Space cadets: Wondering how to entertain the rugrats this summer? Kids Co, the children's club at the Mandarin Oriental Macau, has created a Star Ranger Adventure for children to 'explore the wonders of the galaxy'. Priced at $200, the two-hour sessions will take place daily at 10.30am, 2pm and 4.30pm. Stops on the exploratory tour will include Aqua Alien Rescue, Planet Hoppers, Galactic Video Games, Planet Orbiter, Pilot Training, Space Storm, the Final Battle and Star Ranger Photo Spots. Every evening at 7pm, there'll be a Fun Footage sharing session, with the highest scorer that day receiving a prize. Until August 31, a night's accommodation in a deluxe room with a city view, including shuttle bus transfers and buffet breakfast for two, starts at $999, with a second room starting at $299 (room only). An extra bed, if needed, costs $250, and for $200, you can upgrade to a resort view room. Additional buffet breakfast costs $120 per adult and $80 per child, as part of the package, and the Star Ranger Adventure is available for $100 per child. For more details, call toll free on 800 900 500 or visit
www.mandarin oriental.com/macau.
Spot on: SCMP Books, the publishing arm of the South China Morning Post, has just released Hot Spots, a compilation of the best 60 columns of the same name, published on these pages over the past three years. The pocket-sized guide highlights the hip hostelries around the globe where the world's rich and famous choose to lay their hats, from grand dames to quirky boutique hotels and away-from-it-all bolt holes. Available for $78 from all leading bookshops.
Virgin territory: This summer, Sir Richard Branson will add another property to his Virgin Limited Edition portfolio, which already includes Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands and Ulusaba Private Game Reserve in South Africa. Kasbah Tamadot, 40 minutes' drive from Marrakesh by the Atlas Mountains, will feature 18 suites and rooms, as well as a Turkish hammam spa, indoor and outdoor pools and a tennis court. Nearby Oukaimeden is known as the best place for skiing excursions in Morocco, and the hotel can arrange mountain trekking, visits to souks and flights over the Sahara Desert. Until the end of the year, rooms will start at #150 (about HK$2,100), including breakfast (tel: [44] 20 7227 6969, or go to
www.virginlimited
edition.co.uk/kasbah).
Minor masterpieces: British Airways and the Boys' and Girls' Clubs Association of Hong Kong (BGCA) have launched a drawing competition, with a grand prize of three World Traveller economy flights to London with two nights' accommodation. The competition is open to all primary school students in Hong Kong, and is divided into junior (aged eight and below) and senior (aged eight to 11) categories. The theme is 'The Way to Fly in the Future', and entry forms have been distributed to 800 primary schools. Completed works should be submitted to one of the association's 27 centres around Hong Kong by August 28, and the winner will be announced on September 24. For further information contact the BGCA on 2527 9121.
Opening gambit: The five-star Langham Place Hotel, opening in Mongkok in August, is offering an opening room rate of $888, which includes a $150 voucher to spend at any of the hotel's food outlets. Its management says it will be the world's most technologically advanced hotel: it boasts the world's first all-wireless and all-colour IP phone environment, as well as 42-inch plasma televisions, DVD/CD players and surround-sound speakers in every room (555 Shanghai Street, tel: 3552 3030,
www.langhamhotels.com).