GO ADVICE: JOAN SCALESgives advice on a dream trip to the Panama Canal, a solo traveller looking for some sun, and a classic US road trip
Traversing the Panama Canal
I have always wanted to traverse the Panama Canal and once saw a cruise from LA to Florida I think? Can you think of any similar trips? I’m not big into cruises so five days would be fine, I would also like to witness the canal from the ground rather than just staying on the ship. Money can be a bit of a problem but I am planning this for my 60th in June 2012 so have time to save.
CW
The Panama Canal cruise season is from October to April and the ideal time to go is when the rainy season ends in November, so you would have to go either before or after your birthday.
Journeys that go through the canal are for varying lengths of time. The major cruise lines tend to have long itineraries, usually 14 days upwards, and the Panama crossing is part of a longer itinerary. I have found a seven-night cruise with Star Clippers, which has sailing ships, starclippers.com. It begins or ends in Costa Rica depending on whether you travel east or west. Prices are from $1,400 (€970) pps.
There are a number of partial Panama crossings, in which the ships do not do the full crossing, but drop passengers in the town of Gamboa where you can do some shore trips and see the sights. Princess and Holland America do these partial crossings, princess.com and hollandamerica.com.
A 10-day Fort Lauderdale to Panama round-trip cruise will cost in the region of €1,200pps with Princess.
The trip from San Diego, California to Fort Lauderdale via Panama takes 15 days and costs from €1,100pps with Holland America line. Royal Caribbean has a number of cruises that begin and end in Panama and tour the southern Caribbean but do not traverse Panama. A six-night cruise in January will cost from €624pps, royalcaribbean.com.
When crossing the canal there are several sets of locks to negotiate and in some places they are side by side. Here you can get a great view of ships passing in the opposite direction as it takes some time to clear each lock.
A little hint from a friend, if you do get to do it – leave your camera on the balcony overnight to get acclimatised to the humidity, as cameras tend to steam up in the heat.
Going solo to the sun
I would like to go on a week’s break in October by myself, somewhere nice and warm. I would prefer to go to a hotel, near a beach and with lots of facilities full- or half-board. I would consider going on a cruise if it would not be too expensive.
AK, Tralee
There are a number of things you could consider doing for your holiday and a cruise is not out of the question. Some cruise lines encourage solo travellers and have facilities to suit. The prices might seem a bit high, but includes all meals, entertainment and activities. Depending on the cruise line, the single supplement can be from 50 per cent on top to double the price.
Crystal Cruises are big in the solo market and Fred Olsen line are good for the over-50s and Saga Cruises too. NCL’s recent ship Epic has 128 single cabins and Holland America actively caters for people travelling alone. Most cruise lines will also have a “find a partner”, programme where you can share with someone of the same sex, to keep the cost down.
In October Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seahas a cruise from Rome to the eastern Mediterranean and the Holy Land from under €600 including the single supplement. Usually on cruises they have an introductory event for solo travellers and this is a good way to meet others whom you might like to share meals or outings with.
Talk to a specialist cruise agency to find the best value cruise for you. Agencies to consider are cruiseholidays.ie, e-travel.ie, heffernans.ie.
An agency that specialises in solo holidays is Friendship Travel, based in Northern Ireland, and it can price in euro and arrange flights from your nearest airport.
In October it will have a house party-style holiday in Turkey and also a walking trip along the Lycian Coastal Walk too. There will be a house party-style holiday to Rhodes in Greece and it has space on Norwegian’s Epic for a Mediterranean cruise. Contact 048-94462211 and friendshiptravel.com.
Other ideas for your trip would include booking through one of the newer-style travel agencies where you can combine air services with accommodation and transfers. They have a range of accommodation such as hotels on a half-board basis. I have seen holidays to the Algarve and the Costa del Sol where the weather will be lovely in October for €450 – €800 half board with lowcostholidays.com, clickandgo.com and steintravel.ie.
Road Trip USA on the way
We are travelling to the USA next month and plan to hire a car for 10 days. We are starting our trip in Savannah, Georgia and ending in Wilmington, North Carolina. What is the best option for car hire in the US? Should we book online or book it from a travel agent here in Ireland before we go? Or just hire one at the airport when we get there? Also what type of insurance should we get to cover us fully for the trip? Both of us would also like to drive while there.
OK, Kerry
Car rental is always a minefield and difficult to figure out how much it is actually going to cost you once you add any variables. Your variables include a one-way rental, additional driver, extra insurance and GPS. Some of these charges are only applied on the day of rental.
The basic price will always appear good value, but then add the variables and it can easily double. Because you are taking a one-way rental you would be better to book in advance, either with an agency or an international car hire firm.
Looking at the details of your trip, I think it would be better to book a car before you arrive in Savannah. If you rent on arrival you may not get the car you want. As to whether you book with a well-known firm or a broker/agent, I think the broker is working out a little cheaper, a midsize car with all the extras will cost in the region of €50 per day.
Rental broking firms here include arguscarhire.com and holidayautos.ie. The major rental firms of Avis, Hertz and National were working out much more expensive. Other rental firms will not do one-way rentals or will not do out-of-state rentals.
Most car rental will come with Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) as standard but you may want to take out the additional personal accident insurance and excess damage waiver. These will add to the cost of the rental by about $15-20 per day.