Our travel adviser tackles your destination dilemmas, visa puzzles and itinerary ideas RISING IN EAST TIMORI would like to visit East Timor on my next holiday, as I'm sure it is unspoilt by mass tourism. Could you make some recommendations ? - Jerome WilliamsThere are only two ways into the Southeast Asian nation of East Timor, or Timor-Leste. There are daily flights from Darwin, Australia, and from Bali, Indonesia, into the capital, Dili.The best area to stay in is the Areia Branca, which boasts a curved beach and shallow turquoise water. Along the Areia Branca "esplanade" are a few restaurants right on the beach, offering good seafood and meat selections. There are only about 20 hotels in Dili, from guest lodges to proper hotels. Luxurious accommodation is not plentiful but you can find a hotel for $40 a night. Trip Advisor provides a useful list of hotels (tripadvisor.com). mini_story_image_hleft1East Timor is a poor country with pockets of modernisation. The traffic is chaotic with many motorcycles and few working traffic lights. Travelling outside of Dili can be challenging and hiring a 4x4 is a good idea. However, it is well worth the visit to see some spectacularly unspoilt coastline and mountain forests running through the spine of the country.Timor is very hot and humid - around the 30°C mark for most of the year. Afternoon downpours can flood the streets. The rainy season is from December to May and mosquitos can be a pest. It is a malaria/dengue fever area so prophylactics are a must.A PILGRIMAGE TO HAITIWe would like to join the annual pilgrimage to the Saut-d'Eau in Haiti in July. What is the best way to get there and will we need a visa? Travel agencies in South Africa do not appear to deal with packages to Haiti. - PilgrimThe festival of Our Lady of Carmel, Haiti's most celebrated patron saint, takes place from July 14 to 16 at Saut-d'Eau ("Sodo" in Creole), which means "waterfall".You could book a flight to get to the festival but it may be a lot more convenient to take an organised tour from the US. You do not need a visa to go to Haiti but, if you are on a South African passport, you will need one for the US.Haiti Travel operates from Atlanta, Georgia, and will be able to help. See haiti-travel.com or e-mail info@altowebmarketing.com.If you have your own transport, stay in the capital of Port-au-Prince. Pétionville is the best area, with more security than the city centre, and nightclubs and restaurants catering to tourists.• Do you have a query for our travel expert? Send your question to travelmag@sundaytimes.co.za..