Wednesday, 10 December 2008
Hotel near Duomo
Q: My husband and I will be spending 4 nights in Milan in early February. We would like a hotel on or very close to the Duomo Square - not one of the very expensive ones but at least a 4 star. Do you have any suggestions? Maybe there is one tucked down a side street? - Lorraine Winship
A: There are plenty of hotels around the Duomo, including the wonderful Bulgari Milano and the Park Hyatt Hotel, two of the best hotels in the city. However, with room rates over 600 Euros per night, these do not really fit your bill. A hotel that can be recommended is the oddly-named Hotel Canada, which scores far higher with travellers than its three-star standard. Newly renovated, the rooms are very comfortable with modern furnishings and equipment. It's not cheap at 180-240 Euro per room, but still fair value for Milan. (Tel: +39 02 58304844 www.hotelcanada.it). You could also try the Brunelleschi Hotel Milan, a four-star hotel close to the Duomo with only 28 traditional Milanese-styled rooms. Expect to pay around 200 Euros per night for a double room. (Tel +39 02 88431 www.hotelbrunelleschimilano.com). Another good boutique hotel which has a five-star rating is the Hotel Spadari al Duomo. It boasts modern decor and a bilingual staff. For a special treat, book a junior suite on the seventh floor for a view of the cathedral. Double room rates from 250 Euros with www.tablethotels.com (Tel. +39 02 72002371, www.spadarihotel.com). You should also check the discount hotel booking websites for cheaper rates.
Solar Eclipse in 2009
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Q: I believe that a solar eclipse takes place in July this year and that the best place to view it will be China. How important will this one be? Can you give me details of the eclipse as I would love to view it. - Roger Dericksen
A: A total solar eclipse will take place on Wednesday, July 22, 2009. It is certainly a significant event, as it will be the longest solar eclipse this century and the next comparable one only takes place in June, 2132. This eclipse will last for up to 6 minutes and 39 seconds, with the maximum eclipse occurring at 02:35:21 UTC about 100 km south of the Bonin Islands, southeast of Japan. However, it will be clearly visible from a narrow corridor through northern India, eastern Nepal, northern Bangladesh, Bhutan, the northern tip of Myanmar, central China and the Pacific Ocean. Most organised tours will head for China, where it will be visible in cities such as Chengdu, Chongqing, Wuhan, Hangzhou and Shanghai. If you can't make it there, a partial eclipse will be seen throughout South East Asia and north-eastern Oceania.
Q: I believe that a solar eclipse takes place in July this year and that the best place to view it will be China. How important will this one be? Can you give me details of the eclipse as I would love to view it. - Roger Dericksen
A: A total solar eclipse will take place on Wednesday, July 22, 2009. It is certainly a significant event, as it will be the longest solar eclipse this century and the next comparable one only takes place in June, 2132. This eclipse will last for up to 6 minutes and 39 seconds, with the maximum eclipse occurring at 02:35:21 UTC about 100 km south of the Bonin Islands, southeast of Japan. However, it will be clearly visible from a narrow corridor through northern India, eastern Nepal, northern Bangladesh, Bhutan, the northern tip of Myanmar, central China and the Pacific Ocean. Most organised tours will head for China, where it will be visible in cities such as Chengdu, Chongqing, Wuhan, Hangzhou and Shanghai. If you can't make it there, a partial eclipse will be seen throughout South East Asia and north-eastern Oceania.
Saturday, 6 December 2008
A-Z of bullfighting
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Q: My son would love to watch a bullfight when we visit Madrid in June next year. Does fighting still take place? If so, where should we go and how do we get tickets? Any other information would be welcome. - Janice Kingstone
A: Bullfighting remains very popular in Spain, despite intense opposition. However, the King of Spain is a fervent supporter and has been quoted as saying that "the day the EU bans bullfighting is the day Spain leaves the EU". The most famous arena in Madrid is the Las Ventas Bullring, which seats 25,000 people. It is located in the east of Madrid and you can get there by Metro (Las Ventas station or by taxi). Fights are held on Sundays from March to October. You can buy tickets at one of the many ticket offices in central Madrid (try Galicia in Plaza del Carmen. Tel: 91 531 27 32) or online at the www.ticketstoros.com website. You can also buy tickets at the bullring on the day of the fight (or the two days before that).
If you are hoping to attend a fight during the three-week San Isidro festival (May-June), you will have to book in advance. With fights every night at 7pm, this is the best bullfighting season and is always sold out. The best - and most expensive - seats are in the shade close to the arena. The better seats go for around 100 Euros. One of the hassle-free ways to get to a bullfight is to book a "city and fight" tour, which will take you to see the city's most famous sights and then take you to Las Ventas to watch the bullfighting. Your tickets are booked in advance and you will be transported back to your hotel after the fight. An English-speaking tour, from May-October, is offered by Trapsatur agency (www.trapsatur.com).
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Q: My son would love to watch a bullfight when we visit Madrid in June next year. Does fighting still take place? If so, where should we go and how do we get tickets? Any other information would be welcome. - Janice Kingstone
A: Bullfighting remains very popular in Spain, despite intense opposition. However, the King of Spain is a fervent supporter and has been quoted as saying that "the day the EU bans bullfighting is the day Spain leaves the EU". The most famous arena in Madrid is the Las Ventas Bullring, which seats 25,000 people. It is located in the east of Madrid and you can get there by Metro (Las Ventas station or by taxi). Fights are held on Sundays from March to October. You can buy tickets at one of the many ticket offices in central Madrid (try Galicia in Plaza del Carmen. Tel: 91 531 27 32) or online at the www.ticketstoros.com website. You can also buy tickets at the bullring on the day of the fight (or the two days before that).
If you are hoping to attend a fight during the three-week San Isidro festival (May-June), you will have to book in advance. With fights every night at 7pm, this is the best bullfighting season and is always sold out. The best - and most expensive - seats are in the shade close to the arena. The better seats go for around 100 Euros. One of the hassle-free ways to get to a bullfight is to book a "city and fight" tour, which will take you to see the city's most famous sights and then take you to Las Ventas to watch the bullfighting. Your tickets are booked in advance and you will be transported back to your hotel after the fight. An English-speaking tour, from May-October, is offered by Trapsatur agency (www.trapsatur.com).
Luxury at Lake Malawi
Q: Can you recommend a good hotel on the shores of Lake Malawi. As we are taking friends from the UK with us, we would like to stay in a really good hotel of four or five-star standard, preferably with a resort atmosphere. I would be happy if you could give me a website address or telephone number. - Brian Johnstone
A: For a resort-style hotel, your best bet is Club Makokola, located on the palm-fringed southern shore of Lake Malawi. Besides a great beach, the hotel offers a nine hole golf course, squash courts, tennis courts and swimming pools. Water sports available include parasailing, water skiing, boardsailing, wake-snake and tubing. The hotel also has a catamaran which can be used for excursions and sunset cruises and owns the MV. Sunbird, a 23-metre steel colonial style cruiser for trips on the lake. Rooms and suites are comfortably furnished, all with lake views from private balconies. (www.clubmak.com)
A totally different type of resort is Kaya Mawa on Likoma Island, located in the remote northern part of the lake. This lodge-style hotel lies on a stunning crescent-shaped beach, surrounded by mango trees. Built in partnership with local people, the result is seven cottages that reflect both simplicity and luxury. Rooms have a four-poster bed, a private terrace and a sunken stone tub in the bathroom. Enjoy meals in the restaurant with its 360-degree view and drinks at a beach bar. The island is great for water sports and boat safaris. (www.kayamawa.com) Other hotel options include the colonial-style Livingstonia Beach Hotel and the comfortable Nkopola Lodge. Both can be accessed on the www.sunbirdmalawi.com website.
A: For a resort-style hotel, your best bet is Club Makokola, located on the palm-fringed southern shore of Lake Malawi. Besides a great beach, the hotel offers a nine hole golf course, squash courts, tennis courts and swimming pools. Water sports available include parasailing, water skiing, boardsailing, wake-snake and tubing. The hotel also has a catamaran which can be used for excursions and sunset cruises and owns the MV. Sunbird, a 23-metre steel colonial style cruiser for trips on the lake. Rooms and suites are comfortably furnished, all with lake views from private balconies. (www.clubmak.com)
A totally different type of resort is Kaya Mawa on Likoma Island, located in the remote northern part of the lake. This lodge-style hotel lies on a stunning crescent-shaped beach, surrounded by mango trees. Built in partnership with local people, the result is seven cottages that reflect both simplicity and luxury. Rooms have a four-poster bed, a private terrace and a sunken stone tub in the bathroom. Enjoy meals in the restaurant with its 360-degree view and drinks at a beach bar. The island is great for water sports and boat safaris. (www.kayamawa.com) Other hotel options include the colonial-style Livingstonia Beach Hotel and the comfortable Nkopola Lodge. Both can be accessed on the www.sunbirdmalawi.com website.
Cold in Hong Kong?
Q: I will be in Hong Kong for the first week of February next year. I was surprised when a well-travelled colleague suggested I take along a coat for the cool weather, as I always associate the city with heat and humidity. Does it really get cold enough to warrant taking valuable luggage space with a coat, jerseys and heavy winter clothing? - Anne du Toit
A: Hong Kong can get very cool in February. In fact, it is the coldest time of the year, with an average high of 18 degrees celsius and an average low of 14 degrees. However, it can drop as low as 9 degrees celsius during the day and there have been times when the temperature has dropped below zero at night. Days should be clear, though, although you may experience some light drizzle. If you are worried about luggage weight on the return trip, take some old winter wear that you can ditch on the last day. Wear your coat and your heaviest shoes for checking in at the airport, so that they don't add to your luggage weight.
A: Hong Kong can get very cool in February. In fact, it is the coldest time of the year, with an average high of 18 degrees celsius and an average low of 14 degrees. However, it can drop as low as 9 degrees celsius during the day and there have been times when the temperature has dropped below zero at night. Days should be clear, though, although you may experience some light drizzle. If you are worried about luggage weight on the return trip, take some old winter wear that you can ditch on the last day. Wear your coat and your heaviest shoes for checking in at the airport, so that they don't add to your luggage weight.
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