Ask Joan: Exploring Israel and going to Malaga and the Costa del Sol

I'm going to Israel to attend a conference in mid-April and will have three or four free days. I would like to spend some time in Galilee. Ideally I would like to join a pilgrim group, but I am not sure if there is a pilgrimage I can join just for a few days when I am there? I am hesitant about travelling by myself. Failing this, can you recommend somewhere nice like a retreat centre around Galilee where I could spend these few days? Any other recommendations for a solo pilgrim interesting in seeing the Holy Land would be much appreciated. – AOH, Vienna. A lot of pilgrimage groups will have set dates for the visiting Israel and usually for five to 10 days. You could join a tour with viator.com, they have regular trips to the north that includes Nazareth, the Golan Heights and Galilee. A two-day trip will cost from $360 (€330). There is also a selection of one-day trips to different regions.

It might be worth considering a few days in Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee and using it as a base to explore the region. This company – tourplanisrael.com – has daily tours from Tiberias. You can also travel around with Egged buses, egged.co.il. The bus company also runs tours of Israel for four and seven days.

The Franciscans have a number of retreat houses in Israel and Palestine and they welcome guests. They are called Casa Nova and they are in Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Tiberias, Nazareth, Mount Tabor and Ein Karim. You can see details on custodia.org. You could arrange a private tour, or join a semi-private group, contact pomegranate-travel.com. See thinkisrael.com for more tourism information.

I have been invited to a wedding in Malaga in May. We were thinking of combining my trip with a family holiday so that I would travel to Malaga for the night and rejoin my family afterwards. We haven't been on any foreign holidays as a family and I have no idea where to start looking. My partner and I tended to go on more active holidays before the children arrived. I would be grateful if you could please recommend somewhere relatively convenient to Malaga, with activities to keep my other half and our children amused. Our budget is about €2,000. – AMC Dublin .

May is a good time to go on a family trip as the weather will be nice without being too hot and the prices are considerably less than in July and August. It would be possible to combine the wedding and a family trip for your budget.

The ideal way to do this trip is go with a package that would include flights, accommodation and transfers. Towns along the Costa del Sol that would have family friendly hotels and are beachside include, Torremolinos, Benalmadena, Fuengirola and Mijas Costa. You will not need a car for any of these places. They have easy access to Malaga city by bus or train so you can join the wedding group.

Sunway Holidays has a choice of four properties in this area with prices under €500 each for a week, including flights, 20kg baggage, transfers and self-catering accommodation. See sunway.ie.

Other companies such as clickandgo.com, lowcostholdays.ie and cassidytravel.ie may be able to do this package for between €1,300 and €1,800 for the family. You could book flights yourself and find a hotel or apartment. One of the most popular places on this coast for many years is the Sunset Beach Club, owned by FBD. A week in May would cost €490-€700, depending on the type of accommodation. See sunsetbeachclub.com. Send your queries to jscales@irishtimes.com.