Jetsettersblog

Stena Line has announced the introduction of the Stena Express Fastcraft on its Holyhead to Dun Laoghaire route, offering customers a shorter crossing time and increased frequency.

BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND, — Stena Line introduced the Stena Express Fastcraft on its Holyhead to Dun Laoghaire route on Monday 15th March, with the new addition providing customers with a host of benefits including a shorter crossing time and increased frequency of journeys during the peak season.

The vessel, which caters for up to 520 passengers and up to 120 cars, has been significantly upgraded following a GBP2m refit and boasts an extended Stena Plus lounge, Metropolitan and Barista coffee bar, free Wi-Fi and an onboard shop which offers a wide range of gifts, jewellery, spirits, confectionery and fragrances.

Stena Line’s route network offers a range of sailing options, such as Holyhead to Dun Laoghaire, which allows customers to jet across the Irish Sea in only 110 minutes, and Holyhead to Dublin Port, which offers customers the opportunity to cruise across the Irish Sea onboard the Stena Superferries.

Orla Noonan, Stena Line’s Irish Sea Head of Marketing, said: “As the Stena Express joins the Holyhead to Dun Laoghaire route we are looking forward to providing customers with even more reasons to cross the Irish Sea.

“The Stena Express Fastcraft offers excellent onboard facilities, giving passengers the chance to sit back and relax as they travel. The vessel will complement our Superferries, the Stena Nordica and Stena Adventurer, on the Holyhead to Dublin Port route, offering customers a great range of travel options with up to six round trips daily.”

About Stena Line:

Stena Line is the market leader on the Irish Sea, offering the biggest fleet and the widest choice of routes from Britain to Ireland, including the Holyhead to Dun Laoghaire, Holyhead to Dublin Port, Fishguard to Rosslare, Stranraer to Belfast and Fleetwood to Larne routes with up to 38 sailings daily.

The company carries over three million passengers on its Irish Sea routes each year, more than its rival ferry operators combined.

Stena Line operates in three business areas: Scandinavia, the North Sea and the Irish Sea with a network of 18 strategically located ferry routes in Europe.

Stena Line has a modern fleet with a total of 34 vessels including fast ferries (Stena HSS), traditional combi-ferries, RoPax ferries for freight and passengers, and pure cargo ships.

Stena Line is a stable and profitable group and is committed to providing passengers with the best service and experience possible.

Website:

http://www.stenaline.co.uk

Abercrombie & Kent Villas continues to expand its portfolio with seven new luxury villas on the Greek island of Mykonos, known for whitewashed villages, vibrant nightlife and stunning views of the Aegean Sea.

The Mykonos Collection has been designed to appeal to families, groups of friends and couples traveling together. For those seeking the glamour and nightlife of the Greek isles, then Villa Olive Garden, set just above Mykonos town, is the right choice.

Meanwhile, those who prefer a more relaxing getaway will probably prefer enjoy Blue Living and Les Soleil de Rhenia. All have sea views and a sandy beach is never more than a short distance away.

Guests have the flexibility and choice of two villa stay options — the basic, villa-only Tailor Made Package, or the A&K Hosted Package with a dedicated expert team of local staff at your beck and call. Weekly villa rates range from $9,000 to $32,000, and include villa rental, bed linen/pool towel weekly change, 24-hour on-call support from an A&K local representative and insider tips on sightseeing and dining.

Blue Living overlooks the coastline and adjacent islands from a hilltop position. Built in traditional Cycladic style with a classical stone and whitewash finish, this five-bedroom villa is spread over three levels, featuring spacious common areas, comfortably stylish bedrooms and high levels of privacy and independence.

Les Soleil de Rhenia is located on the southern side of the island. This five-bedroom villa is set amongst a quiet residential cluster of similar-styled properties, a scenic setting with views extending across the Aegean Sea to the ancient islands of Delos and Rhenia.

Villa Artemis, sleeping up to 10 guests, is one independent half of two adjacent, adjoining properties (the other is Villa Asteria, also accommodating up to 10 guests).

An original stone country house, the recently renovated villa was featured in Elle Decoration magazine, a top U.K. design magazine. Villa Asteria, the adjacent sister property to Villa Artemis, can be rented on its own, or along with Artemis for larger groups.

Villa Galaxy is an opulent five-bedroom villa featuring multiple suites with views, especially from the Meditation Gazebo, or alternatively, a great location for entertaining as a group together. Villa Grace overlooks Mykonos’ premier beach, “Super Paradise” (with beach clubs and water sports).

The four-bedroom Villa Grace is a contemporary, designer villa well-suited to those in search of privacy in modern, luxurious surroundings. Villa Olive Garden is situated in the middle of an olive grove within walking distance of Mykonos town.

This three-bedroom villa is the ideal choice for those wishing to explore the island’s gourmet restaurants or renowned nightlife. Travel agents booking the villas will receive 10 percent commission.

For more information, visit

www.akvillas.com

www.essentialitaly.co.uk/petra-segreta.php

This newly built boutique hotel boasts the most fantastic country-side position overlooking the bay of Arzachena and the sparkling blue sea.

This is a beautiful cosy hotel close to the town of San Pantaleo, just a short distance from Costa Smerelda. The resort centre features the typical local houses of Gallura, called “stazzi”.

The hotel has transformed them into high-class rooms, maintaining their original structure, perfectly integrated with the surrounding natural setting.

Set in a five-hectare forest of rare beauty, with the dark green of the junipers and Holm-oaks and the wind-carved white granite rocks, the gardens are drenched with the fragrances of Sardinian vegetation and lead to enchanting lookout points.

The heart of the resort is in the main building overlooking the pool, with a sitting room with fire-place, a reading room, a corner-office, bar and terrace with spectacular views and the restaurant with outdoor verandas.

Furnishings are elegant and unique, in the style of an old country home, where every guest who enters will have an immediate warm welcome.

The old farm buildings have been transformed into a small but superbly equipped spa with Turkish bath, Roman sauna, a fitness and relaxation area and a wealth of treatments ranging from Shiatsu massage to beauty treatments. Petra Segreta is proud to offer the exclusive oriental treatment ‘Jet Massage’ and for even more pampering, a small grotto sculpted by the wind is used for the special treatments ‘Petra Segreta’ and ‘Giants Circuit’ where both mental and physical wellbeing are enhanced.

Petra Segreta’s treatments and itineraries were designed and organized by experts in Ayurvedic massage and medicine to help guests in regaining physical well-being – a necessary milestone on the way to interior well-being.

At The Conde Nast Johansens 2010 Annual Awards Petra Segreta was named among the top 4 hotels in Europe for “MOST EXCELLENT HOTEL FOR DESIGN AND INNOVATION”. The hotel was described as..

“A masterpiece of the owner’s geniality as an architect combining local materials and wild nature and transforming them into art”.

Prices: From £238 – £435 (depending on season) per room per night in a deluxe room B&B which includes use of outdoor pool with Jacuzzi circuit and use of spa with Turkish bath, Roman sauna and Emotional shower.
Junior Suites from £295 – £495 per suite per night for B&B.

Essential Italy
12 George Street
Cambridge CB4 1AJ
Tel: 01223 460100
info@essentialitaly.co.uk
www.essentialitaly.co.uk

Adriatic Challenge, the famed yacht charter company operating out of Marina Kornati, Biograd, Croatia, has launched a new website. It offers services of skippered and bareboat yacht charter in Croatia. You can avail of substantial early booking discounts on its charters.

One design fleet for sailing in Croatia, located in Marina Kornati Biograd, Croatia.

ZADAR, PAKOSTANE, CROATIA – Adriatic Challenge (www.adriatic-challenge.com), a yacht charter company in Croatia has launched a new reconstructed website featuring some attractive discounts and videos to provide detailed information and services to tourists on sailing in Croatia. It has its home at Croatian city Biograd and one can avail services for yacht charter Croatia by contacting there.

Presently it has a fleet of total 29 identical yachts. Depending upon the customer’s preference, he or she can choose among the various models available in both sports oriented and luxury oriented yachts. The company caters to every need of tourists interested for yacht charter in Croatia and has schemes for everyone, from the least experienced amateur to the most seasoned skipper.

Their spokesperson Natasha Jakovljev says, “We offer full services for sailing events, including regattas, corporate events, and private charters for sailing Croatia vacations.”

“Adriatic Challenge yacht charter is perfect for would-be sailors with any level of interest, from the eager passenger to the knowledgeable expert. We’ll adapt your charter cruise to your needs, furnishing your party with all the food, equipment, and expertise you need to have the most pleasant sailing holidays in Croatia,”
added their spokesperson further.

The Adriatic Sea, acclaimed to be one of Europe’s most stunning natural wonders, attracts visitors on sailing holidays in Croatia. For a scintillating cruise holiday there, Adriatic Challenge offers you skippered as well as bareboat yacht charters.

In addition to your sailing holidays in Croatia, if you wish to stage a small 10 vessel regatta or a national championship, expecting 50 vessels to take part in the competition, the experienced professionals from Adriatic Challenge offer sailing regatta management services and handle all aspects of your competition.

“All you have to worry about is showing up and performing your best,” says their spokesperson, “We guarantee you the perfect racing experience.”

As part of the regatta management services, they offer registration and permit services, prizes, support boats, on-shore entertainment, catering, skippers, yacht branding, and crew clothing.

Adriatic Challenge also offers corporate sailing events that will help you in team building efforts. Professionals can have customized exercises and sailing holidays in Croatia to fit whatever the corporate houses have in mind to build their teams.

The company offers early booking discounts on its charters and regattas. Presently, it is offering 20% discount on all kinds of boat and yacht charter in Croatia up to 19 June 2010 and 15% discount thereafter. To avail of this substantial offer, you need to have your bookings by 1 April 1 2010. For Regattas, they offer 10% early booking discount.

The weekly prices on offer are inclusive of dinghy, outboard engine, linen, towels, and tax.
There are compulsory extras, such as for Transit Log and Tourist Payment Tax. You also need to make a security deposit for the charter as well as for the regatta.

Visit www.adriatic-challenge.com  to find out all about yacht charter in Croatia and corporate sailing in Croatia, among other offers.

Website: http://www.adriatic-challenge.com
Email: marketing@adriatic-challenge.com

Adriatic Challenge is a yacht charter company in Croatia oriented providing the best one design fleet of bavaria yachts for sailing in Croatia.

LONG BEACH, N.Y. – A beach front escape miles before you get to the Hamptons? Seeing is believing. The Allegria Hotel is an oceanfront luxury property located in the iconic beach community of Long Beach, Long Island – less than 30 miles from midtown Manhattan and 15 minutes from JFK.

Long Island’s first oceanfront property west of the Hamptons, the Allegria Hotel is a year-round beach front escape that embodies relaxed elegance, sophistication and style.

Ideal for leisure and business travelers, the 143-room LEED certified property is home to renowned Chef Todd Jacobs’ Atlantica Restaurant & Bar featuring American cuisine with an eye for locally-sourced and organic ingredients.

Designed by Tony Sadha with the concept of “bringing the beach indoors,” the property embraces the seaside environment and is a natural extension of the neighboring surf and sand.

With a personal beach concierge, 200-guest ballroom, oceanfront L’Onda Lounge and state-of-the-art ocean view fitness center, the Allegria Hotel is the ideal destination for a weekend luxury escape, business meeting, or a close-to-home family vacation.

Forget airport hotels, only 15 minutes from JFK, the Allegria is the perfect hideaway for a relaxing pre-flight stay.

The Lobby

The arrival lobby at the Allegria welcomes guests with a soothing atmosphere and immediately transforms the travel experience into a serene moment.

Comfortable seating, an outdoor fort chair, and oversized driftwood sculptures bring a clean, modern aesthetic to a soft, beach-inspired color palette.

The Rooms

The Allegria’s well-appointed 112 guestrooms and 31 suites, many with ocean views, are undeniably the most luxurious accommodations on Long Island.

The rooms are designed in a white and sand color palette with driftwood and periwinkle accents. Bathrooms are finished in limestone with rain showers and include signature marine-based skin and hair products.

Rooms are equipped with high-definition LCD televisions, sumptuous 400-threadcount custom made in Paris, and towels woven from plush Egyptian cotton round out the amenities. All accommodations have Juliet balconies to let in the ocean air.

The Services

A throw back to the days of cabana boys, the hotel’s beach concierge provides Allegria guests with custom beach chairs, umbrellas, towels and refreshments, as well as assisting with surf rentals, volleyball games and various other beach activities. Guests also have complimentary access to the rooftop ocean view fitness center and yoga studio as well as private beach access.

The Oceanfront Lounge

L’Onda Lounge – meaning “wave” in Italian – features a large double-sided mirrored fireplace, 24-seat communal table, outside terrace service, and a circular bar made of glass mosaic. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlook the Atlantic Ocean and Long Beach’s iconic boardwalk making it the quintessential setting for waterfront cocktails.

Guests may choose from an eclectic list of cocktails and a menu of 100 wine varietals, many of which are organic and biodynamic. With 15 wines offered by the glass, selections hail from the North and South Fork wineries as well as international vineyards.

The Restaurant

Led by esteemed Chef Todd Jacobs, the property’s signature restaurant and bar, the Atlantica Bar & Grill features robust yet sophisticated American cuisine.

Jacobs is known by New Yorkers and Long Islanders from his long history with successful restaurants in the Hamptons. Atlantica at the Allegria sources and utilizes mostly locally grown and organic ingredients, a major component of Jacobs’ ‘close-to-door’ philosophy.

Jacobs draws on seasonal flavors with dishes from the “Sea” portion of the dinner menu that includes Pan Seared Local Sea Bass with Chili Lime Beurre Blanc served alongside Local Organic Greens Sautéed with Garlic and Crisp Corn Polenta or the Charbroiled Organic Scottish Salmon with Lemon-Caper Vinaigrette and accompanied by Grilled Vegetables and Organic Brown Rice.

Other culinary creations showcased under the menu’s “Earth,” “Starters” and “Desserts” are equally tempting and represent Jacobs’ mastery of innovative American cuisine.

The 143-seat space is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch. For a more intimate and memorable experience, private dining includes a chef’s table for up to 16, just steps from the ocean, nestled quietly among the restaurant’s floor-to-ceiling wine wall showcasing over 3,000 bottles.

The Neighborhood

A secret Long Island jewel, Long Beach is an iconic surfing town loved by locals and visitors alike. With waterfront seafood shacks, upscale fine-dining restaurants, a two-mile beachfront boardwalk, eclectic shopping, and local art-galleries, Long Beach is the ideal destination for a quick weekend getaway or week-long vacation. Located less than 30-miles from Manhattan, Long Beach offers everything available in the Hamptons and more, less than an hour from New York City.

About the Allegria Hotel

The Allegria Hotel is a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World. Owned by Allen Rosenberg, the property is managed by Access Hotels & Resorts. Rates start at $250/night. For more details on the Allegria Hotel or to make reservations, call toll-free 1-888-ON-BEACH (662-3224) or visit www.AllegriaHotel.com

Secrets Resorts & Spas opened its first property in Jamaica, the Secrets Wild Orchid Montego Bay.

The new all-suites resort will be joined next month by the Secrets St. James Montego Bay.

So far, the two-resort, $180 million project has infused $100 million into the local Jamaican economy and created 1,500 jobs during construction with an additional 950 jobs created for resort operations by the end of 2010.

Within the first year, the two properties are projected to receive over 52,000 guests.

“AMResorts’ consistent growth is directly linked to our continued search for opportunities in the travel market,” said Alex Zozaya, president and CEO of AMResorts.

“Not only has Jamaica consistently remained strong during these tough economic times, but its natural beauty, premium tourism offerings and consistent appeal made it a destination of choice for Secrets Resorts & Spas.”

Guests of Secrets Wild Orchid can enjoy eight international gourmet á la carte dining options; seven bars and lounges including swim-up; free-form swimming pools and beachfront Jacuzzi; a 15,000-square-foot spa featuring indoor and outdoor spa facilities and hydrotherapy circuit;

The Promenade, a main plaza shared by the two resorts offering a host of activities, boutiques, and entertainment and dining options; Seawind Beach Club, complete with couples cabanas, palapas and a gourmet restaurant; on-site sports including tennis, beach volleyball, basketball, soccer and non-motorized water sports, and daily yoga, aerobic, and introductory scuba classes; and over 16,000 square feet of meeting space.

The resort features 350 suites with in-room amenities that include oversized four-poster beds, full entertainment systems complete with LCD flat-screen televisions and CD/DVD players, a Jacuzzi for two, private furnished balconies, luxurious bath amenities, and Secrets’ signature discreet 24-hour room service. In addition to accommodations, the guests of Secrets Wild Orchid will be invited to enjoy many of the benefits and offerings of the Secrets St. James resort and vice versa.

These benefits include access to restaurants, lounges, spas, open-air theater and more.

Secrets Resorts & Spas currently has three resorts in Mexico’s Riviera Maya region, one in Cap Cana, Dominican Republic, and is slated to open additional properties in Huatulco and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and the Caribbean by the end of 2012, and also has plans to enter the Aruba market.

For more information, call 866-GO-SECRETS

or visit www.secretsresorts.com

Loews Lake Las Vegas announced a new partnership with the exclusive South Shore Golf Club at Lake Las Vegas.

This will be the first time Loews guests will be able to golf the Jack Nicklaus-designed course.

With views of the lake and the surrounding natural environment, as well as opportunities to see wildlife, including the Desert Big Horn sheep, this Par 71, 6,917-yard course is an exclusive experience for both leisure and business guests.

For reservations or more information, call 877-285-6397 or visit www.loewshotels.com/lakelasvegas

The Hotel Shangri-La in Santa Monica, Calif., has unveiled the Rock ‘N Roll Suite.

Sharing the top floor with the hotel’s soon-to-open rooftop bar, Suite 700, the semi-circular, northwest facing room is designed to give the feeling of being at the helm of a huge cruise ship sailing over the Santa Monica cliffs and into the blue Pacific toward Malibu.

The décor is reminiscent of the deco revival of the 1980s.

The suite features a curved wall of windows with a panoramic view of Santa Monica Bay.

The main room features deco lines with red, black and white furnishings, including a black leather, studded, king-sized bed with built-in, hideaway cabinets.

Other design elements include a floor-to-ceiling mirror and hardwood floors covered by cowhide rugs.

In-room amenities include two flat-screen televisions, a private verandah that runs the length of the room, and a six-person shower with a picture window.

Guests booking the suite receive Hugo Naturals’ organic bath and beauty products, chocolate-covered strawberries and Pinky Vodka.

A brand-new resort has arrived on Phuket’s world-famous Patong Beach.

The new Kee Resort & Spa features 244 modern rooms, suites and penthouses; the KeeKitchen restaurant; rooftop bar and lobby lounge; and the state-of-the-art KeeSpa and Wellness Centre.

Also on property is the sprawling Kee Plaza, featuring more than 60 boutiques, shops, restaurants and services just steps from hotel guests’ rooms, or if preferred, guests can browse the electronic catalog of offerings from the comfort of their rooms.

For more information or to book a stay, please call 011-66-76-343-555 or visit www.thekeeresort.com

Centara Hotels & Resorts has launched a value-added meeting package for its new Siripanna Villa Resort Chiang Mai property, which brings the cost of a meeting down to only 1,000 Baht (approx. US$30) per person per day and which includes two coffee breaks and lunch.

Also included in the package (available April 1 to October 31, 2010) are the use of an LCD projector, TV monitor with DVD player, and presentational materials such as whiteboard and flipcharts.

The Siripanna Villa Resort Chiang Mai, which opened late last year and is the first property in Centara’s Boutique Collection brand, features: a main function room on the second floor that can hold up to 200 guests;

an adjacent boardroom for board meetings; a traditional Thai house, which can hold up to 100 people for a Lanna khantok dinner, private reception or banquet; and the hotel’s extensive gardens, which can hold up to 500 for an outdoor event.

For more information or reservations, please call 011-66-2769-1234 ext.6714,

email putrith@chr.co.th  or visit the website at

www.centarahotelsresorts.com