Q: I plan to take my mother on a cruise in Halong Bay, Vietnam early next year. I did the cruise a few years back in a pretty basic boat, but would like a recommendation on booking a more luxurious cruiser with proper beds, bathrooms en suite and facilities she may enjoy. Can you help? - Ashley George
A: I can recommend three boats for those wishing to cruise Halong Bay in style. A popular choice is Halong Ginger, a custom-designed wooden junk with three decks that house an elegant restaurant, two bars, a small library, and a massage room. Ten luxurious sleeping cabins have comfortable beds, air conditioning and private bathrooms. The Jasmine Junk is one of the largest cruisers in the bay, sleeping 48 passengers. Fitted out in the 1930s Indochine style, this newly-built boat offers some of the most luxurious air conditioned bedrooms available. Two suites have their own jacuzzi and balcony for uninterrupted views of the bay. Valentine Junk offers a more intimate cruise, but no less luxurious. This new cruiser offers only five bedrooms, all beautifully decked out, and very personal service. You can book cruises from a number of agencies, including www.halongbaycruises.com, www.halongjunk.net and www.cruisehalongbay.com.
Tuesday, 14 October 2008
Best of the Maldives
Q: My wife and I want to take a holiday in the Maldives, but are overwhelmed by the selection of resorts on offer. How does one choose? We hope that you can assist by narrowing down the choice for us. We are looking for an intimate resort, with less than 20 rooms, but offering five-star comfort and facilities. We would prefer one with a good beach rather than a resort specialising in diving and snorkelling. Help, please! - John Wetherley
A: I can sympathise with your dilemma, as the Maldives certainly has a magnificent range of resorts. One that may appeal to you is the Banyan Tree Maldives. With only six suites, privacy is guaranteed here. You stay in luxurious safari-styled tents, but you certainly won't be roughing it. You have a personal butler, a private plunge pool and massage beds. The room rate includes all meals, water activities, use of a Turkish sailboat and a spa treatment. (www.banyantree.com) If your image of a tropical paradise is more conventional, you can opt for the Naladhu Resort, which offers accommodation in Bahamas-inspired white lacquered houses. Watch the sun go down from a pillow-topped sunbed or take a stroll on your private wooden sundeck that stretches into the ocean. If you feel the need to socialise, you can head for the Living Room, where alfresco dining tables are set around a glassed-in wine cellar. Or have a private dinner on a traditional Maldiviandhoni sailboat. (www.naladhu.com)
If you really want to get away from the throng, you can choose one of the seven "Robinson Crusoe" residences at the Soneva Gili Resort. Accessible only by your private rowboat or pontoon shuttle, these villas stand alone in the shallow lagoon, perfect for living out your shipwreck fantasies. However, your personal butler, dubbed Mr Friday, is only a few minutes away. You'll probably want to dine in isolated splendour, with room service orders arriving by boat. But if you feel the need to join fellow guests, back on the main island there is a sand-floor cafe, an underground gourmet cellar and an Italian eatery in the organic garden. The most romantic option is a private meal on One Palm Island, 500 metres offshore. (www.sixsenses.com/soneva-gili/)
Finally, if money is no object and you want the ultimate in private holidays, you can hire your own island. Known as the Rania Experience, the island comes with its own 86-foot yacht, accommodations for up to 15, around-the-clock butler service, private dive instructor and unlimited spa treatments in the open-air overwater pavilion. As you pay for the entire seven-acre island with its three-bedroom mansion and three beach villas, you may want to take a few friends along. A full staff, including chefs and butlers, are on hand to fulfill your every wish. All this comes with a hefty price tag, of course. Count on at least 10,000 US dollars a day. (www.raniaexperience.com)
A: I can sympathise with your dilemma, as the Maldives certainly has a magnificent range of resorts. One that may appeal to you is the Banyan Tree Maldives. With only six suites, privacy is guaranteed here. You stay in luxurious safari-styled tents, but you certainly won't be roughing it. You have a personal butler, a private plunge pool and massage beds. The room rate includes all meals, water activities, use of a Turkish sailboat and a spa treatment. (www.banyantree.com) If your image of a tropical paradise is more conventional, you can opt for the Naladhu Resort, which offers accommodation in Bahamas-inspired white lacquered houses. Watch the sun go down from a pillow-topped sunbed or take a stroll on your private wooden sundeck that stretches into the ocean. If you feel the need to socialise, you can head for the Living Room, where alfresco dining tables are set around a glassed-in wine cellar. Or have a private dinner on a traditional Maldiviandhoni sailboat. (www.naladhu.com)
If you really want to get away from the throng, you can choose one of the seven "Robinson Crusoe" residences at the Soneva Gili Resort. Accessible only by your private rowboat or pontoon shuttle, these villas stand alone in the shallow lagoon, perfect for living out your shipwreck fantasies. However, your personal butler, dubbed Mr Friday, is only a few minutes away. You'll probably want to dine in isolated splendour, with room service orders arriving by boat. But if you feel the need to join fellow guests, back on the main island there is a sand-floor cafe, an underground gourmet cellar and an Italian eatery in the organic garden. The most romantic option is a private meal on One Palm Island, 500 metres offshore. (www.sixsenses.com/soneva-gili/)
Finally, if money is no object and you want the ultimate in private holidays, you can hire your own island. Known as the Rania Experience, the island comes with its own 86-foot yacht, accommodations for up to 15, around-the-clock butler service, private dive instructor and unlimited spa treatments in the open-air overwater pavilion. As you pay for the entire seven-acre island with its three-bedroom mansion and three beach villas, you may want to take a few friends along. A full staff, including chefs and butlers, are on hand to fulfill your every wish. All this comes with a hefty price tag, of course. Count on at least 10,000 US dollars a day. (www.raniaexperience.com)
Swop Your House
Q: I would like to exchange two weeks in my house in Cape Town for two weeks in an apartment in London over the Christmas holidays. I am sure a couple or family in the UK would be happy with this arrangement, but I don't have a clue about how to go about organising it. Is there an organisation that specialises in this? - John Botha
A: There are a number of Internet-based home exchange organisations. Most require that you pay a membership fee, so you will have to decide whether it is worth it to you. Among the websites you can try are www.homelinksouthafrica.com, www.homeexchange,com and www.holswap.com. An alternative is to advertise your apartment in the classified section of a British newspaper, but this could end up costing you more.
A: There are a number of Internet-based home exchange organisations. Most require that you pay a membership fee, so you will have to decide whether it is worth it to you. Among the websites you can try are www.homelinksouthafrica.com, www.homeexchange,com and www.holswap.com. An alternative is to advertise your apartment in the classified section of a British newspaper, but this could end up costing you more.
13 hours at Dubai Airport
Q: My wife and I have a 13-hour wait between flights at Dubai, from 3pm to 4.25am. Taking into account time for disembarking and the check-in time, we could be looking at trying to while away the time from 4pm-2am. Any suggestions on what we could do? If we decide to leave the airport will we need visas? - Peter Woods
A: You will need a special 96-hour visa to leave the airport, which you have to get in advance at a cost of 61 US dollars. With at least 10 hours to spare, there is plenty to see and do in Dubai. You could book a hotel room in the city, which would allow you to have a shower, change clothing and take a nap before and after your sightseeing. A room within 15 minutes drive of the airport should cost you around 150 US dollars. A cheaper bet would be negotiate a sightseeing tour with a taxi driver at the airport. Agree the itinerary and full price prior to setting off. The big shopping malls and souks are a must, but you may also like to check out the Jumeirah beachfront, the Dubai Creek (take a sunset tour on a traditional dhow), the famous Burj Al Arab hotel, the indoor ski slope at the Mall of the Emirates and the wonderful Dubai Museum, which is open until 8.30pm.
If you arrive back at the airport with plenty of time to spare, you could treat yourself to a shower in one of the business class lounges. The DCA lounge has rooms and showers for short-time rental, and there is comfortable seating, computer access and snacks available.
If you would prefer to use the entire time relaxing in the terminal, then there are great shops and restaurants. And you save 122 US dollars for the two visas. If you would like to catch up on lost sleep, book into the Dubai International Hotel located on the arrivals level of Sheikh Rashid Terminal. It has all the services of a five-star hotel, including a gym and swimming pool. You do not need a visa to stay here. A 7-8 hour stay at the hotel will cost you around 300 US dollars.
A: You will need a special 96-hour visa to leave the airport, which you have to get in advance at a cost of 61 US dollars. With at least 10 hours to spare, there is plenty to see and do in Dubai. You could book a hotel room in the city, which would allow you to have a shower, change clothing and take a nap before and after your sightseeing. A room within 15 minutes drive of the airport should cost you around 150 US dollars. A cheaper bet would be negotiate a sightseeing tour with a taxi driver at the airport. Agree the itinerary and full price prior to setting off. The big shopping malls and souks are a must, but you may also like to check out the Jumeirah beachfront, the Dubai Creek (take a sunset tour on a traditional dhow), the famous Burj Al Arab hotel, the indoor ski slope at the Mall of the Emirates and the wonderful Dubai Museum, which is open until 8.30pm.
If you arrive back at the airport with plenty of time to spare, you could treat yourself to a shower in one of the business class lounges. The DCA lounge has rooms and showers for short-time rental, and there is comfortable seating, computer access and snacks available.
If you would prefer to use the entire time relaxing in the terminal, then there are great shops and restaurants. And you save 122 US dollars for the two visas. If you would like to catch up on lost sleep, book into the Dubai International Hotel located on the arrivals level of Sheikh Rashid Terminal. It has all the services of a five-star hotel, including a gym and swimming pool. You do not need a visa to stay here. A 7-8 hour stay at the hotel will cost you around 300 US dollars.
Backpacker Bus
Q: Some time back you wrote about a bus service used primarily by young people to travel around South Africa. Could you please provide details of this service, as a nephew of mine from the UK is interested in travelling around South Africa for three weeks? - Pam Whitford
A: The Baz Bus service runs between Cape Town and Johannesburg/Pretoria. There are two routes, one via the Drakensburg and the other via Swaziland. The service is very popular among backpackers, as the operators have links with more than 180 backpacker hostels and lodges on the route. The service is considered very safe as passengers are dropped and collected right outside their guesthouses or lodges. There are various ticketing options, the most popular being the 7, 14 and 21 day passes which allow passengers to stop over wherever they wish within the specified time period on any route. The price of these passes, including a fuel surcharge, is R1250 (7-day), R2250 (14-day) and R3050 (21 day). There are also tickets without any time limit. A return ticket between Johannesburg and Cape Town is R4450, while a one-way ticket between Johannesburg/Pretoria and Durban is R1400. For further details, contact Baz Bus on telephone 021 439 2323 or check out thewww.bazbus.com website.
A: The Baz Bus service runs between Cape Town and Johannesburg/Pretoria. There are two routes, one via the Drakensburg and the other via Swaziland. The service is very popular among backpackers, as the operators have links with more than 180 backpacker hostels and lodges on the route. The service is considered very safe as passengers are dropped and collected right outside their guesthouses or lodges. There are various ticketing options, the most popular being the 7, 14 and 21 day passes which allow passengers to stop over wherever they wish within the specified time period on any route. The price of these passes, including a fuel surcharge, is R1250 (7-day), R2250 (14-day) and R3050 (21 day). There are also tickets without any time limit. A return ticket between Johannesburg and Cape Town is R4450, while a one-way ticket between Johannesburg/Pretoria and Durban is R1400. For further details, contact Baz Bus on telephone 021 439 2323 or check out thewww.bazbus.com website.
Getting married in Bali
Q: My boyfriend and I would like to get married in Bali early next year. We would prefer to have a very simple ceremony, as only our families and very close friends will attend. Are there any restrictions about foreigners marrying there? We are both Catholics with South African passports. - Jenny Bell
A: As there are a number of legal requirements involved in getting married in Bali, many foreigners opt to register their marriages in their home countries and then have a blessing and wedding ceremony in Bali. However, if you would prefer to get married in Bali, the most important thing you need is a "CNI" (Certificate of Non Impediment to Marriage), which is a letter from a South African consulate, embassy or government department stating that there is no objection to you getting married in Indonesia. You will also need birth certificates and valid passports. If either of you is under 21 years old, you will need written parental consent. In addition, as Catholics, you will need to present baptism certificates and a "letter of freedom" issued by a priest or church official declaring that you have never been married and are free to marry. The final document you need is a "letter of delegation" issued by a priest or church official declaring that theyhave no objection to your marriage being performed by a priest from the Catholic Church in Bali. All documents are fairly easy to obtain, so you should not have any difficulty.
A: As there are a number of legal requirements involved in getting married in Bali, many foreigners opt to register their marriages in their home countries and then have a blessing and wedding ceremony in Bali. However, if you would prefer to get married in Bali, the most important thing you need is a "CNI" (Certificate of Non Impediment to Marriage), which is a letter from a South African consulate, embassy or government department stating that there is no objection to you getting married in Indonesia. You will also need birth certificates and valid passports. If either of you is under 21 years old, you will need written parental consent. In addition, as Catholics, you will need to present baptism certificates and a "letter of freedom" issued by a priest or church official declaring that you have never been married and are free to marry. The final document you need is a "letter of delegation" issued by a priest or church official declaring that theyhave no objection to your marriage being performed by a priest from the Catholic Church in Bali. All documents are fairly easy to obtain, so you should not have any difficulty.
Bourbon Whiskey Trail
Q: I have heard of a Bourbon Whiskey Trail in the United States. Are there organised tours and where is the best place to stay? Any information about the trail would be appreciated. - Dave McLeod
A: The Bourbon Whiskey Trail is more of a collection of well-worn paths than a trail, all within striking distance of Kentucky's most famous town, Louisville. There are tours running to some of the eight distilleries that form the "trail", including two of the most famous; Buffalo Trace, the oldest distillery in the USA, and Jim Beam, the biggest-selling bourbon in the world. The other distilleries are Four Roses, Heaven Hill, Maker's Mark, Tom Moore, Wild Turkey, and Woodford Reserve. The best time to visit is during the Kentucky Bourbon Festival during September each year. For further information, visit the www.kentuckybourbontrail.com website.
A: The Bourbon Whiskey Trail is more of a collection of well-worn paths than a trail, all within striking distance of Kentucky's most famous town, Louisville. There are tours running to some of the eight distilleries that form the "trail", including two of the most famous; Buffalo Trace, the oldest distillery in the USA, and Jim Beam, the biggest-selling bourbon in the world. The other distilleries are Four Roses, Heaven Hill, Maker's Mark, Tom Moore, Wild Turkey, and Woodford Reserve. The best time to visit is during the Kentucky Bourbon Festival during September each year. For further information, visit the www.kentuckybourbontrail.com website.
Heathrow to Gatwick
Q: After flying into London Heathrow Airport, we need to transfer to Gatwick Airport for a flight five hours later. What is the most convenient way to do this? How much will it cost? - Anne Botha
A: The easiest way to get between the airports is to use the National Express Airport bus. There are more than 100 services a day, running from the central bus station and terminal 5 at Heathrow to Gatwick's north and south terminals. You can book a ticket in advance on the www.nationalexpress.com website, which is recommended. If your flight is late, you can catch a later bus using the same ticket. The journey time is 45-75 minutes, but delays can occur. However, with five hours between flights, you should be fine. The fare is presently 19.50 British pounds sterling (GBP).
There are also fixed price taxi services between the airport. Global Taxi Service will charge you 76 GBP for a maximum of three people and three suitcases. However, if your group consists of five or more people, you might consider renting your own eight-seater minibus, which costs 120 GBP each way. A benefit is that the minibus will collect you at your terminal of arrival and drop you at your departure point. You won't have to drag your luggage from the terminal to the central bus depot at Heathrow. Another advantage is that your private hire bus driver will check on your flight and be waiting for you when you exit customs even if your flight is early or late. The bus service is operated by FCMBS. You can book this on the www.londontoolkit.com website.
It is possible to catch the underground from Heathrow to Victoria Station in central London and then a bus to Gatwick, but this transfer takes around three hours.
A: The easiest way to get between the airports is to use the National Express Airport bus. There are more than 100 services a day, running from the central bus station and terminal 5 at Heathrow to Gatwick's north and south terminals. You can book a ticket in advance on the www.nationalexpress.com website, which is recommended. If your flight is late, you can catch a later bus using the same ticket. The journey time is 45-75 minutes, but delays can occur. However, with five hours between flights, you should be fine. The fare is presently 19.50 British pounds sterling (GBP).
There are also fixed price taxi services between the airport. Global Taxi Service will charge you 76 GBP for a maximum of three people and three suitcases. However, if your group consists of five or more people, you might consider renting your own eight-seater minibus, which costs 120 GBP each way. A benefit is that the minibus will collect you at your terminal of arrival and drop you at your departure point. You won't have to drag your luggage from the terminal to the central bus depot at Heathrow. Another advantage is that your private hire bus driver will check on your flight and be waiting for you when you exit customs even if your flight is early or late. The bus service is operated by FCMBS. You can book this on the www.londontoolkit.com website.
It is possible to catch the underground from Heathrow to Victoria Station in central London and then a bus to Gatwick, but this transfer takes around three hours.
Booking for Kruger Daytrip
Q: Is it necessary to book for a day trip to the Kruger Park over the Christmas period? If so, how do we go about it? - Stuart Jones
A: It may not be necessary, but it is advisable to avoid disappointment. A maximum threshold of visitors is permitted to enter the park daily and, once this is reached, only pre-booked guests will be allowed entry. In reality, this only happens over peak periods and public holidays. The advance booking facility was re-instated in June this year after being cancelled due to the frequent non-arrival of pre-booked guests. Under the new system, you have to make a pre-booking for a day visit at any of the park offices at least a day in advance. The cost is R20 per adult and R10 per child, which is additional to the normal entry fee. Guests with visitor bookings have to arrived at the booked gate by no later than 1pm, otherwise the booking will be cancelled. Only 60 percent of the day-visitor quota can be booked in advance, so there will always be availability for guests who arrive at the gates each day. You can get further details on the www.sanparks.org.zawebsite.
A: It may not be necessary, but it is advisable to avoid disappointment. A maximum threshold of visitors is permitted to enter the park daily and, once this is reached, only pre-booked guests will be allowed entry. In reality, this only happens over peak periods and public holidays. The advance booking facility was re-instated in June this year after being cancelled due to the frequent non-arrival of pre-booked guests. Under the new system, you have to make a pre-booking for a day visit at any of the park offices at least a day in advance. The cost is R20 per adult and R10 per child, which is additional to the normal entry fee. Guests with visitor bookings have to arrived at the booked gate by no later than 1pm, otherwise the booking will be cancelled. Only 60 percent of the day-visitor quota can be booked in advance, so there will always be availability for guests who arrive at the gates each day. You can get further details on the www.sanparks.org.zawebsite.
Hotel at Paris Airport
Q: We are booked on an Air France day flight from Paris to Johannesburg, which departs Charles de Gaulle Airport at 10.30am. It would be most convenient for us to stay at a hotel near the airport the night before. Do you have any recommendations for a reasonable, affordable hotel? - David Els
A: Your best choice is probably the Premiere Classe Roissy Charles De Gaulle Paris Nord 2, a budget hotel about five minutes from the terminals. If you book on discount hotel websites, such as www.booking.com, you can get an airconditioned double room from only 39 Euros per night, a substantial discount from the normal rate of 65 Euros. There are two other Premiere Classe hotels close to the airport if this one is fully booked.
Another popular choice is the Ibis Paris CDG Aeroport Terminal, due to its location only 150m from Terminal 3 and less than 4 minutes from Terminals 1 and 2 and Roissy TGV station, There are two other Ibis hotels also serving the airport, Roissy Ville and Roissy Nord 2. They are of a similar standard, but less conveniently located. The average rate for this hotel is around 129 Euros, but you can get a discounted rate of 59 Euros on the Ibis website if you book well in advance. There is no airconditioning in the rooms and the hotel has been rated poorly by many reviewers, but it does provide a bed and a shower close to the airport.
A good hotel close to the airport is the Express by Holiday Inn Paris CDG Airport, which offers air-conditioned sound-proofed rooms for around 119 Euros. Another good choice is the Holiday Inn CDG, with rooms available from 132 Euros.
A: Your best choice is probably the Premiere Classe Roissy Charles De Gaulle Paris Nord 2, a budget hotel about five minutes from the terminals. If you book on discount hotel websites, such as www.booking.com, you can get an airconditioned double room from only 39 Euros per night, a substantial discount from the normal rate of 65 Euros. There are two other Premiere Classe hotels close to the airport if this one is fully booked.
Another popular choice is the Ibis Paris CDG Aeroport Terminal, due to its location only 150m from Terminal 3 and less than 4 minutes from Terminals 1 and 2 and Roissy TGV station, There are two other Ibis hotels also serving the airport, Roissy Ville and Roissy Nord 2. They are of a similar standard, but less conveniently located. The average rate for this hotel is around 129 Euros, but you can get a discounted rate of 59 Euros on the Ibis website if you book well in advance. There is no airconditioning in the rooms and the hotel has been rated poorly by many reviewers, but it does provide a bed and a shower close to the airport.
A good hotel close to the airport is the Express by Holiday Inn Paris CDG Airport, which offers air-conditioned sound-proofed rooms for around 119 Euros. Another good choice is the Holiday Inn CDG, with rooms available from 132 Euros.
Drive from Rio to Sao Paulo
Q: During a visit to Brazil, we want to drive from Rio de Janeiro to Sao Paulo as a way of seeing some of the countryside. How long would it take and should one stop over somewhere for a night? - Basil Reddy
A: The journey is quite possible in a day, but there are two places on the route worth considering for an overnight stay. Your journey is along the Costa Verde, a spectacular stretch of coastline boasting mountains, rain forests, lagoons and stunning islands. When you get to Angra Dos Reis, you can catch the ferry to the Ilha Grande, an island of stunning beaches and pristine rainforests. You could spend a few hours on the island or overnight. The other alternative stopover is the charming colonial town Paraty, sandwiched between secluded beaches and steep mountains. If you're lucky, the townsfolk will be celebrating one of their many festivals, but it's even worth staying over to appreciate the architecture in the town. You should have no problems on the highway between Rio and Sao Paulo, which is in a good condition and clearly signposted, but getting in and out of these cities can take a long time due to the heavy traffic.
A: The journey is quite possible in a day, but there are two places on the route worth considering for an overnight stay. Your journey is along the Costa Verde, a spectacular stretch of coastline boasting mountains, rain forests, lagoons and stunning islands. When you get to Angra Dos Reis, you can catch the ferry to the Ilha Grande, an island of stunning beaches and pristine rainforests. You could spend a few hours on the island or overnight. The other alternative stopover is the charming colonial town Paraty, sandwiched between secluded beaches and steep mountains. If you're lucky, the townsfolk will be celebrating one of their many festivals, but it's even worth staying over to appreciate the architecture in the town. You should have no problems on the highway between Rio and Sao Paulo, which is in a good condition and clearly signposted, but getting in and out of these cities can take a long time due to the heavy traffic.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
