Ask Away: Can we get service with a smile?

Parisian waiters are pros at their jobs. Photo / Getty Images

Ask Away Eli Orzessek finds the answers to your travel questions

I love to travel in Europe - and we're looking at going again next northern summer - but I get frustrated by what I feel is the snootiness of the hospitality staff - the French in particular. This holiday is costing me a lot of money. Is there any way to make it clear to them that I'd like a smile with my coffee without causing offence?
George Waters

Hey, when in Rome, right (or, in this case, Paris)? If a surly waiter is part of the Continental experience, then as travellers, we have to like it or lump it. Parisian waiters may be infamous for their rudeness, but they're pros at their jobs and rarely stuff things up. It's worth keeping in mind that some visitors to New Zealand find our own service culture a bit too smiley and unpolished.

I want to take a month-long trip to Europe and the best time for me to take leave is around April or May. What are the best countries to visit at this time?
Europhile, Auckland

April and May are actually fantastic times to visit Europe, as it's not too busy and not too hot. There are also fewer tourists than you'll find in the height of summer, so you'll appreciate the shorter queues as well as the great deals you can pick up at this time. Many towns and cities are coming off a quieter winter so they're eager for the tourists to return.

I've asked my contacts at House of Travel for their tips on the best places to travel to at this time. Here's what they recommend:

1. Amsterdam, The Netherlands - A city that is at its best in spring.
2. Assisi, Italy - Calendimaggio is the largest festival, kicking off during the first week in May, but things really start to build from the end of April when decorations are displayed around the town with lots of medieval costumes, dramas, dances and battles.
3. Florence, Italy - The Tuscan city hosts a five-day festival dedicated to delicious icecream called the Firenze Gelato Festival. So many flavours to taste, including new creations, there is even an icecream race and it's usually in April so not yet hot enough for your gelati to melt.
4. Zadar, Croatia - Beat the summertime crowds and visit one of Croatia's up-and-coming hotspots. There's amazing seafood and you'll get to soak up the sunshine before it gets too hot.
5. Berlin, Germany - The Carnival of Cultures is a four-day street party with music, acrobats, magicians, market stalls, and delicious food celebrating their cultural diversity.

Email your questions to askaway@nzherald.co.nz

Eli cannot answer all questions and cannot correspond with readers.