Q My wife and I are taking our 12-year-old grandson to London for a week. How can we squeeze in a couple of days in Paris?
Kent Miller
Fairfax
A The easiest way is to take Eurostar. Fares range from $45 to $249 each way depending on class of service, time of day, weekday or weekend and time of year. The train departs from London's Waterloo Station and goes to the Gare du Nord station in Paris. The trip takes about four hours. Info: Rail Europe (877-257-2887, www.raileurope.com) or Eurostar (www.eurostar.com).
A tour operator called Britain Shrinkers also offers unescorted and escorted day and overnight tours from London to Paris via Eurostar. The tours are pricey -- $445 per person for the escorted overnight tour -- but it's an option if you don't want to deal with the details. Info: 011-44-1963-435650, www.britainshrinkers.com.
Air travel is often cheaper than rail, but you have to get to the airports, which adds time and money to the equation. Check www.openjet.com for options.
We will be cruising from Barcelona to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in late November. What kind of weather can we expect for the transatlantic portion?
Lucille A. Bland
Woodbridge
The Atlantic Ocean is wildly unpredictable. In late November, you can get driving rain and temperatures in the 50s. You can also have sun and temps in the 60s. Take a warm raincoat with a hood just in case.
