Dubai is by far the most popular holiday destination in the Gulf, attracting around half a million UK visitors each year. The Foreign Office is citing an al-Qa’ida website that has threatened attacks on Westerners in the Gulf states.. Elements of the waterside George Hotel are so lopsided with age that, when you cross its ancient threshold, you find yourself wondering whether you’ve stepped on board an old sailing ship. Built in 1670 for the then governor of the island, Admiral Sir Robert Holmes (his dapper-looking portrait still hangs in the hall), it is one of the island’s prettiest buildings – and most popular hotels. As one recent guest, Helena Bonham Carter, would surely agree, from the gently sloping flagstones in the entrance to the slightly skewwhiff panelling in the cosy residents’ lounge, the structure’s higgledy-piggledy appearance is its best feature.
The George has been operating as a hotel since the mid-18th century and the current owners have cleverly made the most of the building’s original character. The lounge panelling, for example, has been stripped back so that the grain of the wood blends atmospherically with the room’s traditional fabrics and antique furniture.

Not that there’s anything old-fashioned about the facilities. Elegant modern additions include sleek wooden garden furniture and crisp white bathrooms.Sister hotel to The Master Builder’s House Hotel in Hampshire (for a fee you can shuttle between the two in the hotel’s boat), The George also has two restaurants, a burgundy-tinged formal dining room and a more family-focused brasserie. While the food in the latter punches well above its weight, the room’s bright yellow decor and copper pan-decked ceiling may not do much for your appetite. A better option, on warm, late-summer evenings, is to eat out in the garden, in the shadow of Yarmouth’s 16th-century castle, watching yachts flit past on the Solent.LOCATIONThe George Hotel, Quay Street, Yarmouth, Isle of Wight (01983 760331; ).

The Rainbow Room, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112 (001 212 632 5100; ). But bearing in mind all the sensory stimulation on offer, it’s a great investment Book well in advance and specify a window table. With a fruit juice, one cocktail, some water and a coffee, the tax- and service-inclusive price rises to nearly $200 (£118). An ice sculpture shows off the fresh oysters at their best; the slight twist of a carved parmigiano adds a hint of New York Italian to the mix.THE BILLThe basic buffet costs a hefty $110 (£62) – and that is just the start. From succulent fruit via elaborate egg dishes to fresh seafood, there is too much of everything. The brash vulgarity that some Brits expect from New Yorkers is notable by its absence; no one is noisy, all are having a good time and the only blemish is the frequency of interruptions from mobile phones.THE PLATEA huge revolving buffet spins in the centre of the room, teasing patrons as it passes slowly like a rotating delicatessen.

As you arrive, you are met by the frescos American Progress and Time by Jose Maria Sert in the lobby. Ascend to the 65th floor for Sunday brunch in the Rainbow Room and enjoy unparalleled views of the most celebrated cityscape in the world. The Empire State and Chrysler buildings bear witness to New York’s age of grace. The modern glass and steel towers that dominate the skyline demonstrate the city’s pre-eminence in world finance.