The Legalities of an Island Wedding

Q: My girlfriend and I would like to get married on a tropical island, preferably Bali or Mauritius. Can you tell us what legal requirements there are for foreign marriages in both countries? We are both Christian South Africans. - Shaun Jacobs A: There are a number of legal requirements involved in getting married in both Bali and Mauritius. As a result, many foreigners opt to officially register their marriages in their home countries and then have a blessing and wedding ceremony on a tropical island. I would recommend this for you. However, if you would prefer to get married on island, your best bet is to get one of the major hotel groups to help you or to hire a wedding organiser who will asssit you with the legal requirements. In Bali, the most important thing you need to do is get a "CNI" (Certificate of Non Impediment to Marriage), which is a letter from a South African government department stating that there is no objection to you getting married in Indonesia. You will also need birth certificates, valid passports and documents from your church. After the religious ceremony, every non-Islamic marriage must be recorded with a government office or it is not legal (as Jerry Hall discovered after her marriage to Mick Jagger on Bali). In Mauritius documents relating to the couple are usually required 12 weeks prior to arrival on the island. At least three days before the wedding, the couple must visit the Supreme Court and the Civil Status Office to complete various formalities. To contact organisers try www.baliweddingplanners.com or, in Mauritius, www.mywedding.mu.

Drive from Sao Paulo to Rio

Q: We are considering driving from Sao Paulo to Rio to see some of the countryside. Should we be doing this, how long would it take and should we overnight en route? - Lionel Chang A: Getting in and out of these huge cities can take time and test a driver's patience, but this is still a drive worth considering. Rent a car with a GPS navigation device and you should not have a problem. The route runs along the Costa Verde, a stretch of coast with mountains, rain forests, lagoons and islands. The distance is around 400kms, which means you can do it in a day. However, as you are on holiday, it makes more sense to break your journey and and enjoy some of the scenery. A perfect stopover is the charming colonial town of Paraty, which is sandwiched between secluded beaches and steep mountains. You may strike it lucky and visit when they are holding one of their colourful local festivals. An alternative is to visit the Ilha Grande, an island just off the coast of Angra Dos Reis. It is the type of place that will make you want to stay a day or two. Driving yourself gives you flexibility to decide as your journey progresses. However, a Brazilian friend said you should consider going by bus. He said you would see just as much of the scenery, but would not have the hassle of city driving. Going by bus means you could still stop over in Paraty for a night. Car or bus - the decision is yours.

Delights of the Pontine Islands

Q: Many years back, a couple we met told us of the Pontine Islands off the coast of Italy. We have lost touch with them, but would like to visit these islands when we are in Rome in August/September. We would like to know which (if any) of these islands are worth visiting, how to get there and where to stay. Any information would be welcome. - Sally Rademeyer A: There are only two islands you should consider staying on as they have good accommodation options and transport connections to the mainland. These are Ponza and Ventotene. Ponza is more popular and offers great swimming. boating and tourist facilities. It is considered a lower-key version of Capri, and attracts many celebrities and rich Romans who want to keep a lower profile, as well as young travellers over weekends. Ventotene is much smaller and its greatest offerings - besides superb views - are peace and quiet. Both islands have interesting histories. From these islands you can do day trips to sights on some of the other islands, such as the prison on Santo Stefano and a ruined monastery and nature reserve on Zannone. You can also check out the Grotte di Pilato, three caves where the Romans dug fishpools to raise their seafood supper. You can make the 42km journey from the mainland to Ponza by hydrofoil or ferry, which runs from Anzio. To get to Anzio from Rome is an hour's train trip. The easiest way to get to Ventotene is to take a ferry from Terracina or Fornia, both on the coastline between Rome and Naples. There is plenty of accommodation available on Ponza, either in the port of the town of Le Forno. The best beach on the island is close to the port, so this is very popular. All standards of accommodation is on offer - from basic rooms to luxurious hotels. If you want to live it up, book into the five-room boutique guesthouse opened by fashion designer Anna Fendi. You can't get more classy than that. But you'll do just fine in the three-star Hotel Mari in the port. It has a great location with good views. Prices are highest in July and August, so you would get a better rate the later you can go in September. Expect to pay around R1000-R1500 for a double room. You can book the hotel on www.hotelmari.it or www.booking.com. You can find more information about the hydrofoil service on www.vitor.it and contact the local tourism office on www.prolocodiponza.it.

Best Way to Japan

Q: We are pensioners and are looking for the easiest and most economical way of visiting relatives in Hokkaido, Japan; Queensland, Australia and North Island, New Zealand. Would it better to fly to a central point like Singapore and travel from there, or would it be better to break it into two trips from South Africa, one to Japan and one to New Zealand and Australia? - Marj Martin A: You need to find a good travel agent to help you, as your routing may well depend on what specials are available at the time you want to fly. Under normal circumstances, it would be better to use Singapore, Bangkok or Hong Kong as a hub and make two separate return trips from the hub - one to Japan and the other to Australia and New Zealand. Using one airline (in this case Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways or Cathay Pacific) is usually better value than using different carriers. However, you would need to book domestic flights in Japan, Australia and New Zealand on local airlines. A good agent should be able to find the most cost-effective flights. For example, if there are particularly good prices on Qantas to Australia and New Zealand, you could make your hub in Sydney. Then you could take sidetrips to New Zealand and Japan on Qantas from there.

Golf Mecca in Vietnam

Q: We are planning to visit Hua Hin, Thailand in September and would like to visit Vietnam for a week as well. Can you suggest the best, least expensive and most pleasurable way to get there? As we are golfers, we would prefer a place with a golf course nearby. - Cathy Kamstra A: You can travel to Vietnam by plane or bus. The journey from Thailand to Vietnam by bus is long and tiring and you have to deal with the border crossings, so air travel is the only real option. There are no direct flights from Hua Hin to Vietnam, so you would have to travel by road to Bangkok (around 200kms) and then by air to Vietnam. Transport from your hotel in Hua Hin to Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok is not a problem. You can either go by bus, shuttle van, taxi or limousine. You can book that when you are in Hua Hin, where the prices are very competitive. There are a number of choices for a beach and golf holiday, but I recommend the Danang area. To get there, you would have to fly to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and then take a one-hour flight to Danang. The area is home to a number of coastal resorts including the famous China Beach, the picturesque old town of Hoi An, the historical city of Hue and two excellent golf courses. Montgomerie Links on My Khe beach was designed by Colin Montgomerie. It was voted the best course in Vietnam in 2010 and 2011. Another award-winning course is the Dunes Course at the Danang Golf Club. Designed by Greg Norman, it was voted one of the 15 best new golf courses in the world in 2010 by Golf Magazine USA. Affordable hotels in Danang include the two-star Mango Hotel (R166 for a double room with breakfast), the three-star Song Thu Hotel (R247) and the luxury four-star Mercure Danang (R726). All prices from www.booking.com.

One Day in Paris

Q: We will be in Paris for only one day. We arrive at 07h30 and depart at 23h00. Please give us some advice on what we can fit in without travelling too much. - Arlene Emmenes A: Two of the ways to enjoy your day in Paris is to choose three or four attractions and explore them thoroughly or try to see as many of the city's thrilling sights as you can. The easiest way to accomplish both these objectives is to join a hop-on hop-off bus tour. You get to see most of the attractions, with the opportunity of stopping off at two or three to check them out more fully. The Paris L'Open tour has four interconnected routes, giving you total flexibility in where you want to go. You can visit the Left Bank, the Eiffel Tour, the Louvre and get your picture taken at the Arc de Triomphe. The Paris Grand Tour gets you to these as well as other major attractions - the Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Champs-Elysees, Saint-Germain-des-Pres, Orsay Museum, Concorde, Champs-Elysees, Arc de Triomphe, Trocadero, Invalides, the Montmartre and Saint-Paul. The tour runs from from 9:30am to 6:00pm, which suits your itinerary. You can buy a day ticket for 31 Euros on the www.parislopentour.com website. You should check out the interactive map on the website and plan where you want to go. You can also decide where you want to have lunch. If you want to try out one of the famous Michelin star restaurants, lunch is the best time to do it as it is cheaper than at night. You will get great value at most restaurants at lunch, so you could just try your luck wherever you end up. If you want to book in advance and plan your sightseeing around that, check out the www.bestrestaurantsparis.com website. If I was forced to decide in advance, I would go for one of the traditional bistros that never seems to change like L’Ambassade d’Auvergne at 22 rue du Grenier St-Lazare (www.ambassade-auvergne.com). It serves up food from central France, such as lentil salad with bacon and goose fat, and sausages with aligot (cheesy mashed potato). And I would stop off at Angelina at 226 rue de Rivoli for its famous deserts.

Mykonos or Ios?

Q: I went to Ibiza last summer and want to take friends, all aged under 30, to another island in early July. I am trying to decide between Mykonos and Ios in Greece. Which do you recommend for a good nightlife? Any information on cheap transport and accommodation would be appreciated. - Tom Blake A: Both are great party islands, but Ios is the more affordable of the two. It attracts thousands of young travelers every year, so is geared towards this market. Mykonos is more upmarket, but you can spend a night or two there, as there are ferries between the two islands. There is no airport on Ios, so the island is only accessible by ferry. Most people fly to Athens and then take a ferry from the port of Piraeus to the island. The trip takes 5-7 hours and costs around 35 Euros each way in economy class. If you fly to Santorini, the ferry trip to Ios will only take one hour and costs 17.50 Euros each way. The main town on the island is Chora, which transforms from an idyllic village into a wild party zone at night. The best beach on the island is Mylopotas beach, which also has plenty of bars and restaurants, so you can decide where you want to base yourself. There is usually plenty of accommodation available in all price brackets, although prices soar in July and August. Most young travelers don't book accommodation in advance, as it is better to see what you are getting and negotiate your rate. The www.loveiosgreece.com website has plenty of interesting tips about Ios. You can book ferry tickets on this site, as well as the popular www.greeka.com.

Hotel in Buenos Aires

Q: We will be spending three days in Buenos Aires on our way back from the Antartica in December. We are looking for 3 or 4 star hotel in a central position. Do you have any suggestions? - Maureen Michaels A: Buenos Aires is not the cheapest city for hotel rooms, but there are still plenty of value-for-money choices. Here is a selection of hotels that could suit you. The rates quoted are from a discount website, www.booking.com, and they exclude 21 percent compulsory tax. A good mid-range hotel in the city is the Hotel Bristol, located on 9 de Julio Avenue, across from the Obelisk. It offers free Wi-Fi, gym facilities and comfortable bedrooms. Double rooms with breakfast start at R883 (www.hotelbristol.com.ar). Go trendy and stay at the Art Suites and Gallery, which is located in the smart Recoleta district with its chic cafes and designer stores. A studio apartment with breakfast will cost R1083(www.artsuites.com.ar). A very affordable choice is the three-star Hotel Impala, which offers clean double rooms with breakfast from R630 per night. The hotel is located in the very desirable Recoleta district, close to the city's most famous street, 9 de Julio Avenue (www.hotelimpala.com.ar). If you prefer smaller hotels, then you could give the Le Fresque Hotel a try. Located in downtown Buenos Aires four blocks from the Obelisk, it offers 34 rooms in an old colonial building. It's rather eccentric, with antique furniture, wooden floors and modern touches. Rates range from only R492 (www.lafresquehotel.com). For a totally different feel, try Five Cool Rooms, a four-star boutique hotel in the Palermo area. All 17 bedrooms are classy and there's a great rooftop terrace with an tub offering views of the city. Rates for a double room with breakfast start at R759 (www.fivehotelbuenosaires.com). If you decide you want to live it up, the five-star Claridge Hotel is a great neo-classical choice in the heart of the city. Enjoy stylish rooms, a heated outdoor pool and 24 hours service. Double rooms with breakfast start at R1275, a good rate for a luxury hotel.

Rail From Sicily to Rome

Q: We are travelling in and around Sicily in September and would like to go by rail back to Rome. Can you please assist us with some suggestions? - Arlene Emmenes A: The decision to take a train would have to be one of choice, as flying is so much more convenient and cheaper. However, it would be enjoyable for those who enjoy travelling by train and those who seek adventure. The journey from Palermo to Rome takes around 11 hours 20 minutes. There are three departures per day - at 7am, 10.07am and 6.30pm. I did a test booking on the www.eurorailways.com website for the 7am train. The one-way fare in first class came to 163 US dollars including booking and handling fees. In second class it costs 130 US dollars. If, like me, you are wondering how the train crosses the ocean, here's the secret: the cars are rolled onto barges for the crossing of the Strait of Messina. The trip takes about an hour and during the crossing you can stay in the train or go on deck. You will arrive in the port of Villa San Giovanni near Reggio Calabria in southern Italy and travel on to Rome. Another alternative is to make the trip by ferry. Ferries run from Palermo to Civitavecchia, the port for Rome. GNV ferries run three times a week (www.gnv.it). Prices I was quoted were 95 Euros for airline-style seating and cabins with beds from 267 Euros (internal) and 285 Euros (external). The journey takes around 13 hours.

Where To Stay For US Open

We want to go to the US Open Tennis later this year and would like to know whether it is advisable to stay in Manhattan. We would prefer not to spend too much time travelling and want to be able to attend the late matches. Should we try to find accommodation in Queens, closer to the complex? - Riana Miller Most visitors to the US Open stay in Manhattan, as there is limited accommodation in Queens. From Manhattan, it is easy to use the public transport system to get to the complex, officially known as the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The cheapest way to get there is to take the number 7 subway, which stops at Mets/Willets Point Station, a short walk from the complex. However, you can also use the Long Island Railroad (LIRR), which runs from Penn Station to Mets/Willets Point for extended hours. It costs more than the subway, but it is faster, has a set schedule and has comfortable seats. It only takes 18 minutes each way. Therefore, it makes sense to stay close to a number 7 subway stop or Penn station. If you are worried about the time it takes to get to matches, then try to avoid carrying a handbag. There are two queues at the entrances - one for those with bags, and one for those without. You can guess which one is unsufferably long. So, unless you desperately need to bring a handbag, leave it at the hotel. Secondly, the lines at the East Gate (closest to the subway and the LIRR) are very long. Rather walk around to the South Gate, which is directly in front of the Unisphere. It will be much quieter.

Visit Ferrari World

Q: We will be travelling to Dubai next month and are particularly interested in visiting Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi. Do you think it is worthwhile and how would we organise it? - Farouk Kadwa A: You don't have to be a fan of the Ferrari brand to enjoy this attraction, which is the largest indoor amusement park in the world. It has more than 20 rides and is home to the world's fastest roller coaster. Other attractions include a carousel featuring only cars, an interactive 3-D show which follows the life of a Ferrari engineer, a driving school for children, a virtual tour of the factory and a spaceshot tower which launches riders over 62m up and out of the building. The cost of a day pass is AED225 (R500). It is located on Yas island, only 90kms from Dubai. You can either join an organised excursion or take your own transport or taxi there (www.ferrariworldabudhabi.com).

No Flights From Istanbul to Islands

Q: My wife and I are going to Istanbul in late June. We would like to visit the Greek Islands and spend two nights on Mykonos and two nights on Santorini. What's the best way of doing this? Is a ferry from Kusadasi an option? - Mohamed Rahim A: There are no direct ferries from Istanbul to the Greek islands. You can go via other Turkish ports to some Greek islands, but not the two you plan to visit. Going via Kusadasi is an option, but it is a time-consuming journey. You would take two bus journeys to get from Istanbul to Kusadasi and then a ferry trip to Samos and another ferry to Mykonos. It is easier to fly to Mykonos or Santorini, but you will have to go via Athens. Expect to pay around R2300 for a return ticket on Aegean Air.

How to get to Dalian

Q: What would be the easiest way to get to the city of Dalian in China in early August? Can you recommend a Western-style hotel there. - Arnold Roebuck A: SAA now flies from Johannesburg to Beijing three times a week and Dalian is a 50-minute flight from there, so this is your best choice. There are plenty of connecting flights on China Southern and China Air. An alternative is to fly through Hong Kong on SAA or Cathay Pacific and then connect to Dalian on China Air, but you won't have the wide choice of connecting flights and you may be in for a long wait at Hong Kong Airport. Dalian has a population of more tha six million people, so it has a wide range of international hotels. I checked on the discount site www.booking.com and your options include the Hilton Dalian (from R1307 per double room), the Hotel Ibis Sanba (R422), Holiday Inn Dalian Software Park Apartments (R369) and the five-star Shangri-la (R1668).