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Travel answers: All-inclusive honeymoons, Broadway getaways

My nephew is getting married in August and is asked for my help planning his honeymoon to the Caribbean. He doesn't have a lot of money to spend - he's a middle school teacher. He's asked me to find a all-inclusive deal at an adults-only resort. He's looking to spend $2,000-$2,500 for five to seven days. My travel agent is recommending Cancun, Mexico, but I was hoping for more options. Any suggestions?

A: The Yucatan Peninsula, which includes Cancun, is a good choice. But I'd head a little farther south from Cancun to Playa del Carmen or even Tulum. Prices are reasonable and it's not quite as busy as Cancun. Your travel agent is likely recommending Mexico because it's typically cheaper to fly there than to Jamaica or the Dominican Republic, islands that also have a good selection of all-inclusive resorts. - Carol Sottili

Q: How do you make the best of travel when you're sick? There is a joke in my family about my wife getting sick any time we travel abroad. Usually, it's just a cold and cough. She refuses to cancel the trip and usually spends the first one to three days in a medicine fog, but then gets better and the rest of the trip is fine. Obviously if you're planning several months in advance there's no way of knowing that a person will be sick. But when it happens do you think it's better to cancel (we always get trip insurance) or to forge ahead and deal with it?

A: Whether you cancel or go depends on the severity of your illness and your destination. Obviously, if you are in pain or contagious, you should cancel. If you simply have a cold or ate something funny that will pass in 24 hours, you should consider going. Of course, if your trip is, say, hiking and camping in Patagonia, you will need to be in good heath. So you might want to postpone. If you are just lounging on a Caribbean beach, the sun and water might dry up those sniffles. Just remember to bring any antibiotics or meds with you, so that you don't have to run around a foreign city looking for a pharmacy.

- Andrea Sachs

Q: We'd like to travel from Washington to New York to see "An American in Paris" and "Hamilton." We thought we'd take the train, see one evening show, stay overnight, and return home after a matinee of the other show the next day. Do you have any suggestions for reasonably priced lodging? What's the best way to get show tickets? Any other tips?

A: For budget lodging, check the family of Apple Core Hotels or the Pod. Also Chelsea Inn or Chelsea Savoy. You might also consider Airbnb, for your own pad. NYC's tourism office also lists hotel deals, and you might find packages combined with theater tickets.

For shows, the easiest way is to buy tickets through the venue or theater company in advance. If you are willing to gamble on same-day tickets, you could try the half-price TKTS booth in Times Square, South Street Seaport or downtown Brooklyn. Download the app to see the day's offerings.

- A.S.

Q: I am traveling to Canada and will be getting cash. Is it best to do it at the airport or a branch on arrival or before leaving the U.S.? I have a U.S. TD account and plan to use Canadian TD ATMs or branch while there. Seems this should be easy to answer but I've been getting conflicting information.

A: Here's how I'd do it in order of preference: 1) When you're in Canada, using your ATM; 2) At your bank; 3) At the airport. The exchange rate at the airport will probably be the least competitive, followed by your bank at home. But you may need a few Loonies before you travel, so that's fine. When we crossed Canada earlier this fall, we waited until we were in the country before buying currency.

- Christopher Elliott

Q: My niece is headed to France to be an au pair for a year. I would like to give her some Euros as a Christmas gift - what is the best way to do this? I will be at Dulles before the holiday, should I buy them there? Also, do you have any other suggestions for a Christmas gift for a 22-year-old's first trip abroad?

A: Ooh la la, lucky girl!

You can purchase euros through AAA or your bank (Bank of America, for instance, has an online ordering system). Currency booths at the airport don't often have the best exchange rate and may tack on a high service fee.

For a gift, you could buy her a SIM card, so that she can stay in touch with family, or a leather journal to record her experiences. Or you could pull together a gift box with her favorite beauty products and foods from home - in case she feels a little homesick. Or buy her a few scarves, so that she starts of her French adventure in style.

- A.S.

Q: When is the best time of year to visit Alaska? I heard a lot of activities shut down in the wintertime.

A: The state quiets down during the dark winter months. Most people visit in the summer, but I prefer the shoulder seasons (spring/fall) because there are fewer crowds (mainly the cruising hordes). I traveled in late September and had some rain and some sun, and tons of wildlife (my visit overlapped with the salmon spawn, which brings out such local diners as bears and eagles).

- A.S.

Q: I'm going to Maui, Hawaii, for two weeks in February, and I'm considering renting a condo for much of that time. Do you have any suggestions regarding the best location(s) for my temporary home base? I will have a car.

A: I rented a condo near Lahaina a few years ago and found that it was centrally located to many of the best beaches and restaurants. I wouldn't hesitate to return. I've also stayed just south of Kihei, at the resort hotels, and that was less convenient to the attractions but closer to Maui's natural attractions and to the mountains.

- C.E.

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