Jetsettersblog

There is no better time than the present to experience South Africa. With the strength of the pound sterling fluctuating against other currencies, now is the time to hop over to South Africa for an ultra luxurious weekend in the wilderness.

Located in the 75,000-hectare malaria-free Madikwe Game Reserve and only a 50-minute flight from Johannesburg, Molori Safari Lodge accommodates up 10-14 guests. For three nights, guests will experience the best of South Africa with breathtaking accommodation, spectacular scenery and outstanding game viewing.

A traditional Boma dinner will give guests the chance to taste the delicious local cuisine, cooked under the stars and accompanied by some of the finest wines in the region. A bespoke cooking class created personally for each individual guest will teach the secrets of native culinary dishes, using the freshest local ingredients sourced daily.

To complete the South African experience, guests will be pampered from head to toe with a 2.5 hour ritual at the heavenly outdoor spa.

Using indigenous products a Full Body Scrub will be followed by an African Body Wrap, the Molori Spa Hair and Scalp Therapy and completed with a relaxing Hot Stone Back Massage, leaving guests cocooned in absolute bliss.

Among the Lodge’s five free-standing suites, each with its own private infinity pool, wooden decks, indoor and outdoor showers, and fully retractable, floor-to-ceiling glass walls, are two breathtaking Presidential Suites – Metsi and Molelo.

Metsi Suite sleeps two guests (indoor/outdoor area measures 593 sqm) and the Molelo Suite, which has two bedrooms, sleeps four guests (indoor/outdoor area measures 619 sqm).

The eclectic interior design was created by owner Kirk Lazarus, who has crafted the space to fuse neutral tones with touches of vibrant colour. Custom-made furniture has been combined with contemporary pieces by designers such as Fendi, Boffi, and Philipp Plein among others, providing the ultimate hideaway for discerning guests.

A long weekend at Molori Safari Lodge costs from £3,400 per person based on three nights in a double suite (fully inclusive accommodation) and return international flights in economy class with BA, return scheduled light aircraft transfers from Johannesburg to Molori, plus a boma dinner, a bespoke cooking class and a 2.5hr traditional South African spa experience at the lodge.

For more information or to make a booking, visit www.cazloyd.com  or call 0207 384 2332.

Ashdown Park Hotel & Country Club in East Sussex is inviting its guests to take advantage of scrumptious picnic offerings this summer whilst exploring the hotel’s idyllic surroundings, from where A. A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh hails.

Just 40 minutes drive from London; guests can grab a rug and locally produced picnic and head-off into the Sussex countryside to dine amongst some of Winnie-the-Pooh’s famous surroundings.

Designed to suit every member of the family, there is a locally sourced children’s picnic menu available for £6.95, which comprises freshly baked bread, maple roasted Sussex ham or mild red Leicester (for vegetarians), roasted Spanish peppers and a tasty, wild honey and sesame flapjack for afters.

For adults, choices include smoked free range chicken and roasted plum tomatoes, home cured organic salmon ‘Gravadlax’ or Ashdown’s citrus-marinated mozzarella cheese, all of which are available for £13.95 per head.

Having enjoyed a spot of lunch, families can don their explorer hats with a selection of Christopher Somerville-commissioned walks through Pooh Bear’s Hundred Acre Wood. Alternatively, guests can take a leisurely stroll to the Woodland Pond at Ashdown Park’s ‘Pond Corner’ to feed the carp, or venture further afield to The Enchanted Place and Pooh Bridge, both favourites of Christopher Robin and his friends.

Ashdown Park is set in 186 acres of beautifully landscaped Sussex countryside in the heart of Ashdown Forest. The bedrooms & suites are all individually styled and the Country Club provides a relaxing and rejuvenating spa. The hotel also features a Par 3, 18-hole golf course and the award winning Anderida Restaurant, with two AA rosettes and stunning views over the Ashdown Forest.

West Virginia boasts seven wonders of the natural world, from beaches, waterfalls, high plains plateau to river and mountain trails, rock formations and gorges.

West Virginia has several lake beaches offering swimming and boating in lush green settings. The 2,700-acre Summersville Lake and 1,500-acre Sutton Lake also offer mountain biking and hiking trails.

Follow the “Gentle Trail” at Blackwater Falls State Park for a great view of the state’s largest waterfall at 63-feet and one of its most photographed spots. Named for its amber-coloured water, the falls spill into the Blackwater Canyon and great for hiking and biking.

The New River Gorge offers rafting, rock climbing, hiking and mountain biking along one of the world’s oldest and scenic white water rivers. The second-tallest bridge, the New River Gorge Bridge is close by.

Dolly Sods is a 4,000-foot high plains plateau in the Monongahela National Forest. Here blueberries and huckleberries can be picked and where mountain laurel and other flora bloom.

Hike or ride horses along the trails near West Virginia’s highest point, Spruce Knob. From its observation tower at 4,863feet, there is a great view over the State.

Walk the moderate Seneca Rocks Trail up to the summit for an amazing view atop the 900foot rock formation overlooking the confluence of Seneca Creek and the North Fork South Branch Potomac River. The Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area offers world-class climbing, mountain biking and hiking.

Fish for bass or trout at one of the state’s many fishing hot spots: Williams River, Cranberry River, Cherry River, Cheat River, Birch River and Beech Fork Lake.

Nearly 80% of the state is forested (making it among the top three most forested states), and it has 2,000 miles of streams and rivers. West Virginia’s 36 state parks and seven state forests form more than 200,000 acres of natural wonder and scenic beauty.

Six resort parks feature fine dining, nature programmes and championship golf courses.

Fourteen cabin and camping parks provide rustic to modern accommodation and three-day-use trail parks offer picnic sites, swimming, hiking, biking trails and horse riding.

Many historically significant sites have been converted to state parks.

The Lake District’s oldest resident, the Arctic Charr, is providing a rare gastronomic experience for food lovers.

The Ice Age came, went, but in Cumbria it left behind the Arctic Charr.

This ancient fish became landlocked and now in England it lives exclusively in the depths of Buttermere and Lake Windermere.

The fish, which looks like a salmon trout and has a very similar taste, is providing anglers with a rare challenge as well as offering diners an opportunity to savour the taste of one of Britain’s rarest delicacies. While there are concerns for tuna and cod stocks, the Charr population is thriving.

Ray Blackburn, who has owned and run the Derwent Lodge Hotel near Buttermere for more than 20 years, believes that the Charr is the jewel in the crown of the many local delicacies the Lake District has to offer.

The hotel is offering guests boat trips with local fishermen who teach the dark arts of trolling spinning, the traditional method of luring a Charr. Canny anglers need to row continuously to keep their lures alluring, but when successful, head chef Steve Dillon will serve up the fruits of their labours in the dining room for supper.

“It is a delicious fish and has a very delicate taste,” says Blackburn.

“The Charr is now coming into season so this is the very best time of the year to try a taste – lightly grilled and served with fresh vegetables, it is absolutely unbeatable.

“It is almost a ‘best kept secret’ because lots of our visitors have never heard of the Charr”.

“Guests try it here for the first time and become hooked,” says Blackburn.

About The Derwent Lodge Hotel

The Derwent Lodge Hotel is in the village of Embleton, just off the A66 between the market towns of Cockermouth and Keswick. The hotel, situated between the towns of Keswick and Cockermouth, was originally an 18th century farmhouse that has now been beautifully renovated and extended. It has been family owned and run for 20 years and provides both en-suite accommodation as well as luxurious, individually designed apartments.

The apartments sleep up to eight people so are ideal for large families or groups.

The hotel has a renowned restaurant that provides a wide range of regional and international dishes and uses locally sourced produce whenever possible.
Prices start at £75 for single occupancy and £110 for a double. To find out more log on to the website at www.thederwentlodge.co.uk

Grado (Italy) is a charming island on the Adriatic Sea known for its world class beaches.

MILANO, ITALY – Grado is the only Adriatic resort whose beaches all face south. It therefore enjoys a particularly favourable position: kilometres of fine sand, the cleanest sea (European Blue Flag for the past 19 years), a beach for sunbathing, swimming, playing, sports; the best hotels, self-catering accommodation, campsites and holiday villages surrounded by greenery and convenient for visiting Friuli’s many places of interest.

Discovering Grado means finding out what makes a holiday in this seaside resort truly unique. Here, history, tradition, the sea, nature, fine food and wine and a rich calendar of events make the golden isle – so called for its powdery-fine, sun-kissed sand – a tourist destination that always has something new and exciting to offer for a multifaceted holiday.

Choosing Grado means enjoying the best tourist facilities and the finest, variegated holiday accommodation with something for all tastes. Pick one of the many hotels, full-facility modern campsites, self-catering apartments or guesthouses.

Visitors arriving from the north go around the edge of the sparkling lagoon then cross the Belvedere swing bridge, built in 1936, to reach the island of Grado. Arriving from the east, you cross the pretty countryside surrounding Grado before reaching the Pineta, the island’s “green lung”.

Historical notes

The history of this ancient fishing village, set between the Grado lagoon and the Adriatic Sea, dates back to Roman Gradus of the 2nd century BC. In the 19th century it was a favourite watering-place of the Austro-Hungarian empire’s leisured classes and today its beaches, high-quality beach facilities and the healthy properties of its sand and air are still as famous.

The old town

Grado’s long history and time-honoured traditions live on in its labyrinth of narrow streets and little squares. The old town centre, once enclosed in the embrace of the castrum (5th c. AD), reveals many traces of the town’s ancient origins and authentic soul: architectural details, Latin inscriptions, pieces of statuary, pretty medieval houses, and unusual chimneypots which are a distinctive mark of their creative builders.

The port

Behind the old town is the port, an ideal link between the past and the present of a centuries-old fishing community. Built in the shape of an upside-down “Y”, it was one of the most important public works built by the Austrians, who came to Grado in 1815.

The beaches

Grado is the only Adriatic resort whose beaches all face south. It therefore enjoys a particularly favourable position.

The island’s several kilometres of sublimely beautiful beaches are a source of pride for the whole of the Region. For the past 19 years Grado has in fact been awarded the prestigious Blue Flag for the quality of its beaches and its clean seawater. The beaches are sandy and slope very gently into the sea.

Fishing

The Gulf of Grado is rich in fish owing to the sea’s high salinity and its relative depth, which never exceeds 20m. The European anchovy is the main catch of Grado’s fishing fleet. The water colour is a distinguishing trait; the lagoon seems to be drawn by a greenish-blue line.

Sport

The golden isle offers a virtually limitless range of sports for children and adults: from any kind of water sport (canoeing, sailing, windsurfing, water skiing) to every kind of land sport (basketball to beach volley, bocce to soccer, golf to skating, cycling and tennis). You’re never bored on Grado.

Relaxation
wellbeing and entertainment

The Main Beach area also includes the Terme Marine (seawater spa centre), sand-bathing and sun-treatment facilities and the new Parco Termale Acquatico.

Nature

The environment is characterised by the lagoon, a timeless, terraqueous scape and Grado’s true soul.

A multitude of small or large islands covered in vegetation, fish farms, canals and labyrinthine channels form a unique landscape around Grado where nature reigns supreme.

The most characteristic structures are the casoni, under whose sloping roofs the local fisherman found shelter after a day at sea.

Food and wine

In the maze of narrow streets and alleys of the old town are numerous restaurants and trattorias serving delicious local dishes under shady arbours. The traditions of Grado cooking have been handed down through the generations and, not unsurprisingly, centre around fish dishes.

How to get to Grado

From the south or the west, you reach Grado via the Venice-Trieste motorway. Leave the motorway at the Palmanova exit, follow signs to Cervignano then Aquileia. Cross the Belvedere swing bridge to reach Grado.
From the east or the north, once past Trieste follow directions to Monfalcone where you take the SP19 main road which takes you to Grado (about 20km).
The nearest airport to Grado is Trieste-Ronchi dei Legionari, about 20km from Grado.|

The nearest railway stations are Monfalcone and Cervignano which are about 20km and 15km away from the Golden Isle.

In celebration of the Italian Dolomites being named to the UNESCO World Heritage List, Hotel & Spa Rosa Alpina has unveiled four new hiking packages.

“While many typically equate the mountains with wintertime pursuits, the Dolomites are ideal for hiking and adventure enthusiasts, so following the announcement of the UNESCO World Heritage List designation, we introduced a series of packages highlighting some of the summertime activities of the area,” said Hugo Pizzinini, owner and general manager of Hotel Rosa Alpina. Each of the four new packages can be customized to the skill level of the individual hiker.

Packages are as follows: Taste of the Dolomites – four-day package starting at $1,660 per person. Over the course of two days guests can bike through San Cassiano (mountain bike rental provided) or opt to try various hikes: Fanes-Sennes-Braies Nature Park (a wildlife haven with marmots, chamois, roe deer and trout), Sella massif (an enormous fortress-shaped area with an excellent network of paths) and Via Ferrata Piz da Lec.

Luxury Family Hiking in the Dolomites – six-day package priced from $2,350 per person. Active-minded families can explore the Santa Croce Mountain Range (known for its open trails, pine forest and spectacular views), Fanes-Sennes-Braies Nature Park, the restored galleria del Lagazuoi World War I tunnel (flashlights provided), and the five Torri area (following by optional rock-climbing). Families also have the choice of spending a day on the Via Ferrata Col dei Bos (used by Italian alpine military units for training) or hiking through Pralongia-Falzarego-Lagazuoi. The package includes accommodations for one night in the mountain inn of Rifugio Lagazuoi.

Luxury Hiking in the Dolomites – six-day package priced from $2,630 per person. Four hikes are included – Fanes-Sennes-Braies Nature Park and Val di Fanes, plus a choice of two from the following: Settsass (a jagged ridge rising out of gently rolling pastures), Puez High Plateau (appealing to geology enthusiasts with its vast range of rock beds and volcanic-looking cones) and Sella Group. A tour of nearby Cortina D’Ampezzo is also included after descending Val di Fanes. In addition to four nights at Rosa Alpina, guests stay one night in the charming mountain inn of Rifugio Lavarella after hiking Fanes-Sennes-Braies Nature Park.

Luxury Via Ferrata in the Dolomites – six-day priced starting at $2,870 per person.

A via ferrata is a mountain path equipped with fixed cables, ladders and bridges that allow hikers to discover otherwise isolated routes.

This package begins with a hike on the Via Ferrata Averau, a good confidence builder for beginners, and then the Via Ferrata Col dei Bos, Via Ferrata Piz da Lec, Via Ferrata Giuseppe Olivieri, and the option of Via Ferrata Cesco Tomaselli or Via Ferrata Lipella. Following a day on the Via Ferrata Giuseppe Olivieri, hikers enjoy accommodations for one night in the mountain refuge of Rifugio Lagazuoi.

All packages are based on two people sharing a Deluxe Room unless otherwise stated, with tax and service charges included and complimentary access to the hotel’s spa facilities with swimming pool, sauna, steam room, whirlpool and gym.

In addition to accommodations, all packages include most meals, a local English-speaking trekking guide during the trip, and private transportation per the program. Packages that include via ferrata options also feature a local English-speaking UIAGM/IFMGA mountain guide and the necessary climbing and safety equipment.

For more information, visit www.rosalpina.it/special_offers_e.htm

Travco Group announced the official launch of Iberotel Makadi Palms; its real estate development project in Madinat Makadi, Hurghada. The first phase of the Iberotel Makadi Palms comprises 101 units and is located in the tranquil locality of Madinat Makadi surrounding the picturesque Golf Course.

CAIRO, EGYPT, — All apartments, transform one to the true spirit of luxury, with its fully furnished contemporary interiors, ultimate security facilities, and the highest in service and quality standards as renowned by Iberotel.

The residences provide a magnificent view of the resort’s 18-hole championship golf course offering golf fans a premium experience whether during a game, or while relaxing in one’s terrace.

Managed by the company’s flagship hospitality brand, Iberotel, all owners are entitled to exceptional terms of service, warm hospitality, and superb leisure facilities.

Iberotel Makadi Palms is designed for those who appreciate quiet and calm surroundings, with unique locations, exclusive designs, and a variety of leisure activities available at the resort to ensure their holiday at Makadi is unmatched by any other.

Moreover, Iberotel Makadi Palms witnessed one of Egypt’s most talked about events, where celebrity star Melanie Brown and husband Stephan Belafonte renewed their vows among their close friends and family, and referred to the resort as “their home away from home”, especially after purchasing their first property in Egypt.

About Travco Group International:

Travco Group International is the Egypt’s leading integrated travel and leisure group, providing comprehensive services at home and now across the region.

Established in 1979, the company employs 13,000 people and its network of operations and service branches extends nationwide as well as globally, from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Oman to Frankfurt, UK, China, Japan, and, soon, Qatar and soon in Jordan.

Travco Group International has penetrated every facet of Egypt’s tourism industry, with integrated companies offering products and services that cover all sectors of Egypt’s inbound and outbound tourism trade. Travco owns and operates the largest fleet of Nile cruises, hotels and resorts in premier tourist destinations in Egypt. Other services include ground transportation and car rental, restaurants, business jet travel, airline representations, ticketing and ground handling. Its brands include the Travcotels fleet of Nile cruisers, the luxury hotel brand JAZ Resorts, Sol Y Mar and Iberotel hotels & Resorts, Travco Air, Prestige Limousines, the Imperial Restaurant ship, Travco Properties with both resort developments Almaza Bay in Marsa Matruh and Madinat Makadi in the Red Sea.

Travco Group companies handled more than 1.3 million tourist arrivals into Egypt in 2008, representing more than 3 million tourist nights. In September 2008, Travco was named Egypt’s number one travel company for the 12th consecutive year by the Government of Egypt.

For more information, please visit: http://www.travcogroup.com

Chiva-Som, the world famous destination spa, now bottles its products After years of development and refinement, Chiva-Som’s eagerly awaited range of signature skincare and spa products is taking the holistic philosophy of this pioneering destination spa into the wider world.

As a result of consistent guest demand, 27 of the most popular face and body products have been hand-picked and adapted from the specially blended range used in the resort over the last 4 years, to allow guests to take home some of Chiva-Som’s unique spa experience.

Celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, Chiva-Som, Asia’s internationally acclaimed health resort, has become the benchmark for excellence and innovation in its arena, combining traditional Asian therapies with western health and wellness in a mature and constantly evolving offer. Reflecting this, each product in the Chiva-Som range has been meticulously crafted using the latest skincare technology whilst drawing on years of experience, incorporating unique insights into traditional Asian healing practices. Formulated using modern aromatherapy and apothecary techniques, with no synthetic fragrances or chemical preservatives and using local Thai ingredients wherever possible, the range has a distinctive Asian flavour and is 100% pure.

Set to delight devotees and give novices a taste of the Chiva-Som lifestyle, the range incorporates seven body-care and 15 face-care products as well as five massage oils.

The range is suitable for all skin types and for both men and women. Delivering products that are true to the holistic philosophy of spa, each has been created by experts combining aromatherapy, botany, chemistry and perfumery. All the principal ingredients in the range ensure the most effective daily aids to keeping skin fresh, natural and looking its best.

For the face, the Chiva-Som product range features revitalizing and purifying masks; refreshing facial sprays to suit all skin types; healing facial massage oil and an anti-ageing night serum containing a high concentration of antioxidants.

Chiva-Som’s products for the body include a powerful body balm ideal for very dry and sensitive skin; a body mask to soothe aches and pains; and a variety of massage oils to suit everyone.

The new product range is available to purchase from from the boutique in the resort and is available for purchase online at

www.chivasom.com/chiva-som-products

Point Don’t Shout is a new picture dictionary travel application for the iPhone and iPod Touch.

It’s fun and functional, giving you word translations alongside images so you can point even if you don’t speak the language at all. Show the German waiter you have a nut allergy, or the Russian hotelier that you need to iron your shirt.

Lost your laptop charger in China? Show the shopkeeper a picture of what you need!

Point Don’t Shout includes hundreds of common words and phrases, and has a quiz mode that is an addictive way to learn a bit of a new language. Currently supporting nine languages (English UK, English US, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Finnish and Chinese), more are due for release during summer 2009.

Check out a demo video at www.pointdontshout.com. Only available in the iTunes app store.

Frégate Island Private, the exclusive natural haven in the Seychelles, now offers guests an even more heavenly experience with the launch of its new stargazing platform.

Located on the east of the island overlooking Anse Park beach, the observatory platform is free of light pollution and offers awe-inspiring views of the star-studded canopy above courtesy of a high-tech Celestron Ultima 2000 telescope. Guests can even spot shooting stars and their favourite constellations between courses with an enchanting stargazer dinner, served on the platform itself.

With the help of Frégate Island Private’s very own trained stargazer, even guests completely new to astronomy will be able to enjoy thrilling close-up views of the celestial bodies that have enthralled mankind for millennia.

More experienced guests can also refer to a wealth of astronomical literature in the library in Frégate House, as well as daily charts of the evening sky.

Prices for direct bookings start from €1,300 (approx. GB£1,160) per person per night, based on two sharing for a minimum three night stay on a full board basis.

For information and reservations, please call tel: +49 69 86 00 42 980, e-mail: reservations@fregate.com , or visit the website at www.fregate.com