Jetsettersblog

Guoman & Thistle Hotels have launched a dual incentive scheme bursting with great offers for meetings and events bookers looking to secure event space between now and 31st March 2011.

Guoman Hotels, the exclusive collection of deluxe, inspirational hotels across central London, and Thistle Hotels, the chain of quality full-service hotels in the UK’s major cities, are offering M&E bookers the chance of winning a whole array of exciting rewards, such as free Apple goodies, a double booking bonus reward, 3% commission boost, free day delegates (this occurs for Thistle only) or even a luxury holiday to Asia.

To be in with a chance of benefiting from any of these rewards, simply book a meeting at any Guoman & Thistle Hotel between now and 31st March 2011 for the meetings which occur between 1 January 2011 and 31 March 2011.

Apple prizes up for grabs include an iPod shuffle, iPod, iPad or even an iMac.

Additionally, a booking of two meetings can earn you a generous 2% cash-back on the value of any meetings and events spend, plus receive £4 for every room night booked online, and £2 for every room night booked offline.

For more information or to book a meeting at a Guoman Hotel please call 0845 075 3775 and to book a meeting at a Thistle Hotel please call 0845 676 9009.

Do not forget to quote ‘surprise’ when calling.

For full terms and conditions please visit either www.guoman.com/beinspired or www.thistle.com/letsmeet

About Guoman Hotels

Guoman Hotel Management Limited operates two hotel brands within the UK market; Guoman Hotels, an exclusive collection of deluxe hotels located in central London and Thistle Hotels, a chain of quality full service hotels in the UK’s major cities.

Guoman Hotels in the UK consists of four landmark properties; Charing Cross, The Cumberland, The Royal Horseguards and The Tower, with the Victoria Grosvenor set to join the collection in 2010. Whilst each hotel in the portfolio is different with its own unique identity and style, each provides the very highest levels of comfort and service to its guests.

In 2010, Guoman Hotels launched internationally, with its new property opening in Shanghai – with a property in Beijing to follow in 2011.

Guoman Hotel Management Limited is a wholly-owned subsidiary of GuocoLeisure Ltd, part of the Hong Leong Group which has hospitality and leisure businesses across the globe with hotels in Europe, USA, Australasia and Asia.
About Thistle

Thistle Hotels is part of Guoman Hotel Management (UK) Limited which operates hotels throughout the UK. Thistle has 33 hotels across the country, many in superb city centre locations, including eleven in central London. With a selection of restaurants and a choice of excellent health and leisure facilities, Thistle has something to offer everyone.

Thistle Hotels is the first hotel group to achieve Hospitality Assured accreditation, across its entire UK portfolio. Created by the Institute of Hospitality, the Hospitality Assured standard measures the quality within customer facing businesses across the hospitality, tourism and leisure industry.

For the quintessential country break away with your new Hunter Wellies, come down to the New Forest this autumn.

Its like having your own country estate, with one hundred and forty square miles of ancient landscape to explore.

To entice you down to our neck of the woods, book a break with our late availability Standby Rates, pack the dog and head for the wide open.

Link to Standby Rates;http://www.newforestliving.co.uk/standby-rates.asp

New England may have the fall, but here in the New Forest, the coming of Autumn is heralded by free range pigs with trails of piglets in tow.

The Pannage season, as this ancient practice is known, is not merely an old tradition – the New Forest depends on these porkers to hoover up fallen acorns which are extremely poisonous to the New Forest ponies and cattle.

The pigs also eat beech mast, crab apples and anything else they can find. Busy, busy, busy.

Here are three super holiday cottages offering Autumn Standby rates.

Robins Bush Farm; Located at appropriately named Piglets Corner at Minstead. A wonderful mini farmstead with which to impress your friends and family. Sleeps up to 8, Autumn breaks from £825

Link to property;

Mast Cottage; This cottage has ancient rights to turn out your pigs on the forest ! Located in Burley Village. Great for a get together, dog accepted, easy walking distance to the village hostelries. Sleeps up to 7. Autumn breaks from £595.

Link to property;

Careys Lane Brockenhurst. Unlike the donkeys, pigs tend not go window shopping up Brockenhurst High Street of an afternoon, but they can be seen looking busy at the end of the lane.

Sleeps up to 6. + designer doggie to compliment this designer holiday cottage. Autumn Breaks from £525.

Link to property;

If you are looking for somewhere irresistibly romantic and special to exchange your wedding vows – why not consider the Garonga Safari Camp in South Africa?

Not only does the exchange rate make this a very reasonably priced option – but Garonga offers the ideal venue for an intimate, impossibly romantic wedding and/or honeymoon – and provides an exclusive and personalised service.

Situated west of the Kruger National Park, Garonga’s capable team would be delighted to arrange everything for you – from the priest to the cake and flowers. You can choose whether you would like to say ‘I do’ on the pool
deck, in the middle of the bush or on the sleep-out tree house deck – which is highly recommended!

The main Garonga Safari Camp sleeps 12 people, and Little Garonga, set a short distance away from the lodge, sleeps 8 people – so it is very easy to book single suites, either of the camps – or even both for parties of up
to 20!

Rates offer incredible value for money starting from just R2,550 *(roughly £210) per person per night full board, including game activities and drinks!

Garonga’s wedding packages are specially tailored to every couple’s individual needs and a minimum of 3 nights are required for the wedding package – but your stay could follow along the lines of…

Day 1

Arrive in time for a delicious picnic lunch at a waterhole followed
by a refreshing swim

A 1-hour meeting with the Non-Denominational Priest to complete all the documentation and plan the ceremony. Passports and original divorce
papers from previous marriages (if applicable) are required.

The marriage will be registered with the United Nations.

An exciting night drive in search of Garonga’s nocturnal creatures

Dinner in the dining area overlooking a riverbed where animals come to graze

Day 2

A game drive at dawn followed by breakfast and a relaxing bush spa massage to calm the nerves

A romantic ceremony on the pool deck, in the lounge or out in the bush on the tree house deck.

Afterwards, a game drive to a scenic spot in the bush where guests can toast the newlyweds with bubbly and watch the sun set.

Return to Garonga for a wedding feast in the Boma and dancing
around the bonfire.

After the wedding, the newlyweds can enjoy a romantic bush bath under the stars – complete with champagne and candles before retiring to their luxurious honeymoon suite.

Day 3

A day to relax in wedded bliss after all the excitement. Lounge
around the pool, go for a game walk or drive – or enjoy a picnic in the tree house nearby.

Day 4

Enjoy a celebratory champagne breakfast before heading off – or stay for a few days for an unforgettable honeymoon….

Garonga charges only a minimal R5,180 (2010) or R6,200 (2011) extra on top of the accommodation to host weddings, which mainly covers the Ministers Fees and the paperwork – but also includes the single tiered cake, pressing of wedding outfits, a bouquet of wild flowers, a bottle of bubbly, a private dinner on the wedding night, a decorated setting and decorated open
air safari vehicle.

The package also includes complimentary road transfers for the couple from the airport (worth R1,690 on their own!) and a massage each – so incredible value for money!

Newlyweds are encouraged to stay on after the wedding for a few days of honeymoon bliss in this romantic location – which will probably have them coming back time and time again to celebrate special anniversaries in this amazing location.

Other services which are outsourced include:

Photographer: R 4 720.00 (subject to an increase for 2011).
* 50 large colour photographs plus an album (given to guests on departure from Hoedspruit).
DVD and Videos are also available.
Terms & Conditions for Weddings:
* The wedding package is valid year round and is based on a minimum three
nights stay
* Subject to availability and rate change

We’re a nation hungry for travel, keen to explore, and eager to experience new continents and countries for ourselves. Not content with viewing the world through our television sets, more and more of us are donning our rucksacks and setting out to explore the four corners of our planet. Been There Done That – a checklist of your travel life, allows you to record every single moment of your travelling experiences, both past and present and plan for the future.

No ordinary travel diary filled with lonely, empty, blank pages, Been There Done That is a complete A to Z guide to travel, packed into a luxurious but hard wearing, leatherette pocket-sized, 352 page book. With the aim to challenge travellers to open their minds to the array of choices available worldwide, every minute detail and element of travel is captured within Been There Done That – from must-visit world heritage sites and landmarks, the best airports and airlines to outstanding hotels and restaurants.

Bursting with 40 quirky lists including a list of every country in the world, from Peru to Portugal and Zambia to Zimbabwe, Been There Done That promises to be a fun, informative and eye-opening way of documenting your travels.

It allows you to tick off checklists for each country and includes options such as ‘Wish’, ‘Been’, ‘Done’, ‘Rate’ and ‘Again’ against each country, landmark, sightseeing spot and even aeroplanes!

Not only that, but the book also contains blank pages for you to record your impressions of each place or experience, so you’ll be sure to capture each and every moment.

Harry Cheng, creator of Been There Done That believes his book combines all the elements most travel books and diaries have missed.

He comments, ‘most travel books only provide information, whereas Been There Done That actually allows you to record and plan your travel life, ticking off places you’ve been and places you’d like to visit, allowing you to document all your travel accomplishments as you go.

As every piece of information a traveller could ever want is all in one place for, it really is the ultimate global travel essential!’

Been There Done That is the only travel companion you’ll need on your travels and the perfect gift for both the most ambitious and novice traveller, it offers the chance to maximise your travel life and ensure that faded holiday memories become a thing of the past.

The Blue Train is delighted to announce it has been voted CONDÉ NAST TRAVELLER READERS’ FAVOURITE SPECIALIST TRAIN at the 12th Annual Readers’
Travel Awards, held at The Royal Institution of Great Britain in London.

The runner up in the ‘Specialist Train’ category was the Venice Simplon- Orient Express. Other nominations included The Ghan in Australia, the Palace on Wheels in India and The Royal Scotsman.

The Blue Train was the only South African company to win one of the 27 categories – although South Africa did come in 9th in the Favourite Holiday Destination category.

Condé Nast Traveller is a unique and highly respected publication that is largely regarded as the ONLY authority on Travel and Lifestyle in the UK. Its ‘Truth in Travel’ ethos along with their policy of never accepting press invitations means that the publication never yields to pressure and is a magazine readers trust. More than 1 in 3 readers is a subscriber, with a total readership of over 335,000.

Readers were asked to vote for the things they really like about travel, from business hotels to destination spas, airlines to specialist tour operators.

The criteria considered for the Trains category included – Ambience/decor, Child-friendliness, Environmental friendliness, food/restaurants, Luggage handling, Pre/Post train facilities, Punctuality/efficiency, Range of routes, Service/staff, Standard/comfort of cabins and Value for Money.

For more information please visit www.bluetrain.co.za  or email
info@ethosmarketing.co.uk  for a brochure.

• The Blue Train is an all inclusive luxury rail cruise, showcasing
some of South Africa’s most spectacular scenery, whilst guests are pampered onboard, what has been regularly voted, The World’s Leading Luxury Train.

• By day elegant private suites provide generous lounges, changing, as night falls, into subtly lit en-suite bedrooms with butler service.

• The Blue Train boasts a club car, non-smoking lounge and, at times, an amazing observation car. Dinner is an elegant affair in the dining car, complimented by fine cuisine and award winning South African wines.

• The most popular and frequent route is between Cape Town and Pretoria in either direction. There are also fantastic packages on offer, combining safari lodges or golf estate from time to time. There are two train sets, one of which is available for charters.

• The Blue Train is an icon of South Africa and a journey of a
lifetime for discerning travellers

Food enthusiasts who enjoy local, wild and nutritious food will be in for a treat this winter with Hillbrooke Hotels creating an individual game menu for each of their four hotel restaurants.

Each wild game menu will run from October 18 to January 31 and represents the ethos of the hotel group with great tasting, interesting and seasonal food sourced from local estates.

Menus from The Bath Arms at Longleat; The Elephant at Pangbourne;

The Master Builder’s at Buckler’s Hard and The New Inn at Coln St Aldwyns will include a choice of starters and main courses all focussing on local game ingredients.

The four head chefs have created over 32 dishes and diners can enjoy either one or two courses including dishes such as pressed terrine of confit game, with apple chutney and brown toast; loin of Longleat Estate Venison, sloe gin shot and celeriac pressing or Vicar’s Game wild boar and apple sausage cooked in red wine with root vegetable crisps.

In addition, each menu will contain two recipes by the head chef and diners will be encouraged to take menus home so they can try their hand at game cookery in the future.

Neil Dowson, head chef at the Master Builder’s at Buckler’s Hard and formerly of the Savoy group said:

“This is a real celebration of healthy, sustainable food and all the produce we use will be locally sourced. We hope these menus will not only appeal to game lovers but also encourage new people to come along and try the great taste of game.”

Sunsail are delighted to announce a new charter destination in the place where it all began. Over 35 years ago, Sunsail put their sails up in Greece; 36 years on and 30 worldwide destinations later, Sunsail are back in Greece to offer customers another ultimate Greek getaway.

Sunsail’s new Athens Lavrion base is ideally located for the start of a sailing holiday in Greece’s Saronic Gulf and the Aegean Sea. This contrasting city brings a mythological land dotted with ancient ruins, colourful architecture and quaint waterside towns, together with a sophisticated, colourful and vibrant city.

Sailing in this area offers the tantalising prospect of lazy days spent on, off or under the water at secluded anchorages off the tourist track.

The island of Aegina which is only accessible by boat is just a short hop away from Sunsail’s base, and offers all of the Greek charm you can expect from an island that is untouched by mass tourism.

Further afield the bustling waterfront at Korfos, the ancient amphitheatre that is still used today at Epidavros and the pretty fishing village at Ermioni, are just a few examples of the diverse destinations that can all be visited on this new sailing holiday.

Both sailors and non sailors alike can enjoy sailing from Athens on either a bareboat or crewed yacht charter, with yachts ranging from 32 ft monohulls to 40 ft catamarans.

The Saronic Gulf is ideal for protected and scenic coastal cruising, while the Aegean Sea and the Cyclades offer more wind and the opportunity for exhilarating open-water sailing. The winds are predictable in both areas, generally southerly, ranging from 10 to 20 knots (11-23 Mph) in the Saronic Gulf and up to 25 knots (28 Mph) in the Aegean. Summer temperatures average 24 to 27 C (75-80 F).

Getting to Sunsail’s new base couldn’t be easier. A big selection of airlines offer flights at great rates directly in to Athens, and the airport is located just half an hour away from the base.

Sunsail’s new Athens destination will be available for Summer 2011 holidays.

Book early and receive up to 10% off. Free call 1800 803 988 or visit www.sunsail.com.au

Central Coast, NSW: The Central Coast, one hour north of Sydney, is springing to life with the change in season. Springtime supplies the perfect weather to get out and enjoy the great Australian outdoors. Spring back to life with these three top outdoor experiences:

1. Explore the latest UNESCO World Heritage Listed site
The Central Coast is honoured to be awarded its first UNESCO World Heritage Listed site,

The Old Great North Road which is one of 11 cultural sites that make up the Australian Convict Sites. Located in the western hinterland region in Dharug National Park near Wisemans Ferry, this site is the best surviving example of an intact convict-built road.

The moderately easy 2 hour round trip walk from Devine’s Hill boasts the most spectacular scenery of the road. For detailed information on the site, the walk and directions visit THIS LINK.

2. Walk on the Wild Side

Almost one third of the Central Coast is dedicated to the wilderness with seven National Parks linking our urban centres. A perennial favourite of locals and visitors alike is Bouddi National Park, one of the most diverse National Parks in NSW. Small secluded beaches, rainforests, sandstone cliffs and coastal heaths blanketed in wildflowers delight the outdoor enthusiast. NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service run guided Discovery Walks which provide an opportunity to discover the terrain, fauna and flora of the area. Scheduled walks operate throughout spring in each of the seven National Parks. Check out

www.environment.nsw.gov.au/parks/RegionSydney.htm

for detailed information on National Parks, facilities, activities, guided tours and directions.

3. Get on your Bike
Pump up the tyres and head out on one of 20 bike paths and trails spread across the Central Coast.

From easy to hard and with everything in between, there is a ride to suit everyone. Start easy with the 14 km Garden Ride which takes recreational riders through the city of Gosford and around the edge of the Brisbane Water foreshore before meandering through the local neighbourhood and ending at Edogawa Japanese Gardens. Mountain bikers should head straight to the 42.5 km roundtrip off road Flat Tyre Fun Ride in Ourimbah State Forest.

This is one of Australia’s best mountain biking experiences and includes a thrilling steep down hill descent at Scaddens Road. Experienced road cyclists will enjoy the challenge of the 75 km round trip Harvest Ride. Starting out in Gosford, the route advances up Kariong Hill before turning onto Wisemans Ferry Road where riders can refuel at roadside stalls selling fresh locally grown produce. For a full listing on all the rides and maps sprint to www.gosford.nsw.gov.au/cyclingguide.

Detailed information and money saving special offers for the Central Coast can be obtained via

www.visitcentralcoast.com.au

and / or ordering the 2010 Official Holiday Guide.

Further Affirmation of the New Era of Experiential Luxury Travel in Australia

Two of Australia’s outstanding luxury lodge experiences have joined Luxury Lodges of Australia, an association launched in 2010 to promote the uniquely Australian breed of luxury experiential lodges, domestically and internationally.

“It is the combination of an outstanding experience, key luxury standards, and a vital, immediate and powerful sense of place that guests experience while at Saffire and onboard the True North that make them both natural inclusions in the Luxury Lodges of Australia collection” noted James Baillie of Baillie Lodges, and Chair of Luxury Lodges of Australia.

‘Saffire Freycinet’ is Australia’s new luxury coastal sanctuary on Tasmania’s East Coast, delivering sophisticated, intimate style and an inspirational experience. Very recently open, Saffire’s distinctive design and impeccable yet friendly service have triggered widespread excitement.

The range of signature regional experiences developed for Saffire’s guests to connect with the landscape, history, culture, marine farms and wildlife of the Freycinet region is outstanding and the onsite Palate restaurant, under the guidance of chef Hugh Whitehouse, and Spa Saffire deliver exceptional dining and wellness experiences.

A cruise on the ‘True North’ has long been regarded as one of Australia’s outstanding and revered adventure tourism experiences, and Australia’s true floating luxury lodge. Cruises are activity based and designed for the most discerning traveller wanting to ‘experience the destination’ in some of Australia’s most remote and hard to access coastal regions.

Commenting on his company’s collaboration with Luxury Lodges, Peter Trembath, General Manager of North Star Cruises Australia (owners of true North), said; “Everyone at North Star is very excited to be part of this very strategic initiative to showcase the best of the best”.

James Baillie also stated “This is an exciting time for Australia, and the time is right to showcase the wealth and diversity of our uniquely Australian luxury experiences. We haven’t had both this depth and quality of product before. Australia has come of age in this important travel niche.”

The association’s website, www.luxurylodgesofaustralia.com.au provides a wealth of information on the 17 Australian Luxury Lodges, along with direct contact details It also features a useful ‘Plan Your Trip’ tools which assists with forming itineraries to some of Australia’s most exceptional but remote regions, and offers important information about getting between lodges.

Saffire, Freycinet – Saffire Freycinet is Australia’s new luxury coastal sanctuary on Tasmania’s East Coast, delivering sophisticated, intimate style and an inspirational experience.

Discreetly positioned overlooking the Hazards Mountains, Freycinet Peninsula and the pristine waters of Great Oyster Bay, Saffire blends mankind and nature with breathtaking beauty.

Featuring 20 luxurious suites, exclusive day spa, restaurant, guest lounge and bar, this new experience is a celebration of the art of service, internal and external wellbeing, local culinary delights, ancient landscapes and abundant wildlife.

In Palate restaurant, head chef Hugh Whitehouse has ensured innovative dining does not compromise the true flavours of the freshest local produce. Menus showcase the bounty of Tasmania’s inspiring food culture.

Guests can restore their wellbeing at Spa Saffire which features three retreat rooms overlooking the inspiring landscape and a bespoke menu of treatments.

Activities while at Saffire include a visit to the marine farm for an up close and personal introduction to the local oysters, multiple hikes including to the world-famous Wineglass Bay.

The Schouten Island Signature Experience has been designed exclusively for guests to deepen their East Coast discovery. There’s a world of deserted islands, wild bushland and secluded beaches to explore in this exceptional region.

True North, The Kimberley – A cruise on the True North has long been regarded as one of Australia’s outstanding and revered adventure tourism experiences. Cruises are activity based and designed for the most discerning traveller wanting to ‘experience the destination’ in some of Australia’s most remote and hard to access coastal regions.

True North’s flagship “Kimberley Wilderness Cruise” is a 6 or 13 night panorama of spectacular gorges and majestic waterfalls, islands and rugged coastline. Other trip options include the “West Coast Explorer” to the Abrolhos Islands and Ningaloo Reef; the “Coral Atoll Cruise” to the Rowley Shoals; “Sydney Rocks” an opportunity to discover wilderness on the doorstep of Australia’s largest city and, the “Southern Safari” a safari at sea along the stunning South Australian coast including Kangaroo Island.

The True North has been designed to go where no other ship can go, with high levels of comfort and style. All cabins are spacious and feature modern décor and en-suite facilities.
Daily activities can include scenic walks, helicopter flights, fishing, snorkelling, cultural visits, picnics, flora, bird and wildlife watching, diving, exploring and more…

Multiple expedition vessels or ‘tenders’ take guests in small groups to experience the wilderness ‘up close’ and, the luxury of having numerous tenders means that everyone onboard has greater opportunity to do “what they want, when they want”.

Most cruise options feature an onboard helicopter opening up a whole range of options from scenic flights and heli-picnics to overnight camping adventures. True North offers the opportunity to discover virtually unseen and untouched parts of Australia.

The Board of Directors representing the members comprises James Baillie, owner Baillie Lodges (Chair); Jim Carreker, owner of The Louise (Secretary); Phillipa Harrison, General Manager Sales Hamilton Island, representing qualia (Deputy Chair); Charlie Carlow, owner Wild Bush Luxury (Arkaba Station, Bamurru Plains and Sal Salis); and Judith North, Director of Sales, Wolgan Valley. Executive Officer, Penny Rafferty.

Further information available at: www.luxurylodgesofaustralia.com.au

Commencing October 2010

Now with “Vine Tours” you can enjoy a delightful (small group) cycle tour through the beautiful Yarra Valley on back roads surrounded by exceptional scenery as you ride.

From morning tea at a spectacular look out over the Yarra Valley you then begin cycling on back roads and sections of the Warburton Rail Trail through the beautiful rolling countryside of the Yarra Valley

You won’t want to stop riding, but once the cycling is over you will enjoy a relaxed gourmet lunch that will whet your palate for the afternoon’s indulgences.

Our support vehicle follows while you are cycling, and if you wish to stop cycling at any time you can simply hop onboard.

You finish our morning cycling tour and stop for a gourmet picnic lunch while enjoying the views over the nearby Warburton ranges.

The Yarra Valley is internationally recognized as a leading cool climate wine region and the home to some very fine produce. Our lunch stops are at a boutique wineries, where after enjoying a gourmet lunch we can also take an informative tour around the winery.

Learn about the winemaking process in an entertaining and informative way and get insights into a winery at work and see winemaking in progress

Your next stops are at a boutique Vineyards such as Medhurst, Killara Estate and cellar door at Coombe Farm, which was once home to the famous Dame Nellie Melba.

Then on to a delicious cheese tasting session at the Yarra Valley Dairy and to finish off a magical day at small rustic winery Yering farm.

To see the full details of “Vine Tours” one day Varra Valley tour and details on the vineyards visited please go to. www.vinetours.com.au

Suitable for anyone of reasonable fitness and confidence in riding a bike.

One of Australia’s leading cycle tour operators, RAW Travel, has operated small group cycling and walking tours world wide since 2002