Tourist visas for Australia and cheap hotels in Basel: The Holiday Guru gives some top travel advice

Getting tourist visas for Australia and finding an affordable hotel in Basel, Switzerland: The Holiday Guru gives some top travel advice

  • Tourist visas for up to three months’ travel, are free for UK citizens in Australia 
  • In Basel, Hotel Rochat is described as ‘charming’ and rooms cost from £95 
  • Alp Pasa Boutique Hotel in Antalya, Turkey, is suggested for a special occasion 

If there’s a travel dilemma to solve, the Holiday Guru is on the case.

This week getting tourist visas for Australia, finding reasonably priced accommodation in Basel, Switzerland, and a top spot to celebrate a 25th wedding anniversary are the hot topics.

Q. I think I have obtained an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) for my family’s forthcoming visit to Australia. But there seem to be many websites selling ETAs and, although I have paperwork saying we can enter, I am concerned. Is there somewhere I can confirm? Ron Byrom, via email. 

One reader says they’re worried about their visa situation before travelling to Australia  

A. Tourist visas, or ETAs, for up to three months’ travel, are free for UK citizens in Australia, available from immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas. Websites offering to obtain them on your behalf for a fee are effectively making money for nothing – as much as £47 per application.

Tourism Australia recommends reapplying for free to receive an official confirmation. A spokesman said that they were ‘frustrated’ by unofficial visa services, ‘but there’s nothing we can do about them’.

Q. My wife and I are planning to spend a couple of days in Basel, Switzerland, before embarking on a river cruise. Can you recommend any reasonably priced accommodation? John Strettle, via email.

A. Hotel Rochat is a quiet, charming, three-star hotel in a historic building dating from 1899 (Lenin is said to have stayed there). Rooms cost from £95 (hotelrochat.ch). Or try Hotel Wettstein, a modern hotel in the centre, with rooms from £92 (hotelwettstein.ch) or the ever-dependable budget chain Motel One, from £95 (motel-one.com).

One reader plans to spend a couple of days in Basel, Switzerland, before embarking on a river cruise and wants to find some reasonably priced accommodation

One reader plans to spend a couple of days in Basel, Switzerland, before embarking on a river cruise and wants to find some reasonably priced accommodation

Q. Friends of mine are set to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary and are looking for a special break, as they never had a honeymoon. Is there somewhere sunny, with a bit of luxury, and flights from Manchester for around £400 to £500pp? John Phillips, via email.

A. How about a week at the Alp Pasa Boutique Hotel – an Ottoman mansion in the old town – in Antalya, Turkey, with flights from Manchester, from £391pp B&B in late June – which will leave spending money for meals (thomascook.com).

WE’RE HERE TO HELP

If you need advice, the Holiday Guru is here to answer your questions and provide tips for your precious time off. 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. Please do not send in any original documents. We look forward to hearing from you.

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