Jetsettersblog

Swap your ski-jacket for sun-cream this Christmas with these incredible Beachcomber bargains on winter holidays to the unforgettable paradise island of Mauritius. With a 25% discount on accommodation before 27th December this is the year to leave the turkey and tree at home and enjoy a white (sand) Christmas.

The stunning Le Mauricia hotel not only enjoys a gorgeous location with lush garden surroundings but is also minutes away from the bustling Grand-Baie village, home to an array of traditional shops, restaurants and nightlife.

Choose from any of the six accommodation options on offer, including the Family Apartments located in the specially designed ‘Family Village’ or for more privacy, the choice of three honeymoon suites complete with private plunge pools.

Beachcomber Tours (01483 445 638; www.beachcombertours.co.uk ) offers 7 nights at Le Mauricia from £2,390pp based on two sharing on an All Inclusive basis, including flights with Air Mauritius and hotel transfers.

For a more historic setting, the beautiful Le Canonnier offers a friendly and relaxed atmosphere, perfect for those looking for a little peace and quiet this festive season.

All rooms look out across the crystal Indian Ocean, making the most of this idyllic peninsula location. Indulge in a relaxing traditional massage set around an ancient Banyan tree whilst the kids have fun in the Bob Marlin mini-club, open 7 days a week.

Beachcomber Tours (01483 445 638; www.beachcombertours.co.uk ) offers 7 nights at Le Canonnier from £2,420pp based on two sharing on an All Inclusive basis, including flights with Air Mauritius and hotel transfers.

Gorgeous Paradis Hotel & Golf Club is set on the breathtaking Le Morne peninsula.

Perfect your swing on this world-class international golf course, running along the base of the magnificent Le Morne Mountain. The resort also offers extensive gym facilities, water and land sports, a Clarins Spa plus the option of spacious rooms, family suites or private villas.

Beachcomber Tours (01483 445 638; www.beachcombertours.co.uk ) offers 7 nights at Paradis Hotel & Golf Club from £3,595pp based on two sharing on a Half Board basis, including flights with Air Mauritius and hotel transfers.

The perfect beach hideaway can be found at the intimate Dinarobin Mauritius Hotel Golf & Spa, with its luxurious all-suite accommodation and tranquil location. Relax on the isolated golden sands or for the more active guests, choose from three international golf courses and an array of land and water sports.

Beachcomber Tours (01483 445 638; www.beachcombertours.co.uk ) offers 7 nights at Dinarobin Hotel Golf & Spa from £4,215pp based on two sharing on a Half Board basis, including flights with Air Mauritius and hotel transfers.

Le Victoria hotel is perfect for the ultimate family Christmas holiday, set between the Mauritian capital Port Louis and vibrant Grand Baie. Guests can delight in the entrancing Indian Ocean views from the most spacious rooms on the island, whilst indulging in any of the three superb restaurants and bars.

Beachcomber Tours (01483 445 638; www.beachcombertours.co.uk ) offers 7 nights at Le Victoria from £2,695pp based on two sharing on an All Inclusive basis, including flights with Air Mauritius and hotel transfers.

Set in an unspoilt southern location, surrounded by three beautiful beaches and close to the incredible Blue Bay Marine Park, Shandrani Resort & Spa. Choose from an array of pampering spa treatments, water sports, sun worshipping and much more.

Beachcomber Tours (01483 445 638; www.beachcombertours.co.uk ) offers 7 nights at Shandrani Resort & Spa from £2,945pp based on two sharing on an All Inclusive basis, including flights with Air Mauritius and hotel transfers.

All of these offers are part of Beachcomber’s special December rate including a 25% discount on half-board accommodation costs when returning home on or before the 27th December 2010.

www.beachcombertours.co.uk

Garonga in South Africa is probably one of the greenest lodges in Southern Africa.

Garonga has just made a huge investment into alternative energies in order to become more eco and environmentally friendly. An impressive 40% of the power needed to operate Garonga Safari Camp,

Little Garonga, and the staff village is now generated by newly installed solar panels.

New hot water pumps have replaced electric geysers in the luxury tents and a Bio-Digester now converts waste food into a gas that is then used to power the Staff Kitchen.

A new water treatment system has also been installed that will clean and filter all wastewater and pump it via gravity down into the Dam/waterhole in front of the Camp to create a larger wetland for Animals and Waders.

Guests can also contribute towards a carbon-offset programme by donating towards the work of the Nomad Trust, supported by Rhodes University and the department of Land and Water Affairs.

Guests donate as much or as little as they want based on the figures given supplied by the trust e.g., just for their stay/carbon footprint at Garonga, or to include their domestic travel – or their whole trip.

Once the trust has gathered enough money, they will plant 1 hectare of Spekbom trees in the Eastern Cape. www.garonga.com

Serena Hotels will be opening a new luxury tented camp, The Lake Elementaita Serena camp in Kenya in December 2010, offering a blend of exclusivity and adventure.

This tented camp will comprise 25 luxury units located along the shores of the flamingo and pelican fringed Lake Elementaita within the Soysambu Conservancy which is approximately 120km from Nairobi and 30Km from Lake Nakuru National Park.

Facilities will include a dining and lounge area, spa and swimming pool enjoying magnificent views of the Lake.

www.serenahotels.com

Outdoor Research Bug Bucket Hat Khaki, L –With no-see-um netting to hold off the bugs, the Outdoor Research Bug Bucket Hat is an ideal choice for mosquito protection when you’re camping in buggy environments. The netting on the Bug Bucket Hat seals around your neck with a drawcord and stuffs into the crown when not in use. Made with UPF 30+ SolarSheild fabric, this Outdoor Research hat also keeps the sun from burning your head and neck. The Bug Bucket hat stuffs into a hidden pocket, allowing it to stow easily when not in use.

RANI MOBILE SAFARI CAMPS IN REMOTE NORTHERN MOZAMBIQUE

Rani Resorts is delighted to announce the launch of the first publicly available adventure trails in the heart of the remote Niassa National Reserve in northern Mozambique.

Twice the size of the Kruger National Park, the reserve is the 3rd largest protected area in Africa.

Spared the ravages of war by its sheer remoteness, the reserve offers unique and diverse flora and fauna, and is home to large mammals, local endemics and over 370 bird species – plus it’s the greatest stronghold of the endangered African Wild Dog.

The safari season runs from May to December and the recommended duration of stay is between 5 and 10 nights. Trails for between 2 and 6 people run from Lugenda Wilderness Camp – the first, and presently the only, eco-safari facility in the reserve.

This classic and exclusive East African-style tented safari camp offers the tranquil luxury of 8 tastefully appointed units alongside the Lugenda River.

Guests may choose to spend their time canoeing the diverse Lugenda River, sleeping in the open (under a mosquito net), walking amongst the wildlife in the undiscovered expanse, climbing the spectacular inselbergs or simply relaxing and immersing themselves in what is being touted as “Africa’s last wilderness”.

Away from Lugenda Wilderness Camp, nights are normally spent in a mobile safari camp, with the option to sleep in a tent, or under the stars, on comfortable mattresses with cotton linen. Bucket showers and a bush latrine offer guests the rustic comforts of home.

These camps are prepared ahead of the guests’ arrival in locations individual to each trip, ensuring a minimal footprint on the environment.

Meals are freshly-prepared, where one can indulge in freshly baked bread and wonderful wholesome cooking over wood fires.

A selection of wine and beer is available; with a choice of refreshments, tea or coffee.

A qualified and experienced field guide accompanies each journey and will, undoubtedly, leave you with a lifelong enthusiasm for the environment and off-the-beaten-track destinations.

For full details including a sample itinerary please visit

www.ethosmarketing.co.uk/lugendamobile-safaris

Outdoor Research Bug Bucket Hat Khaki, L –With no-see-um netting to hold off the bugs, the Outdoor Research Bug Bucket Hat is an ideal choice for mosquito protection when you’re camping in buggy environments. The netting on the Bug Bucket Hat seals around your neck with a drawcord and stuffs into the crown when not in use. Made with UPF 30+ SolarSheild fabric, this Outdoor Research hat also keeps the sun from burning your head and neck. The Bug Bucket hat stuffs into a hidden pocket, allowing it to stow easily when not in use.

Serena is delighted to announce that the extensive US$25 million expansion and refurbishment to the world renowned Polana Serena Hotel in Mozambique is almost complete.

The “Grande Dame” of Maputo now boasts a new main entrance, lobby and reception area where all spaces have been re-thought and re-created in magnificent fashion, blending modern facilities with the Colonial style and history for which the hotel is renowned.

The revamped Polana Bar & Aquarius Restaurant & Bar showcase classic cocktails, cigars and light menu options
with spectacular views over the pool and the sea beyond.

The new Veranda Restaurant is an all day dining restaurant with themed buffets, à la Carte menu and French patisseries, whilst The Delagoa Restaurant specialises in French fine dining.

The hotel also has a new Ballroom – a grand, majestic and classical venue with high ceilings offering the perfect setting for all special occasions.

A comfortable and welcoming residents’ guest lounge is a new offering, where space and luxury are key.

The Polana Serena ‘Maisha’ Health Club and Spa opened  using
internationally renowned Elemis products and French brand Gerrad.

Understanding the business traveller’s needs and catering to them, a fully equipped state-of-the-art business centre and 4 new meeting rooms are also available. The finishing touches of this extensive refurb was completed in November.

Take a stroll back in time through “the town that was started right” — a.k.a. Van Nuys — on the new Van Nuys Historic Walking Tour, offered by the Museum of the San Fernando Valley.

Created from a barley field in 1911 by high-rolling developers including Otis Chandler (owner of the Los Angeles Times), the city of Van Nuys played a crucial role in LA’s early years.

Tour participants will learn about the origins of one of LA’s major newspapers, and find out just who was Whitley Van Nuys Huffaker and why the city took his name.

Guests will also discover original 1911 buildings hidden behind modern facades, see the company that was the nationwide maker of silent movie theater organs, and visit first churches, the site of the Crystal Plunge, and the Fernando Award Statue.

Architectural highlights come to life with narrative and historic photos provided by tour leader and local historian Richard Hilton, who points out the sites of mid-century modern icons including Bob’s Big Boy restaurant and Busch Gardens (corner Van Nuys and Roscoe boulevards), the striking 1964 Police Building and the 1930s Deco Moderne style of the Municipal Building — a miniature of LA’s famous Downtown City Hall.

The three-hour tour is centered on Van Nuys Boulevard and is offered bimonthly on Saturday.

www.themuseumsfv.org

STAFFORD, Va. — Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling, Stafford County and Virginia Tourism Corporation announced the creation of the Virginia Golf Trail, a collaboration of the Commonwealth’s public and private golf courses, hotels, wineries, restaurants, historic, cultural and recreational amenities.

The Virginia Golf Trail will enhance the Commonwealth’s reputation as a premier golfing destination by connecting the state’s diverse courses with rich history and amenities across the state.

The goal of the trail will be to enhance the golfing experience for visitors and drive incremental tourism dollars to the Commonwealth by selling more golf rounds, lodging room nights and visitations to tourism-related attractions and businesses.

At a press conference at Cannon Ridge Golf Club in Stafford, Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling said, “Tourism is big business in Virginia, contributing $19 billion to our economy every year and employing more than 210,000 people.

The new Virginia Golf Trail program gives visitors more reasons to come to Virginia. They can play 18 holes in the morning and tour a historical site, relax on the beach or take a hike in the mountains in the afternoon.

The Virginia Golf Trail is a great addition to our state’s tourism portfolio, and I have no doubt it will help boost our state’s economy.”

Golfing on the trail is expected to begin next spring.

The trail’s total annual economic impact to Virginia, when fully developed, could generate $66.6 million per year and create 652 jobs, according to an economic and fiscal impact study conducted by Chmura Economics & Analytics.

Cannon Ridge Golf Club in Stafford will serve as the home of the Virginia Golf Trail. It’s central, convenient location in the Celebrate Virginia project along I-95 in Stafford makes it the ideal location for the trail headquarters. Gary Schaal, former president of The PGA of America and a leader in South Carolina’s golf industry for 30 years, will be the President of the Virginia Golf Trail. Schaal is managing partner of Cannon Ridge Golf Club.

Schaal said, “Virginia is a rarity among golf destinations, one that is rich with history and culture with offerings that stretch beyond its beauty and fairways.

The way of life and appreciation for history and natural beauty will shape the visitor experience.

Both golfers and guests alike will marvel with delight at the many recreational activities, quaint shopping experiences, vineyards, restored and protected historical landmarks and the welcome embrace of Virginia hospitality.”

Stafford County provided a grant to the trail to stimulate increased golf play in Stafford County and the region.

The grant comes from the Stafford Tourism Fund, the Stafford Economic Development Authority and the newly created Stafford Opportunity Fund that supports job growth in the county.

Mark Dudenhefer, Chairman of the Stafford County Board of Supervisors, said “Stafford County is the proud home of three fine golf courses.

“We are delighted to support efforts to bring more attention to our golf and other recreational opportunities, and we are grateful for Gary Schaal’s investment and Virginia’s support in highlighting these important contributors to our economy.”

Virginia Golf Trail will be unique in comparison with those in other states because it will couple the Commonwealth’s outstanding golf courses with its rich history.

Visitors to the trail’s comprehensive website will learn not only about Virginia’s special inventory of public and private courses, but also about the historic sites, battlegrounds and routes throughout the Commonwealth.

Prospective visitors will be able to plan and book, not only their golf rounds, but also their lodging and side trips to nearby historic, cultural and recreational attractions that will enhance the golf experience.

The statewide trail of approximately 36 private and public courses will be divided into six zones.

Diverse geography and weather patterns allow for a nine to ten month season for the trail.

Each zone will include a recommended series of golf courses — along with the best hotels, restaurants, vineyards, historic attractions and other regional tourism offerings — packaged into a convenient, value-conscious travel itinerary on the trail’s website at www.VirginiaGolfTrail.com.

All bookings will be made via the website, now under construction.

Criteria for selection as a golf course on the trail will include: national or regional top ratings by Golf Digest magazine, proximity to cultural and historical attractions, and value-based pricing. Similar criteria will be used to select the accommodations, wineries and restaurants that will be invited to participate.

The Wounded Warriors will be the non-profit of choice for the Virginia Golf Trails. Schaal said he envisions charity golf tournaments and other philanthropic activities at locations on the trail to benefit the efforts throughout Virginia to assist wounded troops and their families.

In September 2010, A Taste of San Diego launched a new food tour that takes visitors on a delicious excursion through the Mission Hills neighborhood of San Diego.

The tour includes stops at six different restaurants that feature some of the area’s most authentic eateries and local favorites. Guests can feast on American, Italian, Mexican and French cuisine, including a variety of cheese tastings and amazing deserts.

The tour is offered 3 – 6 p.m. on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday and costs $75 per person; a champagne and wine tasting pairing can be added for an additional $25 per person.

For more information, visit www.atasteof-sandiego.com

San Diego Speedboat Adventures is offering a new harbor tours that puts guests in the Captain’s seat.

The two-hour, fully narrated tour allows guests to charter their own two person mini speedboat around San Diego Bay, providing one-of-a-kind views of Navy ships, the San Diego-Coronado Bridge, Seaport Village, the downtown skyline, USS Midway Museum, Maritime Museum of San Diego and more.

Tours are offered daily at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.; prices are $100 for a single person boat, $59 per person for a two person boat and $39 for kids.

For more information, visit www.speedboatadventures.com

Another Side of San Diego Tours offers guided Segway® Tours that highlight a number of San Diego’s colorful neighborhoods and attractions including downtown’s historic Gaslamp Quarter, La Jolla, Balboa Park, Mission Bay, Coronado and more. Tour times and prices vary depending on the type of tour.

For more information, visit http://anothersideofsandiegotours.com

MARANA, Ariz. — For the second consecutive year, The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain has been named one of the “Best New Courses” in the United States by Golfweek magazine.

The Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course, home of the annual WGC-Accenture Match Play Championships, is one of only seven courses on the list to be honored as a repeat selection, based on the magazine’s award guidelines.
Golfweek recognizes courses that have opened during the previous two calendar years, allowing The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain, which opened Jan. 17, 2009, to qualify for the 2009 and 2010 rankings.

The honor adds to the growing list of noteworthy awards that position it among the most desirable golf destinations in the United States.

Among them:

* GOLF magazine “Best New Public Courses (2009)
* Golfweek magazine “Best New Courses” (2009)
* Golfweek magazine “Best Resort Golf Courses” (2010)
* LINKS magazine “Best For Resort Lifestyle” (2009)
* Golf. Inc. magazine “First Place, Clubhouse Competition, Private Clubs (2009)

In addition, The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain became only the second golf course in the Tucson region to be designated as a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary.

It is one of only 11 golf courses in Arizona to receive the honor and among the 794 courses now listed by Audubon International.

“It is always exciting, as well as gratifying, for The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain to add to its record of growing achievements,” said Alan Federer, general manager.

“Each award and ranking is special in its own right, but they all are directly attributable to the continued excellence of the resort and golf club.”

As the centerpiece of the resort, The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain combines solid strategy, variety and fair shot values that harmonize with the high desert elevation of 2,300 to 3,000 feet.

Nicklaus meticulously created large greens with significant undulation, as well as wide fairways with carries over desert washes that define each course. The bunkering varies from classic, pot-style obstacles to expansive areas that stretch close to 80 yards along the edges of the fairways.

The greens are Bentgrass, while the tees, fairways and rough are Bermuda (with perennial rye overseed), ideal for the desert climate.

The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain also features a 50,000-square-foot clubhouse with all of the services expected from a luxury private club including tennis courts, fitness center, steward-serviced private locker rooms, and a double-ended practice facility.

The clubhouse includes indoor and outdoor dining venues with spectacular views, including Cayton’s, a casual but refined restaurant named for legendary Dove Mountain homesteader and cowboy poet Eugene “Cush” Cayton, serving ‘American Comfort Cuisine with a Southwestern flair’.

While the golf courses eventually will be accessible only by resident members and resort guests of The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain, it currently is available to the public. Reservations are accepted 30 days in advance through the golf shop, (520) 572-3500.

For more information on The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain, please go to

www.ritzcarlton.com/dovemountain

or at www.facebook.com/ritzcarltondovemountain

 About The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain

Nestled in the high Sonoran Desert is an invigorating playground where the adventurous can explore the lush desert along the Tortolitas Mountains and majestic Saguaro forest.

The property features a 253-room hotel, Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, destination spa and luxury homes at The Residences on 850-acres.

The property also features adventure programming, world-class hiking, and is host to the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championships each Spring in its striking canyon setting.

This is a place where adventure and a gracious spirit of hospitality come to life.

For reservation information, please call (800) 241-3333 or visit www.ritzcarlton.com/dovemountain.com

The four penthouses range from approximately 5,600 to 8,700 square feet of air-conditioned living space, with expansive outdoor terraces that add approximately 3,600 to 4,500 square feet respectively.

BOCA RATON, FL, – One Thousand Ocean, the landmark Atlantic Ocean-to-Intracoastal condominium situated on the tip of a private peninsula surrounded by water on three sides in Boca Raton, has released its exclusive Penthouse Collection.

The four penthouses range from approximately 5,600 to 8,700 square feet of air-conditioned living space, with expansive outdoor terraces that add approximately 3,600 to 4,500 square feet respectively.

Providing stunning panoramas of sea, sky and city, these extraordinary residences are priced from $9.75 million to $15 million.

Each penthouse features a private elevator landing, ceiling heights soaring approximately 14 feet above the concrete slab, along with floor-to-ceiling windows.

Additionally, all include a large outdoor kitchen, a private cabana overlooking the ocean or Boca Raton Inlet, and a private, enclosed three-car garage.

While the popular Residences and Beach Villas offered at One Thousand Ocean average 4,000 square feet under air, the penthouses provide far more space (an average of approximately 7,220 air-conditioned square feet).

“And, the penthouse terraces alone are larger than the average size of a new single-family home,” said Jamie Telchin, president of development for LXR Luxury Resorts. “These outdoor spaces are wonderful, whether you want to relax, watch the yachts cruise by, or entertain. It’s up to you.”

Telchin expects One Thousand Ocean penthouse buyers to be just as passionate about how they live as about where they live. “One Thousand Ocean is indisputably a canvas for living well, and owning a penthouse here makes the experience a cut above,” he added.

In many ways, owning at One Thousand Ocean is comparable to owning a private home on the beach, with the additional benefit of carefree living.

The contemporary building’s prime location – conveniently adjacent to LXR’s Boca Raton Resort & Club’s Beach Club – further enhances the allure of these exclusive residences.

One Thousand Ocean residents who are, or who elect to enjoy private membership privileges at the resort, have access to its world-class services and amenities at the Beach Club, and at the resort’s main complex located just across Lake Boca Raton.

These include golf, tennis, spa and 12 private venues for dining or enjoying snacks.

For the additional enjoyment of residents, One Thousand Ocean’s Ocean Club is outfitted with a fitness center with aerobics, yoga and Pilates rooms, cardio/free-weight and training area, spa treatment suite with a hot soaking tub, and steam and sauna rooms.

Moreover, the amenities area offers a lakefront lounge with catering kitchen, conference room, and multi-purpose room.

The building also has an oceanfront pool and sun deck, pool butlers, private cabanas, onsite management, a 24-hour desk attendant, full-time concierge, valet parking, and patrol services.

“All of these factors have led to the notable success of One Thousand Ocean, where there has been more than $140 million in closings to date this year,” Telchin concluded.

One of the world’s prime locations, Boca Raton is situated along South Florida’s fabled Gold Coast, with the island of Palm Beach approximately 30 miles north, Fort Lauderdale approximately 10 miles south and Miami approximately 45 miles south.

For further information, visit http://www.onethousandocean.com  or call the Sales & Design Center at (561) 869-5000 to schedule a private showing.