Jetsettersblog

The Villa & Hotel Majestic has already distinguished itself among Paris’ best properties since its debut in January of this year. Among its many notable offerings: 4,800 square meters of holistic well-being contained in the MajClub Wellness Centre.

Within the Centre, the hotel now offers an extraordinary, revolutionary treatment designed by Céline Claret Coquet, creator of Clé des Champs, an organic line of products and therapies inspired by traditional Chinese medicine and the changing seasons.

Through the use of acupuncture and gold needles, Coquet has created an innovative face lifting treatment.

With just three, painless, simultaneous actions, therapists can provide their guests with 100% natural rejuvenation. “The first step is an acupuncture session, to relax and harmonize the body’s energy,” explains Coquet.

“This is followed by a facial lifting created by acupuncture, which considerably improves the skin’s elasticity by stimulating the facial muscles and encouraging microcirculation.

The third step involves a natural beauty prescription using Clé de Champs beauty treatments, optimizing the benefits of the acupuncture lift.”

Other simply scintillating treatments include deep cleaning facials using extracts of seasonal products to nourish and tone the skin, combined with stimulation of acupressure points to regain balance.

Bodywork is just as holistic.

The “Turina” massage, for example, restores the flow of energy throughout the body by stimulating pressure points, preparing the body to face the challenges of each season.

Located in the lower level the hotel, the Centre raises the bar among its closest competitors thanks to the variety and quality of its treatments and facilities, including blue-tiled hammams, infrared saunas, a fitness facility with Technogym equipment, a heated indoor lap pool, teakwood chaise lounges for relaxing and more.

Villa & Hotel Majestic rates begin at 500 Euro per room, per night. Rates include tax and service charges.

For more information, call +33 (0)1 45 00 83 70

or visit www.majestic-hotel.com

ABOUT VILLA & HOTEL MAJESTIC: The newest addition to the Parisian hotel landscape is Villa & Hotel Majestic, which made its debut in January 2010.

A contemporary sanctuary just steps from the Champs-Elysées, the 52 guestrooms and suites offer classic décor with modern accents.

Many of the accommodations have spacious private and landscaped balconies, bringing the city’s beauty to the forefront.

The 4,800 square-foot MajClub Wellness Centre features the Chinese medicine-inspired Clé des Champs line of exclusive treatments and products, while Le Premium Bar and the restaurant provide cocktails and a refined menu to suit every palate. Private parking is also available.

New, Ground-Breaking Routes

New routes for 2010 – South Africa (a beautiful route in the Cape Winelands) and Europe’s Little Tibet, the Abruzzo, among them. Nearer to Rome, a route through the Sabine Hills and we are also offering a little bit of luxury in France with our walk among the Bordeaux vineyards. And a new route through Provence, from the mountains to the sea.

ITALY – The Abruzzo

The Abruzzo, only an hour from Rome, is a real surprise, with majestic mountain scenery, amdist which shepherds still tend their flocks with their beautiful white sheepdogs.

The Gran Sasso, at 10, 000 feet, is the highest mountain in Italy outside the Alps and at the end of the walk you will have the chance to walk to the summit (no mountaineering skills necessary). Known as ‘Little Tibet’, the area is often used for filming. Self-guided and guided departures – full details at
www.worldwalks.com/abruzzo-the-gran-sasso.aspx

ITALY – The Sabine Hills

LAZIO – The Sabine Hills. Sabina, a little known and unspoilt part of the region of Lazio, lies just 50 km north east of Rome.

The Sabine Hills together with the gorgeous green countryside, medieval hilltop villages and olive groves provide a wide and varied range of walking opportunities -

www.worldwalks.com/lazio-the-roman-empire-and-the-sabine-hills.aspx

SOUTH AFRICA – The Cape Winelands

The Cape Winelands region is regarded as one of the most beautiful parts of South Africa – while the area between Somerset West and Stellenbosch is seen as the jewel in the crown – this walk offers an opportunity to experience the splendour of distinctive and spectacular countryside first-hand, and in depth – covering a distance of some 100kms (60 miles) over six days – full details at

www.worldwalks.com/the-cape-winelands-walk.aspx

FRANCE

PROVENCE – Mountains to the Deep Blue Sea. An exceptional self-guided walking route, from Sainte Baume, where a limestone escarpment offers an extensive panorama over the sea, to Cassis and La Ciotat Calanques, with their fjord-like landscapes and vertical cliffs and idyllic sites for bathing -

www.worldwalks.com/provence-mountains-to-deep-blue-sea.aspx

BORDEAUX – The Fine Wines of Bordeaux. This is a real mixture of beautiful landscapes, pleasures of the flesh and cultural discoveries. From the vineyards of St Emilion to the Sauternes -

www.worldwalks.com/bordeaux-st-emilion-and-its-vineyards.aspx

Tourism agency Visit County Durham has organised a week of events to showcase its remote Dales and North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and to encourage visits to the area known as “England’s last remaining wilderness.”

Melanie Sensicle, chief executive of Visit County Durham, said: “The Durham Dales are sandwiched between Northumberland and Yorkshire and are often overlooked or forgotten as a place of exploration and quiet retreat.

For many, the essence of true escape and outdoors exploration is the feeling of tranquillity, the awe of incredible natural landscapes and having the space, freedom and time to enjoy them – quite simply this is Durham.”

Durham’s Outdoor and Active Week runs from April 5-11, as part of National Outdoor Adventure Week, and features more than 17 free and great-value events including guided mountain biking, orienteering, guided walks and hiking, landscape photography and high ropes activity courses.

In 2007, the Campaign to Protect Rural England carried out a tranquillity mapping survey of the UK, looking for the least polluted, quietest and best preserved natural environments.

North East England was voted the most tranquil region in Britain and County Durham was voted its fourth most peaceful place.

Maria Murphy, countryside information officer for Durham County Council, said: “Durham’s industrial past has left a massive footpath network which is great for outdoor leisure and recreational use.

Old quarries and mining sites have been turned into nature reserves and many former railway tracks have become scenic footpaths, it’s a brilliant county to explore on foot or on two wheels.”

Among the areas visitors can explore during Durham Outdoor and Active Week is the North Pennines AONB and Geopark, a distinctive landscape of high moorland and broad upland dales. It shares a boundary with the Yorkshire Dales National Park in the South and extends as far as the Tyne Valley in the North.

Its western boundary follows the Pennine Escarpment and in the east it grades into West Durham

Top-5 Facts about the North Pennines AONB

1. It’s the second largest AONB in the UK behind the Cotswolds
2. It is Britain’s first UNESCO European Geopark, awarded 2003
3. 40% of the UK’s upland hay meadows are in the AONB
4. 80% of England’s Black Grouse live in the area
5. England’s biggest waterfall, High Force in Teesdale, is in the AONB

In addition to the organised events, many self catering cottages, guesthouses, hotels and B&B’s are offering special short break packages during Spring and into Summer, including three nights for the price of two, 25% off, or discounts on mountain bike hire and outdoor activities.

For full details about Outdoor and Active Week and accommodation packages, log onto: www.thisisdurham.com/active

Introducing The Flow Rider, The Uk’s First Inland Surf Wave At Retallack Resort & Spa Cornwall

Cornwall is anticipating a wet start to the summer season for all the right reasons this year. This Easter the 5 Star self-catering Retallack Resort & Spa is delighted to launch its Flow Rider, the UK’s first inland surf wave, sponsored by Quicksilver/Roxy.

This onshore wave is the latest in extreme sports, combining skills used in a multitude of board sports and providing the perfect family activity suitable for all ages (from 5 years) and great fun no matter for novices or experienced boarders alike.

For children and adults who have always wanted to try surfing but would prefer to give it a go in a safe controlled environment, the Flow Rider is the perfect introduction and the ideal way to build confidence before heading to the beach.

The Flow Rider is set to form part of Retallack’s new Loop complex which, when complete, will also house retail units, a new restaurant and a spectator gallery.

Flow Rider packages will be available to guests staying at the resort (including a mandatory induction) although Cornwall residents will also be able to sign up for a loyalty scheme.

“As a UK first, this is an incredibly exciting time for Retallack Resort and indeed for Cornwall as a whole and we’re all delighted to have Quicksilver and Roxy onboard,” says Jason Keyter, Retallack’s Resort Director.

“Flow Riding is a wonderfully safe and fun activity that is as incredible to watch as it is to take part in. You don’t have to be a pro surfer to use it which means it’s a great way to learn some balance and boardsports manoeuvres before hitting the waves, or indeed the slopes. The Flow Rider at Retallack Resort is set to make a real splash and we’re really looking forward to welcoming people here to enjoy it.”

Drawing on a mixture of surfing, snowboarding, skateboarding, and wakeboarding skills, the Flow Rider represents the very latest in artificial wave technology, providing excitement and thrills to everyone from global extreme sports champions to novice youngsters and adults alike.

The wave itself uses a number of pumps that circulate water across a foam-padded incline at high speed to create a 2-inch deep rapid. Specially-designed stand-up boards and body boards can both be used, and Retallack’s Flow Riding instructors will always be on hand to make sure even those without a world-class sense of balance can get a taste for the action.

Retallack Resort is a gorgeous collection of self catering lodges ideally positioned amongst Cornwall’s green rolling hills.

The Cornish countryside surrounding Retallack Resort offers plenty of opportunities for family adventures and old fashioned exploring.

Visit giant greenhouses at the nearby Eden Project, hire bikes and picnic amongst wildflowers whilst enjoying views across the Camel Estuary from the Camel Trail. Head to the beach with buckets and spades to build castles, body boards to ride the waves or have a family kite-surf lesson before refueling with and fish and chips in Padstow or ice-cream and cream-teas at Watergate Bay.

Each 2 or 4 bedroom lodge at Retallack has been beautifully crafted in timber and decorated to the highest standards, from decked private terraces with barbecues to contemporary cosy interiors, every detail has been meticulously thought out to provide the perfect home from home.

Retallack Resort also offers complimentary state of the art leisure facilities including modern indoor swimming pool complex with steam room, sauna, gym, fitness studio ‘Retreat’ spa offering Thalgo and Decleor treatments, kids club, outdoor tennis courts, 9-hole par 3 golf course and children’s adventure playground.

For more information visit www.retallackresort.com
or call 01637 882 400

Square Restaurant & Sushi Bar’s Renowned Annual Gourmet Wine Calendar Announced For 2010

South Africa, Cape Town, March 2010 – SUBLIMELY popular, the Square Restaurant & Sushi Bar’s 2010 Gourmet Wine Calendar launches in April – with irresistibly auspicious offerings.

Ever wanted to wine and dine with owners and winemakers from iconic estates? Now you can.

Meerlust, Simonsig, Klein Constantia, Warwick and Waterford estates will all be present on the opening evening – to present their wines, mingle and meet with diners.

It’s an opportunity not to be missed, to personally talk to Hannes Myburgh and cellar master Chris Williams from Meerlust, Johan Malan from Simonsig, Lowell Jooste from Klein Constantia, Kevin Arnold from Waterford, and Mike Ratcliffe from Warwick.

The who’s who from iconic South African wine estates will all be there.

Located at the Vineyard Hotel & Spa, the Square has partnered with these five famous Cape wine estates because, not only are they world renowned, but they represent the same values as the prestigious hotel – all are established and family run.

Estate owners and winemakers personally selected wines from their estates and these have been carefully paired with four- and five-course dinners to complement them.

Vineyard Hotel & Spa, Food and Beverage Manager, Gawie Marx, says: “Having all these prominent people together in the same room on the same night only happens at the Square. They are all big names in the wine industry.”

The Square’s Gourmet Wine Evenings – now in their fourth year – commence with a welcome from the winemaker and chef.

Then diners can enjoy a relaxed evening, savouring the different courses of cuisine and wines at their own pace. “There is no rush,” says Gawie, “and diners are encouraged to simply relax and enjoy the evening.

“It’s informal, and winemakers and estate owners will mingle with guests throughout the evening. The chefs will also be around to talk to guests. The idea is just to have fun.”

Running from 23 April to 29 October 2010, there will be two Gourmet Wine Evenings every month on Friday nights. Only 110 to 120 guests can be accommodated, so early booking is essential.

“It’s excellent value for money,” adds Gawie. “For R249.00 guests can enjoy a welcome drink, a four course meal paired with wines, and be part of a lucky draw sponsored by the featured estates.

The evenings are hugely popular, because I believe we have got the formula right – they’re reasonably priced, informal and relaxed.”

The final offering on the calendar will feature the eight Constantia Valley estates – Klein Constantia, Groot Constantia, Steenberg, High Constantia, Buiteverwachting, Constantia Glen, Constantia Uitsig and Eagles Nest. “This evening will be a five-course menu, paired with 11 wines,” says Gawie, “quite simply, nobody else does anything like this.”

Other highlights on the calendar include a Chenin Blanc Evening with Ken Forrester, and Paul Cluver hosting wines from the Elgin Valley.

In the spirit of its winemaking heritage, the Vineyard Hotel & Spa has its own small vineyard along the banks of the Liesbeek River that were planted two years ago. This is a symbolic gesture to mark the evocative history of the property, when in the 1700’s Lady Ann Barnard owned the original Vineyard farm with its 20 000 grape vines.

For Square Restaurant & Sushi Bar 2010 Gourmet Wine Evening reservations: Tel 021 657 4500; email: eat@vineyard.co.za  visit www.vineyard.co.za

Red Sea resort announces further expansion plans

Orascom Development is opening two brand new hotels and a marina in its flagship town, El Gouna.

The lavish accommodation is due to open in November 2010 and will push the total number of hotels in the Red Sea destination to 16.

The development of El Gouna’s new marina is also underway, which will be an extension of the existing Abu Tig Marina and will cater for vessels up to 60 metres long.

“El Gouna has grown in popularity year on year and we need to meet the high level of demand,” says Mayar Abdel Aziz, VP Marketing at Orascom

“The new hotels will add to the extensive accommodation we already offer in El Gouna and will be a welcome addition to the resort.”

The two hotels, named Fanadir El Gouna and Mosaique El Gouna, will be four star establishments and will be located next to each other on the resort’s new marina.

Fanadir El Gouna will offer 54 rooms, a restaurant, a pool and two bars and Mosaique El Gouna will be home to 69 rooms, a restaurant, two pools and two bars.

El Gouna is also due to open a new luxury resort called Ancient Sands in December 2011, which will boast accommodation, the town’s second 18-hole championship golf course, a spa and a range of restaurants and bars.

El Gouna is a fully fledged, self contained town located on Egypt’s Red Sea, which attracts worldwide visitors and houses more than 15,000 permanent residents.

The resort already offers 14 hotels, five of which have received Green Globes for their commitment towards sustainable tourism and the environment.

Austravel slashes prices to encourage customers to enjoy overland travel in Australia and New Zealand

Overlanding is by far the best way to see Australia and New Zealand, according to Australasia expert, Austravel.

In a bid to encourage customers to try it for themselves, the leading tour operator is offering massive savings on a variety of overland travel.

From discounts on train journeys to a week’s free motorhome hire, travellers can experience the best Australia and New Zealand have to offer for less.

For more information or to book please visit www.austravel.com  or call 0800 988 4834.

Apollo New Zealand:

Three weeks’ motorhome hire for the price of two weeks
Travel dates: travel to be booked and completed between 20 April and 14 September 2010

The offer is available at participating Apollo outlets in New Zealand.

Rail Australia:

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Australia’s famous railways – The Ghan and the Indian Pacific – receive a 20 per cent discount on the Ghan Gold and Platinum Sleeper cabins.

Booking period:  to 30 June 2010
Travel dates: valid until 31 December 2010

The offer is only valid when purchased with a minimum of two night’s accommodation and a day tour anywhere in Australia.

Coral Princess Cruises – Australia

Book any Great Barrier Reef cruise and save 15 per cent
Booking period: Book by 30 June 2010
Travel dates: to 31 March 2011

Avis Australia:

Get a free upgrade to the next group car (up to group E) at Avis
Booking period: Book by 30 April 2010
Travel dates:  to 31 March 2011

Block out dates: 22 Dec 2010 to 4 January 2011

Minimum rental period is three days and the offer is available at participating Avis outlets in Australia.

Get a free day when hiring an Avis car
Booking period: Book by 30 April 2010
Travel dates: to 31 March 2011

Block out dates: 22 Dec 2010 to 4 January 2011

Minimum rental period is seven days and the offer is available on car groups X,A,B,C,D,E and K. Multiple hires are not included.

The offer is valid at participating Avis outlets in Australia.

Tourism Australia has launched the Great Boomerang Throw, a new Facebook competition where one lucky winner on

www.facebook.com/AustralianWorkingHoliday  

will win a trip to Australia.

The Great Boomerang Throw is a global game of ‘pass it on’, hosted on Facebook, that taps into the site’s vast online community.

Users get the chance to throw a virtual boomerang, with the longest chain winning a holiday to Australia, including a month’s work placement at the famous Prairie Hotel in the stunning South Australian outback.

Players start the chain by throwing a boomerang to a chosen friend, who in turn passes it on to one of their friends and so on, with the boomerang travelling from person to person, in a six-degrees-of-separation format, across the world.

The fun game allows players to include a personal message to convince people to throw the boomerang on and users will end up relying on strangers to help build the chain and ultimately win them the trip to Australia. Players can watch their throw develop on a global map charting the boomerang’s progress.

The lucky winner will enjoy some of South Australia’s highlights before work commences, as the competition prize also includes incredible Aussie experiences, such as swimming with dolphins at Adelaide’s Glenelg beach, enjoying a Groovy Grape Barossa Valley wine tour, spending a couple of days on Kangaroo Island where koalas, seals, echidnas and, of course, kangaroos are plentiful; all before reaching the Prairie Hotel – a true outback pub where locals travel anything from five hours to get a cold beer.

The hotel has also been used as film location for films such as ‘Holy Smoke’ so the winner could even get to sleep in the same bed as Kate Winslet!

The new game has been added to the Facebook page as part of Tourism Australia’s ongoing strategy to promote the Working Holiday Visa programme by highlighting the benefits to combine work and travel Down Under.

An Australian Working Holiday Visa allows 18-30 year olds the opportunity to combine 12 months travelling in Australia with incidental work, making those holiday funds go further and giving ‘gappers’ the opportunity to live the Aussie lifestyle.

Tourism Australia General Manager (UK and Europe), Rodney Harrex says: “The 12 month Working Holiday Visa gives 18-30 year olds the chance to live the Aussie lifestyle as well as the flexibility to earn money while they travel throughout the country.”

The new game encourages our Facebook fans to have a go and learn more about the Working Holiday Visa. By throwing the boomerang we aim to spread the message about gap years in Oz, getting more young people to experience the wonders of Australia for themselves.”

For more information on the Australian Working Holiday Visa visit

www.australia.com/workingholiday

In response to growing demand, General Tours World Traveler’s Privately Guided Journeys are now available with professional guides fluent in their native tongue and Spanish, Italian, Chinese and a variety of other languages.

“With a wide offering of Privately Guided trips worldwide, it was easy for us to take this step,” said company President Bob Drumm. “These tour services are exclusive to a single traveling party, so it’s no problem for us to arrange a bilingual guide fluent in our guests’ preferred language.”

This poly-language flexibility complements the company’s successful Family & Friends offer.

With $50 to $150 per person savings for groups of three or more, General Tours has seen an increase this year in family bookings, including several multi-generational groups.

“With our well-connected overseas staff and partners, we’ve even arranged multi-lingual guides for these groups,” said Drumm.

“They’re fluent in English, the local dialect and a third language, Spanish in several cases.”

These families were able to have their sightseeing in the languages with which they’re most comfortable.

And because these services were privately guided, switching between English for the kids and Spanish for the older generation was paced to their personal comfort level.

General Tours offers more than 120 Privately Guided Journeys and FreeStyle Travel options to Asia, Europe, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East, with prices starting at $1,499 for the seven-day Incredible India trip.

For more information, call 800-221-2216 or visit www.GeneralTours.com

Visitors to the Lake District Coast Aquarium in Maryport, on the Western Lake District coast, can celebrate the impressive Roman history of the town, as well as Easter, by taking part in a mosaic fish art competition running every day during the Easter holidays (to April 11).

The Aquarium, which has just been short-listed for the Small Visitor Attraction award in the Cumbria Tourism Awards 2010, has created a mosaic fish craft activity that has associations with the Roman past of a town occupied by the first century AD and later home to one of Hadrian’s defences along the northern frontier of the Roman Empire.

The impressive and passionate aquarium will also be running a Best Dressed Easter Fish fancy dress competition on Easter Sunday and is encouraging families to come along and be judged at 2.15pm.

Right on cue, ten baby dwarf seahorses have arrived for the first time at the Lake District Coast Aquarium. These will grow to become dwarf seahorse adults, at which time they will still only measure 2cm, as they are the world’s smallest seahorse.

The timing could not be better, as a World of Seahorses exhibit is now displayed in four tropical tanks. This is home to three species of seahorse, pipefish, banded Humbug fish, corals, Tangs, Cardinals and Clown Fish (Nemo to most visitors!).

Old favourites, Wolf Fish, have also returned to the Aquarium, whilst children can have enormous fun finding ‘Nemo’ in the coral reef tank.

The new ‘Wild Solway’ exhibition and film suite, to which free entry is available to all, is a great new addition to over 50 fish displays which form the main attraction, providing a highly topical, informative extension to any visit.

Multi award winning film, ‘Rewards of the Reef’, which highlights the plight of sharks, can be viewed in the theatre, where a three-metre screen adds an atmospheric quality to a fabulous, conservation-focused film.

Other current films scheduled daily include ‘Whale-Giant of the Oceans’, a report on the success of a no fishing zone off Arran, plus a delightful short film about our native seals.

‘Wild Solway’ also offers exhibitions about the White-Clawed Crayfish, The Natural World of the Solway Firth, a collection of real shark jaws, plus a colouring table, to occupy children whilst their parents browse.

Talks given by the informative team at the Aquarium add to the experience and feeding can be seen at 12.00, 2pm, 3pm and 4pm.

A ticket to the Lake District Coast Aquarium provides entry all day, allowing visitors to make the most of the all weather Aquarium building itself, complete with café and gift shop, as well as the radio controlled boats, mini golf and adventure playground on the same site.

Parking is available (by meter) right outside and the whole building is wheelchair accessible.

Admission costs £6.95 for an adult, £4.50 for a child and £18.95 for a family of two adults and two children.

Other family ticket combinations and concessions tickets are also available for an attraction open from 10am to 5pm daily and located at CA15 8AB.

Visit www.lakedistrict-coastaquarium.co.uk  for more information.

The Aquarium lies within just a few minutes walk of The Wave, where the history of Maryport can be explored, and just a short drive away from The Senhouse Museum, which is home to the largest group of Roman military altars and inscriptions from any site in Britain, as well as unique examples of Romano-British religious sculpture.

For more information on where to stay and what to do in Maryport and the Western Lake District, visit

www.western-lakedistrict.co.uk