La Mamounia reopens
One of the world's most famous hotels reopens this week after a three-year restoration programme. La Mamounia in Marrakech originally opened in 1923 and has hosted celebrities and statesmen from Charlie Chaplin to Nelson Mandela. It was a favourite of Winston Churchill in its glory days in the 50s and 60s. The 207 rooms and suites have retained their Arabic feel and guests will be pampered in an extensive spa and a traditional hammam. There is also an "ozone-heated" outdoor pool. Luxury comes at a price: double rooms start from a cool €600, with breakfast an additional €30 per person. Book on: 00 212 524 388 600; mamounia.com.
Beyond Reykjavik
A city break in Iceland used to mean just one place: Reykjavik. But a new route from budget airline Iceland Express (icelandexpress.com) has created a second option – Akureyri, at the end of a long inlet on the north coast. This lively university town offers great nightlife and is surrounded by forests and mountains that offer great walking and cycling potential. The weekly service from London Gatwick starts in June 2010 and costs from £158 return.
Champagne and sabre
As life skills go it's a luxury rather than an essential, but the ability to uncork a bottle of champagne with a sword – the Napoleonic art of sabrage – is just one of the things wine lovers can learn on a five-day Champagne tasting tour with Grape Escapes. The four-night tour, which includes tastings at the Ruinart and Jacquart houses, costs from £895 including travel, accommodation and a guide, departing on 27 November (08456 430860; grapeescapes.net).
Long and winding trail
The Beatles are seeing something of a renaissance at the moment, and if that has whetted your appetite for the heady days of the 60s, a Hippie Trail tour from Oz Bus may appeal. The newly-launched trip, which lasts seven weeks, departs from Istanbul and crosses Turkey, stopping off at Cappadocia and Mount Nemrut. It then visits Esfahan and Shiraz in Iran, plus Pakistan and India before arriving in Kathmandu. The next departure is in March, and the 46-day trip costs £2,750. Flights to Istanbul are extra. Book on 01480 810080; hippie-trail.com.
Maldives magic
Some people say the economy is looking up, but luxury long-haul operators are still feeling the crunch, and are offering some fantastic discounts. Scott Dunn (020 8682 5075; scottdunn.com) has a week at the five-star Constance Halaveli resort in the Maldives, staying in a one-bedroom Water Villa, from £1,695 – a saving of £795. The price includes flights, bed and breakfast accommodation and seaplane transfers.
Snow without skis
Winter holidays to the mountains don't have to mean hurling yourself down terrifying slopes at high speed. The latest winter brochure from Exodus (0845 863 9601; exodus.co.uk) has a new selection of non-ski trips, including a week's walking in the Dolomites (from £799), an activity week including dog-sledding and ice-fishing in Norway (£999) and an eight-day trip to Poland to learn the relaxed art of snow-shoeing on gentle walks through the Pieniny Mountains and the Gorce National Park (£649). All prices include flights, accommodation and a guide.
Women's rooms
Women's travel website thelmaandlouise.com, an online community which lets members find travel companions and swap information and ideas, has launched a new house-swapping service. Membership costs £7.50 and properties currently on offer include an apartment on Manhattan's Upper East Side, a house in the medieval Italian village of Introdacqua and a farmhouse outside Dublin. Members can also post speculative requests for swaps in cities they are planning to visit.