Most sane people try to high-tail it out of the UK during the holidays to enjoy a bit of fun in the sun (last year I spent Christmas and New Year's Eve in Thailandand absolutely loved it. I'd rather have steamed sea bass with fish sauce and chillies instead of turkey, thank you very much). The smart set usually heads to Phuket, and the newest resort there is the Indigo Pearl, slated to open on December 1. The design concept of the hotel pays tribute to Phuket's tin mining part, and the $21 million resort was designed by super-star architect Bill Bensley. The resort has 277 rooms scattered in an enclave of lagoons and jungle, and there's also a private beach club on the Andaman Sea beachfront. Other bonuses include a cooking school, scuba-diving centre, fitness and meditation pavilion. Introductory rates start at US $188.