Travellers' checks

While travellers visiting Europe in the 1850s had a range of guidebooks to choose from (such as the many versions of Murray's Handbook for Travellers and their German imitator, Baedeker), for thousands of Americans heading west towards a new life in Oregon and California the pickings were discouragingly slim. Francis Galton's The Art of Travel: Or, Shifts and Contrivances Available in Wild Countries, first published in 1855, would have been of some use, with advice on early sleeping bags and rucksacks, how to make a good cup of tea on the road and "revolting food that may save the lives of starving men", but it was mainly aimed at those exploring South America, Africa and Tibet. It wasn't until 1859 that more specific help arrived in the form of The Prairie Traveler, the first guidebook to the American West, written by Captain Randolph B. Marcy of the United States Army. This practical volume contained everything the would-be pioneer needed to know, including the various routes that were open, how to select a suitable campsite and the art of "tracking and pursuing Indians". Of limited practical use to the modern tourist venturing across the American interior, The Prairie Traveler remains a popular read with those who enjoy the insights offered by a historical perspective. The book is republished quite regularly, with the latest edition due out on August 5 and available from Amazon for about US$11. The Kindle version, however, is currently available free of charge, as is an iBooks edition.

Aqua Expeditions is an upmarket cruise company that operates two small but luxurious cruisers on the Peruvian end of the Amazon River. Launching in late September, a third vessel will begin navigating the Mekong River between Siem Reap, in Cambodia, and Ho Chi Minh City, in Vietnam, via Phnom Penh. The 62-metre Aqua Mekong (above) will offer 20 shore-facing suites with floor-to-ceiling windows, an observation deck and an outdoor lounge with, no doubt, enough planter chairs for everyone to relax in with their copies of Lord Jim or The Quiet American. Celebrity Thai-food supremo David Thompson will be aboard as executive chef for the three-, four- and seven-night cruises, which start from US$3,000 per cabin for double occupancy. For full details, itineraries and online reservations, visit www.aquaexpeditions.com.

Swire Travel is offering three convenient cruises aboard Royal Caribbean's 3,100-passenger Voyager of the Seas (above) that begin and end in Hong Kong, at the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal. The first, starting from HK$4,230, departs on September 17 and will visit Okinawa and Taipei over five nights. Departing September 29 is a five-night Xiamen and Okinawa cruise priced from HK$5,200 and finally a four-night Kaohsiung and Taipei cruise leaves on October 4, priced from HK$4,380. These all-inclusive fares will be subject to between HK$1,500 and HK$2,000 in various taxes and surcharges, and will only get you an interior cabin. But even with a cabin upgrade this is an easy way to spend a few relaxing days at sea for about the price of a round-trip air ticket to Europe. For more information and reservations, go to www.swiretravel.com, click through Cruises/Asia and scroll down to the three "Roundtrip HK" options.

Cathay Pacific Holidays is selling three nights for the price of two at the Naumi Liora boutique hotel in Singapore (top; www.naumiliora.com with round-trip, economy-class flights from HK$2,030. Also included are breakfast, in-room Wi-fi and all-day snacks. Advertised package prices, quoted per person, twin-share, do not include the HK$722 in taxes and surcharges that will be added during the online booking process, but this is still a cheap option for a few days in Singapore between now and the middle of November. You will probably also have to be flexible with your dates if you want to get the lowest fares. Visit the Singapore section at www.cxholidays.com for more details.