Jetsettersblog

Dolphin Cove has been voted Attraction of the Year by members of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA).

The attraction, near Ocho Rios on the north coast of Jamaica, offers holidaymakers the chance to swim with dolphins, sharks and stingrays; captain their own mini-boat or enjoy glass-bottom kayaking on the Caribbean Sea. There is also a rare opportunity to get up close and personal with magnificent marine mammals on the ‘Sea Keeper for a Day’ programme. Participants will spend the day with experienced animal trainers, assisting in food preparation, feeding and behaviour interaction with the dolphins – as well as sharks and stingrays – whilst learning hands on training techniques used by the professionals.

www.dolphincovejamaica.com

Jamaica has boosted its luxury, all-inclusive product offering with the opening of two new Secrets Resorts in Montego Bay.

Secrets Wild Orchid and Secrets St James sit side by side, offering 700 rooms between them.

The adults-only resorts share a wide range of dining, entertainment and leisure facilities including eight international a la carte restaurants; nine bars and lounges; free-form swimming pools; a spa and on-site activities such as tennis, beach volleyball, soccer, watersports and daily aerobic and yoga classes.

The properties will also offer wedding packages and cater to the conference and meeting market.

These two properties mark the debut of the Secrets brand in Jamaica.

“We are pleased to welcome AMResorts and the Secrets brand to Jamaica.

“We believe the opening of this new development underscores the appeal of Jamaica not only as a great vacation option, but a great place for doing business,” commented Jamaica’s Director of Tourism John Lynch.

“Visitors to the resort capital Montego Bay have another option when selecting an accommodation that matches their specific needs and interests.”

Secrets Wild Orchid and Secrets St James had their grand opening in May 2010.

www.secretsresorts.com

Work on the transformation of the Royal Shakespeare and Swan Theatres is gathering pace as the Royal Shakespeare Company gears up for the reopening of its theaters later this year, in advance of the first productions from early 2011.

The RSC’s Transformation Project will see the history of the theater buildings retained, alongside the creation of an array of new public spaces, including a 1,000-plus-seat thrust stage auditorium at the heart of the project, a Rooftop Restaurant which offers views across the River Avon and a new Theatre Tower complete with a high viewing platform. The Royal Shakespeare Theatre’s new seats have arrived from Italy and are now on-site.

Starting on July 24, an exhibition entitled “Volcano: Turner to Warhol” opens. The exhibition is the first to celebrate the artistic outpourings that volcanic eruptions have triggered over the past five centuries including works by Andy Warhol and JMW Turner.

For more information, visit www.comptonverney.org.uk

A new exhibition celebrating Shakespeare’s women opens on July 3 at The Birthplace in Stratford upon Avon and runs until the end of October.

Entitled “Shakespeare’s Women in Art and on Stage,” it will provide an opportunity to discover some of the hidden treasures of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust and Royal Shakespeare Company collections.

The exhibition will showcase artworks including sculptures, paintings, photographs and stage props. Featured items include “The Weird Sisters” by Henry Fuseli, a portrait of Peggy Ashcroft as Juliet in 1935, costume jewelry worn by Janet Suzman and Glenda Jackson as Cleopatra, and personal items and props used by Ellen Terry.

Also included is “Ophelia” by contemporary artist Bryan Organ which is heavily inspired by Millais’ famous painting.

For more information, visit www.rsc.org.uk

Titchwell Manor, a coastal boutique hotel, near Brancaster in North Norfolk, has opened the new designer Eating Rooms, a stunning informal dining area and bar which lead out to a sea view terrace – the perfect place for a sundowner. At the same time the hotel has introduced a new Tasting Menu, which is served in its fine dining Conservatory Restaurant.

Created by avant-garde designer Shaun Clarkson, the Eating Rooms striking decor is eclectic and bold with features reflecting the undulating sea and wide, golden sandy beaches. The hotel has spectacular, uninterrupted views across open marshes to the sea.

Commenting on his interior designs, Shaun Clarkson said; “My inspiration for the new Eating Rooms was abstractly ‘seaside’ in colour and pattern, but modern eclectic in style.

“I was keen to keep the integrity of the original Victorian building and have therefore treated the new extension as additional space and enhanced the experience by decorating the interconnecting rooms in different treatments and colour ways. It should feel like a modern eclectic Victorian journey through the rooms, linked with the giant monolithic marble bar as a constant.”

Dining Choice

Titchwell Manor is renowned for the quality of its fresh, seasonal food and beautiful presentation; Head Chef Eric Snaith has earned two AA Rosettes for his excellent modern European cuisine, which uses local produce where ever possible. Guests now have a choice of where to dine – either the new Eating Rooms or the original Conservatory Restaurant.

Changing daily, the set Tasting Menu is a perfect opportunity to sample a selection of Eric’s very best dishes served by candlelight Monday–Saturday evening in the elegant Conservatory Restaurant, which overlooks the walled garden. Vegetarian options are available if ordered in advance when making a booking.

Alternatively guests can choose from a large á la carte menu with daily specials in the new Eating Rooms, which is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week. Dishes reflect the mix of traditional and contemporary surroundings with a modern take on trusted favourites, simple food executed with individual thought and style, plus a selection of Eric’s signature restaurant-style dishes.

On Sunday lunchtime and evening the Conservatory Restaurant offers the same menu as the Eating Rooms with a choice of dishes as well as a traditional roast.

Fresh fish and shellfish feature predominantly on both menus. Eric is keen to guarantee the freshness by using local fisherman from Brancaster Staithe such as Cyril Southerland and Simon Letzer for their mussels, oysters, lobsters and Cromer Crabs, while the award-winning venison comes from the Houghton Hall estate a little further along the coast.

Eric and his brigade are constantly striving to develop new ideas, flavours and gastronomic experiences spending a lot of time creating new dishes as well as styling their appearance on the plate. Healthy eating is an important consideration all the way through to the special children’s menu.

Classic and Contemporary Rooms

Titchwell now has 27 ensuite bedrooms including eight individually furnished, in the main hotel building, which dates back to 1896; three have sea views and two are large family suites. The remaining 19 are either in a traditional cottage and converted dairy – one with its own open fire – or in contemporary, newly built, accommodation around the herb garden. These are quiet, secluded, single storey rooms surrounded by the scent of lavender and rosemary. Each has been named after an aromatic plant and some have meadow views and south facing patios.

There are also two ground floor twin-bedded rooms beside the courtyard with wet rooms equipped to help wheelchair users and parking directly outside.

And for couples seeking a romantic break, or for a special celebration, there is the detached Potting Shed – an individually designed wooden house with views into the garden. This large luxury bedroom has a remote-controlled stove and in-room slipper bath, as well as an ensuite shower room and private decking where guests can enjoy breakfast or a pre-dinner drink.

Wildlife, Sandy Beaches and Golf

Guests can visit the nearby RSPB Titchwell Marsh nature reserve where different birds come to live and feed with the changing seasons; or they may prefer to watch the wildlife come and go from the Norfolk Coast Path or Peddars Way. The miles of golden, sandy beaches are an all year round attraction whether it’s couples taking a romantic walk by the seashore or children building sandcastles.

For golfers there are two championship links courses within easy reach – the Royal West Norfolk at Brancaster and Hunstanton Golf Club – and for watersports enthusiasts there’s sailing and windsurfing from Brancaster Staithe harbour. Local attractions include Holkham Hall, Sandringham House and Norfolk Lavender while there’s an array of smart, individual shops at Burnham Market.

Pets Welcome

With so many excellent walks close to Titchwell Manor, guests often like to bring their four-legged friends – cats and even budgies have stayed too.

Visiting dogs are given towels, blankets, drinking bowls and biscuits to make them relaxed and comfy while their owners are given a map marked with the best short walks from the hotel. Well-behaved dogs are welcome in five designated, ground floor rooms at £8 per night; there is also a kennel in the paddock.

Tariff and Contact Details

Titchwell is owned by Margaret Snaith and her husband Ian who bought it back in 1988.

They have since transformed the former Victorian farmhouse into an elegant hotel, retaining the high ceilings and open fires in the lounges and Eating Rooms, and adding contemporary new bedrooms around a courtyard herb garden.

A smart retreat for those seeking fine dining in stylish surroundings, Titchwell offers a delightful fusion of contemporary furnishings with traditional values.

Prices start from £110 per double/twin room per night B&B;

the Tasting Menu is £40 per person.

For a brochure and more information call Titchwell Manor Hotel on 01485 210221 or visit website

www.titchwellmanor.com

Close To Her Former Home

This year marks a trio of murder mystery anniversaries on the English Riviera including Agatha Christie’s 120th birthday, the 90th anniversary of Hercule Poirot and the 80th anniversary of Miss Marple.

With over 240 holiday homes on the English Riviera Blue Chip Vacations has the region’s widest selection of self-catering properties close to Christie’s birthplace.

This includes the newly available Wild Goose House, a superb, period, self-catering cottage situated less than a mile from Agatha Christie’s former home at Greenway, now a National Trust property.

Wild Goose House is located at the head of a wooded valley, high above the picturesque River Dart, near the tranquil village of Galmpton. This charming three-bedroom cottage, sleeping six, is within easy reach of Greenway House where Christie penned her many devious and murderous stories, and where many personal collections and mementoes of her life and family can be discovered.

Outside, Wild Goose enjoys fantastic valley views over the River Dart taking in the nostalgic and majestic site of steam trains that cross the nearby viaduct on their daily route to Dartmouth.

Inside, Wild Goose has a spacious and stylish living room with elegant furnishings and a feature fireplace with log burner. French doors give access to the pretty gardens, patio area, lawns and sun terrace overlooking the valley below.

Upstairs are three generous bedrooms, two of which have double beds and the third twin beds.

Available from 26 June, Wild Goose can be booked from £869 per week (£144 per person) up until July 24.

For more detail:
www.bluechipvacations.com/holiday-cottages/brixham/wild-goose-house.html

What’s on for Agatha Christie Fans?

Over the Summer visitors can walk the Agatha Christie Mile and discover the views and places that influenced her and appeared in so many of her works. These include Princess Pier where she roller-skated, the Grand Hotel, where she honeymooned, and the Imperial Hotel where Miss Marple and Poirot had tea on the terrace.

Visitors can fathom the secrets of Agatha Christie’s Potent Plants at Torre Abbey where poisonous and medicinal plants including opium poppy (opium), castor oil plants (ricin), almond trees (cyanide) and willow (aspirin) can be found.

Agatha Christie Festival 12-19 September

Come the Agatha Christie Festival between 12 and 19 September, more than 40 events will take place across the English Riviera including all-star theatre productions, a period fete, birthday extravaganza fireworks, book signings, murder mystery dinners, garden parties and an open-water charity swim celebrating Christie’s love of the water at Beacon Cove.

For more on the Festival see
www.englishriviera.co.uk/agathachristie/festival

Wild Goose is currently available from 12 September for seven nights from £619. Blue Chip Vacations also has over 70 other English Riviera properties currently available during the Festival, which can be found at www.bluechipvacations.com

Bookings can be made by calling Blue Chip Vacations on 0844 7044987 or by visiting www.bluechipvacations.com

Blackpool is officially the nation’s all-time favourite seaside resort, according to new research from consumer champion Which? Holiday*.

The North-West resort has been voted number one** in an independent survey of over 4,000 members of the general public. Fans love the special atmosphere in the town, as well as the spectacular annual illuminations which were described by one respondent as “simply breathtaking”.

Brighton comes a close second***, with the promenade, pier and its proximity to open countryside receiving high praise.

Whitby, Bournemouth and Scarborough**** complete the top five. Bournemouth’s beaches are its main draw, while the other two have been singled out for their scenery and surrounding countryside.

40 per cent of UK adults took a trip to the seaside in 2009, but this is set to increase in 2010. 20 per cent of adults surveyed by Which? Holiday said they will be more likely to visit a UK seaside resort in 2010 than in 2009.

Rochelle Turner, Head of Research for Which? Holiday, says:

“Millions of Brits will be taking holidays at home this year, and it’s certainly one way to ensure you don’t fall victim to volcanic ash.

“While Blackpool may not be able to guarantee the weather, with its host of theatres, fairgrounds and every conceivable promenade entertainment, it’s easy to see why the granddaddy of seaside towns still manages to draw the crowds.”

Which? Holiday Top Ten seaside resorts:

1. Blackpool

2. Brighton

3. Whitby

4. Bournemouth

5. Scarborough

6. Newquay

7. Torquay

8. St Ives

9. Skegness

10. Great Yarmouth

Frasers Hospitality Pte Ltd. established a significant presence in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with the grand opening of its maiden property, Fraser Place Kuala Lumpur — the first of two serviced residences to open in the heart of the city.

Located in the “Golden Triangle” and within walking distance of the Petronas Towers, Fraser Place Kuala Lumpur occupies floors nine to 30 of an integrated retail and office complex, and is surrounded by shopping malls, nightclubs and al fresco dining.

Reflecting the Fraser Place design standards, the Jalan Perak property comprises a total of 215 studios, one- and two- bedroom apartments and penthouses with sweeping views across the city skyline.

Key features include an infinity pool which overlooks the city from the 18th floor, a large gym complete with aerobics and yoga studio, Nintendo Wii playroom, Simmons beds and rain showers.

A second property, Fraser Residence Kuala Lumpur, is currently under construction on the vacant land facing both Jalan Ampang and Jalan Sultan Ismail in the Golden Triangle and is scheduled for completion in 2012.

Both Fraser Place Kuala Lumpur and Fraser Residence Kuala Lumpur are collaborations between Frasers Hospitality Pte Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Singapore-based property group Frasers Centrepoint Limited, and MYX-listed YNH Property Bhd.

This year, the company will open another 10 properties, eight under the Fraser brand and two under the new Modena brand. In total, the company will make its debut in 10 new major cities — Budapest (Hungary), Doha (Qatar), Dubai (United Arab Emirates), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), New Delhi (India), Osaka (Japan), Bahrain (Middle East), Chengdu (China), Suzhou (China) and Tianjin (China). With another 6,000 residences already on the drawing board, the company is on course to manage more than 10,600 individual residences by the end of 2012.

For more information, visit www.frasershospitality.com

The first-ever City Leisure Index comprising China’s top 287 destinations will be published in the fall of 2010.

This project is a joint venture initiated by the China Tourism Leisure Association, a non-profit organization administered by the National Tourism Administration of the PRC; Qunar.com, China’s largest online travel website; and the People’s Daily Online, one of China’s leading state-owned media companies.

The City Leisure Index will help Chinese consumers make better and more informed decisions as they aspire to travel to new locations.

The City Leisure Index ranks 287 cities and tourist destinations according to a range of criteria including the quality of points of interest and tourist facilities, breadth of shopping and entertainment options, depth of history and culture, local government support for leisure and tourism, and numerous other criteria.

These factors collectively are extremely valuable for travelers as they make decisions where to travel to next.

The organizers of the Index will be utilizing an array of consumer-relevant resources, including expert panels, search queries from internet consumers, user-generated online comments, on site surveys of “typical travelers”, and data and information provided by regional and local governments.

“Online travel agencies, traditional travel agencies, airlines and hotels provide increasingly diversified products and services,” said Fritz Demopoulos, CEO and co-founder of Qunar.com. ‘Qunar.com makes it possible for travelers to search for a wealth of air tickets, hotels, vacation packages and services.

We’re quite pleased to help create this Index and provide value to the emerging leisure travel category.” According to data released by Google Double Click Ad Planner in April 2010, Qunar.com was ranked as China’s largest travel website and No 7 globally.

For more information, visit www.qunar.com

Vivienne Tam, prominent fashion designer, joined João Manuel Costa Antunes, director of Macau’s Government Tourist Office and senior executives from Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, Hongkong Land and Shun Tak Holdings at a ceremony and ribbon cutting to mark the opening of the new 213-room Mandarin Oriental, Macau.

A lion dance and fire crackers were followed by private guest tours of the hotel and a celebratory dine around experience at the hotel’s restaurant and bar, Vida Rica.

Mandarin Oriental, Macau has panoramic views of Taipa Island, Nam Van Lake, Macau Tower and the hills of the South China coastline. The hotel has a holistic Spa at Mandarin Oriental, a comprehensive fitness centre, temperature controlled outdoor swimming pool, a range of event space and the Vida Rica restaurant and bar.
The hotel’s opening package rates start from $282 per night.

This includes one complimentary consecutive night’s accommodation or a dining or spa credit valued at $48.

Reservations can be made through Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group’s on-line reservations service at www.mandarinoriental.com  or by contacting the Group’s worldwide sales and reservation offices, or by calling Mandarin Oriental, Macau directly at 011-853-8805-8822, email momac-reservations@mohg.com  or visit www.mandarinoriental.com

South Australia’s (www.southaustralia.com)  internationally renowned premier wine growing region, The Barossa, situated a mere 75-minutes drive from Adelaide, is home to:

The Louise, an award-winning 15-suite luxury vineyard retreat and Appellation, the property’s acclaimed restaurant run by British-born Executive Chef Mark McNamara. Together they provide discerning travellers with some of the finest wining, dining and accommodation experiences that the Barossa, and indeed Australia, has to offer.

THE LOUISE (www.thelouise.com.au)  is a luxuriously appointed 15-suite property surrounded by vineyards as far as the eye can see.

Each suite offers guests their own gated courtyard entrance, a spacious ensuite, private open air terrace with vineyard vistas and more. Some suites also have private outdoor showers. Bicycles are available on site whilst activities include hot air ballooning and private tours of heritage sites and local wineries.

Activities include:

- “Breakfast With The Kangaroos”, a privately guided walk to see kangaroos in their natural habitat followed by a gourmet picnic breakfast in the Kaiser Stuhl Conservation Park.

- “Signature Barossa Experiences” sees nine of the region’s top boutique winemakers opening their doors exclusively to overnight guests at The Louise, providing an unparalleled opportunity to meet the families and artisan individuals responsible for making some of Australia’s most prestigious wines whose distribution is limited to small volumes.

Each tasting provides a different insight – organic and biodynamic wines, alternate varietals, barrel tasting, specific and inspired food pairing, rustic heritage and old vine.

Among the nine winemakers are John and Jan Angas of Hutton Vale set in 2,000 acres of picturesque rolling countryside.

Hutton Vale also produces wool from merino sheep, white Suffolk cross lambs for meat, cereal cropping and the Farm Follies range of chutneys and pickles. The Angas family, who has been farming the land since 1842, places great emphasis on quality and long-term environmental sustainability.

Guests can choose between two tours; the two-hour “Personal Tasting and Tour of Hutton Vale” which includes a walk through the walled gardens, wine tasting, homemade chutney tasting as well as other seasonal specialities, or “At the Table with John and Jan”, a hosted lunch with wines included.

Other boutique wineries opening their doors include Kalleske, Massena, Milhinch, Radford, Small Fry, Spinifex, Tscharke and Whistler Wines.

Options include complimentary private wine tastings with the winemaker with a further range of tasting options including tapas, light or long lunches priced from A$65 to A$250 per person.

APPELLATION (www.appellation.com.au ), the award-winning restaurant at The Louise, offers not only an a la carte menu but also a signature 10-course “Wine Flight Tasting Menu” paired to a monthly changing selection of seven distinctive Barossa wines.

The recently expanded restaurant, which maintains an intimate atmosphere whilst now offering dining facilities for up to 48 guests, features locally-sourced seasonal produce prepared under the guidance of British-born executive chef Mark McNamara, gold medallist in Tasting Australia’s national culinary competition.

Signature dishes include a tasting plate of Eden Valley duck featuring oak smoked breast, rillettes and buttery liver parfait; butter fried fillet of South Australian snapper with lemon, fine asparagus and baby capers.

Package options include the “Most Brillant Blend” which combines two nights accommodation at The Louise with Penfolds’ “Make Your Own Blend” experience and a “Tasting Menu” at Appellation. “Make Your Own Blend” is an interactive, two-hour winemaking experience that allows guests to blend their own wine in the laboratory at Penfolds’ winery, at the end of which guests take away their own handcrafted Penfolds wine with their name on the label as Assistant Winemaker.

Bringing this wine back to Appellation, the restaurant will prepare a dish to match the created wine forming a part of the Tasting Menu dining experience that evening.

Appellation’s cellar, housing its award-winning wine list, has doubled in size and now features a glass walled wine display.

The lounge has also tripled in size and, in coming months, a new outdoor terrace with vineyard views will open for sunset drinks.

The Louise and Appellation are part of the Arbutus Hospitality Group, headed by Jim and Helen Carreker.