Tue 29 Jan, 2013 Travel Supplement: WINTER It's that time of year again. Stock up on Sunday supplements, book the time off and start planning your 2k13 vacations – we've narrowed down our hit list for the year. In other news, Virgin have launched the first ever airborne gallery, EasyJet now flies to Russia and RyanAir offers the chance to win back the cost of your flight (yes, really). On top of that, expect a Park Hyatt New York opposite Carnegie Hall and the self-titled new "posh hostel" in Miami. And our chosen festival? AfrikaBurn, the South African outpost of Nevada's Burning Man. For more international events, check out our agenda. Happy travels! DU JOUR: Texas Say what you will about Texas, but the Lone Star State got cool. Karl Lagerfeld recently announced that Chanel's Métiers d'Art will show in Dallas in 2014, and need we say more about the Prada in Marfa? Our fave city has to be Austin: with its independent, anti-US-establishment feel, it's more urban hipster than cowboy. Head downtown for thrift stores and taco shacks, to Whole Foods (Austin's is the original) or to Halcyon for some good coffee and live music. Lay your head at Hotel Saint Cecilia, a hip guesthouse with a 70s edge and lots of soul. Hotel Saint Cecilia, 112 Academy Drive, Austin, TX, USA Doubles from $235 HOME: The Pig on the Beach If you're a fan of the original and the one in the wall, then you'll want to visit the one on the beach. The next instalment of The Pig will bring more of the same vibe as its high-octane B&B predecessors. Like the first, there'll be a kitchen garden of homegrown produce, spa offerings and refined rooms. Surrounded by 22 acres of farmland and nestled on the Dorset coastline, this will be the bolthole of the year. Fingers crossed for that Indian summer… The Pig on the Beach, Manor Road, Studland Bay, Dorset, BH19 3AU Opening late summer 2013 DESIGN: Baja California Sometimes you need to get away from it all. And by all, we really do mean everything. Endémico, in the Valle de Guadalupe in Baja California, is the perfect spot to breathe and reset (and soak up some rays). The 20 cabins are luxe, striking (designed by Gracia Studio), and aim to highlight the isolation of the desert. It's not all inner-sanctum and solitude though. The region is home to some of Mexico's largest wineries, so grab a glass and get cosy in the infinity pool. Plus, San Diego is a mere hour and a half away, should you need a dose of reality. Hotel Endémico, Carretera Tecate-Ensenada Km 75, Valle de Guadalupe, Ensenada, Mexico Cabins from $175 CABIN FEVER: Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express If you're going to do a country by train, we say go big or go home. The Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express, which travels along the steel ribbon from Moscow to Vladivostok, now offers passengers Imperial Suites with fixed king size beds, dressing and lounge areas, en suites and even a butler service – very Murder on the Orient Express. Other tours include Winter Wonderland in Russia, a Trans-Mongolia route and The Silk Road (Moscow to Beijing). Just call it train cruise control. Golden Eagle Luxury Trains, prices from £9695 RENT: Scott Williams We love a good holiday en masse (just not the organising). Luxury villa company Scott Williams have a hefty collection of postcard perfect rentals in locations including France, Greece, Italy, Spain (including Ibiza), Morocco and Turkey. The founders – who have backgrounds in the travel biz – have gone through each of the houses with a fine-tooth comb, meaning their edit is the cream of the property crop. Our favourites include the palatial Dar Arbala (pictured) in Morocco and Ibiza's Finca Leonardo. Round up the troops. Scott Williams Villas, prices ranging from £660 to £11000 per week ALTERNATIVE PARTY: Tel Aviv While we love the White Isle, we want to explore some more party places on the planet this spring/summer. Tel Aviv's raucous party scene – from superclubs such as The Block to eclectic bars like Maoz, pop up Teder and Soda Bar – paired with its laidback attitude and almost-Brazilian love for beach volleyball mean it's the perfect all-rounder destination. It doesn't stop there. Design heads should go straight for The White City, home to over 4000 examples of the Bauhaus Movement, while the trend pack should settle down on Rothschild Boulevard for some people-watching. For sleeps it has to be The Varsano, an urban boutique hotel made up of chic loft-like residences. The Varsano, 16 Hevrat Shass Street, Neve-Tzdek, Tel Aviv, Israel, 65148 Suites from $350 FUTURISTIC: Singapore "The Garden City" just got greener. Gardens by the Bay – a 21st century wonderland – is home to the Supertrees, 16-storey, concrete "trees" with climbing and hanging gardens which are part Fifth Element, part Alice in Wonderland. In and amongst the canopies you'll find restaurants and bars such as London's Pollen Street Social and Singapore's glam-packed IndoChine — they're quite literally treehouses for grown ups. The best bit? Take a walk on the suspended aerial bridge to move from treetop to treetop. Accommodation remains along a similar vein with the likes of the idiosyncratic New Majestic Hotel: expect to see swimmers above your head while you dine. Otherwise, the Marina Bay Sands offers an sky high infinity pool, 60 floors up (you can buy a day pass). New Majestic Hotel, 31-37 Bukit Pasoh Road, Singapore, 089845 Rooms from AU$207.27 FAR CITY BREAK: Medellín Bypass Bogotá and instead head to Colombia's underdog Medellín. Recently launched The Charlee is the perfect base to take in Medellín's buzzing streets or botanical gardens. With its art-centric interior and packed rooftop bar you'll be hard pushed to leave the foyer (or your room – they offer personal teppanyaki chefs). But do. Venture out and take in the city's impressive panorama on the free MetroCable car before heading to Medellín's answer to MoMA. There's more to it than Pablo Escobar. The Charlee, Calle 9A # 37-16, Parque Lleras, Medellín, Colombia Rooms from $192 TRANSFER: Rec Room Miami NY's Rec Room will follow in the footsteps of other big wig moves (read: Le Baron and Silencio during Art Basel), the only difference being this transfer is for keeps. Amy Sacco and Bobby Rossi's basement lounge meets fun house is a tribute to the places that put Miami on the map. Expect a vinyl library full of 70s, 80s, funk, disco and hip hop, 70s throwback décor, refurbished stereos and impromptu DJ programming. It's located under Gale South Beach, who also throw a mean Sunday BBQ brunch on the roof. Rec Room at Gale South Beach, 1690 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL, USA For table reservations email Recroomrsvp@ldvhospitality.com or call +(1) 786 975 2550 LINK TO THIS FEATURE: Travel by JC, HT & CS LIKE SHARE FORWARD PREVIOUS EDITION (c) 2013 Urban Junkies. All rights reserved. Reproductions of any portion of this website only with our express permission. Urban Junkies is a free daily mailer. All listings and features are editorial: We do not receive any payment from venues, artists or promoters. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy of information listed but we cannot accept responsibility for errors or omissions.