Ireland has not always had a strong reputation with luxury brands – both Four Seasons and Ritz-Carlton came to the Dublin area. And left, leaving the stage to such globally-recognised independents as The Merrion. But now Accor’s Carton House, a Fairmont Managed Hotel, is here, ready to welcome those who want to live like an Irish lord, at least for a memorable few days.

Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, will once again be top of the global map when it hosts COP27, 7-18 November 2022. I was reminded of the destination’s history when looking a mere two kilometres across the so-blue Red Sea at the Straits of Tiran, a catalyst for the Six Days War in 1967. Today the sovereignty of the 80 sq km Tiran Island, seemingly guarding the area, is overseen by Saudi Arabia.

For the nearest-to-perfect stay in central London, consider Bvlgari Hotel London – confusingly, the hotel brand uses a V rather than the standard U, as with Bulgari boutiques and jewellery.

Dubai’s icon, the equivalent of Sydney’s Opera House, has for 23 years been the sail-shaped Burj Al-Arab, but upstarts continually intrude. There’s 829.8-metre tall Burj Khalifa, and now also Ain Dubai, at 250 metres high the world’s tallest Ferris Wheel.

Champagne, or good bubbly, is always appreciated in the run-up to Valentine’s Day, and critics highly rate 2010 Castagna Sparkling Allegro, from the four-hectare Beechworth VIC vineyard planted in 1997 by former movie director Julian Castagna. Elsewhere, star of Netflix’s The Last Magnificent and renowned restaurateur Jeremiah Tower would always choose, if possible, a Salon Champagne, the treasure of the Laurent-Perrier Group.

After long flights from Asia Pacific, the ideal recovery in rural England is to be had at Fairmont Windsor Park, 20 minutes west of London Heathrow. It only opened officially 1st January 2022. It justifiably already has a serious following.

Connoisseurs looking for the best English wine labels, in England, should head to THE PIG in the South Downs, newest family member in this growing stable, or rather ‘luxury farmyard’ of somewhat-crazy always-unique places to stay.

We see the name of Daniel Craig – sorry, he is now officially, Sir Daniel Wroughton Craig CMG – featured almost more than ‘No Time To Die’ itself. The world is intimate with every detail of James Bond’s sartorial attire, from Turnbull & Asser shirts and Sunspel tees, Tom Ford suits and Barbour jackets, to Danner hiking boots, Orlebar Brown swimtrunks and Omega Seamaster watches (or do we say time-keeping wearables?). And more.

Arrive at New York’s Penn Station and expect delightful surprises. First, if this is your first visit this year, you will not recognise the rail station. Penn Station’s arrivals area, the Moynihan Train Hall, opened 1st January 2021. Named in honour of the late Daniel Moynihan, the Senator who first proposed building on the site of the century-old James A. Farley Post Office Building, the gigantic US$1.6 billion glass and steel space is an artwork by architects Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, SOM.

Staying in Cannes at Hôtel Majestic Barrière, a Leading Hotel of the World, gives the best insider’s view of ILTM, the definitive gathering of nearly 5,000 luxury travel suppliers and buyers that was so adequately covered in last week’s LATTE. Just after ILTM, by the way, the two most influential new-gen, New York-based buyers, said ‘best week of my career’ (Jack Ezon, EMBARK Beyond) and ‘best LTM ever, for serious business as well a fun’ (Michael Holtz, SmartFlyer).

Think what entertainment can do for hotels. The long list of various cultural modes includes children’s books – think Kay Thompson’s 1950’s books on Eloise, supposedly living in New York’s The Plaza, a Fairmont Hotel. with her nanny, puppy and turtle. Think musicals, and how Rodgers and Hammerstein’s 1965 classic The Sound of Music still leads to non-stop von Trapp addicts singing their way around Salzburg and upping occupancy at The Sacher Hotel Salzburg.

Boston, now both Australian and US borders are open, is an immediate magnet on the educational and medical fronts, but the city has perennial allure for so many others (think seafood and tea, museums and galleries, the Charles River and rowing, and Boston Common and history).