 23

Travel insurance can be a real challenge once you turn 70, and I have known of cases where the insurance premium can cost almost as much as the holiday itself. Pre-existing conditions of course increase the premium and in some cases are tricky to insure. However, I cannot advise that you do not take out travel insurance - it really is essential. The reciprocal EU agreement will cover you for emergency healthcare, but there are so many other situations in which you could find yourself needing medical attention. It just is not worth the risk. AGe UK and Citybond have very good policies for older travellers and I can also make suggestions for people who have pre-existing conditions.

firenze

I'd like to take my husband on a city break for our 30th wedding anniversary. We've been to Paris, Amsterdam, Rome and Barcelona - any suggestions for places we'd have good food, lots of things to see and a great atmosphere?

Hi Firenze

Looking at your name, I wondered if you have considered Florence for your wedding anniversary? It is the most wonderful and romantic city - perfect for a short break.... wonderful markets to buy a new handbag and other leather goods, culture, art, piazzas to wander around, stroll across the Ponte Vecchio, eat good food outdoors. It makes me want to go there just thinking about it.

Otherwise, what about going east to Prague or Budapest. Both tick your requirements. And a final suggestion for something really different - a short break in Marrakech...

MumMum

I am going to Hanoi in June to look after my four year old grandson. It will be hot and very humid, any tips please!

Hi MumMum

My aunt went to look after her grandson in Kuala Lumpur and I have asked her for a few tips....I have the long version and Gransnet say that you can ask them for it directly. But here is the summary:

stay hydrated, limit alcohol and caffeine, wear breathable materials, find the right deoderant, take regular cool showers.... and try to find somewhere with air conditioning at least part of the time as the difference in climate and humidity will be quite a shock initially. Don't overdo things initially and allow time to acclimatise. My aunt had a wonderful time once she got used to it, and ended up staying an extra week!

closetgran

I would love to go on safari (I have a big birthday coming up next year) but I am not on a five star budget. are there ways of visiting Africa and seeing animals a bit more cheaply?

Hi Closetgran

A safari is a wonderful and truly once in a lifetime (for most people!) holiday, and worth researching very carefully to make the most of your experience. Typically people like to combine a safari of say 4-5 nights with an equivalent time on the beach or perhaps touring elsewhere. It is an expensive holiday, but companies such as Kuoni offer good value along with the reassurance of being in safe hands. For a tailormade quote, also try Rainbow Tours whose team of specialists are really knowledgeable and will go the extra mile to get the right holiday for you.

Also consider innoculations and ensure that you have planned these (including the cost) in advance.

TerriS

This May our 1st GC is due to be born in New Zealand and we shall be travelling there from Dubai, where we're residents (although British Citizens). Are we covered under the reciprocal arrangements with NZ for British Citizens, or do we need additional insurance? Also does it matter how long we stay there or are there restrictions on this? (I'm staying for 6 weeks, OH for 2)

Hi TerriS
I've checked this out and it does look like you will need insurance. Although you are British Citizens, you are not residents and so the agreement does not apply as it says "must be ordinarily resident in the UK". More information can be found on NZ government site www.health.govt.nz

Brie

What's the best website to buy flights? Direct from the airline website or through a third party? They have quite good rates on Sky Scanner, but I've always been worried if I had to cancel, whether it would make things complicated by going through a third party.

Hi Brie

I really like Sky Scanner as a comparison site - it saves a lot of time trawling through the different sites by bringing all the information together in one place. Sometimes I have then checked the airline's own website in case it is cheaper, but it is not. You don't need to worry about cancelling as once Skyscanner links you through to the actual airline in order to book, you will then be bound by the airline's terms and conditions (always check these regarding cancellation policy before you buy as they do vary).

congereel

I have never been to Greece but I'd like to go in late June. I want sea, views, food, a bit of pottering around, a nice house (not too expensive) or small hotel - not a party scene.

Are there any islands or place you'd particularly recommend, or is it all much of a muchness?

Hi Congereel

What a lovely time to travel to Greece - ahead of the crowds but usually warm enough to swim in the sea, and not too hot that you can't enjoy othe activities such as walking. The locals will be thrilled to see you too!

A villa is a perfect choice for an informal holiday with family or friends. From my own experience I would recommend CV Travel who have a fantastic selection in Corfu on the lovely north-east coast, and also in Cephalonia, which is one of my favourite islands. If you want somewhere quieter, you could try Paxos, which is a short hydrofoil from Corfu. It's a wonderful and unspoilt island with what I think is my favourite beach in the world in Anti-Paxos where the aquamarine of the water is breathtaking..

swishybutt

What resorts can you recommend for gentle skiing for one not-very-young beginner and one not-very-young person who has not been since breaking their arm in a skiing accident?

I'm scared by black runs (and red runs) and lots of people who I am convinced are going to crash into me if I am going slowly - but would like to get back on the horse (so to speak).

Austria, Italy, France? Or does resort matter more than area?

Hi Swishy - for gentle skiing, Austria is always a good choice. For example Saalbach Hinterglemm would be a suggestion with a wide range of gentle and forgiving slopes. Also St Johann is a lovely resort. I think it's important also to choose somewhere with more going on than just skiing so that you can take a day off if you choose to wander around the town and enjoy being in the mountains. For that reason I would stick to the more traditional resorts and steer away from the purpose built ones which can be very soulless.

David Graham who is a "silver skier" has written a number of good articles which you may find of interest about his skiing holidays for example:
www.silvertraveladvisor.com/index.cfm?v=David_Graham_StarWriter&fkArticleID=77&fuseaction=pubDsp.dspStarWriter

Once you find yourself back on the slopes, I am sure you will have a wonderful time and that your beginner partner will soon be converted!