THE energy is high as my fellow party-goers, dressed in blinging club gear, and with their faces covered in glitter, fling their hands towards the sky.

Club classics are echoing around the room while powerhouse singers belt out melodies and podium dancers twist their bodies in time to the music.

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This could easily be a thumping club night in Ibiza, but instead of heavy beats in a warehouse, we’re listening to club tunes played by stringed instruments and saxophones in a countryside setting.

I’m at Warner Leisure’s Heythrop Park for an Ibiza Sunsets break that proves you really don’t need to fork out on flights to the White Isle to party like you’re there.

For this weekend, the Oxfordshire countryside retreat was hosting DJ sets from dance aficionados Dave Pearce and Vernon Kay, reimagined anthems from 16-piece orchestra Ibiza In Symphony, and even an old-school neon party, complete with glow sticks.

Heythrop Park, a Grade II-listed former stately home, is more reminiscent of Downton Abbey than the super-clubs of San Antonio.

Although the musical welcome from a saxophonist immediately conjured up memories of the party island.

I was staying in a spacious superior room with large windows offering amazing views of the parkland and countryside setting — a little different to the seaside surroundings of many Ibiza hotels.

A more typical Warner weekend is usually itinerary-led and packed with activities, but an Ibiza Sunsets break is a more chilled affair.

There is evening entertainment spread across the three-day weekend, including DJ sets inspired by legendary San Antonio nightspot Cafe Mambo.

But the rest of the time can be spent at leisure, taking advantage of activities such as archery and clay pigeon shooting or yoga.

The first day involved a peaceful stroll around the grounds where I stumbled across a silent disco in full swing in the beach club-like Moroccan Garden.

We were ushered to join in with the stomping feet, but it turned out to be just as much fun watching the crowd quietly cutting some shapes.

With all that partying, there’s bound to be a few sore feet — and heads — so when you’re not swaying to melodies, you can fill your time with a visit to the onsite spa.

I opted for a dip in the pool and a sauna for as long as I could withstand the heat, before heading to the outside hot tubs.

Unusually for British summer time, the weather was glorious when I visited.

And without a cloud in the sky, I could almost believe I was in the Balearics.

For those in need of real TLC, optional extras at the spa include facials, mud wraps and reflexology treatments.

Stomping feet

I’d booked in for a Drift Away full-body massage which certainly eased my aching limbs and put me into a zen-like state.

Ibiza Sunsets packages include breakfasts and three-course dinners, so you will never go hungry.

The hotel’s poshest restaurant, Brasserie 32, serves refined pub fare including fish pies, beef short rib and risottos.

Or there’s the Market Kitchen, a buffet-style restaurant in the pretty orangery.

I ate there on my final evening and was serenaded by a flamenco guitarist.

Outside of the main restaurants, visitors can party the nights away in the Late Lounge bar which got everyone on their feet dancing to anthems during my stay.

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If you prefer a more cosy atmosphere, the resort’s pub, The Travelling Duke, serves spirits, ales and ciders as well as steaks, and fish and chip dinners.

With the sun still beating down, it seemed rude not to have a drink outside on the terrace where a DJ was playing chilled Ibiza sounds that channelled the energy of the famous sunset sessions at Cafe Del Mar.

Then it was time for the final evening event — the one we had all been waiting for — as celebrated dance DJs Dave and Vernon took to the decks to transport us back 30 years to the Nineties.

And they certainly didn’t disappoint!

The Late Lounge erupted to the exhilarating sounds of Robert Miles, Darude, Faithless and many more, amid an atmosphere that could only be described as electric.

I couldn’t have been more grateful for my ultra-comfy bed at the end of the night.

Partying that hard in your fifties can be exhausting, but not when you have access to Heythrop’s plush facilities.

I could get used to this.

IT WAS while standing under the darkened desert sky in the beautiful Neon Museum that Las Vegas finally clicked for me.

The museum’s director Aaron Berger recalled visiting the towering Luxor Hotel as a child with his father, who asked why he thought it contained the world’s first diagonal lifts (yes, you actually ascend to your room on a 35-degree angle).

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When young Aaron gave up on guessing, his dad simply replied: “To delight you”.

And that perfectly sums up the spirit of this city — every aspect of it is geared towards joy and excitement.

Those whose only experience of Las Vegas is what they’ve seen on the cinema screen will think of vast casinos, strip clubs and heaving bars.

But there is another side to Sin City just beneath its glitzy exterior, waiting for those willing to look for it.

Take the Neon Museum as an example — at first glance the signs that make up its exhibits seem to be the glowing altars in this temple to tackiness.

Yet taked a guided tour and you discover they are the mile markers of the city’s fascinating history, shining a light on everything from Vegas’s connections with the Mob to one hotel’s brave decision to shatter the colour bar in the 1950s.

Back in the present day, though, there’s only one way to properly explore this desert oasis — and that is by eating your way around the city.

Vegas loves to borrow the best bits from around the world (see the half-scale replica of the Eiffel Tower or the actual canals in the Venetian) and its culinary scene is no different.

Highlights for me included a delightfully authentic, and gut-busting, Italian feast at Esther’s Kitchen in the Arts District, and some of the best Chinese food I’ve ever tasted at Mott 32 — think a Friday night takeaway but with a Michelin star.

And for a real taste of the city’s soul, I’d recommend letting Secret Food Tours whizz you through a mystery selection of restaurants, each with their own unique role in its history.

Over the course of an afternoon, you can enjoy a selection of treats from lesser-known eateries to give you a true flavour of the place.

As for where to stay, there are endless glitzy hotels, with owners famously fond of blowing up underperforming sites and rebuilding in their place.

Indeed, during my stay alone I heard of two that were scheduled for demolition in the next few months.

For the classic Las Vegas Strip experience, you can’t go far wrong with Caesars Palace.

An institution here since it opened in 1966, Caesars won’t break the bank (with rooms from around £70 per night) and it’s only a 15-minute walk from just about anything in the city centre.

It boasts a host of restaurants, including branches operated by star chefs like Gordon Ramsay and Bobby Flay, as well as a stunning, Greek mythology-themed shopping mall.

And for some variety you can always stroll to other nearby hotels for a bite, all home to equally impressive restaurants, as well as next door to watch the world-famous Bellagio fountain display.

Guests of Caesars can also take advantage of a well-equipped gym, a spa, Roman baths and a wellness centre — you can even have some light cosmetic procedures done if they take your fancy.

Just bear in mind that some of these cost extra and there were a couple of payment mishaps while I was there (including one person in my group being incorrectly charged more than £650) but these were handled professionally and, as far as I’ve heard, refunded promptly.

Get out and go wild

However, if you fancy stationing yourself Downtown instead — where many of the older, original casinos sit — the Main Street Station Hotel is a top pick.

It’s built on the site of the original railway station and its former owner had a fascination with antiques and interesting knick-knacks, leaving it as a sort of residential museum today.

Highlights include Sir Winston Churchill’s snooker table, a Pullman railway coach converted into a cigar lounge and a section of the Berlin Wall set behind the urinals in the gents’ loos.

Sitting right at the heart of the busy Freemont Street, the area is a firm favourite with Vegas natives — as a nightlife hub at more affordable rates than you might find on the main strip.

The main thing to know about Vegas is that there’s always something happening, some reason to get out and go wild — but what about those looking for a bit more peace and solitude?

Well, you can get that here too.

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It’s one of the perks of a city built in the middle of nowhere.

A short ride out of town and you’ll hit the gorgeous wilderness of the Old West.

What happened in Vegas isn’t necessarily staying there, but after seeing those landscapes I sure wish I could

Firms such as Pink Jeep Tours will take you out to the Valley of Fire State Park, named for its towers of blazing red sandstone.

Standing out in the Mojave Desert, you could almost have no idea that one of the world’s most densely populated cities is a matter of miles way.

It is the perfect break from the hubbub of central Las Vegas, as you take in sights such as the eerily beautiful petroglyphs carved into the rock by native tribes, some of which are estimated to be thousands of years old.

And on cooler days, you can even make your way along a trail to a model Spanish town used as a set in the classic 1966 film The Professionals.

What happened in Vegas isn’t necessarily staying there, but after seeing those landscapes I sure wish I could.

THE WORLD’S tallest “all-hotel” tower is set to open in a Brit holiday hotspot next year.

The 80-storey skyscraper has 1,000 rooms and the highest infinity pool in the city.

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The Dubai skyline is already a throng of bizarre high-rises, but the new Ciel Tower will be one of the most unique yet.

Towering over the city’s marina, the 1,200ft skyscraper boasts several “garden levels” featuring indoor shrubbery and trees sprouting up from the floor.

Guests can enjoy panoramic views of the famous Palm Jumeirah and the Arabian Gulf from a 360-degree glass observation deck and a selection of rooftop restaurants.

The building is capped by a hollow dome structure, with a seating area and an infinity pool at its base.

Sitting at more than 900ft above the ground, it is set to become the highest pool in the world and should provide swimmers ample relief from temperatures of up to 42C.

Other high-altitude amenities include a fitness centre, club lounge and spa.

Developers First Group are calling Ciel their “largest” and “most complex development to date” and it’s already won several major awards.

It is promised to be the tallest “hotel-only” building in the world when completed at over 100ft higher than the Gevora Hotel, also in Dubai.

That said, it still falls well short of the world record held by the Burj Khalifa in, you guessed it, Dubai, which is a whopping 2,717ft and hosts a mixture of hotel, residential and corporate real estate.

As a hotel, it will boast a whopping 1,042 rooms, including 150 luxury suites.

Each is being painstakingly designed in a Japanese-inspired style by renowned London-based architects NORR.

Apart from the stunning high-rise facilities, visitors will be able to take advantage of an all-day dining room, several bars and a “sunset lounge”.

Rob Burns, CEO at First Group said: “The First Group is delighted to unveil Ciel the world’s tallest all-hotel tower, as the newest addition to IHG’s Vignette Collection Portfolio.

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“This architectural masterpiece is poised to become a leading lifestyle destination in Dubai, offering guests an unparalleled experience.

“As the cornerstone of The First Group Hospitality’s growing hotel management portfolio, Ciel will redefine upper upscale hospitality in Dubai, showcasing the spectacular 365-meter all-hotel tower’s innovation, creativity, and excellence through its unique design, luxurious amenities, and breathtaking views.”

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WHEN flying in economy class, the space to stretch out can be tight enough without hidden obstacles cutting into your legroom.

Housing boxes are often overlooked but can definitely be legroom killers and ruin your comfort, so make sure to know how to find them when booking your plane seats.

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These boxes, typically hanging down under the seat in front of you, can limit your ability to stretch out fully, especially on long-haul flights.

The purpose of these boxes is to house electronic components or inflight entertainment systems, but their placement often interferes with passengers’ legroom.

Gregor Milne, of aircraft seating plan website Aerolopa, told The Telegraph: “On some long-haul aircraft, six out of 10 economy class seats are affected by these boxes.”

Thankfully, technological advancements are beginning to offer some relief.

“Thanks to new designs, these boxes are being replaced by smaller units that sit inside the seat pan and no longer get in the way of your feet,” the travel expert explained.

Some of the older, intrusive designs can still be found on British Airways’ Boeing 787 Dreamliners and Airbus A380s, where many economy passengers might find their foot space partially blocked.

But more recent aircraft like BA’s Boeing 777s, Airbus A350s, and refurbished Boeing 787-8s are equipped with the newer, space-saving units.

If you’re planning a long-haul flight, it might be worth checking the aircraft type beforehand and booking accordingly to avoid this annoying legroom killer.

It comes as new airline designs being rolled out include thinner plane seats so that more can fit into the cabin.

But this is bad news for hand luggage travellers too – as it means less space underneath.

According to USA Today, this is because it often reduces the amount of legroom.

And travellers, especially those flying with budget airlines such as Ryanair and easyJet, often rely on the floor space to fly with their bags.

We’ve recently raved about the Narwey bag that lets you fit a weekend’s worth of clothes into it, and fits under the seat in front of you.

But as seats get thinner (and more uncomfortable) – this may end up proving impossible.

Expert Christopher Elliott said: “When an airline announces a new cabin interior, it often moves to thinner seats, which allow it to add more capacity.

“Installing extra rows of seats usually means subtracting legroom.”

He said he found this out the hard way himself after being “unable to sit facing forward” on a recent flight as there was so little space between the seats.

Many travellers are resorting to underseat bags not only to save on cost, but also due to a lack of room in the overhead lockers.

Most airlines charge to check in a bag, which has resulted in the cabin lockers being full of hand-luggage suitcases instead.