All your holiday questions answered

Are you looking for somewhere new to explore on your travels?

Q. Can you recommend a green safari sharyn?
I want to go on safari, but I don't want to go with a company that does anything exploitative, i.e. doesn't pass on the money it makes to the locals.

A. You’re right to say that a lot of safaris don’t pass on the money to the local people. Many locals, particularly in east and southern Africa, don’t even have access to their ancestral land anymore because of conservation and the demands of tourism. That’s not the fault of the tour operators, but a lot of people feel very uncomfortable finding Masai people, for instance, begging outside the Kenyan national parks as they go in for their safari holiday.

The best thing is to go on safari with a tour operator which links up with a community-owned tourism initiative, or - if you are an independent traveller - go and stay with a community-tourism project instead of an ordinary game-lodge (many of which are foreign-owned). You can find these projects and tour operators in Tourism Concern’s new Community Tourism Guide which is available in bookshops, and you can read a shorter version of it here.

Feel free to ask awkward questions of the tour operator about community involvement and where the money goes.

Bear in mind that if seeing animals is your major thing, many communities do not have the funds to take tourists on jeep tours - only walking tours, which is why tour operators are necessary middle-men. Facilities with community-based projects are often pretty basic too, but can be far more culturally interesting than normal safaris.

Q. I’m taking the family to LA and Vegas - any money-saving tips?
’We’re a family of five and whould appreciate any help with arranging our accommodation, entertainment and eating out.’

A. Las Vegas is, of course, set up to take your money through the city’s many casinos. Set aside a bit of money for having a gamble - who knows, you might win! - but you can also soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the weirdness of the place without overspending if you’re careful. Entrance to the casinos is free and no one can make you bet if you don’t want to - you’ll get plenty of entertainment just watching others win or lose!

Take the time to wander around the theme hotels, some of which are jaw-dropping. There’s the MGM Grand - the biggest hotel in the world - which you enter through the jaws of a lion, or the Excalibur - built like a fairy-tale castle with a moat and fire-breathing dragon.

Food and drink is reasonably priced and the portions are huge, so you can probably feed the kids from the adults’ portions. Drink refills are often free - so again kids can share yours. All the establishments really want you to spend your money gambling - so if you can resist that, you’ll probably have a cheap time of it!

For further information, try the Nevada Tourist Office (01564 794999), or for a Las Vegas information pack, call 08705 238832.

Los Angeles, by contrast, is not cheap to visit, but you can make savings by thinking twice about where and when you buy. If you’re visiting the theme parks, think about taking a packed lunch with you, or come out of the parks to eat at cheaper places off-site.

Lots of activities are free. Entrance to the J Paul Getty Museum is free, as are the non-stop open-air amateur circuses that perform on Venice Beach.

Mixing with the wealthy will cost you nothing if you just look - admire the mansions of Beverley Hills, window shop on Rodeo Drive, and spot the bronze stars and handprints as you walk down Hollywood Boulevard. For lively and affordable shopping, try the Farmers Market - a huge open-air food market west of Beverley Hills.

For paid-to-enter attractions, get the Hollywood City Pass which gives you entrance to eight attractions ($49 for adults, $35 for children), including Universal Studios.

For further information, try the Los Angeles Visitors Bureau (0207 318 9555), or visit their website.

Q. Can you recommend a cheap-’n’-cheerful sunshine break?
’We are a party of seven and our ages range from 52 to seven months. We also need a place that’s wheelchair friendly.’

A. What about Playa de las Americas in Tenerife? The vast majority of the good-quality four-star hotels here are very disabled-friendly, conforming to the best standards and with plenty of ramps to ensure accessibility is not a problem. If the disabled member of your party does not wish to take his or her own wheelchair along, it is also possible to hire wheelchairs in Tenerife - ask at your hotel reception for details.

As for the attractions of the resort itself, it has seven sandy beaches and a prestigious marina, and although some bars have steps, there are lots of waterfront pavement bars and restaurants that should suit. Some hotels offer babysitting services as well.

Tenerife is competitively priced and featured by all the major tour operators.

 

Q. What’s a good Majorcan resort for a family break?
’This is our first family holiday abroad, and we would like to do something other than sit in the hotel or on the beach.’

A. How about Cala d’Or? This is a well-established resort, quite lively and well-equipped, but far less commercialised and mass-market than some on the island. It has a good, safe beach which the children will love, and plenty of restaurants and cafes with an up-market (and truly Spanish) feel to add interest and colour.

You might also want to consider the Hotel Cala d’Or, a four-star establishment very close to the beach. It doesn’t offer a kids’ club as such, but it does have pools and playgrounds, evening shows and dancing, and very much welcomes families. There’s golf and horse-riding nearby, too.

Car hire is relatively inexpensive (around £130 a week) on the island, and would allow you the freedom to explore at your own pace.

 

Q. Where’s best to stay in Spain?
’My wife and I are planning a trip to Spain soon. Any pros, cons or recommendations? I can’t find much on accomodation. We would like to see the Mediterranean during our stay.’

A. I’d recommend going right down to the glorious south, to Andalucia, and flying to either Malaga or Gibraltar. Andalucian cities such as Granada, Cordorba and Seville are superb and dynamic, and the white hill towns and villages around Ronda extremely picturesque.

On the coast, there are family resorts such as Fuengirola and Estepona - low key and serviceable, if not exactly beautiful. Torremolinos and Benidorm are striclty for party animals. If you fancy mingling with the monied yacht set, you’ll need to head slightly north up the coast to Marbella and Puerto Banus. And east of Malaga is the very pretty and low-rise resort of Nerja, an ideal and relatively unspoiled former fishing village that still retains some charm but is lively at the same time. It’s also an extremely good base for visiting Granada on day trips. Or, if you want something even quieter, about a mile inland is the tiny village of Frigiliana.

So many holiday firms go to Spain that it’s hard to recommend just one as it really depends on your budget and requirements. I’d recommend visiting the Association of Independent Tour Operators, where you can search through its list of members by both country and holiday type.