Something To Declare: rural Spain; New York subway deteriorates; BA deals

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Destination of the week: rural Spain

"Agroturismo" is an over-worked word, with countryside properties across Europe bidding for the rustic pound. But three new rural hotels make an appearance this summer on Europe's favourite holiday island, Mallorca.

The Finca Rural Valldemossa (00 34 971 612 626, www.valldemossa-hotel.com) is a traditional stone house in the town of Valldemossa, where Frederic Chopin and Georges Sand stayed. Prices for the dozen luxury rooms start at €261 (£190) for a double.

The town of Pollenca is usually overlooked on the race north to the coast, which means much of its character has been retained. Just outside it stands an 18th-century convent, which is now a 23-room hotel, Son Brull (00 34 971 530 250, www.sonbrull.com). A double room starts at €203 (£145).

At Port de Pollensa, the grand finca estate of Llenaire (00 34 971 535 251, www.hotelllenaire.com) overlooks the Bay of Pollensa. Doubles cost €281 (£205) per night.

All these rates include breakfast. The soon-to-be-abolished eco-tax is extra.

For options on Ibiza, Menorca and Formentera, contact the Balearic Agroturismo Association on 00 34 971 721508 or visit www.agroturismo-balear.com.

Be warned that the end of October will a very bad time to visit Mallorca this year. The Association of British Travel Agents' annual convention is taking place in Palma from 31 October to 2 November. Flights to the island, and beds in Palma, will be scarce and expensive.

Warning of the week: New York subway deteriorates

New York City's underground railway is getting dirtier, and some lines are unreliable and overcrowded. Those are the findings of the latest Straphangers Campaign report from the New York Public Interest Research Group. Travellers on line 5 - which runs the length of Lexington Avenue in Manhattan - are likely to suffer the worst delays and most crowded trains. Lines B (Upper West Side) and M (Lower Manhattan) also perform badly, each with an average gap of nine minutes between morning rush-hour trains. View the full report at www.straphangers.org/statesub03.

Bargain of the week: BA deals

After last month's wildcat strikes, British Airways (0870 850 9 850, www.ba.com) is likely to try to fill its flights with a series of one-day only offers on its website. Deals available in a short-term sale last month included Johannesburg in August and September for an unheard-of £299 and Dallas at £299 through the summer peak. Irritatingly, the airline will not discuss its plans for similar one-day sales, so the only way to make sure you don't miss out is to check the website each day.