What on earth: Tourists are trying to book trips to Middle Earth without realising the destination is purely fictional, reports The New Zealand Herald. Places featured in The Lord Of The Rings book trilogy and two films directed by New Zealand's Peter Jackson (right), such as Mordor and Rivendell, have become frequent holiday searches on Internet search site Yahoo Travel. Mordor is the stronghold of the forces of darkness and Rivendell is the elves' picturesque refuge in a deep valley.
What a dive: The Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa (below) has invested in a new 39-metre, HK$39 million dive catamaran, from which guests can island-hop around turquoise waters teeming with neon-coloured sea life, seldom seen by locals or tourists. The hotel can even arrange meals on the private shores of remote white sandy beaches. Three-, four- and seven-night cruises are available on the Island Explorer (priced from HK$11,287, HK$14,219 or HK$21,216 per person respectively, based on twin share) and prices include airport and seaplane transfers, all meals and drinks (excluding alcohol), escorted excursions and use of all diving, kayaking, snorkelling, sailing, windsurfing, water-skiing and deep-sea fishing equipment, and self-propelled vehicles. In-room massages are also available. As well as two sun decks, whirlpool, indoor/outdoor restaurant, bar, lounge and library, the catamaran features 10 staterooms and one Explorer Suite sleeping a maximum of 22. The entire boat can be chartered for HK$78,000 a day (tel: [960] 444 888;
www.four seasons.com/maldives).
You've got male: Blue Moon Resort, Las Vegas' first gay male resort, opened its doors on Saturday, targeting the estimated 3.6 million gay visitors Vegas receives each year. The four-star, US$3.1 million (HK$24 million) boutique-style resort featuring 'ethnic decor', has 47 rooms (400-sq-ft) and parlour suites (800-sq-ft), as well as a Lagoon Pool, Steam Room and Jacuzzi Grotto with three-metre waterfalls. Opening rates range from US$79-US$129 (HK$615-$1000) for standard rooms and US$129-US$179 for suites. For more details, visit
www.bluemoonlasvegas.com, which also features a directory of the hottest gay nightspots in town.
Miles better: Cathay Pacific has launched a 'Join and Fly USA' promotion in which new Asia Miles members can earn 18,888 bonus air miles when they fly round trip to Los Angeles, San Francisco or New York before April 13. This is enough to redeem a free round trip economy ticket to a range of Asian cities including Tokyo, Singapore, Bangkok and Taipei. Register at
www.asiamiles.com or visit
www.cathay pacific.com.hk to book a ticket.
Deals down under: Until March 31, Air New Zealand has a range of five-day/three-night packages to either Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch or Queenstown. The offers range from HK$7,480 to HK$10,550 (based on twin share), staying at any of 46 hotels in the four locations, and include round trip economy flights, private car transfers and daily breakfast. Call 2522 1923 for further details.