✉ In August, my husband and I started looking for flights back to New Zealand, to visit our daughter and grandson. After our own Internet search, a travel agent contacted us, Crystal Travel, who was anxious to help and found a special agreement that offered British Airways, with two legs in premium economy and Singapore’s legs to Auckland, and Auckland return to Shanghai, in first class. But when trying to reserve legs for the Air New Zealand legs last week, they told me that the seats were just a premium economy. Crystal Travel remained firm that we had transmitted the previous treatment. Ba now says that the whole trip is in a premium economy and we I have to endure that. This is not right. We are out of pocket and with less than a month before our departure date, there is no way we can buy an executive class stage for any part of our trip at a reasonable cost. Can you help?
Kay Dixon
Unfortunately, he reserved an impossible trip: BA said he would never sell this agreement because he does not offer this route to New Zealand and Air New Zealand has no first-class cabins on his Singapore-Auckland or Auckland-Shanghai routes. His tickets have been confirmed as a premium economy for the entire trip.
Crystal Travel insists that the original reserve “was reflected both on the British Airways website and in the mobile application”, but now it has reimbursed £ 250 “as compensation for the difference in class.” He added that BA had rejected a request to update flights to the executive class. Crystal has some terrible online reviews: although its score in Tustpilot is 4.8 of the five and only 2 percent of the reviews are a star, if it is observed that you will find many recent complaints and advice to avoid.
Auckland, on the north island of New Zealand, seen from Waitemata Harbor
Getty images
✉ We love Georgia’s wine and we really want to go there. I heard that there are new direct flights in April with Easyjet and British Airways, which suggests that its proximity to Russia is not a problem. Is it safe to go? And is it easy to travel inside Georgia independently without hiring a car? What would you recommend for a one -week or ten days trip?
Katy Davies
In spite of the recent protests in the capital, Tbilisi and in other places, there are no foreign office tips against trips to most Georgia, apart from the separatist regions of South Ossetia and Abjasia. Regent Holidays will take him happily there: he says that the country occupies a prominent place in the various security and security tables of the International League, and suggests that the best way to move is with a private driver and guide. Their cultural landscapes of eight nights of Georgia Tour are held in Tbilisi, Kazbegi in the mountains of Caucasus and Kutaisi, one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world and in the home of the Bagureti Cathedral of the eleventh century. It begins at £ 2,625pp, including flights, half a table, private vehicle with an English-speaking driver and speech guide at all times, in addition to entry rates (Regent-Holidays.co.uk).
• Georgia travel guide
✉ My two wonderful friends and I like to go together every June for three nights in the middle of the week and it is an incredible pleasure for us because we all have children and we have occupied lives. Ideally, we would like a flight time of less than four hours, somewhere with good restaurants and bars, beautiful views and excellent weather. Our usual budget is around £ 700 to £ 1,000pp, but less if possible. Any suggestion?
Laura Downey York
What about Frascati, the lively Italian wine city where the Romans escape the heat of the city on summer weekends, although it should still be a 28C roasted? It is a 30 -minute train trip southeast of the capital and is full of excellent restaurants and wines bars known as Fraccotte. On a short taxi trip is the Pope’s summer retreat, Castel Gandolfo, on a hanger overlooking the Volcanic Lake of Albano. You should not miss lunch at the neighboring restaurant Pagnanellli, which has the same beautiful views and an excellent winery (Pagnanellli.it). Lake Nemi, where you can see the remains of Caligula’s party ships, must also be on your list. Stay in the 16th -century Tuscolan village, which has views of Rome and beautiful formal gardens. If you really want to save money, you could share a triple room, which starts at £ 185 B&B in June (villathuscolana.com). Fly with Ryanair from Stansted to Roma Ciampino airport, which is about nine miles from Brascati. Basic return rates in June begin at approximately £ 90 (Ryanair.com).
The Pope has a house with a view to Lake Albano
Alamia
✉ My wife and I are planning a long weekend in London at the end of March to celebrate our wedding anniversary. Any idea for an afternoon tea that is not too suffocating and a wine tasting?
Sam Mitchell
I would recommend Theatre Royal in Dury Lane, which has a creative afternoon tea (with flavor instead of sandwiches) in its large living room for £ 59pp. If you choose to caviar, blinis and champagne are also £ 99pp (Thelane.co.uk). His trip is perfectly timed for Searcys Bubbly Show in a large Georgian house in Carlton House Terrace, right next to Pall Mall, where you can take English champagne and effervescitas from dozens of producers on March 28 (March 29 is exhausted). Tickets begin at £ 70pp, including unlimited tastings and antipasti snacks (Searcys.co.uk). Or address the opulent wines of hedonism in Mayfair whose spectacular store house regular tastings: there is a cognac showcase on March 28 for £ 75pp (Hedonism.co.uk).
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• Seven of the best teas of London’s afternoon under £ 40
✉ In January 2024, my wife paid a three night stay in Toronto from August 28 through Booking.com. When we reached 10 pm, we couldn’t get access to accommodation and when we contacted Booking.com, they told us that it was no longer available. Fortunately, even at that last hour we could find another place to stay, but it was very stressful. Upon our return to the United Kingdom, my wife tried several times to get Booking.com to reimburse the £ 650 we pay. In the conversations with their agents, the validity of our application was recognized and confirmed in writing. But the refund never arrived. On January 10, after looking for advice from our Local Council of Citizens, we send a letter through the delivery registered to the Booking.com headquarters in the Netherlands. We have not had an answer. Can you help?
Christopher Allison
Do not envy that you have to stop to find a place to stay after a transatlantic trip to what was 3 am of the United Kingdom. It is scandalous that its reservation has been canceled without prior notice and the delay in obtaining a refund has added insult to the lesions. After entering, Booking.com quickly paid. A spokesman said: “We apologize for the delay in receiving reimbursement. After the review, we can see that the customer’s case was not managed to the standards for those we fight. The complete refund has been processed and we will also reimburse the price difference for the alternative accommodation that the client reserved. “
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