travellers' checks

A Shanghai package, available until the end of June, from Aero International has a couple of interesting historic hotels on a list of otherwise run-of-the-mill accommodation choices. The best is the Park Hotel (below; the brown building), which was opened on Nanjing Road (then called Bubbling Well Road) in 1934 and overlooks the race course (now Renmin Park). It was built by Czech architect Ladislaus Hudec, who fled to Shanghai after escaping from a Siberia-bound prison train and who designed dozens of the city's finest pre-war buildings. The 22-storey hotel was the tallest building in Shanghai for several decades. The property, which I.M. Pei said inspired him to become an architect, was popular for its rooftop nightclub, where a retractable ceiling allowed dancing beneath the stars. Still in good condition, with its art deco lobby more or less intact, the Park is available for HK$2,570 (per person, twin share) for two nights with round-trip flights on China Eastern. The second choice is the nearby Pacific Hotel, which opened in the 1920s as the China United Apartments building. This is on offer for a package price of HK$2,410. For further details and reservations, call Aero International on 2545 6669 or visit www.aerohkg.com. Alternatively, both these properties (visit park.jinjianghotels.com and pacific.jinjianghotels.com) usually offer significant discounts if you inquire at reception.

Hong Kong Express Airways has launched non-stop scheduled flights to Okinawa (above), the first of a handful of new services to Japan by the airline. The Okinawa route has started with afternoon flights every Thursday and Sunday, with additional Monday and Friday evening flights due to commence next week. The other cities scheduled to come online are Hiroshima (twice weekly from May 1), Kagoshima (three times a week from April 28) and Nagoya (six times a week from May 15). Okinawa, Japan's southernmost prefecture, which comprises a string of islands, has plenty of resort-type hotels. For a more authentic experience, several ryokan are available for booking at www.japaneseguesthouses.com (where you can also find good, cheap accommodation for the rest of the country). For a virtual tour of Okinawa, visit www.virtualokinawa.com. For more flight information, go to www.hongkongexpress.com or call Hong Kong Express Airways on 3151 1888.

A 375-room Grand Hyatt opens today in Guangzhou, in the Tianhe district. The hotel is offering an Awaken opening room rate of 1,276 yuan (HK$1,400), valid on weekends and public holidays, with complimentary breakfast and a late checkout. Go to guangzhou.grand.hyatt.com for a look around. Hyatt Hotels & Resorts has also launched a website called yatt'it (www.yattit.com), which promises 'credible advice from Hyatt's concierges and in-the-know Hyatt Gold Passport travellers'. Frequent-staying business types will benefit most from the system (in which they can create profiles, post advice and book travel services, etc) but anyone can check in for news and information on about 40 destinations worldwide with a Hyatt presence. Input from Frommers.com and FlightStats.com is also offered and there's a mobile download feature. Yatt'it is still in the early stages