Q On our silver wedding anniversary in July 1990 we travelled on Concorde to the south of Sweden and then on the QE2 to Southampton and from there to Victoria station by the Orient Express. Our children arranged a Mercedes to take us from Victoria to our house. Next year is our golden wedding anniversary. Could you suggest something similar?
Rajinder Chawla, via email
A Sadly you can’t take another trip on Concorde or the QE2 but a journey on southeast Asia’s most luxurious train through Thailand and Malaysia would be suitably special. After a chauffeur-driven car to Heathrow, a Thai Airways flight to Bangkok and a night at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel you’d board the Eastern & Oriental Express for the three-night journey to Singapore. Then you’d be whisked off to Raffles Hotel, staying in a Courtyard Suite for a night before flying back to London — where a chauffeur would be waiting to drive you back home. This would cost £4,110 per person based on business class flights, and if you book before December 1 you’ll get an upgrade to a State Cabin on the train (0845 0772222, belmond.com — Belmond is the new trading name for Orient Express).
Q We (a family of five) are going to Barcelona for the October half-term. We have booked flights but could you suggest a hotel for around £1,000, including breakfast? Could you also offer any tips on keeping down the cost of sightseeing? I’ve heard that museum entry is expensive.
Mike O’Connor, via email
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A I think an apartment might be a better option for the five of you. One of the best is the Boutique Apartments (theboutiqueapartments.com) in a prime location on Passeig de Gràcia — near the Gaudí buildings Casa Milà (La Pedrera) and Casa Batlló, and an easy journey from the airport on the metro. Its biggest apartment, Mrs Jauma, sleeps up to six in three swish bedrooms, there’s daily cleaning and vouchers for breakfast and tapas each day at a nearby café. Four nights in October would cost about £940. Alternatively, try the equally stylish Gaudint Barcelona Suites, in a quiet residential neighbourhood next to Guinardo Park and 20 minutes’ walk from Gaudí’s Park Guell (the old town is ten minutes by metro). The three-bedroom apartment is so well equipped there’s even a Playstation and a hot tub. Four nights in October, including breakfast, would cost £701 through booking.com. As for sightseeing, there are a number of free walking tours that work on a tips only basis. Travel Bound (travelbar.com) runs tours in English three times daily and Runner Bean’s (runnerbeantours.com) is at 11am each day — book at least 48 hours in advance. The neo-gothic cathedral offers free entry in the morning and the late afternoon and the excellent Boqueria market is another free delight (unless you fall for some Iberico ham). Some museums (including the Picasso) offer free entry after 3pm on Sundays and there are several cards offering discounted entry (Barcelona Card, Barcelona Museum Pass) but check carefully to see what’s included — none includes Gaudí’s Sagrada Família, which I would expect to be high on your list of must-sees. Book your chosen museums in advance if you can, to avoid endless queueing.
Q Would a flight depart if a passenger has a boarding pass but does not show up at the gate in time? We travelled back from Cephalonia and there were huge queues for the single hand-baggage scanner. Tour operators were telling their clients they could jump to the head of the queue, which I declined to let them do. Should I have been more accommodating?
Michael Hall, via email
A This was no time for niceties. Possession of a boarding pass does not guarantee a seat on the plane — if the gate closes your luggage will be unloaded, leaving you to make other arrangements.