Will skiing in Italy, Austria or Switzerland be possible this winter?

Simon Calder answers your questions on hitting the slopes, what currency to use in Barbados, and how US and European airline baggage policies differ

Skiers touring Italy’s Dolomites (Getty)

Q What’s your view on the possibility of a winter escape to a ski chalet or hotel in Austria, Italy or Switzerland?

Name supplied

A Skiing in the Alps promises to be rewarding this winter, with good snow and few crowds. But the range of Omicron-related restrictions makes it a challenge. You can expect to be asked to prove your vaccination status before being allowed on ski lifts or into restaurants, and masks are ubiquitous. For example, the tourist authority of Morzine in the French Alps says: “Whether you’re at the lifts, tourist office, your accommodation, local transport or our shops and restaurants you’ll be expected to wear a mask.”

In terms of destinations, my current assessment of requirements is as follows.

Austria: complex and confusing rules that demand a booster, with strict timing constraints on vaccinations. The second jab must have been less than 270 days (nine months) ago, the third jab at least 120 days (four months) after the second one. Also an expensive and awkward pre-departure PCR test is required in the 48 hours before arrival.

Italy: fully vaccinated arrivals are welcome, with NHS proof of being double jabbed accepted. A lateral flow test is required 24 hours before arrival (plus random Covid testing on arrival, at least until 31 January).

Switzerland: fully vaccinated arrivals need a lateral flow test within 24 hours of departure.

I realise that France is not on your list because there’s a travel ban in force on arrivals from the UK. But I predict it will reopen in the next week. With sales hard hit by the closed frontiers, I believe there will be some great deals around for the French Alps on opening. Pre-departure tests (lateral flow within 24 hours of departure) will probably stay in place

My choice would be to book with a specialist such as Neilson Active Holidays or Inghams for either Sauze d’Oulx in Italy or, when it opens, Les Deux Alpes in France.

Finally, such is the prevalence of Covid-19 in the UK that I do not advise booking until very shortly before departure to reduce the risk of having to cancel.

Easy money: US dollars are accepted on the Caribbean island (iStock)

Q The British weather and British politics have beaten me. I have taken the last-minute plunge to visit Barbados for the cricket one-day international and some sun later this month. I’m confused by which currency to opt for. Is it better to take Barbadian dollars or the US dollar? Or a mixture of both? There is a better rate for UK sterling to Barbadian dollars.

Gordon Ronald

A When visiting a country, it seems logical to take the currency of that nation. But I am afraid that Barbados is one of many destinations where trying to get the “right” currency in the UK will waste a slice of your holiday money.

The Barbadian dollar is locked to the American dollar at a rate of B$2=US$1, and you should stick to US dollar. Local businesses on the island really don’t mind whether you settle a bill (or leave a tip) of B$10 with a local banknote of that value, or use an American $5 note instead. So you can arrive with a fistful of American dollars knowing that they will be accepted everywhere.

There really isn’t “a better rate for UK sterling to Barbadian dollars” than for US currency. Today the Post Office will sell me 2.49 Barbadian dollars for each £1, compared with 1.31 US dollars. Buying the island’s currency in advance will lose you 5 per cent on the deal.

Any change from traders will be returned in either (or both) currencies. Just make sure you do not leave the island with any Barbadian dollars. While US dollars are welcomed practically everywhere on earth, currency from small Caribbean islands are not.

In case you are able to wander further: the Eastern Caribbean dollar, used in Antigua, Grenada and St Lucia, is locked at EC$2.70 to one American dollar. The awkward rate makes conversions much trickier. But you should still stick to US currency.

Similar advice applies for travel to Belize (which matches the Barbadian rate of two local dollars for one American) and Bermuda, where the US and local currency are at par.

American Airlines flights have an ample cabin baggage allowance (Getty)

Q We are looking to book return internal flights from Los Angeles to Las Vegas with American Airlines. It seems we can’t add luggage to our booking until 24 hours before departure. Is that normal?

Cathy H

A The way that airlines organise baggage fees in Europe is very different from the US. Carriers on this side of the Atlantic make it easy to pay for additional bags at the time of booking a flight. There is the accompanying implication of a financial penalty if you fail to pay so far upfront – especially if you fail to declare your baggage before showing up at the airport. But in addition, getting refunds on prepaid bags can be difficult.

I much prefer the practice in the US, where generally the price you pay for a bag is fixed – whether you pay in advance online or just check it in on departure. Because some people really want to book baggage ahead, American Airlines allows a short window, saying: “You can only pay for bags online starting 24 hours and up to 4 hours before departure if you’re flying within and between the US, including Hawaii, Alaska and select Caribbean cities.” But I advise you simply to bring your baggage to check-in.

Better still, don’t check anything in. Even in basic economy (the fares introduced by American Airlines to compete with the likes of low-cost carriers Spirit and Frontier), you can bring along a very decent sized roll-along case measuring 56 x 36 x 23cm. That is more than 46l of volume. In addition, you can take a “personal item” that must fit under the seat in front of you. While the airline gives the example of “a purse or small handbag”, you can go larger. The dimensions of 45 x 35 x 20cm deliver a further 31l of usable space.

With no formal weight restrictions, the skies are open to you to take along just cabin baggage. This has multiple advantages: speeding up your journey (no need to wait around for luggage on arrival) and reducing the risk that your baggage will be dispatched to LOS (Lagos, Nigeria) rather than LAS (Las Vegas). So I suggest you shrink to fit the free baggage allowance and avoid the $30 (£22) fee.

Email your question to s@hols.tv or tweet @simoncalder