GO ADVICE: JOAN SCALESgives advice on finding teen fashion in Dublin, surfing in Portugal and staying in a convent in Rome
Braving Barcelona
My sisters and I are planning a city break with our mum and aunts in early November. We were thinking of going to Barcelona but have heard that it might be dangerous because of pickpockets and so on. Should we avoid it?
AMK, Meath
Unfortunately Barcelona has a bad reputation for pickpockets, bag snatchers and thieving. But it is a beautiful city and has lots of places to see and things to do and, if you are careful, you should not have a problem.
Leave your valuables in the hotel safe, only carry as much money as you need each time you go out and use a small bag that you can wear across your body, or a waist belt. I find that it is better to have a selection of small notes, and coins in Spain.
If you are going to use public transport, buy a transport pass so you do not have to be fumbling for money each time you travel. The hop-on, hop-off buses are good way to see a lot of the city and the major landmarks.
Don’t go around with swinging handbags and be aware of your surroundings. Try to plan where you are going, so you are not standing around with a map in hand looking lost.
Las Ramblas is best avoided at night. Be particularly careful in queues, cafes, on the Metro and keep an eye out for each other. See barcelonaturisme.com
Fashion and tours in Dublin
We are South Africans living in Galway and have yet lots to see around Ireland. We want to take our two children, who are 11 and six, to Dublin and wonder what would be interesting for them to see. We have been to the zoo but nothing else. Our daughter has heard of a new shop called Hollister. Has it opened yet? Is there parking nearby?
YC, Galway
Hollister a sister brand of Abercrombie Fitch and its new store has opened in the Dundrum Town Centre (AF are due to open in the city centre in College Green later this year). Dundrum Town Centre has shopping and a good selection of restaurants and cinemas. There is plenty of parking (dundrum.ie).
In the centre of Dublin there is good shopping in the Henry and Mary Street area, particularly the Jervis Centre, which has Topshop, Forever 21 and New Look, among others (jervis.ie).
The Grafton Street area has lots of shopping and is great for browsing and people watching.
One of my favourite places is the Dublinia exhibition by Christ Church Cathedral (dublinia.ie). It tells the history of Dublin from Viking and Medieval times in an unusual way.
Dublin Bus sightseeing tours are a good way to see a lot of the city, by day and night. Tickets are discounted by 20 per cent online (dublinsightseeing.ie). A two-day family ticket costs €25.60. The Viking Splash tour is also great fun (vikingsplash.ie).
A trip on the Dart or Luas would also be fun and will show you places you might not know. The following websites are good places to look for ideas of other things to do in Dublin, visitdublin.com, dublinks.com and museum.ie.
Family rooms are available in many hotels and a quick way to find availability and prices is on irelandhotels.com. Jurys Inns has family rooms. Bewleys Hotels has a number of hotels around the city and rates are from €55.20 a night, minimum two nights (bewleyshotels.com). The Pearse Hotel on Pearse Street has family rooms for €89 BB (thepearsehotel.com).
Convent stays in Rome
We are going to a wedding just outside Rome in September and plan to spend a night in Rome. I remember reading about convent accommodation in the
Irish Timessome time back and would be interested in that.
MS, Dublin
It is the Villa Rosa Convent, run by the Domician sisters. It is on Via Terme Deciane between the Piramide and Circo Massimo, and accessible by bus or subway (email villarosa2000@libero.it).
Bed and breakfast costs around €50 for a single room; €90 for a double and €105 for a room with three beds.
Surfing in Portugal
My sister and I (and possibly another friend) are looking for a last-minute activity holiday (probably yoga or surfing in Europe) departing around the August 8th. My sister is a bit restricted with an old injury so walking or cycling holidays are out.
TB, Dublin
A surf holiday in Portugal may fit the bill. I asked Surfholidays what it has available for your dates in August. It came up with two options: the first is the Casa Offshore in Lagos and it is a four-bedroom surf villa that sleeps up to 13.
It has a large garden, with hot tub and there are regular BBQs and movie nights. It is close to the town centre for night life and eating out.
All the guests in the house will be on surf holidays, so it can be very social. A week here costs around €470pps including breakfast, lunch and five days of lessons, equipment and transfer to Faro. Ryanair and Aer Lingus have daily flights to Faro.
The other suggestion is to go to Ericeira the surf capital of Portugal and about 30km north of Lisbon. This has self-catering in the Anna Margarida Villas. It is a complex with swimming pool, BBQ and shared common room. There is some availability for August and the cost would be around €508-520pps.
Each villa has a twin room and the third person would sleep on a sofa bed. The price includes six days of surf lessons, equipment and transfers from Lisbon airport. You can book on 01-4822828 (surfholidays.com). Aer Lingus flies to Lisbon.
E-mail questions with your name and address to jscales@irishtimes.com