Jetsettersblog

Get Your Holiday Ham

Voyages Bedarra Island Resort a winner

Voyages Bedarra Island has achieved international acclaim, winning the award for Leading Boutique Resort in both Australia and Australasia at the 2007 World Travel Awards.

With a voting audience of over 167,000 travel professionals worldwide, including 110,000 travel agents, the World Travel Awards are recognised as the most comprehensive and prestigious awards program in the global travel industry. So celebrated are the awards, that The Wall Street Journal hails them as the “travel industry’s equivalent to the Oscars”.

Guy Heywood, group general manager for Voyages’ Signature resorts said: “We are absolutely delighted and immensely proud to have won these awards.”

“Voyages Bedarra Island really epitomises the best Australia has to offer - incredible beaches and rainforest, flawless service, impeccable food and wine and the utmost exclusivity and privacy. It truly is a world class resort,” Heywood said.

Announced on Friday at a gala event at The Leela Palace Kempinski Bangalore, India, Voyages Bedarra Island beat a large and diverse range of entrants from an international and domestic field, including Double Island, Queensland; Capella Lodge, Lord Howe Island; and Bora Bora Lagoon Resort, French Polynesia.

The World Travel Awards were established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate the enormous achievements in all sectors of the global travel industry. Candidates for nomination are based upon the previous year’s voting and voting is cast by travel agents in over 190 countries around the world.

Voyages Bedarra Island is an exclusive private hideaway situated five kilometres off the coast of Tropical North Queensland near Mission Beach. Comprising 16 superbly designed and appointed villas, a spacious open terrace restaurant, and truly magnetic bar and lounge, Bedarra attracts those who wish to indulge their senses and savour the finest of luxury service and style.

Voyages is an Australian travel company, providing experience-based holidays in spectacular wilderness locations including the Red Centre, Queensland, the Kimberley Region of Western Australia and Tasmania.

Voyages operates award-winning properties such as El Questro Wilderness Park, Cradle Mountain Lodge, Wrotham Park Lodge, Lizard Island and Ayers Rock Resort.

London-Dubai Premium Air Traffic Set for Steep Climb

Nearly 400,000 people fly annually in business class cabins between London and Dubai, but that number is likely to increase dramatically as Dubai continues to position itself as a global commercial and tourism capital.

The market response to Silverjet, the region’s first all-business class airline offering a private jet experience scheduled to service the London-Dubai route, has already been exceptionally positive, according to the company’s senior management.

“Dubai has truly placed itself at the centre of the world’s aviation sector, and we believe Silverjet’s offering can contribute significantly to that ongoing success story,” said Katherine Gershon, Director of Sales and Marketing for Silverjet, the world’s only all-business airline to fly a non-transatlantic route when it began its daily Dubai-London service on November 19.

“At Silverjet, we know that there is a rapidly expanding segment of both business and leisure travellers in London and Dubai who expect more of their airlines. They want luxury, affordability, convenience and hospitality, and increasingly, they have little tolerance for ever bigger airports, ever longer queues, and ever declining standards.”

The multi award-winning airline will be the only scheduled airline in the world to offer a private terminal experience at both ends of its service and will be the only commercial carrier to use the private Executive Terminal at Dubai International Airport. The airline has confirmed that its London-Dubai fares will be on average less than half the price of competitor fares.

Silverjet – which began its operations on 25 January 2007 and aims to offer its customers a private jet style experience at a fraction of the price – currently offers a twice-daily service between London and New York, and its London-Dubai service will operate daily from 19 November.

For its existing London-New York route, Silverjet said passenger numbers almost doubled in six months and increased by 38 per cent since September of this year. The airline’s revenue seats flown increased to 6,782 in October of this year, as opposed to 3,628 in May and 4,916 in September of this year. The airline was the first in history to reach 80 per cent load factors within 7 months of launch.

Silverjet’s service from Dubai will launch on 19 November and will fly from the Executive Terminal at Dubai International Airport to its Private Terminal at London Luton Airport. It said it was encouraged by forward bookings and the travel trade reaction to the service in the UK and the United Arab Emirates.

Silverjet flights will depart Dubai daily at 1030 and arrive in London Luton Airport at 1445. Return flights depart from London Luton at 2100 and arrive in Dubai at 0830.

Connecting flights to New York Newark will also be available, departing London Luton Airport at 1645.

Pre-Wedding Pamper Day At Downe Health Spa In Devon

Downe Spa.jpgDowne Health Spa in Devon is offering a Bride and Groom Day designed to relax and rejuvenate busy couples immediately prior to their wedding. The day includes five therapies each, lunch and a cream tea and costs £239 per person.

It makes a wonderful pre wedding gift as it enables the couple to prepare for their wedding away from stress and pressures that inevitably build up prior to the big day. The therapy combination ensures they both look and feel their best.

The bride will receive an Atlantic Body Exfoliation, a European Seaweed Body Therapy, an Indian Head Massage and a Sea Spa Manicure and Pedicure. The Groom will receive an Atlantic Body Exfoliation, an Aromatherapy Body Massage, an Indian Head Massage and conditioning therapies for his hands and feet.

The therapies begin with the Atlantic Body Exfoliation. This is a full body exfoliation using either Sea Spa Glow (which is rich in “Dead Sea salts infused with mint essential oils and seaweed) or Pomegranate Cran-Apple all over body scrub (combining pomegranate, cranberry and apple with pure cane sugar). The exfoliation will leave the couple feeling energised and refreshed with silky smooth skin.

The bride will then enjoy a European Seaweed Body Therapy. Here fresh seaweed is warmed to body temperature and smoothed over the body. A warm thermal blanket is then wrapped around the body to help relieve stress and to invigorate sore, stiff muscles. This is followed by the Indian Head Massage and the Sea Spa Manicure and Pedicure.

At the same time the groom will enjoy a full Aromatherapy Body Massage with a customised blend of essential oils to suit his physical and emotional needs. This is followed by the Indian Head Massage and hand and feet therapies.

Enjoy A Pre-Wedding Pamper at Downe Health Spa in DevonThe Bride & Groom Day can be combined with a short break in Downe Cottages which adjoin the spa.

Birder Breaks At Titchwell Manor Hotel, North Norfolk

Dinner, B&B from £175 for Two Just over ten minutes walk from RSPB Titchwell Marsh on North Norfolk’s unspoilt coast, Titchwell Manor Hotel, near Brancaster is offering two-night bird-watching breaks until Christmas at the special price of £175per room per night dinner, B&B for two sharing. The price includes a packed lunch, maps and RSPB information on the best places for birding so guests can spend a day out in the nature reserve. Thousands of brent geese arrive at Titchwell Marsh during November along with wading birds escaping the Siberian and Arctic winters – their massive flocks are a wonderful sight as they swirl like huge clouds across the coast and out to sea. Vast numbers of redwings, fieldfares and finches also migrate to the UK from Scandinavia making their first landfall in Norfolk. The numbers increase during December when visitors can also be treated to spectacular sunsets across the frosty reedbeds. Guided walks are available on selected days.

New Orleans Musicians’ Village Project & Party At Mardi Gras

Give something back after the excesses of the festive season with a volunteer holiday (28th Jan – 6th Feb 2008, trip must be booked by 27th November) that lets you experience one of America’s most vibrant and colourful cities, as well help out on a volunteer project building homes for musicians who lost theirs during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Upmarket volun-tourism tour operator, Hands Up Holidays (tel: 0800 783 3554 www.handsupholidays.com) is offering visitors a special opportunity to combine the excitement of the world renowned Mardi Gras with the chance to work on the “Musicians’ Village” project developed by Habitat for Humanity for the musicians displaced by the hurricanes. This 9-day trip costs £1,220 per person.

New Orleans’ culture depends on the local musicians; they are the lifeblood of this great city and the major draw for thousands of visitors each year who come to soak up the city’s culture and history. As many can not afford to return to the city, the “musician’s project” has been established to build up to 70 affordable homes to give them a place to return to.

Taking place from 28th January until 6th February 2008, this nine-day holiday blends incredible sightseeing with a meaningful and highly rewarding volunteering experience. Highlights include a walking tour of the historic French quarter, plantation and swamp tours; a scenic flight over the city and wetlands, and a steamboat dinner cruise on the Mississippi.

The icing on the cake though is the once in a lifetime opportunity to go to the exclusive Mardi Gras black tie ball that takes place on 5th February. This centuries old tradition began in Paris in 1699, but it is the New Orleans’s Mardi Gras that is top of most travellers list of things to do.

This volunteer holiday costs £1,220 per person and includes bed and breakfast accommodation at the historic Hotel Monteleone in the heart of the French Quarter, transfers, river cruise dinner and plantation lunch, plus the days on the volunteer project. International flights to New Orleans are NOT included in the price. Holiday must be booked by 27 November 2007.

HANDS UP HOLIDAYS, the operator who believes that travel can make a positive difference, offers a selection of 150 trips to 32 destinations blending travel with meaningful volunteering experiences.

ALL CARBON EMMISSIONS FROM FLIGHTS ARE OFFSET - Hands Up Holidays, partnered with Climate Stewards, pays to have trees planted or for other energy efficient solutions to be provided to guests.

PUTTING PROFITS BACK – Hands Up Holidays gives at least 10% of its profits back to its project partners for further community development.

PARTNERS include Rotary International and the Tear Fund. Hands Up Holidays is also a founding member of the Ethical Tour Operators Group and an affiliate member of Green Globe.

Photograph Zambia In Style

29 March 2008 – 7 nights
5 April 2008 – 7 nights
£1750.00 per person sharing fully inclusive(minimum 4 persons per week)

Luangwa River Lodge and acclaimed wildlife photographer, film maker and author Robin Taylor have joined forces to offer an all inclusive small-group Photographic Safari Workshop in the stunning game rich Luangwa Valley in Zambia.

Guests will enjoy the picturesque wild of the Luangwa River Valley firsthand. Where can you watch and take near professional pictures of antelope bounding gracefully across grasslands and zebra grazing nearby. The variety of terrain, coupled with the beauty of the gently flowing river and exotic animals, is a stunning scene, which can be captured forever on this Safari Workshop.

Designed for photographers of all levels, the Workshop will be practical and hands-on, with a great deal of time spent in the bush and provide a wealth of striking and memorable imagery. The Workshop will combine a rich learning environment for photographers interested in mastering the techniques of wildlife photography within the luxurious safari settings of Zambia.

This is a very personalised safari at the intimate and exclusive Luangwa River Lodge in Zambia. The Group (maximum number of will have exclusive use of the Lodge for the duration of Workshop, thus ensuring personal and individual attention and allowing Robin the time to work with each participant on a one-to-one basis.

With over 9000sq km of protected wildlife, the South Luangwa Valley is thought of as one of the most amazing wildlife sanctuaries in the world. There are over 400 species of birds, and a breathtaking variety of striking wildlife, which will transport you to an area of stunning beauty.

The emphasis of these safaris is on working together, learning how to get great wildlife pictures and having a relaxed ‘bush’ experience.

At all times, the group will be accompanied by expert local guides with specialist knowledge of the area and wildlife. The Luangwa River Valley is full of riverine forests, grasslands and woodlands, which you can personally explore. Create your own master photos, with little talent required – nature does the work, you take the photographs. The environment is so striking that no alterations are necessary on photos. Snap a picture of giraffes, with their long, elegant necks in the African wild, enormous elephants, growing mangos and figs, or beautiful flowering plants.

After a long day in the bush, guests can indulge in a massage or a peaceful dinner. Relax at the bar or reading area, and join in a lively conversation with the rest of the group. Or if they prefer peace and tranquillity, they can relax on the deck and take in the amazing view of the river. The view at sunset will take their breath away, with a colourful night time canvas of the sky.

At £1750.00 per person, this uniquely personalised workshop offers Zambia and it’s wildlife at its most sophisticated. The price represents fantastic value and includes internal flights, first class hotel accommodation (7 nights) with breakfast and all meals, workshop and transfers throughout the holiday.

To book this amazing holiday, call +44(0)7802882986 or email luangwariverlodge@gmail.com

Luangwa River Lodge

Luangwa River Lodge is an exquisite ten-bedded Lodge, which hosts a maximum of five couples at any one time. The Lodge is situated opposite the Luangwa Wafwa in the Upper Lupande GMA. Open year round, the Lodge is serviced by Mfuwe International Airport and transfer time is approximately one hour.

The Lodge only accommodates children from aged 12 and by prior arrangement.

http://www.luangwariverlodge.com/

Roger Taylor

Acclaimed wildlife photographer, film maker and author, Robin has travelled and worked extensively in Southern and East Africa.

His TV and DVD series, African Odyssey – A Photographer’s Journey, screened on Animal Planet and his stunning photographic book of the same title were the perfect vehicles for him to explore and capture the many moods of this under-exposed continent.

Robin’s expert local and photographic knowledge will help attendees make the most of the opportunities and return better photographers with a full appreciation of African wildlife.

For more information about Luangwa River Lodge please visit http://www.luangwariverlodge.net/ or contact luangwariverlodge@gmail.com or call +44 (0)7802 882986

Fun Family Suite At The Warwick Regis Hotel In San Francisco

Fun Family Suite at the Warwick Regis Hotel in San Francisco

El Gouna Adventures on the Red Sea

““Diving holidays with Neilson”” *NB. Commissioned trips to try out the different activities are available – please get in touch*

Due to the range of exciting activities to enjoy in the Red Sea’s premier leisure destination resort, El Gouna is challenging guests to live life to the full by trying something new while on holiday.

Breaking from normal routines could uncover hidden talents and secret callings, so El Gouna challenges its guests to take part in its newly launched A-Z of activities and experiences challenge. Families, honeymooners, couples – there is something for everyone.

A – Angsana Spa

El Gouna is home to the Red Sea’s first and only Angsana Spas. Operated by the renowned Banyan Tree Group, indulge in a range of exotic treatments, facials and massages, typically costing around £38 for a 90-minute session. Signature treatments include the specially created Angsana and Fusion massages, designed to relax and invigorate the body so that even the unconvinced can’t fail to be converted.

B – Beaches

Located 22km north of Hurghada, El Gouna stretches along 10km of beautiful Red Sea coastline, providing plenty of private beaches for visitors to enjoy. With so much space, the beaches are never overcrowded, so just sit back, relax and enjoy El Gouna’s guaranteed year round sunshine.

C – Camel Rides

Get into the spirit of Egypt and test your skills at riding a camel. Take the challenge to see if it really is as easy as it looks…

D – Dine Around

El Gouna is home to a special dine around programme, which enables guests staying on a half or full board basis to eat outside their hotel up to three times during a seven night stay. Credits can be transferred to an equivalent hotel or used against eating at other establishments throughout the resort. With every cuisine imaginable available to try; branch out to taste something new. E – Environmentally Friendly

The environment is high on the agenda for everyone at El Gouna and this led to residents forming ‘Green Gouna’, a grassroots campaign founded in 2002 to turn El Gouna into an ecotourism destination. As a visiting guest, mix with the locals to help out on one of their regularly organised clean-up days.

F – Families

El Gouna is a heaven for families and younger guests are even christened ‘little gounies’. Most of the hotels offer kids’ club activities and babysitting services, while activities such as diving and water-skiing all also offer specially adapted programmes for younger guests. The resort’s aquarium is also an ever popular family attraction.

G – Golf

An 18-hole Fred Couples & Gene Bates designed championship golf course is at the heart of El Gouna’s golf offering. The academy offers expert golf tuition and equipment hire, while the driving range invites guests to aim for the greens located on platforms in the lagoons. Fearful of too many balls going astray, special floating golf balls are used so that they can be collected and reused for second attempts…

H – Hotels

A resort destination, El Gouna offers a range of accommodation options to suit all guests, budgets and tastes. The range extends from 5* family beachfront accommodation, to 3* boutique divers’ retreats surrounding the marina. In addition, there are also self-catering apartments and villas which are available for renting.

I – International Community

El Gouna prides itself on being a cohesive international community, not dominated by any one nationality. The resort is home to many permanent residents, including local Egyptians, British and German homeowners, while the tourism market attracts guests from all over Europe and the world. Join in with the resort’s local events and activities and enjoy making friends with couples and families from all over the world.

J – Jewellery

Jewellery is one of the many handicrafts available within the shops and art village located in El Gouna. Enjoy testing your bartering skills and see just how many bargains can be squeezed into a suitcase for the way home.

K – Kitesurfing

El Gouna is a popular destination for kitesurfers, particularly as it is now home to the world’s largest centre. The shallow sandbar kitesurfing area is perfect for both experienced and beginners as it enjoys a constant wind parallel to the shoreline to guarantee plenty of practice days at any time of year. Kitesurfing champions also use the facilities to train and even attempt world records, endorsing the excellent experience that is just waiting to be tried out.

L – Lagoons

The resort of El Gouna is built on a myriad of islands surrounded by an intricate lagoon system, which inspires its name. Try a new mode of resort transport and enjoy extra recreational opportunities such as boat trips, pedalo and canoes.

M – Marinas

El Gouna currently has two marinas, with a third under construction. A designated International Point of Entry, the main Abu Tig Marina hosts up to 126 yachts and pleasure craft and also provides the starting point for excursions to neighbouring islands. The Abu Tig Marina also forms a social hub and focal point for the resort, hosting events such as the open-air Friday night marina party and boasting many of the resort’s popular restaurants and bars.

N – Nightlife

El Gouna’s nightlife is varied and suited to a variety of tastes. It is home to a casino and disco, as well as a host of bars and restaurants that stay open till late.

O – Oasis Night

Oasis night happens every Wednesday at the resort’s oasis at the foot of the Eastern Desert Mountain range. The evening offers oriental food and is catered for each week by one of the hotels. Enjoy camel rides, a display of belly dancing, whirling dervishes or enjoy a traditional shisha pipe with friends.

P – Protours

Protours is the El Gouna travel agency which organises a host of trips and excursions for guests to enjoy. Trips to cultural Cairo and Luxor are always popular, as are island, boat trips and off-road desert excursions.

Q – Quad Biking

Quad biking through the canyon behind El Gouna is one of the most popular land based activities in the resort. Ride solo or with a partner and race to the top of the canyon to enjoy a breathtaking sunset in silence across the spectacular desert plain.

R – Real Estate

El Gouna’s well-loved community feel results from the permanent residents who live there. Make the holiday dream last a lifetime and purchase one of the great value villas and apartments. Several styles exist to choose between and the resort will even help foreign owners rent them out in their absence.

S – Saturday Night Live

Enjoy live family entertainment at the heart of El Gouna’s old downtown area every Saturday night. Oriental shows are also held every Thursday in El Gouna downtown’s main Tamr Henna square, so enjoy a shisha pipe in one of the surrounding bars and cafés.

T – Tok Tok

The size of central London (yet with a more relaxed outlook on life), El Gouna has its own cheap and efficient transport infrastructure which easily rivals that of its London counterpart. Tok toks are one of the more novel ways to travel around as for just 50p per person guests are transported anywhere in the resort via covered motor tricycle! For the less adventurous a shuttle bus service also operates, costing just £1.50 for a week’s unlimited pass.

U – Underwater World

Located along a protected area of the Red Sea, El Gouna has nine diving schools to help guests discover its underwater beauty. Boats travel out every day to introduce guests to a whole new perspective and courses are available for beginners, experienced, disabled and even budding young divers.

V – Volleyball

Reminiscent of a scene from Top Gun, enjoy taking part in a game of volleyball on one of El Gouna’s beautiful beaches. Organise your own with friends or join in one of the regularly organised events as a way of meeting new people.

W – Watersports

El Gouna’s location on the Red Sea coast lends it to offering a host of water-sports activities. Learn to kite-surf, windsurf, wakeboard and sail or enjoy catamaran excursions, banana boat rides, fun tubes and more.

X – X-rays

While not the most recommended of El Gouna’s activities, visiting guests can rest assured that El Gouna is home to its own hospital, including the area’s only decompression chamber, for any emergency needs. Alternatively it can potentially help patients such as those on dialysis to escape the UK by continuing their treatment during their holiday.

Y – Yalla Horse Stables

Fun for children and adults alike, uncover any hidden horseriding skills with expert tuition at El Gouna’s Yalla Horse Stables. Ride along the beach or take the easy option and enjoy a horse drawn carriage ride instead!

Z – Zeytuna Beach

Located on its own island, Zeytouna beach offers a lively option for beachgoers looking for a change of scenery. Enjoy a game of international football, take part in al fresco dancing lessons or do a spot of snorkelling from the jetty leading to a coral plateau

For further information on El Gouna and its many activities, please log on to http://www.elgouna.com/

El Gouna is built on 10kms of beachfront and boasts award-winning architecture. Spread across a myriad of islands interlinked by beautiful lagoons, the destination offers a wide range of accommodation facilities, from comfortable guest houses to luxurious beachfront resorts. Only a short flight away from Europe’s capitals, El Gouna is easily accessible due to its location just 22 km away from Hurghada International Airport. Once there, a wide variety of activities are available to guests, including an 18-hole USPGA golf course, some of the world’s best diving, snorkelling, fishing, horse riding, go-carting, professional kite surfing, tennis and squash, to name a few. In addition, the resort is home to a variety of restaurants, bars, pubs, discotheques, shopping arcades, bazaars and an art village. El Gouna welcomes families, couples and groups alike and is home to many secluded white sandy beaches, some deserted and others with bars and live music.

 

El Gouna for The Red Sea Luxury

Nestled between sienna mountains and the azure waters of the Red Sea, El Gouna, the Red Sea’s Premier Leisure Destination, offers an idyllic retreat for honeymooners. Offering year round average temperatures of around 27˚C, the resort offers guaranteed sunshine as well as a host of activities to ensure honeymooners can enjoy as quiet or active a stay as they prefer.

For those wanting a honeymoon with a difference, many couples enjoy taking the opportunity to learn a new activity together. With this in mind, El Gouna offers a variety of different pursuits which lend themselves perfectly to this. Examples include: learning dive at one of the resort’s many dive centres, in order to fully appreciate the under-water beauty offered by the Red Sea; learning to kite-surf at the World’s largest kite-surfing centre; or learning to water-ski at Egypt’s only professional water-skiing centre; also located at the resort.

For visitors wanting action on dry land rather than water, El Gouna offers fantastic quad biking or camel safaris into the desert. Travelling into the canyons behind the resort, the scenery offers breathtaking views over the desert plain and absolute silence. Special late afternoon excursions are also available so couples can the view the spectacular sunset together before travelling back to the resort by headlight.