Travel Wires

Because someone has to do it

Relentless in its pursuit of off-beat travel news, Travel Wires is taking its annual research trip well off the beaten track — so far from civilisation we haven’t seen an All Blacks replica jersey since we left the Doha transit zone, and that was two connecting flights ago. All in Economy Class, too — you’re several rows behind the Flight Check section by the time you get here. (Economy Class, eh? What’s that like — Travel Ed).

If you need to ask . . .

Elite Traveler, the magazine for private-jet travellers (shurely that’s this magazine — Travel Ed), average reader’s net worth $54 million, produces an annual list of the world’s 10 most expensive hotel rooms. In first place, yet again, is the Royal Penthouse Suite at the President Wilson Hotel in Geneva, which costs a bank-busting $110,000 a night. The 12-bedroom suite occupies an entire floor with striking views of Lake Geneva and Mont Blanc. The only entrant in our part of the world: Hilltop Villa, Laucala Island, Fiji, $66,000 a night. You can stay at Red Bull billionaire Dietrich Mateschitz’s bach only if you’re personally recommended and he isn’t using it. The crown jewel of two dozen luxury villas on his private island, it offers panoramic views, 12,000sq m of bedroom space, a private cook, chauffeur and nanny, and a private airstrip.

Making it easy being green

Emirates is building a high-tech, low-water vege garden in Dubai. The airline’s catering arm supplies approximately 225,000 meals a day from its Dubai International Airport base. Known as a vertical farm, the 120,000 sq m, $58 million joint venture with Crop One Holdings will use 99 per cent less water than outdoor fields and aims to harvest 2725kg of leafy greens daily, which will find their way into in-flight meals and airport lounges from December next year. Plants feed on a nutrient solution instead of soil, temperature and humidity are controlled to generate maximum yield, and LED lights provide “sunshine”.

Airbnb feels the heat

New York is the latest city to propose a crackdown on Airbnb-style property rentals after fears they are driving up housing prices and killing local business. Homeowners who want to rent rooms or properties could have to register with the council; listings sites could be forced to file monthly reports on who is advertising their home online. If they fail to disclose the listings, they could be fined up to $US1500 a listing. New South Wales last month promised the “world’s toughest” Airbnb laws to crack down on alleged rowdy party houses. Watch this space for local government moves around New Zealand.

— travel@nzherald.co.nz