Jetsettersblog

Luxury Australia, New Zealand & Indonesia From Qantas Holidays

Take The Headache Out Of Itinerary Planning

Aiming to take the headache out of selecting hotels, tours and destination stops, Qantas Holidays (tel 020 8222 9124 www.qantas.co.uk/holidays) has handpicked the best that Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia has to offer, making it easy for travellers to enjoy a luxury holiday experience with the minimum of fuss.

AUSTRALIA

Qantas Holidays’ £5,669 “Platinum Boomerang” is a 16-day itinerary which begins with five nights in Sydney where activities include a seaplane flight over the Harbour and Opera House, a Hunter Valley Vintage tour and a twilight Bridge Climb, as well as plenty of spare time to explore the city. Accommodation is at the Park Hyatt in a Sydney Opera Room.

The tour continues with two-nights all-inclusive at Ayers Rock Resort’s Longitude 131, with activities; a rainforest experience at Silky Oaks Lodge in Daintree National Park; a night at the Shangri La Horizon Club, Cairns and four-nights all-inclusive on secluded Lizard Island.

The Platinum Boomerang package is priced per person, based on double occupancy and includes international and domestic flights, airport taxes, 15-nights accommodation in 5* deluxe hotels, private transfers and specified meals and tours.

NEW ZEALAND

“Indulgent Kiwi” is a 16-night, £3,997 driving experience in New Zealand which begins in Auckland, at Mollies Boutique Hotel. The itinerary then transfers to Waiheke Island for two nights at The Boatshed, New Zealand’s supreme boutique hotel, before the drive to Rotorua – centre of Maori Culture and home to hot mineral pools, spas and mud baths. This trip also includes Hawke’s Bay wine region and Wellington for cultural and gourmet experiences. There is also a cruise across the Cook Strait to the South Island followed by a hot air balloon flight over Mt Cook, the National Park Mountains and Canterbury Plains.

The final days on South Island include both a magnificent TranzAlpine rail journey between Christchurch and Greymouth and a scenic flight over the Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers. Meanwhile, the three-nights in Queenstown include a tour, Milford Sound Cruise and scenic flight over Sandfly Point and the Southern Alps.

The price is per person based on twin share double occupancy, includes 16-nights accommodation in luxury, boutique properties, international and domestic flights, airport taxes, car rental, ferry crossing and tours and meals as specified.

INDONESIA

“Indulgent Indonesia” is a three-centre itinerary, priced £912 and featuring beaches, secluded hill top retreats and luxury hotels with incredible spa facilities. Starting in Bali, the itinerary features four-nights at the 5* Conrad Hotel in a Deluxe Ocean Front room and a sail to Nusa Lembongan for pampering, relaxation or local exploration.

The next two-nights are spent sightseeing in Ubud, Bali’s capital for fine arts, dance and music, with a tour into the tranquil rural countryside. The final four nights are spent in a suite at The Legian in Seminyak, the most up-market of the West Coast beaches.

This itinerary is priced £912 per person based on double occupancy and includes 10-nights luxury accommodation, private transfers and meals and tours as specified. Flights are not included, but prices are available on request.

QANTAS AIRWAYS INTRODUCES NEW “PREMIUM ECONOMY” SERVICE

Available from April 2008, Qantas’ new “Premium Economy” service features a spacious 19.5” seat, 9” recline and fold out foot rest, as well as audio/video on demand, digital touch screen video monitors and a noise cancelling headset. There is also a comfort kit, cosy sheet-backed blanket and large cotton pillow. The on-board dining has also been upgraded with a menu designed by award winning Australian chef Neil Perry and complemented by premium Australian wines.

SUMMARY OF QANTAS’ INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CLASS SERVICE

Prior to boarding, Qantas offers a dedicated check-in service and airport lounge access. Then, once onboard, passengers are greeted by the award-winning, fully adjustable 6’6” “Skybeds” ,with inbuilt back massagers, affording maximum comfort, privacy, quiet and storage. The menu options include healthier choices and an impressive selection of Australian wines. In addition, there is the award-winning audio/video on demand entertainment system on a 10.4” (26.4cm) seatback video monitor, noise-cancelling headphones, large pillows, blankets and pyjamas.

QANTAS AWARDS

Qantas Airways has won two awards, “Best First Class Cellar” and “Best Business Class Sparkling” in the prestigious 2008 “Cellars in the Sky Awards”. Qantas also received a special award for “Consistency of Wines across Business and First”.

Soar high above the Gold Coast

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

Yasawa Fiji and Blue Lagoon Cruises

Fiji’s remote luxury retreat Yasawa Island Resort and Spa has teamed up with boutique island cruise operator Blue Lagoon Cruises to offer a complete immersion in paradise by land and sea.

The award-winning pair have combined a three-night stay in isolated luxury at Yasawa Island Resort and Spa with a three-night Blue Lagoon Cruise through Fiji’s remote and beautiful Yasawa and Mamanuca island chains between now and March 31, 2009.

The seven-night packages depart from the mainland port of Lautoka aboard the 56m MV Mystique Princess, an air conditioned, 32-stateroom cruiser that plots a leisurely course through the island groups, seeking out idyllic bays, remote villages and other points of interest.On day four guests board a speedboat for their transfer to the 18 luxury bungalows that make up one of the South Pacific’s most exclusive retreats, Yasawa Island Resort and Spa. Hidden among waving palms on a stretch of pristine white beach, the resort includes a beachfront spa that offers indulgent therapies and treatments from around the world.

Three packages that include all applicable Australian and Fijian taxes as well as meet and greet at Nadi International Airport and private transfer to Lautoka Wharf for the cruise offer a saving of almost 20 per cent on usual prices:

Yasawa Escape includes a three-night Gold Club Cruise with free upgrade to ‘saloon deck’, a speedboat transfer to Yasawa Island Resort and Spa, four nights at Yasawa in a bure suite, all meals, all activities (except spa treatments, scuba diving and game fishing) and return flight from Yasawa to the mainland. Prices are $8660 per couple ($4330 pp) ex Melbourne; $8440 pc ($4220 pp) ex Sydney; $8370 pc ($4185 pp) ex Brisbane.

Deluxe Yasawa Escape includes a three-night Gold Club Cruise with free upgrade to ‘lounge deck’, a speedboat transfer to Yasawa Island Resort and Spa, four nights at Yasawa in a deluxe bure, all meals, all activities (except spa treatments, scuba diving and game fishing) and return flight from Yasawa to the mainland. Prices are $9620 per couple ($4810 pp) ex Melbourne; $9400 pc ($4700 pp) ex Sydney; $9330 pc ($4665 pp) ex Brisbane.

Pure Yasawa Luxury includes a three-night Gold Club Cruise with free upgrade to ‘sky deck’, a speedboat transfer to Yasawa Island Resort and Spa, four nights at Yasawa in the honeymoon bure, all meals, all activities (except spa treatments, scuba diving and game fishing) and return flight from Yasawa to the mainland. Prices are $14,060 per couple ($7030 pp) ex Melbourne; $13,840 pc ($6920 pp) ex Sydney; $13,770 pc ($6885 pp) ex Brisbane.

For full details, conditions and bookings contact Yasawa Island Resort and Spa by phone +679 672 2266, fax +679 672 4456 or email reservations@yasawa.com.fj  See also http://www.yasawa.com/ and http://www.bluelagooncruises.com/

QANTAS New Customer Service Centre of Excellence

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.”

QANTAS adds New US flights

Qantas said today it would operate a record 47 services to the United States each week, when it commences new services from Brisbane and Sydney from 27 March.

The new return services will be: two per week between Brisbane and Los Angeles from 27 March and 1 April;

one per week between Sydney and Los Angeles from 30 March; and one per week between Sydney and Honolulu from 5 April.

Qantas Executive General Manager, Mr John Borghetti, said the airline was strongly committed to growing its US services.

“This latest increase in capacity confirms our confidence in the growth potential of this important international route,” Mr Borghetti said.

“Importantly, the additional services from Brisbane will see Qantas offer a daily, non-stop service between Queensland and California for the first time.

“These additional flights will add around 800 seats each week on the route, providing new travel opportunities for Queenslanders and for Americans visiting Australia.” Mr Borghetti said that in addition to Qantas services between Australia and the US, the airline also offered customers access to an extensive network of US, Canadian and Mexican destinations.

“With our codeshare partners American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Horizon Air and Mexicana, Qantas customers can connect to 12 destinations in the US, nine in Canada and four in Mexico,” he said.

“Qantas also codeshares on LAN services between Sydney and Santiago, Chile, and plans to commence services to a South American destination in its own right by the end of 2008.” Following the commencement of the new US services, Qantas will offer:

17 services per week from Sydney to Los Angeles;

14 services per week from Melbourne to Los Angeles;

a daily service from Brisbane to Los Angeles;

five services per week from Sydney to San Francisco;

a daily service from Sydney to New York, via Los Angeles; and

four services per week from Sydney to Honolulu.

“Qantas will further enhance its US services in October, when it operates its first A380 services from Australia to Los Angeles,” Mr Borghetti said.

Precious Gem Emerald Valley Villa downunder

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

Adelaide First Solar Electric Bus

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 Malaysia

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

Pre-travel Steps to Reduce jet lag

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/

Kiwi-Style Oktoberfest In Nelson

MarchFest, a major craft beer and music event makes its debut appearance this month in Nelson, in the heart of New Zealand’s major hop growing region.

MarchFest is the first of what will be an annual festival of beer, food, music and fun loosely based on the German city of Munich’s OktoberFest. MarchFest is a Kiwi interpretation of the traditional European beer festival and it will celebrate Nelson’s craft brewing tradition, which is based on the region’s sunny climate, pure water and world class hops.

Taking place on Saturday March 29th at Founders Heritage Park, Nelson, the event will feature four brand new beers from local breweries and music from Auckland singer-songwriter SJD, Botswana/Nelson reggae band One Vibe, kora player Jali Buba Kuyateh (Gambia/Senegal) and a 13-piece Oompah Band for that authentic German flavour.

For the first MarchFest, the organisers have commissioned local craft brewers to create special festival brews for our event - with the proviso that these beers must be brand new, unique and unavailable anywhere else in the world, and must include locally grown hops. The new beers are ‘March Hare’ from the The Mussel Inn (recently added to Lonely Planet’s Blue List under the category of ‘Best Brews - The World’s Finest Beer Headquarters’.), ‘Easter Ale’ from Tasman Brewery, ‘Straw Beery Blonde’ from Founders Brewery (Australasia’s first organic brewery) and ‘Henley’s Revenge’ from Townshend’s Brewery, New Zealand’s newest real ale brewery.

The event runs from midday until 9pm, wet or fine. There will be marquees, local food stalls, music and children’s entertainment as well as local wines for non-beer drinkers.

‘‘MarchFest will be the first New Zealand beer festival to feature nothing but brand new Kiwi beers,’’ explains co-organiser Mic Dover. ‘‘The beers have been created by just four local boutique breweries which were each given the task of creating a new beer especially for the festival, and it had to include locally grown hops.

‘‘We’ve loosely based our event on Munich’s OktoberFest,” says co-organiser Eelco A Boswijk. ‘‘People keep saying beer is the new wine – and we’re aiming to become the southern hemisphere’s foremost beer festival, attracting beer lovers from around the world to taste unique Kiwi craft beers in this world-class setting of Nelson.’’

More info incl pictures at http://www.marchfest.com/