All your holiday questions answered

Are you looking for a baby-friendly holiday? How about a resort with wheelchair access? Whatever your holiday special requirements, get your questions answered here.

car and family

Q. Where’s a good place to go on holiday with my dog?

A. The most straightforward kind of holiday with pets is probably a country cottage-based one, where you’ll have access to plenty of open space and a garden with room for your dogs to roam around. Rental agencies usually specify individually whether a cottage accepts pets, but most do.

Go to the heart of England for an energetic holiday with your dog. The Cotswolds are very pretty, as are places in Herefordshire such as Ross on Wye.

Autumn is a good time to go, as prices tend to dip after mid September.

It might also be worth investing in a copy of Pet Friendly Places to Stay by the Automobile Association.

Q. I’m epileptic. Will my tablets be available in Australia?

A. You’ll be glad to hear that Lamotrigine is available in Australia, under the brand name Lamictal. For details of availability and cost in Australia it would be worth telephoning the School of Pharmacy at the University of London (0207 753 5800) who may be able to help or at least point you in the right direction.

The UK has a reciprocal healthcare agreement with Australia which allows for free hospital treatment as long as you can provide proof of UK residence and a temporary entry permit. You usually have to pay for treatment at most doctors’ surgeries and you also have to pay for prescribed medicines. You will need to enrol at a local Medicare office, but this can be done after you get treatment. Some doctors’ charges may be partially refunded by the Medicare scheme, but if so you need to claim before you leave.


Q. We want to do a walking tour with our 10-month-old baby. Advice, please!

A. Not all walking holiday companies are willing to include a baby in the party - but some will accommodate them depending on the walks envisaged and the mix of people booked. Try Ramblers Holidays or Headwater Holidays, both of which offer holidays in Andalucia and Crete. If they are not willing to let you join a guided group tour, they may be able to plan an independent itinerary for you, where you are likely to meet lots of other walkers.

As for guidebooks, look out for the Rough guide to Crete and Crete West: Rother Walking Guide. Or call the Greek National Tourism Organisation (0207 734 5997).



Q. Do you know of any organisations that can help disabled people with their holiday arrangements?

A. Have a look at the Disabled Holiday Directory, which lists all sorts of holidays worldwide, or read the government’s Door to Door guide for disabled travellers

When it comes to flying, wheelchairs are not always supplied free of charge. Buzz, EasyJet and Ryanair will supply wheelchairs free of charge if requested at the time of booking, and Thomsonfly will also provide free wheelchairs on production of a doctor’s letter or disabled badge.

Find out more about holiday destinations for disabled travellers with specialist travel agents Access Travel and Can Be Done.


Q. Can you recommend good weekend cookery courses in the UK?

A. A good contact for you would be the Red Letter Day company. This company specialises in events or breaks to be given as presents, and features a number of cookery packages. These include the Sushi School experience, courses at the Mosimann Academy, masterclasses with John Benson-Smith and culinary classes at Nairn’s. These are day or half-day packages, usually including a gourmet meal with wine. Prices range from £65 to £149.

Alternatively, look in the back of any cookery magazine and you will find a wealth of independently run hotels that often offer cooking courses and demonstrations when you stay with them at certain times of year.