Travel Wires

Ice takes the cake

Emirates’ ice system is rated the world’s best inflight entertainment, and someone has figured out it offers so many films it would take 119 trips between Auckland and Dubai to watch them all. Its catalogue offers more than 1000 movies or 2000 hours of entertainment; 325 TV channels including box sets, comedies and documentaries; more than 50 children’s channels and 75 Disney kiddies’ movies, in 44 languages. The airline adds 100 movies each month, from classics such as 1939’s The Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind to current blockbusters Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom and Ocean’s 8. There are more hours of music, games and learning courses. Some 170 aircraft have live TV featuring sports and news channels. Wi-Fi is available on 99 per cent of the fleet and customers can enjoy 20MB of free data. For anyone tempted to watch all those movies, Travel Wires would like to point out that by the time you’ve completed 119 flights, they will have added another 100 flicks. Or more.

Top of the tipples

Dandelyan, a swanky bar on London’s south bank, has been named the planet’s best watering hole. But you’ll have to hurry if you want to sip its gin and things: two days before the accolade, the owner announced he would close the doors early next year. Second was last year’s winner, the 125-year-old art deco American Bar at the Savoy, London; third, Singapore's chic Manhattan. Fourth was New York and North America's highest-ranking bar, The NoMad. Melbourne's beloved Black Pearl was Australasia’s best* at number 30.

Rest ass-ured

Greece has banned obese tourists from riding donkeys after campaigners said the animals were being left with spinal injuries and open wounds. Lawmakers acted after seeing images of donkeys climbing the narrow steps of Santorini island laden down by large holidaymakers. New rules state the donkeys should not carry loads heavier than 100kg or one-fifth of their weight. Santorini is known for its hilly terrain and donkeys have traditionally been used to transport people and goods over paths vehicles cannot access. Activists claimed the explosion of fat tourists meant locals were crossbreeding donkeys to create mules, which are bigger and taller and can carry heavier loads. Shamefaced, Travel Wires admits riding a donkey up the Santorini path but not to being anywhere near one-fifth of its weight.

*Australasia? Can’t find this mythical country in our office atlas. Doesn’t have a Lonely Planet guidebook, either.