HOLIDAY GURU

Helping you find the perfect break

Q

I’M PLANNING a nostalgia trip to Sydney, from where I hope to take a short cruise, in a small ship, to Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea’s capital, where I used to live. Can you help? Edward Mitchell, Bournemouth.

A

noT easy, i’m afraid. Some cruise liners feature papua new guinea, but they are usually long cruises and snapped up fast (see cruiseaway.com.au).

Your best bet for a quick fix is to fly to port Moresby from Sydney from £225 each way ( virginaustralia.com). regent Holidays could tailor-make an itinerary for your stay ( regent-holidays.co.uk).

Beware: advance visas are required, but they are free ( pnghighcomm.org.uk).

For a trip down memory lane by a small ship around the papua new guinea coast, True north ( truenorth.com.au) offers a variety of first-rate (but pricey) voyages.

These are aboard ships with a 36-passenger capacity, stopping at the lusancay islands, alotau on the mainland and the Duke of York islands. with return flights from Cairns, a ten-night trip costs from £12,570 pp.

Q

COULD you please inform me of holidays in the British Isles for single people without children?

A Alan Clark, Hertfordshire.

How about trying a walking break? HF Holidays organises challenging, as well as more moderate, walks everywhere from Scotland to the isle of wight. in the latter, a three-day full-board hiking trip costs from £345 ( hfholidays.co.uk).

Q

MY HUSBAND and I are going to Rome for five days in November to celebrate his 60th birthday. Do you have any sightseeing tips? What about attending a Papal Mass?

Maria French, Coventry. A

For a papal ceremony, determination and planning are required — and a fax machine is handy. The prefecture of the papal Household prefers requests by fax or in writing, with the date of which general audience (normally on wednesdays) or liturgical celebration you wish to attend.

For information, visit vatican. va/various/prefettura/index_en.html, where dates are listed. For Vatican Museum night tours and early-morning Sistine Chapel tours, go to vatican.com.

as for sightseeing tips? Simple: get up early to beat the crowds . . . and allow enough time for a good lunch.