March 2006

In this issue...

Tried and Tested

Air New Zealand B747-400 premium economy

London-Los Angeles — full story »

Sky Europe B737-500 economy class

London-Poprad — full story »

Hotel check: Hotel Roger Williams New York

New York, USA — full story »

Hotel check: Monte Carlo Bay Hotel and Resort

Monaco — full story »

Air New Zealand B747-400 Business Premier

Los Angeles-London, business class — full story »

Special reports

Carry On Packing...

Travelling with hand luggage-only saves time, hassle and maybe even money if airlines start charging for checked bags. Felicity Cousins and Anne Reed choose baggage for light packers — full story »

A luxury pen has become the new watch: a treasured possession that makes a strong personal statement. With more brands to choose from, Sarah Maxwell looks at how to find the one for you — full story »

A room of your own

You have a lovely house, yet you spend all your time in hotels. What's the sense in that? You could stop travelling, or you could buy a hotel room. Tom Otley reports on the option of a home away from home. — full story »

Play your cards right

Are premium credit and charge cards, and the extra services they offer, worth the money? Mark Caswell reports on a world of privilege accessible to the business traveller. — full story »

Where's the beef?

Car hire companies are catering to their prestige customers' specific requests, reports Mark Caswell. — full story »

Destinations

Raising the stakes

Monaco is cleaning up its act and staking all its chips on a new golden era of business travel, reports Sarah Maxwell — full story »

Building Bloc

In a new series, Tom Chesshyre travels wherever the lowest fares lead him. This month he finds that Ryanair flights to Szczecin are opening up the Polish construction capital to new investment. — full story »

Paradise for sale

The Thai island of Koh Samui has made a successful leap from holiday resort to prime real estate location. Ed Peters finds out what you can get for your money. — full story »

Golfing around... Sydney

Australia's premier city boasts over 50 courses a short drive from downtown. Chris Pritchard tries out five visitor-friendly ones. — full story »

Lifestyle

Grooming matters

Can't face the gym? A good grooming routine hides a multitude of sins, says Eve Cameron — full story »

Bubbles and chic

Champagne has never been so fashionable-or so available-in London's restaurants, but do you know which brand to choose? Jennifer Sharp on sorting your Roederers from your Ruinarts. — full story »