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Stephen McCarty

Net results

Expecting to face Roger Federer across the net might be a stretch, but the JW Marriott Phuket Resort  can offer another respected professional tennis player to  teach guests.

Canadian  Nash Ladha,  who now competes on the International Tennis Federation  veterans' circuit, has been a  leading figure  in developing tennis programmes across Thailand since 1991. Under his stewardship, the JW Marriott Phuket offers tennis aficionados serious and social play on its two floodlit Plexipave-surface  courts (left). Also on offer is a range of private  lessons suitable for all ages and abilities.

With accommodation in a deluxe sala (a Thai-style open pavilion) garden-view room, the resort's tennis package costs from 16,700 baht (HK$4,000) for two nights for two people. Transfers,   breakfast, a one-hour tennis lesson with the pro  (extra workshops can be booked separately) and court time are included. Reservations can be made by calling 66 2656  7700 or e-mailing res.jwthailand@marriotthotels.com.  The package is available until the end of the year.

Cruisey lifestyle

MSC Cruises  is offering two-for-one incentives aboard liners Lirica  and Opera  (above), both of which will be ploughing scenic European furrows this autumn.

Passengers booking one berth will receive a second free. Third and fourth berths booked as part of the same package will qualify for further discounts unless occupied by children under 18, in which case they, too, will be free of charge.  As well as dining and shopping in each port of call, guests can look forward to the Colosseum of Rome,  the exotic souks of Tangiers,  Morocco,  and the architectural gems of the historic port of Marseilles.

Onboard distractions include gymnasia, spas, saunas, jogging areas, swimming pools,  Jacuzzis,  video-game centres, cinemas, beauty salons, internet cafes, restaurants, theatres, discotheques, casinos and children's clubs. A seven-night Mediterranean cruise aboard the Opera costs from HK$3,950 for the first and second berth up to the end of October. The offer will be applicable to the Lirica until November 10. The Lirica's ports of call from Genoa are  Marseilles,  Valencia,  Tangiers,  Malaga  and Civitavecchia before heading back to Genoa. The Opera will call at Ancona,  Gythion,  Piraeus, Corfu and  Split before returning to the starting point, Trieste. Flights to embarkation points are not included.

Other promotional voyages are on offer aboard the MSC Sinfonia,  MSC Orchestra  and MSC Musica.  See www.msccruisesasia.com  for details of all cruises.

Taxi!

Hong Kong,  Shanghai  and Beijing  were the first cities to be given the Taxi Guide treatment. Guangzhou  and Shenzhen   are the latest destinations to be featured in the series of guidebooks, aimed at helping travellers navigate with minimal hassle.

The pocket-sized guides have proved particularly useful for travellers who face linguistic frustrations when moving around large, bustling cities (that would be most of us), by offering complete English translations for all useful addresses alongside the equivalent in indigenous languages. A pronunciation guide is featured, as are assorted helpful phrases such as the cheeky: 'Are you sure you know where I want to go?' Other innovations designed to make Taxi Guide stand out from the guidebook crowd are arrow stickers to indicate directions; an inside pocket for a hotel room key or business cards; and telephone numbers for taxi companies, emergency services and other useful organisations. Shopping tips, tunnel and bridge fee information and simple maps can be found throughout. The guides, published in hardback, cost HK$60 each. They are available from Hong Kong bookshops and online at www.thetaxiguide.com.  Forthcoming titles include Bangkok,  Phuket,  Ho Chi Minh City  and Hanoi.

For your eyes only

Should you feel the need to evade the paparazzi when retying the knot, you might like to know the Rania Maldives   is offering what it calls 'the ultimate private wedding blessing' experience.

Guests may have their union blessed, renew their vows  or celebrate a wedding anniversary for US$1,100 - ceremony only.  The exclusive castaway property, which sits on a private island (above) in Faafu Atoll,  35 minutes by seaplane from Male airport,  comes complete with a luxury yacht. Renting the island, which allows only one booking at a time, costs considerably more.

The simple and elegant ceremony takes place just before sunset, at the edge of, or on, the Indian Ocean, and is performed  in the local Dhivehi  language. An English transcription is presented with a blessing certificate. If they're not already aboard, after the taking of photographs couples board the yacht for a sunset cruise with Dom Perignon  champagne and canapes.

On their return to the island, a candlelit five-course dinner is served on the beach and, if they choose, couples may have a bed set up on the sand for them to sleep under the stars.

Accommodation is in the three-bedroom Rania suite, overlooking a plunge pool, and  three nearby beach villas. For  package prices, contact info@raniaexperience.com,  call  960 6740555 or see www.raniaexperience.com.

Deal of the week

A two-night package to Xiamen (above), Fujian province,  costing from HK$1,990 per person, twin share, is available from Tiglion Travel.  Accommodation at this price is at the Miramar Hotel (www.sinohotelguide.com/xiamen);  more upmarket is the Sofitel Plaza  (www.sofitel.com)  for HK$2,390. Prices include flights with Cathay Pacific and breakfast, and will be on offer until October 31. Call Tiglion Travel on 2511 7189  or e-mail  travel@tls2.tiglion.com,  quoting package number 240.



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