NEW HOTEL OPENS IN SYDNEY

InterContinental Hotels Group has opened a Holiday Inn Express hotel in Sydney's Macquarie Park - the first of 15 which will open in Australia.

To celebrate the launch, the 198-room hotel is offering a special weekend rate of A$146 (S$149) a night in a Queen Standard Room, valid for travel by Oct 31. Rates include free Wi-Fi, breakfast or a Grab & Go food option for busy travellers, and access to a self-service business centre and laundry room.

For more information, go to www.holidayinnexpress.com/macquariepark.

DEALS FOR FAMILY CRUISES

Starting this month, luxury cruise company Aqua Expeditions is offering new family- friendly trips aboard its 20-suite Aqua Mekong vessel, which travels up and down the Mekong river between Siem Reap, Cambodia, and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Children can enjoy hands-on learning activities, including visits to fishing villages, interactive cooking classes, kayaking, fishing and outdoor movie screenings. The floating boutique hotel also has an onboard library, foosball table, board games and a movie theatre.

Kids between seven and 12 years old can stay for free when sharing a triple cabin with their parents, or when accompanied by a single parent. Children must be at least seven years old to board the vessel.

The promotion is valid for departures from now till Aug 12 this year, and May 5 to Aug 11 next year, with the exception of black-out dates from May 24 to June 21 this year and June 2 to 30 next year.

For more information, go to www.aquaexpeditions.com.