The Holiday Guru solves traveller queries from Syndey bushfires to Bob Marley’s home

Should I cancel my trip to Sydney due to bushfires and how can I visit Bob Marley’s home in Jamaica? The Holiday Guru solves traveller queries

The Holiday Guru is always on call to answer your questions.

This week’s topics include travel to Australia, ship voyages to St Helena and trips to Jamaica. 

Q. My husband and I are due to visit Sydney in March. With the bushfires and the poor air quality, should we look for an alternative? 

Christine Willcocks, via email. 

The Guru says it is best to wait and see before cancelling any trips to Sydney due to the bushfires and poor air quality 

A. Best to wait and see — and consult the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s travel advice (gov.uk). It is currently urging British visitors to follow advice of local authorities. 

It would be a shame to cancel a trip to the beautiful city so far in advance. 

Q. I’ve heard about new flights to St Helena, but is there still a journey by ship that you can take? 

Margaret Smith, Maida Vale, London.

A. Yes, there is. The MV Helena, primarily a cargo ship, has recently introduced four passenger berths. 

The journey from Cape Town to the island where Napoleon was exiled takes seven days and the price with food is £900 return (sthelenashipping.com). 

Or, flights to St Helena from either Johannesburg or Cape Town are from about £900 return, taking about six hours (flyairlink.com). 

Q. We would love to book an all-inclusive holiday in Jamaica and embrace ‘reggae’ by visiting Bob Marley’s home and listening to the music. Any tips? 

Babar Coughlan, Paignton, Devon. 

The Bob Marley Museum is in Kingston, the capital of Jamaica, pictured, at the house where he lived and recorded music until his death in 1981

The Bob Marley Museum is in Kingston, the capital of Jamaica, pictured, at the house where he lived and recorded music until his death in 1981

A. The main Bob Marley attractions are 60 miles apart. His birthplace and final resting place are in Nine Mile, in the Parish of St Ann, set amid gorgeous mountains, where his mausoleum can be found and exhibits include guitars and photographs. 

Meanwhile, the Bob Marley Museum is in Kingston, the capital, at the house where he lived and recorded music until his death in 1981. 

Stay at Moon Palace all-inclusive hotel in Ocho Rios, about an hour’s drive to Kingston which promotes itself as offering ‘the pulse of reggae’ from £2,500 for a week for two (jamaica.moonpalace.com). 

WE’RE HERE TO HELP 

For advice, send your questions to holidayplanner@dailymail.co.uk or write to Daily Mail Travel, Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT. Please include your contact details.  

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