JOAN SCALESanswers your questions
Q We desperately need ideas. Our dad's 70th is this summer, and we want to take him away somewhere for three to five days in September. We had wanted to go to Rovinj, in Croatia, but Ryanair flies to Pula too irregularly to co-ordinate anything. Flying to Venice is okay, but the ferries to Pula are almost non-existent at that time of the year. Flights to Zadar don't fit in with our dates. Do you know of any easy or direct way to get to Rovinj, bearing in mind that we are five people, two of whom tire easily?
Alternatively, can you recommend somewhere similar: warm but not hot, cultured but not too touristy, quiet but not moribund? ... Hilary, Dublin 4
If you have set your heart on Rovinj, remember that, although Ryanair has pulled the Dublin-Pula service, you can still go via London Stansted. Flights are on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, which may fit in with your dates. Stansted is a good airport to travel through - not too much walking. You will have to travel on two tickets, and it is advisable to leave plenty of time between flights.
If, on the other hand, you would like a suggestion for somewhere not too tiring to travel to, you could try Cervia, in Italy. Cervia is a lovely seaside town (twinned with Malahide) in Emilia-Romagna, with culture and good food. Fly to Bologna Forli with Ryanair. Cervia is 30 minutes away.
A friend recently stayed at the Romagna Antica ( www.romagnantica.it) and had a wonderful time. See www.comunecervia.it.
I'm heading to Croatia with my cousin this July for four weeks, and I'm wondering if you could recommend any places for two 19-year-old men for a bit of craic. ... JB Spillane, Kerry
A colleague who lived in Croatia came up with some ideas for you and your cousin. From July 4th to 6th the Garden Festival is on in Zadar. Don't be put off by the name - it's about great music and DJs, not gardening. See the line-up at www.thegardenzadar.com. He also recommends Split as a great city for good music and clubbing ( www.visitsplit.com). From July 28th, the Motovun Film Festival is on. Motovun is a small hillside town in Istria. Everyone camps out and enjoys the movies. There are plenty of music and other events on around the festival. See www.motovunfilmfestival.com.
Q We have booked a house for two weeks at the end of June in Essaouira, Morocco, for two adults, a six-year-old and a seven-year-old. The heat inland at this time of year will be too much for the children. Do you have any suggestions for day trips on the coast? We have never been to Morocco and just want to absorb the colours, smells, tastes and magic. The children might require more amusement, however. We have heard that the roads are very dangerous. Are we better off driving ourselves or trusting local taxi drivers? ... Catherine Enright, Galway
Essaouira will certainly be an interesting place for a holiday. You will enjoy the sights and colour of the town. It is also a popular destination for wind-, kite- and board-surfing, so it might be possible to get the children some lessons. The town has a number of surfing shops and schools. Club Mistral ( www.club-mistral.com) rents out boards and runs courses in Essaouira. Driving is not recommended in Morocco, but there will be no shortage of taxi drivers to take you on outings. Or you could take a day trip to Marrakesh, which is about two and a half hours away. If you are in Essaouira towards the end of June, the Gnaoua festival of world music ( www.festival-gnaoua.net) is on from June 26th to 29th. I have found a ranch that arranges horse and camel riding and walks in the area surrounding Essaouira. See www.ranchdediabat.com.
Email questions, with your name and address, to jscales@irish-times.ie