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March travel news

DESERT DREAMING
Urban nomads inspired by the exploits of Thesiger and Lawrence can realise their desert dreams with style at two enchanting new properties in the United Arab Emirates. In the northern emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, Banyan Tree Al Wadi’s 101 villas – all with private sundecks and pools – nestle between the Arabian Sea and Al Hajjar mountains and offer guests dhow cruises, falconry displays and 18 holes of golf. More than half the 100-hectare property operates as a reserve for Arabian oryx, gazelle and other unique desert dwellers. In neighbouring Abu Dhabi, the Thai-based Anantara group has claimed a patch of the Empty Quarter, the world’s largest all-sand desert, for its castellated Qasr Al Sarab resort. This 206-room “mirage palace” rises from the ochre dunes in golden stone and pampers guests in richly detailed Arabesque interiors studded with artworks and artefacts. Budding explorers can ride camels through the dunes and then dine in a Bedouin tent. Banyan Tree Al Wadi, Ras Al Khaimah, villas from $980; Anantara Qasr Al Sarab, Liwa Desert, Abu Dhabi, rooms from $770.  KENDALL HILL

NEW SEASON FOR BEIRUT
Emerging from the fog of its war-torn past, Beirut – once glamour central of the Middle East – is rediscovering the high life, as evidenced by the new Four Seasons Hotel. A sparkling contemporary edifice soaring to 26 floors, the hotel incorporates a rooftop pool and bar, spa and restaurant. With 230 rooms, including 60 suites, it’s located downtown just a short hop from the Lebanese capital’s shops, nightlife and historic sites. Rooms from $540 per night. 1800 142 163.

SERIOUSLY GOOD KARMA
If you’ve got a taste for the magic of Mykonos, check out Pelikanos, the latest addition to the upmarket Karma portfolio of properties. The freestanding six-bedroom villa combines stunning traditional Greek island architecture with top-flight modern amenities, 180-degree views of the Aegean and an easy 500-metre stroll to party hub Paradise Beach.

TYRIAN APARTMENTS
Boutique hotels always seemed too bourgeois for Melbourne’s bohemian heartland of Fitzroy, but now visitors can stay in the city’s artistic heartland at The Tyrian, a smart apartment-hotel on almost-hip Johnston Street. Its 36 minimalist rooms, decked in moody greys and the hotel’s namesake hue, tyrian (purple), use photography and made-to-measure abstract art to warm the walls. No two rooms are alike: we recommend 301 for its whopping great balcony and views to the Dandenongs (on a clear day). Fitzroy’s finest galleries, restaurants, bars and bargains are at your doorstep. Studios from $179 midweek. Tyrian Serviced Apartments, 91 Johnston St, Fitzroy, Vic, (03) 9415 1900.  KENDALL HILL

THE HIGH LIFE
Looking for exclusivity in Hong Kong? The answer's the Horizon Club, an executive lounge on the 56th floor of the Island Shangri-La, currently preening itself after a $4.3-million renovation. Cinematic windows in the lounge look out over the stunning panorama that is Victoria Harbour, while the interiors are marked by dark woods and hand-crafted chandeliers. Horizon Club guestrooms are similarly luxuriously appointed, with Frette linen, jack panels for computers and iPods, and a 24/7 butler who shimmies along at the touch of a button. The 150-square-metre lush outdoor landscaped garden terrace is unique, the entertainment centre has all the whistles and bells you could need, and and there's a two-star Michelin restaurant right next door. Rates start at around $541 for a Horizon Peak View room, and include complimentary breakfast in the lounge or at Restaurant Petrus. Evening cocktails with free-flow Champagne set the seal on what's generally regarded as the East-meets-best of the city's accommodation stakes. Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong, Pacific Place, Supreme Court Rd, Central, Hong Kong, +852 2877 3838. ED PETERS

ATHENIAN STYLE FOR LESS
The 2004 Olympics raised the bar for the capital's big hotels, but stylish small and mid-sized hotels have led the city's continuing urban renewal, offering travellers a very different experience in the charming jumble of downtown Athens.

Grunge meets cutting-edge style at Ochre & Brown (rooms from $240), tucked discreetly among the warehouse conversions and quirky workshops of Psirri, a lively restaurant and bar precinct. With staff outnumbering the 11 rooms (another 11 rooms were being unveiled in March), service is attentive, and hearty breakfasts are freshly prepared in the small restaurant - worth dining at even if you're not a guest. Classy design and amenities make this one of the city's smartest boutique hotels.

The former industrial neighbourhood of Gazi was still evolving when the luxury Eridanus hotel (rooms from $290) opened six years ago in a landmark mansion on busy Peiraios Street. Artsy and elegant, rooms boast designer furniture, quality linen and Hermès amenities. It's a walk from the main sights and close to the Benaki Museum's contemporary art annexe, and at night you can stroll to Gazi's thriving bars, clubs and eateries or book in for a treat at the Michelin-rated Varoulko restaurant next door.

One of the hip hotel trailblazers, Fresh Hotel (rooms from $170) remains an oasis in Athens's gritty market district, with incongruous lolly-coloured décor and savvy design. The surprise here is the intimate rooftop pool and bar/restaurant with a sweeping outlook over the city. Ignore the area's general seediness at night; Fresh Hotel is close to the sights and dining and entertainment hot spots.

At the quirky nearby Classical Baby Grand (rooms from $175), reception desks are forged from Mini Coopers, and graffiti and pop art by international artists is splashed across walls. More conventional rooms are available if you aren't keen on Spiderman or Smurf motifs in your room, but this eccentric hotel is firmly geared towards the cool iPod generation (complete with docking stations).

The intimate Magna Grecia (rooms from $155) is in a fine neoclassical building bordering historic Plaka. Its cosy, well-appointed rooms are named after Greek islands, with obligatory Acropolis views to be enjoyed from the front rooms - or during breakfast on the rooftop terrace.

In the heart of the chic Kolonaki neighbourhood, the sleek Periscope hotel (rooms from $240) has a smart urban aesthetic, including black-and-white aerial shots of Athens on the ceilings. Upper rooms overlook the dramatic Lykavittos Hill, and the penthouse has an unbeatable private rooftop Jacuzzi with sensational views. It's a short metro ride away from the ancient sites, but you have sublime cafés, restaurants, galleries and shopping at your doorstep. VICTORIA KYRIAKOPOULOS

ARCH OF TRIUMPH
There are hotels aplenty around London's Marble Arch district, popular for its central location - Marylebone, Oxford Street, Mayfair, even Soho and the West End are within walking distance. Most of these hotels are mid-priced and undistinguished, but The Arch London has brought boutique hotel looks and five-star furnishings to the area. A series of Georgian townhouses have been converted into an 82-room hotel with rooms from about $560. Each one is beautifully designed with gleaming black granite in the bathrooms, bright fabrics, good-quality linen and all the mod cons you'd expect. We particularly like the hotel's cocktail bar, which is elegant and discreet and has service as well-polished as the lustrous dark timber furniture. There's also an all-day brasserie serving well-made snacks, plus more substantial British dishes. Service is charming throughout. The Arch London, 50 Great Cumberland Pl, London, +44 20 7724 4700. GUY DIMOND

GREECE BEARING GIFTS
We admit it: spreading out the map of Greece and deciding what parts of it to cover for this issue was pretty fun. But narrowing down your destinations in a country of such scenic and cultural riches presents problems of its own. Mykonos or Santorini? Acropolis or Sounion? Based in Sydney, the Greece and Mediterranean Travel Centre can ease the agony of such indecision with expert advice and a comprehensive program of itineraries that includes just about every Grecian experience you could wish for - Athens nightlife, culinary tours, island-hopping by ferry, lolling about on a yacht or archaeological tours. Check out the centre's 2010 brochure for the latest offerings in Greece, Turkey and beyond. 1300 661 666, (02) 9313 4633.

AIRLINE NEWS
NEW ROUTES FOR QATAR
Well in time for the northern hemisphere summer, Qatar Airways adds two new European cities to its network this month, Copenhagen and Barcelona. The airline, which currently flies out of Melbourne, with Sydney planned for later this year, recently announced plans to expand its destinations to a total of 91, including, for the first time, Ankara, Bengaluru (Bangalore) and Tokyo. 1300 340 600.

LIE FLAT ON AIR NZ
Air New Zealand’s new Sky Couch, being introduced on its Boeing 777s from December on the Auckland-LA sector, is set to introduce much-needed comfort into cattle class thanks to fold-up leg rests that will enable three seats to turn into a bed wide enough to sleep two adults.

QANTAS DUMPS TOP SEATS
Economy passengers could be the winners on Qantas flights, too, after the airline unveiled plans to dramatically cut back on its first-class seating, a reconfiguration which could potentially create more room to move at the back of the plane. The industry has seen a slump in demand for first-class seats, especially throughout the GFC.

VIRGIN LOUNGE IN PERTH
Virgin Blue passengers passing through Perth now have the option to check into The Lounge, offering passengers business facilities, a snack bar, showers and relaxation areas.