Jetsettersblog

The Sebel Reef House Spa Palm Cove was again voted Top Spa in Australia & in the Top Best 25 Spas of the world.

For the seventh year in a row the multi award winning Reef House Spa has received global recognition at the Conde’ Nast Traveller UK – Spa Awards.

These awards are recognised as the pen ultimate accolade within the Spa industry globally – last year attracting in excess of 12,000 entries world wide.

Jeff & Carol Fleming, owners had their London representatives for the Reef House Spa, Chard & Robinson attend the glitzy awards night at the legendary Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park in London last evening to receive the converted plaque. The Reef House was placed at No 2 in the Australasian, South Pacific region, with the Four Seasons Bora Bora Tahiti taking the number 1 spot.

This still means that the Reef House Spa is the top Australian spa.

Carol said “Winning awards has placed the Reef House Spa upon the world stage. When you are up against the Worlds best and are voted No 1 Spa Australia & in the top 25 in the world … it’s surely rubbing shoulders with the big names in the spa industry internationally & something that we a justly proud of”

“The award is an endorsement confirming Palm Cove and the Tropical North Queensland region’s international recognition of being the ‘spa capital of Australia” said Jeff, “Our region boasts some of the world’s most awarded Spas & the spa industry is conservatively estimated to be worth $500 million to Australia he said.

Carol recognised the importance of the Reef House’s best asset – the Therapists.

“Our spa fairies are the secret to our success – you can have all the bells & whistles but the true test of a wonderful spa experience is given by the Therapists. Dedication to their profession, passion, their pursuit of excellence and their ability to wrap this all up in a nurturing way and pass on to our guests – this is our point of difference, this is what makes us winners time & time again” she said.

Luxury wilderness camp Voyages Longitude 131° has been named the winner of the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards 2009 in the category of “Unique Accommodation.”

Longitude 131° is a luxury wilderness camp adjacent to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, featuring 15 white elevated tents set in the desert landscape.

Each tent is individually themed to pay homage to Australian pioneers. The touring program to Uluru and Kata Tjuta is private and tailored to guests’ needs, offering the opportunity for a deeper and more personal experience in the spiritual heart of Australia.

The Dune House (or main lodge) is a sanctuary after a day’s touring in the desert, with fine dining in the Dune House complemented with the outdoor dining experience of Table 131°, where guests dine under a canopy of stars with Uluru as their backdrop.

For more information, visit www.voyages.com.au

And Launch Of Signature Beachfront Restaurant

Bintan Lagoon Resort will be launching its very own ferry terminal and ferry services, expected to be in operation by June 2010. The project, costing the resort SGD15 million, has commenced works since November 2009. The completion of the project will add an iconic structure to the shoreline, which forms the link bridge from the disembarkation point to the Bintan Lagoon Ferry Terminal.

The Bintan Lagoon Ferry Service will be made up of a fleet of two catamarans, one seating up to 150 passengers and the other seating up to 250 passengers, operating from Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal. Guests requiring exclusivity will also have the option of arriving at the resort via its VIP boat, with a seating capacity of 30 passengers. Ferry pricing and booking details will be released at a later date once available.

Upon approaching the shores of Bintan Lagoon Resort, tourists will be greeted by a towering, iconic structure which forms the link bridge to the ferry terminal in the resort, conceptualised by Shafee Sajari of Acid Singapore, a Singapore based firm specializing in lifestyle, hospitality and retail designs. The 65-metre long bridge, designed to be serpentine in character, is a salute to nature with sides of the bridge opening up to allow sea breeze onto the bridge. The tall and airy bridge entrance will taper off at the immigration point, forming a screen for secure entry into the building.

The Bintan Lagoon Ferry Terminal spans 1251 square metres in floor area and is expected to be fully operational with immigration facilities for incoming and outgoing tourists, baggage handling, seating area and a duty-free shop. Immigration facilities have been designed in a smooth flowing layout to enable seamless entry and exit for the guests, where checkpoints, baggage belts and security checks are strategically positioned. A VIP desk will be available at the terminal to facilitate entry and exit for guests requiring exclusivity.

The Bintan Lagoon Ferry Terminal and Service is established to add greater convenience for the resort’s guests as they are ferried right to the shores of the resort, be it for overnight stays or golf day trippers. For large leisure or meeting groups, the ability to charter catamarans with the resort’s ferry service will add to the resort’s appeal as a MICE destination.

Other Projects

3 Degrees, Bintan Lagoon Resort’s signature beachfront restaurant – In addition to the ferry terminal and service project, Bintan Lagoon Resort will be unraveling its signature beachfront restaurant, named 3 Degrees, come March 2010. With a seating capacity of 389 persons, the restaurant features large al fresco dining and bar areas with a view of the South China Sea as well as air-conditioned comfort for group dining.

The new restaurant, at 2380 square metres, is located in a standalone building with its inviting beachfront location and slated to be the biggest restaurant on Bintan Island. A feature wall with ethnic carvings creates an impressive welcome at the restaurant’s main entrance which faces the resort. A walk through the courtyard fountain will reveal a beach bar, where upon entering will unravel the stylish, airy interiors of the restaurant.

Designed by the very same designer who conceptualised the resort’s ferry terminal and iconic link bridge, the restaurant follows a casual, laidback concept so as not to distract from its beach appeal. Interiors are done in a light vanilla shade throughout, incorporated with interesting textures from volcanic stones and river pebbles to add tactile character to the restaurant. Natural, preserved chunks of local trees further characterize the restaurant.

3 Degrees is also designed with the guidelines set by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification in mind as the resort gears up for its Green Building certification (see note on LEED on page 3) in 2010. Much of the restaurant’s space is opened up to take advantage of the natural sea breeze, thus cutting down on air-conditioned areas; and natural, sustainable materials are incorporated in the design of the restaurant.

Also directly accessible from the beach, the sprawling Beach Bar with its sundeck offers the best vantage point to capture the beach panorama. Dotted with sun loungers, parasols and landscaped with tall leafy trees on the sundeck to provide shade, the Beach Bar offers sunseekers a relaxing oasis of cool sea breeze and wide variety of ice cold beverages to quench their thirst amidst the backdrop of the South China Sea. An upper sundeck accessible from the beach bar offers patrons more privacy and shade without sacrificing on the view of the sparkling blue waters. Otherwise, retreat to the library bar with a cuppa in air-conditioned comfort.

In the main restaurant, dining in air conditioned comfort is split into two areas. The seafood bar features an open kitchen where guests have an almost theatric view of the chefs’ work area as they conjure up dishes of delightful cuisine amongst the sparks and flames. Cosy groups in this area can also enjoy convenient access to the restaurant’s sundeck. For a warmer ambience, guests can proceed to spacious dining room, where large groups can be catered to.

Apart from the stylish surroundings, patrons are assured of a vast menu offering a fusion of Western and Asian cuisine, which will be priced for the masses with the option of Chef’s menus for those seeking better things in life.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) – Apart from the resort’s constant efforts to upgrade its facilities, corporate social responsibility remains a priority for the organization. As such, the resort is in the process of acquiring its Green certification with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), developed by the U.S. Green Building Council. All construction projects in Bintan Lagoon Resort are carried out in accordance with guidelines set by the council which addresses areas such as sustainability, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources etc. The certification, estimated to be approved by end of first quarter of 2010, will establish Bintan Lagoon Resort as the only green resort on the island.

About Bintan Lagoon Resort
Situated just 55 minutes by high-speed ferry from Singapore, Bintan Lagoon Resort has been the venue of choice for holiday makers and meeting organizers alike. Featuring 473 spacious rooms, suites and villas complemented by 12 wining & dining options, 9 function rooms, the resort boasts of a variety of outdoor locations to cater for every event requirement.

The resort houses two 18-hole championship golf courses designed by Jack Nicklaus and Ian Baker-Finch, a spa and a chic nightclub, Silk alongside a wide range of recreational, water and teambuilding activities.

Japan is promoting its hot springs. A natural infinity hot spring pool at the elevation of 6,900 feet is the reward for a four-hour hike to the 1998 Winter Olympic host town of Hakuba. Hakuba Yari Onsen is by a chalet that operates only during the summer, serving semi-alpinists.

The natural rock tubs feature hot water with views of nearby mountain tops, clouds below, and more.

The chalet provides frugal accommodations with shared bathrooms and bunk beds.

Almost a half-day train trip from Tokyo connects to the small town of Aomori, the northernmost part of Honshu Island, where the ocean-side natural spa faces the Sea of Japan and beaches: Instead of lying on the sand, clients can take a dip in natural hot springs right by the ocean, facing the wild northern waves.

The bathtub is curbed in the rock so close to the ocean that the wave comes into the bathtub when the weather becomes stormy.

For more information, visit www.furofushi.com

Hokkaido’s Siberian winter contributes not only to the world class powder snow but also provides a hot springs experience. Lake Shikaribetsu in Daisetsu-zan National Park becomes a small winter village on the solid frozen surface with ice bars, ice theatres, ice wedding chapels and snow mobile paths as well as a make-shift round pool filled with natural hot water on ice. The mineral content of the hot water warms and relaxes even in the subzero air with a view of the deep forest and mountain ranges in the distance.

For more destination information, visit the Japan National Tourism Organization at www.japantravelinfo.com

Rezidor will open the 292-room Radisson Blu Hotel & Convention Centre, Kigali, Rwanda, in 2012. Rezidor has numerous hotels under development in African capital and major cities. In 2010 alone, the group plans the openings of Radisson Blu hotels in Johannesburg and Cape Town (South Africa), Lagos (Nigeria), Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), Maputo (Mozambique) and Lusaka (Zambia).

Construction has begun on a new international airport at Vilanculos, Mozambique. The Vilanculos airport is the gateway to the Bazaruto Archipelago where Rani Resorts’ Indigo Bay Island Resort and Spa is located. The new terminal will allow visitors a convenient way to reach Bazaruto. The plans for Vilanculos airport include spacious departure lounges for international and domestic flights as well as a new VIP lounge.

Other additions consist of an updated air traffic control system along with the introduction of a separate area for cargo handling. According to Manuel Chaves, director of management, traffic and airports, the airport’s capacity will increase from 75,000 to around 200,000 passengers annually. The project is anticipated to take nine months to complete.

Indigo Bay Island Resort and Spa is on Bazaruto Island, the largest island in the Bazaruto Archipelago. It provides guests with a choice of luxurious Bay View Villas, Beach Chalets, a beachfront Honeymoon Villa and a Presidential Villa.

The Indigo Bay Island Resort and Spa’s wealth of activities, tropical climate and spectacular scenery makes it the perfect island getaway. The Bazaruto Archipelago is a marine wildlife sanctuary, home to the rare dugong and three species of sea turtles.

Rani Resorts is a leading luxury resort brand in Mozambique, an emerging and unique Indian Ocean destination in Southern Africa. Rani Resorts’ portfolio features a collection of beach resorts and safari operations that are designed to the highest standards and capture the essence of Africa’s inimitable magic.

For reservations or more information, call 27 (0)11 658 0633, email reservations@raniresorts.com  or visit www.raniresorts.com

Col’Cacchio Italian restaurants offer patrons healthy and authentic Italian pizzas, pastas and salads.

The expansive variety of gourmet salads will entice, as will the new pastas and pizzas now on the menu.

WESTERN CAPE, SOUTH AFRICA — Capetonians are literally spoilt for choice. How many pristine beaches does one city need? How many wine farms without appearing greedy? There’s even a choice of what to call the legislative capital ranging from The Cape of Good Hope to the Xhosa name iKapa.

So how many Italian restaurants does Cape Town require? After extensive culinary research the answer is most definitely, one – Col’Cacchio pizzeria.

Someone once said “you can’t be everything to everyone” but when it comes to Italian dining in Cape Town, Col’Cacchio pizzeria comes pretty close.

Dining at Col’Cacchio pizzeria’s Cape Town restaurant is like taking an intensive gastronomic tour of Italy without leaving your seat, with the added benefit of a waiter standing by to refill your wine glass every step of the way.

Situated on the foreshore it was the first Col’Cacchio pizzeria restaurant to open in Cape Town and brought a whole new perspective to Italian food in the Mother City. The Col’Cacchio pizzeria experience is based on two key principles: authentic Italian fare and unrivalled selection.

This is one Cape Town restaurant that does it right or not at all. This means following real Italian recipes and using the same ingredients that would be used by chefs in Italy. Their obsession with the Italian way is reflected in the names of the dishes and the way the pizzas are cooked in a wood-fired pizza oven.

Make no mistake this is Italian food, not Italian-style food. That means everything is prepared from scratch and this kind of passion cannot be rushed.

Their menu is expansive. There are over 50 different pizzas to choose from but if that isn’t enough, diners are given the option to design their own creation from dozens of ingredients.

Beyond their signature pizzas the Cape Town restaurant offers a range of salads and pastas to suit every taste. Diners will be amazed to discover the difference organic ingredients make to a salad and how delicious fresh pasta tastes. The dessert menu is mouth-wateringly tempting and rivaled only by the enticing cocktail and wine list.

When dining in Cape Town where else will you have the choice between regular thin based pizza bases or gluten and wheat free options? There is also a wide selection of vegetarian dishes. The Heart & Stroke Foundation South Africa has endorsed these healthy options available on the menu.

Cape Town dining is considered some of the best in the world and after a visit to Col’Cacchio pizzeria’s Cape Town restaurant it’s not hard to see why. This pizza restaurant has been known to welcome back international tourists year after year who say that a visit to this Col’Cacchio pizzeria is as essential to the Cape Town experience as the view from Table Mountain or the trip out to Robben Island.

For locals, dining in Cape Town is almost a national pastime and the city offers such a wide range of options. So it is comforting to know that when you plan to go out for Italian or stay in and order a take-away pizza, Col’Cacchio pizzeria is the only choice.

Also view information regarding our Stellenbosch Restaurant or Camps Bay Restaurant.

Col’cacchio prepares all of its dishes lovingly while you are able to relax and enjoy your visit to the restaurant in comfort. It is best to arrive with an empty stomach because you will want to indulge in the range of Italian meals offered. Health conscious and vegetarian patrons will have difficulty in choosing from the array of healthy toppings offered for salads and pizzas. Italian food is about passion and enjoyment, Col’Cacchio has mastered both equally.

Website: http://www.colcacchio.co.za

Surgical Bliss will help you to coordinate your surgery and your recuperation in Cape Town.

The surgical experience can be tailor made to suite your budget; accommodation to ease your physical mobility post surgery and only the best private hospitals and doctors to facilitate your procedure.

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA — Surgical Bliss provides patients from abroad with medical tourism packages in Cape Town, South Africa. If you need to have reconstructive surgery or infertility treatments, you can have the surgery in a top Cape Town medical facility and then take yourself on a soothing safari or tranquil getaway to one of the beautiful spa hotels in Cape Town during your recuperation.

Be assured that in South Africa your choice of hospital, the skill of the medical teams and the recovery vacation will be worthwhile and conducted in a most professional manner.

Once you have had surgery in South Africa, you will be instructed by your surgeon to take a period of rest for complete recovery from the operation.

Why not take the opportunity to soak up the African sun and South African hospitality, while your body adjusts to the healing process.

Denise Hoogervorst, Director of Surgical Bliss explains,

“Surgical Bliss can assist with many aspects of your treatment and we assist many people who do not have access to medical treatment in other countries. We assist with practicalities as well as emotional support and help.”

Surgical Bliss has sourced various accommodation options in Cape Town ranging from self catering to five star options, depending on your budget. Spa vacation packages for patients are also available which leaves you to prepare for your procedure and look forward to rest.

Surgical Bliss will assist with accommodation, transfers and all other travel arrangements to diminish the hassle and give you time and space to focus on critical recovery and post operative wellness. The team at Surgical Bliss is also committed to the patient, with intuitive patient care prior to surgery and post operative surgery assistance.

All of your needs and requirements can be arranged by the professional and compassionate team at Surgical Bliss.

Surgical Bliss specialise in providing holiday packages and cosmetic, ophthalmic, orthopaedic, infertility and general surgery in Cape Town , South Africa, and now has an exceptional patient case which indicates the great lengths gone to for clients who desperately need medical surgery in South Africa.

In a first for Surgical Bliss, a woman from Sierra Leone who requires medical care for breast cancer will be arriving in Cape Town shortly. She will need to be in Cape Town to begin the healing process where suitable health professionals and accommodation has been found to meet the patient’s needs.

The process entails a “mountain” of treatment says Director, Denise Hoogervorst. “Treatment will probably entail an operation (probably a lumpectomy) and then adjunctive therapy such as Chemotherapy and/or Radiation therapy.

This entire treatment schedule should last for approximately 8 months. This will be her new home for a while.” Hoogervorst continues, “Surgical Bliss assisted her and her benefactor in the arduous task of acquiring a visa through the neighbouring country Ivory Coast.

She will be cared for and treatment will be administered for her Cancer here in Cape Town with Surgical Bliss and an outstanding South African medical team specialising in Breast Diseases.”

In South Africa we are most fortunate to have access to care and medical facilities, which for many people across the continent of Africa is impossible, Hoogervorst explains, “Many Africans do not have access to excellent treatment and doctors such as South Africa who provides first world treatment in some of the best private hospitals in the world for a fraction of the cost of their American or European counterparts.

If you need plastic surgery, infertility treatments, radiology, general treatment, or financial assistance, please go to the Surgical Bliss website for more information on these medical tourism packages. Surgical Bliss endeavours to make this process as straightforward as possible for you and your loved ones. Look at the Surgical Bliss website for more information on cosmetic surgery South Africa.

Surgical Bliss offers a unique package to those people seeking medical tourism vacations in Cape Town, South Africa. If you need to have fertility treatments, ophthalmology surgery, orthopeadic surgery, plastic or reconstructive surgery or cosmetic treatments all of these are available at Surgical Bliss.

Website: http://www.surgicalbliss.com

At most surfing destinations, there is a high and a low season, but not on the Vietnam coast along Binh Thuan province.

In February, one year after its grand opening, Princess d’Annam debuted a surf experience in Ke Ga Bay. “In the movie ‘Apocalypse Now,’ they said Charlie don’t surf,” said Nguyen Thanh Trung, the resort’s wind sports instructor. ”But Charlie’s sons, they do.”

Trung has an International Kiteboarding Organization (IKO) license and five years of teaching experience. In contrast to resorts along the Mui Ne strip, Princess d’Annam shares Ke Ga Bay with only a nearby fishing village so beginners need not be concerned about navigating around or cutting off other kite surfers as they get the hang of the sport.

This area of southern Vietnam is characterized by sand dunes, the rising heat from which contributes to wind power and plays a part in making this the most consistently sunny spot in the country.

Surfing options at Princess d’Annam include the traditional surfboard and body boards for the swells which roll in from offshore, especially from May through September, and kite surfing and windsurfing which take advantage of year round winds.

From November to March, northern winds gust up to 35 to 40 knots and average about 20 knots.

From March to November. the southern winds ease back to an average of 5 knots gusting up to 15 knots.

Trung and the resort staff provide well-maintained, professional equipment featuring Nash kite boards and sails and windsurf boards by Starboard with Simmer brand sails. Four “kite” sail types are adapted to the different wind speeds as well as the guest’s weight and skill level. Boards also come in four sizes adapted for wind speed, guest weight and height, and skill level.

Additionally, windsurfing boards offer five options. All of this means optimized time on the water for everyone from beginner to expert, no matter what the winds are up to.

The 57-unit, all-villa resort is located on Ke Ga Bay, 90 miles from Ho Chi Minh City in Bin Tranh Province. The property features three classes of accommodations, from the Mandarin Suites to two-storey Empress Villas with private plunge pools.

For more information, call 011 84 8 3845 5990, email dosm@princessannam.com  or visit www.princessannam.com

Pan Pacific Hotels Group will open a Pan Pacific resort in Bali, Indonesia. Following the signing of the management agreement with PT Bali Nirwana Resort (BNR) on Feb. 9 in Jakarta, the five-star integrated Le Meridien Nirwana Bali Resort will be rebranded Pan Pacific Nirwana Bali Resort on April 1. Established in 1992, PT Bali Nirwana Resort (BNR) is a subsidiary through the Hotel & Resort business unit of the Jakarta-listed PT Bakrieland Development, an integrated property developer. BNR is the owning company of Nirwana Bali Resort, managed under the Le Meridien brand since its opening in 1997.

The 103-hectare integrated resort is located on Bali’s southwest coast and features views of the island’s volcanic mountains and the Indian Ocean. With 278 rooms including luxury suites and villas, the resort offers recreational and banquet facilities including indoor and outdoor meeting spaces for up to 300 guests. Its 18-hole Greg Norman golf course has also won “Best Course in Asia” and “Best Course in Indonesia” and the resort has been named by World Travel Awards as “Asia’s Leading Golf Resort.” For more information, visit www.pphg.com.