Travelmag@sundaytimes.co.za
EUROPE IN WINTER
I will be in Bologna, Italy, for business in January for a week. I want to spend some extra time in Europe. However, as it will be winter, it’s not really the best time to be holidaying. My wife wanted to go to Turkey/Croatia. I would appreciate your help in deciding where to go.
Both Croatia and Turkey are good options, equal in that they can both be cold and wet in January winter, but warmer than northern Europe. For example, average January temperatures in Dubrovnik range from 0°C to 7°C, while in Istanbul it’s 4°C to 8°C. Croatia would be cheaper as it is a short hop across the Adriatic Sea.
Of course, there is a huge element of luck when it comes to weather, and while you can dress warmly for winter in either case you cannot escape the fact that there are only about five hours of daylight.
Some people love visiting European cities in winter because there are fewer tourists and their interests are indoors and cultural rather than outdoor adventures or beach holidays.
For that reason, you could consider staying on in Italy unless you have explored its riches before. From Bologna, you could easily explore Milan, Venice, Sienna and Assisi, or even Rome. The weather would be much the same.
EASY WALKING NEW YORK
I am 76 and planning to spend a week in New York next
The areas you mention are also the most central — and expensive. It would be hard to find anything in Manhattan for less than $200 a night. The Hotel Edison, at 228 W 47th Street, is probably one of the least expensive and starts at $200 a night. This art-deco hotel dates back to 1931 and is a two-minute walk to Times Square and a threeminute walk to the subway.
Air B’nB is a very useful resource and you might be able to rent a room in an apartment or a home for less than a hotel.
You could also widen your search to other boroughs — Queens, Staten Island (you’d have to catch the free ferry in every day) or Brooklyn, which are presently very fashionable. Harlem and Washington Heights in the north are very manageable. Buses are the best way to travel if subway stairs are a problem.