Jetsettersblog

“An Epic Adventure…400 Million Years In The Making”

2007 the English Riviera joined an elite group of 63 places around the world to be designated with UNESCO Geopark status.The accolade is awarded to areas of outstanding geological, archaeological, ecological and cultural interest and becomes an invaluable tool for protecting, understanding and promoting the region.

The status is awarded by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation), and the Global Geopark Network includes some of the most stunning areas of natural beauty in the world, encompassing countries as diverse as Australia, Brazil, China, Austria, Malaysia and Italy.

What makes the English Riviera Geopark so unique is that it is the world’s first urban Geopark.

There’s no need to climb mountains or trek through the wilderness to enjoy everything our Geopark has to offer.

It’s all around you when you visit the UK’s premier seaside resort, making it the ultimate 2-4-1 experience!

Our geological journey has created the spectacular landscape we can all enjoy today. Scratch below the surface and discover tales of tropical seas and scorching deserts, raised beaches and drowned forests, hippopotami and mammoth, sabre-toothed tiger and earliest man.

To help bring these stories to life, you can visit one of the three brand new Geopark Information Centres located at Kents Cavern in Torquay, Berry Head in Brixham and the Seashore Centre in Paignton, where you’ll find the interactive Geopark display room.

Greenway Ferries offer exclusive Geopark Cruises around the Bay, with a fascinating commentary providing a unique insight into our stunning natural heritage, from the best vantage point – the sea!

Walking the English Riviera section of the South West Coast Path is another rewarding way to experiencing our awe-inspiring Geopark first-hand. There are some fantastic natural features to explore, created over million’s of years including the Downs at Babbacombe, Saltern Cove in Paignton and Churston Cove in Brixham.

Below the waves, a rich marine life thrives thanks to the warm, protected waters, which makes snorkelling and diving in the Geopark a must for those with a keen interest in exploring an array of rare species.

There are a number of other key sites linked with the Geopark. Occombe Farm shows how food and farming are inextricably linked to the land, while Cockington Court demonstrates artisan and craft skills inspired by the Geopark landscape.

Other Geopark sites include Torquay Museum, where the Geopark’s history is brought to life and Torre Abbey, built in local quarried stone, shows the importance of our natural environment over eight centuries of architecture and heritage.

More information on the English Riviera Geopark is available online at www.englishrivierageopark.org.uk , while a free Geopark leaflet can be found at the Tourist Information Centres.

New Chef Presents Gourmet Cuisine At Aurelio Lech – Christian Rescher Brings His Own Five-Star Menu To The Snow Of Austria

Hotel Aurelio has appointed Christian Rescher as the new chef for the five star, luxurious chalet-hotel in Austria. During the 2009-2010 ski season, Christian will be spoiling guests at Restaurant Aurelio with his international creations and exceptional menu; designed to complement the Hotel’s well-stocked wine cellar. In addition to the more formal Restaurant Aurelio, guests can also dine al fresco, taking in the stunning views across the slopes, on the Hotel’s more informal Sun deck.

Wiener Schnitzel and apple strudel are served with a contemporary twist at this new restaurant. The head chef, 29 year old Christian Rescher from Salzburg and his eight-member team, offer new, exceptional creations with a regional Austrian touch.

A daily-changing menu, and various à la carte dishes, plus a unique taster menu add panache to the stylishly designed ambience of this award-winning Hotel.

Due to the Restaurant’s cuisine, flair and ambience, Restaurant Aurelio has already won four stars from Austria’s gourmet guide ‘Á la Carte 2010’.

Using fresh, regional ingredients, the modern specialties on Christian’s menu include Marron-crab soup with white basil espuma; roasted duck liver with celery sabayon on beef charolait carpaccio; and warm, smoked caviar with balsamic-red wine pear. Local fish such as trout and salmon, and meats including veal, lamb and beef are key players on this menu.

Chef Christan Rescher is looking forward to his new challenge: “It will be exciting to satisfy the tastes of our international guests every day.”

Rescher can already look back on a successful career, having worked at a variety of award-winning restaurants and hotels. He completed his apprenticeship at the Hotel Goldener Stern (Döllerer) in Golling, where the kitchen was awarded a prestigious Michelin star. Christian’s personal achievements include winning himself a Gault Millau Toque in Innsbruck, at the young age of 24.

The Hotel’s wine cellar comprises a huge selection of Austrian and international wines, such as the “Maulwurf” from the Triebaumer vineyard, and also various rarities and vintage wines, such as the “Chateau Petrus” 1964.

Some of the brandies and Armagnac’s are over a hundred years old.

For guests who are only satisfied with the best, Restaurant Aurelio offers an exclusive delicacy: an exquisite cognac, named “Black Pearl“, of which only 350 bottles were produced in the world.

It is a fine wine, which tastes best in front of the open fire in the Licca Lounge at the Hotel.

Other fire-warming drinks include elegant Austrian brandies of the distillery, “Rochelt and Hämmerle.”

It is here in the Licca Lounge with its huge sofas and comfortable armchairs that a home-away-from-home atmosphere and Après-Ski relaxation is guaranteed.

A hot spot of the Hotel is the Sun Deck, which overlooks the Schlegelkopf piste, a perfect position to take in the awesome scenery or perhaps a little celebrity spotting.

In good weather, guests can enjoy the clear winter air and Austrian sunshine whilst enjoying lunch.

It is also an ideal spot for a cocktail at sundown after an active day on the slopes. The Gin & Tonic created in the “Aurelio Style” is an insider’s tip!

The grand launch of Restaurant Aurelio took place on December 10th 2009. This complemented the inaugural evening of the gourmet series “Löffelweise”, where ten local and fellow award-winning restaurants in Lech will host 12 gourmet evenings across this 2009/2010 winter season.

Aurelio Lech opened in December 2008.

Rooms start from £550 per room per night on half board basis (based on two people sharing one room).

There is a heli-pad near the Hotel and key airports include: Altenrhein, Friedrichshafen, Innsbruck and Zurich.

The Arlberg region (of which Lech is a part of), is considered one of Europe’s premier ski and snowboard resorts, renowned for its snowfall and vast ski area.

The key difference is that Lech has a strictly enforced limit on the number of ski passes issued each day to prevent overcrowding, (however everyone staying in the village of Lech has a guaranteed pass for the duration of their stay).

In addition to skiing and snowboarding, the concierge team at the Hotel can arrange additional activities like Nordic walking, tobogganing, horse-drawn sleigh rides, ice-skating, snowshoeing, paragliding, amongst others.

www.aureliolech.com

The exclusive new Olarro Lodge in Kenya has introduced an adventurous Kids Club to appeal to their younger guests. The Olarro Juniors Adventurers Club (O.J.A.C) creates programmes that are full of bush adventures and give the adventurers a unique insight into the local Maasai traditions and lifestyle.

A fully qualified Maasai guide will take the children on hikes in the Loita hills and teach them traditional methods of how the warriors survive in the harsh tribal lands.

The adventurers learn crucial bush survival techniques such as how to light a fire without the use of modern methods using sticks and dried animal dung, learning about different animal spores and dung and how to track the animals, make and shoot a bow and arrow and constructing a traditional bush shelter. They are shown a range of medicinal uses for indigenous trees and shrubs in an entertaining yet educational manner.

These include the toothbrush tree, wet wipe tree, poison arrow tree, upset tummy shrub, antiseptic and disinfectant shrub and the chewing gum tree! The guide will also explain the traditional methods that the Maasai use without compromising their environment.

The Club is suitable for children as young as six years old although parental presence is recommended to help ensure children drink plenty of water along the way, reapply their sun cream and keep themselves protected from the African sun.

There is a delicious children’s menu so little ones will be excited to get back to the ranch and tuck in. With each hike designed to leave the children feeling invigorated yet tired from all the fresh air, exercise and education, plus a full belly of food – a good night’s sleep is guaranteed!

This also enables a relaxing evening for the parents to enjoy Olarro’s first class cuisine in peace.

For those more energetic children still requiring entertainment Olarro can arrange more relaxed games such as Jenga (the Swahili word for ‘build’) back at camp.

Children over 12 and adults can enjoy unique night drives with the use of night-vision binoculars. This minimises the disturbance to the natural behaviour of wildlife and allows guests a clear view of strictly nocturnal animals.

These night vision binoculars offer the chance to see two of the most magnificent of predators, the Leopard and Lion, at their most active and most interesting hunting and catching prey rather than lying under a shady tree by day.

At the end of the children’s stay, Olarro provides a fun questionnaire and a “diploma certificate” for the O.J.A.C members to complete which is followed by the presentation of their certificate, providing a lasting memory of their stay and achievements.

Olarro is artistically built with undulating curves mimicking the rolling hillside in which the lodge is situated. Blending effortlessly into the surroundings the lodge comprises of seven uniquely different cottages, of which six are co-joined through a common sitting area.

This is an ideal “private spot” where families have the opportunity to socialise and relax in relative privacy. The expansive deck with 180 degree views overlooking this pristine area of Africa is the perfect location to enjoy sundowners.

The split level swimming pool offers a refreshing dip and the mini spa is ideal for adults looking for holiday indulgence.

Little Olarro is a private house that offers extra privacy and seclusion for families with a luxury suite and master bedroom, smaller twin bedroom, lounge, dining area and veranda all again with spectacular views over the Loita plains. Little Olarro also has its own entrance, private kitchen and deck area and private game drives.

To Become York’s First Five-Star Hotel

Cedar Court Hotels, Yorkshire’s largest independent hotel group, is investing £20m in a five-star project in York to create the Cedar Court Grand Hotel & Spa.

Opening in Spring 2010, The Grand will occupy York’s iconic grade II listed former railway headquarters, and will set new standards of luxury and service in one of the UK’s most beautiful cities.

With 107 architecturally individual bedrooms, including loft-style suites and a penthouse with stunning views across York to the famous Minster, The Grand will become the address of choice for discerning visitors to the city.

An exclusive spa, set across a suite of treatment rooms, will offer an enticing range of bespoke treatments. This luxurious getaway in the heart of York will include a double room for friends and couples.

A restaurant will serve locally sourced cuisine, prepared with verve and imagination by an award-winning chef.

Private dining, a cocktail bar and a vast selection of whiskies will ensure that guests can personalise their culinary experiences.

The Grand will redefine service in York, pushing the boundaries of guest provision and exceeding expectation with quirky and innovative signature concepts.

If guests arrive by train, The Grand’s car will collect them. If arriving by road, a doorman will park the car and arrange for it to be washed and valeted.

A 24-hour butler service will ensure that guests’ needs are attended to around the clock. Mornings can begin with the butler drawing back the curtains, serving breakfast in bed, laying out clothes and preparing the a bath.

And for guests who forget to bring their bedtime read, a quick call will be all that’s needed for a book to be chosen and delivered to them from the local book store.

Andrew Coney, General Manager of Cedar Court Grand Hotel & Spa, said:

“The Grand isn’t being built – it’s being imagined. A five-star hotel is a playground, an escape and a fantasy world. Our vision is to reach back to the golden age of travel – the era when The Grand was built – and revive for the modern world the glamour, panache and luxury of that time.”

If you are interested in staying at the hotel in 2010, please email with the following details:

Name, title(s) you represent, special requirements, areas of particular interest.

Iceland’s Keflavik International Airport has been named the best airport in Europe according to the September 2009 Airports Service Quality survey conducted by the Airport Council International (ACI).

Iceland’s geographic location has always enabled Icelandair to offer the shortest and most direct flight route across the North Atlantic.

With an average layover of about an hour and a half, Icelandair now gives travelers the opportunity to spend some time in Europe’s best airport en route.

Passengers describe Keflavik International Airport as comforting, cozy and having a friendly atmosphere.

Travelers also noted the airport’s huge range of duty free stores and great value shopping.

With approximately 130 airports involved, The ACI survey is the world’s leading index for airport customer satisfaction ratings.

In addition, due to the strong value of the U.S. dollar against the Icelandic kronur, Iceland has been named a Top 10 Best Value Destination for 2010 by The Lonely Planet Travel Guide making duty free shopping an even greater bargain.

Icelandair offers service to Iceland from Boston, New York-JFK, Seattle and seasonal service from Minneapolis-St. Paul, Orlando Sanford, Toronto (May 12, 2010) and Halifax (June 3, 2010).

Connections through Icelandair’s hub at Keflavik International Airport are available to over 20 destinations in Scandinavia, the U.K. and Continental Europe.

Only Icelandair allows passengers to stopover in Iceland at no additional airfare.

For more information, visit www.icelandtouristboard.com

1. The salt sommelier at Anantara Phuket Resort & Spa, Phuket

2. The Dr Fish spa treatment at Anantara Si Kao Resort & Spa, Krabi, where tiny fish nibble rough skin from your toes in a soothing footbath

3. The views of lapping water through the floor of your villa at KC Resort & Over Water Villas, Koh Samui

4. The handy ‘magic box’ all guests at Tenface, Bangkok, receive in their rooms, including herbal toiletries, Skytrain pass, a local sim card, and an iPod Nano loaded with city-tip video podcasts by in-the-know locals

5. Private dining amid the rice paddies beside the Mekong River, or on a jungle hilltop, at Anantara Golden Triangle Resort & Spa, Chiang Rai. The sunset dinner with baby elephants is our favourite (you can also learn the art of elephant riding from the mahouts)

The new Macau Science Center, designed by I.M. Pei, opened its doors on Jan. 25. The center allows visitors to record details about their visits, including data from interactive exhibits, photographs and videos.

The Exhibition Center and Atrium has 450 interactive exhibits and the galleries cover several topics, from space science to eco-conservation.

There are two galleries reserved for special exhibitions. Many of the exhibits are installed with RFID readers for visitors with a PEARL card — a personal activities record and linkage card available for purchase at the center.

This card will allow visitors to record personal visiting data, photographs and videos. Cards can be purchased at the Science Center.

The Planetarium seats 139 and has a set of 12 digital projectors for showing normal dome films and 3D images.

The Planetarium has two daily shows, with screenings dubbed in Chinese, Portuguese and English.

The Science Center also has a Convention Center, which includes a multi-function convention hall and four meeting rooms. The convention hall can accommodate 500 people for meetings and 200 for ballroom events. Ticket costs range from MOP15 to 45 ($2 to $6).

For more information, visit www.msc.org.mo

The hotel Riu Atlantico, located in the peninsula of Isla Canela (Huelva), between Andalusia and Portugal, reopened its doors after an extensive refurbishment.

The resort boasts 359 rooms and offers a wide variety of services and facilities. The ClubHotel Riu Guarana is also ready to welcome clients to the hotel after being closed for the winter season.

The hotel is located in Olhos D’Agua, in the l Algarve of Portugal. It boasts 500 rooms and features the all-inclusive by Riu program.

For further information, visit the banner below.

MLT Vacations is offering 13 new Barceló Hotels & Resorts properties in Europe through its Delta Vacations and Continental Airlines Vacations Brands.

The new hotels are in Prague, Czech Republic; Barcelona, Marbella, Malaga, Madrid and Valencia, Spain; and Istanbul, Turkey.

MLT Vacations currently offers 23 Barceló hotels in the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Costa Rica, Guatemala and several in Europe.

Barceló Hotels & Resorts is among the world’s 25 largest hospitality and travel companies. Barceló was established in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, in 1931 as a transportation provider and then as a hotel and travel company.

The company continues to be family-owned and privately held. It owns or manages more than 180 properties in 17 countries.

Barceló’s hotels and resorts are found in key destinations and cities throughout Europe, North America, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. For more information or reservations, visit www.barcelo.com

MLT Vacations, one of the largest providers of vacation packages in the United States, manages Delta Vacations, Continental Airlines Vacations and Worry-Free Vacations. Delta Vacations offers customizable vacation packages via scheduled air service on Delta Air Lines, Delta Connection carriers or Delta Worldwide Partners to more than 200 of the world’s most appealing leisure destinations. Delta Vacations includes the Lifestyle Collection featuring luxury and romance.

Continental Airlines Vacations offers the lowest available packaged airfares via scheduled air service on Continental Airlines with convenient connections from many U.S. cities, to destinations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia, including SelectEscapes Luxury and SelectEscapes Romance. Worry-Free Vacations offers charter vacation packages to destinations in Mexico and Jamaica.

For more information, call 800-727-1111 or visit www.mltvacations.com

Gray Line of Alaska is offering two escorted tours ideal for those who want to explore Alaska with the camaraderie of a group.

Both the 2010 Escorted Alaska Explorer and Escorted Great Land Explorer are eight-day/seven-night tours that feature Alaska’s top wilderness and cultural attractions.

Each is escorted by a Gray Line representative who facilitates the trip from beginning to end. “Because of Alaska’s sheer size and number of tour options, some guests really like to have a tour director to ensure everything goes smoothly,” said Mark Mumm, director of sales and marketing.

“They handle all the trip details and logistics and provide a wealth of information about the areas and attractions visited. Tour directors also get to know the guests on each tour and cultivate a lively camaraderie among them by hosting special group functions.” Mumm said that Gray Line’s 60 years experience in Alaska ensures its expertise.

The 2010 Escorted Alaska Explorer is a roundtrip tour from Anchorage. Guests travel on the glass-domed McKinley Explorer train from Anchorage to Talkeetna and Denali National Park, where they stay two nights at the Cabin Nite Dinner Theater and the Tundra Wilderness Tour.

Heading back toward Anchorage by motorcoach, guests take a cruise on Portage Lake aboard the Ptarmigan coming within 300 yards of the Portage Glacier.

That evening they stay at the Alyeska Resort.

Continuing to Seward, they take a six-hour cruise of Kenai Fjords National Park to watch for whales, sea lions, puffins and other wildlife, plus see alpine and tidewater glaciers.

They spend a night at a wilderness lodge in Cooper Landing before returning to Anchorage for a city tour that includes the Alaska Native Heritage Center.

The 2010 Escorted Great Land Explorer begins in Fairbanks and travels to Anchorage on a one-way adventure. In Fairbanks, guests visit the historic Gold Dredge No. 8 and pan for gold at El Dorado Gold Camp, and then take an authentic sternwheeler excursion on the Chena and Tanana Rivers. Next they board the luxurious McKinley Explorer train to Denali National Park where they spend two nights and take the Tundra Wilderness Tour.

The escorted tour continues by rail through scenic wilderness to Talkeetna, then by motorcoach to Anchorage, stopping at Happy Trails Kennels, where guests learn from an Iditarod Race champion about his dogs running the famed Iditarod from Anchorage to Nome.

After an overnight in Anchorage, guests visit Seward to explore the spectacular Kenai Fjords on a wildlife and glacier cruise.

They stay in Cooper Landing, then return to Anchorage, visiting the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center and Alyeska Resort en route. They also enjoy an Anchorage City Tour and visit the Alaska Native Heritage Center.

Both escorted tours include seven nights’ accommodations, airport and rail transfers, itinerary tours/attractions and some meals.

Cost begins at $2,399 per person, double occupancy, for the Escorted Alaska Explorer tour with departures from June 10 to Aug. 5, and $2,445 for the Escorted Great Land Explorer with departures June 11 to Aug. 7.

Optional activities such as flightseeing, jet boat rides, river tours and Mt. Alyeska tram excursions are also available.

In addition to these escorted tours, Gray Line specializes in creating custom land tours in Alaska and the Yukon.

The company offers package tours, pre- and post-tour options, sightseeing tours, fishing excursions, wilderness tours to the Arctic, adventure tours and flightseeing.

Most are offered May through September.

A division of Holland America Line, Inc., Gray Line of Alaska has been a tour operator in Alaska for more than 60 years.

For 2010, the company offers multiple-day package tours and a la carte touring options for independent travelers, as well as sightseeing tours in Fairbanks, Juneau, Skagway, Anchorage, Denali, Dawson City and Whitehorse, capital of the Yukon.

For more information, call 800-544-2206 or visit www.graylinealaska.com