Jetsettersblog

Hotel to Re-Open Following a Multi-Million Euro Refurbishment

Amathus Beach Hotel Limassol will bring a new standard in luxury accommodation to Cyprus when it re-opens on 25th April 2009 following a 15 million Euro refurbishment and expansion.

“Already a well known, established property, Amathus Beach Hotel Limassol is famous for its constantly excellent service and attention to detail. However we aim to exceed customer expectations at every level and the addition of a chic, contemporary new reception area and lobby, improved accommodation, breathtaking new spa and three stylish new restaurants and a bar will ensure that the hotel remains the premier choice for families, couples and friends visiting Cyprus.” Achilleas Dorotheou, Chief Executive Officer, Amathus Hotels

Boasting first class leisure facilities, Amathus Beach Hotel Limassol is a contemporary and innovative property, which sits alongside a soft, sandy beach, in 4,000 square metres of immaculate gardens, only a short distance from the many boutiques and restaurants in Limassol town centre.

Reception and Lobby
No expense will be spared in creating a fresh, stylish new look at Amathus Beach Hotel Limassol. The new airy atrium lobby will be adorned with ultra-fashionable furniture, handpicked from collections by acclaimed designers Philippe Starck and Zaha Hadid. Their work is exhibited in some of the world’s most famous hotels and museums including the Guggenheim, New York and The Peninsula, Hong Kong.

White illuminated columns will embrace the original concrete structure and highlight the black polished marble floor and original crystal chandeliers. A focal point of the lobby will be the striking monolithic fireplace designed in black mirrored glass and surrounded by soft chocolate brown furniture. Floor to ceiling windows will open onto a large veranda looking out onto the swimming pools and Mediterranean Sea below.

Accommodation
27 Inland View and 27 Sea View rooms will be fully refurbished for the 2009 summer season. Zebrano timber furnishings, comfortable armchairs and delicate artwork will all combine to create warm, spacious accommodation. Inland View Rooms are ideal for families offering discreetly luxurious décor and a large sofa bed. Sea View Rooms will be elegant in design and feature a large balcony for intimate dining and catching the last of the afternoon sun.

New Elite Mattresses
Offering the latest in guest comfort, each of the refurbished rooms will feature new mattresses by Swiss specialists ELITE, who has been providing luxury bedding to an international clientele since 1895. The beds will combine new technology and the exceptional ELITE expertise to offer comfortable handcrafted box-springs, covered with an elegant valance and sophisticated Dior pleats. Soft Rubis Mattresses, with a sheep wool and silk layer will help regulate body temperature to ensure a soundless nights sleep!

Feeling extravagant? Amathus Limassol is fully renovating the Presidential Suite to create 82 square meters of super lavish living space.

The Amathus Spa & Wellness Centre
Bringing new heights to spa pampering in Limassol, the new Amathus Spa & Wellness Centre will open with over 1,500 square meters of opulent, indulgent space in which guests can unwind. The four elements of air, earth, fire and water will all play their role to create a sophisticated, tranquil ambiance. In addition to these four elements, the “wet treatment areas” are based on the 5 continents and will offer result driven treatments and therapies inspired by Europe, America, Australia, Africa and Asia.

Access to all treatment rooms will be along “floating” boardwalks and decks surrounded by peaceful reflective pools. Tino Stone Marble, Iron Travetin, American walnut Geopiera, leather, glass and stainless steel are used in the design.

The spa will feature products and treatments by elite, all-natural skincare specialists Pevonia Botanica. Offering a personal touch, guests will undergo an in-depth skin analysis enabling treatments to be carefully adapted to suit skin types, ensuring that guests leave the spa feeling refreshed, glowing and seeing a noticeable difference in the way they look and feel. A highlight from the spa menu is the Myoxy-Caviar Facial, an extravagant anti-aging treatment that features pure, lavish ingredients such as Caviar Extract and Pearl Extract, which greatly improve skin elasticity and dramatically reduce lines and wrinkles.

A separate, newly built gymnasium with a huge glass wall looking over the hotel’s pool and beach will include state of the art Life Fitness circuit-training and cardiovascular equipment. In the centre of the gymnasium an “Indian Body and Mind Temple” (Dojo/studio) will offer sessions in step classes, yoga, Tai Chi and cardio boxing.

Bar & Restaurants

Asiachi
Set to become the newest hot spot in Limassol, uber-trendy Asiachi is to open amongst much anticipation following the overwhelming success of its sister restaurant at the Amathus Beach Hotel Paphos. Guests will be able to choose between mouth watering Chinese, Japanese and Thai delights, each dish carefully prepared with a contemporary twist. Highlights from the menu will include crispy soft-shell crab, miso Atlantic cod fillet and Vietnamese style roasted baby chicken with black pepper sauce. Contemporary in design, the restaurant will guarantee a sophisticated Asian dining experience.

Ambrosia

Serving a tempting menu of local delicacies and international favourites, Ambrosia is Amathus Beach Hotel Limassol’s main restaurant.

Redesigned using earthy tones, soft candle lights and crystal chandeliers, Ambrosia is an intimate dining experience. Dotted around the restaurant are colour display cabinets showcasing contemporary local sculptures.

La Terrazza

A firm favourite with guests of all ages, La Terrazza opens in the summer months, offering scrumptious themed buffet dining overlooking the beautiful moonlit sea. The newly refurbished restaurant will feature charming water features further enhancing the hotels beachside location.

Dionysos Bar

Dionysos Bar will also be opening in 2009 with a tasteful new look. The fabulously stylish interior will mix large black silk pendants, crystal details and leather panelling to create a chic bar that would not be out of place amongst celebrity favourites in London, Paris or LA. Fresh fruity cocktails, an extensive wine list and a selection of beers will be served from a smart onyx bar that glows with gentle shades of yellow and orange.

These additions further strengthen the gourmet options at the hotel creating nine restaurants and bars in total.

Conference Centre

Amathus Beach Hotel Limassol offers a fully equipped Conference Centre featuring the latest technology, space and comfort. The Athenaeum Rooms, the hotels most flexible meeting space, features movable soundproof partitions and will be fully redesigned for spring 2009. The hotel will also be offering a new business centre, located next to the lobby this area will offer guests all the facilities of their own office, plus smart marble floors, lime green glass partitions, wenge timber workstations and lounge chairs.

Fact Box

Sovereign Luxury Holidays (0871 664 0227; www.sovereign.com)  offers 7 nights at Amathus Beach Hotel Limassol from £796 per person based on two adults sharing on a Half Board basis, including return flights, private transfers, 24-hour Sovereign Concierge service and UK VIP airport lounge passes.

Price includes complimentary upgrade to Half Board, 8% Accommodation Discount, €70 In-Resort Credit and Online Discount – SAVING up to £750 per couple!

www.amathus-hotels.com

In the first of the BBC’s new series, Explore, Simon Reeve takes a journey through the spectacular landscapes of Argentina, from the vast ice fields of Patagonia to the wide-open plains of the Pampas.

 For those who prefer to venture further from the TV, Wildlife Worldwide offers an 18-day exploration through Argentina’s diverse wilderness locations, including dramatic Los Glaciares National Park, the marine life of Valdes Peninsula and Tierra del Fuego NP, and the wildlife of Iguazu Falls and Yacutinga Rainforest. Daily departures from London available NOW!

An initial night is spent in Buenos Aires, before transferring by air to Trelew, gateway to the wildlife-rich Valdes Peninsula.

At Punta Tombo travellers visit the world’s largest colony of Magellanic Penguins and explore the Peninsula itself, home to Elephant Seals and Sealions, Guanacos, Armadillos, Orcas (March to April) and the unusual Flightless Rhea.

 Later, fly down to Ushuaia, the world’s southernmost city, where during a 3-night stay, excursions include 4×4 explorations of Tierra del Fuego National Park and a cruise through the Beagle Channel with its picturesque bays, inlets, rich flora and fauna.

 The incredible blue icefields of Perito Moreno, Upsalla and Onelli Glaciers will be the focus in Los Glaciares National Park. Nearby Lago Argentina may reveal Black-necked Wan, Black-chested Buzzard and Andean Condor.

On to Iguazu Falls, straddling the Argentine-Brazil border, wildlife is abundant, with over 500 species of butterfly, 400 species of bird and 2,000 species of plant. Drive west from the falls to Yacutinga Rainforest Lodge, set amongst 250,000 hectares of primary rainforest in the northeastern corner of the Missiones region.

Both walking and river safaris, accompanied by the lodge’s naturalist guides allow guests to search for countless species of birds, mammals and plants, before returning to Buenos Aires and homeward flights.

The tour costs from £3,395 p/p (Jan to June) including scheduled flights, transfers, hotel, guesthouse and hosteria accommodation, some meals and expertly guided activities.

Wildlife Worldwide
0845 130 6982
sales@wildlifeworldwide.com
www.wildlifeworldwide.com

Francis Ford Coppola’s Buenos Aires project, Jardin Escondido (“Hidden Garden”), is now open for reservations.

With six bedrooms and one studio, the residence is situated in the Buenos Aires neighborhood of Palermo Soho. Guests can hire the entire residence or just one floor (a minimum of two rooms plus the studio) depending on the size of the party.

Other features include three levels of gardens, a solar-heated pool, outdoor kitchen, parilla (grill) and a terrace filled with tropical plants. Sommelier Nigel Tollerman can arrange wine tasting and introduce guests to a special collection of Argentine wines. On-property manager Luciana can also arrange days and nights out in Buenos Aires.

 Jardin Escondido opened on Feb. 1, 2009. Coppola stays at the residence himself when in Buenos Aires. For more information, visit www.coppolajardinescondido.com

Jackson Hole will debut the $32 million Aerial Tram at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in time for the destination’s summer season, which starts May 23. The aerial tram will operate daily from 9 a.m. through Sept. 27. Most summit hiking trails, including the Teton Crest Trail are usually clear for hiking by mid-July.

The new tram is twice the size of its predecessor, with larger windows to allow for increased aerial views of Grand Teton National Park and the surrounding Tetons. At the summit, hiking trails can be found in every direction, and Corbet’s Cabin will be open all summer, with beverages and snacks available.

A new viewing platform at the top allows for 360 aerial views of Wyoming and Idaho. Adult tram tickets start at $19, with discounts for seniors age 65 and older and children up to age 17.

In addition, a two-night tram package available through Jackson Hole Resort Lodging includes a Teton Village two bedroom/two bathroom condominium and four tram tickets to the summit of Rendezvous Mountain.

The package starts at $109 per person, based on two adults and two children.

For tram information, call 800-329-9205 or visit www.jacksonhole.net/activities/tramride.htm

For lodging information, call 800-443-8613 or visit www.jhrl.com

Twenty years after the fall of the Wall, Berlin’s cuisine, much like the city, has reinvented itself, offering up lighter and fresher fare, “öko” (organic) options, star-rated dining and a selection of international and ethnic choices that now dominate the city’s dining scene.

The 2009 edition of the Michelin Hotel & Restaurant Guide once again awarded 12 stars to Berlin’s gourmet restaurants. Boasting three Michelin stars in 2009, the Hotel Adlon for the first time ever has received the highest distinction for its restaurants the Chinese-inspired Ma Tim Raue, the Italian restaurant Gabriele with chef Björn Alexander Panek, and Lorenz Adlon for chef Thomas Neeser’s culinary art à la francaise.

Head chef Christian Lohse of the Fischers Fritz seafood restaurant in the Regent Hotel was again honored with two stars for “outstanding cuisine.”

 It should be noted that only 30 restaurants in Germany have ever achieved two or three stars.

Additionally, the restaurants Facil, First Floor, Hûgos, Margaux, Rutz, Vau and Vitrum have successfully retained their star in the current edition of the Michelin Guide, winning over the demanding Michelin inspectors over with their culinary masterstrokes. Since October of 2008, chef Tim Raue has been offering private dining at the “Krug Room.”

Located within the “Ma” and “Uma” restaurants at the Hotel Adlon, the luxuriously furnished and completely private dining-room holds a maximum of eight guests.

Every course is personally presented and served by Raue and his Maître d’ wife, Marie-Anne. No other staff is present, but guests have a view of the kitchen via a camera feed.

Raue offers delicacies and ingredients so rare, that they can only be offered to a small number of guests. Items on the menu include sea cucumber from the Catalan coast, fish maw from Hong Kong, and murahata melons from Japan, paired with the finest Krug champagnes and the rarest and most exquisite wines.

A menu for eight starts at 2,500 euros, with no upward limit. The restaurant is open Tuesday to Saturday, by request only.

For more information, visit www.ma-restaurants.de

With health and environmental consciousness becoming more main stream, the demand for fresh, regional and organic food has arrived in Berlin’s fast-food sector. Offering a popular alternative to burgers or sausages,

Berliners now have a wide range of organic fast food choices. With five locations in Berlin, Gorilla, Natürlich FastFood is Germany’s first organic fast food chain.

Promoting sustainability, natural foods, and regional products, menu items are 100 percent organic and include sandwiches on whole wheat bread, salads, and soups.

For more information, visit www.gorilla-natuerlich.com

Even Berlin’s popular “curry wurst” can now be enjoyed by health-conscious diners. Witty’s Currybude at Wittenbergplatz serves up a high-quality organic sausage drenched in the typical ketchup-curry sauce made from natural ingredients. Yellow Sunshine serves strictly vegan or vegetarian burgers, fries, muffins and other fast-food favorites.

Open 24/7, Fresh ‘N’ Friends organic supermarkets and boutique restaurants emphasize fresh, regional, and organic ready-to-eat foods, fair trade practices, and sustainability.

Foodorama on Bergmansstraße in Kreuzberg goes one step further, calling itself the first certified “climate-neutral” organic restaurant, using seasonal and regional products, and operating in thermally insulated rooms.

For more information, visit www.yellow-sunshine.com  www.freshnfriends.com  or www.foodorama.de

 For more information on Berlin, visit www.visitberlin.de

Beginning March 6, the Amsterdam Historical Museum will present an exhibition of Amsterdam’s Old Master paintings. With over a thousand works painted before 1800, the city of Amsterdam has one of the world’s finest collections of Dutch Old Masters. It includes some of the best works by famous artists such as Rembrandt, Ferdinand Bol, Jacob van Ruisdael and Govert Flinck.

This unique exhibition tells the story of the different ways in which the city of Amsterdam acquired these paintings.

Upon entering the exhibition, visitors will be offered a glimpse of the original context and function of group portraits portraying civic guard officers and governors of charitable institutions.

Portraits cover the walls in imaginary reconstructions of the great hall of a civic-guard headquarters, the governors’ boardroom of the leper house and an office garden in 1900, transporting visitors back in time.

Audiovisual presentations reveal the various routes these paintings took before eventually arriving on the museum’s walls, like the incredible journey of Rembrandt’s world famous Night Watch.

In fact, until 1808, many paintings of remarkable quality could be seen at the former Town Hall on Dam Square, known today as the Royal Palace.

In addition to the Dutch Old Master paintings, the museum itself forms an intrinsic part of the exhibition as a historic location in its own right.

Formerly a civic orphanage, with its original governors’ assembly room, the museum’s own space adds significantly to the visitors’ historical experience.

For more information, visit www.holland.com

London’s The Marylebone Hotel opened under its new name following a multi-million-pound renovation. The new look combines British twists with global design brands such as B&B Italia, George Smith Furniture, PTT Design, lamps by Porta Romana and bespoke fabric by GP & J Baker.

Local influence is particularly evident in the restaurant and bar, 108 Marylebone Lane, where the fare on offer has been sourced through local shops including The Ginger Pig, La Fromagerie and Biggles Sausages.

The Marylebone Hotel is a member of The Doyle Collection, a luxury hotel group that comprises 11 hotels in six cities around the world.

These design-led properties provide guests with service tailored to their individual needs as well as the luxuries they would expect.

For more information, visit www.doylecollection.com

Cameron House on Loch Lomond has joined Connoisseurs Scotland, a collection of Scottish luxury properties, now at 23 members.

 “The addition of Cameron House, with its exceptional accommodations, superior dining and outstanding golf, spa and leisure facilities, strengthens our portfolio for today’s sophisticated Scotland-bound traveler,” said Jeremy F. Hawkings, chief executive of Connoisseurs Scotland.

A baronial mansion surrounded by 100 acres of woodland, Cameron House features 128 rooms and suites each finished to the highest detail with Bose music systems and plasma televisions.

Colquhoun House, an extension to Cameron House, adds 35 guest rooms and suites in a self-contained wing sharing the same views over the Loch.

Guests can dine at the Cameron Grill, Wishart’s on Loch Lomond, The Boathouse (within Cameron House’s private marina) or the Claret Jug, the best 19th hole in Scotland. The Whisky Bar and Great Scots Bar provide settings for cocktails.

Leisure facilities include a swimming pool, fully-equipped fitness center, tennis court and stand-alone spa with an enticing menu of therapies and services. The new 18-hole, 71-par Carrick golf course and the nine-hole Wee Demon course offer challenging play.

The Cameron House also has seven meeting rooms outfitted with the latest audio-visual equipment and complimentary Wi-Fi access. Cameron House is located 20 minutes from Glasgow International Airport and 40 minutes from Glasgow city center.

 For more information, visit

www.devere-hotels.com/our-hotels/cameron-house/the-hotel  

or www.luxuryscotland.co.uk

Wimco’s Caribbean Value Villas season is back for its second year offering travelers the opportunity to experience the space, privacy and value of a villa vacation at affordable nightly rates. The program, which begins April 15 and is available throughout Wimco Villas’ Caribbean destinations, highlights an array of villas with rates starting at under $100 per bedroom, per night. Many Wimco Villas are also offering special value add on such as book six nights and get a seventh free, complimentary welcome packages, or long weekend packages.

“In this challenging economy, villa vacations offer space, privacy and, most importantly, value for those who want to take a quality vacation, but pay less,” said Stiles Bennet, vice president of marketing and sales for Wimco Villas. “Our Value Villas program allows travelers to enjoy their own private homes with pools and spacious living areas, in some of the most desirable islands of the Caribbean, at nightly per room rates that are significantly lower than most hotels and resorts. Additionally, guests can prepare their own meals minimizing the cost of dining out which further stretches the vacation dollar.”

A sampling of some of the Value Villas available includes a two-bedroom villa on St. Barts for $136 per bedroom, each night and a three bedroom for $157 per bedroom, each night.

 In addition to the savings on villas, clients booking a St. Barts property through Wimco have exclusive access to its “Friend of the Island” restaurant savings card, giving them 10 percent off meals at participating restaurants. There are also savings offered in the Virgin Islands, Turks & Caicos, Anguilla, Grand Cayman, Barbados, Nevis, St Martin and Mustique.

For more information, visit www.wimco.com

Waterfront Lifestyles International, a boutique maritime lodging company, is planning to base a 300-foot ship in Port Canaveral and sell its 82 staterooms and suites to retirees. Prices for condo cabins range from $159,000 for a single room to a larger suite for $399,000 plus a monthly fee that covers all operating expenses, including crew, staff, fuel, maintenance, insurance, three meals daily, port fees, the medical center and housekeeping.

Accommodations range from 125 to 330 square feet. The residents actually own the ship. The ship, named Alegria, will make weekend cruises each month to regional attractions such as shuttle launches, shopping excursions to Palm Beach, and trips to the Bahamas, and once a year it will take a weeklong trip to Central America. All cruise expenses are included in the resident’s care fee.

Residents will pay for cocktails, casino charges, spa fees and purchases in the gift shop.

The vessel has a spa, workout room, gift shop, cigar bar, night club, dining room, beauty shop, library and a residents’ storage area.

The ship has 12 inside cabins that will be used as guest rooms. Owners’ friends and relatives can use them at no charge, including meals.

Condo ownership includes permanent free membership at a nearby country club for golf and tennis. All staterooms are outside units with picture windows.

The ship will be operated, managed and maintained by Marine Growth Ventures, a ship management company. The port is less than an hour’s drive from Orlando and next to the Kennedy Space Center.

Waterfront Lifestyles International is a Florida limited-liability company formed to create retirement condo cruise ships. The ship in Port Canaveral is the company’s first vessel, but it expects to locate additional retirement ships in Tampa, Jacksonville, Palm Beach, and Sarasota.

For more information, call 866-WIL-CRUZ or visit www.condoships.com