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Your best fall-back option
We'd like to visit the USA to see the fall colours, but as we are teachers we can go only during half term at the end of October. Where will we see the best foliage? I understand that we will be too late for New England. - Roberta Freeman, via e-mail
In late October the foliage is at its peak in Virginia, West Virginia and the Carolinas. Book flights to Washington or Charlotte or Raleigh-Durham then hire a car or book a fly-drive with B&B through a US specialist such as America As You Like It (020-8742 8299, www.americaasyoulikeit.com) or Bon-Voyage (0800 3163012, www.bon-voyage.co.uk).
Another good reason for visiting the US in October is that you can't fail to get caught up in Hallowe'en preparations.
Also see www.visitusa.org.uk and www.seeamerica.org.
I am about to book a two-week trip to Orlando and would like to know why customers cannot buy tickets through www.disneyworld.com using a UK credit card. As soon as you key in your country of residence you are redirected to the UK site, where currency rates make tickets more expensive. On the UK site, a Seven-Day Park Hopper Plus costs £197. Apparently the rate was set at $1.74 to £1. When I last looked, the rate was almost $1.87, but the benefit has not been passed on. - Graeme Roberts, Stratford-upon-Avon
A spokeswoman for Disney said that it runs local websites through which customers can buy products and services in their own currencies. She also pointed out that the UK price for a Seven-Day Park Hopper Plus includes a bonus: the DisneyQuest experience, for which Americans pay extra.
However, you do not have to buy your tickets directly from Disney. Undercovertourist.com charges in US dollars but lists its prices in sterling. Because it can't predict exactly what exchange rate your credit card company will use, it lists ticket prices according to the current best-value rate and adds about 5 per cent as a safety margin.
Most people end up paying about 2 per cent less than the amount listed. When I looked, a Seven-Day Park Hopper Plus was £187.79 including tax and shipping.
Other websites include www.themeparkholidays.com (£178) and www.keithprowsetickets.com (£198)
and www.seligo.com (£201).
Last week, I was pulled over by the police while driving in France. They said I had gone through a red light, demanded €135 (£90) and asked for my documentation. Neither my wife nor I had enough cash, and there was no question of using a credit card.
A second van arrived with four more officers. It was made clear that unless I obtained the cash there and then, they would impound my vehicle and hold me at the police station.
With sirens blaring, and blue lights flashing, they drove me to the nearest bank, and physically accompanied me while I withdrew the cash.
I am quite prepared to accept that I may have gone through a red light, although, despite asking, I was never told where the alleged offence had taken place.
However, what I found especially disturbing was the aggressive and intimidatory manner of the police. The need for eight officers to deal with a minor traffic offence was, frankly, frightening.
- Tony Allen, Tenterden, Kent The French Tourist
Board confirmed that you were fined the correct amount for passing a red light and that foreign visitors are required to pay fines on the spot - or risk having their vehicles impounded.
A spokeswoman said that there has been a crackdown on motorists in recent years. Find out about driving regulations at www.franceguide.com in the general information section.
