Tips and deals of the week: The Marlton at Greenwich Village, the BlasterBee speaker and nannies on Etihad

The hotel

The Marlton has opened in Greenwich Village, New York. The building, where Jack Kerouac wrote The Subterraneans, has been given a makeover by Sean McPherson of The Bowery hotel. Doubles $319/£213 (marltonhotel.com).

The kit

The BlasterBee is a new portable, wireless speaker that connects to devices via Bluetooth or audio cable. With a playback time of up to 10 hours and built-in mic, it can also be used to make phone calls; £49.99 (www.bee-wi.com).

The crew

Trained nannies are now part of Etihad's cabin crew, offering childcare assistance from boarding to providing games, attending to unaccompanied children, and replenishing milk bottles, on flights to or via Abu Dhabi (etihad.com).