Jetsettersblog

Experience a bird’s eye view of the Surfers Paradise high rises and hinterland mountains and rainforests, with a new sunrise hot air ballooning tour.

Established operator Hot Air has recently commenced flights on the Gold Coast, floating over the Gold Coast Hinterland daily with passengers enjoying spectacular views of the Scenic Rim. Flights are followed by a champagne breakfast on the verandah of an historic Queenslander overlooking the vineyards at O’Reilly’s Grand Homestead and Vineyard. Passengers can choose from a 30 minute or one hour flight. Until March 31, as a bonus offer, receive a bottle of French sparkling wine and memento boxed champagne flutes.

www.hotair.com.au/goldcoast

Qantas announced today it would open a new customer service Centre of Excellence in Sydney in October 2008 that would provide an enhanced training program for over 18,000 staff from across the Qantas Group.

Qantas Group General Manager Customer Product and Services, Ms Lesley Grant, said the facility would build on the airline’s already substantial investment in staff training.

“Qantas has set a new industry benchmark with the launch of its state-of-the-art A380 interiors, First Lounges and other domestic and international product upgrades, and we remain committed to continuing to refine our service style in keeping with that investment,” Ms Grant said.

“The establishment of this dedicated centre will enable us to bring together the current elements of our training with additional modules developed with our new fleet and ground product in mind.

“We will be able to train greater numbers of frontline staff from across the Group more regularly, including telesales, cabin crew, and airport staff, to ensure our style is consistent through every stage of the customer’s journey.

“In addition to latest classroom facilities, this purpose built centre will feature zones dedicated to our First, Business, Premium Economy and Economy offerings.” Ms Grant said Qantas recently announced it would employ around 2,000 new cabin crew by 2010 to fly the airline’s international fleet of A380, B747 and A330 aircraft.

“These new flight attendants will undertake training in this new environment, as will over 18,000 managers and staff from across the Qantas Group over the next two years.”

Set on 80 abundant acres, Emerald Valley Villa is a new and unique, eco-friendly development providing premium 5 star luxury accommodation like no other.

Creator of Emerald Valley Villa, Michael J Robison says, “Emerald Valley Villa is an exemplary model of sustainable living without compromising luxury or technology. All the building structures and grounds have been designed for minimum impact on the surrounding environment; the Villa is climate neutral and runs on 100% green power. Emerald Valley Villa was developed as a landmark demonstration of how design, technology and ecology can combine to create luxurious living without causing harm to the earth.” Amidst the relaxing atmosphere and scenic views, Emerald Valley Villa offers the ultimate in worldclass standards within a completely private and secure environment for up to 8 people.

Architectural and design elements gracing the property pay homage to Bali’s unique arts and traditions whilst embracing modern design aesthetics.

Recycled hardwoods, imported stone and marble is featured throughout the villa, right down to the hand-cut stone framing the garden flower-beds.

In addition, this private estate boasts a master suite and three expansive bedrooms all with adjacent marble bathrooms opening onto private, tropical gardens. Guests can enjoy swimming in the pure oxygenated spring water pool, complete with carved Balinese fountains and pool-side lounges, or relaxing under the stars at night in our open air Jacuzzi.

Two 200 year old teak Rice Barns – one overlooking the fabulous pool, the other overlooking the valley where you can enjoy the private lake below – provide reclusive or romantic comfort day or night.

An onsite concierge service is available to all guests offering luxurious spa therapies including a private marble steam room, gourmet catering from the villas state of the art kitchen and daily housekeeping services.

In addition, all modern technologies are onsite including broadband internet, satellite television and telephone facilities. Transport options for guests include a current model Range Rover for rental, or perhaps you’d prefer to stay on the grounds using the fun 4 x 4 Polaris-Ranger for easy access to all areas of the property.

Emerald Valley Villa even boasts its own private waterfall and lake complete with a custom made River Pavilion where you can spend a day in secluded paradise with an abundance of rare wildlife which will simply amaze you including our very own resident platypus’.

The extraordinary landscaping has been terraced into four levels, all carefully planted with fragrant flora including gardenias, jasmine and champaka amongst many other graceful flowers and blossoming trees.

Emerald Valley Villa is a private estate and a landmark demonstration of how design, technology and ecology can combine to create luxurious living without causing harm to the Earth. This is the ultimate retreat.

Let Emerald Valley Villa take you on a mystical journey like no other..

For bookings please contact the Concierge at Emerald Valley Villa telephone: + 61 2 66 849 398 email: concierge@emeraldvalleyvilla.com www.emeraldvalleyvilla.com

The world’s first solar-powered electric bus carried its first commuters on the Adelaide City Council’s free Adelaide Connector Bus service this week. Named Tindo – the Kaurna Aboriginal word for ‘sun’ – has raised the standard in International sustainability. The bus is the first in the world to be recharged using 100% solar energy generated by a unique solar photovoltaic system installed on the roof of the new Adelaide Central Bus Station.

The solar electric bus has now been added to the Adelaide City Council’s fleet of buses that operate the free Connector Bus service, transporting passengers throughout the City and North Adelaide.

Jane Wilson, NZ Regional Manager for South Australian Tourism Commission says it’s a landmark day for public transport.

“Manufactured by New Zealand company Designline International, the bus doesn’t have a combustion engine, which makes it a very quiet, zero emissions vehicle” she says.

“Tindo begins a new era for environmentally sustainable public transport. It’s an exciting day for the Council and the City,” she says.

“It’s also a further endorsement of the Adelaide City Council’s long-standing commitment to creating an environmentally sustainable City for future generations – a commitment that has also resulted in the construction of Australia’s highest level of 5 Star Green Star rated office space in our City.”

The Tindo solar electric bus has an operational range of 200 kilometres between charges under typical urban operational conditions.

Tindo is air conditioned, and has a capacity of 42 passengers with 25 seated, 15 standing and two wheelchair spaces. The bus carries 11 Swiss-made Zebra sodium/nickel batteries which give it unprecedented energy storage and operational range.

The solar PV system on the roof of the new bus station uses solar panels supplied by BP Solar, generating almost 70,000 kilowatt hours of zero carbon emissions electricity each year. Much of the $550,000 funding for the solar PV system was provided by the Adelaide Solar City program, with the Council also committing significant funding.

Suria Cherating Beach Resort, an affordable beach resort in Cherating, Pahang, Malaysia, offers facilities and activities for Malaysian beach lovers who are tired of the usual beach stuff.

MALAYSIA, – Located along the golden sand and crystal clear waters of the popular Cherating Beach in Malaysia, Suria Cherating Beach Resort is more than just offering the usual resort facilities to guests. Apart from having facilities like a restaurant, swimming pool, gym, business center and such, the resort also provides unique beach activities for groups and the whole family. These include team building, paintball, batik painting, dragnet fishing, and kite flying.

Suria Cherating Beach Resort caters to leisure and business travelers including vacationing families. It has spacious and comfortable rooms with views of either the resort garden or the sea.

Cherating Beach is one of the top beach destinations in Malaysia. It is locally known as a surfer’s haven because its blue waters offer the perfect waves during the monsoon season. It is also the ideal place to enjoy water sports like kayaking and windsurfing.

For online reservations in Suria Cherating Beach Resort, visit: http://www.suriaresorts.com/suria-cherating

About Suria Cherating Beach Resort

Suria Cherating Beach Resort is located in the popular beach of Cherating in Pahang, Malaysia and provides inexpensive accommodations for holidaymakers as well as corporate guests. The resort has 114 spacious rooms furnished with the necessary amenities for the guests’ utmost comfort.

Best Western Suria Cherating Resort
Km32.5, Jalan Kuantan/Kemaman
26080 Cherating
Kuantan, Pahang
Malaysia

Telephone No.: 609 -581 9898
Fax No.: 609 -581 9797
Email: sales@suriaresorts.com or reservation@suriaresorts.com

These are just a few examples of things that you should pay attention to when planning any long-haul trip and, together with other specific measures taken both during your flight and following your arrival, will considerably reduce the effects of jet lag, or even lead to no jet lag at all!

Ask any regular long-haul flyer about their experience of flying and you will soon discover that everyone has a different “magic” formula for overcoming or avoiding jet lag.

In reality of course no magic formula exists – and there is certainly no magic pill or tablet. There is, however, a great deal that you can do in preparation for your departure to help you overcome or eliminate jet lag and here are just a few tips:

1. Maintain a consistent sleep pattern.

If you are not following a consistent routine in the days and weeks before your journey (going to bed and getting up at the same time each day) your body’s internal clock will be disrupted even before you start your journey and your flight will simply magnify the effects of insomnia induced by jet lag.

2. Ensure you are getting a balanced and healthy diet.

Diet plays an important role in ensuring that you get a good night’s sleep and an appropriate balance of whole grains, proteins, fruits and vegetables in your diet is essential.

Alcohol and caffeine are two elements of your diet that are particularly important in relation to jet lag and these should be reduced, or eliminated, in the run-up to your journey if at all possible. If, however, asking you to give up your twelve cups of coffee each day is rather like asking you to cut off your right hand, then try to limit your intact to the afternoon between about 3 pm and 5 pm.

Caffeine when taken late in the day tends to speed up your body clock, while taking it in the morning has the opposite effect. Taken during the middle of the day, caffeine has little or no effect on your body’s circadian rhythms.

3. Take regular exercise.

Regular exercise can significantly improve the consistency, quality and duration of your normal sleep cycle. Some form of daily aerobic exercise, lasting at least twenty minutes, will go a long way to preparing your body for your forthcoming journey.

4. Start to slowly adjust your bedtime.

You should begin to “manage” your body clock by gradually and slowly adjusting your bedtime and wake up time in the days before your journey, to bring these into line with the local time at your destination.

If, for example, you normally go to bed at 10 pm and you are flying to a country that is four hours ahead, at your normal bedtime the time at your destination will be 2 am. So, in this case, you need to slowly bring your bedtime forward a little bit (say fifteen minutes) each night for a week or ten days before your departure. This might mean that immediately prior to leaving you are going to bed at say 7.30 pm. However, when you arrive at your destination this will mean that you are now going to bed at 11.30 pm and that you have narrowed the four hour time difference to just one and a half hours.

5. Reduce stress in the days before traveling.

One often overlooked factor in the jet lag equation is that of stress and much of this stress is a direct result of the journey itself. How many times have you found yourself running around at the last minute trying to do 1001 things at once? Plan ahead and make sure that, as far as is possible, everything that you need to do both at home and at works is completed well in advance of your journey. In planning for your journey, clear as much as you can as early as you can and make specific time available in your pre-journey planning for plenty of relaxation in the days immediately prior to your departure.

These are just a few examples of things that you should pay attention to when planning any long-haul trip and, together with other specific measures taken both during your flight and following your arrival, will considerably reduce the effects of jet lag, or even lead to no jet lag at all!

http://www.tours-guide.com/

Kayumanis Nanjing is a stylish property that offers sophisticated travellers a luxury base to discover the cultural roots and mesmerizing beauty of eastern China. Nanjing is a vibrant city steeped in old world charm that has managed to maintain its amazing historical legacy.

The ‘Intimate Retreat’ package offered by Kayumanis Nanjing invites couples to experience three nights in a private pool villa set within a landscape of mountains and natural hot springs. This exclusive package includes return airport / train station transfers and a gracious Kayumanis welcome on arrival with refreshments and chilled towels. A 30 minute back & shoulder massage is also delivered to eliminate all traces of travel tension.

Throughout the duration of this three night stay, guests will be entitled to some special privileges that have become a signature of the Kayumanis brand of personalized hospitality. This includes 24 hour Butler service, daily breakfast at NINE Restaurant or in the comfortable confines of the villa, daily afternoon tea and fresh fruit arrangement, complimentary mini bar re-stocked on a daily basis and unlimited Wi-Fi internet access. In addition, guests will benefit from the convenience of a limousine service within the Tangshan area and a shuttle service onrequest into Nanjing City.

Encouraging guests to embrace the spirit of romance, the package is also highlighted by a candlelight dinner served with a chilled bottle of wine in the villa amidst a décor of red lanterns to enhance the mood. Couple will be treated to a 2 hour relaxing spa ritual that nurtures the body, mind and spirit. Adding a touch of culture to the experience is a full day excursion that takes in a choice of fascinating destinations. The alternatives are a visit to the Sun Yatsen Masoleum and the Ming Tomb or 99½ House and the Chaotian Palace. Each is a treasure trove that delves into China’s historic past.

Package only at USD 1490 net, for further details please contact phone + 86 25 84107777 or email nanjing@kayumanis.com or visit http://www.kayumanis.com/

2008 is a landmark year for The Leading Hotels of The World. In addition to celebrating their 80th anniversary, the Australian team has moved into a new home in York Street Sydney, LHW House (Leading Hotels of the World House).

LHW House, situated at 18-20 York St is a heritage listed property of considerable aesthetic and historic significance. Built in 1878, it sports a detailed stone façade with unusual cast iron central columns. Formerly known as the John Soloman Building, it is a fine example of a late Victorian warehouse with early 20th Century adaptations and is situated within an important historical streetscape (the so-called York Street Wall) between King and Barrack Streets, which retains many other fine 19th and early 20th century buildings.

LHW House is indeed an appropriate home for The Leading Hotels of the World, who for eight decades, have set the international gold standard, offering discerning travellers exceptional levels of comfort, service and style.

Formed in 1928 by an entrepreneurial group of forward-thinking Europeans, The Leading Hotels of the World was initially known as The Luxury Hotels of Europe and Egypt, representing 38 hotels with approximately 9,000 rooms and suites.

Today, with nearly 450 members in 80 countries, The Leading Hotels of the World is the largest collection of the finest hotels, resorts and spas in the world. Each hotel has a unique and distinct character, and provides an authentic travel experience, while adhering to exacting levels of quality. This unparalleled portfolio offers guests an unrivalled breadth and depth of choice for both business and pleasure travel.

Recognizing the need of today’s luxury traveller for more personalized service delivery, the company established the Leaders Club guest loyalty program which offers enriching, exclusive benefits at Leading Hotels when club members reserve through The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd.

Select, the marque of excellence in unique accommodation and travel experiences throughout Australia, New Zealand, Asia and beyond, is proud to announce its new Member properties for 2008 with a distinct shift toward more diverse luxury accommodation markets.

This year sees the Select brand develop further into the Asian market with properties in Thailand and add its first Member in the UAE. Select gained additional properties across three Australian states and further expansion in New Zealand. Several of the exciting and exceptional properties joining Select in 2008 are brand new and expected to open later this year. All new Members are described briefly below and can now be viewed on the extensive website http://www.selecthotels.com/

Ralph Kelly, Select’s Managing Director, says, “I am delighted that Select has continued to be so eagerly embraced by properties around the region, particularly in Asia and now the UAE. My team and I are extremely excited to be able to promote such a diverse and superlative group of unique travel experiences to the world in 2008”.

New Properties in Australia:

Meadowlake Lodge, Milton, NSW:
www.selecthotels.com/meadowlake

With only 3 luxuriously appointed guest rooms, Meadowlake is a haven for a lucky few. This award-winning 5 star lodge is located in the fertile rural area of Milton and is set amongst beautifully landscaped gardens on New South Wales’ beautiful south coast. The three spacious, light-filled guest rooms are in a private wing and the level of appointment is superb, with comfort a priority.

All guest rooms look out onto the impressive garden, are individually styled and offer superior accommodation in a country manor. Each has a generous sized en-suite, which is flooded with natural light and have both a shower and separate bath. The calm and beautiful interior with its luxurious furnishings blends stylish sophistication with quiet country. The dramatic collection of artwork throughout the house is exceptional and is generously shared with the guests.

The sitting room has an open fire for cool winter evenings and the dining table seats 8 with comfort. Meadowlake Lodge has been built with an exquisite eye for detail making it the ideal rural retreat from the noise and bustle of city life. The Lodge is only 10 minutes from Mollymook Beach and is close to the walking trails of Morton National Park.

LOCATION: 3 hours drive south of Sydney and 2.5 hours east of Canberra on the NSW south coast.

Kangaroo Island Wilderness Resort:
www.selecthotels.com/wilderness

Kangaroo Island Wilderness Retreat is perfectly located in the south western corner of Kangaroo Island, adjacent to Flinders Chase National Park discreetly nestled amongst 113 acres of pristine natural bushland and in close proximity to the major attractions on the island.

The heart of the retreat is the courtyard where friendly wallabies, possums and birdlife frolic in the tranquil bushland garden. A unique mix of eco-friendly features, the retreat offers exclusive guest facilities, a range of accommodation from courtyard and spa suites to lodge apartments sleeping 5 people, a superb licensed restaurant, friendly wildlife and tranquil wilderness setting which combine to provide an unforgettable Kangaroo Island experience.

LOCATION: Kangaroo Island off the South Australian Coast.

Select Burnham Beeches, Dandenong Ranges (opening late 2008) www.selecthotels.com/burnhambeechesSelect Burnham Beeches, Dandenong Ranges, is a superb example of Art Deco’s Streamline Moderne style architecture and a unique reminder of that romantic and flamboyant era. Burnham Beeches was formerly operated as a boutique hotel from 1988-92 by the luxury Aman Resorts Group and, once restored to its former glory, will be operated by Select and feature 50 guest rooms and suites: some with balconies and all providing stunning views over the extensive gardens. Conference facilities for up to 100 will be developed to the highest standard and a spa and wellness centre are also planned. The hotel is situated in 56 acres of grounds adjoining the Alfred Nicholas Gardens and adjacent to the Dandenong Ranges National Park.

LOCATION: Sherbrooke Road; just 45 minutes from Melbourne’s CBD New Properties in New Zealand: Kourawhero Country Lodge, North Auckland
www.selecthotels.com/kourawhero Located just one hour drive north of Auckland CBD, nestled in a private, bush clad estate, Kourawhero Country Lodge is peaceful and luxurious, offering wonderful New Zealand hospitality. The architecturally stunning lodge sits at the top of a valley overlooking picturesque farmland with expansive views of Kawau Island, Little Barrier Island and the other islands of the Hauraki Gulf.

The Lodge provides the perfect first stop on the way north and is an ideal gateway to the neighbouring Matakana Coast Wine Region and numerous other local attractions. With only eighteen suites Kourawhero Country Lodge offers an intimate experience for those in search of peace and relaxation, but also has the flexibility to provide a private retreat for corporate meetings. During your stay you will experience relaxed and personal service from Kourawhero’s owners – the Mann Family, who will ensure that you receive the finest food and wine, all in a sophisticated, peaceful atmosphere.

LOCATION: 1 hour’s drive north of Auckland on New Zealand’s North Island.

Select Braemar Lodge and Spa, Hanmer Springs (opening May 2008) www.selecthotels.com/braemar Select Braemar Lodge and Spa is unique in this beautiful region of the South Island. As the only luxury lodge of its kind in what is known as the Alpine Pacific Triangle, this brand new property is in the boutique luxury class, offering unparalleled levels of service, comfort and style. The Lodge is just 9 kilometres from Hanmer Springs, a charming alpine village that is famous for its fresh clean air and thermal springs. The design is contemporary, with the building materials predominantly solid granite and cedar weatherboard. The main lodge comprises the reception, lounge, bar and dining areas, while 24 large guest suites branch off the main building. Panoramic views across the Hanmer Basin to the surrounding mountains ensure a truly alpine experience is guaranteed, with the added opportunity to experience the magical thermal waters of Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools & Spa. Continuing the theme of relaxation and therapies, Select Braemar Lodge has its own Asian-inspired spa, with a gymnasium, plunge pool and treatment rooms, all overlooking the tranquil hills.

LOCATION: 10 minutes from Hanmer Springs Village or 90 minutes from Christchurch on New Zealand’s South Island.

New Properties in the Pacific:

Fiji Orchid, Nadi, Fiji (opening April 2008)
www.selecthotels.com/fijiorchid

A respite from the rigours of travel, the Fiji Orchid is a luxurious base from which to break your journey before or after an international flight. This is a sojourn for a discrete market — people for whom the art of travel is to pause at each step of a journey and savour the experience rather than feel rushed to catch their next plane.

This was once the treasured property of Raymond Burr, the Hollywood star of “Perry Mason” and “Ironside”. The two existing houses have been transformed into a gourmet restaurant and eight inspirational bures with a very modern flavour are dotted around the location of Burr’s orchid garden.

Each air-conditioned bure has a king-size bed, timber-trimmed bathroom, separate toilet, mini-bar and TV/DVD unit. In the main house, there are two day rooms with ensuites for short stays. Between flights, travellers can cool off in the natural landscaped pool or be pampered in the massage bure, which offers Fijian inspired treatments. Five-star appointments together with attentive staff offer a very personal experience. Stay at either end of your island escape and discover Fiji as it should be – an indulgent journey to wander through at a leisurely pace.

LOCATION: 15-minute drive from Nadi International Airport.

New Properties in Asia:

Wanakarn Beach Resort, Phuket, Thailand (Opening March 2009) www.selecthotels.com/wanakarn

Wanakarn Beach Resort & Spa, set in an unique and tranquil environment, offers the discerning traveller complete relaxation and escape from the outside world while being pampered in true Thai style. Wanakarn has all the right ingredients for a truly luxurious escape: it offers generously sized and well- appointed villas, exquisite dining options and an abundance of sports and leisure activities. Guests have the choice of relaxing by their own private pool, or at the large infinity pool, on the river beach, or on the soft and crystal white ocean beach kissed by the gentle waves of the Andaman Sea.

LOCATION: Thaimuang, Phang nga, 40 minutes drive from Phuket International Airport.

New Properties in the Middle East:

Emirates Al Maha Desert Resort and Spa:
www.selecthotels.com/almaha

Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa is set in 225 square kilometres of pristine desert landscape just 45 minutes from the cosmopolitan city of Dubai, the thriving centre of commerce and leisure in the Gulf. It represents nearly five per cent of Dubai’s land area and is the largest piece of land ever dedicated to a single project in Dubai.

An oasis of luxury and enchantment, Al Maha lies within an award-winning conservation area where desert wildlife abounds. It’s also the only resort within the area where visitors can experience the true beauty and majesty of the desert and observe the indigenous wildlife.The Resort offers a range of 42 luxuriously appointed suites including the ultimate 540 sq. m., 3 bedroom Presidential Suite with handcrafted furnishings, antiques and artefacts and its own large private swimming pool. Surrounded by indigenous flora and cascading water features, and offering panoramic views of the desert and the distant Hajar Mountains, Al Maha’s Jamilah Spa & Leisure Centre boasts state-of-the-art ‘LifeFitness’ equipment, a sauna, steam room, interior jacuzzi and ice-cold plunge pool. Complete body massage treatments are available in a choice of single or double massage rooms that connect with hydrotherapy and Rasool therapy rooms. Relaxation can also be found outside, in the pool which overlooks the infinite desert horizon.

LOCATION: 45 minutes form Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

Select Member properties for 2008 are:

AUSTRALIA: The Observatory Hotel, Sydney, NSW: Lilianfels Blue Mountains Resort & Spa, Katoomba NSW; Tower Lodge, Hunter Valley, NSW; Kims Beach Hideaway, Toowoon Bay, NSW; Arajilla Retreat, Lord Howe Island, NSW; Meadowlake Lodge, Milton, NSW; Hotel Lindrum, Melbourne, VIC; Select Burnham Beeches, Dandenong Ranges, VIC; Hotel Pension Grimus, Mount Buller, VIC; Kangaroo Island Wilderness Retreat, Kangaroo Island, SA; The Lodge at Tarraleah, Tarraleah, TAS; Couran Cove Island Resort, South Stradbroke Island, QLD; Daintree Eco Lodge & Spa, Mossman, Far North Qld;

NEW ZEALAND: Carrington Resort, Karikari Peninsula, Northland; Kourawhero Country Lodge, North Auckland; Mangapapa Petit Hotel, Hawke’s Bay; Select Braemar Lodge and Spa, Hanmer Springs; Grasmere Lodge, Arthur’s Pass; Huntley House, Christchurch; Otahuna Lodge, Christchurch; Millbrook Resort, Queenstown; The Spire Hotel, Queenstown; Fiordland Lodge, Te Anau; Corstorphine House, Dunedin

PACIFIC ISLANDS: Fiji Orchid, Nadi, Fiji; Nukubati Island, Fiji; Toberua Island Resort, Fiji; Royale Takitumu Villas, Rarotonga, Cook Islands; Tikehau Pearl Beach Resort, Tikehau, Tuamotu Archipelago, French Polynesia; Manihi Pearl Beach Resort, Manihi, Tuamotu Archipelago, French Polynesia

ASIA: Saman Villas, Bentota, Sri Lanka; The Regency Wing of Galle Face Hotel, Colombo, Sri Lanka; Mom Tri’s Villa Royale, Phuket, Thailand; Veranda Resort and Spa, Hua Hin, Thailand; Wanakarn Beach Resort & Spa, Phuket, Thailand

MIDDLE EAST: Emirates Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa, Dubai, UAE

Please contact us for more information or for high-resolution images of Select properties or visit us at http://www.selecthotels.com/

 

  

 

Looking for a city that truly captures your imagination? Want a madly memorable weekend? Or looking for a deeply pampering break?

Dublin Tourism is delighted to announce the launch of its truly, madly and deeply revamped website – www.visitdublin.com. Go to www.visitdublin.com to see what Dublin, the city of living culture, has to offer. Here you will find a one-stop shop with information on transport, accommodation and on the many things there are to see and do in Ireland’s vibrant, spontaneous and engaging capital, Dublin.

Visitdublin.com has gone mobile! Dublin Tourism’s award winning visitdublin.com website has gone mobile with the launch of Dublin.mobi. Dublin Tourism, the Dublin Regional Tourism Authority, has long been to the fore in using new and innovative media to market the Dublin region to its many visitors. Visitdublin.com received 5 million unique visitors in 2007 and with Dublin.mobi, the Authority is ahead of the pack once again.

See the Sea Stallion before it Sails out of Dublin!

The Departure of the Viking Ship, Sea Stallion from Glendalough/ Havhingsten, is scheduled to take place at noon from Custom House Quay, Dublin on 29th June 2008. On its journey home the Sea Stallion from Glendalough/Havhingsten will sail to the south of England, through the Canal to Thyborøn, through Limfjorden, Kattegat and finally into Roskilde Fjord on August 9th.

The largest Viking ship reconstruction in the world, The Sea Stallion from Glendalough departed the Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde on Sunday July 1st and set course for the Irish capital, Dublin. On an expedition not carried out for a thousand years and one of the most ambitious marine archaeological trials ever, for six weeks the international crew of 65 have tested every detail of the reconstructed ship – in the waters it was originally built to sail.

The Sea Stallion is on display at the National Museum of Ireland at Collins Barracks until June 2008.

National Museum of Ireland
Collins Barracks
Benburb Street
Dublin 7
Tel: +353 1 6777444
www.museum.ie

Come together to celebrate peace, unity and love at the Dublin City Soul Festival!

Following the success of the 2007 inaugural Dublin City Soul Festival, the Festival organisers are proud to announce a bigger, better festival for 2008. With an exciting line up of soul stars, a Festival Bar and Club trail, a Soul Food Restaurant trail and the unmissable Soul Picnic, the 2008 Dublin City Soul Festival promises to bring people together, from the four proverbial corners of the world to celebrate all things wholesome.

Come join this unique party and celebrate your soul!

Dublin City Soul Festival
22nd – 25th May 2008
www.dublincitysoulfestival.ie

Treat yourself to Michelin-starred eats at one of Dublin’s SIX Michelin-starred Restaurants.

Dublin diners have never been so spoiled for choice. With the recent presentation of the coveted stars to two of the region’s restaurants, Dublin is now the proud home to six Michelin-starred restaurants.

Bon Appetit in Malahide and Mint in Ranelagh recently joined the ranks of Thornton’s, Chapter One, Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud and l’Ecrivain winning the prestigious accolade from Michelin.

Imaginosity, Dublin’s newest attraction for children!

Launched in September 2007, Imaginosity is Dublin’s first interactive children’s museum. Located in the vibrant Beacon South Quarter in Sandyford, the 16,000 square foot building incorporates the latest green technologies and is crammed with carefully designed spaces and exhibits. Based on the concept of ‘Hands On, Minds On’ learning, Imaginosity is a place where creative learning and play connect.

It features 8,000 sq ft of exhibits including a dramatic two storey climbing structure. The ‘town-centre’ allows children to play at paying bills or shopping in a supermarket, post office or café. The theatre, TV studio and construction company encourage children to get imaginative, get creative and have some fun!

The Plaza

Beacon South Quarter
Sandyford
Dublin 18
Tel: +353 1 2176130
http://www.imaginosity.ie/  or http://www.visitdublin.com/ For more information about Ireland visit http://www.discoverireland.com/  or for a free vacation planning kit call the NY office at 800/223-6470. Read Ireland feature stories from Jetsetters Magazine at this link: