Jetsettersblog

The Kessler Canyon of DeBeque, Colo., will join Marriott’s Autograph Collection as of May 11, 2011. The Autograph Collection consists of independent and luxury properties with their own distinct brands and personalities. The only ranch-style property within The Kessler Collection, Kessler Canyon’s homestead and guesthouse are set on 23,000 acres that include mesas, valleys and streams. Activities include big game hunting, horseback riding, fishing and hiking. The hotel also features gourmet cuisine and the full-service Poseidon Spa. For more information, call 888-312-1998 or visit www.kesslercanyon.com

ExperiencePlus! Bicycle Tours is teaming up for a VIP biking tour of Belgium with Jeff Lebesch, founder and former owner of New Belgium Brewing, also from Fort Collins, Colo. Lebesch will be the VIP guest and expert accompanying the 2011 Aug. 23 to Sept. 2 insider’s tour giving guests special entrée to brewery experiences often difficult to access by the general public. A shortened eight-day tour version is also offered Aug. 23 to 30. “Anyone who loves to drink beer or who is captivated by the notion of making beer will be in hops heaven on our new Bicycling Belgium’s Best Breweries Tour,” said Maria Elena Price, ExperiencePlus! Bicycle Tours co-owner and manager.

The tour begins and ends in Brussels after cycling 30 to 55 miles a day, for a total of up to 173 miles over eight days and 277 miles over 11 days. World War I battle and historical sites, the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Brugge and Tournai, Trappist breweries and Lambic beer (famous for wild yeast fermentations producing a sour beer) are included on the tour. The rates include use of a quality 27- to 30-speed bicycle, accommodations, breakfasts, some dinners, guided brewery visits and beer tastings with dinner, transfers to and from Brussels and more.

“I have been frequently asked to lead a bike and beer culture tour of Belgium similar to my pre-New Belgium inspirational trip, but the logistics of organizing such a tour are more than I wanted to tackle,” said Lebesch. “When I was approached by ExperiencePlus! I thought the combination of their excellence in tour management and my ideas on a fun and enlightening bike and beer tour was a perfect fit.” The tour has been scheduled to coincide with the annual Brussels Beer Festival, Sept 3 to 5. The eight-da Bicycling Belgium’s Best Breweries cycling tour is priced at $3,395 per person, double; $500 single supplement. The 11-day Bicycling Belgium’s Best Breweries Plus! tour is priced at $4,595 per person, double; $600 single supplement.

ExperiencePlus! Bicycle Tours was launched in Italy in 1972 and now offers global cycling tours immersed in local character to 20 countries on five continents. Throughout the years as the business and industry has evolved ExperiencePlus!’ roots as a family business have remained strong. Authentic, experienced, self-paced and engaging were the ethos of parents Rick and Paola Malpezzi Price which have now been passed down to their daughters and current directors, Monica and Maria Elena Price. Standing behind their beliefs, ExperiencePlus! issues a 10-point Customer’s Bill of Rights outlining what clients can and should expect while pedaling on a company tour. Their cultural cycling programs engage tour leaders who are expert cyclists and trained cultural interpreters, guiding guests on innovative routes and immersing them in off-the-beaten-path experiences. Tours in 2011 go to Argentina, Australia, Austria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, France, Greece, Hungary, India, Italy, New Zealand, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, the U.S. and Vietnam.

A company division, BikeRentalsPlus!, a partnership with BikesPlus! SAS in Italy offers bicycle rentals in over 100 locations in Italy and France along with competitively priced self-guided tours and customized options for a variety of cycling vacations. ExperiencePlus! is a 2010 recipient of National Geographic Traveler magazine’s 50 Tours of a Lifetime for its Cycling the Camino de Santiago: Roncesvalles to Santiago adventure. Recognized for her visionary work within the industry, Monica Price has been named to the Adventure Travel Trade Association Advisory Committee for the 2011 Adventure Travel World Summit to be held Oct. 17 to 20 in San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico. For information, visit www.experienceplus.com

Telluride is celebrating its summer events with a Stay and Play lodging package from a nightly room rate of $99 with a two-night minimum. The package includes an adventure activity of the guests’ choice, such as a Jeep tour, mountain biking, rafting or fly fishing. The package is valid from May 25 through Sept. 15.

Among the summer events are the Mountainfilm Festival, May 27 to 30; the Telluride Balloon Festival, June 3 to 5; the Telluride Playwrights Festival, July 11 to 17; the 35th Annual Telluride Jazz Celebration, Aug. 5 to 7; and the Telluride Film Festival, Sept. 2 to 5. For more information, call 888-605-2578 or visit www.visittelluride.com

To coincide with the annual Fiesta San Antonio, the Mokara Hotel & Spa has introduced the Fiesta Couple’s package. Valid throughout April, the package includes a 50-minute Fiesta couple’s massage, with incorporating lime aromatherapy; a 50-minute Fiesta margarita pedicure; and lunch for two at Mokara’s Rooftop Café. The package is priced from a nightly room rate of $425 per couple. For more information, call 866-605-1212 or visit www.mokarahotels.com

The Thermes Marins Spa at the Ayana Resort and Spa Bali unveiled four new signature treatments that harmoniously combine ancient healing with modern techniques to effectively balance the body’s energy centers. The new treatments coincide with the announcement at an awards ceremony in Hong Kong last month that Ayana was voted the Best Resort Spa in Asia-Pacific in the 2011 Destination Readers’ Choice Survey, adding to a host of other awards recently, including World’s Best Spa in the 2010 Conde Nast Traveler Readers’ Survey.

The Thermes Marins Spa offers a spa treatment menu that is comprised of therapies to calm the body and soothe the soul. The four new signature treatments have been made exclusively for the resort by coach Rhett Hatfield. When creating these new treatments, a large emphasis was placed on the use of the earth’s natural resources, including shells and lava stones, as it is believed to generate better results.

The new signature treatments at Ayana include the Hot Shell Massage. Sand is used to exfoliate the feet before the massage begins. An array of seashells are warmed and used to relax muscles as well as strategically placed across the body to help balance energy. The therapy ends with a restorative shell facial massage. The Lava Stone Reflexology treatment blends different cultural techniques from Chinese meridians massage to European pressure points. It begins with a ceremonial footbath, leg massage, and foot reflexology complete with Lava stones from the Balinese mountains. It concludes with a shoulder, neck, arm, and hand massage. Ayana Fusion is a combination of deep tissue strokes, acupressure, stretching techniques and steamed herbal pouches to help relax muscles, relieve tension and joint pain, open pores, and stimulate blood flow. Seven Chakra Dhara is designed to increase blood flow and relax muscles, and begins with a genuine Ayurvedic massage. To unblock and balance the chakras, seven aromatherapy blends are used. The treatment ends with a marma face and scalp massage with chakra tuning fork to relax your body through sound.

Ayana is currently offering the “Spa for All Seasons” package which provides the perfect opportunity to revive your senses. Valid until Dec. 22, the package includes a one-time 50-minute Anti-Stress Massage, Reflexology or Natural Cream Bath for two people; one-time access to the Aquatonic Pool for two people; daily a la carte breakfast for two people at Dava for villa guests; daily breakfast buffet for two people at Padi Restaurant for non-villa and non-club room guests (breakfast for Club Room guest is served at the Club Lounge); and complimentary unlimited use of 18-hole golf putting course and tennis pavilion for club, suite and villa guests. Rates for this package begin at $279 for resort rooms and $648 for villas and requires a minimum stay of four nights. From the fifth night onwards, Ayana Bliss Rates will apply. For more information on the Thermes Marins Spa, visit www.ayanaresort.com.

Named after a “place of refuge” in Sanskrit, Ayana is perched on limestone cliffs up to 30 meters above the Indian Ocean near Jimbaran Bay on Bali’s southwestern peninsula. The 77-hectare property enjoys majestic views and a secluded location across its 1.3-kilometer coastline, yet is just 15 minutes from Bali’s airport. The 368 guestrooms comprise 78 private pool villas and a 290-room hotel. Resort highlights include the Thermes Marins Thalasso Spa with one of the world’s largest Aquatonic Seawater Therapy Pools and the Spa on the Rocks villas set amidst the Indian Ocean.

There are five purpose-built wedding venues; the avant-garde Champa Garden for grand-scale events; four freshwater swimming pools including a children’s pool; a salt-water, infinity-edged Ocean Beach Pool at the cliff’s base, accessed via an inclinator; 13 dining venues; 18-hole golf putting course; tennis pavilion; jogging/cycling path; fitness center; children’s center; boutiques; comprehensive meeting facilities and business center; and resort-wide Wi-Fi.

The West Paces Hotel Group, based in Atlanta, was founded in 2002 by Horst Schulze along with several former Ritz-Carlton executives. Schulze has helped reshape concepts of luxury service throughout the hospitality and service industries. As chairman of West Paces Hotel Group, he has created the unparalleled Canon service standards introduced at Ayana. For more information, visit www.westpaceshotels.com



Seven Stars Resort in the Turks & Caicos is offering a special tax-relief package for guests who book a minimum four-night stay — a waiver of the 11 percent tax fee from the booking rate, and a $100 resort credit good for Seven Stars’ spa and Seven, the resort’s signature restaurant. The offer applies to bookings made through May 31, 2011, for travel through Oct. 15, 2011.

Named for the seven stars of the Pleiades constellation, the all-suite resort is located on 22 acres of palm tree-lined grounds at the center of one of Grace Bay Beach. For more information, call 866-570-7777 and mention “tax relief” at the time of booking, or visit www.sevenstarsgracebay.com

Breezes Resorts & Spas is offering guests who book by May 31 up to 35 percent off 2011 stays at its five Caribbean resorts. The offer applies to travel from April 16 through Dec. 23 at five Breezes Resorts & Spas in Jamaica, Curaçao and the Bahamas when booked by May 31. For more information, call 877-BREEZES or visit www.breezes.com

Sol Meliá has launched the new “Meet me in Paradise” brochure which includes a unique selection of hotels nestled in impressive locations within Spain and specializing in the celebration of meetings & events. The brochure will be presented during the upcoming workshops that Sol Meliá will organize during April and May in Paris, Manchester, Frankfurt and in Spanish cities. A showcase of selected hotels, all of them with a large capacity for meetings and events will be attending, offering a variety of locations, including, right by the Mediterranean, the Andalusian scenery, the attractive Balearic and Canary Islands and even in ski resorts in Sierra Nevada and The Pyrenees.

The brochure is available both in English and Spanish and contains hotel capacity information for presentations and car launches, customization of hotel areas, outdoor facilities offered, unique meeting spaces and the possibility of holding events exclusively for one client. The digital version is available at www.solmelia.com/Meetmeinparadise.pdf

Thanks to a record-breaking snow year, California’s Mammoth Mountain Ski Area will remain open daily for skiing and snowboarding through July 4. Mammoth has received an incredible 606 inches of snow to date, the most the resort has received in a single season.

With 15 to 25 feet of packed snow, Mammoth has also earned the recognition of having one of the highest recorded base depths of any ski resort in the world, according to skiinfo.com. The snow totals will ensure phenomenal spring skiing conditions that will last well into early summer. For more information, call 800-MAMMOTH or visit www.MammothMountain.com

Guests at Rawnsley Park Station in South Australia’s Flinders Ranges, will have an exhilarating new way of enjoying the magnificent scenery when Outback Ballooning begins operating scenic flights
Starting in April, Outback Ballooning (www.outbackballooning.com.au), one of Australia’s most respected ballooning operators, introduces hot air balloon experiences to guests at Rawnsley Park Station (www.rawnsleypark.com.au) — South Australia’s largest and most stunning mountain range. The rides will be offered for approximately $350 per person for adults and $280 for children ages 6-16, including a light breakfast accompanied by sparkling Australian wine to follow.
Comprised of nearly 30,000 acres of land in the heart of the Flinders Ranges, 250 miles from the capital city of Adelaide and overlooking the historic Wilpena Pound, Rawnsley Park offers visitors the perfect Outback experience with a range of accommodation options to suit all budgets with plenty of Outback activities.

ACCOMMODATIONS
Guests staying at Rawnsley Park have a choice of accommodations in either luxury eco villas, the new two-bedroom Arkapena Homestead, a 3.5 star vacation unit, the caravan resort, bush camping site, or in the bunkhouse:
Luxury Eco Villas – While contemporary in design and décor, the eco villas boast the latest environmental features including rendered straw bale walls for insulation, polished timber floors over suspended concrete slabs, and overhanging eaves and wide verandahs, which provide shade. Other unusual features include retractable fabric ceilings which provide a magical night viewing panel from the bedroom, allowing guests to lie back in bed and gaze up at the stars in the clear southern skies above.
Rawnsley Park’s eco villas have achieved Advanced Ecotourism accreditation which recognizes Australia’s leading and most innovative eco-tourism products. They provide visitors with an opportunity to learn about the environment with an operator who is committed to using resources wisely, contributing to the conservation of the environment and helping local communities.
Arkapena Homestead – This two-bedroom homestead, located in 9,000-hectare Arkapena Station, a neighboring sheep station, is the latest addition to the property. It was acquired by Rawnsley Park Station in May 2009 and opened to guests in April 2010.
Arkapena Homestead dates back to the 1950s. It offers all the ambience of a traditional Australian Outback home, including wide verandahs, thick walls and galvanized roof, combined with a spacious, contemporary interior renovated in the same style as Rawnsley Park Station’s eco villas.
It is a self-contained property with spectacular views of the colorful Chace Range, ideal for a family or couples traveling together. Facilities include a living area, two queen en suite bedrooms, gourmand’s kitchen, dining room and private outdoor shower. Guests also have access to all of Rawnsley Park Station’s facilities and activities.
More adventurous and budget minded guests have additional accommodation options.
Dotted with native pines and gum trees, The Caravan Park offers cabins, powered sites and bush camping, all catered to by a licensed shop, covered camp kitchen and modern amenities block. For the less daring, apartments in the vacation village are ideal for both families and groups – the 25 units range from one to three-bedrooms and are equipped with full kitchens – while up to 48 people can be accommodated in five separate air-conditioned bunk style rooms at The Bunkhouse.

ACTIVITIES
Visitors can enjoy 4WD tours, scenic flights, including the new daily balloon flights from April 2011, mountain bike treks (including a 200kms cycling track), bush walking trails, swimming in the pool and even sheep shearing demonstrations at certain times of the year.
There are also daily guided walks which leave the Station early each morning. These three-hour “High Life Walks” showcase the region’s unique flora, wildlife and geology, taking participants through exposed spinifex, mallee ridges and sheltered woodland, providing stunning views across the Outback landscape.
Other tour options include the daily two-hour “Sunset on the Chace,” a 4WD tour followed by dinner under the stars, and the four-course, silver service “Starlight Dinner” set among gumbarked trees under a canopy of stars.
Developed in conjunction with the Woolshed Restaurant, the dinner showcases in-season produce with dishes like fresh asparagus wrapped in smoked salmon, herbed lamb cutlets seasoned with pepper leaf and fennel served on potato and pumpkin rosti with red wine jus; and layered two chocolate ganache served with pistachio biscotti. This dinner is offered on the second and fourth Saturday of each month, or on selected dates.
Wildlife spotting is another drawcard for the region as gorges have running water most of the year and it is possible to spot a yellow footed rock wallaby, one of the area’s endangered species. The plethora of birdlife ranges from the common ringneck parrot and the noisy galah to the elusive short-tailed grasswren and Australia’s largest bird of prey, the wedge-tailed eagle.
Additional touring can be undertaken in Flinders Ranges National Park, Wilpena Pound, the heritage town of Hawker and the Pichi Richi steam railway.

THE WOOLSHED RESTAURANT
Open seven days a week for lunch and dinner, the Woolshed Restaurant offers al fresco dining overlooking Rawnsley Bluff, with the added attraction of an authentic shearing shed attached and visible from inside the restaurant courtesy of glass doors. The constantly changing menu includes dishes like balsamic onion and feta tart with roast pumpkin, pine nut and roquette salad, marinated kangaroo, and stuffed Tommy Ruff (Australian herring) with lemon caper sauce.

THE OWNERS
Fourth generation Flinders Ranges residents, Tony and Julieanne Smith are passionate about the Flinders Ranges and represent one of the first tourism operators in South Australia to gain official eco-tourism accreditation, as well as being active in the development of the region’s ‘geo-tourism’ sector. The Smiths have also contributed significantly to the Flinders Ranges’ recent declaration as a ‘National Landscape’ by Tourism Australia.
The couple is committed to environmentally responsible and sustainable tourism and has a Heritage Agreement with the South Australian Department of Environment and Heritage in order to protect the diverse vegetation of Rawnsley Bluff. As part of this commitment they have ensured that there is a dedicated eco-tourism officer on site.
The Smiths have always been very aware of the fragile nature of the native vegetation on the eco-villa site where the principal plants are native pine and shiny-leaf hopbush. Both of these are arid zone plants that are very slow growing and Tony and Julieanne took great care to ensure that only the minimum vegetation clearance took place during construction of the eco-villas, since most of these plants are 50-100 years old and still only 1-3 metres high.