Q: My husband and I would like to spend five or six days in the Maldives. Could you
suggest some low-priced hotels? We'll be there in November. Jan Davies, email.
A: Prices in the Maldives are high. The cheaper hotels (and there aren't many) mightn't
be much to look at, with unpleasant rooms, iron roofs, old buildings,poor and rough
vegetation and basic facilities, but they get their atmosphere from cheerful customers
and an untidy, free island feel.
     Angaga (South Ari Atoll, phone 0011 960 450510), Asdu Sun Island (North Male
Atoll, email info@asdu.com.mv) are both a bit like this.
     You'll be there in the low season (May to November), when its' still warm, but
there's a greater likelihood of rain, so you should be able to get a double (standard )
room with full board (three meals a day) for $ 100 a night.
     However, pricing structures for the hotels are enormously complex for standard,
superior and luxurious rooms.
Q: My husband and I are from Australia.We are planning a four-week trip to London,
Dublin and Paris in October and we are shocked by the cost of hotels. We have
searched the Internet and hotel books given to us by tourist authorities but we can't
find anything cheaper than $ 150 a night.
Joan Maloney, email.
A: For Australians traveling Europe, especially its capital cities, is expensive. You may
have to increase your budget (预算) However, if you can't afford these costs, then you
should consider staying in hotels where the cheapest twin rooms with shared bathroom
cost about$20 a person in Dublin and Paris and $35 in London. The minimum you
would pay for a double room in a central area is $50 a person in Dublin and Paris and
$70 in London. These prices are for shared bathroom facilities, though you will get a
wonderfully unhealthy cooked breakfast thrown in.
     Not all hotels are equal, of course, and it's a good idea to consult a guidebook with
a good reputation.