I have some non-English- speaking family members coming to visit. Does Heathrow provide any services to help them navigate check-in? London is a multicultural city, and its airports benefit hugely from this. At Heathrow, staff proficient in a language other than English are encouraged to have the country’s flag on their ID badge to help passengers. There are also the so-called ‘Heathrow Helpers’, who can use an app to translate more than 20 of the most commonly
spoken languages. In busy areas, such as the flight connections centre, signs have QR codes that, when scanned, take passengers to further assistance in dozens of languages. A spokesperson for the airport says: “If a passenger is in need and can’t immediately find someone who speaks their language, we’ll always endeavour to find a colleague who can translate, either in person or via a call.” Airports also have
virtually universal signage and ‘iconology’ to help
passengers of all languages. Heathrow’s signs are orange with black icons, which are used at airports around the world. Other London airports are consistent in using live translation apps to help passengers who don’t speak English. So, while there’s no formal way of alerting an airport in advance that your non-English-speaking family will be travelling through its terminal, they should find plenty of help on the ground to aid them on their journey. BEN CLATWORTHY
I’m looking for an active holiday somewhere warm this autumn. Is Ibiza a good choice? Ibiza’s mountains and valleys have walking, cycling and horse-riding trails, while its protected coves and clear seas are ideal for water sports. Walking Ibiza runs guided,
half-day walks around some of the island’s wildest spots, including the Ses Salinas Natural Park in the far south. Autumn is the perfect time to spot the park’s famous pink flamingos. Group tours on varying routes around Ibiza
from €5 (£13) per person.
walkingibiza.com For guided cycling trips on
mountain, racing or e-bikes, try Ibiza Bike Tours. Options include the two- to three-hour Santa Eulària Tour, which takes in the bays of Cala Pada and Aguas Blancas by way of pine forests and lofty coastal paths. From €68 (£57) per person, based on a group of four.
ibizabiketours.com Ibiza Horse Valley organises
guided treks taking in the mountains and beaches of the less-visited north. Through
these activities, the company — a horse rehabilitation sanctuary for abandoned and abused animals — aims to build trust between horse and rider. Three-hour Herd Harmony Experiences from €65 (£55) per person.
ibizahorsevalley.com Alternatively, tour Ibiza’s
coves and cliffs by kayak to spot the UNESCO-listed Posidonia seagrass meadows, which cleanse and oxygenate the seabed. Ibiza Outdoors runs group trips from €59 (£50) per person.
ibizaoutdoors.com EDDI FIEGEL
Can you recommend some hotels with literary connections in Edinburgh? The first UNESCO City of Literature is teeming with sites for bibliophiles, but hotels with genuine literary connections can be harder to find. In New Town, Stevenson House was the childhood home of Robert Louis Stevenson, author of Treasure Island. Two rooms are available: a master bedroom fitted with the Stevensons’ original Victorian bath, and a twin room with book-lined shelves. The Oxford Bar, made famous by its inclusion in Sir Ian Rankin’s Inspector Rebus novels, is a short stroll away. From £145, B&B.
stevenson-house.com On nearby George Street,
InterContinental Edinburgh The George is set in a collection of Georgian townhouses, one of which was the family home of 19th-century novelist Susan Ferrier, whose books offered observations on Scottish social life. Poet Robert Burns and writer Sir Walter Scott were family friends, and both stayed at this address before it became a hotel more than 200 years ago. It’s well placed to kick off a day of literary- themed sightseeing, located just five minutes’ walk from the 195ft-tall monument to Sir Walter Scott — the world’s second-largest monument to a writer. From £142, room only.
edinburgh.intercontinental.com There’s also The Scotsman
Hotel, once the headquarters of The Scotsman and Edinburgh Evening News. For almost a century, newspapers were written, printed and distributed from this baroque building, and nods to its past remain in the Publisher Suite, Reporter Room and Press Bar. From £184.50, room only.
scotsmanhotel.co.uk HANNAH DOHERTY
NOVEMBER 2024 165
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