Jetsettersblog

Fans of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society can now visit the places described in the book following a specially designed Google Map.

The award-winning novel is set in the German Occupied island of Guernsey between 1940-1945 and although the story is fiction, the places are real.

Available on http://bit.ly/cy3VVr , The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society Google Map features more than 30 locations described in the book, and provides interesting facts – including:

The tiny church where “every inch of which is a mosaic of broken china and smashed pottery” is the Little Chapel, possibly the smallest chapel in the world. Work started in 1914 and it is work of art and a labour of love, beautifully decorated with seashells, pebbles and colourful pieces of broken china.

“Filled with soldiers” when the story of the book took place, the North Esplanade is the St Peter Port front. At the Northern end near the Weighbridge used to be a large gun emplacement, sat in the window of the pub now called the White Hart. Diners gazing out onto the roundabout and the Weighbridge clock tower are probably unaware that the semi circular window is actually a German gun emplacement!

La Grande Havre, where Peter lives, is Guernsey’s largest natural harbour with five sandy bays and shallow and calm waters. It is the western end of what was known as the Braye du Valle: the island was originally separated from this point through to the Bridge with the Northern Island, being known as the Clos du Valle.

Many local place names used to make reference to the landowners, the geography or the industry that happened in that area. Mr Eben Ramsey’s address at Les Pommiers is no exception, referring to cider making which was a big industry in the 18th to 19th century.

Grange Lodge Hotel, where all Jews reported to, was built as a private house around 1815 and stayed in the same hands until purchased by the Mansell family in the 1930s. From this time it was run as a hotel except a five-year break during the German Occupation (1940-1945), when it was used as the headquarters for the German Feld Kommandant.

There may have been “temporary jobs” at the Quarry – but which one? The North of the island had over 300 stone quarries: one is still working but most are now filled in or used as water storage.

Despite being mentioned in the book, there appears never to have been a St Brioc School in Guernsey. However, there is a hidden chapel ruin in the south west of the island, on a hill covered in gorse and ferns.

Candie Gardens (where “everything changed – carnival to nightmare”) is a St Peter Port hidden green space and contains the Guernsey Museum and the Priaulx Library, the perfect place to spend hours looking, experiencing and reading about Guernsey’s history.

Corbiere, where you could see “the fishing boats come in”, is along the south coast cliffs of Guernsey: once indeed used for fishing (and smuggling!), nowadays it is mainly visited by small day boats.

The Crown Hotel was having a new roof according to the book – today it is no longer a hotel but a British pub, The Ship & Crown in the heart of St Peter Port.

According to the book “Guernsey is very beautiful in all its variety – fields, woods, hedgerows, dells, manors, dolmens…” Dehus Dolmen is a European megalithic marvel and one of the best preserved burial chambers in Europe.

The St Andrew’s Animal Shelter Site, where animals were taken to into trucks and then put to sleep, is today the site of the Guernsey Animal Shelter, a long standing Guernsey charity.

The High Street and Le Pollet at St Peter Port, where shop windows were “sparklingly clean and beginning to fill up with new goods” are still today Guernsey’s central shopping districts.

Hitler was “fanatical about fortifying” the Channel Islands, ordering from anti-tank walls on the beaches to miles and miles of underground tunnels and a huge underground hospital. Fort Saumarez is an example of the island’s massive fortifications, while the German Underground Hospital is open today as a visitor attraction.

The clifftops near La Bouvée, where “Sir Ambrose owned a home”, offer the backdrop for some stunning walks, while many scenic Guernsey cliff paths start from Rue des Fontenelles or from St Peter Port to Fermain Bay, all mentioned in the book.

In addition to The Guernsey Literary and Peel Pie Society, which has already received more than 25,000 views, VisitGuernsey has produced a selection of thematic Google Maps about the island (including the Official VisitGuernsey Map, Guernsey Restaurants and Guernsey Folklore), with two more under development (Guernsey Accommodation and Guernsey Bus Routes).

For more information on Guernsey please visit www.visitguernsey.com  or call 01481 723 552.

Luna Rosa (www.lunarosa.co.uk ) the Italian specialist luxury events and weddings company, tailor makes unique weddings and celebrations across a range of spectacular and exclusive venues in Italy.

From breathtakingly beautiful and unexplored villages in North West Sicily to “masserias” near the sea in Puglia and grand castles in Tuscany, Luna Rosa strives to provide the ultimate setting for the big day.

A family affair, Luna Rosa offers a vibrant, creative and personal service with unparalleled local knowledge and contacts. Emma Wood, mother Glyn and sister Aimee’s personal involvement in each event coupled with their passion for wedding design and decor and over 12 years’ spent researching the finest locations ensures the ultimate elegant celebration.

About Luna Rosa:

• Founded in 2007 by Emma Wood, Director and Wedding Planner (and founder of Discovery Travel, luxury villa holidays in Italy)

• Supported by mother Glyn Sayari (venue researcher and wedding stylist) and sister Aimee Wood (wedding and events planner)

• Use a hand-picked portfolio of the finest venues, in many cases with exclusive contracts to Luna Rosa

• Fluent Italian speakers with an extensive network of local contacts and in depth inside knowledge

• Personal involvement in each event and the limited number of events taking place throughout the year ensures the highest standards, attention to detail and first class service

• The average wedding size booked with Luna Rosa is 100 people. Small and intimate weddings can be arranged
• The average budget for weddings booked through Luna Rosa is £25,000

Ethos:

• “Eventi Artigianale” or “Hands on Events” – No event is the same

• “Buona Cibo” – The highest quality food

• “Pazienza” or Patience – Luna Rosa ensures that weddings are perfectly suited to the bride and groom, believing that it takes time to create an amazing event
• “Bella Squadra” or “A good team” – Only using the very best ingredients.

This means selecting suppliers who also love what they do, master chefs, creative florists etc.

• “Matrimoni con Gusto” or “Tasteful events “ – real wedding planners love privately owned, boutique venues in exquisite locations

Locations:

Favourites include -

• North West Sicily – Breathtakingly beautiful places away from the crowds, quiet fishing villages, excellent food, wonderful stretches of sandy coastline

• Umbria – Elegant and arty cities such as Perugia, Spoleto, Orvieto and Todi

• The Itria Valley, Puglia – The best food in the whole of Italy, superb countryside views and wonderful close knit family life, big “masseria” venues close to the sea

• Amalfi Coast – Stylish glamour reflecting the Amalfi coast ambiance, helicopters and luxury yachts

Services include:

Weddings and events

• Meeting with clients in the UK (London office)
• Travel to Italy to select the venue
• Wedding / event planner on hand throughout the process
• Set up wedding website for clients to communicate with guests
• Accommodation and travel arrangements for guests including pre-wedding activities
• Arranging special occasions for anniversaries and celebrations
• Representative on hand in Italy throughout the event

Honeymoons

As the land of lovers, Italy is one of the most romantic destinations for a honeymoon. Food, wine and culture make it a fascinating place to visit, while the warmth of the people make a stay in Italy an unforgettable experience.

From seductive hideways in the Tuscan hills to traditional “trulli” in the south, Luna Rosa knows the best locations for laid back luxury.

• Recommending unique places to stay

• Booking flights including upgrades and internal flights in Italy, executive lounge access

• Arranging special activities such as private guides and wine tasting.

It’s open – a brand new Harry Potter theme park in Orlando; The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

If you’re heading stateside for a spot of magic, it’s important to ensure you get the most out of your travel money, with the pound weaker against the dollar. Most bank debit and credit cards have an average of a 2.75% foreign exchange mark-up, in addition to many other charges.

Make unnecessary charges disappear and use a Caxton FX prepaid Dollar Card. You not only get great exchange rates, there are no ATM fees or hidden charges.

A Caxton FX Dollar card is also securer than carrying large sums of cash and far less hassle than outdated travellers cheques. If your card is lost or stolen, a block can be placed on it immediately and a replacement sent out to you. Your card is not linked to your bank account and so helps minimise identity theft. Gringotts would be impressed.

The Dollar Card is a prepaid chip and PIN MasterCard® meaning it can be used anywhere you see the MasterCard® acceptance mark, whether it be online, in store or at an ATM.

Head to www.caxtonfxcard.com and complete a quick application form. You will receive your card within a zippy Nimbus 3000 five working days.

Save £540 per person.

Enjoy luxury for less at The Sarojin, Thailand, the award-wining luxurious romantic boutique resort providing exceptional personalized services and excursions “just for 2” with the Special Bonus Nights offer. Eight nights at The Sarojin with Carrier costs from £1440 per person. Price includes breakfast, return flights from London Heathrow airport to Phuket with Thai Airways, and private transfers. Based on two people sharing. Valid for travel up to 10 July 2010 and between 26 August and 31 October 2010.

To book visit www.carrier.co.uk or call Carrier Worldwide: 0161 491 7630.

Prison food has become a delicacy for the resident koalas at the youth hostel on Magnetic Island, Australia.

A shortage of available eucalyptus trees has prompted staff at Bungalow Bay Koala Village youth hostel (www.bungalowbay.com.au) to look “inside” to feed the koala population within their wildlife sanctuary.

Containers full of gum leaves are being barged across from the Townsville Correctional Centre’s farm to feed the hungry marsupials.

The prison’s farm is home to about 5,000 eucalypt trees, watered and cared for by prisoners. As the youth hostel is not permitted to trim the island’s trees, it has been difficult to source the much needed supply.

The youth hostel has planted about 1,200 eucalypt trees at the back of the property’s bungalows and another 2,000 at the local council sport and recreation grounds, in partnership with the local council. However, they are still 16 months away from harvesting stage, making the prison leaf the main source of food for the koalas.

The three resident koalas, Dexter, Barney and Tiffany, each require four sticks of eucalypt branches every day, making for a busy production process to keep them in tip top Aussie condition.

Magnetic Island has a resident native koala colony of an estimated 2,000 locals which can be seen early morning or late afternoon on the “Forts Walk” which is a leisurely 20 minute walk from the Bungalow Bay Koala Village youth hostel.

Magnetic Island is a tropical island located just off the coast of Townsville, north eastern Australia. Two-thirds of Magnetic Island is national park.

In-depth information resource helps people remain up to speed on all information required to move countries.

Relocating across the planet to Australia or New Zealand is naturally a complex exercise, though now anybody who is thinking it can get the latest information they need to know on www.Emigrate.co.uk

The website is home to numerous hints and tips on moving to Australia or New Zealand with the least hassle possible.

Emigrate.co.uk is one of the members of the ASAP Ventures Ltd network of consumer websites which is designed to give users the best information for emigrating to Australia or New Zealand. The website boasts a forum where people can get answers to questions plus guides on moving overseas to Australia or New Zealand. The site can also help with advice on finding work when you arrive there.

Emigrating to Australia used to be pretty straightforward for most people but today is a more administrative process. Emigrate.co.uk can help people with vital information on what kind of visa they need – be it a business visa, a student visa, a skilled work visa or something else, and how to set about getting a job in Australia.

The site also offers the latest information on emigrating to New Zealand. Lots of people thinking about heading for a new life in New Zealand are not always aware that they need to be aged between 20 and 55 years old and have the relevant qualifications and skills. They can however also apply for a Work to Residence visa which lets them live in New Zealand while working towards citizenship.

Gareth Robinson, spokesperson for Emigrate.co.uk, comments, “Emigrate.co.uk is an essential service for people who are considering taking the plunge and heading to Australia or New Zealand. The site is replete with all the latest advice and information they need to know on visas, finding work there and more.”

For further information please see www.emigrate.co.uk

The new features on the Singapore Tourism Board’s website are designed to better address the needs of business travelers and planners. Highlights on the site include “Plan Your Event,” an interactive executive guide to selecting a venue with a search an events calendar to schedule around already booked meetings and programs; “Why Singapore” is an icon featuring suggested excursions and itineraries, client testimonials and videos, and convenient/hassle free support.

“Be In Singapore” incentives offer financial assistance and facilitation capabilities to help execute business events; “Nurturing the Industry: Singapore Experience Awards,” “Travel Rave” and other events are aimed at industry experts and thought leaders; “City Advantage” is a suite of lifestyle-related deals and privileges specially conceived for business travelers; and a new Smartphone application for the iPhone and featuring a host of value-added promotions is also available.

For more information, visit www.stb.com.sg

After the recent opening of Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts’ first hotel in India, the Swissôtel Kolkata, the Swiss-based international hotel chain has now signed management contracts for two more hotels in India — the Swissôtel Gurgaon near Delhi and the Swissôtel Whitefield, Bangalore.

A total of 240 rooms, including executive rooms and suites, will be awaiting guests from all over the world, with the opening expected in 2013.

The hotel will offer world-class amenities including conference rooms and ballrooms, a Pürovel Spa and Fitness Centre, several bars and restaurants serving culinary delights and a beautifully designed pool.

The hotel is part of a mixed-use development comprising Class A offices for multi-national corporations and India’s leading business houses and a mix of world class retail and restaurants.

Swissôtel Gurgaon will be well connected by road and metro to the entire National Capital Region.

The development is on Golf Course Extension Road, one of the fastest-growing areas in Gurgaon, and a metro station is planned directly across the road.

The hotel will be linked with the center of New Delhi and the Delhi International Airport, once the metro is completed.

The next milestone for Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts in India is Swissôtel Whitefield Bengaluru (Bangalore), which is one of the most important cities in South India and known as a rapidly growing technology hub.

The Swissôtel Whitefield, Bangalore will have more than 150 rooms and includes outdoor dining, a rooftop pool and bar and meeting space for business needs. The hotel is an integral part of a large mixed-use project that will contain restaurants, leading retail formats, and a cinema.

The project is being designed as a lifestyle center where business travelers and locals can shop, dine, gather and stay in an exciting and vibrant atmosphere.

The project is located in Whitefield. The hotel also has an optimal connection to the airport owing to its proximity to the Outer Ring Road where an underground metro station is under construction within the vicinity. The Swissôtel Whitefield, Bengaluru, is also planned to open in 2013.

What’s the Deal with Timeshare Rentals?

ResorTime.com, a popular source for on-line vacation and timeshare condominium rentals, reports that it is receiving more inquiries than usual regarding the advantages of renting a timeshare.

“This is the time of year that people travel with their families,” says Sherri Weeks, General Manager of ResorTime.com. “They are getting the message that timeshares have more space and make family and friend travel extremely comfortable with multiple bathrooms, laundry facilities and full kitchens. Renting a timeshare is one way to enjoy being together with the ones you love, without being cramped in small hotel rooms. They love to relax, cook dinners together and really take advantage of the quality time staying in resort condos.”

In addition to space and affordability, another popular attribute of a timeshare resort are the activities and friendly atmosphere.

Entertainment is in abundance on site.

For instance, some popular luxury properties offer cooking classes, surf classes, nature hikes, health and fitness group activities, language classes and photo scavenger hunts.

Activities vary from resort to resort depending on locale; teen nights and kids clubs are often part of the schedule. With sound systems, DVD players, fireplaces, balconies and all the comforts of home, families can treasure each others company without looking far and wide for outside entertainment.

Weeks says, “Resort condo travel is increasing and for good reason. At ResorTime.com we enjoy special relationships with a number of resorts and our site offers the flexibility to stay a night, a week, or a month at a luxury timeshare without having to take a tour. In fact, right now we have more than 75 properties with great deals like rates under $99/night.”

Some of the exclusive properties listed at ResorTime.com are located in premium locations such as Southern California, Arizona, Hawaii and Orlando.

Accommodations range from luxuriously decorated villas on the beach to cozy ski chalets in the woods and family-friendly condos to elegant studios.

ResorTime.Com, rapidly becoming the go-to source for spacious condominium rentals, has hundreds of luxury resorts for nightly and weekly rentals that accommodate leisure, business and group travel.

All ResorTime Hot Deals and Value Packages change on an ongoing basis.

For more information go to www.resortime.com  or call (877) 867-6507.

Hôtel Le Germain Toronto Delivers Pure Water Pleasure At Every Level
New OVOPUR filtration adds refreshing, sustainable touch to amenity offer.
Frequent travellers feel better well hydrated. Hôtel Le Germain Toronto is meeting this need for ample, available pure water with a new eco-installation of OVOPUR water systems on every guest room floor.

Not only will guests appreciate this ready supply of pristine water, they will appreciate the energy efficiency this system is known for. The unique porcelain system preserves and revitalizes water without electricity.

It relies on gravity to filter imperfections using a special filter designed to reproduce nature’s water cycle.

The reusable, multilayer cartridge contains tried and tested filtering materials that have been proven to remove chemicals and organic pollutants from drinking water.

“Being able to provide our guests with clean, filtered water without any environmental impact is another way in which we can reduce our energy output without compromising on service or aesthetic,” says Paul de La Durantaye, General Manager of Hôtel Le Germain Toronto.

By implementing this water system throughout Hôtel Le Germain Toronto, total energy consumption is diminished, resulting in an astounding 73,000 water bottles saved from landfills each year.

About AQUAOVO

AQUAOVO specializes in designing and distributing drinking water filtration and revitalization systems.

It operates on the cutting edge to provide water filtration that is inspired by nature and steeped in environmental awareness. Both a way of life and a health concept, the AQUAOVO experience lies at the crossroads of urban trends and collective well-being.

AQUAOVO is unconditionally committed to ethics, social responsibility, and the environment.

The business donates a percentage of its profits to not-for-profit organizations dedicated to safeguarding and promoting the quality of drinking water in urban environments.

About Hôtel Le Germain Toronto

Hôtel Le Germain Toronto – a modern, downtown architectural treasure with 118 rooms and four suites – pairs subtle elegance with genuine warmth through thoughtful, detailed service. Attaining consistent, high praise for overall quality and style since its debut as Toronto’s original luxury boutique-hotel, Hôtel Le Germain Toronto retains preferred-choice status among independent business travellers, couples and known personalities visiting the city for work or play.

Guests covet style and cherish discretion. Its signature Victor Restaurant is the city’s favourite destination for social dining and Canadiana cuisine by young culinary talent Chef David Chrystian.
www.germaintoronto.com

About Groupe Germain

A family-owned Quebec company, Groupe Germain owns and operates Le Germain Boutique-hotels – in Quebec City, Montreal, Toronto and Calgary – as well as two “no-frills-chic” ALT Hotels in Montreal’s Quartier DIX30 and Quebec City. Groupe Germain is renowned for the impeccable hospitality and style it brings to its boutique-hotels.

www.groupegermain.com