Closed for an extensive refurb since last July, the grand-looking Millennium Hotel Mayfair, in London, should be reopening in the next few weeks with a rather cumbersome new name: The Biltmore, Mayfair – LXR Hotels & Resorts.
This will be the fourth name change for the property, which opened as the Britannia Hotel in 1969, and marks a new collaboration between owner Millennium & Copthorne Hotels and operator Hilton, which launched its upmarket LXR Hotels & Resorts brand in Dubai last year. Promising to be “fit for royalty, well-travelled guests from around the world and senior corporate executives”, this is also the hotel where former Russian secret service officer Alexander Litvinenko was fatally poisoned while having tea in 2006.
The Eurail Global Pass extends to Britain for the first time
Launched in 1959, the Eurail Pass (aka Eurail Global Pass since 2007) turns 60 this year. Though offered worldwide, it was initially aimed mainly at American tourists, who comprised about 90 per cent of pass holders in the 1960s, and allowed unlimited first-class train travel in 13 Western European countries for specified periods.
In the early 60s, Arthur Frommer’s groundbreaking Europe on 5 Dollars a Day noted that the “valuable, simple-to-use railroad pass is one of the most ingenious travel ideas in years”. By 1970, the pass had become increasingly popular with backpackers, and, in 1971, a student version was introduced with a 60 per cent discount, and moving all the budget travellers into second-class carriages.
Six ways to holiday in Europe with children without going broke
One country whose trains have never accepted the Eurail Pass, which is still only officially sold to “non-European citizens or residents”, is Britain. That omission, however, is finally remedied this month, as the nation’s rail network opens up to Eurail – just in time for its exit from the European Union. Various pass prices have also been significantly reduced for 2019, and there’s an extra 10 per cent discount for the over-60s.
Visit for information and purchasing. Also worth a look is the 2019 version of Europe by Eurail, currently in its 43rd edition and one of the longest-running guidebooks around. Unfortunately it was published before the recent addition of Britain, Lithuania and Macedonia. You can preview the contents at Amazon.com.Hong Kong Express to launch route to Bangkok
Airfares from Hong Kong to Bangkok seem to have risen noticeably since two carriers offering cheaper tickets on the route – Sri Lankan Airlines and Kenya Airways – suspended their services in 2017. It should be welcome news, then, that Hong Kong Express has just announced it will be operating five flights a week (daily except Monday and Wednesday) between Chek Lap Kok and Suvarnabhumi Airport from March 31.
An online test booking showed round-trip fares of about HK$1,000, including fees and taxes, but with cabin luggage only and no in-flight meal or insurance. Flight times are not ideal, however, and while arrival in Bangkok is scheduled from a reasonable 7.05pm to 8.30pm, depending on the day of the week, arrival times back in Hong Kong range from just after midnight to 1.50am.
Deal of the week – two nights in Shanghai, China
A choice of three hotels is offered with Connexus Travel’s two-night Shanghai City Break, with the Grand Kempinski Hotel starting from HK$2,990 per person (twin share) for a superior city-view room. Next is Hyatt on the Bund – located on the newer “North Bund” but with good views of the real thing – where king/twin rooms start from HK$3,270. Finally, the Langham Shanghai Xintiandi is offered from HK$3,680 for a superior room.
With occasional high-season and midweek surcharges, these prices will be available until the end of March, and include flights with China Eastern and daily breakfast. For more information, go to and click the Packages tab.
