Jetsettersblog

A leading Caribbean resort is capitalising on a growing trend of customers wanting to balance a busy career and a healthy home life by mixing business with leisure.

Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort in Saint Lucia knows the savvy traveller has the solution for an ideal work/life balance, combining business trips with family vacations to maximise family time.

The solution is called ‘bleisure’, which is a phrase coined by the London based trend forecasting company, Future Laboratory. Research by Bjorn Hansen, dean of the Preston Robert Tisch Center for Hospitality, Tourism and Sport Management of New York University showed that the trend began when the number of dual career families increased. He said: “All of a sudden there was more money but less time” and blended travel became “a way for families to spend time together.”

Statistics gathered by a “Wellness in Travel” survey by Westin Hotels & Resorts showed people are failing to take all of their vacation dates and fear not looking crucial to their department. Personal financial issues and job losses due to the difficult current economic climate are a major factor.

Mark Ozawa, managing director of Windjammer Landing, said: “At Windjammer, we pride ourselves on making sure that families enjoy their quality time together, but we also want to let parents know that they don’t have to compromise on their work needs. We are seeing a rise in visitors combining their family trips with work, as we have the facilities for remote working, to minimise the disruption of leaving the office behind. Our visitors know they can work here in comfort, but they have the luxury of being able to log off and immediately enjoy holiday time with the family on the beach or in one of our restaurants.”

Windjammer Landing has internet connection in every room, conference facilities and the supply of screens and projects, fax, photocopying and televisions and can even offer a personal assistant for an additional cost to assist business travellers with their out of office experience.

Celebrating its 21st anniversary this year, the resort has undergone a $500,000 refurbishment programme to mark the occasion. This means customers also have the opportunity to enjoy the ‘Forever 21′ rejuvenation package including a free 21 themed spa treatment, a shopping trip, sunset cruise and themed cocktails when staying seven nights or more.*

The resort also boasts over 1,500 feet of white sand beaches with a full water sports programme, five swimming pools and an outdoor Jacuzzi. It offers endless amenities including the shopping “village” where guests can enjoy five restaurants, three bars, several boutiques, a mini-market, a fitness centre, flood-lit tennis courts and conference facilities plus an array of excursions.

Voted Saint Lucia’s Leading Hotel by the World Travel Awards, Windjammer Landing boasts 161 Mediterranean style villas and suites.

A seven night stay at Windjammer Landing for a family of four (room only) starts at approximately £2324 (dependent on exchange rates).

Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort, Labrelotte Bay, PO Box 1504 Castries Saint Lucia, Tel: FREEPHONE from the UK on 0808 101 7261, email tgills@windjammer-landing.com, or visit www.windjammer-landing.com

* Forever 21 offers are only valid with rack rate bookings – not valid in conjunction with any other offer or package. Subject to availability. Offers can be withdrawn by Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort at any time.

Ionian & Aegean Island Holidays are delighted to announce details of their unique walking tour on Kefalonia, Ithaka and the Pelion Peninsula for 7 or 13nights departing 23rd April 2011.

April & May are the perfect months for walking in Greece, combining glorious weather with amazing walks through the wild flower fields, orchards and olive groves only Spring time has to offer!

Discover the islands of Kefalonia & Ithaka renowned for being a walkers’ paradise following ancient historical trails through some of the most unspoilt countryside and coastline in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Your experienced guide for the tour is Iain Peters who has been developing and perfecting these walks for over 15years and with the help of local guides you will experience unique walking itineraries that no other company can offer.

For those wanting to extend their holiday, we offer the opportunity to explore even further into hidden Greece and we’ve added a further six days walking on the Pelion Peninsula, the Land of the Centaurs. Where you will enjoy walking through the spectacular chestnut and beech forests of this stunning mountainous interior and of course a stop off at the Monasteries of Meteora is a must for anyone visiting this unique location on mainland Greece.

Prices start from £699pp based on two sharing, £794 for single walkers for a 7night stay, or £999pp for 13nights single walkers £1175pp. Price includes flights, resort transfers, 7 or 13 nights self-catering accommodation, daily walks, services of experienced walking guides & full local support, light packed lunches and refreshments.

Walking holiday departs on Saturday 23rd April with flights available from Gatwick and Manchester.

Truly fantastic time to be in Greece an even better time to enjoy the countryside on foot!

The award winning specialist Scottish cruise company, The Majestic Line, has a policy of providing two double cabins on each cruise for single travellers at no supplement. The Majestic Line is one of the smallest sea cruising companies with two vessels each carrying only 11 guests around the beautiful coastline of Argyll on the West Coast of Scotland. The “house party” atmosphere which is created on board due to the small numbers of guests and attentiveness of the crew is perfect for guests travelling alone as they very much feel part of the group and can enjoy a truly social experience.

Marie Thoms, Majestic Line Sales Manager said “The Majestic Line is owned and run by family and friends and we can therefore decide to have such a generous policy for single travellers. Everyone in the company loves to see people enjoying themselves and we don’t think that single travellers should be penalised financially. Our 2011 cruises are very well booked up but we still have eleven cruises with spaces for single travellers and we want to make sure these are taken up”

Marie also feels that the location of the cruises is ideal for people who might not be confident travelling on their own but want to experience the beauty of the Scottish Highlands. “Our Holy Loch departures are only one hour from Glasgow Airport. We can pick guests up from the airport and have them onboard our vessel “The Glen Massan”, sipping bubbly and soaking in the scenery, with no travel concerns at all.

People looking for a single place on a Majestic Line cruise should check the website for available dates http://www.themajesticline.co.uk/single_travellers.html  or phone Marie on 0131 623 5012. There are cabins for single travellers on both 3-night and 6-night cruises available

On arrival, you’ll visit the island of Fanø, famous for its beautiful beaches and abundant wildlife, as well as visiting a string of important wildlife refuges for birds of prey. Here you’ll spot thousands of barnacle geese, watch exotic waxwings feed on winter berries and find time for lunch in a traditional Danish village.

The following day, your bird watching tour continues as you are taken by coach to a number of important wildlife refuges for white-tailed sea eagles, rough legged buzzards and other extraordinary birds of prey, making this one bird watching tour not to be missed.

What’s included:

3 nights onboard ship in a 2 berth sea view en suite cabin (including 1 night in port)

1 ½ days guided bird and wildlife watching

Fanø Island ferry crossing and local transport

Presentations and activities throughout the trip

Departs Harwich on 27th March and 3rd April 2011

To book go to www.dfds.co.uk  or call 0871 882 0885

Two farms in the Skagafjörður region of northern Iceland have joined forces to offer visitors rural accommodation with traditional Icelandic hospitality.

The farms, Hofsstaðir and Hofsstaðasel, have panoramic views across the vast open plains of the region. Huge, majestic mountains loom up behind them, the glacial river Héraðsvötn runs nearby and there are beautiful views over the fjord from the farms making the area ideal for birdwatchers, nature lovers and hikers. This sparse landscape has more horses than people and is an ideal place for some a peaceful break.

The accommodation is available in three categories; farmhouse, guesthouse and the luxury 19th century ‘The Old Farmhouse’. Past guests include the President of Iceland and Princess Anne of England.

There are three double bedrooms with modern comforts and a cosy sitting room making it the perfect hideout for a romantic holiday or honeymoon.

The sparse, unspoilt landscape and northern location gives optimum conditions for the Midnight Sun and Northern Lights depending on the time of year.

Prices for a double room with a bath start at £81 per night and prices for a single room start at £59, including breakfast.

http://www.hofsstadir.is

Britain’s leading guided walks operator, Ramblers Worldwide Holidays – which celebrates its 65th Anniversary this year – is offering a three island tour of the beautiful Azores.

This two week journey, embraces the islands of Sāo Miguel, Sāo Jorge and Pico – a trio of islands within The Azores’ nine island ‘complex’ – some 800 miles off the coast of Portugal.

The varied terrain on each provides interesting opportunities for walking enthusiasts including, ancient villages, the hydrangea drenched ridge of Sāo Jorge, rock pools and lava formations on rugged coastlines, vineyards on Pico and subtropical gardens and hot sulphurous springs at the hotel in Furnas.

The journey begins on Sāo Miguel – the largest island of the Azores – which consists of two volcanic massifs, separated by a central ridge. Next, is Sāo Jorge in the north famous for its tree covered cliffs, cheese and wine. And finally, its onto Pico with a volcanic peak reaching 2,351 metres and a dramatic landscape of volcanic cones and high cliffs, which run down to the sea interspersed with lush green pastures, maize fields and orchards. It is what the locals aptly call, ‘an island of mysteries’.

Price from £1,699 per person, includes return flights, transfers, half-board accommodation and the services of a dedicated tour leader.

www.RamblersHolidays.co.uk

01707 33 11 33

Liverpudlians have more sex on holiday, Londoners most dislike body odour, holidaymakers from Sheffield buy the most new clothes for their holidays, child-free couples fret over litter and Brummies abstain from drinking alcohol

These are some of the regional variations in the behaviour of Brits abroad, uncovered in the latest research from leading travel experts, Kuoni.

Kuoni Holiday Report 2011, is part of the company’s strategy of getting closer to its customers by understanding them better. The report looks at behaviour before, during and after a holiday, including eating and spending preferences, manners, etiquette, holiday romance and sexual habits.

Despite the regional variations highlighted throughout the report, what unifies the research is how different British holidaymakers behave when on holiday. Escaping from their every day routines, the Brits discard their regular persona and… eat less healthily, exercise less, drink more, dress more provocatively, expect more sex and in more adventurous places, soak up beautiful places and spend more money.

In short, Brits lose their inhibitions on holiday, whether aged 25 or 65. Over half do things out of character – such as drink more alcohol – and feel liberated by the fact that no-one knows who they are. Read on for the highlights of the report.

Christine Webber, psychotherapist and health writer and broadcaster, says:

‘Times are really tough for most people in the UK at the moment, so it’s small wonder that people want to let off steam on holiday.

‘It’s particularly interesting to me that some respondents actually enjoy adopting a whole new persona on holiday. It’s as if they’re conducting an experiment, which might lead to real change at a later date. In the midst of our busy lives, we often fantasise about embracing a completely different lifestyle, or becoming a different sort of person, and it seems as if holidays allow us to flirt with the sort of changes we dream about.

‘I’m also delighted to learn that most of us have more sex on holidays with our partners. Holidays are great times to reconnect with the person we love, and to remind each other of the importance of romance and closeness.

‘Many of us have no option but to work flat-out these days if we are to hold onto our jobs. But this can turn us into dull, stressed-out, irritable and terribly tired individuals. By taking a holiday, we restore balance and sanity into our lives. We have time to think. And we have time to just chill. Brilliant!’

The best laid plans
The behavioural changes begin early, in the lead-up to the holiday. Women make more elaborate preparations then men, mostly related to their appearance, with 62% buying new clothes, 36% dieting and 30% exercising. These traits are most marked in 25-34 year-olds. By region, people from Sheffield are most likely to buy new clothes (78%), while people from the North West are most likely to do absolutely no holiday preparation. Older holidaymakers do more research on the destination (65% of those aged 55-65).

British women buy very different clothes for their holidays; they are generally trendier, shorter, more colourful and different. Over a third (34%) say they dress more casually, but they also pack special eveningwear that is more formal (13%) and more provocative (12%).

Glaswegians are more likely to wear clothes that remind them of their holiday once home (20%), while one in five women wear white and wear less to show off their tan. In 7% of Brits, holiday wear kicks off a new look at home, more so in 25-34 year-olds (14%).

Rest is top priority
R&R is by far the priority from a holiday (71%), particularly for women (75%) and parents (74%). The chill-out time allows city dwellers in particular to reconnect with people (19%), particularly Londoners (22%) and those from Sheffield (30%).

Most Brits want to see beautiful places (60%), see another country (53%), enjoy a new experience (52%), have fun (52%) and escape (45%), although age divides these priorities. Older holidaymakers opt for culture (68% of 55-65 year olds) and younger people seek out fun (62%).

More men (35%) maintain their exercise regime abroad than women (26%) but 21% of holidaymakers do nothing at all.

Manners maketh the man
So what do they do? Get hot under the collar about littering (75%), poor body hygiene (63%) and loud voices (50%). Men hate people showing off and any signs of indulgent spending, while women in general, disapprove of topless sunbathing.

It could be a case of the pot calling the kettle black as while good conduct is admired by all, they drink more alcohol (26%), talk to strangers (26%), do things out of character (56%), wear more revealing clothes (17% of women), have sex with strangers (3% of men) and feel liberated by the fact that no-one knows who they are (38% of women and 28% of men).

Letting their inhibitions run wild extends to splashing their cash, on day trips (45%), local foods (41%) and local handicrafts (31%). Moreover, women are more likely to treat themselves (25% compared to 11% of men), but men are more likely to enjoy extreme sports (17% compared with 13% of women).

Regional variations show that Brummies are least likely to treat themselves to anything different to what they would normally buy at home (25%).

Hopes are high, however, that the time away from home will invigorate an existing relationship and for single women in particular (13%), be an opportunity for a holiday romance.

More sex please, we’re British!
A holiday can certainly spice up love lives of parents, reveals the report with 40% saying that have slightly more sex on holiday and of the overall sample, over one in ten saying they have much more. Regionally, Liverpudlians have more sex on holiday (16%), while those from Sheffield say they have slightly more (55%).

The higher frequency of sex is coupled with sex in more adventurous locations, particularly for 35-54 year-olds. Top of the list is the beach (17%), sea (12%), pool (8%), boat (4%) and plane (3%). The balcony also proved to be a particularly popular location.

Friendships flourish on holiday too, most notably with other Brits (19%) and it is especially true of 35-44 year-olds (27%) who are most likely to have children who will seek out similar-aged children.

British parents also play safe with foreign food, with 23% eating familiar foods but 24% of child-free couples eating exclusively local food, particularly so for older holidaymakers. More than a third (36%) bring their heightened tastebuds back home and extend their recipe repertoire.

More than four in ten (43%) drink more alcohol, particularly the child-free holidaymakers, with women being partial to exotic drinks and also richer foods, although it’s the 25-34 year-olds who ditch their diets (20%) and those from Sheffield who are most likely to drink more (60%), in contrast to Brummies who say they abstain (14%) altogether.

The report is an accurate barometer of current behaviour but it also canvassed opinion over concerns for future holidays. Some 40% of younger travellers (25-34 year-olds) wish to protect the planet and predict an increase in sustainability over the next decade, but this desire goes hand in hand with saying that luxury will be important (28%). This group is also the least likely to say they will stop flying (6%). So much for saving the planet!

The full report is available from www.kuoni.co.uk/holidayreport

This Mother’s Day the athenaeum hotel are offering a deliciously pampering and indulgent treat; two REN manouka honey Spa treatments for the price of one, and the exquisite new Regents Park Honey Afternoon Tea menu for you and your mother is also two for the price of one.

This package makes the ideal Mother’s Day gift, beginning with the new ‘Honey-Tea’ menu served in the hotel’s beautiful Garden Room. Inspired by the wonderful Regents Park Honey the menu includes a selection of sandwiches, freshly baked scones and toasted crumpets with Regents Park Honey, and pastries including Honeycomb Marquis, Honey Cake, Elderflower Jelly, Lavender and Honey Macaroons and Honey Cheesecake.

Following tea, the staff at the athenaeum’s recently re-opened spa will welcome visitors for a pampering and preening experience. The spa is offering two REN manouka honey facials for the price of one. This relaxing hour-long skin detox is based on healing minerals and essential oils including manouka honey extract, renowned for its natural antibacterial properties. The treatment boosts the skin’s natural process of protection, repair and renewal.

With its central location on Piccadilly overlooking Green Park, the athenaeum is just a short walk from both the boutiques of Knightsbridge and the best of Mayfair and the West End. The new honey-tea menu and beauty treatments on offer make for a fabulous day out in London for girls to enjoy together. Ladies will leave feeling revitalized and relaxed after a fun-filled day in the heart of the capital.

Reservations for afternoon tea can be made by calling 020 7499 3464 72 hours in advance. The spa can be booked by calling 020 7640 3347 or email spa@athenaeumhotel.com , 72 hours in advance.

Terms & Conditions:
 Two for one offer valid between 28th and 15th April subject to availability at weekends. Bookings must be made 72 hours in advance. Spa treatment and Honey tea can be booked separately. Treatments must be taken at the same time.

The REN manouka honey treatments are priced at £100. The athenaeum’s Honey-Tea is priced at £39 for two people including a glass of honey fizz. There are 3 sittings for tea: 12:30pm, 3pm and 5:30pm daily.

The Athenaeum has received a Top London Afternoon Tea 2010 Award of Excellence from The Tea Guild.

The Honey Tea Menu

A Selection of Sandwiches including Honey Roasted Ham and Caramelized Golden Cross Goats Cheese

Freshly Baked Scones and Toasted Crumpets with Regents Park Honey, Homemade Jams and Devonshire Clotted Cream

Selection of Homemade Pastries including Honeycomb Marquis, Honey Cake, Lavender and Honey Macaroons
and Honey Cheesecake.

Increased flights from Norwich to Jersey provide more scope to get away

Premier Holidays is delighted with the news that Flybe has increased its flights from Norwich to Jersey this spring. The airline is starting the route in April, prior to its planned summer programme launch in May, in response to popular demand to visit the island during this year’s extended bank holiday period.

Flybe is now operating on the additional days of 20, 23, 27, and 30 April and 4 May.

These extra flights, together with the fact there are no less than five bank holidays in April and May – including Easter and the Royal Wedding – mean that spring 2011 is clearly the right time to book a few days away. Jersey makes the perfect short-haul destination, with flights under an hour away – although the only Royals we can promise you’ll spot are of the edible variety!

Premier Holidays, the number one operator to the Channel Islands, is offering a number of packages to incorporate the new Flybe flights, so you can make the most of this bank holiday blitz.

Stay at The Stafford in Jersey for three nights for just £319 per person. The Stafford is a two-star hotel offering modern facilities and a warm welcome, conveniently situated in the heart of St Helier and five minutes away from Jersey’s gorgeous St Aubins bay. This package includes accommodation on a half-board basis, return flights from Norwich and transfers throughout.

Or raise a toast to Wills and Kate during a three-night break at De France hotel from just £375 per person. This four-star property is host to one of the best spas on the island, providing the perfect opportunity to treat yourself to some pampering over a bank holiday and return to work revived and raring to go. This package includes return flights from Norwich, transfers and breakfast.

For more information about these and other offers, please visit www.premierholidays.co.uk  or call 08444 937 532 or visit your local travel agent.

Barely off the coast of the city of Rauma, a picturesque archipelago presents itself with numerous small islands scattered in the Bothnian Sea. During Spring 2011, the Finnish government will officially grant the area the status of National Park.

The Bothnian Sea National Park bustles with wildlife both under and above sea level, and provides beautiful terrain for hiking, cycling, canoeing and boating. The Kylmäpihlaja Lighthouse Island, Kuuskajaskari Fortress Island and Reksaari Nature Island all lay close to the city centre, yet in a world outside this one.

For more information, please visit:
http://www.visitrauma.fi/index.php?option=com_docman&task=cat_view&gid=13&dir=DESC&order=name&Itemid=1&limit=5&limitstart=0
Information on the Bothnian Sea, the Lighthouse & Fortress Islands etc: http://www.selkameri.fi/en/bothnian_sea/bothnian_sea_-_information.html
Accommodation in Rauma: http://www.rauma.fi/english/accomoda.htm
General information on Rauma: http://www.visitrauma.fi/?lang=english
Getting to Rauma: From Helsinki there are several buses departing daily to Rauma daily from the Central Bus Station. Journey time is four hours and tickets cost around €35-50 per adult.