Reality check

THE HOTEL This stylishly-renovated 15th-century palace is one of three historic, five-star Puro Group hotels, all within a stone's throw of each other in the cobbled streets of Palma's old town, surrounded by high-end galleries, tapas restaurants, bars and boutiques and within a short walk of the city's famous cathedral. It opened in summer 2022.

THE CHECK-IN The lobby-cumgallery is full of eye-catching pieces of art – paintings, murals, sculptures and giant, contemporary light-fittings –perfectly blending with the wood, stone and marble of the restored beams, arches and floors. Stairs with ornate banisters spiral around the courtyardstyle space and up to the 15 suites above. Apart from the discreet check-in desk on the left (itself a work of art) it felt like we were walking into a palace, or a luxurious Mediterreanean home.

THE SUITE Our spacious suite, number 11, is particularly special as during the hotel's renovation, which took almost two years, developers

THE JOURNEY I travelled in a First Class carriage on LNER's 10:58 Azuma train, Newcastle to London King’s Cross.

THE BOOKING Reserving a ticket via the LNER website was straightforward. Easy to navigate, the website made it clear which services were available on the day I wanted to travel. The booking was complete within a few minutes. Selecting the e-ticket option meant I had a PDF version of the ticket emailed to me so I could access it from my phone.

Scanning the QR code at the barrier gave me access to the platforms at Newcastle Central Station.

BOARDING At LNER’s First Class Lounge I grabbed a complimentary cup of coffee and a packet of Reids’ Baked Treats biscuits. Tea, chilled Harrogate spring water, Piper’s crisps and other refreshments were also available. I used the Wi-Fi to do a zoom meeting, during which I received a notification on the LNER app reminding me of my carriage, seat number and telling me where I should stand on the platform for my

HOTEL: PURO GRAND HOTEL, PALMA

uncovered 12th-century beams with Arabic scripts, which have been painstakingly restored and can be admired from the king-size bed. An ensuite has double sinks, a stand-alone bath and a walk-in shower, and SeaSkin toiletries. Shutters kept out any noise, although it's not in a busy street

THE BUSINESS The hotel's lobby/ breakfast room would be perfect for a meeting, with private alcoves to discuss business. If you want even more privacy, nextdoor is The Puro House, also part of this trio of boutique hotels, with stately rooms and an outdoor terrace that can be hired for exclusive use.

THE FACILITIES Breakfast is served in an area just beyond the lobby. It has an open kitchen so you can see the chefs preparing your organic eggs and delicious toasties. My 'simply avocado'rye bread with crushed avocado, pomegranate, toasted almonds and mint - was a work of art. There's also fresh fruit, croissants and freshly-baked cakes to tuck into.

RAIL: LNER FIRST CLASS, NEWCASTLE-LONDON KING'S CROSS carriage, so I boarded feeling relaxed. The train left Newcastle on time.

THE SEAT Seating was around tables of four or individual seats on the other side of the aisle. My seat (K14) was a large, single seat with a table, ample legroom and recline. A USB charging point and three-pronged plug below the seat arm gave power for my devices. Luggage racks near the sliding doors provided storage space for large items. I used the overhead rack, above my seat, to store my briefcase and coat.

THE SERVICE LNER’s seasonal Dine menu was on the table when I boarded the train. The free food and drink is sourced from producers along LNER’s routes. Breakfast choice includes porridge, waffles and fruit and a cooked option of Lincolnshire sausage, bacon, hash browns, baked beans, tomato and a fried egg (with vegetarian or vegan alternatives). Wi-Fi was reliable and the carriage was quiet. The 2hr 54min journey was 17 minutes delayed but it gave me extra time to work.

THE VERDICT You'll feel like a VIP in this luxurious but intimate hotel, which is the perfect urban retreat. Puro Group also owns two beach clubs on the island, one close to the airport where you can relax in a poolside cabana and take a dip before checking in for an evening flight.

THE DETAILS Carrer del Forn de la Glòria, Palma. Suites from €400 a night, purohotels.es/en

Bev Fearis

THE VERDICT A pleasant and comfortable way to travel, with lounge access, reliable Wi-Fi, comfortable seating with adequate space to work and good refreshments.

THE DETAILS One-way NewcastleLondon First Class fares from around £62 (£27 standard) but prices vary considerably depending on time of booking and time of day. lner.co.uk

Stuart Forster

THE FLIGHT I flew Business with Qatar Airways on flight QR30 on an A350-900 from Edinburgh to Doha.

THE CHECK-IN As per pre-travel instructions, I arrived for check-in three hours before departure, just as the desk was opening for my 14:00 flight. The Qatar station manager, Tamer, made himself known to me quickly and was extremely informative and helpful, providing the next steps and directing me to the shared British Airways Business Class lounge. Check-in was faultless and quick, despite extensive documentation now required for inspection to travel internationally. The lounge had comfortable seating and various quiet areas with a wide range of hot and cold food and drink options.

BOARDING Upon announcement I made my way to the departure gate where I was again greeted by Qatar ground crew who escorted me to the aircraft. On board, I was warmly greeted by the Cabin Crew Manager who ushered me to my allocated seat.

FLIGHT: QATAR AIRWAYS BUSINESS CLASS, EDINBURGH-DOHA

THE SEAT My seat, 4E, was fantastically comfortable, with plenty of storage cubby holes and functionality allowing for the many different seating settings, including that all-important flat bed. Each seat was beautifully presented with an environmentallyconsidered cardboard boxed Diptique Amenity kit with a fresh lotion, essential face cream, nourishing lip balm, 34 eau de toilette, ear plugs, an eye mask and pair of socks. With it, I received a wonderfully soft, warm blanket and matching bolster pillow, and an Oryx One headset to enjoy the extensive choice of inflight entertainment.

THE SERVICE Menu options included artisan bread, soup of the day, appetisers, mains, cheese plate, desserts, light options and snacks. I opted for a fresh salmon and prawn starter, followed by steak and finally had to skip dessert as I was full and my pallet in overdrive! The choice of nonalcoholic cocktails was vast, each of which I tried. The alcoholic wine list was

I RECEIVED A WONDERFULLY SOFT, WARM BLANKET AND MATCHING BOLSTER PILLOW

HOTEL: THE BELFRY, BIRMINGHAM

extensive, from Charles Heidsieck Brut Réserve Champagne to the Nittnaus Dessert Wine. Crew were attentive, enhancing the passenger experience.

THE VERDICT Excellent food, warm service, luxury amenities. Qatar Airways once again didn't fail to impress.

THE DETAILS Return Business Class fare, Edinburgh-Doha, from £2,613. qatarairways.com

Craig McQuinn

THE HOTEL On a 550-acre estate in the North Warwickshire countryside close to Birmingham, this resort is perhaps best known as being a multiple host of golf's prestigious Ryder Cup in the 1990s. It's now back on the golfing map as the host of the British Masters until 2026. Acquired by Goldman Sachs Asset Management and Cedar Capital Partners in 2021, it has been substantially refurbished with over £26m spent on various upgrades and more planned.

THE CHECK-IN For such a large and sprawling resort the reception area is on the smallish side but as I arrived long before the afternoon check-in time I was dealt with swiftly and courteously, handed a map of the complex and an explanation of the various facilities and invited to make a dinner reservation.

THE ROOMS The 320 rooms are spread out across a labyrinth of corridors and stairways and finding mine, 2531 in the Torrance wing, proved something of a challenge! A map would be useful. Overlooking the

18th green of the PGA course, the room was generously spacious with two double beds - the heavy duvet and fluffy pillows were perfect for a dead-of-winter staya spacious seating area with comfy chair and table, a work desk, a large HD Freeview widescreen TV, tea and coffeemaking facilities. A large bathroom had a walk-in shower with ESPA toiletries.

THE FACILITIES For kids there are various activities like woodland walks, indoor games, library and mini-golf. The sports bar, Sam's Club House, serves pub food and shows games. For a more refined high tea, The Brabazon Bar is housed in an atrium. The resort's main restaurant, the Ryder Grill, has a classy feel but is relaxed and informal with an open kitchen. Private dining is available in the Wine Room, accommodating up to 12 guests. There's also a Roca’s Pizza Pasta with a Starbucks. The ESPA Spa has a full-size pool, hot tubs, relaxation rooms and thermal experiences. The gym is extremely well equipped and offers fitness classes.

NOW BACK ON THE GOLFING MAP AS THE HOST OF THE BRITISH MASTERS UNTIL 2026

THE VERDICT The Belfry is determined to further re-establish itself as one of the finest resorts in the UK. It will soon boast more dining options and new accommodation thanks to funding for further development.

THE DETAILS Wishaw, Sutton Coldfield B76 9PR, double rooms from £225, golf and spa short breaks also available. thebelfry.com

Steve Hartridge