Jetsettersblog

Within the framework of the Staufer Year 2010, Heidelberg’s University Library is presenting for a brief time in the original its most valuable treasure, the most famous German manuscript from the Middle Ages — the Codex Manesse.

The exhibition, entitled “The Codex Manesse and the Discovery of Love,” will be on display from Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2010, through Sunday, Feb. 20, 2011.

The Codex Manesse came into being in the early 14th century and is the most comprehensive collection of Middle High German poetry and song that is known to exist. It consists of 426 sheets of parchment, intricately inscribed on both sides, and contains a total of 137 artistically rendered full-page illustrations in glowing color.

These separate pictures, fascinating in their detail and freshness, represent the individual composers of the songs and poems as they go about their activities at court.

Heidelberg Marketing GmbH, which services tourism in the romantic city on the Neckar, has prepared for this occasion a special offer.

The inclusive package “Codex Manesse — the great Lieder manuscript in the original” covers from one to three overnight stays, the HeidelbergBeWelcomeCARD, entrance to the Codex Manesse exhibition, and a three-course dinner in the Old Town. Additionally, special tours will be available to guide individual tourists and groups through Heidelberg’s Old Town.

The rates range from 110 euros ($149) to 165 euros ($224) per person. For more information, call 011-49(0)6221-1422-24, email reservation@heidelberg.de or visit www.heidelberg-marketing.de

Service and surroundings fit for a king await The Dromoland Collection gentleman

Newmarket-on-Fergus, IRE. — One of the biggest trends of 2010 has long been a tradition at the spas of The Dromoland Collection: bespoke grooming for gentlemen. Before the big celebration…after a challenging 18 holes….in the middle of a long weekend…every man deserves to enjoy the service and surroundings of the world-class retreats at Castlemartyr Resort and Dromoland Castle.

What makes them so special?

The service is peerless. Experts in the time-honored luxuries of men’s grooming, the staff at The Spa at Dromoland and The Spa at Castlemartyr will gladly accommodate any request, whether for a quick trim and straight-razor shave for the man on the go or a relaxing therapeutic facial for the weather-challenged outdoorsman.

Salon services include the following:

Hot towel shaving
Gentleman’s manicure
Gentlemen’s pedicure
Hair and facial hair styling.

Spa services are also personalized using the science-based Anne Sémonin Treatment Collection. The Facial Collection for men includes:

Deep Cleansing Detox Facial – ideal for city skins or imbalanced stressed skins

Made to Measure Grooming Facial – a customized phyto-aromatic treatment
100% Active Decrease Facial – for contouring, tightening and firming.

From the Body Therapy Collection, these treatments are tailor-made for today’s active man:

Made to Measure Massage – combines classic techniques and a personally prescribed blend of intensive natural compounds and botanical oil

Hot Stone Massage – uses heated basalt stones to soothe muscle aches and pains by releasing deep-seated tension

Back, Neck and Shoulder Massage – targets the upper body to relieve muscle tension at its source.

The surroundings are sybaritic. Havens of calm and tranquility, the spas of The Dromoland Collection feature clean-lined décor and warm natural tones that eschew fussiness, while their treatment rooms and dedicated manicure/pedicure areas ensure all the privacy a man could desire.

For guys who can’t get enough of the magical Irish outdoors, Dromoland Castle features a courtyard hydro spa, sheltered by a gazebo and surrounded by a landscaped garden — the perfect setting for relaxing with mates or loved ones before or after a treatment. At Castlemartyr Resort, the glass-enclosed spa complex and atrium pools welcome the outdoors in with glorious views of the bucolic Irish countryside.

With service and surroundings fit for a king, the spas of Dromoland Castle and Castlemartyr Resort cater to a gentleman’s every whim.

The Spas of The Dromoland Collection: leading the way in men’s grooming.

The Dromoland Collection comprises Dromoland Castle and Castlemartyr Resort, two of Ireland’s finest and most celebrated hotels. The hotels in this collection embody the legendary Dromoland tradition of incomparable hospitality complemented by exquisite surroundings, yet each possesses a distinctive style, character and charm all its own.

About Castlemartyr Resort:

Nestled in the unspoiled rolling countryside of East Cork near the ruins of an 800-year-old castle, Castlemartyr Resort’s crowning jewel is a classic 18th century manor house.

The Manor has been magnificently restored and elegantly enhanced to offer 109 guest rooms, gourmet dining, an expansive world-class spa and welcoming, impeccably styled interiors. Opportunities for outdoor pursuits abound both on the estate, which includes an inland-links-style golf course designed by the renowned Ron Kirby, and in the surrounding region.

Castlemartyr Resort is located in Castlemartyr, Co. Cork, Ireland.

The hotel can be contacted at: 011 353 21 4219000; website: www.castlemartyrresort.ie.

Reservations can be made through the hotel (reception.castlemartyrresort.ie ) or through The Dromoland Collection at: www.dromolandcollection.ie.

About Dromoland Castle:

Dromoland Castle, located in Newmarket-on-Fergus, County Clare, was built in the 16th century. Majestically set on the shores of Lough Dromoland, it is surrounded by over 410 acres of breathtaking scenery, including a championship parkland golf course.

Lavish interiors, fine food and superb wines complement the deluxe accommodations of the Castle’s 99 guest rooms, while Dromoland Castle Golf and Country Club, an intimate spa and traditional outdoor recreational opportunities ensure a unique guest experience.

Dromoland Castle is located at Newmarket-on-Fergus, Co. Clare, Ireland. The hotel can be contacted at: 011 353 61 368144 or 1-800-346-7007; website www.dromoland.ie. Reservations can be made through the hotel (sales@dromoland.ie ) or through The Dromoland Collection at: www.dromolandcollection.ie

B&B IRELAND OFFERS A GREAT WAY TO TRULY EXPERIENCE THE REAL IRELAND IN CITY AND COUNTRYSIDE LOCATIONS ACROSS THE ISLAND!

B&B Ireland is the new one-stop-shop for the uniquely Irish B&B experience.

With more than 1,100 Bed and Breakfasts in town, farm, city & countryside locations across Ireland, it is now the premier resource for travelers in search of the warmth of a real Irish family welcome.

Savor the experience of staying in an Irish Family Home. Draw on the local knowledge of your host. Enjoy the unique one to one experience, where more time is spent with you, the visitor. Learn more about local Irish traditions and culture.

Benefit from the convenient locations in towns, cities and the countryside across the island. Get real value for money

A great way to truly experience the real Ireland and discover stories as unique as the families who will welcome you into their home.

The latest consumer research shows that the level of personal care and friendliness experienced by overseas visitors staying in B&B’s is exceptionally high.

http://www.townandcountry.ie

For more information about Ireland visit http://www.discoverireland.com or for a free vacation planning kit call the NY office at 800/223-6470. Read Ireland feature stories from Jetsetters Magazine.

Formerly The Resort at Singer Island, the newly rebranded Marriott property has renamed and redesigned.

Now the Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island Beach Resort & Spa, the resort now features Marriott’s accommodations and personalized service.

The property is made up of over 200 condo-style Palm Beach suites, complete with full granite kitchens boasting stainless steel appliances, marble bathrooms, flat-screen TVs and other high-end amenities.

Situated between Jupiter and Palm Beach on Florida’s famed Gold Coast, the newly rebranded resort boasts high-end condo amenities including full kitchens & washer/dryers along with breathtaking inter-coastal views. Other features include an oceanic reef, two refreshing pools, Si Spa and dining and shopping experiences.

For reservations or more information, call 888-213-0414 or visit www.marriott.com/pbisg

Wimco Villas, a luxury villa rentals company, announced an extensive selection of villas on Oahu.

This is the second Hawaiian island to be singled out by Wimco after its successful launch on Maui in late 2008.

The expanding collection currently features exceptional properties ranging from two- to eight-bedrooms. The villas are located in Kailua, Kahala, Diamond Head, Laie and North Shore.

For more information or reservations, call 800-449-1553 or visit www.wimco.com

The Grand Luxxe, a Grupo Vidanta hotel, is located in Nuevo Vallarta just 20 minutes north from the Puerto Vallarta airport and will open to guests April 2010.

The lobby features a high-ceiling and marble, a panoramic Pacific Ocean view and crystal droplet chandeliers as well as a lobby bar. The hotel offers The Grand Luxxe Suite and the Grand Villa that range from 2,700 to 3,000 square feet each with a large terrace and a private plunge pool.

Each bathroom includes a free-standing tub with a sliding door to offer views of the sea while bathing.

Although each suite and villa is a complete with a fully equipped kitchen with GE Appliances, the Grand Luxxe offers dining alternatives such as:

Blue Fish, a seafood bar with an extensive ceviche menu;

Cafe del Lago, offering both buffet and a la carte options;

Gong, an Asian fusion alternative;

or Tramonto, offering home made pasta and an on-site wine connoisseur.

For more information, visit www.grandluxxe.com

Animal Airways has launched its designated “Cats In-Cabin” service. “Cats In-Cabin” will provide cat owners who wish to travel with their cats with all the information and preparation necessary for a safe and simple flight.

The “Cats-In-Cabin” program is designed to answer the unique needs of cats and cat owners, providing solutions such as cat veterinary consultancy, cat acclimation at destination, cat shuttle service and cat kenneling. Alongside the unique needs of cats, the program is geared towards in-cabin flights with solutions such as soft-kennels, document and regulation check and instruction on how to calm the cat during a flight.

Working in collaboration with airlines that allow cats in-cabin, the flight managers and veterinarians will create the most suitable travel plan for the customer.

Animal Airways also offers ground VIP services for families at the airport.

These services are particularly recommended for cat owners as cats are more difficult to handle and secure than dogs.

For more information visit

www.animalairways.com

The Pacific nation of Palau was honored as the world’s first shark sanctuary during the United Nations General Assembly in New York last September.

And now, The Maldives joins forces with Palau to further the conservation of the worlds’ shark population.

These increased efforts come as a result of the diminishing shark population, which is in danger of collapse because of limited protective measures.

As a matter of fact, shark fishing has grown rapidly since the mid-1980s, because of the rising demand for shark fin soup, a highly coveted expression of wealth.

Sharks, in general, have a long life span and low fertility rates making them vulnerable to extinction.

Palau, with 20,000 inhabitants and an archipelago of more than 500 islands, formally established a protective zone to help preserve the predatory fish and support local tourism, protecting its 136 species in its 237,000 square miles of ocean, an area nearly the size of Texas.

And just last week, The Maldives announced it was making its territorial waters a shark sanctuary as well and has banned all imports and exports of shark fins.

For more information, visit www.visit-palau.com

Todd English, a three-time James Beard Award-winning celebrity chef, has opened Todd English P.U.B. at Crystals, the high-end shopping emporium at CityCenter in Las Vegas.

Todd English P.U.B. (an acronym for Public Urban Bar) is a modern interpretation of an authentic English pub. The restaurant features high ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, a bar that runs throughout most of the restaurant, wooden booths and long party tables.

It offers more than 50 international bottle, keg and cask beers, including rare finds such as Van Diest Fruli Strawberry, Rogue Chocolate Stout and Strongbow Cider.

The restaurant’s carvery, offers a selection of rotisserie-cooked meats such as prime beef, roasted chicken or duck, brisket and Greek leg of lamb served by the half- or full-pound.

Patrons create custom sandwiches by selecting their choice of bread and a variety of sauces such as pineapple mint jelly, horseradish sour cream and black truffle mayonnaise.

The raw bar offers oysters, little necks, shrimp, lobster and stone crab claws. The open-view kitchen features English pub fare including bangers and mash, fish and chips, and grichebecktom (workman’s cheese sandwich with brie cheese and bacon).

The restaurant has special hourglasses that encase only seven seconds of sand. Patrons who down a draught in seven seconds get it for free.

Bar games include magnetic dartboards and beer pong tables.

The bar area is also has several plasma TV screens.

For more information, call 702-489-8080 or visit www.toddenglishpub.com

The Rancho Bernardo Inn in San Diego has launched seasonal spa services — the Rosemary and Avocado Made Fresh Daily body treatment and a Tropical Twist body treatment. Made Fresh Daily is a seasonal body treatment developed by the spa staff working directly with the chefs at Rancho Bernardo Inn.

They source local products from nearby farms and the spa’s garden, selecting ingredients with healing and rejuvenating properties to create a handmade scrubs and wraps.

The featured treatment of avocado and rosemary includes a scrub, wrap and massage, in addition to access to the Spa Pool Relaxation Lounge and fitness center.

The Tropical Twist treatment includes a lime scrub, mango butter wrap and coconut oil massage. Spa guests will also receive a Spa to Go recipe card showing them how to create meals and at-home spa treatments utilizing herbs such as the rosemary.

Priced at $150 for 80 minutes, the Rosemary Avocado treatment is available through March 31, and the Tropical Twist is available from April through June.

In addition, Moonlight Spa-ing includes a 50-minute massage or facial; a light, three-course dinner; a Made Fresh Daily enhancement; and $25 off future Made Fresh Daily treatments.

Moonlight Spa-ing is available Friday evenings through August for $150 per person or $175 with wine pairings.

The new Spring Spa & Lunch Package offers a 50-minute facial or massage, a detoxifying back masque and a spa lunch Monday through Thursday for $140 per person and Friday and Saturday for $160 per person.

Guests can add the 50- or 80-minute Spa Around the World package, which includes treatments from Asia, tropical islands, Latin America and the Mediterranean, Monday through Thursday for $140 for 50 minutes and $180 for 80 minutes. Weekend rates are $160 for 50 minutes and $200 for 80 minutes.

This package is available through May 31.

The Sample the Spa package includes three 15-minute spa treatments and treats paired with a unique beverage for $99 per person on Sunday afternoons from April through June.

For more information, call 866-578-1883 or visit www.ranchobernardoinn.com