Travellers' checks

After a spurt of hotel openings by international brands, such as the Peninsula, Ritz-Carlton, Mandarin Oriental, Grand Hyatt and Conrad, Tokyo's latest luxury hotel, the Capitol Hotel Tokyu, offers a more Japanese-flavoured experience. It's located in the Akasaka district, on the site of Japan's first international hotel, the Tokyo Hilton, which opened in time for the 1964 Olympics. It became the Capitol Tokyu Hotel in the 1980s and was demolished in 2006, when construction began on this replacement. Designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, the 29-storey hotel - a member of the Preferred Hotels Group - has 251 rooms and suites, and 'adopts Japanese tradition and culture as its core theme'. For further details, visit www.capitolhoteltokyu.com/en/ and the Preferred Hotels website, which offers better rates for members, at www.preferredhotels.com.

With 37 pockets, the Expedition Jacket (below) is the latest offering from Scottevest, an American travel-clothing company seemingly on a quest to do away with hand luggage. Each pocket contains a card to identify its purpose, storing everything from iPads to passports, the spread carefully thought out to maintain balance and minimise bulging. The pockets are mostly hidden from view so the wearer doesn't look like a wannabe photojournalist or coarse fisherman. Scottevest has dozens of jackets and hoodies, and even iPhone-packing boxer shorts. For details, visit www.scottevest.com.

United Airlines is selling discounted flights from Hong Kong to Singapore and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, until the end of the month. Basic fares are HK$1,100 each, rising to HK$1,356 with fuel surcharges, and tickets must be used by December 20. Flights operate daily, with departures from Hong Kong at about 8pm, although return flights are less convenient: UA896 leaves Singapore at 6.45am and UA862 leaves Ho Chi Minh City at 6.10am. Those times could be good for business travellers but are not so great for tourists. For details, go to www.unitedairlines.com.hk and click on Special Deals, then Monthly Special Deals to Asia, for online reservations.