Luxury in a cave
Unique, atmospheric and oh-so-luxurious: we love the look of the new Sassi di Matera hotel in Matera, Basilicata, southern Italy. Housed within a warren of 2,000-year-old caves - which are a Unesco World Heritage Site - the hotel has 18 beautifully decorated rooms, all with natural stone walls, open fireplaces and antique furniture, and there's even a spa. Citalia (0871 664 0253; citalia.com) offers three nights' half board from £589, including flights from Gatwick.
BA back to Saudi
British Airways (ba.com) has resumed flights to Riyadh and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, after a four-year gap. BA suspended services in March 2005 due to poor commercial performance on the routes.
A square deal
Join the 10,000 people expected to descend upon London next weekend for this year's Open Garden Squares Weekend (opensquares.org). You'll get to explore more than 190 gardens, many of which are not usually open to the public, from the private Fann Street garden in the Barbican complex, one of only two wildlife sanctuaries in the City, to the Royal College of Physicians' Medicinal Garden in Camden, with over 1000 different medicinal plants.
Clean green safari
In South Africa's Sabi Sand game reserve, the Londolozi reserve is pioneering the experimental prototype of a zero emissions safari vehicle. It uses rechargeable batteries to silently transport guests through the 16,000-hectare reserve, with a significantly lower carbon footprint than a conventional 4X4. Rainbow Tours (020 7226 1004; rainbowtours.co.uk) offers a four-night safari at Londolozi Founders Camp from £2,020, including flights, all meals and game drives.
High camp
Meanwhile, the only camp in the rugged Lapalala game reserve in South Africa has opened to the public, offering a rustic bush experience. Set in the 35,000-hectare wilderness reserve in the Limpopo province, the camp, formerly a private reserve, has three tents on raised platforms with a plunge pool, and has sweeping views over the bush - keep your eyes peeled for black rhino and leopards. Bushman paintings and iron age sites can be found throughout the reserve. Cazenove +loyd (020 7384 2332; cazloyd.com) offers five nights from £1,775, including flights, transfers, all meals and game drives.
Room for a tenner
How do you fancy staying in an elegant boutique hotel right in the heart of London's pretty Little Venice for just a tenner? At 10am on Wednesday, The Colonnade (020 7286 1052; theetoncollection.com/colonnade) will release 10 hotel rooms for just £10 per night, including breakfast, to celebrate its 10th anniversary. Stays will be redeemable from 6 July until 31 August 2009.
Pedal power
Saddle up for this year's National Bike Week, kicking off next Saturday (bikeweek.org.uk). Some 1,500 events are taking place across the UK. There's everything from cycle training and Dr Bike sessions, to commuter challenges and group rides.