Jetsettersblog

Art in Rhodes has acquired new momentum with the inauguration of a new art space, the Museum of Modern Art. An extension of the existing New Art Gallery, the €1.2m space was officially inaugurated at the end of December.

The new Museum was launched with an exhibition of acknowledged printmaker Valias Semertzidis, the artist who lived and worked in Rhodes, whose works are featured in many private and public collections around the world.

The Museum of Modern Art and the New Art Gallery form part of a cultural hub right in the heart of the Rhodes town, which also includes the Municipal Art Gallery and the Modern Art Centre. The complex, whose story begins back in the 1950s and has not stopped evolving ever since, presents painting and engraving collections, as well as numerous sculptures, drawings and documents of historical value.

The central idea of all these collections is to present the history of Greece through the eyes of Greek artists during the 20th century, in a way that reflects the international character of the country.

The new multi-storey Museum of Modern Art also features a gift shop, a café, and a library/reading room, as well as an educational programmes centre.

Opening times: The Museum of Modern Art is open Tuesday to Saturday, from 8am-2pm, with a late night opening every Friday from 5pm-8pm.
Entrance fee: €3, which also includes admission to the Art Gallery and the Modern Art Centre buildings.

For more information about the new Museum of Modern Art in Rhodes please visit www.mgamuseum.gr. For more information about the island of Rhodes, please visit www.rodosisland.gr

Our 2011 holidays commence on 23rd April to Kefalonia, a perfect time for that early spring break which this year coincides with the Greek Easter celebrations, a truly fantastic time to be in Greece, with flights from Gatwick and Manchester.

Holiday prices starting from a fantastic £397pp for 7nights in an apartment on Kefalonia including flights & transfers based on two sharing. 14nights from a fabulous £524pp staying at the Cavos Inn (Kefalonia). Includes flights, transfers, B&B & 14days car hire.

Villa holidays with private pool perfect for that Easter break for all the family to enjoy from £494per adult & £445per child, including flights, transfers, car hire & welcome hamper based on four sharing a three bedroom villa with pool on Kefalonia.

With some fantastic early booking offers and over 130 properties in 13 diverse locations to choose from, it’s never been at better time to travel with the Greek Island Specialists!

You might think that the beer festivals of central Europe are held only during the late summer and autumn, however, you may be pleasantly surprised that there are a few which take place in the spring. These include the ‘Munich Strong Beer Season’ held in late March/ April, the ‘Hamburg DOM’ also held in late March/ early April and the ‘Prague Beer Festival’ which is being held this May. Leading specialist tour operator, Dertour, has accommodation and flight packages to these festivals from just £160 per person.

MUNICH STRONG – Described as the insider’s Oktoberfest the Munich Strong Beer Season (25th March – 3rd April 2011) starts during Lent after the end of Carnival and lasts for about four weeks. The origins of this event go back to the monks who concocted a strong beer which provided nutritional value to help them recover from the Lenten fasting. The strong beer is actually a double bock beer which is heavy on malt and it’s much stronger than a ‘normal’ beer.

Many breweries open a tent for revellers during the strong beer season and bring out their own kinds of seasonal beer. Bands ensure a cheerful party atmosphere and waiters in traditional costumes provide food and drink for the guests. Traditional dishes like O’batzter (Camembert cheese crumbled with onion, paprika and butter), Steckerlfisch (a grilled fish on a stick), Leberkäs (typical Bavarian meat) and broiled chicken are served. There are other events in the ‘Löwenbräu Cellar’ you shouldn’t miss. Strong men from all over Bavaria take part in a stone lifting and a wood-chopping competition to measure their strengths. Dertour has two night packages over the festival priced from £160 per person to include return flights from Stansted and accommodation at the four star Raeter Park Dependence on bed and breakfast basis. Based on two people sharing.

HAMBURG DOM SPRING BEER FESTIVAL – This festival boasts one of the largest fun fairs in Germany and offers visitors a 1.8 mile area filled with thrilling rides, family entertainment and beer tents. It is held three times a year, with the spring dates for this year being 25 March – 25 April. As well as beer, culinary delicacies include roasted almonds, candied fruits, bratwursts and potato pancakes. Other highlights include old fashioned show booths alongside high-tech rides. Dertour has two night packages over the festival priced from £160 per person to include return flights from Gatwick and four star hotel accommodation on bed and breakfast basis staying at the Leonardo Hamburg-Stillhorn. Based on two people sharing.

PRAGUE BEER FESTIVAL – This festival takes place this year between 12 and 30 May 2011 and is its fourth year running. The festival is the largest culinary event in the Czech Republic and offers visitors a wide selection of the best of the Czech breweries, butchers, delicatessans and confectioners. 10,000 visitor places are available and you’ll be served by locals wearing traditional Czech dress. Dertour has two night packages over the festival priced from £200 per person to include return flights from Heathrow and the three star Olympik Tristar hotel on bed and breakfast basis. Based on two people sharing.

For bookings call Dertour on 0207 290 1111 or visit www.dertour.co.uk  for further information

Notes to Editors: Dertour has operated holidays to Germany and beyond since 1961 and is recognised as the UK’s leading specialist in holidays to this area.

After many months of building and refurbishment work The Bull and Swan at Burghley was officially opened earlier this month by Miranda Rock of Burghley House.

Visitors to the 17th century building can see the final result of all the careful restoration work which has been carried out by the Hillbrooke Hotel Group to ensure that important historic features have been preserved throughout.

While The Bull and Swan dates back many hundreds of years the decoration and furnishings provide all the latest comforts for guests whether they are enjoying a meal in the dining room, drinking some of the real ales or relaxing with a tasty bar meal.

Upstairs seven bedrooms have been skilfully decorated with each one taking an individual theme based on the gentleman’s drinking club called ‘The Honourable Order of Little Bedlam’.

The club, which was based at Burghley House and founded by The 5th Earl of Exeter in 1684, had 27 members and each one had their own animal identity. Today each room has an animal name such as Lyon, Greyhound, Badger and Stag and this has influenced the style. In the Stag room guests will enjoy a Scottish theme with tartan wallpaper and a resin stag’s head while the Lyon room features a lion’s head carved into the bed head.

The Bull and Swan features furniture and furnishings from Rajasthan, a theme that is followed throughout all of the hotels in the Hillbrooke Group. Many of the features were made to the designs provided by the interior designer Christine Boswell who took her inspiration from references sourced at Burghley House.

All seven bedrooms are a good size with ensuite bathrooms which feature roll top baths with claw feet and showers with generously sized shower heads.

The menu for both the dining room and the bar features many local ingredients such as meat and game from the Burghley Estate and locally made Stilton. This drive for local food is part of the Hillbrooke ethos to use food and drink which is produced in the area.

Overseeing the food at The Bull and Swan is head chef Phil Kent who has moved from one of the sister hotels, The Bath Arms at Longleat, where he was sous-chef. There are many tasty treats he has devised for his menus and his venison Scotch eggs have already achieved quite a following.

House manager Ben Larter joined Hillbrooke Hotels at the end of last year having previously managed a gastro pub with rooms at Ufford in Cambridgeshire. Moving to Stamford has led him to renew links with the area as his grandparents farmed nearby and his father was based for some time at RAF Wittering.

Christoph Brooke managing director of Hillbrooke Hotels said: “Restoring old buildings and making them suit 21st century needs can be difficult but we had a great team of craftsmen from the Burghley Estate and local businesses and we hope everyone will appreciate the final result of that work. We have added some quirky touches in both design and on menus to provide something quite different in Stamford. We look forward to welcoming people to The Bull and Swan to enjoy great food and drink and a beautiful room if they choose to stay overnight.”

Enjoy a family break with a difference this half-term at the majestic five-star resort, Dromoland Castle in County Clare. Situated within 410 acres of breathtaking scenery, this unique resort is offering families the chance to see owls in the wild, without you having to bring your camping equipment!

The Owl Evening Family package begins with your personal falconer running through what to expect during the evening. At dusk you’ll begin a guided tour of the walled garden, just as the owls begin their haunting calls, so you can soak up the atmosphere and see them in their natural environment. Once the owls have gone hunting for the night you will return to Dromoland Castle to relax and enjoy a sumptuous meal in one of the two restaurants.

This experience is for two adults and up to two children*, so if your children are Harry Potter mad and want to see a real-life Hedwig, this is the perfect escape for the whole family. Along with the evening’s outdoors activities, you will enjoy one night’s accommodation and a full Irish breakfast for £250 per room*.

Set in rolling country meadows and woodland, and boasting 99 luxury rooms and suites, a fabulous spa, leisure centre and an 18-hole golf course, Dromoland Castle is a truly unique destination for the whole family to enjoy.

Fly to Shannon to the UK from just £9.99** during half-term week with www.ryanair.com or travel by ferry to Rosslare or Dublin Port and take your car so you can enjoy discovering County Clare’s incredible scenery from just £124 per car each way. Visit www.stenaline.co.uk for great deals.

To book call 00353 61 368 144 or visit www.dromoland.ie

Enjoy a Valentine’s escape for less than £300 per couple in the heart of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, with Celtic Haven’s ‘Lovers’ Valentine’s Package’. The luxury cottage resort is in the perfect romantic setting, with charming 12th century accommodation, a clifftop location and views over Caldey Island and the Atlantic Ocean.

The cost of the package is £298.00 for two people for a three night weekend break (from February 11 – 14) or a four night midweek break (from February 14-18). The price includes £20 each towards a candle-lit dinner in Waves, the onsite Italian influenced restaurant, £30 to spend towards Spa treatments at the resort’s Elemis Premier Spa and 10 per cent off Spa products.

Free use of Celtic Haven’s nine-hole headland golf course, indoor swimming pool, sauna, hot-tub, gym and tennis courts is included.

Guests can also treat themselves to a CARIAD (Welsh for love) Spa morning or afternoon for just £89 per couple. The resort spa is the only Elemis Premier Spa in west Wales and boasts over 80 treatments and holistic therapies.

For those who arrive on Valentine’s Day, the restaurant is serving a special romantic three course dinner for £27.95 per person (the £20 voucher can be used towards this).

Celebrate the Chinese New Year (3rd February 2011) at one of London’s finest Chinese restaurants Min Jiang situated at the top floor of the Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington.

Diners can take advantage of breathtaking views across Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park whilst enjoying a specially created set menu comprising traditional dishes from China’s gastronomic provinces. This includes the restaurant’s legendary wood-fired Beijing Duck, served with homemade pancakes.

In addition, from the 28th January – 17th February 2011 diners can also experience the return of the traditional Chinese ‘Yu Sheng’ salad. As a Chinese custom, the ingredients, which are made from 27 ingredients, including salmon, white radish, lime tree leaves and plum sauce dressing, are mixed at the table using chopsticks, while everyone shouts ‘lo hei’ or ‘mix it up.’ According to Chinese custom, the higher the salad is tossed, the greater your luck will be for the coming year.

Finally, all guests that dine during this period will also be given a red money envelope, symbolising good luck in Chinese traditions.

Set menus are priced at £58.00 per person (not including lobster) whilst the Yu Sheng salad is priced between £28.00 (serves 2-6) to £40.00 (serves 6+).

Booking is essential for enjoying Chinese New Year at Min Jiang. Call 020 7361 1999 to reserve a table or visit www.minjiang.co.uk  for full details.

The Monte da Quinta resort in the Algarve is offering the perfect incentive to escape the UK winter with a 25 per cent reduction on its winter sunshine breaks.

Located in the heart of the prestigious Quinta do Lago estate, Monte da Quinta boasts a collection of 132 self-catering suites and a range of two and three-bedroom townhouses and spacious villas. All townhouses and villas come with private pools.

All bookings for travel between February 18 and 31 March will receive a saving of 25 per cent when staying in a one or two-bedroom design suite. Prices start from €216 for a three-night break – a saving of €72.

Packages include breakfast, and what’s more, the resort is also offering a fantastic deal to upgrade to its half-board plus dining option for anyone staying two nights of more during this period.

Guests can enjoy a three-course dinner with half a bottle of wine as well as a light meal earlier in the day, including drinks, for just €32 per person per night, with children aged three to 12-years old getting a 50 per cent discount.

Monte da Quinta is an ideal base for a winter sun break as the resort is surrounded by leisure options including championship golf and tennis while on-site there is an extensive Kids’ Club and the Magnolia Spa.

Discounts are subject to guests paying a 50 per cent deposit to guarantee the booking.

For further information, or to book a stay call 00 351 289 000 300, email mqreservas@mqclub.com  or go to www.mqresort.com

Families looking to grab some half-term sun this February can take advantage of La Manga Club’s fantastic early booking deals as well as some great value extras for kids.

The five-star Spanish resort is offering a host of early booking benefits on 2011 travel including free nights and a gift of a further one-night’s transferable stay and, unlike many other offers, they are valid for breaks during all school holidays.

Anyone booking a seven-night stay in the five-star hotel during February half-term will enjoy one-night’s free accommodation and two free activities per adult.

Activities include a choice of golf – available on any of La Manga Club’s three championship courses – and selected spa treatments at the 2,000sqm spa. But half-term guests won’t need to use their freebies at the resort’s 28-court tennis centre because during February all guests staying three nights or more can play tennis for free.

As an extra bonus for hotel guests, early bookers will also receive a voucher for a complimentary one-night stay for a future visit. The voucher is also transferable meaning it can be used by the recipient or as a gift for a loved one.

In addition, there are some great inclusions for families, with one child under-13 free when sharing their parents’ room; 40 per cent discount for children in their own room; and free kids’ meals for under-fives.

La Manga Club also boasts more than 20 bars and restaurants and all resort guests receive complimentary access to Spa La Manga Club’s fitness centre, indoor pool, saunas and steam rooms.

A family of four can enjoy a week in the five-star Hotel La Manga Club Principe Felipe, based on two twin or deluxe rooms, for just €1,335, including breakfast and VAT.

For more information or to book call 00 34 968 17 5577, email reserve@lamangaclub.com  or visit www.lamangaclub.com

Guests sailing the waters of northern Sardinia on the romantic tall ships of Star Clippers next summer may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the company’s ‘own’ dolphin, a young male aptly named ‘Clipper’.

Mikael Krafft, owner and founder of Star Clippers, has sponsored the dolphin through the Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute’s (BDRI) adoption scheme.

Clipper is known to have been born in August 2008 and was first spotted swimming in the region with his mother the following month. He was last seen in the waters off Sardinia’s north east coast on November 6. He is distinguishable by two small nicks in his dorsal fin.

In dolphin years, Clipper is still a calf and swims and hunts with his mother (unromantically named N31) and other females, Markita and Alitana, and males, Rinco and Tacca. There are abundant bottlenose dolphins around Sardinia’s Golfo Aranci as there’s a marine fish farm there which provides easy feeding.

The Sardinia-based BDRI is a marine centre for research, education and training in bottlenose dolphin ecology and behaviour, working closely to protect the wild bottlenose dolphins that frequent Sardinia’s Emerald Coast. Naming a dolphin costs €150 and sponsoring it €40 a year in subsequent years. Dolphins can live up to 50 years. The funds from these ‘adoptions’ go directly to non-invasive research on the wild dolphins of the Mediterranean and the results have been widely published in the scientific press.

Mikael Krafft is strongly committed to conservation and adopting Clipper is just one small part of his support for environmental issues. Mr Krafft also employs a full-time marine biologist to travel with guests on the company’s flagship, 227-passenger Royal Clipper, interacting with guests while carrying out research projects.

Star Clippers will visit northeast Sardinia from spring 2011 on the five Tyrrhenian itineraries of the 170-passenger Star Flyer, operating from May to October, departing Cannes and sailing to Corsica, Costa Smeralda, Giglio, Lerici and St Tropez. From £1,295 per person, excluding flights.

Notes to editors:

Star Clippers operates three of the world’s largest and tallest sailing vessels. Visiting ports often untouched by larger cruise ships and offering passengers the activities, amenities and atmosphere of a private yacht, Star Clippers is recognised as one of the premier speciality cruise lines.

Passengers can enjoy the romance of sailing on board a true tall ship in a relaxed atmosphere with high standards of service provided by an attentive crew. All three ships have expansive teak decks, swimming pools, informal dining, a convivial Tropical Bar on deck and a comfortable piano bar and are large enough to offer first class accommodation and dining, but small enough to call into intimate ports, untouched by large cruise ships.

The two smaller ships, Star Flyer and Star Clipper, take 170 passengers each, with a crew of 70, while Royal Clipper carries 227 with a crew of 106.