✉ My father died in February in Florida, so my husband and I booked return flights to Miami through British Airways so we could be at the funeral. The evening flight back was with American Airlines, but it was delayed due to a technical fault and then cancelled at 2am when the crew were over their time limit. Back in the airport we were told they could get us on a 9am flight that day, but as we are observant Jews we couldn’t take it because it was a Friday and we’re not allowed to travel on a Friday night, and the plane was due to land at 10.30pm in London. They booked us on a flight for Saturday night when we could travel. We had to book our own hotel for two nights and kept all our receipts as proof of our expenses. When we were back in London we sent these to our travel insurer AA, but all we got back were generic emails. I believe, as per EU laws, that we are entitled to £520pp for the cancelled flight but I’m not sure of our rights in this situation as everybody is telling us different things. It has been a very upsetting and stressful time and we just want to get back what we are owed. Can you help?
Lilias Wise
A I was sorry to hear about your father and that the flight cancellation had such an impact on your shiva (mourning period). After I got involved, AA agreed to pay you what you were entitled to, but at £228 in total, this turned out to be so much less than you expected. You flew on a US airline back to London and, as a result, didn’t qualify for EU reg 261 compensation (which only applies to UK or EU airlines in these circumstances). In addition, AA insists that because religious observances aren’t covered under the Montreal Convention, your opting not to take the flight you were offered means it doesn’t have to refund you for the second night’s hotel stay. It apologised for the inconvenience caused and has reimbursed you for the cost of the first night’s stay.
EU reg 261 compensation only applies to UK or EU airlines
ALAMY
✉ Four of us are planning to visit Tokyo and Kyoto in Japan in late October. Two of us would like to find out more about sumo wrestling — will there be tournaments to watch or is it possible to visit a training camp? — while the other two would like to experience some Halloween fun in Tokyo. What are our options?
Hector Cochrane
A The autumn sumo tournaments in Tokyo are a highlight of the Japanese sporting calendar, but they are held in September and November so you’ll miss out. You can, however, see a practice session as long as you’re happy to get up early: the Arashio stable lets you watch wrestlers through large street-facing windows from 7.30am and, if you’re really lucky, one of them may come outside and pose for pictures (arashio.net). If you’d rather have a guided sumo stable tour, these start at about £70pp (getyourguide.com). As for Halloween fun, trick or treating is not a big thing in Tokyo, but you won’t be able to miss pumpkin-themed food and drink across the city. The big street party on the Shibuya Crossing is likely to be cancelled again this year because of fears about overcrowding, but the Tokyo Tower hosts a light show and Halloween-themed virtual reality experience (en.tokyotower.co.jp). Note that last year customers were asked not to wear excessive costumes, bring large props, or use blood as part of their costumes.
✉ I’m planning a holiday to Antarctica in 2026, which will involve a cruise departing from Ushuaia, Argentina. Given the remoteness of the destination and the substantial cost of the holiday, are there any specific requirements I need to consider when looking for travel insurance; for example, using a company that specialises in holidays to Antarctica?
Jude Burnett
A A cruise to Antarctica is one of the most thrilling trips (a lot of) money can buy, but the remoteness and notoriously terrible weather mean you definitely need comprehensive insurance. You’ll require a cruise policy that will cover you for onboard medical emergencies and emergency evacuation as well as changes to the itinerary, missed port departure, cabin confinement and rejoining your cruise after illness. AllClear’s cruise policy offers all of these, as well as £25,000 cancellation cover (allcleartravel.co.uk). Avanti’s Deluxe policy (avantitravelinsurance.co.uk) and LV’s Premier policy are also worth considering, but have a £10,000 cancellation cover limit. If this isn’t enough, you can get extra cover at topupmycancellationcover.com.
A cruise to Antarctica is one of the most thrilling trips money can buy
ALAMY
✉ Our Australian son is coming to Europe in mid-May and wants to treat us to a luxurious week in a villa with a pool on or near a quiet beach. We’re keen to find one on a Mediterranean island that’s good for wildflower meadows. What can you suggest?
Sheila Rhodes
A Mid-May is often slightly late for the best of the spring wildflowers in the Med, but you should still see a decent display if you go to Crete. Top spots include Agia Lake, Polyrinia and the Omalos plateau in the centre of the island, and at this altitude you can expect to see wild orchids, tulips, poppies and anemones. Stay near Maleme, with its long, wide and quiet stretch of sand and pebble beach edged by low dunes, tall bamboo trees and tavernas. Iliada, which sleeps up to eight in four bedrooms, is a three-minute drive away, and with mountains behind and the Gulf of Chania in front, has cracking views. There’s an infinity-edged pool and a sun terrace, and a week from May 14 costs £1,026 (vintagetravel.co.uk).
Baker’s Tulips in Crete
ALAMY
✉ I want to plan an independent train trip around Spain but I don’t know where to begin. I need a good Spanish train network map and timetables, but from where? Any ideas?
Anita Scott
A Spain has one of the best rail networks in Europe and, if you want a physical map and a printed timetable, the third revision of the third edition of the Rail Map Europe and the 2024 European Rail Timetable are for you (europeanrailtimetable.eu). Online, the brilliant train travel site The Man in Seat 61 should be your starting point (seat61.com). There’s a beginner’s guide to travelling to and across Spain as well as an interactive map and the lowdown on all the rail operators. There’s also an excellent step-by-step guide on Trainline (trainline.com), which sells tickets for the same price as the Spanish companies, plus a small booking fee. Digital tickets are stored in the Trainline app so there’s no worry about keeping track of physical tickets. Of course, you could whizz across the country on the stellar high-speed network, but if you’d rather meander through rural spots, Tom Chesshyre’s book Slow Trains Around Spain: A 3,000-Mile Adventure on 52 Rides is essential reading.
Have you got a holiday dilemma? Email traveldoctor@thetimes.co.uk
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