Travellers' checks

There was a notable addition to the fast-growing hotel scene in Abu Dhabi late last month, with the unveiling of the Hyatt Capital Gate (above). This 189-room property occupies floors 18 to 33 of the 35-floor Capital Gate building, which was recently acknowledged by Guinness World Records as the furthest leaning man-made tower on the planet. The building's 18-degree lean is quite spectacular (the Leaning Tower of Pisa tilts by about four degrees) and views from the rooms are said to be equally so, accommodation being arranged in such a way that guests cannot see the ground below, giving them a sensation of floating. Room rates start from about HK$3,100 per night. For those who prefer a more down-to-earth experience, sister property the Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi opened on November 1 and offers slightly cheaper accommodation on Saadiyat Island. Cathay Pacific Holidays (www.cxholidays.com) is selling a couple of Abu Dhabi packages with accommodation at the Park Hyatt and several other hotels, but the Hyatt Capital Gate was not on its books at the time of writing.

Visitors to Paris in the 1950s and 60s had the option of seeing the sights of the city from the inside of a rather impressive space-age-style vehicle called the Cityrama Currus (right). Made by Citroen for new tour operator Groupe Cityrama (still to be found at www.pariscityrama.com), the vehicle became a familiar sight on the streets and boulevards of the French capital, and was even featured in a couple of popular movies (most notably Louis Malle's 1960 film Zazie dans le metro). Off the road for several decades, the Cityrama Currus currently lies rusting in a French garage, a decaying monument to the days when tour operators still had a sense of fun. Speaking of which, a promising addition to Paris' fleet of tourist vehicles has recently appeared in the form of Asian tuk tuks, which began operating last month, although they are not the first such vehicles to be seen in the city. Hanif Cab (www.hanif-tuktuk-paris.com/en) has been around for a few years now and offers tuk tuk tours of Paris and Versailles from about Euro60 (HK$600) per hour for up to three passengers. Hotel pick-ups are possible and you can pay onboard by credit card.

Britain's Palmerston Forts were a series of coastal fortifications built in the late 19th century under the auspices of then-prime minister Lord Palmerston, to counter a perceived threat from French naval forces. Also known as Palmerston's Follies (especially by those familiar with the French navy's track record), they were never used in action. Perhaps inevitably, one of them has become a luxury hotel. Spitbank Fort (above) lies just off Portsmouth in The Solent, on a man-made island and, according to its owners, Amazing Retreats, provides 'a level of privacy, peace and tranquility that is virtually impossible to find anywhere else in the world'. The company bought Spitbank Fort in 2009 for a figure reported at the time to have been close to GBP1 million, which is why you'll have to part with GBP13,100 (HK$157,200) for a one-night stay when the hotel opens in March. For reservations, visit www.amazingretreats.com.