Facelift for Hilton

The London Hilton Hotel on Park Lane is getting a fresh look - on the 17th floor, the suites have been remodelled in contemporary style, and two further floors will be spruced up by spring of next year. On the 28th floor, the Windows bar is also being relaunched next month.

Sandy Lane villa

A new five-bedroom villa opens in January at the Sandy Lane hotel in Barbados. Set in its own garden with private access to the beach, the villa has a pool and a gazebo area ideal for dinner parties, served by the villa's own staff.

Seven nights will cost from £8,250pp, based on 10 sharing with ITC Classics (01244 355472, itcclassics.co.uk).

Follow in Palin's steps

Discover the ancient trading centres of Mali on a journey along the trans-Sahara route - the one followed by Michael Palin on his TV adventure.

Bridge the World (0870 4441716, bridgetheworld.com) is offering the 15-day trip beginning in Bamako and ending in Timbuktu from £849pp, flights from £649pp.

Uruguayan haven

The Carmelo resort on the banks of the Rio de la Plata in Uruguay has long been the favoured retreat of wealthy Argentinians - attracting the Posh and Becks set from Buenos Aires. Now under Four Seasons ownership, it has been completely remodelled and is offered as a haven for British tourists unwinding after a visit to Argentina.

Three nights at Carmelo, following three nights at the Four Seasons in Buenos Aires, costs from £1,745pp including BA flights with Cox & Kings (020-7873 5000, coxandkings.co.uk).

Operatic singles

Single travellers of a certain age will not have to worry about paying hotel supplements for their own rooms at next year's Verona Opera Festival. Saga has reserved the four-star Hotel Accademia in Verona exclusively for singles during the festival, which runs from June to August. Five nights, including three operas, costs £949pp with Saga (0800 0565880, saga.co.uk).

Parisian blades

Rollerblading in Paris can make the city's streets a hazard at weekends. If you can't beat them, join them on a free speed tour of the main sights (bring your own blades) including the steps at Sacre Coeur. Travelscene (020-8424 9648, travelscene.co.uk) offers free Friday and Saturday night rollerblade tours. Three nights at the two-star Hotel Nord-Est costs from £177pp including Eurostar travel.

News, What's hot and Book ahead are compiled by Desmond Balmer, balmerdesmond@aol.com