JOAN SCALESanswers your travel queries
How can we set up a house swap in Arizona?
Q Our family of five adults is thinking of doing a house swap in Phoenix, Arizona, next Christmas. Is there any particular site that you can recommend for house swapping, and are there any particular issues one should bear in mind? Our family home is in the west of Ireland, and a second beachside property is available as part of the arrangement in Sligo.
JMG, Sligo
There are two very good sites that have been around for a long time, and both have thousands of swappers on them: www.homelink.ie and www.homeexchange.com. Finding someone who wants to swap their home in Phoenix with yours in Sligo may be possible. Both websites have very good guidelines and template exchange agreements for future swappers, and if you follow these you should not run into any problems. The key is to establish upfront what is being provided. Homelink has an agent in Ireland, Marie Murphy, whom you can contact on 01-8462598. The annual cost of membership is about €100. Don’t miss Go next week, when we’ll be looking at the reality of swapping houses in Ireland and France.
Q I am travelling alone to a friend’s wedding in the province of Cáceres, in southern Spain. I was wondering if I could make a brief foray to northern Africa, maybe part of Morocco, by train and ferry. I gather that the journey would be manageable but do not know where to look for help or information, so maybe you can give me a few hints. If staying overnight, for example, would I need to book a hotel in advance, for safety’s sake? The wedding is next month.
CM, Dublin
Getting to Morocco from southern Spain is a relatively easy adventure. You can take the train to Algeciras and from there catch a ferry. The journey takes less than an hour, and ferries run around the clock.
You’ll find train timetables on www.renfe.com; ferry company sites are www.trasmediterranea.com and www.comarit.com.
I do not recommend that you go to Morocco on your own, however. It can be bewildering and intimidating for a solo traveller. There is a company that arranges guided trips to Morocco from the Costa del Sol – an ideal way to explore this interesting country. Have a look at www.viator.com and put Costa del Sol in the search box. Here you will find a variety of trips from the Costa del Sol around Andalusia, plus a five-day trip to Morocco that visits Tangier, Rabat, Casablanca and Fez. It costs from €400.
Q We will be going to the US at the end of June, until the end of August, and will be based in New Jersey. We have three children under 10. I am looking for ideas of places to visit at weekends, and also for a week’s holiday. We would like to include a trip to Disney at some stage, and are wondering where else you would recommend. We really want to make this a holiday of a lifetime.
FL, Kilkenny
New Jersey has a wealth of things for you and the family to do during the summer, and with the warm weather it will be perfect for exploring. The ease of access to various states is perfect for exploring. Within the state of New Jersey you’ll find a variety of great theme parks. One favourite is Six Flags Great Adventure Park, ideal for a day out.
New Jersey has fabulous beaches, running more than 160km from Sandy Point to Cape May, and not so far to drive for days out. You could also consider renting a house on the coast. For more, see www.nj.gov/travel.
New York will only be a step away, and lots is always on in the summer for children, much of it free. The American Museum of Natural History is a must-see. You can see what’s on around New York on www.nycgo.com.
Disneyland in Orlando, Florida, is easily accessible from Newark airport with various airlines. Prices in Orlando are lower this year than last, and hotels along International Drive are usually good value. The hotels at the Disney resort are perfect for little children. Disney characters are usually wandering around to meet the children. See http://disney world.disney.go.com for help planning your trip.
Orlando is not just about Disney; it also has a great range of other theme parks, such as Universal Studios, Aquatica and Seaworld. You can buy tickets that combine visits to a variety of parks from www.attractionticketsdirect.ie and find tourism information on www.orlandoinfo.com.
Go contact
E-mail questions, with your name and address, to jscales@irishtimes.com