From The Grand Canyon Railway to London's Mondrian Hotel: Travel agenda
Where to go and what to know
1. The high life
The third and final section of New York City's popular High Line park – The High Line at the Rail Yards – is now open. The revamped old railway line now extends from Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District to 34th Street, bringing this elevated greenway to almost one-and-a-half miles, with views of the Hudson River.
2. Egypt off/on
Egyptair drops its Manchester-Cairo link from late October. But the leading Turkish budget airline, Pegasus, is starting flights from its Istanbul hub to both Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada on Egypt's Red Sea shores. They connect with the airline's Stansted flights.
3. Festive rail
The Grand Canyon Railway, which runs from Williams, Arizona, to the canyon, has a series of "Polar Express" departures between 7 November and 3 January. The early-evening departure takes 65 minutes for a return fare of $39 (£24). Passengers are greeted at the Grand Canyon by Santa Claus, who returns on the train with the passengers.
4. Italy strikes
This weekend's planned stoppage by air-traffic controllers in Italy was called off late on Wednesday. Nevertheless, the Foreign Office is warning travellers to Italy: "Nationwide strike action may cause disruption to air, rail and sea travel during September and October."
5. Blenheim art
The first major contemporary art exhibition at Blenheim Palace opens this week (1 October - 14 December). The stately home where Sir Winston Churchill was born is launching a new visual arts programme, starting with a display of more than 50 pieces by Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei.
6. Thames view
Sea Containers House on London's South Bank opens its doors as the Mondrian Hotel on Tuesday. It was designed by Warren Platner as an ocean liner-inspired hotel, but ended up as offices. It has 365 rooms decked out like cabins. Doubles from £255.
7. Insider's Paris
Planning yet another trip to the French capital? Then snap up a copy of City Secrets: Paris, out this week (£12.99; Granta). The pocket-sized, cloth-bound travel guide is populated by insider tips and recommendations from 150 "Parisians and lovers of Paris", from artists, historians and writers to chefs, designers and architects.
8. Tax benefit
The road tax disc is being phased out, but before it becomes entirely obsolete it has one more possible use. Turn up at the York Dungeon by 26 October and show a 2014 disc, and you get free admission to this fear-themed attraction. The normal admission is £15.95 on the door.
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