Ready for its close-up

Although the Petit Trianon, Marie Antoinette’s Versailles hideaway, remains closed through July for restoration, the renovation of the Trianon Palace & Spa, a hotel built in 1909 at the French queen’s doorstep, will be completed this month. Both the vintage palace and newer pavilion wings as well as the entrance, reception area and spa are getting a stylish makeover by Fiona Thompson, design director of Richmond International, the English company responsible for the decor at the landmark Four Seasons Gresham Palace in Budapest, Hungary. Also debuting this month, like the creme Anglaise on the chocolate souffle, is Gordon Ramsay au Trianon, a formal restaurant created by the Michelin-starred British chef; this is his first restaurant in France. Info: 1 Boulevard de la Reine, Versailles; 011-33-1-30-84-50-00, www.starwoodhotels.com. Doubles start at $440.

-- Susan Spano

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Aussie invitation

G’day, mate: Don’t just talk about visiting the land down under. Do something about it. Australian tourism officials have launched a campaign to convince Californians that spending a week in Australia is just as practical as a week in Europe -- and cheaper. The campaign, called Aussie Week, lists the flight time as about the same but notes that costs are much lower than those a traveler will find in Europe. Packages are available for as little as $1,699 per week, including round-trip flights and seven nights’ accommodations in hotels in Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane. Want additional information? Try (888) 736-2845 or www.aussieweek.com.

-- Rosemary McClure

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Esprit de corpse

“Last Stop for Paul,” a movie that opens Friday in some L.A. theaters, is proof that it’s never too late for a jaunt around the world, even if you’re dead and especially if you have willing friends. But that’s not all a traveler will find engaging in this indie film, made by and starring Neil Mandt and Marc Carter. Made without a script or crew, the movie is about traveling on a really tight budget. The characters (carrying Paul’s ashes) visit more than 20 countries in a month, including Thailand, Jamaica, Egypt and Russia, and meet interesting characters along the way. And, after all, isn’t that what travel’s all about? Info: www.laststopforpaul.com.

-- Vani Rangachar

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Pharaoh fun

Starting March 10, you will be able to visit Egypt, circa the 1920s, at the Legoland theme park in Carlsbad, Calif., built from the iconic toy blocks. At the new Land of Adventure, visitors can cruise through simulated ancient temple ruins in four-wheel-drive vehicles, tag targets with mock laser beams and find “lost treasure.” Our favorite? Pharaoh’s Revenge, where children and parents fire foam balls at one another. Shouldn’t every theme park have one of these? (760) 918-5346, www.legoland.com.

-- Jane Engle