Jetsettersblog

Exclusive Bentley and Jaguar VIP tours of Perth and surrounds have recently been launched by Chelmsford Chauffeur Drive. Dressed impeccably in Armani suits, the Chauffeurs will drive visitors offering a comprehensive personal concierge service. The three tour options include a Perth city and surrounds half day tour; a half day Swan Valley tour providing an insiders view of Perth’s oldest wine growing region; and a full day Margaret River tour, which takes in world famous wineries, chocolate tastings and beaches.

The Perth tour costs A$155 (£70) per person and includes morning or afternoon tea; the Swan Valley tour costs A$195 (£90) per person and includes tea, Wildlife Park and winery entrance fees; the full day Margaret River tour costs A$795 (£374) and includes all tastings and lunch. www.chelmsford.net.au

A former imperial prison, the site of one of Australia’s biggest shipyards during the twentieth century and one of the filming locations for Wolverine, Cockatoo Island is the largest island in Sydney Harbour with magnificent views of the Harbour Bridge. Recently opened to overnight visitors with the introduction of a campsite on the island, guests can now stay in one of two historic houses.

The two Federation-era homes, known by their dockyard title as Building 24, were residences for the families of the Island’s key dockyard staff for most of the last century.

They have recently been beautifully restored and each luxurious four bedroom house (sleeps 10) is now available for hire.

Prices from A$300 per night (approx £140). www.cockatooisland.gov.au

Two new hotels open in Darwin this month: the Medina Grand Darwin Waterfront and the Vibe Hotel Darwin Waterfront. Medina Grand Darwin Waterfront offers 121 studios and one bedroom apartments.

The apartments feature separate living areas, a fully equipped kitchen and laundry and a grocery delivery service. The Vibe Hotel Darwin Waterfront offers 120 rooms with a contemporary edge. Both hotels feature prominent indigenous Australian artworks from Arnhem Land and the Tiwi Islands, as well as two major public art pieces integrated into the fabric of the building by Australian artists Mandy Ridley and Matt Huttlestone. www.medina.com.au  and www.vibehotels.com.au

A revolutionary new GPS system, the first of its kind in Australia, is providing self-drive travellers with ‘virtual tour guides’ to help them discover South Australia’s stunning 235 kms Fleurieu Way (www.southaustralia.com). It is expected that this system will transform Australian self-drive holidays, providing travellers with an interactive experience that is both entertaining and fun.

Accompanied by a brochure, the GPS package plugs into a car’s cigarette lighter and can be hired from selected visitor information centres. The GPS system provides 20 great reasons why drivers should sample the Fleurieu Way, pointing out places of interest and providing insider tips from locals like Ian Johnson the Cockle Train driver (a steam train that runs along the beach front on the oldest steel railed railway in Australia), Rebecca Wilson from Bremerton Wines (an award winning winery awarded the accolade of having “Australia’s Best Red”) and Adrian Cox from the horse-drawn tram to Granite Island which has been running for over 100 years.

Highlighted activities include antique-hunting in Strathalbyn, cruising to the mouth of the Murray River or through the bird rich wilderness of Coorong National Park, riding the coastal Cockle Train and whale watching along the Encounter Bay coastline.

The Fleurieu Way, located on the Fleurieu Peninsula, is surrounded by 170 kms of spectacular coastline and is just an hour’s drive south of Adelaide. It is also en route to Australia’s Galapagos – Kangaroo Island. With its secluded beaches, unspoilt scenery and abundant wildlife, there’s plenty to see and do in the Fleurieu.

Adventurous travellers can hike along the Heysen Trail, wreck dive or go in search of the rare leafy sea dragon. More gentle pursuits include riding the horse-drawn tram to Granite Island to see the little penguins, sampling regional produce at Willunga Farmers’ Market, not to mention wine tasting seeing as South Australia is renowned as the Wine Capital of Australia and the Fleurieu is home to McLaren Vale, the source of numerous award winning wineries.

Visit

www.southaustralia.com/FleurieuPeninsula.aspx

 for a downloadable brochure and map to accompany this new GPS tour.

The Fleurieu Peninsula also recently saw Academy Award-nominated British actor, Clive Owen, filming his yet to be released movie, The Boys Are Back.

In an interview with the “Adelaide Advertiser” newspaper, Clive Owen commented on the shoot by saying: “This is an intimate family drama set against this really, really beautiful and incredible backdrop.” He continues, “We’ve shot in some of the most stunning places I’ve ever seen in my life.”

Train Chartering In Cup-Winning Form With The Manchester United Executive Train

Train Chartering has provided Manchester United with an exclusive First Class Pullman dining train from Manchester direct to Wembley Central station for their corporate hospitality clients travelling to a cup final at Wembley Stadium.

The private train’s First Class air-conditioned intercity carriages have panoramic windows, sound-proofing, good suspension, armchair seats and full-size tables, all of which contribute to a comfortable environment for Pullman dining and good conversation.

Train Chartering’s charter train provided a far more comfortable way than coaches or normal train travel for these valued fans to get to and from Wembley. It is believed that the Manchester United Executive Train was the first private charter train into Wembley Central for a major event at Wembley Stadium.

Simon Pielow of Train Chartering can see why the train was so successful for Manchester United, “Boarding the private train in Manchester Piccadilly Station, travelling direct to Wembley Central with a full English breakfast on the way, winning the game, and returning from Wembley direct to Manchester while enjoying a 4-course dinner; it simply can’t be beaten!”

On the way to Wembley, Manchester United’s organisers were able to introduce themselves to every one of their clients and to distribute the all-important match tickets. Everyone had time to read the match programmes and unpack the gift they had found on each seat on boarding.

The return journey went without incident, the train providing a direct, hassle-free and relaxing end to a perfect day, arriving in Manchester Piccadilly a full 25 minutes early. Passengers on each journey all enjoyed fine dining, chef-prepared on board and served by uniformed stewards.

Train Chartering has a stable of luxury train offerings, which also includes Private Rail Cars and the Luxury Train Club. Soundwave Express illustrates the ultimate themed and branded train. Transport Charter offers multi-modal passenger charter options for when a train is not appropriate.

Visitors to the Yorkshire Moors and Coast area are assured of an even warmer welcome this year, and can make the most of insider tips thanks to the Yorkshire Moors and Coast Tourism Partnership’s new initiative. People through out the area have been nominated as “friendly faces” and asked to name their favourite places.

“The Moors and Coast has a reputation for friendliness, and we’ve been looking for people who embody that reputation,” says David Shields, YMCTP’s Operations Director. “As well as highlighting the welcoming nature of the region, we are capitalising on the increasing trend for personal recommendations. We’ve asked the area’s most smiley folk to share the place which makes them happy, so we now have a database of inspiring places to pass on to others looking for something to smile about.

The full list can be seen on www.yorkshiremoorsandcoast.com/favourites 

The friendliest faces include a range of welcoming hosts from the tourism industry, as well as an artist, a fisherman, a seal and a group of donkeys.

A selection of Friendliest Faces and their Favourite

Places are:

Name: Christopher Ware
Works: Warehouse Art, Levisham www.warehouseart.com

Nomination: “I am the only fulltime human presence at Levisham station,” says Christopher. “So I spend more time in my art studio actually passing on information to visitors on train times, good walks, dry paths, interesting wildlife, best local pubs, recommended accommodation, lending my land-line phone (there’s no mobile signal), letting visitors use my loo and even giving lifts to exhausted walkers and cyclists.

It gets a smile back from visitors and even commendations on the railway’s phone log.”
Favourite Place: Skelton Tower on Levisham Moor. “I paint it at least once a month because it never looks the same twice. It’s an easy flat 20 minute walk from the road across the moor for stunning views of the wilderness of Newtondale from a romantic Victorian ruin.”

Name: Skipper Paul Sykes
Works: ‘Warrior Sea Angling Team’, Whitby www.wsatsite.com

Nomination: Paul’s attitude to his customers has earned him the nomination. “I start from the point of view of how I’d like to be provided for myself. People have a limited amount of spare time and money, and what they do with it should be pleasurable.

“I can’t do a great deal about the weather, but I can always show we are endeavouring to provide the best the day has to offer.”

Favourite place: Skipper Sykes’ ‘favourite place’ which never fails to bring a smile to his face is Whitby.

“I’ve had the chance to decide where I want to live – at home or abroad, and have had the benefit of travelling a lot. And nowhere pleases me more than Whitby. It’s got lots of nice sides to it, but if I had to pick one place it would be the Harbour.”

Name: Bruno the Seal
Lives: Scarborough SEA LIFE and Marine Sanctuary. www.sealifeeurope.com

Nomination: Bruno is a 20 year old common seal. Visitors and staff love him and have voted him a ‘friendly face!’

Favourite place: Scarborough SEA LIFE and Marine Sanctuary – particularly the viewing window of the seal pools where he can see the visitors and play with them through the glass.

Bruno’s favourite time of the day is 11.30am as this is the first talk to the public – plus he gets fed!! Bruno loves splashing around in the seal pools and always knows when he sees a red t-shirt around the seal pool, that he is going to get some attention! His best friend is Mando, another resident seal – the two love splashing around together.

Name: Filey Donkeys
Work: The Beach

Nomination: The donkeys recently won a best beach donkeys award from the Donkey Sanctuary, making them officially the happiest donkeys in the country.

Favourite place: The Beach “They really do enjoy it,” says handler Amanda Pickles. Some of the donkeys are rescue donkeys and ‘work’ so that Amanda can afford to keep them and their friends.

“I’m proud of them,” she says. “A lot have come from not wanting to come anywhere near you to being on the beach and enjoying meeting new people every day.”

Their other favourite place is anywhere they can get hold of a carrot or a ginger biscuit.

The full list of Friendliest Faces and their favourite places can be found on www.yorkshiremoorsandcoast.com/favourites

The Residence Tunis has recently added an 18 hole golf course to its five star resort. The course designed by the award winning course designer Robert Trent Jones II is situated close to the hotel grounds and boasts an idyllic setting between the sea and salt lake with a luxurious 4000 square meter Club House. The course is a par of 72 and is 6451 metres long.

The new golf course allows golfers from all over the world and of all standards to test their skills with an array of obstacles which have been specifically designed. The course which features magnificent view points over-looking the stunning Tunisian landscape is teaming with intricate fairways to push golfers to the limits. Robert Trent Jones II is famous for linking the pleasure of the game with its integration with the natural surroundings and special attention was given to the layout in order to respect the natural scenery and ecological constraints.

The result is not only one of the most beautiful golf courses in the Mediterranean but also one of the most environmentally friendly.

After an invigorating round, players can relax and unwind in the luxury Club House.

The restaurant and bar serves delicious cuisine from around the world and the swimming pool allows guests to cool down from the heat of the Mediterranean sun.

The golf course at The Residence Tunis provides a fantastic range of facilities from golf clinics and lessons for both beginners and advanced players, renting of cars, trolleys and clubs, a caddie service and enticing refreshments served along the course.

The practice area boasts an 80 bay driving range, two putting greens, two pitching greens and 2 bunkers which allows golfers to tune their game.

And for those who need any extra equipment the on-site pro Lacoste Shop has a nice selection of clubs, bags, clothing and every other golfing necessity.

As well as this new course, The Residence Tunis boasts a 30 treatment room Thalasso-Spa with a vast selection of wonderful and soothing treatments and cures.

Luxury Darphin treatment are also available in the six beauty rooms that will leave any guest feeling ultra relaxed and pampered.

The variety of bars and restaurants which The Residence Tunis offers will cater to any gastro delight and the fantastic kids club will entertain the children all day long.

The Residence Tunis really is the perfect holiday for experienced golfers or those who want a mix of sun and relaxation with the added extra of a game or two.

Conservation Areas At Risk – English Heritage Launches First National Survey Of Nation’s Most Special Places

England has some 9,300 Conservation Areas, historic parts of cities, towns, suburbs and villages designated by local authorities to protect their special character. But what condition are they in? Are they cherished through a close partnership of council and residents? Or are they at risk from neglect, decay and inappropriate development?

For the full story of English Heritage’s new campaign announced:

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.15959

There will be a web page running within the next 24 Hours at www.english-heritage.org.uk/conservationareas

Norfolk & Pacific Holidays have slashed almost $100 off their packaged weekender prices to Santo, the northerly island in the Vanuatu group. Just a month ago the lead in price for their “Get lost for the weekend in a tropical Island” was AUD$735 pp, and on April 1st it was slashed to AUD$639 pp and that’s no April Fools prank.

“This is a great value short break perfect for activity loving divers and equally attractive to those who want a ‘fly & flop’ or romantic weekend to recharge themselves” said NPH Business Development Manager Colin Slark, who went on to say “In the early nineties a two night Vanuatu weekend cost AUD$400, and now over 15 years later, we have 3 nights for just AUD$639 pp – it’s amazing what deals our suppliers can produce these days!”

Fly from Brisbane or Sydney on Air Vanuatu with full in flight service, entertainment, meals and full bar ~ a perfect way to start your holiday to Vanuatu. Choose one of five Santo resorts leading in at Turtle Bay Resort for only AUD$639 pp ex Brisbane, with Coral Quays Resort being mid-range at AUD$819 pp and the top end at the exclusive and beautiful Bokissa Private Island Resort at AUD$1129 pp, where for just AUD$75 per day extra all meals are provided.

For Queenslanders, leave Brisbane early on Friday morning, and just over 2.5 hours later arrive in Espiritu Santo for a laid-back tropical weekend, and return late Monday evening.

Or for NSW folk there is a 4 night ex-Sydney option leaving on Monday, and returning Friday. Pricing ex Sydney ranges from a lead in of AUD$789 pp at Turtle Bay Resort; AUD$1025 pp at Coral Quays and AUD$1479 pp at Bokissa

Travel agents can obtain flyers from your NPH sales rep or by calling NPH booking office on 1800 11653 or res@norfolkpacificholidays.com .

AIso on line at the new website www.norfolkpacificholidays.com

TIANJIN, CHINA – Radisson Hotels & Resorts, one of the world’s leading upscale, full-service hotel brands, will open its doors for business in China’s third largest city, Tianjin this month. The 270-room Radisson Plaza Hotel Tianjin, a premium extension of the Radisson brand, is a joint investment between Tianjin Urban Construction Group and First Eastern Investment Group (Hong Kong). The hotel is operated by Carlson Hotels Worldwide, one of the world’s leading hotel companies.

Situated on Xinkai Road, to the West of Tianjin Railway Station and East of Tianjin Airport, Radisson Plaza Hotel Tianjin is located in the new financial hub of Hedong District, close to Tianjin’s Central Business District, the Tianjin Economic Development Area, the Binhai New Area, as well as many tourist sites and shopping malls. The city of Tianjin is also 29 minutes from Beijing by bullet train.

“There are currently five Radisson properties in China, and as we continue to expand our presence in the China market, we are pleased to introduce the premium Radisson Plaza brand to Tianjin. Radisson Plaza Hotel Tianjin will be the first of six new Radisson properties in China,” said Jean-Marc Busato, managing director – Asia Pacific, Carlson Hotels Worldwide.

“The 23-storey high-rise building, with its unique, iconic design and architectural style, is expected to become a landmark destination for visitors and a symbol of Tianjin’s transformation into a thriving financial centre for business travellers from around the world,” he added.

Radisson Plaza Hotel Tianjin will be the latest addition to Tianjin’s rapidly developing hotel industry and will offer high-quality urban living and facilities to guests. These include a spa, a health club, an indoor heated swimming pool, complimentary high speed internet access in guest rooms and function rooms, as well as extensive conference and meeting facilities.

“An increasing number of foreign companies are moving into the Hedong District, as part of the city’s strategy to shift its economic centre further east. This hotel will provide Tianjin with a fresh, modern design and give a boost to the city’s new financial hub,” said Kjell Rognoy, general manager, Radisson Plaza Hotel Tianjin.

The hotel will have panoramic views of downtown Tianjin, three executive floors, as well as an executive lounge occupying the entire 23rd floor of the hotel. Its signature restaurant, Kushi, is an Asian Grill inspired by a Japanese Robatayaki, and will offer a mix of Western and Asian meat and seafood dishes.

The hotel will also have an all day dining restaurant, Cafe@66, which offers European Brasserie style buffet and à la carte service. The China Station Chinese restaurant specialises in Northern Chinese cuisine, while ‘Purple’ one of the city’s trendiest cocktail bars will be the place to be, and the place to be seen at. Set beside the hotel lobby, Lounge@66 will be the perfect place for a relaxing afternoon tea, or an aperitif before dinner, with Happy Hour promotions a popular daily feature at the lounge.