Luxe retreats from playful to wallet-numbing

Andaz Bali (above left, www.hyatt.com/andaz) has launched its Kakao-Friends stays in specially themed Garden Pool Villas. This seems an unusual offering from a luxe villa resort but it's completely in line with the Andaz DNA. Pushing its version of unique stays and self expression, the brand recently ran a "Be Like No One's Watching" campaign to imprint its credentials. At the Andaz Bali property that neighbours the older and brightly refurbished Hyatt Regency, the stays serve up Kakao Friends everywhere, fun floaties and a tent for kids, and much more. Meanwhile Cube Social @ Boat Quay (above right, cubehotels.com.sg) is Singapore's latest capsule hotel but with a difference. Expect elegant upscale slip-in sleeping with 300 thread count linen, luggage space, childproof adaptors, a safe, mirror, table, and reading light. Families can squeeze in with cube combinations (pick queen beds, single beds, or private room). For mixers there's a lively bar area, all this is in a trendy converted shophouse district on the river.

Bhutan here we come — nonstop

Bhutan Airlines (www.bhutanairlines.bt), which originally started as Tashi Air, is offering a series of unique fixed departure round trips between Paro and various destinations including Vietnam, Malaysia and more recently Hong Kong (from 29 January 2025). Seven round trips are planned for Hong Kong, covering peak holiday and travel periods. The new routing on A319s with seating for 126 (including a 12-seat business class) will not come cheap (from HK$6,745, for say 23-28 December) but it brings flight times from Hong Kong to Paro down to a very respectable three hours (better than Singapore) from the alternative of eight to nine hours with lengthy ill-timed connecting stops. If flying from Hong Kong, be prepared for a pink-eye 5.30am departure.