The best Greek island for a beach holiday in October and how to obtain a tourist visa for India: The Holiday Guru solves traveller queries
The Holiday Guru is always on call to answer your questions.
This week how to find a holiday to Croatia using a safe booking website and transportation from Toronto to Niagara falls are on the agenda…
Q. I am a solo traveller and would like to visit a Greek island for a cheap, beach holiday in October staying at a family-run hotel. Can you help?
Kristin, via email
The Holiday Guru recommends visiting one of Greece’s southern islands in October, such as Crete (above)
A. Temperatures in Greece drop off in October, so a southern island would be best. Average daily highs are a decent 23c in Crete. A week’s stay at the friendly, comfortable Lavris Hotels and Spa in Gouves, 600 metres from a beach on Crete’s north coast, costs from £489 for a single traveller departing on October 6 from Gatwick (0871 4743000, onthebeach.co.uk). You could also try Sunvil (020 8568 4499, sunvil.co.uk).
Q. We are planning a villa holiday in Croatia for ten adults and one child. It would be great to have a pool and also to be near a beach. Can you recommend a safe holiday booking website?
Mrs V.A. Cliff
A. Homeaway has many suitable options with properties from about £110 a night with a minimum booking of four nights (homeaway.co.uk). Alternatively, have a look at Oliver’s Travels (oliverstravels.com) and James Villas (jamesvillas.co.uk).oliverstravels.com) and James Villas (jamesvillas.co.uk).
Q. What is the best way to get from Toronto Airport to Niagara Falls?
Carol Logan, via email
Niagara Airbus arranges direct transfers of about 80-90 minutes from Toronto Airport
A. This is tricky. Public transport between the two is not the greatest, requiring niggly changes and taking three to four hours. However, Niagara Airbus arranges direct transfers of about 80-90 minutes from around £80pp return. See niagaraairbus.com.
Q. How much is a visa for India and how long does it take to be issued?
Sandra McLoughlin, email
A. E-visas for India, required even for cruise ship stop-offs, are £80 for British citizens and take up to 72 hours. You must apply at least four days before travel: indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html.
E-visas for India, required even for cruise ship stop-offs, are £80 for British citizens
Q. My sister and I would like to visit Novi Sad in Serbia next May. What are the best flights from Scotland to Belgrade avoiding Heathrow, and how would we get a train to Novi Sad?
Christa Briggs, Stirling
A. Lufthansa via Munich from Glasgow seems the quickest to Belgrade, although there is five-hour wait at Munich on the way back; returns are about £210 (lufthansa.com). Trains from Belgrade Center Station and Novi Sad depart regularly and take an hour; tickets are £2.22 and can be bought on the day (srbvoz.rs)
WE’RE HERE TO HELP
If you need advice, the Holiday Guru is here to answer your questions and provide tips on how to make the most of your precious time off. Please send questions to holidayplanner @dailymail.co.uk or write to Daily Mail Travel, Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT — and include your contact details. We will do our best to answer your queries but we can’t reply to every enquiry. Please do not send in any original documents. We look forward to hearing from you.