Check in

Reading Time:2 minutes

Published: 12:00am, 5 Feb 2002

Holiday at home

If you're not leaving Hong Kong for Lunar New Year but fancy a change of scenery, the Holiday Inn Golden Mile has a seemingly unbeatable deal. For $888 per couple, you can have a night in a deluxe room, free use of the health club and sauna, a late check-out at 3pm plus a $500 food and beverage allowance in any of the hotel's restaurants (including Avenue, Loong Yuen Cantonese restaurant, Cafe Vienna or even the minibar if you don't plan on leaving the room).

The allowance can also be used to offset the 'Valentine's Day Romantic Interlude' in the Crystal Ballroom on February 14 which features a buffet, gifts for the ladies and a chance to win a trip to Guam in the lucky draw ($398 per person). The offer is valid from February 9 to 17 to Hong Kong, Macau and mainland residents (50 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon. Tel: 2315 1001; www.goldenmile.com).

Site-seeing

New York City has started issuing tickets to the viewing platform overlooking the 6.5-hectare site of the former World Trade Centre. The platform was built to accommodate the thousands of people who flocked to the area after the September 11 attacks, where waiting times were still averaging three hours at the end of last year.

You can now pick up two free passes (for the same day or next morning) at the South Street Seaport Museum which allow bearers 15 minutes at the site. The ticket booth, located five blocks from the area, is open from 11am to 6pm, or until all passes are gone (207 Front Street, New York, NY10038. Call 1212 732 7678 for recorded information; www.southstseaport.org).