Just in time for Christmas, Four Seasons has decided to open the Four Seasons Hotel Damascus. How seasonal is that? Plenty of room at this inn (a state-of-the-art new building which dominates the skyline of this ancient city), it has 297 rooms including 66 suites, with DVD players and high-speed internet access, and bathrooms with inlaid mother-of-pearl. Interiors are by Pierre-Yves Rochon, who was responsible for those at the George V in Paris. There are three restaurants: Syrian food in the Al Halabi restaurant, Italian at Il Circo and international cuisine in Safran, plus a lobby bar. There's also a spa and health club with (this being the Middle East), the civilised option of separate steam rooms for men and women, and outdoor pool (though that could be a bit nippy right now). Anyway, it would certainly make a change from the Norfolk Broads. Introductory rates (valid till February 28 2006) are from £90 per night B&B in a superior room.

00800 64886488, fourseasons.com.