But there are plenty of carriers to whisk you away earlier, or in 2005.
The only airlines operating direct services from the UK are British Airways (08708 509850; ), Qantas (08457 747767; ), and, from 7 December, Virgin Atlantic (08705 747747; ) A short stop is made to refuel on route All three fly to Sydney. The offer is valid for departures for now until 15 December and includes flights, transfers and seven nights’ full board.£1,681Get two nights free when you book a five-night stay at The Residence in Mauritius with Elite Vacations (01707 371000) throughout November The price includes flights, transfers and half board. For departures between 27 November and 4 December, the company is offering return flights from London, transfers and seven nights’ room-only accommodation.£1,389Spend a week on the exclusive Young Island off the coast of the St Vincent in the Caribbean with Caribtours (020-7751 0660). The company is offering return flights, transfers and seven nights’ accommodation with breakfast for departures on 23 November and 7, 21 and 28 December.£699Hit the slopes of Sun Peaks in British Columbia with Ski the American Dream (0870-350 7547).

The property, which sleeps nine, is available for stays of three nights between now and 20 December. The price covers rental of the wholeproperty.£599Explore the Indian cities of Agra and Jaipur with Kuoni (01306 747008). The price includes return flights from London, transfers, b&b and dinner on one night.£573Rent Oxenlears, a pretty farmhouse in the Axe Valley in Devon with Rural Retreats (01386 701177). It is offering seven nights at the five-star Quinta Jardim da Serra for departures between 4 and 15 November. The price includes return flights from London and b&b.£368Is the price of a week’s holiday in Sri Lanka with Odyssey Worldwide (0870-429 5090).

The price includes return flights from Gatwick, plus transfers and seven nights’ b&b.£459Spend a week in Madeira with Voyana (0871 271 5207). It is offering return flights from London and two nights’ b&b at Hotel Fiesta.£295Magic of Spain (0870-888 0220) is offering two nights in Valencia between 1 and 30 November. For as little as

For as little as
£199Depart any time in November for a weekend in Budapest with Regent Holidays (0117-921 1711). Prices run from £190 to £600 a night.Address?The Wharf at Woolloomooloo, 6 Cowper Wharf Road, Sydney, 2011 Tel: 00 612 9331 9000. You are also just a short walk from the Opera House; the restaurant and shopping area known as The Rocks; and Circular Quay, from where you catch ferries to popular beaches such as Manly.Access for all?Sydney is hot on access issues and wheelchair users will have no problem at this property.What’s the damage?The 104 rooms range from the more modest Z rooms to the Ultra Lofts (split-level luxury). These include a pizzeria, noodle bar, steak house and boulangerie.

And, just outside the front door is a Sydney institution: Harry’s pie stand – handy after a night on the tiles.What are the people like?Young couples, creative business types, funky holidaymakers – and people who wish they were.Local interestThe W is in a very central location, next to the city’s green lung, the Botanical Gardens. Very modern deluxe.I’m hungryFor breakfast and snacks there’s the W Caf?and for cocktails the Water Bar (oversized chairs, industrial chic), but for dinner the hotel suggests eateries in the wharf. And honeymoon packages.Comfort factor?In our fourth-floor suite – all in tasteful taupes and browns – we had a lounge with a superb snack and drinks bar and a bedroom with television, a DVD and CD player, and high-speed broadband internet access The pillows and duvets are stuffed with goose down. The hotel also offers a Whatever/Whenever service (but they won’t break the law for you).What’s in the bathroom?Bath and separate shower, bountiful Aveda toiletries. It offers a Stay Proud and Loud package aimed at gay guests – W provides suitable in-room entertainment, such as a boxed set of Queer as Folk DVDs, and lets exhausted party queens check out late at 2pm It even has a special deal for technophiles. People stay at a W hotel because they think the people who run them are hip, fun and easy-going W does seem to have both wit and wisdom. The W’s lobby, bar and caf?re all in a rather public thoroughfare (office workers walk past to get to their desks).