Jetsettersblog

Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort and Spa, Maldives opened July 26.

It is the first international luxury resort on the southern-most tip of Addu Atoll. The resort comprises 142 stand-alone villas, from private ocean retreats to tropical luxury tree house villas perched 9.8 feet above the ground, a first in the Maldives.

Each tree house villa features an elevated infinity pool. In addition to long stretches of sand, the 1.86-mile-long island features 12 hectares of lush vegetation, 17,000 coconut trees, 45 species of plants and ancient banyan trees as well as nature trails for guests to discover the colorful wildlife. CHI, The Spa — Shangri-La’s spa brand — is located in its own spa village at the resort’s highest geographical point, and offers a diverse range of treatments based on Chinese and Himalayan healing rituals.

To discover the lifestyle and culture of Maldivian villages, guests can take a short boat ride to neighboring islands.

Diving enthusiasts can explore the “British Loyalty” shipwreck or dive with giant manta rays that live year-round in the area.

Other recreational activities include an Eco Centre and a dive and water sports center offering surfing, scuba diving, snorkeling and a variety of non-motorized water activities.

The resort’s health club features a well-equipped gym and two tennis courts.

An entertainment center, four retail shops, an Adventure Zone area for children, and a medical center are also available at the resort.

In celebration of its opening, Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort and Spa, Maldives is offering an exclusive package.

From now until Oct. 31, guests can take a seven-night stay for the price of five.

In addition, the offer includes benefits such as return domestic flight transfers from Male to Gan, daily half-board as well as a CHI experience for two. Guests looking for a shorter break can have a complimentary night when paying for a three-night stay.

For more information, call 960-689-7888, email reservations.slmd@shangri-la.com  or visit www.shangri-la.com

Wimco Villas has added three contemporary luxury vacation homes to its St. Barts villa collection in this culinary capital of the Caribbean.

These villas all have Wi-Fi access, audio and video equipment and a host of modern amenities and all offer the flexibility of being rented at lower prices by taking fewer bedrooms than listed.

Villa SIB ACR is a two-bedroom villa with a pool on a Vitet hillside.

It can be rented as a one or two bedroom with rates varying accordingly.

From now through Dec. 14, a weekly rental is from $4,500, and $16,000 from Dec. 15 to Jan. 5. Until Dec. 14, clients can take an additional 10, 15 and 25 percent off the rate for one-, two- or three-week rentals, respectively.

One of the larger villas on St. Barts is designed for families, offering a nanny or chef, the Villa SIB STR in Camaruche offers five bedrooms and five bathrooms, two pools and a Jacuzzi.

It can be rented as three, four or five bedrooms with rates varying accordingly.

From now through Dec. 14, rates are from $15,000 weekly, and $70,000 from Dec. 15 to Jan. 5. A designer gourmet kitchen is the piece de resistance, plus there is an additional sixth bedroom in a separate area suitable for a nanny or chef.

Villa SIB SUB has three bedrooms, three bathrooms and infinity pool. This new contemporary villa is built into the hillside of St. Jean and offers magnificent ocean and landscape views over St. Jean Bay. All rooms open onto the terrace, pool and view. It can be rented as either two or three bedrooms, with rates varying accordingly. From now through Dec. 14, a weekly rental is from $7,500, and $30,000 from Dec. 15 to Jan. 5. Guests of Wimco Villas will also receive the Friend of the Island dining card, which provide 10 percent off the lunch or dinner bill at some of St. Barts’ finest restaurants.

For more information, call 866-683-6135 or visit www.wimco.com  Read the Jetsetters Magazine feature about Wimco Villas on St. Barts.

Governors’ Camp in Kenya now has customs and immigration in place at Mfangano Island, which makes it possible to combine a Masai Mara safari and a Tanzania/Rwanda safari with a short break at Mfangano Island Camp.

Governors’ Camp has a charter aircraft based in the Masai Mara and is now arranging safaris for clients to depart the Masai Mara and fly direct to Mfangano Island Camp where clients can break up their safari with a relaxing island retreat. We arrange for your clients to clear customs and immigration before flying them on to Mwanza to connect with the Coastal Aviation flight which flies daily to many destinations across Tanzania, Zanzibar and Kigali.

The new routing makes possible a simpler journey between Kenya and Tanzania and Rwanda.

This safari is also available in reverse:

Tanzania/Rwanda to Mfangano Island Camp to Masai Mara.

For more information, e-mail

reservations@governorscamp.com

 or info@governorscamp.com ,

or visit www.governorscamp.com

With the economy affecting travel on a global level, companies are re-examining where and how they spend their money, forgoing annual incentive and retreat trips.

Mindful of companies’ need to spend wisely, Half Moon, the 54-year-old resort in Rose Hall, Jamaica, is luring group travelers with savings and value additions worth as much as $36,000. “Compared to other Caribbean resorts, the major incentive with booking with Half Moon is how much is automatically included gratis with a group package,” said Sharon Logan, Half Moon’s associate director of group sales.

“Most properties offer a percentage off here and there for various amenities. However, Half Moon includes items such as private function space, state-of-the-art audio/visual rental, provisions, and more.”

With a group of as little as 25 rooms, the collection of complimentary amenities tallies to over $15,000 in value-add at Half Moon.

A group of 150 rooms receives a $52,000 in value-add savings. Half Moon has over 27,000 square feet of traditional meeting space.

For groups of 25 or more rooms, Half Moon includes one complimentary room per night, meeting and private function space, one staff room at 50 percent off the group rate, private check-in with welcome drink for all group participants, high-speed Internet access, among other amenities. This collection of complimentary amenities tallies to approximately $15,000 in value additions.

A 50-room group will receive two complimentary rooms per night, one suite upgrade at the group rate, 50 percent off the group rate for two staff rooms in addition to private check-in with welcome drink, high-speed Internet access as well as complimentary meeting room and event space; providing up to $24,500 in savings.

In addition to private check-in with welcome drink, high-speed Internet access, complimentary meeting room and event space, groups with 150 rooms will receive four complimentary rooms for the duration of the group event, three suite upgrades at the group rate as well as 50 percent off the group rate for four staff rooms. With Half Moon’s group incentives, the 150-room group will receive approximately $52,000 in value additions and savings.

In addition to automatic group savings, Half Moon also has an array of value-laden group offers such as the new Half Moon Inclusive Group Plans. The collection of three inclusive offers includes the Half Moon Group Plan, the Total Golf Experience Group Plan and the Ultimate in Luxury Group Plan. |

These plans add all meals, premium beverage, one private group event including deluxe bar daily, airport transfers and much more and start at $190 per person, per night (room additional).

The Half Moon Inclusive Group Plans are available throughout the year and can be combined with any of Half Moon’s competitive room rates.

With more than 27,000 square feet of meeting space, which includes a 12,000-square-foot ballroom, a 4,650-square-foot conference center, and 15 function, meeting and break-out rooms totaling more than 10,000 square feet, Half Moon offers a diverse array of meeting choices and provides a beautiful backdrop to any event with its seaside location and breathtaking scenery.

In addition to indoor venues, Half Moon offers a range of outdoor venues to stage theme parties and events. The resort’s team of group and event specialists is adept at staging a variety of group events, from logistics-filled government conferences, sporting events and tournaments to event-filled corporate incentive trips.

The resort has a full-service business center that attends to all the needs of its business travelers, allowing everything from Internet access to photocopying, binding to laminating.

Half Moon is situated on crescent-shaped white sand beaches, with 398 rooms including suites, cottages and villas. Half Moon also features a recently renovated Robert Trent Jones Sr.-designed 18-hole golf course, the Half Moon Golf Academy, 13 lit tennis courts, equestrian center, fitness center, superb cuisine, 51 swimming pools, recently constructed Anancy Children’s Village, water sports, a Dolphin Lagoon, 24-hour medical center and more. Recently opened Fern Tree, The Spa at Half Moon features beachfront spa suites, water sculptures, hydrotherapy swimming pools, yoga pavilions, and therapeutic/healing spa treatments.

For more information, call 800-339-9728 or visit www.halfmoonmeetings.com

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. opened the Four Points by Sheraton Los Angeles in Chile on July 15, 2009.

The newly built hotel has an agreement with Hotel Buenas Noches Los Angeles SA (subsidiary of Casino Austria) to manage the property.

Four Points by Sheraton is located in the center of Los Angeles, close to Concepcion, Chile’s second-largest city.

The hotel is next to the shopping center Mall Plaza and it shares premises with the casino and was designed to attract the corporate market as well as leisure travelers.

Four Points by Sheraton Los Angeles is part of an expected eight total Starwood hotels to open in Latin America this year.

This new property features 90 guestrooms on 16 floors. The hotel offers a 7,018-square-foot ballroom for events and additional meeting rooms that can be divided into three separate sections.

The hotel has a full-service restaurant, a lobby bar, and recreational areas in the hotel include a gym with spa area, including four treatment rooms, and indoor and outdoor swimming pools and deck areas.

Take one incredible, uninterrupted view of the sea, add a splash of inspired interior design and a handful of enthusiasm and flair, and flavour with sunshine and fresh produce.

Mix together and you have all the ingredients of the Urban Reef, Bournemouth’s newest and most stylish restaurant, bar and deli, which has just opened on Boscombe Seafront.

Set at the heart of the new Overstrand development, which features Wayne Hemmingway’s exclusive surf pods, the Urban Reef overlooks Europe’s first artificial surf reef. Set over two floors, it includes a stunning mezzanine on the second floor and a huge sundeck stretching down to the beach.

On the ground floor there is a café bar for relaxed lunchtime snacks and sunset cocktails, and the Urban Beach Deli, where you can pick up local produce including cheeses and cured ham, marinated olives and peppers, homemade honey, New Forest jam and Dorset preserves.

The launch of the Urban Reef follows the huge success of the Urban Beach Hotel – the Reef’s big brother and recently named small hotel of the year.

Like the hotel, the restaurant is committed to using fresh, local and seasonal produce and creating home cooked, beautifully presented food.

Dishes from Head Chef Russell Elson include tasty whole line caught sea bass with rosemary and thyme, and pork belly, served with sweet potato and sage.

Owner of the Urban Reef, Mark Cribb, said: “We wanted to create a theatre. A place where people could come and eat, meet friends, buy fresh produce, and relax. The Overstrand building is an awe-inspiring space and we’ve filled it with subtle, contemporary features; carefully crafted food, and a touch of the quirky design synonymous with the Urban Beach.

“We are proud to sit at the heart of the new Overstrand development and look forward to being a part of the continuing transformation of Boscombe.”

The atmosphere at the Reef follows the sun, with light flooding in from the full height windows during the day. This softens in the evening when a wall of 60 candles creates a soft and intimate feel.

The interior of the Urban Beach, which was designed by Nottingham-based Macaulay Sinclair, is inspired by the 50s and includes swimming ring lighting, herb drawers and subtle seaside colours.

The Urban Reef seats 80 on the sun deck and 100 on the first floor and mezzanine.

Three menus are served during the day, including a breakfast menu from 8 till 11.30, a daytime menu from 12.30 till 5 and a restaurant menu in the evening.

Locally sourced delicious food, an Urban Reef iced cocktail and the sun setting on a view to die for. See you there……..

In a breathtaking position in a site of unrivalled natural beauty, the Hameau de Piantarella is a cluster of prestigious apartments and villas within the grounds of the world renowned Sperone Golf Course, by Robert Trent Jones, with stunning views over the sea to the Lavezzi islands beyond.

Built from red cedar to blend with the natural surroundings, the clubhouse, with restaurant, is just 700m from the apartments whilst Chez Momo serves great pizzas and fish.

Guests can also benefit from preferential golf tariffs with savings of up to 25% outside of peak season (15/06 to 15/09) as well as cheaper prices for boat hire, with or without a skipper.

Prices for Studios from 630-1,840 euros per week
Prices for 1 Bedroom Apartments from 870-2,780 euros per week

Prices for 2 Bedroom Apartments from 1,080-3,370 euros per week

Do take a look:

AT THIS LINK.

For further details visit

www.directCorsica.com

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority board of directors has voted to support and collaborate with the High-Speed Rail Authority (HSRA) for high-speed train service throughout Southern California.

The policy position comes as officials at the state Department of Transportation (Caltrans) work to coordinate rail plans to qualify for federal funding for high-speed rail in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, known as the stimulus bill.

The Metro board’s position placed an emphasis on the Los Angeles-Anaheim section, a move to further bolster the state’s high-speed rail application, which includes a request to fund that section.

The HSRA is responsible for building high-speed train service covering 800 miles at speeds up to 220 miles per hour. Voters approved Proposition 1A on the November 2008 ballot, putting a down payment on what will be America’s first high-speed train system. By linking all major cities in California with a new transportation option,

California’s high-speed train system is expected to increase mobility while cutting air pollution and reducing the greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming. Operating the system is projected to create an annual surplus of more than $1 billion. For more information, visit www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov