NEW! Travel Expert Q&A

Honeymoon Questions

Q. "We are thinking of getting holiday vouchers to pay towards the honeymoon but I haven't found anywhere that does this yet?"‘Angel4'
A. My favourite honeymoon gift list is by Turquoise Holidays (www.turquoiseholidays.co.uk). They offer great customer service which I know has been a concern in the chatroom with other tour operators.

Q. "Does anyone know of any good hotels in Mauritius?"
‘Ducks'
A. Three brilliant hotel groups in Mauritius include One&Only Resorts (www.oneandonlyresorts.com), Beachcomber (www.beachcomber-hotels.com) and Naiade Resorts (www.naiade.com). However you can't go far wrong in Mauritius if you go four or five star such as The Oberoi, Taj or The Residence.

Q. "I have a complete fear of flying and am not sure where to go on honeymoon?" ‘Mrs Cochrane'
A. Why not hire a flash car, whiz through the Channel Tunnel and head to Paris before meandering down to the glamorous Cote D'Azur. Cruising from the UK is another good option to avoid flights. P&O (www.pocruises.com)

Q. "We want to stay in Brighton before flying off on honeymoon. Are there any lovely hotels?" ‘Angellore'
A. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Hotel du Vin & Bistro in Brighton (www.hotelduvin.co.uk). Request the amazing Loft Suite or one of two junior suites, all with sexy double baths.

Q. "What are the rules for changing your passport name before the wedding as I may also be going overseas for a hen weekend so am unsure when to change it?" ‘Chattster'
A. All the details for changing your passport to your married name are found at www.passport.gov.uk. Or you can call 0870 5210410 for advice. You can leave it up to 20 days before your wedding day to apply for a new 10 year passport costing £51, so it would be advisable to go on your hen weekend before then.

Q. "We are looking to honeymoon in Barbados. Do you have any hotel suggestions?" ‘Coates'
A. Depending on your budget, Barbados has many beautiful hotels. Top of the range is Sandy Lane, but there are smaller boutique properties like Little Good Harbour. A great tour operator is Caribtours (www.caribtours.co.uk) who will tailor to your needs.

Q. "Are there any lovely hotels near Gatwick Airport for first nights? I don't fancy an airport hotel."  ‘Bride2b'
A. There are three that spring to mind: Nutfield Priory (www.handpicked.co.uk), Langshott Manor (www.alexanderhotels.co.uk)  and Ghyll Manor (www.ghyllmanor.co.uk).

Q. "Where can I get it all on honeymoon: sun, shopping and obviously seduction...?" ‘Spoilt'
A. I think a great place for a multi-faceted honeymoon is Miami. It's ultra sexy, has a great climate, fab beaches, cool shopping and some of the world's most exciting hotels with spas and very sexy nightclubs and beachclubs. The Standard and the Victor come to mind. Good tour operators include Virgin Holidays and Kuoni.

Q. "Has anyone been thinking about South Africa for honeymoon? We want city, beaches, safari." Lucy19
A. You can't go wrong with South Africa. It has all the components you are looking for. Cape Town is one of the best cities in the world, the beaches are superb and of course it's practically the home of safari. Don't miss our safari special in the November/December issue.

Q. "Has anyone been on any great diving holidays? We are thinking of the Maldives but are open to suggestions." ‘Lisa33'
A. The Maldives is one of the best places in the world to dive and its island resorts are ultra romantic such as the Hilton Maldives. Other good choices are the Great Barrier Reef and resorts such as Hayman Island. Otherwise there are parts of the Caribbean such as the Bahamas Out Islands which have amazing reefs and resorts. A good tour operator is Regal Dive (www.regaldive.co.uk).


Weddings Abroad Questions

Q. "I am marrying abroad with 30 friends and family. I never wanted to have a return party, but am now feeling pressure to do so." ‘LisaM'
A. As this is your wedding, I would stick to your guns about what you want. If your heart's not in a party on your return, it probably won't be that successful. Why not send out a polite note when you return with your favourite picture of your big day to make everyone who wasn't there see you and your new husband on the day?

Q. "Is anyone else getting married in the snow?"  ‘Rachel Webster'
A. Snow weddings are ultra -omantic. I would recommend the Ice Hotel in Swedish Lapland, featured in my book, A Place to Wed published by Conran Octopus. A great tour operator is Discover the World (www.discover-the-world.co.uk).


Don't worry if your question hasn't been answered this time, we'll be bringing you lots more expert advice very soon.

In the meantime, if you need help with any aspect of planning your honeymoon or wedding abroad, please click the Helping Hands link on the homepage and email your question to us.

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