Jetsettersblog

Leela’s “Jewel on the Lake” Welcomes India’s First ESPA

One of India’s most renowned luxury hotel groups has partnered with the world’s top spa brand to bring its award-winning spa experience to one of India’s most popular destinations. The Leela Palaces, Hotels & Resorts’ newest property in Udaipur, in India’s Rajasthan, is welcoming the first ESPA in India.

The luxurious Leela Palace Kempinski Udaipur – this historic city’s first five-star property to open in seven years – lies on the banks of beautiful Lake Pichola.

All 80 luxurious rooms and suites – along with the spa’s majestic Rajasthani tents, set in the Leela’s gardens – have captivating views of this romantic heritage city and the surrounding majestic Aravili Mountains.

Debuting last month, the ESPA Spa at The Leela offers all the traditional treatments as well as Ayurvedic therapies in nine spa tents fit for a maharaja.

Guests are welcomed at the Reception Tent at the Lake Spa with a foot cleansing ritual with Rosehip and essential oils of ginger, clove and lime.

Five other tents there include: two Royal Palace Spa Suites with private pool and garden, a couples’ tent, one for yoga and another for manicures and pedicures. The Haveli Spa has three tents with five individual treatment rooms.

Guests may choose the four-hour “Royal Princesses of Rajasthan” treatment, which includes a salt and oil scrub, one-hour aromatherapy massage, facial and firming eye treatment and ends with a conditioning hair and scalp treatment. The three-hour “Ayurvedic Touch” features an Ayurvedic abhyanga massage and Shirodhara or Shirobhyanga.

“Our first palace hotel in Rajasthan is truly a ‘Jewel by the Lake.’ The designers have captured the grandeur of Udaipur’s architectural heritage,” says Vivek Nair, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts. Commenting on the partnership with ESPA, Nair explains, “ESPA’s core beliefs and values make them an ideal partner for The Leela. We both aim to provide our guests with the finest five-star service.”

Susan Harmsworth, CEO and Founder of ESPA says, “Each partnership we undertake is underpinned by similar ideals, beliefs and a mutual commitment to integrity, standards and training. There is a clear synergy between ESPA and The Leela, with both companies’ philosophies very much aligned.”

Renowned architect Bill Bensley and interior designer Jeffrey Wilkes have created a palatial modern showpiece inspired by the art and architecture of Rajasthan. The luxury hotel has two restaurants, a lounge and bar. A fitness center comes equipped with steam rooms, all the latest equipment and personal trainers.

Prices for body treatments and Ayurvedic therapies range from about $43 (INR 1,950) for a firming eye treatment to $172 (7,800 INR) for the Ayurvedic abhyanga massage. The “Royal Princesses of Rajasthan” treatment is priced at $300 and the “Art of Ayurveda” costs $215. Contact: central.reservations@theleela.com

About ESPA

ESPA is the world’s leading total spa company building award winning spas in five continents across the globe. Years of experience covering strategy, operational, conceptual and development elements of spas combined with an in depth knowledge of differing cultures, products and treatments, result in a Company which is well rounded and genuinely committed to inspired natural products, treatments and continual spa development.

Recognised as leaders in spa, ESPA consistently remains at the “cutting edge” of the Spa Industry, continuously adding to its worldwide accolades, with recent awards that include:

Best Spa Brand in Spa Finder’s 2008 Readers Choice Awards and Best Spa Company & Best Educators in 2008 Spa Asia Crystal Awards.

About The Leela Palaces, Hotels & Resorts

The Leela Palaces, Hotels & Resorts has established a global leadership position in the luxury hospitality industry offering hotels in premier locations, elegant facilities and personalized service to the world’s most discerning travelers.

It’s bouquet of award-winning hotels includes:

The Leelas in Mumbai, Bangalore, Goa, Kovalam (Kerala), Gurgaon and Udaipur.

The group is introducing hotels in New Delhi (2010) and Chennai (2011,) with future plans to develop hotels in Agra, Hyderabad and Pune.

The group has marketing alliances with Germany based Kempinski (Hoteliers since 1897); US based Preferred Hotel Group and are members of Global Hotel Alliance based in Geneva, Switzerland.

For further information, please visit www.theleela.com

Maldives Dive Travel, the Maldives’ premier liveaboard holiday travel agent, is proud to announce the addition of Theia to it’s portfolio of scuba diving liveaboard ships.

MALE, MALDIVES, – In February 2010, the brand new scuba diving liveaboard, Theia, set sail for her maiden scuba cruise of the Maldives. Both guests and crew were thrilled with the luxurious liveaboard ship, complete with state-of-the-art technology to ensure a comfortable and safe diving experience.

A stunning super cruiser, reminiscent of the yachts seen cruising the Mediterranean and the Caribbean each year, Theia is one of the most luxurious liveaboards operating in the Maldives today.

She has a stunning red and white exterior and the interior is finely decorated, offering a stylish combination of modern convenience with hints of Asian style.

Theia offers accommodation for up to 18 guests in 8 cabins, each of which features a private, en-suite bathroom, air-conditioning and exterior windows. Common areas on the ship include various decks ideal for relaxing, a bar and a restaurant which serves up excellent meals and snacks.

Theia also boasts a comprehensive audiovisual system in the main saloon area, video games consoles and internet access, so getting bored on Theia is really not an option.

Scuba diving trips on Theia last between seven and nine nights and include two or three dives each day, one night dive per week and all meals and snacks.

Other activities enjoyed from the boat include snorkelling, fishing, cultural visits to remote islands and shopping trips to the Maldives’ capital, Male.

The travel agent has been promoting liveaboard holidays in the Maldives for some years and enjoys an excellent reputation for promoting only the best liveaboards in the archipelago.

Before promoting any boat, a Maldives Dive Travel representative takes a trip on the boat, inspecting the quality of service, the safety procedures in place and ensuring that the boat meets certain standards.

Special introductory offer on Theia liveaboard. Liveaboard holidays in the Maldives typically cost around USD $200 per night. Dive holidays booked on Theia before October 31, 2010, will be charged the special introductory offer of just USD $192 per person per night – superb value when you consider the standard of the ship.

Technical Details:
Construction Year: 2010
Length: 104 ft.
Width: 30 ft.
Cruising Speed: 12 knots
Nautical Equipment: GPS, Radio, GSM
Water Supply: On board desalination plants
Power: 230V / 50Hz supplied by 2 diesel generators
Dhingy: 40 HP Outboarder
Extra Diving boat (Dhoni): 60 ft. dive dhoni with air compressor, fully equipped for scuba diving

About Maldives Dive Travel

As a leading provider of scuba diving holidays in the Maldives, Maldives Dive Travel is committed to offering the widest range of liveaboard diving trips at the best prices. We work closely with all the scuba diving liveaboards featured on Maldives Dive Travel to ensure they offer the levels of service and safety that our customers both deserve and expect.

Located in Taipei’s fashionable district, Da-An, the Hotel Éclat is a new boutique art hotel and the first new luxury hotel to open in the city for many years.

A member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, the 60-room hotel is owned and conceived by Hong Kong entrepreneur George Wong, who created and owns the luxury apartment complex Hong Kong Parkview.

The hotel features much of his personal art and furniture collection, and even his own personal collections of vintage wines and rare Chinese mao tai liquor.

The hotel is designed by Charles Robertson of LRF Designers Limited, whose work includes such projects as Le Meridien Cyberport Hotel in Hong Kong, Starworld Hotel & Casino in Macau and Four Seasons Shanghai.

All 60 rooms are equipped with luxury amenities including 42-inch LCD televisions and Internet TV keyboards, Bang & Olufsen CD and audio systems, Nespresso coffee machines, Montblanc desk sets and pens, Philippe Starck desk chairs, Riedel glassware and Salvatore Ferragamo toiletries featuring not the usual three but seven different amenities.

Bedlines are also of the highest quality, and there is a choice of 10 different pillow types from the pillow menu. The signature Éclat Suite includes a lighted marble dining table, Swarovski chandeliers, Murano glass sculptures and a Hasten bed from Sweden. For dining, Éclat Lounge serves breakfast, business lunches and traditional English afternoon tea, and offers an a la carte menu throughout the day.

For more information, visit www.eclathotels.com/taipei

Villa Maly, the refurbished former residence of Lao royalty, has reconfigured the first floor of the historic old villa into a marble bar. The bar, Mouhot’s, was named for a Luang Prabang notable, the French naturalist renowned for rediscovering the temples of Angkor in the mid 19th century.

Located in a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Villa Maly is a 33-room boutique hotel that was once the home of Princess Khampieng and Prince Khamtan.

The hotel features four classes of rooms in seven buildings, with a pool or garden view from each.

The hotel’s café sprawls across a wooden terrace, shaded by a great awning, and features dishes rooted in both Laos and Europe.

Villa Maly is owned and operated by the Apple Tree Group, a French-owned, Ho Chi Minh City-based company with interests in tourism and hospitality, real estate and construction and import and distribution all over Southeast Asia.

Its hospitality properties also include La Residence Hotel & Spa in Hue, Emeraude Classic Cruises on Halong Bay and the Press Club in Hanoi, as well as the Kamu Lodge on the Mekong River near Luang Prabang.

For more information, visit www.villa-maly.com

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND — Fitness fanatics who are staying in Auckland hotels next month might want to see if there are any places left for the city’s annual ocean swimming event.

King of the Bays takes place each year, with a group of intrepid sportsmen and women competing in a 2.8 km race.

The course runs from Milford Beach to Takapuna Beach and more than 1,000 people take part in the event each year.

It is described as New Zealand’s “premier ocean swim event” and will provide a great spectacle if you are not brave enough to take the plunge yourself.

Because the route to the swim follows the coastline, anyone who wants to watch can position themselves along the top of the cliff and cheer the swimmers on from their dry vantage point.

The first wave of participants will enter the water at 14:30 (local time) on April 17th, with the prize giving for the race taking place at around 16:15.

King of the Bays marks the end of the Sovereign New Zealand Ocean Swim Series, with a special evening of entertainment taking place at R’toto’s Beach Cafe to celebrate the successful conclusion of the season.

If you want to enter the swim, you should visit the official website for an entry form. It currently costs NZ$50 (GBP23.30) to participate.

iPhone and iTouch owners can now learn more about Australia’s Northern Territory (NT) to plan a trip to visit the area’s sites through a new free application — OutbackNT — which is set to be a resource for travelers.

OutbackNT gives users the latest information to help them decide what to do when visiting Australia’s real outback.

With interactive maps, information, and images, travelers can plan itineraries, choose where to eat, browse details on upcoming events, and tag attractions they want to visit.

OutbackNT users can get into the Indigenous vibe of the NT before leaving their home city and can also recreate an outback experience at home with the didgeridoo feature, which turns the phone into a “didge” that users can play by blowing into the phones voice piece.

Other features include touch drums on screen and the ability to alter the tempo and pitch by tilting the phone.

The app includes information on the six key regions of Australia’s Northern Territory including Darwin, Katherine and Uluru.

Whether travelers are looking to canoe through ancient gorges, ride a camel on the iconic red sands to the backdrop of Uluru, or browse Darwin’s Mindil Beach Sunset Markets, the OutbackNT app makes it easy and convenient to start researching and planning a trip.

Once downloaded, OutbackNT can also be used in remote areas without a web connection, which means information about the new viewing platform overlooking Uluru (Ayers Rock) and information about local guides and tour packages can still be accessed.

For more information, visit www.radiolynxcontent.com  or www.australiasoutback.com

Ocean Views, Fine Dining and Spring Festivals: Just Some of the Reasons to Visit Maine’s Black Point Inn

Open on May 7 with rates starting at $199*

PROUTS NECK, ME -Ocean views, fine dining and spring festivals are just some of the reasons to visit Black Point Inn (http://www.blackpointinn.com/) opening for the season on May 7 with spring rates starting at only $199 double occupancy, including breakfast.

Known for its relaxing, picturesque setting on Maine’s ruggedly beautiful coastline, Black Point Inn is just a short drive from the excitement of Portland with its many festivals and attractions.

Guests will enjoy all the inn and the surrounding area have to offer. On the weekend of May 22-23,

Portland visitors can check out the Maine Comics Arts Festival, a showcase of comic book writers and graphic artists and the first annual Spring Brewers Festival on May 22, where a variety of locally brewed libations can be sampled.

Also on the docket for early summer is the 37th Annual Old Port Festival on June 13. This annual summer kick-off celebration in downtown Portland features area bands, local eats and Maine-made arts and crafts.

In addition to exploring Portland and its festivals, Black Point Inn guests can enjoy fine dining and a variety of outdoor activities such as biking, kayaking, fishing and golf. Afterwards, they can unwind by the geothermal-heated outdoor pool.

Nature lovers can enjoy miles of enchanting beaches and take a stroll along the Oceanside Cliff Walk past the studio of renowned Maine artist Winslow Homer.

For information or to make reservations please call 207.883.2500 or visit http://www.blackpointinn.com

*Rate is available until June 17, 2010 and black out dates may apply. Double occupancy rate is based on availability. Rate does not include Maine state sales tax (7%) or Service Charge (18%).

About Black Point Inn

Black Point Inn is located at the tip of Prouts Neck at 510 Black Point Road in Scarborough, Maine. This landmark property boasts 25 guestrooms, a fine dining restaurant, and 3000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting and banquet space.

Open spring through fall, Black Point Inn is a member of Migis Hotels, a collection of luxury hotels and resorts dedicated to creating an unparalleled world of relaxation, recreation, and welcome in extraordinary waterfront settings in Maine.

Friendly Planet Travel’s Six-Day Tour

Marvel at some of mankind’s most daring engineering achievements, with optional extensions to Cairo and Kenya

It’s the contrast of old and new that makes Dubai one of the most distinctive tourist destinations in the Middle East. Experience the intersection of traditional Islamic culture and contemporary luxury on Friendly Planet Travel’s six-day Dazzling Dubai sightseeing tour for just $1,499.

Spend a morning strolling through the narrow lanes of the Bastakiya District marketplace, a relic of 900-year-old Dubai. Spend an afternoon riding one of Burj Khalifa’s 57 elevators, the tallest building in the world at 2,625 feet.

Dine on an Arabian dhow cruise down Dubai Creek, once the hub of bustling pearling and fishing industries, and today, the best way to take in the twinkling city lights.

Then tuck yourself in at the Fairmont, an iconic hotel that could have been pulled from the Las Vegas skyline, modeled after an Arabic wind tower.

Friendly Planet’s Dazzling Dubai package tour gives you all this and more at a $1,499 price that pinches pennies but doesn’t cut corners on the quality or scope of amenities.

The trip includes round-trip airfare from New York via Emirates Airlines.

Departures from Houston (add $130) and Los Angeles or San Francisco (add $200) are also available.

The package also includes all transfers, deluxe hotel accommodations, daily buffet breakfast, comprehensive sightseeing with a local English-speaking expert guide, and the option to extend your stay with visits to Cairo or Kenya.

“There’s only one place in the world where, in a single day, you can ski on indoor slopes and look out on a network of 300 manmade islands, and that’s Dubai,” says Peggy Goldman, President of Friendly Planet Travel.

“Stroll through the markets like the Spice Souk or the Gold Souk, and you’ll see merchants in traditional garb selling their wares.

Then hop in a cab to the entrance of the Bouj El Arab and gasp, astounded, at the fleet of white Rolls-Royces parked in the driveway, waiting to take the world’s wealthiest business people and celebrities wherever their hearts desire.

Everywhere you look, Dubai has the biggest, the best, the tallest, and the most outrageous. It’s hyperbole in steroids and a must-see for anyone who truly loves exotic travel.

The audacity of Dubai’s engineering achievements, and its opulent lifestyle, juxtaposed with traditions that have been a cultural backbone for centuries, is unlike anything you’ll find, anywhere. Friendly Planet travelers experience all the facets of these distinct worlds on our tour.”

Flights to this desert oasis are via Emirates Airlines, voted one of the world’s top-five carriers by the readers of Conde Nast Magazine. Travelers will stay at the elegant and luxurious Fairmont Hotel Dubai, named one of the world’s best by www.ForbesTraveler.com

Experience quintessential Dubai on the included guided city tour: cosmopolitan, pulsing with vibrant nightlife, rich culture, eye-popping architecture, and shopping that ranges from elegant designer malls to street markets filled with spices and gold.

Travelers can spend the remainder of their time in Dubai exploring on their own, or they can take advantage of inexpensive optional tours.

Among the most popular are a wild desert safari by 4 x 4 vehicles, ending with a delicious dinner under the stars, complete with belly dancers and a henna tattoo artist. Another favorite is a visit to the Mall of the Emirates, where you can ski the world’s only indoor slopes (complete with ski lift).

Of course, Dubai’s renowned Burj Khalifa (the world’s tallest building), Burj Al Arab (the world’s most expensive hotel), Palm Island, and The World (manmade islands off Dubai’s shoreline) can’t be missed, as well as the trendy Dubai Marina, Internet City, posh Emirates Hills, and the Gold and Diamond Park.

And for travelers with more time, Friendly Planet Travel also offers two extension packages to make the most of your already-included airfare.

The Kenya Wildlife Safari extension, at $899, includes a mini-safari and takes vacationers to Nairobi’s Masai Mara National Game Reserve and Kigio Conservancy. The Cairo Flash extension, at $399, offers travelers a tour of Egyptian wonders to the Pyramids of Cheops and Chephren, the Sphinx, and more.

For more information about Friendly Planet Travel’s Dazzling Dubai and trip extension options, please visit the company’s Web site at www.FriendlyPlanet.com , the blog at http://blog.friendlyplanet.com

Located along a pristine stretch of white sand beach aptly named Playa del Secreto (the Secret Beach), Valentin Imperial Maya Resort offers couples an idyllic backdrop for a romantic destination wedding or honeymoon.

From unique ceremony locations such as a multi-religion wedding gazebo, beautiful beach area and the only Catholic chapel in Riviera Maya to an on-site wedding concierge available to ensure perfection to the last detail, Valentin Imperial Maya Resort offers couples a complete, luxury wedding experience from start to finish.

Valentin Imperial Maya Resort has created several special packages to help engaged couples achieve the destination wedding of their dreams.

Below are some of the components included in the amazing “Once In A Lifetime” package currently available at the resort:

Choice of wedding ceremony location: chapel, gazebo or the beach

Boutonniere for the groom and bridal bouquet

Complimentary room for the groom the night before the wedding

Make-up & hair styling for the bride

One-hour cocktail party with hors d´oeuvres

Wedding dinner party, wedding cake and sparkling wine for the toast (for 25 members of the wedding party staying at the hotel)

Photo package and edited DVD

Floral centerpiece for the sweetheart table and petals for aisle runner
Live Mexican trio or Marimba (45 min)

Special amenities for the bride and groom include couples spa treatments, private airport pick-up service, late checkout, complimentary room upgrade (subject to availability upon arrival) and champagne breakfast in bed the morning after the wedding.

This package is available for $2,599 USD.

For more information on the “Once In A Lifetime” package as well as other wedding package information, please visit the Valentin website.

OFFER PREMIUM GUESTROOMS AND SUITES AT AFFORDABLE RATES IN THE MONTH OF MAY

– Newly designed honeymoon, junior, deluxe and Gran Suite rooms offer affordable luxury, decadence, and idyllic locales on some of the Caribbean and Mexico’s premier beaches starting at just $211 per person, per night throughout May 2010–

Catalonia Hoteles and Resorts, leaders in the all-inclusive and adults-only Caribbean hotel and resort market, has unveiled exceptional rates for newly designed Junior Deluxe Suites, Exclusive Suites with access to dedicated swimming pool, Gran Suite Royal with private plunge pool and eight honeymoon rooms at both Catalonia Royal Bávaro and Catalonia Royal Tulum in Bávaro, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic and Riviera Maya, Tulum, Mexico.

The new room rates at Catalonia Royal Bávaro start at $211 per person, per room, per night and include: Junior, deluxe suites, Exclusive suite, honeymoon junior suite and Gran Suite Royal. Catalonia Royal Tulum in Riviera Maya, Mexico is offering honeymoon suites at a starting rate of just $183 per night, per person.

Rates include all food, beverage and access to resort facilities such as pools, beach and fitness center. Additional services such as spa treatments and golf are available for an additional fee.

The offer can be booked directly through Catalonia Hotels’ micro-website www.cataloniacaribbean.com and is valid through May 31, 2010.

Guestroom Amenities Include:

Plunge pool (Catalonia Royal Bávaro Gran Suites only)
Fully stocked mini-bar
Private Swimming pool (Catalonia Royal Bávaro deluxe suites)
Remote control blinds
Interior Jacuzzi
Daily turndown service
Deluxe bath amenities
Safety box
Spacious marble baths w/oversize soaking tubs
Coffee maker
Pillow menu
Vanity mirror
42” plasma TVs with digital cable
Hairdryer
32” plasma TVs with digital cable
Iron & ironing board
WiFi
Scale
DVD/CD/MP3 player
Umbrella
Stylish and comfortable sitting areas
Individual climate control
Catalonia Royal Bávaro

Considered one of the best value-added all-inclusive adults-only resorts in the Caribbean, Catalonia Royal Bávaro recently added 96 Junior Deluxe Suites and 14 Exclusive Suites with private plunge pool and 1 Gran Royal Suite with private plunge pool.

The Junior Deluxe Suites enjoy access to a dedicated swimming pool while Exclusive Suites each have their own private plunge pools; complete with teak decks and chaises lounges. The Gran Suite is situated in a secluded section of the property ensconced by fragrant tropical vegetation for ultimate privacy.

It offers private path and access to the beach. It is one of the largest in the Dominican Republic measuring 200 sq. m. and featuring spacious living quarters with ample windows overlooking the lush garden and pool, large master bedroom and oversized master bathroom. The suite also offers a private infinity pool, deck and lounge furnishings.

The locale of the new suites offer, a boutique luxury resort within a boutique all-inclusive resort offering private infinity swimming pool, dedicated casual fare restaurant, Sea Blue, and the Cata Tapa Restaurant.

In addition to enjoying the gourmet offerings of the resort’s diverse cuisine, suite guests may also sample casual cuisine at the new Sea Blue Deli Snack Bar or the Cata Tapa set atop a reflecting pool and featuring an exquisite and extensive Tapas menu.

For active guests and golf enthusiasts, Catalonia Royal Bávaro is within close proximity (3 minutes) to the Catalonia Caribe Golf Club, an 18-hole championship golf course and clubhouse complete with golf pro, pro-shop and bar. Driving range, golf equipment rental clubs and carts are also available.

Catalonia Royal Tulum, Riviera Maya, Tulum, Mexico

Located 15 minutes away from Catalonia Royal Tulum, Xcaret Cancun Eco Park is Mexico’s magical paradise where culture, ecology and Mexican wildlife meet. Derived from the Mayan word meaning “small inlet,” Xcaret is a natural park filled with all the Xcaret Maya expressions of culture, nature and beauty.

Ideal for travelers wanting the true Riviera Maya experience, the Mayan eco-park boasts underground rivers, a butterfly pavilion, coral reef aquarium, white sandy beach, tropical inlets and much more.

The historical paradise is also home to “Xcaret Mexico Espectacular” – the one-of-a-kind celebration honoring the traditions, history and mysticism of Mexico.

The 288-room Catalonia Royal Tulum features junior suites in addition to standard guestrooms. Catalonia Royal Tulum recently converted 8 guestrooms into luxury honeymoon suites. Honeymoon rooms feature in-room amenities and services, Colonial Caribbean-inspired décor, custom furnishings, and luxury outdoor furnishing on private patios.

The resort offers s a full-service spa offering host treatments and therapies including a Mayan ritual therapy, Vichy shower room, hydrotherapy tanks and hydro-massage tubs.

A full service fitness center, six restaurants ranging in specialties from Continental to Italian and Mexican are also available. Along with a Tapas Lounge Bar located amongst the natural vegetation which features weekly live entertainment (3 days per week). Additionally, four bars including pool and beach juice bar are available.

For reservations and information log onto www.cataloniacaribbean.com