ASK JOAN:All your travel questions answered
Solo in Istanbul
Due to work commitments, I can't take holidays until early October. I am planning on taking a week in Istanbul to see the city and visit some of the islands close by. What sort of temperatures should I expect at that time? Any recommendations on good, well-located hotels, preferably with a pool, that won't blow the budget? Also, I'll be travelling alone – is Istanbul safe for a single female traveller? – FOC, Dublin
By October the weather will have cooled in Istanbul from summer highs in the 30s, to a comfortable 19 degrees or so daytime and around 11 degrees at night.
Istanbul is a huge city of more than 13 million people, and lone female travellers should use common sense when exploring the city, and avoid being out late at night alone. Keep to busy places and avoid chat-up lines. Joining tours can be a good way to explore the city.
Relaxed casual clothing is the most suitable, but remember that Turkey is a Muslim country and discreet dressing will help you avoid unwanted attentions. When visiting mosques you should take off your shoes, cover your hair – and no shorts or bare arms.
Hotels in Istanbul are quite good value and you will find a selection under €70 per night. abbeytravel.iehas holidays to Istanbul and has rates in the Grand Tahir Hotel from €62 per night, 01-8047125.
Hotels with pools will be more expensive, expect to pay from €100 per night. These hotels have pools – orientexpresshotels.comin Sirkeci; HKK Hotel, a restored Ottoman mansion in Sulthanahmet, hkkhotels.com; the Mia Pera Hotel near Taksim Square and Galata Tower, miaperahotel.comand sister hotel the peratulip.comin the Beyoglu district.
The nine Princes Islands or Adelar are a popular destination for day trips and overnights from the heat of the city. There are ferries from both the European side at Sirkeci and Kabatas and on the Asian side from Kadikoy and Bostanci. Your hotel should have a timetable, but generally they operate frequent services, though less so in October. More information on goturkey.com
October sun in Portugal
My husband and I are going to Albufeira (Algarve) in late October/early November for a week. Will it still be warm enough to sit out during the day and could you recommend some nice scenic areas to visit using local transport? My husband is not keen on sitting on a beach too long. A reasonable deal is why I chose this holiday. – MD, Kilkenny
At that time the temperature in Albufeira will be around 15-19 degrees with six to seven hours sunshine a day and low rainfall. Overall the weather will be mild, and pleasant enough to sit outside. The sea will still be warm, so you could take a dip too.
Albufeira has three long, sandy beaches: Pescadores, Peneco and Inatel. The colourful fishing boats on Pescadores beach are also used for tours around the natural grottoes along the coastline. Some day cruises provide lunch and drinks, which is a great way to enjoy the sunsets.
The old town centre has a real traditional feel, with whitewashed houses and narrow, cobbled streets lined with cafes and shops. In the central square you can taste some of the local fish-based cuisine.
The tourist train is a great way to travel around the town and it stops on the strip, at fisherman's beach, the old town and the town hall. There is a network of buses called Giro from the bus terminal to Montechoro, Santa Eulalia and Oura. Have a look at visitalgarve.ptfor more ideas of things to do, events and exhibitions.
Route for a Spanish trip
We will be visiting an apartment just west of Torrevieja in late September and realise that we do not really know the country we have flown over so frequently. So we would like to fly into the north or west of Spain and make our way there by train and/or bus, maybe via Madrid, with a visit to Toledo on the side. Our destination is Alicante or Murcia; familiar territory. We have no Spanish and plenty of time. – IM, Mayo
I would suggest learning a few words of Spanish, just to help along the way. As soon as you leave the busy tourist regions of the Costas, there can be little English spoken. But most people can make themselves understood and a smile goes a long way.
Flying into the north or west of Spain would give you a choice of Santandar with Ryanair, or Bilbao with Aer Lingus – an area mostly known as Green Spain. Watch out for places names, they can have two or three names for the same place in the Basque country.
In the north and west of the country there are two regional train services, feve.esand euskotren.es, both websites are in Spanish, so you may need some help in using these. Like many countries the networks of buses and trains usually radiate back to the capital and you will find this is probably the best way for you to incorporate Toledo into the programme, with good bus and train services from Madrid. Madrid is worth a few days to explore and to visit the Prado and the Royal Palace.
The mainline, national rail is renfe.comand they have an English website, which is not too bad to use. Generally you will find yourself asking for help at the local tourist office. Around Spain the bus service is alsa.es/enand it connects all the major cities.
Take out the map and have a look at where you would like to go. Generally buses and trains around Spain are modern, good value and usually on time. What is confusing is how long things take, stops along the way and if you have to change or not.
But give it a go and you will enjoy exploring.
Email your enquiries, with your name and address to jscales@irishtimes.com