Jetsettersblog

LEAVE THE “TWEETS” TO THE BIRDS

Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica

Forty-five minutes down the Madre de Dios River from the closest town – Puerto Maldonado – Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica welcomes guests to the serenity only 29,652 acres of virgin Peruvian rainforest can offer. Accessible only by boat, the lodge’s remote location breaks it free from wireless signals — facilitating guests’ fingers to wrap around Pisco sours and binoculars instead of the latest social-media gadgets.

“Tweets” take on a whole new meaning while mingling with birds atop Inkaterra’s 1,136-foot-long Canopy Walk.

www.inkaterra.com

SHERIDAN, Wyo.—Sheridan has always been a cowboy town, but it is much more than that. Outdoor Life magazine selected it this month as #7 in its list of the Top 200 Towns for Sportsmen.

The magazine cited the hunting bounty, which includes prairie grouse, antelope on the plains and bears, elk and mule deer in the mountains and whitetails and turkeys along the Tongue River.

It also mentioned the alpine lakes, picturesque trout streams and Tongue River Reservoir for fishing.

The upside to the new residents the area has been attracting are more retail outlets, a strong economy and amenities including a small college and live theatre and music. Sheridan also was recently selected by Peter Greenberg as one of the Top 25 Towns with the Best American Values and was picked #3 Top Town for Hunters and Anglers.

This is the heart of cowboy country, so at the end of a day of sports, visitors can settle into the Old West historic downtown for its warm western hospitality, thirty historic buildings housing restaurants, western clothing and leather craft stores, the famous Mint Bar and the Sheridan Inn, where Buffalo Bill Cody lived and auditioned acts for his Wild West Show.

www.sheridanwyoming.org

Returning to Calgary with global experience, acclaim and a promising new partnership, CHARCUT proprietors confirm Le Germain Calgary tenancy.

Calgary, Alberta: Homegrown Calgarian Chefs Connie DeSousa and John Jackson, Service Director Jean Francois Beeroo and Carrie Jackson announce plans to open CHARCUT Roast House in December 2009.

With local appeal and a value-driven, sustainable approach, the new restaurant will be located in the much anticipated Le Germain Calgary project, where the city’s downtown financial and entertainment districts converge.

The name evokes influences of urban-rustic cuisine. The space creates an inviting, memorable gathering place with energy and spontaneity. The people are acclaimed professionals fueled by a commitment to uncompromising, bespoke service.

CHARCUT Roast House marks the first independent restaurant for the group.

The dynamic, young culinary and service oriented ownership team has combined experience opening and operating destination restaurants from New York and San Francisco to Dubai and Bora Bora.

Most recently relocated from San Francisco, North America’s restaurant capital, members of the team have trained and worked at:

Alice Waters’ Chez Panisse in Berkeley, listed by Restaurant Magazine as one of the top fifty restaurants in the world from 2006 to 2008;

Michelin Star AME Restaurant, named as Food & Wine Magazine’s Best New Restaurant San Francisco;

Vitrine Restaurant, at the Mobil 5-Star St. Regis Hotel San Francisco;

Boulevard Restaurant, hailed as one of the best restaurants in San Francisco; and
Jean Georges Vongerichten’s Jean Georges in New York City and Lagoon in Bora Bora.
“Calgary is blossoming as a global dining destination rich in culinary talent with remarkable local farms and produce,” said John. “To be back in Calgary and bringing CHARCUT Roast House to life here is our dream.”

With 140 seats, including a 10-seat reclaimed Douglas fir communal table, a six-seat eating bar and a unique 30-seat sidewalk patio, CHARCUT Roast House is being designed by Montreal-based Lemay Michaud to suit everyday diners as well as small meetings and events.

About CHARCUT Roast House

The founders of CHARCUT Roast House are Chef Connie DeSousa, Chef John Jackson, Service Director Jean Francois Beeroo and Carrie Jackson.

Their goal is to continue to evolve simple ingredients sourced seasonally from local, artisanal farmers and ranchers.

For more information, please visit www.charcut.com and register interest, follow CHARCUT at www.twitter.com/charcut  or on Facebook.

CHARCUT Roast House will be located at Centre Street & 9th Avenue SW, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 1B4.

Ibiza is often thought as a clubbers haven but minutes away lies an island of extreme natural beauty, unspoilt beaches and a lush, green interior perfect for relaxation and escape.

The Balearics Foundation of Sustainability actively promotes the conservation and protection of the environment and from 15th July a selection of ‘Green Workshops’ will tour the beaches of Ibiza, designed to teach locals and visitors essential green values and respect for the environment through a series of fun and imaginative teaching techniques.

The inaugural Green Workshop will take place on Playa Bossa on 15th July situated on the South of the island close to Ibiza Town. Throughout the summer months, these Workshops will tour 22 different beach spots before the closing session on Playa Figueretes on 29th August. Activities will be broken down into four key categories encompassing handicraft, the three R’s (reduce, reuse, recycle), the ‘green comic’ with a series of colouring-in activities and a recycled fancy dress party using recycled items and objects found on the beach.

Each workshop will be suitable for participants of all different nationalities and will encourage creativity and imagination. Participants will learn the differences between ‘rubbish’ and ‘waste’, look at the how and the why behind recycling and acquire new insights into the protection and conservation of the environment.

The Green Workshops are set up by the Balearics Foundation of Sustainability and will run from 10am to 3pm on some of Ibiza’s most renowned and beautiful beach spots. Participants are grouped by age (3-5s, 6-8s and 9-12s) and activities are organised in small groups so that each participant gets individual attention and an optimal learning experience.

Younger children must be accompanied by an adult.
Thanks to green initiatives like the Green Workshops, the image of the Balearic Islands and in particular Ibiza is improving and the services available to holidaymakers and visitors make for an interesting day out for all the family.

Participation in the Green Workshops is free and guests can simply turn up on the day and get involved.

CALENDAR OF ACTIVITIES ON THE BEACHES.

Friday 17th July: Ses Salines.
Saturday 18th July: Ses Salines.
Tuesday 21st July: Cala Jondal.
Wednesday 22nd July: Cala d’Hort.
Thursday 23rd July: cala Vedella.
Friday 24th July: Cala Molí.
Saturday 25th July: Cala Tarida.
Tuesday 28th July: Cala Tarida.
Wednesday 29th July: Platges de Compte.
Thursday 30th July: Cala Bassa.
Friday 31st July: Cala Bassa.
Saturday 1st August: Port d’es Torrent.
Tuesday 4th August: Sant Antoni.
Wednesday 5th August: Sant Antoni.
Thursday 6th August: Cala Gració.
Friday 7th August Cala Salada
Saturday 8th August Port de Sant Miquel
Tuesday 11th August: Port de Sant Miquel.
Wednesday 12th August: Portinax.
Thursday 13th August: Portinax.
Friday 14th August. Cala sant Vicent.
Saturday 15th August: Es Canar.
Tuesday 18th August: Es Canar.
Wednesday 19th August: Es Figueral.
Thursday 20th August: Cala Martina.
Friday 21st August: Santa Eulária.
Saturday 22nd August: Santa Eulária.
Tuesday 25th August: Cala Llonga.
Wednesday 26th August: Cala Llonga.
Thursday 27th August: Talamanca.
Friday 28th August: Talamanca.
Saturday 29th August: Figuerete

For further information on Ibiza, please contact the Ibiza Tourist Board on 0207 953 8294 or
www.ibiza.travel

Whatever is a girl to do to keep cool in this weather? In the case of Lakes Aquarium otter Smudge and her pal Mia, an ice lolly is always a sure bet, though for them these treats aren’t just for a heatwave.

Smudge has been tucking in to a few more ice lollies than usual lately, having recently celebrated her twelfth birthday. There’s nothing better than a few mealworms in a block of ice to interest the playful instincts of these short-clawed Asian otters, but lollies are not the only things causing amusement.

The aquarium, based on the southern shore of Windermere, has developed an on-going programme of innovative otter enrichment that involves the keepers bonding closely with the otters and continuously providing new objects and features that Mia and Smudge can explore and play with.

Creating exciting ways of providing food is another part of this highly interactive programme – the ice lolly being a great example.

The relationship between otters and keepers can be watched by the public three times a day, at otter feeding/talks sessions. Feeding with a talk takes place at 10.30 and 15.00, whilst a talk and interaction alone takes place at 12.30.

The mutual trust is extremely strong, enabling keepers to easily administer any treatment an otter might need, or move them to a veterinary expert, if necessary.

For now though, the sun is out and a daily supply of lollies is stashed in the freezer for Mia and Smudge. For visitors, cool treats are just a stroll away and there’s also some lovely cooling air con to enjoy!

Serena Hotels has taken over operations and management of two new luxury boutique properties, namely the Mivumo River Lodge and the Selous Wildlife Lodge, located within Africa’s largest game reserve and a proclaimed world heritage site, the Selous Game Reserve in Southern Tanzania.

We are pleased to inform you that Serena Hotels has taken over operations and management of two new luxury boutique properties in Tanzania, a move that will effectively strengthen our safari circuits and brand presence within premier leisure destinations in the East Africa region.

Both properties, the Mivumo River Lodge and the Selous Wildlife Lodge are located within Africa’s largest game reserve and a proclaimed world heritage site, the Selous Game Reserve in Southern Tanzania. The units offer guests a wildlife experience that would be difficult to find elsewhere in Africa and a level of comfort and luxury equivalent to the best in Africa.

The Mivumo River Lodge

Set to open on July 15th 2009, the Mivumo River Lodge comprises 12 superior rooms and 3 premium luxury suites decorated in an elegant African style of a bygone era incorporating local materials from the region. Each superior room consists of a luxurious bedroom and lounge with a private balcony offering an indoor bathroom, outdoor shower and an intimate plunge pool.

The rooms are spread out along the mighty Rufiji River to ensure privacy and exclusivity and provide a spectacular viewing location ideal for romantic getaway. Next to the main dining area, there is a lounge and library boasting spectacular views of the river.

The lodge also boasts a sundeck and plush swimming pool.

The Selous Wildlife Lodge

To complement the Mivumo River Lodge, a luxury tented camp unit located on the Eastern bank of the Simbazi River, a tributary of the Rufiji, is set to open on 1st August 2009.

The camp comprises 12 tents positioned under individually grass- thatched structures which are luxuriously furnished with adjoining beautifully appointed majestic bathrooms. Each tent enjoys outstanding views of untouched wilderness, with scatterings of enormous trees and lush, dense vegetation.

The lodge has a separate dining area and guest lounge overlooking the natural watering hole which is also lit in the evenings for night viewings. This is all complemented by an outside viewing deck and swimming pool.

The Selous Game Reserve

The spectrum of wildlife here is abundant and diverse, all the more interesting because its southern location attracts a unique combination of East and Southern African wildlife, both resident and migratory, and particularly a curious and colourful assortment of over 440 known species of birds

How to get there

Flying time from Dar-es-Salaam to Stiegler airstrip is 45 minutes with both the Coastal and Indigo airlines. From here, a pleasant 30minute game drive will get you to either of the lodges.

Both airlines fly to and from Stiegler airstrip twice a day.

Activities

Activities on offer cater for both those seeking the thrill of a safari adventure and those out to simply enjoy the more peaceful and serene environment of this location. They include:

* A full aromatherapy Spa offering a range of treatments including massages, facials, manicures and pedicure

* Exclusive game drives that let you view the breathtaking landscapes and wildlife in the comfort of our superb 4 wheel drive vehicles

* Two types of adventure cruises along the intricate waterways and tributaries of the Rufiji River packed with grunting hippopotami and yawning crocodile, these are:

Game Viewing River cruises during the day and

Sundowner cruises in the evening

Exclusive guided nature walks conducted by qualified expert resident naturalists

Bush picnics in specially selected magical locations within the reserve next to the banks of the Rufiji River

Our all inclusive rates include:

* Stiegler’s airstrip transfer to and from the lodge
* Accommodation
* All meals
* Teas and Coffees
* Regular drinks including soft drinks and a selection of finewines, beers and spirits
* Scheduled nature walks, game drives, excursions & sundowner
outings

* Laundry

Rates exclude:

* Flights and airport departure taxes
* Game Reserve entry and Concession fees
* Telephone calls
* A selection of premium drinks
* Spa facilities

Children Policy

We encourage visits by families, however, children under 6 years are not allowed at the lodges

Both these properties can be easily combined with both Zanzibar and Serena’s Northern circuit properties, particularly Kirawira Tented Camp and Mbuzi Mawe Tented Camp.

How to book

For Reservations, please contact Serena Central Reservations offices in Kenya or Tanzania:

Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: (254-20) 2842000
Email: cro@serena.co.ke

Arusha, Tanzania
Tel: (255-27) 250 4158, 250 4145
Email: reservations@serena.co.tz

World Travel Guide – the inspirational information website for independent travellers – has introduced a brand new range of UK beach guides for summer 2009.

This comprehensive collection of guides reveals the top stretches of coastline in the UK, from deserted Scottish sands to bustling surf destinations. Each guide provides additional information on shopping, accommodation, nightlife, and local attractions, helping Brits holidaying at home and visitors to the UK choose the best beach for them.

Covering the coastline of Britain, our guides include Norfolk’s wild beaches, popular summer destinations Cornwall and Devon, as well as picturesque Welsh shores and pleasure spots like Blackpool, Bournemouth and Brighton.

World Travel Guide’s Beach Guide Editor, Caroline Cullern, says: “From firm family favourites and kiss-me-quick kitsch, to stunning hidden bays and deserted coves, our new series of UK beach guides has something for everyone this summer.”

The new beach guides are online at and are available for content licensing.  Visit this link

Web address:

www.worldtravelguide.net

The World Travel Guide is a comprehensive and inspirational website providing free detailed travel information.

The website is aimed at travellers planning and researching holidays or business trips and covers travel essentials such as visa requirements, sightseeing, hotels, restaurants, duty-free allowances and transport information.

Our key content comprises:

• Travel guides to every country in the world
• 200 city guides
• 300 airport guides
• 200 beach resort guides
• Over 60 ski resort guides
• Over 4,000 worldwide events
• Nearly 500 attraction guides
• 150 cruise port guides
• Latest travel news
• Travel features and stories

Our online destination guides are thoroughly researched and updated by professional travel writers and our team of travel experts.

The World Travel Guide is aimed primarily at the independent traveller and is also an invaluable resource for business travellers and anyone researching destinations before booking a package or tour.

Our core users are independent, English-speaking leisure travellers, largely from the UK and the USA.

Our travel content is available to license, either by complete guide or by section, or with an individually tailored package.

The Rocco Forte Collection’s Verdura Golf & Spa Resort will open its doors on 1st August, 2009. Located on a magical stretch of coast in the rugged south-west corner of Sicily, the resort is set to be the destination of choice this year.

To celebrate its much-anticipated opening, Verdura is offering guests visiting between 1st August until 31st December complimentary benefits including green fees for unlimited golf play on its 3 world-class courses, dinner every evening at any of its four superb restaurants and thalassotherapy spa treatments as well as a 50 per cent discount on a second family room.

The stunning 203-bedroom, Olga Polizzi-designed resort is set in a beautiful 230-hectare estate, a rolling valley of lemon trees and olive groves between the mountains and the Mediterranean.

Verdura, the first resort from The Rocco Forte Collection, boasts 1.8km of unspoilt private beach, two 18-hole championship golf courses and a nine-hole course, designed by Californian golf architect Kyle Phillips (Kingsbarns; The Grove), a luxurious 4,000 sq ft spa with 11 treatment rooms and four thalassotherapy pools, four restaurants, five bars, a 60m two-tiered swimming pool, Kids Club and Teenagers Club, tennis and watersports.

With this exciting Introductory Offer guests will be able to experience many of the fabulous aspects of the resort at no extra cost.

Guests booking a stay at Verdura Golf & Spa Resort on a bed and breakfast basis from 1st August till 31st December 2009 will be eligible for the following benefits:

• Complimentary dinner for every evening of their stay

• Complimentary Green Fees for unlimited use on the three golf courses

• Complimentary 50 minute Spa treatment per room for each three night stay

Families booking a stay at Verdura Golf & Spa Resort on a bed and breakfast basis from 1st August till 31st December 2009 will be eligible for the following benefits:

• A 50 per cent discount on the second room booked for two children aged between 4 to 18 years

• Complimentary 3-course dinner every evening for all family members

• Complimentary daily lunch for children 0-3 years

• 50% discount on daily lunch for children 4-12 years

• Complimentary green fees for unlimited golf on all 3 courses (for parents only)

• A complimentary 50 minute spa treatment for each three night stay(for master/parents room only)

• Verdura Kids Club is free of charge and is open seven days a week, from 10am-10pm, for 4-12 year-olds

• Verdura Teenagers Club and activities are free of charge for 13-18 year-olds

• A babysitting service is available on request

Prices:

Starting rates for a 3-night stay range from €990 for a December visit to €2,100 for a visit in August.

Starting rates for a 6-night stay range from €1,980 for a December visit to €4,200 for a visit in August.

Starting rates for a 6-night stay for a family (one master room and one second family room) range from €2,970 for a December visit to €6,300for a visit in August.

Rates quoted include daily breakfast and VAT.

Verdura Golf & Spa Resort joins The Rocco Forte Collection of individual properties in 13 destinations, and is the company’s first resort.

For reservations, please visit: www.roccofortecollection.com  or call 00800 7666 6667

From the crystalline beaches of the Riviera Maya and lush Central Valley of Costa Rica to Buenos Aires’ steamy milongas and the Galapagos’ phenomenal wildlife, Leading in Latin America gives travelers a chance to explore and experience it all.

From now until September 30, 2009, travelers can enjoy a savings of 30% off at nearly 30 members of The Leading Hotels of the World. With rates starting as low as USD 180 per night, based on double occupancy,

Leading in Latin America is exactly the reason to forgo the stay-cation this summer and discover the likes of Punta del Este, Los Cabos, São Paulo or Patagonia.

A sampling of hotels participating in the “Leading in Latin America” program follows.

Hotel Habita, Mexico City, Mexico – As Mexico City’s most contemporary luxury hotel, Hotel Habita appears as a floating glass box in the upscale area of Polanco.

Inside, serene and elegant spaces combine modern design with personalized service. A rooftop bar and terrace with fireplace features a nightly DJ and great ambiance.

Grand Velas All Suites and Spa Resorts, Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico –

Less than a year old, the stunning Grand Velas is a sophisticated all-inclusive resort on the Mexican Pacific Riviera. Featuring only ocean-view, one- and two-bedroom suites, each one offers the most luxurious amenities and services.

A unique 16,500 square-foot Leading Spa is the property’s crowning jewel.

Bristol Panama, Panama City, Panama – The Bristol is an elegant retreat with spacious and lavishly furnished accommodations, luxurious bathrooms and the very best in personal butler service. Just steps from the vibrant financial and commercial districts of Panama City, the hotel is home to Barandas, one of Panama’s most celebrated restaurants.

Tabacon Grand Spa Thermal Resort, La Fortuna, Costa Rica –

Visitors to the breathtaking Tabacon Grand Spa Thermal Resort experience all the beauty of the surrounding natural thermal river with twelve hot spring pools and lagoons, lush waterfalls, exotic gardens and trails. The magical, one-of-a-kind hotel features 103 rooms and 11 suites with stunning partial volcano, garden or forest views.

Faena Hotel + Universe, Buenos Aires, Argentina –

Faena Hotel + Universe is a decadent wonderland boasting ultra-luxurious suites, a stunning pool, rejuvenating spa, two restaurants and award-winning live shows. The urban resort is housed in a historic former granary in Buenos Aires’ dynamic waterfront district, Puerto Madero.

Hotel Fasano Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil –

Located on Avenida Vieira Souta, in the heart of Ipanema beach, the Fasano is a tribute to the Bossa Nova era, as envisioned by Philippe Starck. Rooms all feature private balconies and marble baths with rain showers. The rooftop swimming pool with its breathtaking view makes the Fasano one of the most desirable destinations in Rio.

For more information or to reserve “Leading in Latin America,” please visit

www.lhw.com/latinamerica

 or call 02 9377 8444 within Sydney or toll free Australia wide 1800 222 033 and New Zealand 0800 441 016.

Refer to booking code L48 when making a voice reservation.

Please note: All programs are subject to availability.

Rates vary by hotel and are subject to change without notice. Discounts and special offers cannot be combined.

Local taxes and service charges are additional. Certain restrictions may apply.

About The Leading Hotels of the World

The Leading Hotels of the World is the prestigious luxury hospitality organization representing more than 450 of the world’s finest hotels, resorts and spas, and is the operator of www.lhw.com and www.lhwspas.com – the online sources for your luxury lifestyle. As the largest international luxury hotel brand, the firm maintains offices in 24 major markets across the globe.

Since 1928, the company’s reputation for excellence derives from the exacting levels of quality it demands of its members, each of which must pass a rigorous, anonymous inspection covering hundreds of meticulous criteria spanning from product to behavioral standards.

This set of standards is the most stringent in the industry.

 For reservations and information, please call 02 9377 8444 within Sydney or toll free Australia wide 1800 222 033 and New Zealand 0800 441 016 or visit www.lhw.com

Qantas Freight has commenced a direct weekly Boeing 747-400 freighter service between Australia, Vietnam, China and the United States.

Executive Manager Qantas Freight, Mr Stephen Cleary said the new route confirmed Qantas Freight’s commitment to seeking new opportunities to service the needs of its global customers against the background of a worldwide decline in demand.

“Vietnam is one of the few countries in the region that continues to see export growth, and we are very pleased to be able to support initiatives to grow trade between Australia and Vietnam and between Vietnam and the rest of the world,” Mr Cleary said.

“Our service will offer Vietnamese exporters one of the shortest transit times to the US and is conveniently timed to connect with our scheduled mainland China trucking services as well as passenger and freighter aircraft operating from Shanghai back into Australia. “Importantly, we also have the option to add a second weekly service once global air freight volumes pick up.”

Mr Cleary said that the new service would operate under the flight number QF7585 direct from Sydney to Tan Son Nhat International Airport approximately six kilometres from Ho Chi Mihn City, the country’s economic hub.

The service will depart every Thursday from Sydney and Ho Chi Minh City, arriving in Shanghai and New York early on Friday morning and Chicago early on Saturday morning.

Mr Cleary said Qantas Freight had recently made a number of changes to its freighter operations in response to the global decline in airfreight volumes

“In recent months we have successfully redirected capacity and resources from our European and Middle Eastern services to add Bangkok, Auckland, Melbourne, Singapore and now Ho Chi Minh City to our network,” he said.