Jetsettersblog

Christmas is a time for giving. For those wanting to celebrate somewhere special and unusual – and enjoy the spirit of giving, there can be no better place than rural Africa.

The perfect alternative to a white Christmas in the UK has to be a visit to Isandlwana Lodge in KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa.

A special and memorable highlight of a Christmas stay at Isandlwana is the Annual Candy Run to the local Zulu village on Christmas morning.

This tradition was started at the lodge in 2002 and is enjoyed by guests and staff alike, as guest often remark afterwards – it encompasses “What Christmas is all about”. The faces say it all!

Every Christmas day the Candy Run offers guests staying at the hotel the chance to get involved by visiting the local villages and handing out candy. They receive a wonderfully warm welcome and the locals say it’s the highlight of their Christmas.

It’s a lovely way to spend Christmas and give something back to the local community.

The staff go all out to assure guests of an unusual and special Festive Season.

This may include a scrumptious Christmas Eve dinner, a fabulous brunch on Christmas Day after the candy run, a fireworks display on New Year’s Eve, entertainment from a Zulu dance team, fascinating battlefield tours or a visit to the local village where you will have a chance to meet the most hospitable Zulus.

All activities and events are planned with the up most care and will be sure to please all who participate!

About the Lodge:

The lodge is environmentally sound and supportive of their local community.

A striking lodge, carved into the side of iNyoni Rock near to the historic 1879 Anglo-Zulu battlefield site,

Isandlwana is steeped in colonial history and offers magnificent views over Zululand. Ideally located for exploration of the nearby battlefields of Rorke’s Drift, Fugitives Drift and Isandlwana itself, there is a rock pool for a refreshing dip, and a comfortable lounge makes a convivial venue for sundowners before dinner in the restaurant.

12 rooms, 3½ hours from Durban airport, restaurant, lounge, rock pool, local tours and activities.

The Isandlwana Community Tribal Trust was formed so that funds earned from the lodge could be used for schools, clinics or other projects, which benefit the entire community.

The trust receives a percentage of gross turnover of the lodge and they can own up to 10% of the shares.

During construction 80 local people worked on the project and there are presently 23 staff members from the village working at the lodge.

Sample Package

Kuoni (01306 747008 or www.kuoni.co.uk) offers 4 nights on full board basis at the Isandlwana Lodge, South Africa in a standard room, including flights with South African Airways from London Heathrow with group transfers in resort. Price for Dec 2010 (22-27 Dec 2010) from £2568 per person based on two sharing.

For more information contact: info@ethosmarketing.co.uk  or Tel: 01403 243619

The Gallivant Hotel at Camber Sands, Sussex is offering guests the chance to sleep and eat a 3 course supper and breakfast for just £60 per person.

Usually costing from £85 per person for a one night stay, the Sleep and Eat package represents a fantastic saving and a great opportunity to sample the food of celebrated Head Chef Bruce Wilson at an unprecedented value.

Formerly based at the Michelin starred Greenhouse restaurant in Mayfair and most recently the Head Chef at the Tate Modern in central London, Bruce’s cooking displays real flair. He is the taste and passion behind The Gallivant kitchens and is responsible for the straightforward, honest and top-notch food: local and in rhythm with the seasons.

The Gallivant Hotel features 18 guest bedrooms, including four studios with private entrance, and two restaurants – ‘The Beach Bistro’ and ‘The Beach Café.

With its dark oak floor, calming driftwood tables and white wooden shutters, the Beach Café is a great place to enjoy one of Bruce’s menus be that a romantic candlelit dinner, hearty breakfast or light lunch.

For availability and further information on the Sleep and Eat package please refer to

www.thegallivanthotel.com

The UK’s leading independent ski company Directski.com has become the first UK ski tour operator to switch to 100% online booking of its range of European ski holidays.

To accommodate the change the company has just completed a six month development project and re-launched its website with a very simple homepage, a brand new search engine and better sorting functionality all aimed and helping customers to find the right holiday quicker.

Sales & Marketing director Neal Collins said “We reached a cross roads in our business where we needed more resources to cope with the demand for booking our holidays. Increasing the size of our call centre didn’t match with our ethos of keeping our cost base low and our ski holiday prices more affordable.

Call centres are expensive to run and just make ski holidays more expensive, basically everything we stand against.

Instead we have invested in our website search engine and we now know on a daily basis what is being searched and can match our product and price point precisely to our customers’ requirements.

The conversion rate through our website is now much higher than it was through our call centre, which is great news, because it means our customers are finding what they are looking for.

In addition most of our bookings now come outside normal business hours, which means our skiers are also booking at a time that suits them, not when we choose to open’.

Directski.com was established at the start of the 2000 ski season and has just marked its 10th anniversary.

The company is the UK’s leading independent ski company and operates three consumer brands, www.Directski.com, Ski McNeill and Ski Beat. Directski.com also has a dedicated business-to-business brand, B2BSki, which provides ski accommodation and ancillary services to international travel brands that include easyJet, Opodo and Ebookers.

Mahindra Homestays are launching a new offer: Facebook users who join Mahindra Homestays as a fan will benefit from a 20% saving on accommodation at all Mahindra homestays, across Delhi, Rajasthan, Kerala, Goa, and all other regions across India.

The promotional code will be available on the Facebook page, to every fan and can be used for both online and direct bookings, for travel from now until 31st March 2011.

The Mahindra Homestays Facebook page currently has over 5,100 fans, sharing information, tips and experiences; and members have uploaded over 1,700 photos creating an extensive gallery, covering all aspects of India.

To take a look at the Mahindra Homestays Facebook page, please visit: http://www.facebook.com/MahindraHomestays

Mahindra Homestays allows visitors to experience the real India by staying with local hosts.

This new holiday brand offers beautiful homes across the country, complemented by gracious hosts who welcome guests as long lost friends and offer an insight into the culture, cuisine and daily life of India.

The nearly 300 homestays in the Mahindra Homestays portfolio are as diverse as India, with a variety of architecture, designs and styles reflecting the respective regions, ensuring guests get off the beaten track, and go where tourists are few and magical experiences are many.

Visitors to a Dove Cottage and Wordsworth Museum exhibition, in Grasmere in The Lake District, can marvel at the resilience of their parasol-touting, well-to-do travelling predecessors, who would endure lengthy journeys, with boulders strewn in their path and the ever-present possibility of an overturned carriage, just to reach their destination!

The Savage Grandeur and Noblest Thoughts exhibition highlights the phenomenon of Picturesque Tourism, which gripped Britain once the Napoleonic Wars had cut off polite society from the ‘Grand Tour’ on the Continent.

It fuses together art and literature from the period 1750-1820 and includes works by artists, writers, satirists, poets and guidebook writers who fed a demand for visual and literary representations and descriptions of the area.

These creative brains recognised and developed a market for what might now be regarded as the full colour, prestige coffee table book, a souvenir painting, or the equivalent of a BBC Countryfile feature.

Wordsworth’s own tourism publication ‘Guide to the Lakes’ has been the impetus behind the exhibition, as it celebrates its 200th anniversary of publication this year.

Etchings, engravings, paintings, print and prose are all on show, with examples of how artists slightly skewed the representation of the area, to sell their works more easily, satisfy the desires of patrons, create satirical commentary on the early Lakes visitors and convey the essence of the newly ‘in vogue’ area.

Picturesque Tourism was the catalyst for changes in artistic techniques and the medium used in the production of works of art.

The exhibition highlights the growth in the popularity of engravings, aquatint, mezzotint, bodycolour and watercolours – the latter having formerly been viewed as a medium suitable only for genteel ladies!

It includes Constable’s Hellvellyn – his only print of the Lake District – and also features works from a variety of artists including Laporte, Chubbard, Sunderland, Nicholson, Farington, Walmsley and Gainsborough.

All are from the Wordsworth Museum’s own collection. Interestingly, it boasts watercolours by Girtin, who died in his mid 20s, and of whom Turner remarked: “If Girtin had lived, I should have starved”.

Visitors can view works picturing scenes from locations around the Lake District and use these as a launch pad from which to explore the featured places and beauty spots themselves.

Locations represented include Windermere, Ullswater, Townend, Rydal Falls, Bowness and Furness Abbey, all just a short drive from Grasmere.

Those wishing to experience this unique insight into Picturesque Tourism can visit the Savage Grandeur and Noblest Thoughts exhibition (to June 12, 2011) seven days a week, between 9.30 and 17.30 in summer and to 16.30 in winter, with last admission at 17.00 or 16.00 respectively.

Admission costs £7.50 for an adult, £4.50 for a child and £17.20 for one or two adults and up to three children and covers both Dove Cottage and Wordsworth Museum & Art Gallery entrance.

More details are at www.wordsworth.org.uk

Visitors wishing to stay in the area, or in Grasmere itself, can source a variety of accommodation options at www.southlakeland.gov.uk/tourism

Long-haul tour operator, Tropical Sky, is offering unbeatable Christmas and New Year offers to the Caribbean. The exceptional festive hotel and cruise packages to Barbados and St Lucia start from just £1,199 per person, with total savings for two people travelling exceeding £1,000.

Mike Collins, Tropical Sky’s managing director says, “We have seen a huge demand in people seeking holiday bargains this Christmas. Usually the most expensive time to travel, those wishing to escape for the festivities will need to book quickly as these offers won’t last long! In essence, for the price of a scheduled flight to the Caribbean you can get an all-inclusive holiday.”

All prices include accommodation, return flights from Gatwick with Monarch, resort transfers, taxes and surcharges. With three star to five-star hotel options, offers range from:

ST LUCIA – Departures on 23 & 30 December

Four-Star: Set in sixty acres of lush, tropical gardens on a secluded bay, seven nights at Almond Smugglers Cove is available from £1,199 per person. Extensive facilities include a racquet club with tennis and squash courts, fitness centre and spa treatment rooms, five swimming pools, kids’ club and an array of watersports.

Four-Star: Perfect for couples and families, seven nights at Almond Morgan Bay Resort is available from £1,249 per person.

Located within 22 acres of lush gardens, this lovely resort features several gourmet restaurants and bars, two swimming pools and an extensive range of watersports. Two adults and two children sharing a room on an all-inclusive basis is available from £4,596 for seven nights.

Four-Star Plus: Stay seven nights at the deluxe The Body Holiday LeSPORT on an all-inclusive basis from £2,259 per person. Set on a beautiful sandy beach, this award-winning hotel for adults-only offers a fantastic range of activities and great cuisine.

With a complimentary daily spa treatment included, guests can choose from ocean wraps, facials, body scrubs and a choice of massages. Daily dives for PADI qualified divers are also included in the package.

BARBADOS – Departures on 23 & 30 December

Four-Star: Stay seven nights at Almond Casuarina Beach Resort on an all-inclusive basis from £1,649 per person.

Set in ten acres of tropical gardens along the white sands of Dover Beach, the resort combines its natural surroundings with sophisticated accommodation, gourmet cuisine and facilities to suit couples and families alike.

Children can join in the fun at the kids’ club and activities include snorkelling, kayaking, tennis and three swimming pools.

14-Night Luxury Cruise & Hotel: Enjoy a seven-night Caribbean cruise on a full-board basis in an outside cabin on luxury yacht Wind Surf, combined with seven nights on a bed and breakfast basis at the Tamarind by Elegant Hotels in Barbados from £3,159 per person (saving £1,340 per person).

Departing London on 23 December and have a relaxing start and finish to the holiday with the first three nights and the last four nights at the four-star Tamarind by Elegant Hotels. Located on the shores of the west coast of Barbados, this luxury resort has recently undergone a full refurbishment and offers complimentary non-motorised watersport tuition, three swimming pools and a gym.

Sandwiched in between is seven nights on luxury motor yacht Wind Surf, which departs Barbados on 26 December.

The exciting round-trip cruise takes in the Caribbean islands of The Grenadines, Grenada, Dominica and St Lucia. Accommodating 312 passengers and promising a unique concept of sailing,

Wind Surf offers a spa, fitness centre and a selection of restaurants and bars. Each stateroom includes an Apple iPod, Nanos and Bose SoundDock speakers, wireless Internet, flat screen televisions, luxury linens as well as L’Occitane bathroom amenities.

Guest speakers on the cruise include media icons Tina Brown and Sir Harold Evans, both acclaimed authors and editors of US and UK publications.

To book any of these offers visit www.tropicalsky.co.uk or telephone 0870 907 9600.

This one-of-a-kind performance takes place on November 27

Las Vegas – – Join The Venetian Resort-Hotel-Casino this Thanksgiving weekend as the world-class resort hosts an exceptional and lively international performance.

One of China’s most acclaimed musical ensembles; Oriental Jasmine Girls Band will grace the stage of The Phantom Theatre on Saturday, November 27, 2010 at 1 p.m.

Composed of young graduates and undergraduates from music colleges in China, Oriental Jasmine Girls Band is an all-girl band made up of 22 classically-trained artists from China’s Sichuan Province.

This vibrant group includes 14 musicians, six dancers, one celebrated singer and one Chinese mask-changing magician. Oriental Jasmine is led by esteemed singer Ma Xuanzi, winner of China’s prestigious Golden Bell Award, who will sing classic folk songs such as “Jasmine Flower” and “The Night of Grass Land.”

Onstage, this dynamic act combines modern spectacle with traditional Chinese art forms and instruments, such as the gu zheng, an ancient zither with movable bridges and 16-25 strings; the pipa, a four-stringed pear-shaped lute; the yang qin, a Chinese hammered dulcimer with a square sound board; the erhu, the traditional 2-stringed Chinese violin; and the dizi, a bamboo flute.

Western musical influences are also an essential part of the show, including use of the saxophone and violin, as well as some jazz, pop and rock selections.

Tickets are on sale now. Ticket prices are $25 for Section A and $50 for VIP Section, inclusive of taxes and handling fees. Ticket holders must be at least 12 years old to attend.

To purchase tickets visit any Venetian or Palazzo Box Office, www.venetian.com  or call 702.414.9000.

For more information about Oriental Jasmine Girls Band visit www.ojgirlsband.com

The Gold Coast will soon host a range of international music performers previously unable to visit the city with the announcement of a new world-class outdoor venue. The Gold Coast Concert Lawns will be a 10,000 capacity venue at the RACV Royal Pines in Benowa and will be situated on a 16,000sqm site on the eastern side of the hotel.

Construction has started on the greenfield site and is the brainchild of respected local and international event manager and entrepreneur Peter Shiell, who has worked with some of the biggest names in music in the world.

Mr Shiell’s concert logistics company, Entertainment Logistics, plans to bring a range of world-class entertainment to the concert lawns. “The Gold Coast Concert Lawns will give international performers who would normally only play and stay in Brisbane an alternative venue in a far more inviting environment,” Mr Shiell says.

“We will now be able to rival the likes of Brisbane’s Entertainment Centre and the Riverstage for a comparable sized venue, however its location and associated benefits as part of a luxury resort will make it far superior.

“Our plans are to host at least four international-class acts a year which will be extremely well-known and high-calibre artists.”

The Gold Coast Concert Lawns have secured the only Queensland leg of the John Farnham Live 2010 tour on Saturday 13 November as its first performance.

The venue will include cloak rooms and merchandise stalls, food and bar service areas, staged seating and an open standing room only section, with concert goers able to access the RACV Royal Pines public dining and entertainment facilities.

Due to its flat configuration and flexible set up and pull down design, the venue will also be able to host the likes of visiting elite sporting teams, such as English football club Fullham who visited the Coast recently, who can stay and use the resort facilities and grounds as a national training and touring base. The venue also benefits from its central location with easy access through park and ride facilities, the nearby Nerang Train Station and major arterials such as the Nerang Broadbeach Road and the M1. General admission tickets for the John Farnham Live 2010 are available through Ticketek or by calling 132 849. Dinner and show packages as well as accommodation, dinner and show packages are available through

www.vipfestivals.com.au

or www.johnfarnhamlive.co

or by calling RACV Royal Pines Resort on 07 5597 8700 or www.royalpinesresort.com.au

Dive into summer and explore Cook Island Marine Reserve (Tweed Heads/Coolangatta) and our local family of Green Sea Turtles with Cooly Dive.

You’ll experience the rush as you swim among some of the most endangered turtles on earth, watch as they sweep past you going about their daily duties of fossicking around the fabulous rocky outcrops and sandy bottom for food.

Turtles can be seen above, below and all around you – creating a magnificent sight and one you will never forget.

Whilst experiencing the magic of turtles you will also encounter many species of tropical fish, gropers and several species of friendly sharks (in season) like the wobbegong, grey nurse and the very beautiful leopard shark during your Cooly Dive experience.

Cook Island is an underwater photographers dream.

The water is always warm and clear and full of exciting things to see.

We look forward to your company – 7 days a week with several trips running daily.

For your complete comfort we offer the largest dive boat on the coast with an inside toilet, cabin area and full walk around decks and plenty of undercover seating, experienced guides, refreshments and nice new hire gear which is included in your tour price. Offering transfers from your accommodation, visit the Cooly Dive Store in Coolangatta (opp. Coolangatta Post Office) for all your dive and snorkel needs. We are a Padi Dive Store offering Dive Courses and First Aid Courses – see you there this summer

www.coolydive.com.au  07 55994104

The team at Get Hummered is preparing for a bumper season and to support this its hummer fleet is expanding!
Before the end of the year Get Hummered will welcome a new SUPER STRETCH.

Get Hummered also have some new packages with prices starting from as little as $25 p/p,

If you have a special event coming up and are stuck for ideas Get Hummered have the solution!

Get Hummered are looking forward to welcoming the biggest stretch hummer to hit the streets of Australia.

Features of this awesome machine include – disco style floor, headlining & bars, 2 x 48 inch & 4 x 17 inch & 2 x 12 inch TV’s, smoke machine, laser lights, DVD, level 3 sound system, 3 tone seats, triple axel, lambo & gull wing doors, raised roof, 25 seater (including driver) 12.5 meters & 8 wheels.

Just to name a few!

This beast will be hitting the streets of Queensland for one month October – November.

Visit www.gethummered.com.au