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Q1: I'm in the early stages of planning my Honeymoon and was hoping you could offer some recommendations. I'm looking at a fortnight in May 2009 (Leaving on the 4th). We are on a limited budget and would like to simply relax somewhere warm and quiet (although not deserted).

It largely depends on how warm you are looking for but in early May short to mid-haul we would recommend Cyprus, Greece or Turkey although it is a gre... more

A Taste of West Africa - The Gambia – an unusual combination would be to spend 3 nights staying in a “floating lodge” at the luxurious Mandina Lodges ... more

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Q2: I'm planning a trip to Borneo, either to Sabah or Sarawak. Will Malarone be the most effective form of antimalarials for me?

We would always recommend that you consult your doctor and MASTA with regard to vaccinations required and what would suit you best. Antimalarials dif... more

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Q3: Where can we go travel onto from Venice, departing on a Friday to continue our honeymoon?

You have not mentioned what time of year you are travelling, but there a many options to choose from as both rail, ferry and flight options are open t... more

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Q4: My wife is not a good flier, (or sailor) so we are looking to put together a holiday based on train travel. We would like to travel by Eurostar to Paris on May 31st, stay in Paris until 4th June, travel by train to Lake Como, (via Milan?) where we stay for 1 week, spend a few nights in Milan after that and travel back to Paris on Friday or better still, June 13th or 14th, completing our journey home the next day. I should be able to book hotels in all destinations without much trouble but before doing so, need to ensure we can get there! We can be somewhat flexible and move the elements around, e.g. spend our few days in Milan before or after the Lake Como stay, also we can put the whole trip back one week as long as we are away June 8th.

In my experience, the rail routes always seem to be available when they come on line and we never seem to have any problem getting the dates and times... more

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Q5: My wife and I are going on a weeks sailing trip in Croatia in August, which starts in Split. We are planning to spend 3 or 4 days in one of the neighbouring countries prior to the trip. Can you recommend which country to visit?

I would recommend a few days in Dubrovnik or its neighbour Cavtat, the lakes in Slovenia or possibly even Venice where it is possible to take a ferry ... more

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Q6: My husband and I would like to take our 2 children (age 5 years and 18 months) on a Scandinavian summer holiday. Ideally we'd like to spend about a week in a city and about a week in a more rural or coastal location. Can you recommend any itineraries?

Copenhagen would be a great suggestion for your summer holiday, with direct flights from Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester, or for a more relaxing jour... more

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Q7: I am 65, single and fairly fit, apart from dodgy knees. I want to travel to almost anywhere in South America on a level where I would get to see and feel the real culture, but I most certainly do not want to be the oldest (or youngest), only single, least fit of the bunch, as I did a 3 month volunteer stint in Guatemala 3 years ago with people who were all 30 years or more younger than myself. I can travel at almost any time of year so I don't want to hit extremes of climate if possible, am looking to go for at least 3 weeks and hopefully more, and have a budget of approx £3,500 or so including transatlantic flights. I read about you over the weekend and certainly would appreciate your advice tailored to my particular needs: I would also prefer single accommodation, if possible and not too expensive.

I would recommend that you consider a small group tour of Brazil, although it is sometimes difficult to guarantee the age of your fellow travellers. ... more

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Q8: I am a just retired great fan of the blues music. Are there any escorted tours of USA dealing with going to the area(s) where the blues were born?

We would recommend the Collette America’s Music cities which takes in Beale Street in Memphis where much of the Blues came to life plus they can take ... more

I would suggest an 'America Music City' escorted trip to the Tennessee and Missouri region of the USA, which we would arrange with an AITO Spe... more

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Q9: Are there any problems visiting Riyadh in Saudi Arabia?

For the most up-to-date information on safety and security in foreign countries, please visit the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) Travel Advice se... more

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Q10: I am going to Valencia at the end of January. I was wondering if you cause advise me of the main things to see in Valenica. Could you also tell me some of the best restaurants in the city.

Make sure you check out the old quarter, which until the 19th century was defended by a wall, and still standing as proof are the Torres de Serranos a... more

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Q11: We have been invited to sail with friends in the Carribean in late March. We would like to fly to Antigua or the British Virgin Islands from Edinburgh and spend a couple of days at each end relaxing in a small hotel (not a resort). Recommendations for hotels and flights? Also do we need visas/jabs?

What a wonderful idea. The BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS offer some of the best sailing in the world let alone the Caribbean. There are so many beaches and i... more

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Q12: I shall be hiring a car in Namibia in the second half of March, to drive mostly on major roads but with short distances on smaller tracks (not off-road). What type of vehicle do I need?

We would suggest a four wheel drive vehicle because the terrain in Namibia is very varied even though you will not be driving off-road. Also there ca... more

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Q13: Could you send me information about a 3-day trip to London on 15th February 2008?

AITO Specialist Travel Agents can help with outbound holidays from the UK however for a trip to London we recommend you refer to the Visit Britain web... more

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Q14: I am going to India on a trip in February. What is the easiest and quickest way to get a visa? And when should I do it?

The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) (www.fco.gov.uk, 0845 850 2829) advise that passports be valid for a minimum of six months when travelling to ... more

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Q15: Where would be a good place for a family holiday in January with a warm climate?

My choice would be one of two depending on how far you want to travel and how much you want to pay. Somewhere that is not too far would be the Los Jam... more

The Caribbean is an excellent choice for some winter sun, January and February being the best months with very little rainfall and a nice dry heat. Fo... more

Recommended family-friendly destinations include the Red Sea or the Gambia depending on the level of water sport activities the family would like to u... more

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Q16: When is the best time to visit Alaska?

Alaska’s northly location means that unless you are coming for dog sledding or the Northern Lights you should ideally travel between May and September... more

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Q17: How do I get to Alaska?

There are no direct flights from the Uk into Alaska so the majority of people fly into Anchorage via either Seattle or Vancouver.... more

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Q18: What can I combine a visit to Alaska with?

Alaska is a long way from anywhere and people concentrate all their efforts on seeing as much of the country as possible. However you could combine... more

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Q19: What vaccinations do I need to visit South Africa?

You are recommended to have vaccinations for Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Tetanus & Polio. If you are visiting the northeast and low altitude areas of the No... more

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Q20: Do I need a special type of passport now to visit the USA?

To enter under the Visa Waiver Programme (VWP) your passport must contain a machine-readable zone (MRZ) at the foot of the photo page. The MRZ contain... more

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Q21: Where could I take my 2 children aged 10 and 12 on safari?

For a family friendly safari experience South Africa has plenty to offer. You can visit Richard Branson's safari lodge Ulusaba which is in the Sabi Sa... more

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Q22: I’ve been diving on the Barrier Reef in Australia and loved it, is there anywhere else you would recommend in Australia that is good for diving?

You should try the Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia. It is one of the world’s largest reefs with a spectacular array of aquatic life. It also has th... more

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Q23: I am interested in taking a reasonably priced beach holiday in Thailand, but I have heard Phuket is quite commercial and that Koh Phangan is full of backpackers, is there anywhere else you can recommend?

You are quite right on both these fronts, however, there is no shortage of idyllic beaches and islands in Thailand. I would personally recommend visit... more

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Q24: I have always wanted to go to Peru, but I now have children, is it safe?

It would be unwise of me to say that South America is always entirely “safe” for families to travel to. However, there are always ways of minimizing r... more

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Q25: We need a suggestion for an interesting family holiday for 2 adults and 2 children aged 8 and 10. We are an active, rather than a beach family and don’t like to spend a whole fortnight in one resort. We would like some culture but also some fun things we can do as a family.

Lake Garda and Venice
Fly to Verona and pick up a car and drive to Bardolino on Lake Garda.
10 nights stay in a hotel or apartment to suit y... more

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Q26: We are a group of six friends who would like to go on a special holiday to celebrate a 40th birthday. We would like some time holidaying separately as couples but a really different week all together for the birthday week. Cost is not too important but It must be a February departure and we would like some sun?

The Caribbean is a great choice for February as the weather should be warm and sunny and yet its only an 8 hour flight from the UK. I suggest you all ... more

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Q27: We have recently retired and after recommendations from many of our friends have finally decided to try cruising. We are very nervous of the concept as we have always preferred to holiday independently in the past and the prospect of being herded around huge glitzy ships eating with the same couple each mealtime does not appeal at all. We understand there are alternatives but don’t really know where to start looking for a suitable cruise can you help?

Your worries are understandable and you are doing the right thing coming to an experienced agent as we can present an independent view to help you fin... more

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Q28: My daughter is working in Bujumbura, Burundi and my husband and I want to visit her next May. We would like to spend some time in other parts of south east Africa before travelling overland to Bujumbura. We are interested in rail travel and safari travel and would like to see some of the must-see areas in the region. We are flexible on precise timing, but plan to spend at least four weeks and up to 7,000 pounds on the trip. What do you suggest?

The Foreign Office advise against travelling to this area for all but essential travel. Before you make any arrangements I think you should check your... more

With your daughter already working in Bujumbura, You will be aware that you need a visa, which can be arranged on arrival and currently costs $20 for ... more

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Q29: I am hoping for a Nile Cruise during the middle of February, one which includes sometime in Cairo possible for 9-10 days maximum.

February is a great time to go to Egypt, but availability on the nice smaller riverboats is already quite difficult, so I would recommend an early dec... more

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