Jetsettersblog

Saturday 8 October to Sunday 6 November (or longer)

Japan will prove it is well on the road to recovery, following this March’s devastating earthquake and tsunami, as it prepares for a star studded international gardening championship outdoing the Royal Horticulture Society’s Chelsea Flower show in budget and visitor numbers.

If the success of last year’s first Gardening World Cup can be repeated then Japan sends out a powerful message to the world that it’s safe to travel and there are still wonderful things to see and do.

Last year’s show saw 100,000 people visiting in the first week and it was so popular that it was extended by a further three months. The event proved how capable the Japanese are at taking ideas from others and making them more successful. The organisers, backed by a budget of several million, have made it clear that they want to rival the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show and are setting out to steal its crown with this year’s event.

The only gardening show of its kind in Japan and the world it takes place in the South East near Nagasaki. It is situated in the palace grounds of Huis Ten Bosch, a 375 acre theme park built as an astonishing replica of a Dutch town complete with windmills, villas, palaces, canals and tulip fields. With its proximity to Nagasaki, the theme is deliberately, ‘gardens for world peace and a prayer for Japanese recovery’. This year it is being held in aid of the victims of the Japanese Tsunami.

With designers picked to represent 12 countries from five continents and the playing field made equal with fixed budgets and pitch sizes; it’s like no other world class gardening competition. The event ensures visitors get to see the best designers from Australia, North America, Europe, Africa and Asia competing for medals.

Fifteen garden designers, including this year’s Chelsea gold medalists Sarah Eberle (UK) David Davidson (South Africa) and Jim Fogarty (Australia) will again compete for gardening glory with their designs for show and court yard gardens. They have two weeks to build their gardens ahead of a televised Oscar nomination style awards ceremony on the 7th October 2011 at which the judges announce the winners. Last year Andy Sturgeon, who had won “Best in Show” at Chelsea, won the top prize and this year he returns as a judge. Sarah Eberle, who won her eighth RHS gold medal at Chelsea this May with her stunning Monaco garden, takes his place as a competitor representing the UK.

2011’s Gardening World cup promises to be even better than last year with gardeners from all five continents taking part and a new courtyard section being added.

For more information visit: www.gardeningworldcup.com

An advice guide aimed at helping disabled people travelling through airports has been produced by Parkat.

The guide covers a wide range of accessibility issues and concerns within airports which currently affect disabled travellers and also users with restricted mobility.

Unfamiliar environments, such as busy airports, can be a daunting experience for anyone who is restricted by a disability. This can make simple tasks, such as stowing luggage and boarding the aircraft extremely problematic.

The guide has been produced by airport parking company Parkat.

The guide includes common worries and frequently asked questions:

What happens at security and customs?
General airport assistance
Advice before you travel
Return journey help
Travelling with autism
Travelling with medication
Travelling with kidney disease
Breathing related mobility restrictions
Visual impairments
Deaf or hearing impaired
Assistance at the car park
Wheelchair advice
Assistance pets
Tips and advice
Matthew Lobas comments:

“We have created this guide to help relieve some of the stress and worry for disabled people using airports. We regularly get emails about wheelchair access and other related questions therefore it made sense to collate all this information and to produce an easily accessible document which contains everything. The aim is to help everyone regardless of their needs to travel comfortably.”

The free guide is available from the Parkat website in PDF and text

Sofitel Luxury Hotels announces the opening of its first address in Guangzhou (formerly Canton, in southern China) with the Sofitel Guangzhou Sunrich, thereby increasing its network to 20 addresses in China.

Ideally located in the heart of Tianhe, Guangzhou’s dynamic financial and business district, the Sofitel Guangzhou Sunrich is less than one kilometer from the emblematic skyscraper CITIC Plaza and a few minutes from the East Railway Station, a veritable hub that connects Guangzhou to Dongguan, Shenzhen and Hong Kong.

“Sofitel Guangzhou Sunrich is going to breathe a little of the unique French culture into Guangzhou. The goal of this address is to become the meeting place for the city’s cultural events and especially through all forms of Art,” declared Robert Gaymer-Jones, CEO Sofitel Worldwide.

The hotel offers 493 rooms and suites, whose decor elegantly blends contemporary Asian design and Parisian chic. All rooms overhang the characteristic skyline of the Tianhe district. Guests are pampered in the softness of the MyBed™ bedding signed Sofitel.

Among the five bars and restaurants, the fine dining-restaurant “Robata Grill & Bar”, which combines a classy steakhouse with modern Japanese Izakaya, features an authentic Robatayaki, a sushi bar with en extensive elegant walk-through wine cellar. “Le Chinois” highlights famous Cantonese gastronomy and the “8 Faubourg” reproduces around an elegant bar the décor typical of a Parisian apartment. The “Mar-Tea-Ni” lounge bar is the inescapable place to savor fine French pastries accompanied by rare teas suggested by a Tea sommelier. Like this, Sofitel creates a link between French culture and Chinese culture, a value dear to the brand.

The Sofitel Guangzhou Sunrich has 17 meeting rooms that can be adapted and personalized as well as a 900 sq.m conference room offering the best of multimedia technology and equipment. The InspiredMeetings Planner becomes the unique contact to design a tailor-made project while creating memorable experiences for the participants; A personalized service for unique, inspired and inspiring meetings.

At So SPA with L’Occitane, the original olfactory signature, the exclusive rituals and the technically advanced care given by highly qualified personnel help create a sense of total well being, for a harmony of body and mind.

The fitness area, So FIT, offers fitness and well-being equipment at the leading edge of technology and design and an indoor pool with a sub-aquatic music broadcaster.

Guangzhou is the capital of southern China and has a rich history and cultural heritage. It also hosts one of the world’s largest commercial trade shows: The Canton Fair. If its gastronomy is famous around the world, Guangzhou is also known for the Pearl River landscapes and the luxurious Bai Yun mountain.

Perthshire, Scotland.

Where else can kids (and their parents) make chandeliers from jam jars, a working steam boat from household rubbish, or an outdoor kiln to fire the pottery they’ve just made? The answer this summer is Perthshire, Scotland, where a partnership between the award winning Comrie Croft eco campsite and bunkhouse and “Re:make” – a new social enterprise – is offering 29 different workshops where kids can “turn the mundane into the insane”.

Re:make specialises in craft and construction workshops using reclaimed, scrounged and found objects while encouraging children and adults to use tools with confidence. Fiona Gilbert, one of the Re:make founders explained “Re:make is about making great stuff from old stuff, about making new friends and learning new skills, about trying different things and knowing that whatever you make or build or create might not turn out as expected… but dive in anyway because it might turn out better!”

Part of the ethos is encouraging kids to learn to use tools such as drills and saws in relative safety, rather than banning them. At the same time, a lot of junk is saved from going to landfill.

The rural venue at Comrie Croft offers plenty of space to try out their new creations. Families can stay onsite in a range of attractive low cost accommodation and camping. Parents can either join in, or take the opportunity to escape for some well earned rest and relaxation.

Workshops run from 13th July most days until 28th August and last for either a half-day or full day. Costs are from £15 per child for a half-day workshop with no cost for accompanying adults.

With Burma having been voted “Top Emerging Destination” in Wanderlust’s Readers’ Travel Awards earlier this year, Imaginative Traveller reports that Brits are heeding Aung San Suu Kyi’s wishes to encourage ethical tourism to the country.

Interest in Burma has continued to rise since the National League for Democracy announced that the full tourism boycott would be lifted. Imaginative Traveller, one of a handful of UK operators currently offering tours to the country, reports a 50% increase in enquiries and bookings for its three grassroots Burma tours since January. This growing demand means Burma has risen to become one of the affordable adventure specialist’s most popular destinations.

Of the eight summer departures across Imaginative Traveller’s three Burma tours between July and the end of September, half are already fully booked.

Speaking of their Burma programme, Imaginative Traveller’s Brand Manager, Hiedi Hutchinson, said: “We have always championed the belief that large-scale package tourism to Burma was inappropriate and that responsible tourism, when carefully managed, has positive benefits for the community. After years of isolation, travellers are rediscovering that many of the country’s cultural traditions and heritage have been so well preserved that a visit here is akin to journeying back in time.

“With a wealth of pagodas and temples as well as its rich ecological diversity, it is little wonder that Burma is often dubbed the ‘Golden Land’. As the most experienced UK operator in this market we therefore look forward to helping UK visitors explore this country and support its people in a responsible manner.”

All of Imaginative Traveller’s holidays to the destination comply fully with the sanctions imposed by the European Union and follow strict guidelines to ensure only small owner-managed hotels and privately operated agents are used. The adventure specialist also ensures customers are fully briefed on the military regime and human rights issues before travel to ensure they act responsibly while visiting the country. Similarly, its tours are led by local guides born and bred in Burma to ensure that income and training benefits the Burmese people directly.

Imaginative Traveller’s Burma programme starts from £850pp land only for the 15-day Best of Burma tour. The tour takes in Rangoon (Yangon), Bago and the Golden Rock at Kyaiktiyo before travelling north and exploring the magnificent archaeological site in Pagan (Bagan). A visit to the former capital of Mandalay and the picturesque Shan State around Inle Lake completes a memorable journey. The price includes B&B accommodation, transport including an internal flight, sightseeing excursions including a day-long bike tour of Pagan and a boat tour of Inle Lake and a local tour leader. Flights from £775, flight-inclusive price from £1625pp. Next departure 21 August.

For more information visit www.imaginative-traveller.com or call Imaginative Traveller on 0845 077 8803

If the forthcoming Hollywood Blockbuster, Cowboys & Aliens, teaches us anything, it’s that the world has just not got enough cowboys. The movie, filmed and set in America’s Wild West and starring Hollywood hard-hitters Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford, sees a posse of cowboys fight a spaceship full of aliens defending Planet Earth. Now with luxury escorted tour operator Milestones Tours, you can pull on your cowboy boots and saddle up as you delve into the world of the Wild West, Cowboys and… Buffaloes!

The nine-day itinerary enables holidaymakers to travel through the heartland of the Wild West and retrace the steps of the likes of Billy the Kid, Butch Cassidy, Sundance Kid and other infamous cowboys and outlaws. Beginning your journey in Salt Lake City, travel straight on into Wyoming and marvel at the stunning Rocky Mountains. Continue along the Oregon Trail and track the historic Snake River to the authentic Old West town of Jackson.

Spend two days at the world’s first national park, Yellowstone National Park. Kids can earn a Junior Ranger Badge at the Visitor Centre before continuing on to discover the parks natural wonders such as the thundering Yellowstone Falls, hot gushing geysers, bubbling mudbaths, hot springs and simmering thermal springs.

A trip to the rustic Wild West town of Cody, named after Buffalo Bill Cody, the famous character of the Wild West who gained his nickname from the huge number of buffalo he killed, will teach you all about the ways of the Old West. Visit a working old west cowboy ranch at the foothills of the Bighorn Mountains. Learn about life on a working ranch and rub elbows with true Wranglers. Saddle up for a horseback ride around the ranch lands and see how far you can cast a fishing line down by the Piney Creek River or practice throwing a lasso. In the evening kick up your heels at a typical Ranch-style dinner and then sit around the campfire with marshmallows and exchange campfire stories. Visit the Crazy Horse memorial at Thunder Mountain before travelling on to Keystone, an original gold mining boomtown locally referred to as ‘City of Gold’. Presidents of past look down at you from Mount Rushmore as you continue your adventure and board an authentic 1880 steam train, travelling through the amazing scenery in the Black Hills.

Finally follow in the footsteps of Pioneer families who pulled their carts over unforgiving terrain the long distance to Oregon, embedding deep wagon wheel ruts, now 150 years old, into the soil and hear stories of the native Indians who tried to stop them.

The 9-day itinerary Wild West, Cowboys & Buffaloes costs from £1,625 per person and includes private car door to door UK transfers, return scheduled flights, accommodation based on two people sharing, the services of an expert, knowledgeable tour guide and a total of 11 meals including a number of highlighted lunches and dinners, such as a “Be my Guest” Ranch style dinner.

For more information and to book, call your personal travel consultant at Milestones Tours on 0845 678 8585 or visit www.milestonestours.com

Space age Brasilia comes to Asturias

Brand spanking new, inaugurated in March 2011, the futuristic Oscar Niemeyer Cultural Centre stands impressively on the banks of the Ría de Avilés just over the way from the Old Town. Designed and donated to Avilés by the great, centenarian, Brazilian architect, Oscar Niemeyer as “a space open to the whole world, a place for education, culture and peace” the project forms the cornerstone of the town’s rejuvenation project – and what a cornerstone! Exhibitions, musical events, cinema, theatre and dance fill its calendar, which has already attracted world class artists such as Woody Allen, but one extra special treat is its unique restaurant, housed in “the tower” overlooking the river and the city – only seating fourteen you can try innovative dishes cooked by Spain’s top chefs. Put your name down now – there will be a long waiting list, but all the more reason for visiting Avilés!

Ancient Asturias fights back!
There’s a whole lot more to Aviles than the Niemeyer however – within this medieval town of seafaring and country traditions, lies a beautiful, well preserved historic centre with fine examples of civil and religious architecture – graceful, atmospheric squares, impressive, ancient arcaded streets, dignified buildings, interesting churches and lovely parks. Always a favourite with the Casas team, it has an agreeable provincial air, not a monument kept neat and tidy for tourists, but a lively, active place where people actually live and go about their business at its core.

Soak in the atmosphere
Have a morning coffee at one of the terrazas in the main square, the Plaza de España with its imposing XV11 Ayuntamiento (Town Hall) and noble Palacio Ferrera and you might be forgiven that you have gone back to a Renaissance or Baroque age. The six, delightfully named streets – La Fruta, La Ferrera, Galiana, Calle Cuba.. leading off from here will awaken your senses with architecture and monuments of all ages. Do not miss Los Caños de San Francisco, a C17th century fountain adorned with six human heads, the C13th century Church of Sabugo, the Baroque Palacio de Camposagrado, the “Indiano” residences of Casa Arias de la Noceda and Casa Eladio Muñiz and the unique, modernist, rectangular square of Los Hermanos Orbón with its typical buildings with glazed galleries where the weekly Monday market is still held.

Out for the evening
And come the evening, join the locals at one of the many “chigres” or “sidrerias” (cider bars) in the ancient, balconied street of Calle Galiana and La Plaza de Carbayedo, the heart of the old sea-going neighbourhood of Sabugo. Finish off the day at one of the many restaurants here serving delicious,traditional food of the region and you will feel at one with the town.

Out for the day
No visit to Asturias would be complete without a visit to the fantastic beaches. Jump in the car or catch a train or bus and you’re down to the coast in no time. Playa de Bayas is 15 minutes away followed closely by the justly famous, cliff backed, Playa de Aguilar. If it’s quaint seaside towns you’re looking for pop along to Cudillero and for a lively evening out with a true Asturian flavour try San Juan de la Arena.

Casas Cantabricas have a wide selection of self catering properties and charming small hotels in the area, including the Hotel Don Pedro right in the Old Town.

Rent a villa or cottage near Michelin starred restaurants worldwide

For true gourmet travellers there’s no better way to experience a world-class foodie break than to rent a villa, cottage or apartment near a Michelin-starred restaurant so whether you choose to eat in, or out, you can do so in style. HomeAway.co.uk, the UK’s number one holiday rentals website, offers a great choice of properties available to rent in beautiful locations near some of the best restaurants in the world. From the picturesque, medieval city of Bruges and Italy’s intriguing Bergamo, to upmarket, modern Düsseldorf, all of which host 2* and 3* Michelin restaurants, there’s a holiday home rental to match every culinary taste.

The best Michelin-starred restaurants are found not only in cities, but also in charming, unspoiled villages in the countryside, providing the perfect back-drop for a unique and authentic travel experience. Renting a holiday home is a great way to get beneath the skin of a place and often works out cheaper than a similar standard hotel, so you’ll have more cash for fine dining and romantic candle lit meals. Featuring the very best in local delicacies and culinary techniques, the restaurants below, including De Karmeliet in Bruges and Michel Bras in Laguiole, both awarded 3* Michelin, are certainly not to be missed.

So indulge yourself in a first class food and travel experience in one of the holiday rentals below or browse www.HomeAway.co.uk for more charming properties worldwide.

Prices quoted are per property and correct at the time of going to press.

BELGIUM

Restaurant: De Karmeliet in Bruges (3* Michelin)

17th century house, a few steps from De Karmeliet, in Bruges

2 Bedrooms, Sleeps 6. From £609 per week

Officially licensed as a 4* holiday house by the Flemish tourist board, this is a charming two storey house with unique, selective furniture and a small roof terrace, located a three minute walk from the market square. The property features a beautiful iron staircase leading up to the master bedroom under the oak saddle roof with a large double bed. For real gourmets, the famous three star Michelin restaurant ‘De Karmeliet’ is just at the end of the street.

www.HomeAway.co.uk/p434435

FRANCE

Restaurant: Michel Bras in Laguiole (3* Michelin)

Ancient stone cottage with pool in Lot Valley, close to Laguiole

1 Bedroom, Sleeps 2. From £448 per week

This is a charming 250-year old stone cottage featuring hand-plastered walls, wood beams, stone fireplace with log stove, wood floors and a terrace with wonderful mountain views and the sound of the stream and Lot River below. The new kitchen features mod cons in old-world style with painted oak cabinets, vintage hob/stove, stone countertops and antique dining table. The living area features an attractive slip-covered sofa, antique rocking chair, fireplace with vintage log stove, TV with standard British TV, DVD and CD player. The small town of Laguiole is only a 40 minute ride away.

www.HomeAway.co.uk/p829644

ITALY

Restaurant: Da Vittorio in Bergamo (3* Michelin)

Eco-friendly villa in Bergamo, nestling amongst the northern lakes

4 Bedrooms, Sleeps 8. From £1,433 per week

This is an eco-friendly villa situated in the hillside of Bergamo, a medieval walled town, in one of Italy’s best kept secret towns amongst the northern lakes. The refurbished property has been adapted with sustainable local materials, in keeping with the surrounding picturesque woodland, winding roads and eye-catching views of open countryside. Each bedroom has an en-suite bathroom with shower, bath and balcony. There is a big indoor dining area with open fireplace, a state of the art country-kitchen, patio with dining area and a terrace with hot-tub and sun-lounges.

www.HomeAway.co.uk/p403549

GERMANY

Restaurant: Im Schiffchen in Düsseldorf (2* Michelin)

Art nouveau apartment near Düsseldorf

3 Bedrooms, Sleeps 5. £582 per week

Only 20 minutes from the Düsseldorf Königsallee, this is a beautiful holiday apartment that was modernised and refurnished in 2009. The apartment is on the second floor of a nice Wilhelminian style house with high, well-lit rooms. Completely equipped with parquet and featuring nice antiques and art nouveau elements, the property is located 800m from the Neuss centre and a 15 minute drive from the centre of Düsseldorf.

www.HomeAway.co.uk/p768264

UNITED KINGDOM

Restaurant: Nathan Outlaw in Rock, Cornwall (2* Michelin)

Prestigious holiday cottage in Rock, North Cornwall

3 Bedrooms, Sleeps 6. From £500 per week

Seamist is a secluded bungalow situated down a private road within walking distance of the beach. Beautiful enclosed garden – private and secure for children of all ages – with teak garden furniture and big gas BBQ make al-fresco dining a pleasure. Ranked 4 star by the English Tourist Board, Seamist is furnished and equipped to very high standard throughout with all linen and towels provided. Oil fired central heating and an open wood-burning fire give the property a really comfortable feel.

www.HomeAway.co.uk/p825807

Oneoffplaces.co.uk, the website for unique and different holiday rentals, is delighted to announce the launch onto the UK market of (in our opinion) one of the most stunning holiday propositions available. Nestled on a private island, The Lookout is a former wartime lookout post nestled on a hilltop above the Davaar Island lighthouse. One of three rental properties on Davaar (to ensure complete privacy, book all three and have exclusive use of the entire island), the Lookout is superbly positioned, and enjoys long-distance sea views up Kilbrannan Sound and across to Arran and Ailsa Craig.

The Lookout is perfectly equipped for two, and has a private roof terrace (with telescope) and grounds of 160 acres for you to explore. If the weather is not in your favour and island isolation becomes too much, then nearby Campbeltown is home to two whisky distilleries and the country’s oldest working cinema, an Art Deco treasure – affectionately referred to as The Wee Picture House.

Davaar Island forms part of Kildalloig Estate which is an organic working farm, providing acres of unspoilt and remote rugged countryside with stretches of secluded beaches and stunning sea views. The island can only be reached on foot at low tide when the causeway, known locally as “the Dhorlin” is uncovered for 4-6 hours twice daily at low tide.

Olly Symonds, co-founder and Director of oneoffplaces.co.uk, said of this new addition to the portfolio; “The Lookout is a rare find, and perfectly illustrates what we strive for at One Off Places – completely individual properties, all of which have been vetted to ensure they offer the discerning traveller something totally different”.

Prices for staying in the Lookout start at £390 (for one week). If you need more space, but still like the idea of a private island, Eilean Shona sleeps 16 and is also on a privately owned 2000 acre island set at the entrance of Loch Moidart, just off Ardnamurchan peninsula. http://www.oneoffplaces.co.uk/Europe/Scotland/Highlands/Eilean-Shona.aspx

For more information on these and the other unique properties in the collection, including a merchants house in Morocco, a colonial villa in Sri Lanka; a glasshouse in New Zealand; a shepherds cottage in Spain; a windmill in the Azores and a castle in Austria; visit www.oneoffplaces.co.uk  or for specific details on The Lookout visit http://www.oneoffplaces.co.uk/Europe/Scotland/Islands/The-Lookout.aspx

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Last minute holiday seekers can grab a bargain with Pierre & Vacances’ extended summer sale. The self-catering accommodation specialist is offering knock down prices on selected properties across France and Spain with prices starting at £377 for week long holidays. The sale lasts until July 21 for holidays until the end of October including the school summer holidays.

Pierre & Vacances properties and Resorts included in the sale are in Normandy, Brittany, Vendée, south of France, the Alps and on Spain’s Mediterranean coastline. All the family friendly Resorts have age specific kids clubs for three to 18 year olds with activities ranging from sports tournaments to circus skills lessons.

Below are outlined a number of examples of availability in the sale. More details can be seen at www.pv-holidays.com/gb-en/resorts-summer-offers-august_os

Pierre & Vacances Resort Cap Esterel- south of France

A studio apartment sleeping up to four people is reduced by 25 per cent to £931 from 23-30 July- that’s £26 per person per night.

The 210-hectare resort overlooks the Mediterranean and is perched on a red rock hillside. The resort is surrounded by a purpose-built golf course and gardens and is just 30 minutes away from the white sandy beaches of Cannes. Onsite facilities include three large swimming pools with wave machines, two children’s pools, a small farm, tennis courts and bicycle hire.

http://bit.ly/pyA4b4

Pierre & Vacances Resort Port Bourgenay- Vendée

A studio apartment sleeping up to five people is reduced by 17 per cent to £1,078 from 13-20 August- that’s £30 per person per night.

Nestled between the beach and pine forests and set around a large lake, Pierre & Vacances Resort Port Bourgenay covers 85 hectares. Within the Resort are two 18 hole golf courses, three swimming pools, six tennis courts and kids clubs. There is also a beach nearby which is accessible on foot or by miniature train.

http://bit.ly/qK8E19

Pierre & Vacances Residence La Manga Cartagena- Spain

A two bedroom apartment sleeping up to six people is reduced by 25 per cent to £604 from 23-30 July- that’s £14 per person per night.

The brand new Residence La Manga on Spain’s Costa Cálida is an ideal destination for watersports and golf. The apartments are located on the beach in an area renown for its sunny climate with 315 sun days a year. All apartments are decorated to luxury standards with a balcony or terrace, air conditioning, a fully equipped kitchen and television with international channels.

http://bit.ly/qZ3p93