Jetsettersblog

Having established a portfolio of outstanding locations in areas of natural beauty in the UK and Ireland, Natural Retreats is delighted to unveil its latest destination on the beautiful island of Lanzarote in the Canary Islands, opening October 2011. As with all Natural Retreats sites, the luxurious accommodation has been designed sensitively in keeping with the natural surroundings, offering guests a truly unique and unforgettable experience.

Offering some of the finest holiday accommodation in the region with spectacular sea views, Natural Retreats Lanzarote is located in the seaside village of Playa Blanca and offers the ultimate experience in luxurious self-catering for families and groups alike. The nine contemporary four-bedroom villas, each with private pool, sleep up to eight people and are equipped to the very highest standards. Whether it’s sightseeing, golf, sailing or pure indulgent relaxation, Natural Retreats Lanzarote makes the perfect base for an exciting and exclusive holiday.

Each residence at Natural Retreats Playa Blanca features a spacious open plan living area leading onto a large shaded terrace overlooking a private, heated outdoor swimming pool. There is a built-in BBQ for al fresco dining and a fully equipped state-of-the-art kitchen with microwave and dishwasher. The stylish interiors encompass a subtle palate of cream, coffee, brown and white and exude a calm, sophisticated ambience. The villas are air conditioned and come with WiFi Broadband, travel cots, highchairs and sterilisers are available on request.

Natural Retreats Lanzarote (www.naturalretreats.com; 0844 384 3166) offer 7 nights from £125 per person in a four-bedroom residence (based on 8 sharing, excluding flights.) Bookings can now be made for October 2011 onwards

Natural Retreats’ unique Concierge service will provide invaluable assistance to guests to make the most of their holiday. Lanzarote has so much to offer, from the surreal lunar landscapes of Timafanya National Park in the south to the rugged mountains and green landscapes of the north. Opportunities for exploration and adventure abound. Natural Retreats Lanzarote is ideally situated for guests wishing to explore Papagayo’s stunning beaches and crystal clear waters which are only 15 minutes drive away. But with such luxurious accommodation and a stunning private pool, you may be tempted to while away a happy hour or two in the privacy of your own private residence.

With its captivating coastline, breathtaking beaches and mountains, it’s no surprise that those looking for sports and thrills are well served. Lanzarote has some excellent big game fishing, sailing and scuba diving, as well as boasting fantastic mountain biking, quad biking and horse riding. For the less ‘active’ visitors there are some excellent golf courses and plenty of walks. There really is something for everyone.

Dining out is also a pleasure. Natural Retreats Lanzarote is well served by a wide choice of excellent local restaurants that specialise in outstanding cuisine.
Guests at Natural Retreats Lanzarote are in for a real treat and can enjoy extraordinary experiences and service without ever losing sight of the fact that it is the location that is the real star of the show. A place that stays in the mind forever. Natural Retreats Lanzarote is no exception.

For further information and reservations please visit www.naturalretreats.com

The 272-page book also details the Waitukubuli National Trail that is scheduled to open later this year. The trail will run for 115 miles from the south to the north of ‘The Nature Island’ and is divided into 14 segments. Some parts of the trail are already complete and work is continuing to get the entire route open, with homestays with local families on some sections, giving trekkers a local flavour. The new guide gives in-depth information on the trail and the natural attractions on-route, including the rivers, gorges, waterfalls, mountain peaks, volcanic fumaroles, forest reserves and national parks.

Alongside being a catalogue of the culture and activities that make up island life, the book has unearthed hidden treasures and local eateries to appeal to the discerning traveller.

The guide is written by Paul Crask who has a long affiliation with Dominica having visited the island religiously since 1992. Born in England, he permanently moved to the island in 2005 and left no stone unturned in his research on the ‘Nature Island’. You can read all about Paul Crask’s adventures in Dominica at www.paulcrask.com/blog

This second edition offers practical information on increasingly popular health and wellness holidays, weddings and yachting parties, as well as extensive information on the island’s rich cultural heritage.

Dominica (pronounced Dom-in-ee-ka) is a spectacular green island of rugged mountains, lush rainforests and rushing rivers in the Eastern Caribbean, lying south of Guadeloupe and north of Martinique.

For more information and to buy the new Bradt guide on Dominica please visit www.bradtguides.com.

For more information about Dominica please call 0800 0121 467 or visit www.discoverdominica.com  and www.youtube.com/discoverdominica

A selection of short video guides about the island can be downloaded for free on www.iTunes.com and you can keep up to date with the latest news on Facebook www.facebook.com/discoverdominica  and Twitter www.twitter.com/nature_island

Accommodation in a 12th century German castle, a mountain top chalet in theSwiss Alps and a waterfront hotel on a Croatian island are all included in Topdeck’s summer 2011 European trips.

Travellers can save up to 20% on selected last minute European summer trips departing in August and September.

Unique accommodation is not often associated with 18-39s touring, however Topdeck’s 2011 program demonstrates that youth touring has changed considerably in recent years.

“Just like most of Generation Y, Topdeck’s passengers appreciate the experience of good quality, authentic accommodation, especially if it is sometimes a bit quirky. Topdeck firmly believes that outstanding accommodation can make the difference between a good holiday and a great one,” said Nicola Ward, Global Marketing Manager, Topdeck.

Overlooking the Rhine Valley town of Bacharach in Germany, the historic 16th century Stahleck Castle is well-equipped for Topdeck’s 21st century guests with Internet access, a bistro and cafe.

In Austria’s Tyrol region, Pension Mountain High is a postcard-perfect chalet, complete with window boxes of cascading petunias in summer and spectacular views across the Wilder Kaiser mountain range.

Topdeck’s base in Tuscany, Camping Girasole in Chianti offers several swimming pools, a fully equipped gymnasium and health spa, laundry, Internet cafe, three restaurants, pizzeria and bar, all surrounded by vineyards and within easy reach of Florence and Sienna.

Topdeck’s EuroHotel trips through the Swiss Alps stay in a traditional, alpine hotel on the slopes of Mount Rigi. Its position among fields of cows wearing traditional Swiss cowbells, with sweeping views of Lake Lucerne provides the quintessential Swiss experience.

On Pag Island in Croatia, guests enjoy the waterfront Hotel Loza, a short distance from Zrce beach, famous for its 24 hour nightclubs on the beach throughout the summer. In Amsterdam, EuroHotel trips stay on a luxurious floating hotel, the Botel on the River Ij. Its central location enables guests to easily explore the city on foot, by tram or bike.

In 2011 Topdeck is offering 92 different European trips across its EuroHotel, EuroClub, Euro Camping and Explorer trip styles, each catering for different accommodation preferences and budgets.

Topdeck is a leading operator of holidays for 18 to 39 year old travellers, throughout Europe, Egypt, Middle East, Australia and New Zealand.

Experience the unique wonders of Kangaroo Island’s wildlife with Kangaroo Island Wilderness Tours and take in an historic first South Australia Event when the Surfing World Tour comes to Vivonne Bay.

Kangaroo Island Pro Surfing Event

In an historic first, South Australia will host some of the world’s top surfers this November after winning the rights to host an event on the surfing World Tour. The inaugural Kangaroo Island Pro will be held at one of Australia’s most picturesque beaches, Vivonne Bay, from November 4 – 9 2011. Former world champion Mark Occhilupo is already confirmed as a starter and he will be joined by up to 150 top male surfers from around the world.

Tourism Minister John Rau said the event would showcase Kangaroo Island and South Australia to the world:

“The Kangaroo Island Pro will provide a fantastic opportunity to promote Kangaroo Island as a wonderful surfing and tourism destination, and it will also bring a new market of tourists to this amazing island. Kangaroo Island is the perfect fit for this event, as it has vast amounts of unspoiled wilderness and wildlife and beautiful beaches that produce the surf required to hold a high ranking event.”

The Kangaroo Island Pro will be highly competitive with professional surfers outside of the top 32 participating in order to secure points to advance their rankings into the top group. Surfing Australia will look at building a festival around the Kangaroo Island Pro, with details to be launched at a later date. Competing with Mark Occhilupo at the event will be South Australia’s Dion Atkinson, who is the top ranked surfer in the State and placed 39th in the world and current South Australian State champion, Teale Vanner, who is from Kangaroo Island.

Kangaroo Island Wilderness Tours

Experience this fantastic event with a 4WD tour from Kangaroo Island Wilderness Tours to take in the special nature and wildlife, whilst staying at the exclusive Seascape Lodge on Emu Bay.

Kangaroo Island Wilderness Tours offer you flexible, personalised touring in luxury 4WD touring vehicles. Our small group tours (maximum six passengers) are designed to bring you closer to our unique wild animals providing a soft adventure experience within the wonderful landscapes of the island.

From Adelaide fly into Kingscote Airport where you will be met by your own personal guide. Our Island is much larger than most people imagine so this popular tour includes two full days touring and a day to spend at the surf event. The tours consist of the ‘Wilderness Wildlife’ and ‘Wilderness Wildscapes’ day tours as well as dinner, bed & breakfast plus delicious home cooked lunches, great SA wines, beers, fresh coffee, entry fees and transfers.

For a detailed itinerary of this tour, please contact anna@sandraleach.co.uk  who will be happy to send this to you. For regular updates about the Kangaroo Island Pro, visit www.kangarooislandpro.com.au

Gamewatchers Safaris has introduced two new Gamewatchers Mobile Camps on exclusive private game reserves in Kenya and has launched a brand new 7 day safari combining the camps at an amazing price of just £869.

The Adventure Camping Safari brings an authentic safari experience in pristine unspoiled areas for clients who are happy to dispense with life’s luxuries and get back to nature with a true wilderness experience using simple mobile camps with spacious two-person tents. The comfortable tents are 10’ square and 6’ high and each has an adjacent private shower / wc cubicle.

Managing Director Jake Grieves-Cook says, “This is for clients who demand a high quality game-viewing experience using off-road vehicles and top class guides, but it is priced at a level to compete with the minibus tours using big mass-market lodges”.

The price of £869 is all-inclusive of:

All game drives in open-sided 4×4 safari vehicles (not tourist mini-vans)
Night game drives (as well as day)
3 nights in Selenkay Conservancy
A full day in Amboseli National Park
Visit to a genuine Maasai village
3 nights in Ol Kinyei Conservancy
A full day in the Maasai Mara National Reserve
Escorted nature walks with Maasai guides
All meals, game drives, park fees, activities and transfers from / to Nairobi included in the price

The mobile camp will operate for 15 Jul – 31 Oct 2011, 20 Dec – 31 Mar & 1 Jul – 31 Oct 2012 with daily departures from Nairobi. In peak season (Jul-Oct) it is ideal for viewing the Great Wildebeest Migration in the Maasai Mara and the camps will bring much-needed extra capacity for the area’s peak tourist season – when most other camps will be long sold out.

Gamewatchers Safaris pioneered the concept of the community-owned wildlife conservancy – leasing Masai land at a generous rate, setting it aside for an abundance of wildlife and adding their Porini eco-camps to generate ongoing income for the communities through employment.

Selenkay Conservancy is a 15000-acre private game reserve within a vast tract of land owned by the Kisonko clan of the Maasai people. The Conservancy is an important dispersal area for wildlife moving in and out of Amboseli and holds a wide diversity of species.

Ol Kinyei Conservancy is an exclusive 15000 acre wildlife area, one of the most beautiful wilderness areas in the Serengeti-Mara eco-system. This is pristine wilderness with open savannah plains, riverine forest, springs, streams and rivers, rolling hills and spectacular views across the Mara.

** See www.porini.com  for more details. **

Booking Enquiries: Gamewatchers Safaris UK – tel 0203 286 4819 or email info@gamewatchers.co.ke

Adventure travel specialist Tourdust.com has launched a new collection of treks, safaris and beach holidays in Kenya. The collection ranges from community trekking amidst the Masai to camping safaris that replace luxury frills with great guides and great value for money. The collection is introduced by Rough Guide to Kenya author Richard Trillo.

Interest in Kenya is back to pre-election levels. Visitor numbers to Kenya were higher than ever in 2010 with the UK accounting for the lion’s share (174,051). According to Tourdust Director, Ben Colclough:

“Now with the troubles in Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia, independent travellers are once again looking further afield for their adventures. With a wealth of safari parks, reasonable prices and one of the world’s greatest treks on Mount Kenya, Kenya stands to grab a growing share of the adventure travel market.”

Safaris are notoriously expensive but according to Tourdust Director Ben Colclough, the safari industry has lost track of its roots:

“Safaris used to be about the wildlife. Nowadays the whole market has polarised, with expensive luxury safaris at one end with gin and tonic on tap and at the other end hideous mass market minibus safaris that offer little more than a trip to a zoo. What people want is to pay a reasonable price, get to see fantastic wildlife in the company of a great guide, stay somewhere comfortable and get a sense for the wilderness.”

This is where Tourdust comes in. Tourdust works with responsible local operators, local guesthouses and lodges and sells holidays at the same price or lower than local prices. With no tour operator mark-ups this can add up to huge cost savings. All this with ABTA membership and supplier failure cover for all bookings.

Highlights of the new Kenya collection include the unique Masai community walking safari that has visitors walking to the gates of the Masai Mara via a 4 day trek on the Loita Plains overnighting in Masai eco camps. There are also regular scheduled ascents of the majestic Mount Kenya alongside great prices for safaris in the ever popular Masai Mara and Rift Valley Lakes. And to balance out all that activity, Tourdust has handpicked a handful of rustic beach lodges on the coast rest up at.

Tourdust’s new collection, including independent tours, alongside full holiday itineraries and tips, guides and articles can be found at http://www.tourdust.com/products/africa/kenya

The Red Pepper House in Lamu, Kenya is offering six nights for the price of four for all bookings made until May 2012!

The Red Pepper House on Lamu Island, Kenya, is a new, exquisite boutique beach hotel offering the utmost in indulgence and relaxation. Located a stones throw from the historical Lamu town, The Red Pepper House provides a combination of real African culture and laid back beach life.

Comprising of only five beautiful and spacious Nyumbas, (the Swahili name for home), The Red Pepper House is perfectly integrated into its natural surroundings and covered by a Makuti thatched roof. Each Nyumba comes complete with a spacious and luxurious bedroom and bathroom area finished in the traditional Swahili manner. Wooden beams adjoin the ceilings of the living room which leads outside to a private beach enclo equipped with an open air African shower and sun loungers. Guests have their very own personal butler who is on hand to bring refreshing cocktails and delicious food to the Nyumba’s at any time of day.

Sally and Alice (www.sallyandalice.com) are offering an 8 night trip from GBP2,274 per person based on 2 sharing includes: 6 nights on fully inclusive basis at Red Pepper House, overnight flights with Kenya Airways to/from Nairobi, internal flights to/from Lamu, and private transfers throughout. Contact home@sallyandalice.com +44 (0)7904 958 194

Going abroad for a holiday together can be one of the most rewarding ways to spend time as a family. However, it is also a notoriously rare occurrence for them to go smoothly. We’ve all experienced the dark side of family holidays – stressed parents, screaming toddlers, and grumpy teenagers. With so many varying requirements and needs to accommodate, it takes something quite exceptional to produce a seamless, unforgettable family-bonding experience where everyone is truly happy.

Luckily for you and your family, Royal Zambezi Lodge does just that. Located on the banks of the Zambezi River in a stunning bush setting, the first sighting of the Lodge will simultaneously enchant the parents, awe the children, and set the mood for the days to come. Being shown to your tented suites will have a similar effect, with the sheer elegance of the decor and luxurious dimensions of the feather-pillowed bed appealing to mum and dad, while the children get a kick out of the simple novelty of sleeping in a tent amongst the sounds of the bush.

Due to the range of activities offered however, it is unlikely any of the family will be spending much time in bed (lazy teenagers excepted). Obviously no safari holiday is complete without a game drive in an open 4×4, but for energetic families who want to take it up a notch, Royal Zambezi offers some exciting alternatives that will keep even the shortest young attention span fully enthralled. A canoe trip down the river offers a unique way to see the Zambezi, and gets you up close to elephant, hippos, a host of birdlife, and will most likely end up in a healthy family boat race or inter-sibling water fight. For a family with older children, a walking safari is another unforgettable family experience, and will doubtless be the topic of dinner-table conversation and facebook statuses for months to come. Led by an expert guide, families will share awe-inspiring experiences that will render even the most mouthy of teenagers lost for words, such as being dwarfed by a herd of elephant, watching a young giraffe get used to its wobbly legs, or delighting in the fascinating knowledge of the guide.

A bush holiday is the ideal time for some father-son bonding, and there is no more manly way to bond than out on a boat hauling in some Tiger Fish. Royal Zambezi is equipped with new, fully-fitted aluminium boats, and can kit you and your boy out with all the rods, tackle and flies that you can handle. The fishing guides are experts in their field, and will do all they can to ensure you bring in the biggest possible Tiger Fish for the maximum amount of campfire bragging. While the boys are out satisfying their primeval hunter-gatherer instincts, the girls can enjoy some down time together and indulge in a treatment at the Bush Spa, making the most of the peace before they are subjected to an evening of slightly embellished fishing stories.

In the evenings the family can gather around in the Sausage bar, miles from the interruptions of work and school and facebook, and share some genuine quality time as the sun sets over the escarpment.
Rates start at $450 per person per night

www.royalzambezilodge.com

The Rigging, a traditional three-storey white-wash stone cottage in Crumplehorn, upper Polperro, is the latest property to join Blue Chip Holidays’ growing portfolio of high-end holiday homes. Set above this charming cliff-ravine Cornish fishing village The Rigging can be booked for a week from just £15 per person per night based on six sharing. www.bluechipholidays.net Press trips for commissioned pieces can also be arranged.

Guests staying in this beguilingly beautiful village can wend their way through the traffic-free streets to the small harbour, walking down paths where barrows of fish were once carted by day, while brandy casks and tobacco bales were smuggled into hideaways by night.

This exceptional property comes right out of the pages of a glossy homes magazine with picture–perfect rooms influenced by a maritime theme and sea-shore pastel colours. The anchor outside the front door, the model yachts within, the stylish drift-wood mirror and quaint harbour-side oil paintings each echo the coastal roots of this charming cottage.

Inside, The Rigging has a large living room with a stylish corner sofa, provincial French-style painted furniture and woodland views. Its large kitchen has beautifully finished with hand-painted cabinetry, granite-finished worktops and the very latest in chic kitchen appliances. It also has an attractive, large kitchen table for six where family meals and celebratory feasts can be enjoyed.

Upstairs, over the two upper floors, are three bedrooms, each with views over woodland. The master en-suite bedroom has a king-size bed, French-styled painted furnishing and its own shower room and WC. The second bedroom has a double bed, a large window seat and forest views. The generous third bedroom, situated in the eaves, has twin beds, a window seat and tasteful furnishing. Both rooms have access to a large bathroom on the second floor, which features an elegant free-standing claw-foot bath.

The Rigging can be booked for a week from just £649, increasing to £1,559 in the peak weeks of July and August. Three nights are available from £469. Bookings can be made online at www.bluechipholidays.net  or by calling 0844 7044987.

Let your senses lead the way to Leicestershire and indulge in the delectable delights that make up the county’s proud food heritage. From the abundance of quality local produce, awarding-winning restaurants, historic markets, food festivals and of course the traditional Melton Mowbray Pork Pies and Stilton cheese, you can look forward to a gastronomic feast to satisfy even the biggest of appetites.

You will experience Leicestershire’s ultimate foodie destinations, including a trip to the UK’s Rural Food Capital, Melton Mowbray. Here you can sample the lip-smacking cuisine as well as learning the history of how Melton was instrumental in providing the country with many of its enduring food traditions.

Famous for supplying the country with some of the most scrumptious food, Melton Mowbray is synonymous with Pork Pies and has to be the first stop on the food tour. Here, you can be amongst the quarter of a million visitors per year which head straight to ‘Ye Olde Pork Pie Shoppe’ to sample handmade, authentic and delicious Pork Pies.

Owned by bakers Dickinson & Morris, it has been located in the town since 1851 and is the oldest Pork Pie bakery in the county. As one of Leicestershire’s most popular exports, the Melton Mowbray Pork Pies were created in the middle ages and became a favourite snack amongst huntsmen in the area.

After the hunting season finished many huntsmen retired back to London, but still had a craving for Melton’s Pork Pies. Soon word spread of these delicious treats and a delivery of the pies were shipped down the great North Road by stagecoach. Today, Melton Mowbray Pork Pies are recognised internationally as the world’s best Pork Pies and have gained Protected Geographic Indication status from the European Union in the same way as Champagne and Parma Ham. It is also a tradition in Leicestershire to eat a Pork Pie on Christmas Day for breakfast!

The feast continues in Melton with a trip to Stapleford Park, the perfect English sporting country house for a spot of afternoon tea. It is a little known fact that Melton actually gave the country one of its most enduring traditions, as Anna Maria Stanhope invented Afternoon Tea whilst staying at Belvoir Castle in Melton Mowbray in the 1840s. Anna, who was staying with the Duke and Duchess of Rutland, became tired of the long wait between lunch and dinner so she ordered the butler at five o’clock to bring her some sandwiches, buns and cakes to be served with tea. Soon she started inviting her friends to the Castle to join her for Afternoon Tea and when she moved down to London she took the custom with her and so the famous tradition was born.

At Stapleford Park you can take part in this favourite pastime with a delicious cream tea. You can tuck into homemade scones, clotted cream and strawberry compote in the elegant surroundings of the drawing room or have it on the beautiful terrace and soak up Leicestershire’s breathtaking countryside.

Arguably, the most famous food to come out of Leicestershire is cheese and no gourmet break is complete without sampling one of the widest selections of cheeses in the country (120 varieties stocked in total!) during a stop at the Melton Cheeseboard. Amongst the selection, is of course the ‘King of English Cheeses’, Stilton. Registered as a product of designated origin, Leicestershire is one of only three counties in which it can be produced. The collection also includes the nation’s favourite, Red Leicester cheese and a variety of local cheeses from Leicestershire and the surrounding areas, guaranteeing you an authentic taste of the county.

As well as local produce, Leicestershire also plays host to an abundance of award-winning restaurants and rural country pubs, with The Red Lion Inn in Stathern being just one of the must-visit places on the county’s foodie map. This 17th Century pub, demonstrates the county’s culinary credentials by serving succulent dishes using fresh and local produce.

Upon your arrival to The Red Lion Inn you will be offered a complimentary drink from the pub drinks list, which includes local beers and liqueurs, then sit back and enjoy their generous pub platter for two which includes seasonal soup, deep-fried whitebait, pub cured Salmon, pub pickles and chutney, pub cured meats, pub terrine and salads.

After indulging in some of the finest foods in the UK it’s only right to sample the local tipple too, and Leicestershire knows how to make a good drink. With the phrase ‘painting the town red’ originating from the county, the Belvoir Brewery has commemorated this claim to fame by creating the Melton Red and other fine beers brewed on site. You can also go behind the scenes and watch the brewers crafting the beers and learn about the history of brewing.

For you chance to experience a real taste of Leicestershire, Leicester Shire Promotions is offering an exclusive gourmet deal. For just £99 per couple you can have overnight accommodation plus breakfast in either the Sysonby Knoll Hotel or Scalford Hall Hotel and choose three out of the five activities above to tuck into.
For more information and to book your Taste of Leicestershire Gourmet Break break visit www.goleicestershire.com or call 0844 888 5181.

Leicestershire Foodie Facts:

The food market is Melton Mowbray was well established by Saxon Times and is the third oldest recorded market in the country.
Blue Stilton is the best selling blue cheese in the UK – outselling all other blue cheeses put together.
Stilton was one of the first British foods to gain legal protection in the form of a Certification Trade Mark.
Melton Mowbray pork pies are protected under EU legislation to prevent anyone selling a pie labelled Melton Mowbray that was made outside the defined area or not using the correct ingredients or recipe.
Belvoir Cordials have been developed in the Vale of Belvoir, the flagship product being elderflower cordial.
About Leicester Shire Promotions:
Leicester Shire Promotions is a private, not-for-profit company formed in July 2003 as a partnership between Leicester City Council and Leicestershire County Council. The company is the Destination Management Organisation (DMO) responsible for promoting Leicester and Leicestershire to visitors, based on a coordinated place marketing strategy that focuses on destination leadership and coordination, attracting and visitors, services for and visitors, and services for the tourism industry. For more information, please visit www.goleicestershire.com or follow us on Twitter @l_p_l