I have had a pen pal for over 60 years. We are both in our 70s, and he has invited me to his summer place in Lake Tahoe. He says I need to get to Reno, but how do I get there at a reasonable cost, between July and September, from Manchester? A Pickles, Burnley
Sunday Times travel expert Richard Green responds: Yes, Reno is under two hours away from Lake Tahoe by car, and that is definitely the city that you should aim for. Unfortunately though, there aren’t any direct flights to Reno from the UK, so you’ll have to make a plane change on the way.
Fares in July/August start at a fraction less than £500, and the quickest and most convenient routing for you is with American Airlines (020 7365 0777) from Manchester to Chicago and then on to Reno. The total journey takes about 17 hours in each direction, but staying on the same airline simplifies things. Ask the American Airlines’ staff to direct you to the Reno departure gate in Chicago, which hopefully shouldn’t be too far away from the one you arrive at.
You’ll have to collect your checked-through luggage in Chicago too, and then drop it off at the transfer desk in the arrivals area. You’ll see lots of other people doing the same thing. It’s a pain, but at least you’ll know that your bag has made it as far as Chicago. You won’t have to do it on the way back, as your bags will go through to Manchester without you having to see them on the way.
If you are comfortable with the Internet, you could try using one of the big fare comparison sites, like Travelsupermarket, Kayak or Traveljungle. Or there’s CheapFlights, which as well as giving you fares from the big internet-based flight sellers, will list a lot of smaller, telephone-based travel agents that the above engines don’t list.
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Alternatively, call Travel Counsellors (01204 536000), who will put you in touch with a travel consultant who lives in your area. Or there’s Dial a Flight (0870 333 4488), Flight Centre (0870 499 0040), or Trailfinders (0845 0585858), which all have knowledgeable agents who can help with booking the right flights for you.