Our travel adviser tackles your destination dilemmas, visa puzzles and itinerary ideas. KING OF THE ROADSMy son (41) and I (74) are planning to visit the US from August 28 to September 28 2015. We are flying to Washington DC and want to do a small part (best) of Route 66 on our way. The key parts will be: 1. First stop Chicago, then on to St Louis. 2. St Louis to Albuquerque (shortest time) and onward to Las Vegas - including the Grand Canyon - and maybe Bryce Canyon and Monument Valley. 3. Las Vegas to LA. 4. LA on Highway 1 to San Francisco and time in Nappa Valley. 5. On to Boston, then back to Washington DC. I would appreciate your input regarding the most effective way to do this and also highlights you would recommend. - Jan & Herman LombardEstablished in 1926, Route 66 or the Mother Road does not appear on modern maps and is no longer a US highway but it's still there, the stuff of legends. Beginning in Chicago, Illinois, it crosses Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California, where, after 3 940km, it once ended in Los Angeles, then in 1936, Santa Monica. Two years later, the road had been fully paved.You will get the most out of your trip if you research it well beforehand, with your own interests in mind. A good website is Historic Route 66 but there are many more. Of course, the point of Route 66 is the journey, not the destination, so stop and explore at will as well as having a vague plan and timetable.Las Vegas, the famous one in Nevada, is not on Route 66 - though it does pass through a town of the same name in New Mexico. A detour to the former, however, isn't far.The important attractions en route are too many to mention here. It crosses the Painted Desert and passes near the Grand Canyon, but its real charm is in the small towns along the way, where you will find restored filling stations, teepee-shaped motels (there are only two left, in Arizona and California) and Art-Deco buildings.full_story_image_hleft1The route played a huge part in developing the country's fast-food industry (and thus ours) with roadside diners, including the first drive-through restaurant, Red's Giant Hamburg in Springfield, Missouri. Unfortunately it no longer exists.Dixie Truckers Home in McClean, Illinois, dates back to 1926 and claims to be the oldest truck stop in the US. In the same state, you could also stop for a famous corn-dog on a stick at the Cozy Dog Drive-In in Springfield.A major landmark for decades, now restored but closed to cars, is the Chain of Rocks Bridge across the Mississippi in St Louis, Missouri, which has a 30-degree turn in the middle.The route is also known as the Will Rogers Highway. To find out why, visit his Memorial Museum in Claremore, Oklahoma.Texas landmarks include McLean, a nearly-abandoned town on the route, worth a photo-stop, the U-Drop Inn in Shamrock, a much restored landmark, and the 1947 Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo where 10 cars are buried nose-down.For more serious art, don't miss the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe, New Mexico, which houses over 1 000 of her paintings.THE CHRISTMAS FERRYWe are planning a European holiday in December. Part of our route includes a ferry crossing, with vehicle, from Zadar or Split in Croatia to Ancona, Italy. I am, however, unable to find schedules for December (specifically December 21 2015). Can you assist? - Bruce Mitchellstory_article_right1There are a total of 18 sailings per week between Croatia and Ancona in Italy, run by three companies: Snav sails up to seven times a week, Blue Line seven times a week and Jadrolinija four times a week, but many of the ferries across the Adriatic run in summer only, or with reduced services at other times of the year.Jadrolinija and Blue Line make the crossing all year round. In winter, Blue Line sails twice a week and Jadrolinija three times, weather permitting.Blue Line gets positive reviews but their booking site only offers bookings for about six weeks ahead. It may not even be necessary to book ahead in winter but if you want that security, try booking at a date closer to your departure.FISHING IN MY POCKETSWe are planning a holiday in Durban in August. I would like to take my children to uShaka Marine World, but I am told that it is very expensive. Do they have specials for families? - Lillian S FulmerYou are in luck in that uShaka Marine World's off-peak season runs from July 20 to October 2. During this period, you can get into the Wet 'n Wild water park for R158 for adults and kids over 12, R122 for kids under 12. Sea World is R165 for adults and kids over 12; R122 for kids under 12. Children under three enter for free. They don't seem to have special offers for families but they do offer a combo deal, where adults and kids can visit both of the above-mentioned attractions for R199 and R158 respectively. Over-61s pay the same as kids.The off-peak times are 9am to 5pm from Wednesday to Sunday at the water park, and the same times on Monday to Sunday at Sea World...