Jetsettersblog

Peppers Springs Retreat & Spa at Hepburn Springs, VIC is leading the way for what comes naturally to guests wanting that extra special something when they take a break away from home.

So we\’ve taken the first of many small yet important steps to becoming Victoria’s premier Health and Wellbeing Retreat of which the Daylesford & Macedon Ranges is famous for… and gone organic with our mini-bar.

Now Peppers Springs Retreat & Spa offers not only enjoyable but healthy and tempting choices in guest rooms throughout the retreat, which takes pride in evolving with the ever-changing habits and global trends towards maintaining optimum health and well-being.

So many of our guests indulge in our award-winning Mineral Spa with the intention of rejuvenating mind, body and soul, so an organic treat will surely satisfy the taste buds without a guilt trip.

Some of our favourite organic food and businesses that we’ve chosen to support are located right in our own backyard near by Hepburn Springs.

- Thomas Chipman chips are Australia’s only certified organic potato chips made by a 100 per cent Australian-owned and operated company with the potatoes growing just down the road in Lyonville.
- Loving Earth is dedicated to sourcing the highest quality organic and wild crafted functional foods. The signature dark chocolate and crunchy mint is for the purists who like their chocolate intensely dark and full of vanilla bean flavour.
- Absolute Organic is a pioneer of the Australian organic food industry ensuring environmental sustainability and biodiversity. The beetroot and the sweet potato chips are a natural taste sensation.
- Essential Living Foods is a \’farm to table\’ model of sustainable business in neighbouring Yandoit. Forget energy bars … these are vitality bars! These delicious snacks pack a flavour explosion into each nutrient-rich mouthful. Sweetened with agave, this is one snack that won\’t give you the post-sugar blues.
- Jasper coffee is a 100 per cent carbon neutral Melbourne business strongly committed to coffee growers and the environment. It took many palate painful, blind tasting sessions against competitor products to find this premium instant coffee winner and unlike most instant coffee this is made from 100 per cent Arabica beans and is freeze dried to retain its succulent flavour profile.
- Organic Times home-style white chocolate macadamia cookies are a golden, buttery, melt-in- your-mouth delight, as are the triple chocolate cookies, while the Little Gems chocolate buttons are naturally coloured and flavoured.
- Vital Greens gives your body the essential raw materials to minimise the effects of stress, inadequate diet, alcohol and other lifestyle challenges of modern life. All-natural with a great, this Australian product contains 76 nutrients essential for optimal health, energy and vitality.

But of course, there are plenty more enjoyable activities to experience outside of your room at our retreat, located in the Spa Capital of Australia.

To begin with, there\’s the wide variety of heavenly treatments in our exceptional Mineral Spa, which boasts 11 light-filled treatment rooms, the only operating soft pak float beds in the Southern Hemisphere, hydrotherapy spa baths and The Retreat water therapy zone with mineral water plunge spa pools to revive and invigorate.

Then there\’s the groovy village of Hepburn Springs to explore, with great shops, cafes, an 18-hole golf course, local bushwalks, live music, quad bike riding, art galleries, horse riding, a lavender farm, wineries, and mineral springs to taste test.

If you wish to venture further afield to Daylesford for the farmers markets, boutiques, historic railway, boating on the lake, bookshops and further dining options, it’s only 3km down the road.

Peppers Springs Retreat & Spa is located just over an hour\’s drive from Melbourne along the Western Highway, just 60 minutes from Melbourne\’s airport on the Calder Freeway, and 60 minutes from Bendigo on the Calder Highway through Castlemaine, onto the Midland Highway.

For information or bookings call 03 5348 2202 or email springsretreat@peppers.com.au

The Sunshine Coast’s Most Stylish And Luxurious Resort To Open

The new Quay West Resort & Spa Noosa, will open 18th March 2010 bringing a new level of style and sophistication to Noosa.

Located just 3 minutes drive from iconic Hastings Street and overlooking the tranquil waters of Noosa Sound and a protected conservation sanctuary, Quay West Resort & Spa is the ultimate holiday destination for a relaxing escape, family getaway or much needed “time out” for couples.

There are 78 spacious and luxuriously appointed deluxe studios or the choice of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments – the ideal family accommodation, perfect solution for an escape with friends, or a romantic sojourn. All apartments are fully self-contained with prestigious fittings and fixtures throughout including kitchen facilities with European appliances and stone bench tops.

All guest accommodation features a private furnished courtyard or balcony with vistas over the resort’s precinct or conservation sanctuary and king size beds for extra comfort with the choice of fan or air conditioning to ensure the perfect personalised temperature.

And the indulgence doesn’t stop there! Mii Spa the resort’s stand-alone day spa is your key to restoration, inspiration, comfort and invigoration. Boasting 6 treatment rooms, Mii Spa’s beautifully crafted treatment menu will nurture your soul and awaken your senses with a range of Pevonia Botanica performance facials, body and water therapies, massages and, hand and foot therapies…or for a more “tropical” experience, choose from their Local Touches menu, offering exclusive signature rituals unique to Quay West Resort & Spa Noosa.

Only steps away, take a dip in the lagoon pool, enjoy contemporary Australian cuisine with a menu designed around local seasonal produce in Restaurant Aroona or join friends for a cocktail in Shades Bar. And for those wanting to keep up their fitness regime, or just work out, the fully-equipped gymnasium and tennis court is at your convenience. Perhaps immerse yourself in the beautiful surrounds of the eco walking track with vista vantage points to soak up the Noosa way of life!

Other creature comforts at Quay West Resort & Spa Noosa include 24-hour reception and room service, daily house keeping, valet dry-cleaning and laundry, and complimentary car parking.

For the children, countless hours of fun and games will be had at the seasonal Pellos Kiddies Club or the resort’s lagoon pool, complete with a man-made beach and sandy-shallow water to splash around in.

There is plenty to see and do in Noosa, one of Australia’s most exclusive beachside destinations, from exploring cosmopolitan Hastings Street with an abundance of cafes, restaurants, galleries and boutiques; to the sights and sounds of the Eumundi Markets, Noosa River cruises, Australia Zoo, the big Pineapple, Noosa National Park, Noosa Springs Golf, 4WD beach treks, Fraser Island tours, and of course the calm waters of Noosa Sound are perfect for water sports.

Quay West Resort & Spa Noosa will join the Mirvac group of 45+ hotels and resorts in Australia and New Zealand under such well known brands as Quay Grand, The Como, Sea Temple Resorts & Spas, Sydney Marriott Hotel, The Sebel Hotels, Resorts & Residences, Citigate Hotels, Cairns Harbour Lights, Hotel Lindrum, Harbour Rocks Hotel and of course Quay West Apartments & Resorts.

Mirvac Hotels & Resorts is a member of Global Hotel Alliance (GHA), the world’s largest alliance of independent hotel brands. GHA currently comprises over 260 premium and luxury hotels with 60,000 rooms across 47 different countries

For further information about Quay West Resort & Spa Noosa visit www.mirvachotels.com/quay-west-resort-noosa

Daydream Island’s guests are dining on the freshest coral trout, top quality tuna and Spanish mackerel in the Whitsundays after the resort became the first in the region to gain access to a commercial fishing license.

The idea was the brainchild of Daydream Island’s skipper and commercial fisherman, Ashley Matthews and newly appointed Executive Chef Josh Job, who heads the resort’s four dining venues including its signature restaurant, Mermaids.

“There is nothing better than the taste of really fresh fish,” said Mr Job, who boasts more than 16 years experience in the food industry, including a background in Japanese and Asian cooking.

“When our guests visit Daydream Island they are surrounded by the magnificent waters of the Whitsundays and expect to sample some of the great fish of the area.

“Instead of waiting a couple of days for our fish to be delivered by suppliers on the mainland, we decided it was a fresher and more unique option to simply go out and catch our own.

“Now that we have our own private fish supply, our guests can literally order their own fish before watching our professional chefs prepare it for their meal just hours later.”

The only resort in the Whitsundays that contracts professional fishermen to catch fresh fish for the island’s restaurants, Daydream Island adheres to the strict regulations governing fishing in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park area and does not catch any protected or endangered fish species.

“There are a lot of steps needed to be taken when seeking access to a commercial fishing license but we were willing to go through this in an effort to offer the freshest fish possible to our guests,” Mr Job said.

“We are mainly after the fleshy white meats of fish like coral trout and Spanish mackerel, all fish that are abundant in the area.

“Fresh fish really does taste amazing; the flesh is plump to touch and the skin is nice and punchy. It literally falls apart and melts in the mouth.”

One of Mr Job’s personal favourites is coral trout served on a bed of traditional Thai salad with Nam Jim dressing, including a dash of garlic, ginger, chilli, coriander root and lemon juice.

“Our food comes with a story attached to it; when our guests visit the Whitsundays they want to experience the area and its produce,” Mr Job said.

“What better way to do it than to offer them the freshest fish caught in the waters off the island just hours earlier?”

For more information visit www.daydreamisland.com

Inkaterra opened El MaPi at Machu Picchu, a new hotel designed to cater to budget-minded travelers. El MaPi is the first property to be launched under Inkaterra’s new, more affordable brand byInkaterraGroup, and is aimed to fill the gap in accommodations at the gateway to the Machu Picchu Historical Sanctuary.

Centrally located in Machu Picchu pueblo (Aguas Calientes), El MaPi has 48 rooms (40 Superior and eight Superior Deluxe).

El MaPi’s amenities include cozy duvets, robes, natural essence toiletries and turndown service with seasonal fruit. DirecTV, phones and reading lights are in every room and train station transfers, luggage storage and Wi-Fi are all included in hotel rates.

The design is the creation of Peruvian designer Jordi Puig and was inspired by a blend of classic, restored and recycled materials combined with modern features.

The flowing lobby, high ceilings, and panoramic windows all provide an airy, open atmosphere, conducive to socializing and relaxing.

The dining room, La Cafeteria, offers wholesome, nutritious dining (starting at 4 a.m. for the early risers), and includes smoothies, seasonal fruit, and freshly made Belgian waffles.

Open until 11 p.m., the daily menu features a la carte soups, turnovers, pastries and Peruvian favorites.

Travelers may choose to dine in the contemporary setting or take lunch packed to go. The bar welcomes hotel guests and fellow travelers with delectable snacks and tapas, plus an intriguing variety of piscos and organic wines. Visitors can start early at Happy Hour, between 5 and 7 p.m., or linger late to compares adventure stories.

For more information, visit www.elmapihotel.com

Elegant Hotels Group, Barbados revealed plans for a multimillion-dollar investment.

New programs and property renovations across all five of the company’s hotels will be launched with a series of celebrations and specials beginning Nov. 1. From July 1, Tamarind Cove Hotel will close for a complete metamorphosis, transforming into the new Tamarind. When it reopens in November, it will feature fully renovated and modernized guestrooms, the addition of an intimate spa and relaxation space, two completely redesigned and re-imagined restaurants including a new late-night poolside tapas lounge at the former Sasso and the transformation of Tangiers Restaurant with a new deck overlooking the ocean.

Pool and communal areas at Tamarind will feature contemporary sun-loungers, day beds and decks, transforming outdoor spaces into outdoor “living rooms,” providing flexible spaces for dining, drinking, relaxing and events.

With floor cushions, throws and striking new lighting, Tamarind will be able to simultaneously offer a romantic atmosphere for couples and amenities for families.

On the family front, Tamarind will be introducing a newly designed kids’ club, which will be rolled out across the Elegant Hotels collection.

The new kids’ club will cater to a range of ages, while a separate “teen den” will offer the perfect place for teenagers to hang out and relax while on holiday.

The den will include the latest in teen technology including large-screen Wii and popular games consoles as well as activities on and off the resort.

Renovations at Tamarind are accompanied by new programs and upgrades across the Elegant Hotels collection, though these additional projects will unfold behind the scenes without any disruption to guests.

Updates to all rooms and selected public areas at Elegant Hotels’ two all-inclusive resorts, Crystal Cove and Turtle Beach, are scheduled to be largely completed by late December.

Changes will include a complete upgrade to contemporary and stylish new furniture and soft goods, the installation of additional flat-screen LCD televisions, iPod and MP3 station, laptop compatible safes and other improvements.

In addition, Colony Club has launched paddle surfing lessons this season, as a forerunner to the new “Aqua School” offering at the hotels, while new Elegant Barbados Discovery packages are currently being created and will run alongside a range of culinary themed programs including cooking classes at the new Tamarind to “Taste of Elegance” programs across the collection.

For more information, call 888-996-9948 or visit www.eleganthotels.com

Puerto Vallarta, on Mexico’s Pacific coast, recently welcomed its newest property, the Garza Blanca Preserve, Resort & Spa, a collection of 42 rooms, suites and penthouses perched above a beach, with views of the destination’s ocean arches and the jungles of the Sierra Madre.

Developed in harmony with nature on an 85-acre tropical wilderness preserve and one of Vallarta’s beaches — home to the resort’s namesake white herons — Garza Blanca offers guests six categories of guest rooms and suites including the resort’s highlight, 2,769-square-foot penthouses, all with expansive terraces.

Rooms feature travertine floors, marble showers and granite countertops. Whirlpool baths transform master bathrooms into spas.

Rooms are also equipped with entertainment systems and high-speed Internet access.

Other resort services and amenities include a private check-in area, concierge services, a pool, a private chef who can prepare dinner in a guest’s suite, by request, happy hour on the beach and in-suite spa services.

This is also home to Blanca Blue restaurant in addition to a bar and lounge.

Private beachfront candlelight dinners can also be arranged. The resort is currently offering a Grand Opening Special Rate that discounts 25 percent of off regular rack rates and includes a daily à la carte breakfast, valid through April 11, 2010.

Rack rates range from $316 per night for a Deluxe Room to $1,278 for a Penthouse, for travel through April 11, 2010, exclusive of taxes and service charges.

For reservations or more information, call 52 (322) 176 0700 or visit www.garzablancaresort.com

One of London’s most legendary and historic hotels, The Connaught in fashionable Mayfair, has recently undergone a renovation and welcomed the Aman Spa to the hotel’s new West Wing.

Reflecting both the hotel’s inimitable style and Amanresorts’ Asian-inspired aesthetic, every detail of the Aman Spa is finely tuned to offer guests optimal relaxation and comfort.

The ambience is warm and welcoming, with an air of refreshing simplicity.

The varied treatments at Aman Spas around the world are tailored to provide guests with an exceptional experience.

The core of the Aman Spa’s menu at The Connaught is based on key treatments reflecting the renewing traditions of China, Thailand, India and the Americas.

Inspired by China, treatments include a green tea aromatic foot bath and a massage using traditional Chinese techniques. An Oriental oil massage and Thai herbal compress are among the treatments from Thailand.

From India there is a Chakra balancing treatment with essential oils and crystals and a Samadara facial technique. Reflecting the Americas, guests can experience a red clay body wrap with Navajo herbs and a River rock stone massage.

“This international approach to wellness means that Aman Spa can offer guests treatments that target individual needs,” says Heather Blankinship, Amanresorts Spa Operations Director.

Guests simply book the amount of time they wish to spend with one of Aman’s internationally trained, holistic therapists, and after a consultation and foot bath, their treatment is formulated to achieve their personal wellness goals.

Both body and face treatments are tailored specifically to individual guest’s needs.

The music which accompanies individual treatments is chosen specifically to match the rhythm and flow of the treatment, be it a facial, massage or scrub, further enhancing the holistic nature of the spa. The Aman Spa experience continues with an organic tea selection and a broad range of reading materials.

The five candlelit treatment rooms, one double and four single, each feature a dressing area, treatment area and steam room as well as individual music systems.

The 60 square-metre swimming pool is lined with dark gray granite tiles and the steam room is infused with essential oils which are changed to holistically enhance well-being during the four seasons of the year.

The Aman Spa’s physical space at The Connaught is a blend of cool granite and white marble, warmed with timeless honey-gold oak and dove-grey Portland Stone – chosen for their intrinsic English appeal as well as for their enduring quality.

Linen, cotton, bamboo fiber and silk in white, gold, burnished pewter, stone green and faded brown add further warmth.

White-painted wicker furniture and extensive use of back-lit timber lattice work soften the robust qualities of stone and wood, and the overall effect, conveyed by the varying textures and tones of the materials used, is of contrasts – hard and soft, dark and light, rough and smooth, warm and cool.

“Ultimately the effect is one of harmony,” says designer Jaya Pratomo Ibrahim, “creating an atmosphere of luxurious calm.”

The Connaught has long been a quintessential representation of the Edwardian period and yet has a fresh and contemporary feel.

The Aman Spa too bridges the old and new – combining wellness techniques rooted in ancient wisdom from around the globe with contemporary comfort and style.

For reservations at The Aman Spa at The Connaught please contact the spa directly on Tel: +44(0) 20 3147 7305/6 or amanspa@the-connaught.co.uk

About Maybourne Hotel Group

Maybourne Hotel Group whose headquarters is in Mayfair, London, owns and manages Claridge’s, The Connaught and The Berkeley, three of the world’s most renowned hotels. Maybourne hotels are committed to delivering authentic and unique guest experiences that reflect the individual nature of its hotels, its guests and its people whilst maintaining a timeless elegance and intuitive service style that are the hallmarks of its properties.

Luxury chain von Essen Hotels has outlined plans to become the largest hotel spa operator in the UK.

The company plans a multi-million pound investment across its portfolio this year through refurbishment and expansion.

Among the properties earmarked for upgrades include Callow Hall near the Peak District National Park which will have a spa and swimming poll added.

Congham Hall in Norfolk is to be refurbished and have 12 new rooms. A spa and gym will also be added.

A pool, steam room and sauna are to be added to The Greenway in Cheltenham.

A stand-alone pool, herbal spa, steam rooms, gym and treatment rooms is being built in Lower Slaughter at the rear of the Washbourne House Hotel, within walking distance of the Lower Slaughter Manor Hotel in Gloucestershire.

Eight new rooms and a spa are to be added to the Mount Somerset in the Quantocks.

Woolly Grange, part of the company’s Luxury Family Hotels brand, will have a spa with pool, treatment rooms and sauna and steam rooms. A tree house complex is alos to be built in the grounds.

“The collection will become the biggest hotel spa operator in the UK moving with the times and offering guest a full lifestyle offering incorporating stunning properties, fine dining, endless activity and relaxation and places where memories are grown,” the company said.

FIND ‘LA DOLCE VITA’ ALONG THE SHORES OF THE AMALFI COAST AT RAGOSTA HOTELS COLLECTION’S RELAIS PARADISO

–Luxury, style and privacy converge at the 22-room boutique hotel, Relais Paradiso, to redefine hospitality along the Italian shoreline–

VIETRI SUL MARE, AMALFI COAST – Designed to serve as a luxurious home-away-from-home vacation destination, the newly-opened Relais Paradiso Hotel offers guests a unique hotel concept in the spectacular Mediterranean town of Vietri sul Mare.

In keeping with Ragosta Hotels Collection mantra, guests of the luxury property are invited to “define their lifestyle” with the hotel’s chic offerings such as its chic rooftop pool, exclusive executive lounge and its 24-hour honesty bar, featuring cocktails, coffee, wine, beer and champagne. The 2010 daily rates for of the 22-guestroom property start at €400 per night, based on double occupancy, through October 31, 2010.

Opening in August 2009, Relais Paradiso Hotel features 22 spacious guestrooms and suites with panoramic terraces overlooking the pristine Bay of Salerno and the lush landscape of the fragrant and colorful Amalfi Coast.

Additional in-room amenities include plasma-screen televisions, a courtesy collection by ExPure Spa, complimentary Wi-Fi connectivity, fresh local flowers and much more. During their stay, guests will enjoy truly personalized service from a welcome Champagne cocktail to personal car transfers to the nearby town of Vietri sul Mare.

Relais Paradiso Hotel Rate Inclusions:

Luxury accommodations throughout the hotel’s 22 guestrooms and suites
Daily breakfast buffet
Complimentary use of swimming pool
Tailored concierge service
Refreshing sun-care set

Visitors taking guided tours organized by Dusseldorf’s tourism office are up 16 percent in 2009 for walking tours in the city’s center, and up 8 percent for guided city tours.

The city has been investing more in tour infrastructure, and will begin operating a new double-decker bus for hop-on-and-off tours in March. New approaches and themes have contributed to the increases, as tourists and locals embrace them as new ways to experience the city, often against the backdrop of current events and festivals.

Examples include the tour “In the footsteps of Clara and Robert Schumann,” as Düsseldorf celebrates Schumannfest during 2010. A total of 30 different tours are now offered, 25 of which offer experiences such as night tours guided by a real-life watchman, sight-seeing while jogging, and a tour of the city’s current construction sites. Another popular concept is “travel without barriers,” special needs travel for physically and mentally challenged visitors, and tours of Düsseldorf’s sights and attractions.

An important factor in tour sales success has been flexibility, as more visitors take advantage of customized tours by bus, boat, bicycle or on foot.

In addition, modules are offered that can be added to any tour for greater customization such as personal shopping and professional photo shoots.

Nevertheless, the biggest growth was in established tours, like the Old Town walking tour. Düsseldorf International Airport, Germany’s third largest, offers several non-stop flights from the U.S. (Atlanta, Chicago, Fort Myers, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Newark and San Francisco), as well as convenient connections to many European cities.

For more information, visit www.fly2dus.com  or www.visitduesseldorf.de