With a front-row seat to the travel world’s ever-revolving conveyor belt of trends and hot new openings, our editors run through what’s worth your attention this month 

The app
Are the Northern Lights (pictured above) on your bucket list for 2020? Getting a glimpse of the luminary sensation has never been easier thanks to nifty app Live Aurora Network, which helps visitors track it taking place in Iceland, Norway and Alaska. Developed alongside Nasa, the app is linked to a network of six HD cameras in various locations that provide users with updates and directions to viewpoints, as well as the option to book an overnight stay at partnering Airbnb accommodation in each destination. If you can’t manage to make it there in person, fret not – the app also provides a live video feed, so users can watch everything unfold from the comfort of their own home.

The product
Battling skincare woes on your next journey is now a thing of the past thanks to Aesop’s handy Departure kit (pictured below). Great for those on the go, this compact arsenal is packed with seven travel-size skin, body and personal care essentials that are perfectly suitable for carry-on luggage liquid limits. To make sure you’re primed and feeling fresh from take-off to touchdown, you’ll find a hand wash and moisturising balm, a hydrating mask and mist, lip cream, mouthwash and toothpaste – all of which are infused with an array of plant-based ingredients.

The grub
Los Angeles has made quite a name for itself in the vegan, plant-based foodie space in recent times, but those looking for old-school comfort eats can still get their fix thanks to a slew of hot openings this month. Burgers 99 is the latest venture by the Mahendro trio behind the Badmaash Indian empire, with chef Geovanny Delgado at the helm of a classic La Brea chophouse. Nearby, West Adams’ beloved Johnnie’s Pastrami – after an overhaul – has kicked open its doors to the neighbourhood sandwich stand and attached building, which will now serve as a separate dining space and brewery. For juicy cuts, modern California steakhouse Bull & Butterfly has also recently debuted in Playa Vista with a tasty ranchero-inflected menu.

The hotel
With a new year comes an exciting new line-up of hotels, and 2020 has already delivered a handful of noteworthy additions to the English capital. Of all London’s sparkly arrivals, our favourite is Ruby Lucy, a trendy, 76-room boutique dropped down in the heart of bustling Waterloo. It’s conveniently situated on the doorstep of Lower Marsh with a raft of restaurants and bars on the doorstep, but the lofty chambers kitted out with Marshall guitar amps (rooms are soundproofed, of course), cosy library and 24-hour bar will likely keep you lingering. Other hotspots to consider include Piccadilly’s Zedwell, sporting a sleek, minimalist fitout; design-led Page8 just moments from Trafalgar Square; and nhow, whose playful, eye-popping rooms are just as punchy as surrounding Shoreditch.  

The event
It’s one of the busiest months of the global sporting calendar, so no matter where you’re jetting off to this February, there are plenty of opportunities to get in on the action. Hot off the heels of the 54th Super Bowl in Miami and the just-wrapped Australian Open in Melbourne, The Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship kicks off in Cardiff before beginning a month-and-a-half-long tour through Dublin, Paris, Edinburgh, Rome and London. Down under, the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup will also take international all-stars to various cities across the cricket-crazed nation, getting the ball rolling in Sydney on 21 February.

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This article has been tagged Opinion, Travel Tips