Ask Joan

We are planning a visit to Texas in autumn, travelling to Corpus Christi, San Antonio, Austin, and Dallas. Should we book independently or take a fly-drive package through a travel agent? We intend to travel for about
16 days. Which hotel chains would you suggest and should we book as we travel along or before we leave Ireland. Could you also suggest a car hire company? – AH Dublin

If you have a look at flydriveusa.ie, tel: 01-853 5000, you will see this exact trip is on their website over a nine-day itinerary. The price from €1,099pps includes flights, accommodation and car hire for the duration. You can easily add in extra days to the trip and stay longer in some places.

If you were to book it yourself, flights in October are less expensive than September, so expect to pay under €600 return to Dallas with United Airlines or British Airways. Car hire for 16 days will depend on the size of car and other variables, but a Chevrolet Aveo for 16 days with arguscarhire.com will cost around €360. The prices are based on booking well in advance.

When it comes to staying in hotels, as you are going to be away for a few weeks, if you use the same brand you could earn reward points for each stay. Depending on your budget, the Hilton Honors programme is one of the world's biggest. You also have a choice of Marriott and Holiday Inn Express. These brands will have properties in all the cities you plan to visit. You could also consider joining the Hotels. com Welcome Rewards loyalty programme and for every 10 nights booked, you can earn a free night. Look at traveltex.com for ideas of things to do, see and unusual places to stay.

We wish to do a self-guided walking trip on the Lycian Way and would appreciate any advice. Is it safe to travel in Southern Turkey? Is accommodation freely available along the route? We wish to walk six to seven hours daily for eight days and would prefer to find accommodation on route without booking in advance. Which route would you suggest we take? What is the best way to travel from Dublin airport? – AC, Kildare

It is quite safe to walk the Lycian Way in Southern Turkey. There is lots of advice, maps and accommodation details of the 500km route on the Lycian Way website, cultureroutesinturkey.com. You are unlikely to be able to finish the route in your timescale but should be able to cover quite a bit. It would also be worth your while getting Kate Clow's guidebook The Lycian Way. She was instrumental in developing this waymarked way.

The route runs between Antalya and Fethiye, there are some charter flights into the region with wingsabroad.ie, to Bodrum and flights would cost around €350 return. Otherwise Turkish Airlines have daily flights from Dublin via Istanbul to Antalya from €388 return, see thy.com.

Beginning from Antalya is probably a better option as you can take a bus back there when you get to the end of your trip.

Our daughter will be six next summer and we would love to head to Rhodes, particularly Lindos, for holidays. Is this an option flying from Ireland? Price is a major factor, as are activities for our daughter. We want a holiday that is active and fun with simple self-catering accommodation. – GC, Waterford

Rhodes is returning to the Irish holiday scene next summer with Falcon Holidays and direct flights from Dublin to Rhodes. If you book before August 31st this year, there are discounts for early booking and some free child places. There is availability in the self-catering Lindos View Studios, with two swimming pools, games and play area and ten minutes walk from picturesque Lindos town. Prices for a week in July are from €683pps and with a free child place, your holiday would cost €1,366 or €1,688 for two weeks. Deposits are €100pp, falconholidays.ie, tel: 1850 453545.