Jetsettersblog

Antigua’s St. James’s Club & Villas unveiled 50 waterfront all-inclusive Royal Suites with dedicated concierge service.

To celebrate, the luxury resort is offering special rates and resort credit for bookings made by Oct. 1 for travel now through March 31, 2010.

The special double occupancy all-inclusive rate is $599 per night for travel through Dec. 20; $799 from Dec. 21 to Jan. 2; and $699 from Jan. 3 to March 31.

Those who vacation a minimum of five nights at the resort in the Royal Suites will receive $500 in resort credit; for stays of seven nights or more, Royal Suite guests receive $1,000 in resort credit through March 31.

The new 568-square-foot suites are designed with sunken living rooms, wet bars, floor-to-ceiling windows providing stunning water views, private balconies and expansive bathrooms with his-and-her showers and deep soaking tubs.

They also feature king-sized beds with premium pillow top mattresses, 37-inch flat-screen HDTVs, iPod dockings stations, sleek Italian tile and a tropical Caribbean décor with classic rattan furnishings. The Antigua property’s new Royal Suites have their own dedicated concierge for check-in and special needs, plus feature two new pools and a private bar for socializing. The St. James’s Club & Villas is a member of Elite Island Resorts.

For more information, call 800-345-0356 or visit www.eliteislandresorts.com/royal

Dutch Princess Margriet opened the new Archeological Museum and the new Arikok National Park Visitor’s Center in Aruba.

The Aruba National Archeological Museum complex offers an authentic glimpse into 5,000 years of regional history with entertaining and interactive displays.

The Museum features classic colonial type buildings which were restored, a research center for serious study and temporary exhibitions.

The Arikok National Park of Aruba unveiled a new visitor’s center after its three-year makeover. The center includes headquarters for the nearly 40 rangers who patrol the park, and a souvenir shop for visitors. The national park occupies 18 percent of Aruba’s land mass and is home to the countless indigenous flora and fauna characteristics to Aruba’s unique tropical dessert climate, as well as families of goats and donkeys.

For more information, visit www.aruba.com

Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – The recent opening of Park Hyatt Jeddah – Marina, Club and Spa, Saudi Arabia’s latest luxury hotel, adds a new level of understated elegance to the fast-growing city of Jeddah, catering to affluent leisure and business travelers, say Hyatt executives.

Contrary to the high-rise buildings that make up Jeddah’s skyline, the 142-room Park Hyatt Jeddah is a five-star sanctuary spread over a 34.5-acre (140,000 sq m) complex, located within the esteemed Al Hamra District at the Equestrian Club of Jeddah, and just minutes away from the central business district.

“The opening of Park Hyatt Jeddah will meet the demand for a luxury city-centre resort hotel that offers personal service for the growing number of both leisure and business travellers visiting Jeddah,” said Rady M. Rady, General Manager, Park Hyatt Jeddah.

“From design and architecture to food and beverage, every aspect of this hotel has been carefully planned to ensure our guests experience authentic hospitality in a truly serene environment,” added Rady.

Park Hyatt properties are built under the promise that luxury is personal. Each unique property boasts of dramatic architecture and design, and offers guests privacy, personalized service and peerless quality.

Overlooking the Red Sea and the world-famous King Fahd fountain, Park Hyatt Jeddah’s business and leisure guests can experience the property’s first-class dining options, explore the array of sport and leisure activities organised by the concierge team, and take advantage of the state-of-the-art meeting and business facilities that the hotel has to offer.

The commercial and financial districts, as well as the main shopping and entertainment areas of Jeddah are nearby, making Park Hyatt Jeddah the ideal launching point from which visitors can conduct business or explore the relaxing activities of the destination.

Park Hyatt Jeddah – Marina, Club and Spa is also the perfect base for Hajj or Umrah pilgrimages to Mecca or Medina. Located just 30 minutes away from the King Abdullaziz International Airport, Park Hyatt Jeddah is a well-situated stopover upon entering or leaving the region. Mecca is a convenient 45-minute drive from the hotel.

With its intimate and residential-style features, Park Hyatt Jeddah combines a sleek European style with Arab-Andalusian architecture. The surrounding resort complex will feature built-up and impressive 2.5-acres (10,000 square meters) of spa and wellness facilities, the Lazurde Meetings & Events Centre, a yacht marina, as well as a variety of innovative restaurants and stylish lounges.

The Lazurde Meetings & Events Centre features 26,000 square feet (2,500 square meters) of meeting and banquet facilities adjacent to Park Hyatt Jeddah. The Centre is accessible by a dedicated entrance for total discretion and convenience. This elegant facility is set to play host to wedding parties, product launches, corporate meetings and conferences for up to 800 guests.

Park Hyatt Jeddah’s signature dining outlet, Nafoura Restaurant offers the finest in Mediterranean cuisine with a menu of mouth-watering mezzes and à la carte delicacies, while The Lounge, located in the central lobby of the hotel, offers striking views across the Red Sea and King Fahd fountain, providing the perfect backdrop for a light business lunch or relaxing evening. The Lounge also includes the Cigar Room which will serve a variety of high quality cigars from around the world.

An additional four food and beverage outlets will open soon adding to the entertainment and dining experience at Park Hyatt Jeddah.

The soon-to-open spa and wellness facilities at Park Hyatt Jeddah are expected to be ready later this year and will offer an impressive 2.5-acre (10,000 square meters) complex for an array of sports and leisure pursuits divided into separate areas for both ladies and gentlemen including the region’s first Hydrotherapy center.

The Monarch Dubai, a five star luxury hotel located at One Sheikh Zayed Road, once again demonstrates its passion and flair for innovation with the launch of the unique new ‘name your price for luxury’ promotion which goes live today until the end of September 2009.

Guests wishing to book a room, spa treatment or table at one of The Monarch Dubai’s premium restaurants or lounges can now simply log onto www.themonarchdubai.com  website and make a silent bid at the price of their choice. The bid then goes through to the hotel, who will respond within 12 hours to confirm if the bid has been successful.

People can bid for a whole host of services and rooms including the chance to bid for a night in the award-winning Monarch Suite, the hotel’s crowning glory and the largest hotel suite in the Middle East which usually comes with a 49,000 AED price tag.

Complete with an extensive range of state of the art technology, a private movie theatre, two Majlis, a wood-panelled Monarch library and extensive outdoor area with private terrace, pool and sun-deck, The Monarch Suite has played host to a number of VIPs including Paris Hilton, Sir Richard Branson and Kofi Anan as well as other dignitaries and Royalty.

Werner Pichler, Director of Sales & Marketing said “We wanted to do something truly unique that sets us apart from the usual discounts offered at this time of year, whilst delivering the ultimate luxurious experience for our guests. We pride ourselves on offering the best possible service and we know this sort of fun, interactive way of booking services at the hotel is something our guests will appreciate.

He continued “The best part of the promotion is the element of surprise and anticipation, and even if the bid isn’t successful, we will be offering each person who enters the promotion a 50% discount in our Mizaan restaurant so it’s a win win situation!”

The Monarch Dubai’s ‘Name Your Price for Luxury’ promotion is now live and will run until the end of September 2009.

The site is accessible from anywhere in the world, and guests will simply need a valid credit card to secure their booking.

The original value will be listed alongside each service, and guests input the amount they are prepared to pay – they will then be contacted within 12 hours to be informed if their bid was successful.

The website will be divided up into three areas – rooms, spa treatments and dining. Within each section, there will be four options to choose from, including:

• The Monarch Dubai Rooms – from Deluxe Rooms to The Monarch Suite

• Spa Treatments at Mandara Spa – from Pure Natural Facial to Mandara Massage

• Dining – from International cuisine at Mizaan to cigars at Diademas Cigar Lounge or sizzling steak at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse

Terms and conditions are available on the website.

For more information, visit

www.themonarchdubai.com.

In 2008 record numbers of school-leavers deferred their university place for 12 months, with 33,717[1] students preferring to take a gap year rather than hit the books.

As A Level results loom and the financial crisis continues, Tourism Australia is encouraging young Brits to bridge the gap with a Working Holiday Visa by highlighting the benefits to combine work and play.

An Australian Working Holiday Visa allows 18-30 year olds the opportunity to combine 12 months travelling in Australia with incidental work, making those holiday funds go further and giving ‘gappers’ the opportunity to live the Aussie lifestyle.

A recent study published by the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship[2] (DIAC) found the principal reasons for applying for the visa were travelling around Australia and living in Australia.

The most popular form of work for Working Holiday Visa Makers was farm hand work, accounting for 26% of the total jobs. 86% of these farm hand jobs were located in regional areas highlighting their appetite to travel outside of the gateway cities to experience the outback, small country towns and meet local characters.

The same survey showed the average hourly wage of British Working Holiday Makers was $19.40 (approximately £10).

On an average five day working week, this would equate to earnings of $776 (approximately £385), enough to cover accommodation and food bills for the week and leaving enough to put towards experiences such as island sailing trips; outback adventures and domestic travel.

Tourism Australia General Manager (UK and Europe), Rodney Harrex comments:
“The 12 month gap year to Australia is a popular choice for young British school-leavers because it is the chance to live abroad before knuckling down and embarking on a career or starting university.

“It provides young people with the opportunity to supplement their travels with incidental work, meaning they gain life experiences and confidence while having an amazing holiday experience.

“And if gappers fall in love with the country and want to extend their visas, they can. Provided they conduct at least three months ‘specified work’ such as fruit picking in a regional area, they can apply to have their visa extended for a second year.”

For the 12 months ending 31 May 2009, there has been a 19.5% increase[3] in the number of first Working Holiday Visas granted to British citizens.

For more information, visit www.australia.com/workingholiday.

With demand high for British holidays this year CV Travel has added two new properties in The Cotswolds and Cornwall, in time for August arrivals.

The company introduced its first British collection in January 2009, supplementing a worldwide choice of exceptional and individual villas and houses.

New cottages in the Cotswolds
Wychwood cottages (http://bit.ly/2mlMq4) , with accommodation for 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 guests, are formed from the stables of the nearby Abbey and offer accommodation with antique furniture, four poster beds and open log fires, and gardens with children’s play areas and a heated indoor pool, gym and spa complex. A week’s stay at Wychwood Cottages costs from £1332, for two sharing, £1308 for four sharing and £1789 for six sharing.

New Cornish apartments
Also new to CV Travel’s programme for this summer are apartments in a period property at Lamorna on Cornwall’s Penwith peninsula (http://bit.ly/GwSu5 ).

The properties are set in 3 acres of grounds, a 5 minute woodland walk from the sea and have a shared, heated outdoor pool. Apartments for 2 – 6 guests can still be booked in August, for example, a 4 person apartment in  August for £1914 per week and a 2 person apartment in August at £1158 per week.

Contact CV Travel on 020 7401 1086 and www.cvtravel.co.uk

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Kigali: Beginning July 16, 2009, RwandAir will introduce a 7am frequency every Monday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday on the Nairobi – Kigali route. Up until now, the airline has had a 4am and 11.50am flights for Nairobi.

“We want to cater for the category of our passengers who want to be in Nairobi mid morning. The 7am departure from Kigali gets you into Nairobi by 9am. I am sure this will come as a relief for passengers who found checking in at 2am in the morning for the 4am departure cumbersome.

” Our 4am frequency to Nairobi still remains and will be operated every Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday”, said Francine Sharangabo, the Airline Passenger Sales Manager. “However, the 11.50am departure to Nairobi remains seven days a week”, she added.

The Network Planning and Revenue Management department at RwandAir, have hinted at increasing passenger numbers on the Kigali – Nairobi route as one of the key reasons for the introduction of the third frequency. “We are looking into passenger number projections and combining this with feedback from the market which seems to indicate a high preference for the 7am flight”, said a statement from the department’s head.

With the high season reaching its peak, RwandAir has planned to introduce a fifth frequency into Johannesburg every Monday beginning August 2009. “September is not only a heritage month in Johannesburg, but it is also a shopping hotspot for the continent.

“We anticipate more travel into Jozi for the shopping festival hence the 5th frequency”, said Michael Otieno, Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications at RwandAir. “Of course advance bookings are already looking impressive, I think travelers should consider buying tickets now to avoid the last minute rush”, he added.

RwandAir has plans to fly into Johannesburg daily before the end of the year and is currently working on special offers and packages for the FIFA World Cup 2010.

A 1,700-year-old mosaic floor discovered in the city of Lod south of Tel Aviv in 1996 will be unearthed and displayed to the public at the city’s Mosaic Archaeological Center after 13 years in concealment.

The 180-square-foot mosaic is composed of colored carpets depicting mammals, birds, fish, a variety of flora and sailing and merchant ships.

www.antiquities.org.il

The Museum of the Jewish People, the world’s first museum to tell the story of the Jewish People, will open to travelers in Tel Aviv in 2012.

The 1,222-square-foot museum will showcase a permanent interactive exhibition that will take its visitors through more than 3,000 years of Jewish history and feature art galleries, lecture and banquet halls and a cafeteria.

The main aqueduct that conveyed water to the Temple Mount and served as the principal water supply to the Sultan’s Pool was uncovered during a recent excavation in Mishkenot Sha’ananim outside the walls of Jerusalem’s Old City.

The ancient aqueduct carried purified drinking water to pilgrims and residents of Jerusalem more than 2,000 years ago.