Jetsettersblog

ANTIGUA, West Indies – A much-anticipated addition to the Caribbean resort scene, Sugar Ridge is set to open its doors to guests on December 1, 2009 on the island of Antigua. Leading global architectural and design firm, OBMI, was behind the project, and after more than four years and $30M USD invested, the resort is expected to set the stage as a leader in its category.

“Our entire team remained focused on this project, even in this challenging economic climate. The opening of this hotel is a tribute to what we, as visionaries, have set out to do: offer a luxurious resort experience that was affordable and unrivaled in the region. Our guests are progressive, and crave culture and exploration. They want to combine fine hotel amenities with the sensibility of their destination.

“We are confident that travelers the world over will embrace Sugar Ridge for its design, superior amenities, location and value,” stated company director Aidan McCauley.

A natural hillside bordered with sugar cane is the namesake location of Sugar Ridge, which is enveloped with colorful, indigenous flora and fauna in addition to the sweet cane that serves as a base of many of Antigua’s libations.

Sixty rooms wrap around the property, featuring panoramic views to the south and west of palm-lined beaches and the turquoise Caribbean Sea, plus the neighboring islands of Redonda, St. Kitts and Nevis.

The resort’s elevation provides vistas to the north of rolling landscape dotted with picturesque villages; to the east lays the untouched forested terrain of Antigua’s dramatic coastal highlands.

Bathed in an earth tone palette of creams, soft whites, warm beiges and accented by strong feature colors and sumptuous dark woods, each of the guest rooms at Sugar Ridge invite relaxation.

Interior décor melds a fusion of modern contemporary style with the rich history of the region.

Stone tiles, hardwood detailing and mixed wood shingle and metal clad roofs compliment simple render finished structures.

Large windows and doors allow seamless indoor-outdoor living. Views in all directions – from the Caribbean Sea to the backdrop of the lush foothills– are overlaid with a sense of peaceful seclusion.

All accommodations feature comfortable outdoor lounging areas with private decks for basking in the sun, spacious living areas, iPod docking stations, electronic safe, telephones, mini-fridge, tea/coffee-making facilities, complimentary wireless Internet and LCD flat screen televisions.

Each ground floor room offers a plunge pool, while upper floors have larger outdoor living areas with day beds.

For adventurous guests wishing to dive deep into the crystal blue ocean or explore the island, Sugar Ridge is the ultimate base for discovering everything Antigua has to offer. The guest services team at the resort are able to organize endless activities such as kite surfing, water skiing, windsurfing, kayaking, fishing, snorkeling, catamaran sailing or wake and knee boarding.

Sugar Ridge can also arrange a variety of dive courses and access to the island’s most incredible coastline, wrecks and breathtaking reefs. Beach facilities, a marina and an 18-hole golf course are a three-minute drive away and accessed by the hotel’s private shuttle.

The property is also home to an exclusive retail area with eight boutiques offering an extensive selection of merchandise.

A 6,000 square foot spa was developed with global sustainability leader Aveda™ providing guests a full collection of treatments featuring the latest in holistic therapies, a hair salon and manicures and pedicures.

The fully air-conditioned gym features Cybex fitness equipment, 24 fitness machines including 13 for cardiovascular health.

Adjacent to the gym is an air-conditioned studio for aerobics, pilates and yoga classes.

The resort also boasts two swimming pools: an 82-foot long lap pool and a 44-foot pool complete with cabanas and sun bathing areas.

Guests can fulfill their epicurean desires with two restaurants and lounges. In a stunning, hilltop open-air setting with unending views of the Caribbean Sea, Carmichael’s serves an international blend of contemporary cuisine. Head Chef Matt Westwood ensures that his menu reflects ‘what’s fresh now,’ from Antigua’s local market.

Carmichael’s also offers an intriguing list of American, European, and New World wines. Sugar Club, the resort’s main restaurant is the social epicenter of the resort. Head Chef Marvis Brade’s menu takes a modern approach to Caribbean and Mediterranean cuisine. In addition to indoor dining, guests may choose to dine on the verandah, overlooking the swimming pool and adjacent shopping village. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Sugar Club is a pleasant, intimate, informal yet elegant restaurant.

Carmichael’s Bar offers a menu of fine wines and spirits, Caribbean rums, innovative cocktails and thirst-quenching beverages. This sophisticated yet comfortable bar and lounge is the prime destination for a pre-dinner cocktail or after-dinner cigar and aged rum with views overlooking the infinity edge pool and sun deck. Infused with a warm and refined atmosphere, accented by contemporary design elements, Sugar Club Bar boasts lively entertainment and is the hub of all activity day and night.

Romance blossoms naturally in this lush sanctuary and Sugar Ridge offers the opportunity to rent the entire resort for weddings, as well as smaller, more customized affairs.

Small incentive groups bring unrivalled focus to any business gathering in this ideal retreat. Host receptions amidst the resort’s gardens or on one of Antigua’s 365 beaches; the team at Sugar Ridge will also plan creative incentive activities and events ensuring a seamless trip from start to finish.

Introductory rates for travel from December 1-22, 2009 start at US$72 per person, per night, based on double occupancy including breakfast. All-inclusive rates start at US$162 per person, per night, based on double occupancy. From December 23-April 9, 2010, rates start at US$120 per person, per night based on double occupancy with breakfast.

All bookings must be made by January 31, 2010. All rates are subject to 10% service charge and 10.5% government tax. All-inclusive rates are comprised of breakfast, lunch and dinner, local beverages and house wines. A minimum five-night stay is required. Introductory rates are not combinable with any other offers.

For more information and to make a reservation, visit www.sugarridgeantigua.com  or call, +1 268-562-7700; email: hotel@sugarridgeantigua.com

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company,  will open Phulay Bay, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve on Dec. 22 in Krabi, Southern Thailand.

The world’s first Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Phulay Bay will embody the attributes, philosophy and style and design of the Reserve brand extension.

Appealing to affluent travelers seeking more from their leisure time, Ritz-Carlton Reserve will offer resorts in secluded and naturally beautiful locations around the world. Set on the shores of the Andaman Sea, Phulay Bay is a hideaway 54-villa and pavilion boutique hotel with unspoiled views of the towering limestone karsts which make up the beautiful landscape of this part of southern Thailand.

Coupled with sandy beaches, a coastline flecked with more than 200 islands, surrounded by a national forest with rugged rock formations and hidden waterfalls, Phulay Bay is a natural wonder.

Located on the shore of the Andaman Sea, the resort features modern styling and architecture with accents of Thai culture and design to create a synergy of luxury and tradition to compliment its secluded location. The use of traditional Lanna art forms both in architectural structure and design, as well as paintings and artworks on the walls and doors of the villas, further create a contemporary setting that draws on tradition to offer a unique and luxurious environment and further enlivens the senses.

With an emphasis on personalized, bespoke experiences, guests can “design” or tailor make their visit to perfectly suit their needs and desires, including a light BBQ lunch in your favorite area of the resort, a meditation class with local monks, elephant trekking to a remote picnic spot, or a sea plane tour of region’s dramatic scenery.

Whatever the request, the resort will tailor-make the visit and personalize the experience.

The opening rates for Phulay Bay, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve are as follows: Resort Pavilion, THB 19,550 ($585); Ocean Pavilion, THB 21,250 ($636); Beach Villa, THB 27,200 ($814); Reserve Villa, THB 44,200 ($1,322); and Royal Beach Villa, THB68,000 ($2,034). All rates are subject to 18.7 percent service charges and taxes.

TREATMENTS GEARED TOWARDS COUPLES

Pamper your loved one with the romantic escape of a lifetime at Fiji Resort & Spa by Hilton, and make their dreams come true. Couples have a choice from a selection of luxurious rooms, perfect for an intimate getaway in paradise and wake up to a daily breakfast at the oceanfront Nuku Restaurant and to intimate dinner for two on the beach.

Information: www.fijibeachresortbyhilton.com/special-offers.aspx

A retired American couple say the are the first to drive an RV up the historic Tea-Horse Road between China and Tibet — the road has the dubious distinction of being the most dangerous in the world.

“The Chinese travel authority and the Lonely Planet [travel guide] both describe that road as the most beautiful and the most dangerous in the world, which I’ll second,” Harriet Halkyard who with her husband John took the road not traveled

“The road was good and passable for a couple of horses, but that was about it. We were knocking boulders off 2,000- or 3,000-foot cliffs, like into the Grand Canyon. It was not a good road, to put it mildly,” she told Canwest News Service.

She concluded the trip was risky but worth it. “I don’t want to die in bed,” she said.

Holiday Inn Resort Aruba recently strengthened its commitment to the gay and lesbian travel community by joining the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA). Headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, IGLTA is the world’s leading travel trade association committed to growing and enhancing its members’ gay and lesbian tourism business through education, promotion and networking.

“The Holiday Inn Resort Aruba has a 40-year history of providing fun and affordable vacation experiences for all types of travelers,” said Raul Villagran, director of sales & marketing for Holiday Inn Resorts Caribbean.

“Our doors have always been and will always continue to be open to everyone. Membership in IGLTA further emphasizes this, while also creating top-of-mind awareness for us among gay and lesbian travelers.”

IGLTA is the world’s leading authority, resource and representative of gay and lesbian travel.

Its membership is located in 55 countries around the world and consists of accommodations, airlines, tour operators, travel agents, tourism offices, media and other key players in the tourism industry.

IGLTA works to help the tourism industry attract gay and lesbian consumers and learn more about the gay and lesbian market. Since its founding in 1983, IGLTA has expanded its international influence from just 25 members to over 2,000.

For more information, visit www.iglta.org

Buenaventura Grand Hotel & Spa in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico is offering young spa enthusiasts a private sanctuary with the introduction of their Kids Spa at the open-air spa Shakti.

Now kids can relax and rejuvenate just like their parents with specially designed, fun, kid-themed pampering spa treatments for kids, ages 5 to 13.

A fun and whimsical menu of 15- to 35-minute manicures, pedicures, massages, scrubs, facials and therapeutic body treatments are available.

Treatments include the little princess massage, fruit massage complete with chocolate, mango, pineapple and coconut essences, vanilla rainbow body treatment with a vanilla exfoliation, vanilla moisturizer and colorful marshmallows, a strawberry facial or delicious lemon ice cream pedicure.

Each treatment is topped off with a milk shake of choice for every young spa enthusiast to enjoy. A parent or adult guardian must accompany kids during spa treatments.

For more information or reservations, call 888-859-9439, email ventas@hotelesbuenaventura.com.mx  

or visit www.hotelbuenaventura.com.mx

Hertz has added three models to its Fun Collection at a range of locations across Europe.

Thrill seekers can drive away the BMW Z4 sDrive 23i from locations in Spain, and the Lotus Elise and Exige from branches across Italy.

Drivers can also take to the road with the new pink Fiat 500 Rosa, a special edition vehicle available exclusively in the Netherlands.

All Hertz Fun Collection cars are make and model reservable, giving drivers the guarantee that the car they book is the one they will drive away in.

Nevis’ Golden Rock Inn is kicking off the peak season with a new, open-air, glass roof restaurant and terraced water garden offering views of the sea with Antigua, Montserrat and Redonda in the distance. American artists Brice and Helen Marden, now part owners of the inn, hired architect Ed Tuttle to create the stone indoor/outdoor dining area. Known for his work at Aman Resorts around the world, Tuttle has also designed a stone gazebo that resembles an upside-down copper, used in the original plantation era to boil sugar cane.

The hotel reopens with an extensive new wine cellar and Chef Janice Ryan, well known for heading the kitchens at other famed restaurants and hotels in St. Kitts and Nevis. leading the culinary team.

Rates based on double occupancy through Dec. 23 start at $200 a night.

For more information, call 869-469-3346

or visit www.golden-rock.com

Nevis’ Montpelier Plantation Inn reopens after the summer with a new, poolside tapas restaurant, Indigo.

An evolution in Montpelier dining, Indigo represents the owners’ commitment to the environment and the importance of buying local products.

Responding to their guests’ preference for casual dining, local ingredients and smaller portion sizes, the Caribbean-infused tapas menu encompasses several small tasting dishes that can be shared or easily eaten alone.

The hotel also reopens with a new spa suite, featuring large glass windows offering views. In 2010, the hotel will be increasing its beach activities to cater to the more energetic, health-conscious guest.

Ocean kayaks and mountain bicycles will be available at the beach, along with a full selection of snorkel equipment.

Rates based on double occupancy in a premier room and including breakfast through Dec. 14 are $420 a night.

For more information, call 869-469-3462 or visit www.montpeliernevis.com

Six British cities are now promoting their heritage, history, culture, and events to all English-speaking long-haul markets — especially the United States and Canada — through a new-look website, www.heritagecities.com

They are “Britain’s Heritage Cities,” made up of Bath, Durham, Canterbury, Chester, Stratford-upon-Avon and York. Collectively, for long-stay visitors, the cities provide a focus for a touring holiday of Britain.

But individually, each one of them is also well-placed for a short-stay city break.

Recent changes to the nature of all British cities, meantime, also mean that they now appeal to those in search of “high-end” pastimes and pleasures, from world-class theater and award-winning restaurants, to modern five-star hotels and spas.

The new-look website highlights all of this. One feature of the new site is its simplified layout, which makes it much easier and quicker for users to find out precisely what they need to know.

Other new features designed to make it more appealing to browsers include a new mapping facility, which quickly helps to illustrate the U.K.’s geographical layout; and the chance to sign-up for a Britain’s Heritage Cities e-newsletter, giving all of the latest information about events and festivals, attractions and accommodation.

The site has also been linked to each of the individual cities’ own websites, as well as other major travel-related companies, including VisitBritain. Britain’s Heritage Cities originally came together as a means of promoting their shared appeal more effectively. Working in close partnership with Visit Britain whenever possible, their main targets remain the English-speaking long-haul markets — especially the United States of America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

For more information, visit www.heritagecities.com