Fly retro with the travel desk

FLY RETRO
It's easy to forget in this age of no-frills flying that taking to the air used to be an elegant and luxurious affair – even for economy passengers. A Hollywood studio has sought to recreate the experience by building a near-perfect replica of the interior of a Boeing 747 operated by Pan Am circa 1973 (above). Travellers (dressed appropriately of course; flying used to be that fancy) are greeted by stewardesses in vintage uniforms and escorted to spacious seats, where they're served a four-course meal from the airline's original trolleys (think shrimp and lump crabmeat cocktails, Chateaubriand, roast chicken and a vegetarian pasta) while another hostess keeps the cocktails flowing. The four-hour nostalgia-fest costs from $295 (€234). It has proven so popular that all of 2014's remaining dates have been sold out; next year's dates will be announced on December 1st. See airhollywood.com/panam

FIVE HOTELS IN MUMBAI TO CELEBRATE DIWALI

The closest thing to Christmas in India is Diwali, the Festival of Lights, a five-day celebration of the Hindu gods that kicks off on October 23rd. Diwali is celebrated all over the country, but cities like Mumbai are especially dramatic as they're illuminated by tens of thousands of lights.

Here are five good overnight options in India's priciest city:

Grand Hotel (17 Shri Shiv Sagar Ramgulam Marg, Ballard Estate; grandhotelbombay.com; doubles from €50). Excellent value three-star hotel with spotless rooms decorated with 1960s furniture. The mod cons, including WiFi, belong to the 21st century though.

Intercontinental (135 Marine Dr; intercontinental.com; rooms from €290). An elegant luxury hotel that wouldn't look out of place in Bangkok – the style is East Asian business, with big, river-view rooms at the pricier end. A swanky rooftop bar and excellent Thai restaurant round out the picture.

Iskcon (Hare Krishna Land, Juhu; iskconmumbai.com; rooms from €50). This beautiful guesthouse is part of the Hare Krishna temple complex; the graceful rooms are decorated in lacquered wood furniture. The atmosphere is, as you'd expect, one of tranquillity – even if the complex is full of activity.

ITC Maratha (Sahar Rd, Andheri East; itchotels.in; rooms from €330). The most opulent of Mumbai's luxury hotels. It has everything you'd expect from a five-star hotel, including one of the city's best restaurants.

Taj Mahal Palace (Apollo Bunder; tajhotels.com; tower from €380; palace from €513) The luxury hotel that became infamous as the target of the 2008 terrorist attacks has been restored to its majestic splendour, especially if you opt for a room in the palace.

ROCK THE BOAT

Fancy a four-night music festival on a ship?

Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas (above) is hosting It's the Ship, with a lineup of 30 acts including Basement Jaxx, Dash Berlin and Aeroplane. The ship departs Singapore on November 21st, crosses the straits of Malacca on its way to a beach party in Langkawi. Prices start at ¤425 for an interior cabin; see itstheship.com

LONDON TO GENEVA ON EUROSTAR

Eurostar's new year-round service to Geneva will begin on December 14th, but passengers can now book tickets. The new Swiss route from London St Pancras is via Lille Europe, where passengers will connect with the TGV Lyria service onwards to Geneva. The trip from London takes six hours and 15 minutes, with the connection in Lille timed to ensure a speedy transfer. Geneva is just the latest in Eurostar's widening list of destinations: there'll be a direct service to Lyon and Marseille from May 2015 and Amsterdam at the end of 2016. London to Geneva costs from £62 (€79); see eurostar.com

AT ONE WITH NATURE

Cornwall's most visited tourist attraction, the Eden Project, is to offer overnight accommodation from October 24th. The world's largest greenhouse, made up of a series of biomes that are home to plant species from all around the globe, has teamed up with the YHA to open a hostel made up of converted shipping containers. The hostel, designed by pop-up hotel specialist Snoozebox, can accommodate 228 guests in pod-like dorms and private rooms that are ensuite, air-conditioned and equipped with TVs. Dorm beds, £12 (€15), private rooms from £39 (€50); see edenproject.com or yha.org.uk

GET AWAY AT HOME

There are some interesting midweek deals on offer. The Farnham Estate Golf Spa & Resort (farnhamestate.ie) has a Sink or Swim package until the end of October for €124.50 per person sharing. This includes one night's B&B, a 30-minute spa treatment or a round of golf and dinner in the Botanica Restaurant. It also includes unlimited use of the spa, which has an indoor and outdoor pool. The Glenview Hotel (glenviewhotel.com), overlooking the Glen of the Downs in Co Wicklow, is celebrating its centenary with a one-night B&B package for €100 per person sharing that includes use of the leisure club and dinner in the Woodlands Restaurant.