Jetsettersblog

SANTEE, Calif. — Play 36 holes of golf at Carlton Oaks, plus enjoy breakfast, dinner, a night’s lodging and free range balls.

One of the premier golf courses in San Diego, Carlton Oaks is the only public Dye Design Golf Course in the area.

The course offers meandering creeks, more than 400 matured trees and majestic lakes. Every hole has different character which makes it not just challenging but also gives you a memorable experience and enjoyable moments for players of all levels.

Carlton Oaks is a perfect destination for golf vacations.

Guests can stay in the 66-room lodge while they play and enjoy golf in sunny San Diego.

Packages starting at $187.

http://www.carltonoaksgolf.com/

KEY WEST, Florida Keys — Sea monsters and mermaids, creatures of the deep and escapees from Davy Jones’ locker are to surface in Key West Friday, Oct. 21, through Sunday, Oct. 30, during the island city’s annual Fantasy Fest celebration. Born more than 30 years ago, the festival is internationally recognized for its uninhibited flair and lighthearted spirit.

Themed “Aquatic Afrolic” this year, Fantasy Fest features 10 days of masquerade balls, costume contests, parties and ocean-inspired escapades climaxing in a glittering grand parade set for Saturday, Oct. 29.

Event organizers encourage 2011 participants to dive into designing floats and costumes around the festival theme. They might represent real or imagined underwater denizens, flashy fishes, sinister seafarers or even seductive citizens of Atlantis.

The aquatic action is to begin with a Royal Coronation Ball Friday, Oct. 21, to crown the festival King and Queen. In addition, Key West’s Caribbean roots are to be celebrated with Friday and Saturday’s Goombay street party in historic Bahama Village.

Subsequent festival highlights include Tuesday’s “Underseas Odyssey” Headdress Ball, featuring prizes for the best masks, helmets and other headgear. Wednesday brings the offbeat Pet Masquerade and Parade, where furred, feathered and even finned friends showcase their animal magnetism while competing for costume prizes.

Elaborately costumed competitors present high-energy performances on a beachfront stage Thursday, Oct. 27, during Pretenders in Paradise, Fantasy Fest’s most elaborate costume competition.

Key West’s renowned Duval Street becomes the stage Friday as venders of costumes, arts and crafts, food and libations star in the mile-long Fantasy Fest Street Fair. In addition, the Masquerade March draws schools of “fishy” frolickers in masks and costumes for an exuberant walking parade.

The festival schedule also includes a pirate bash, (Sea) Monsters’ Ball, soiree for sea nymphs and sailors, burlesque extravaganza, themed costume competitions, tea dances and parties worthy of Poseidon himself.

The aquatic frolic is to make its biggest splash Saturday, Oct. 29, during the Captain Morgan Fantasy Fest Parade through Key West’s historic downtown. Tens of thousands of spectators converge to cheer its marching groups in feathered and sequined robes, Caribbean bands, costumed characters and lavishly decorated motorized floats.

Event information: www.fantasyfest.net

Key West visitor information:

www.fla-keys.com/keywest

or 1-800-LAST-KEY

www.facebook.com/floridakeysandkeywest 

 www.twitter.com/thefloridakeys

youtube.com/FloridaKeysTV

The North:

MATANGI PRIVATE ISLAND RESORT ANNOUNCES EARLY BIRD SPECIAL

When guests book a minimum seven-night stay at Matangi Private Island Resort, they pay for only five nights and obtain a free upgrade to a beachfront bure at an oceanview bure price. The offer is valid on the beachfront bure category only and is valid for travel from January 2, 2012 through March 31, 2012 and must b paid in full by December 31, 2011. Honeymooners booking the special will also receive a bottle of sparkling wine upon arrival and breakfast in bed.

Booking Code for the special is MATEBS.

Information: www.matangisland.com

The folk and roots concert will be held on September 17th and 18th.

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA, — The Gold Coast Acoustic Music Festival will attract acts from across Australia and overseas to the Queensland resort in mid-September.

Organised by Coast Acoustics, the two-day concert offers something for everyone, from upbeat bluegrass and Cajun bands to more laidback folk and roots performers.

The event will take place on Saturday September 17th and Sunday September 18th at the Broadwater Parklands, a state-of-the-art recreational precinct that offers impressive views of Surfers Paradise.

Among the artists on the bill at the free music festival is Angharad Drake, a singer-songwriter who began penning her own pieces at the age of 14. Over the past four years she has made a name for herself by playing at venues across the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane.

Drake is due to take the stage at 11:00 local time on the Sunday.

Other highlights include the Round Mountain Girls, who are scheduled to play at 16:00 on Saturday and 15:00 on Sunday.

According to Coast Acoustics, the band’s music is “furious, fast and melodic in equal measure”, and has the “uncanny ability to positively charge your disposition”.

As well as performances, the festival will feature several free workshops and jam sessions.

For further details on the festival, head to http://www.coastacoustics.com.au/.

The Malaysia International Gourmet Festival
will see restaurants in the country serving up fine cuisine over the course of October 2011.

PAHANG, MALAYSIA, — Gourmands will be able to enjoy a feast of top-class cuisine at the Malaysia International Gourmet Festival (MIGF), which begins on October 1st 2011.

The 11th annual event will be taking place at some of the leading restaurants across the country and will see Malaysia’s top resident chefs preparing stunning dishes to introduce global audiences to the fine foods available in the nation.

Eateries in locations such as Kuala Lumpur, Ampang and Subang Jaya will be involved, with last year’s menu including Cantonese, Japanese, European and Lebanese cuisine, as well as traditional Malay foods.

MIGF is part of Tourism Malaysia’s Fabulous Food 1 Malaysia initiative, which aims to promote the country as a dining destination.

Dato’ Steve Day, the festival’s organising chairman, said: “Fine dining here is not only about serving the best cuisines and having top-notch service standards, it’s about having fun too.”

Visitors to Malaysia at any time of year can expect to sample delicious local delicacies such as the popular chicken rice, the flat bread dish roti canai and skewered meat-based satay recipes.

Lovers of fine food can browse a large selection of Malaysia hotels at AsiaRooms.com ahead of the event, including the First World Hotel.

More information about the event can be found at http://www.migf.com/

The Quiksilver Thailand Surf Competition 2011 is taking place in Phuket next month and will be a larger-scale event this year.

PHUKET, THAILAND — The Quiksilver Thailand Surf Competition 2011 will be returning to Phuket in September and will be hosted at a new venue.

Traditionally held at Kata Beach, the competition is relocating to Patong and Kalim Beaches between September 21st and 24th due to the growing scale of the event.

In 2011, the competition is becoming part of the ASEAN Surfing Championship for the first time, meaning it will be one of six ranked contests alongside events taking place in Taiwan, Korea, Indonesia and Malaysia and elsewhere in Thailand.

Hundreds of surfers from around the world will be taking part in the tournament, which will form part of a surfing festival during the three days.

The attractions will include a fashion show and a free rock concert, as well as other activities.

Sporting goods manufacturer Quiksilver Thailand is the key sponsor of the event, which is organised in conjunction with Surfing Thailand, the local governing body for surfing in the area.

Previous editions have been designed to provide Thai surfers with experience of competing at an international level, using the rules and regulations of International Surfing Association-sanctioned contests.

Surfing enthusiasts can visit AsiaRooms.com to find a wide selection of Phuket hotels, such as the Patong Merlin Hotel.

The cultural celebration will take place in Adelaide from September 2nd to 17th.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – Adelaide’s annual OzAsia Festival is set to return at the start of next month.

The event, which is designed to celebrate Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese culture, is scheduled to run in the South Australian capital from Friday September 2nd to Saturday September 17th.

On the bill at this year’s festival are screenings of Machete Maidens Unleashed and Man From Hong Kong, both of which will be shown at the Mercury Cinema on the opening day.

Tickets for each of these movies are priced at AU$15 for adults and AU$12 for concessions.

Among the events that will run throughout OzAsia 2011 is Expressions in Clay: 125 Years of Japanese Ceramics, featuring pieces such as Hamada Shoji’s Vase.

The exhibition will be housed at the Art Gallery of South Australia, which opens daily from 10:00 to 17:00 local time.

During OzAsia, Adelaide will host the Japanese Film Festival, with a programme that includes movies such as The Last Ronin, Abacus and Sword, and A Lone Scalpel. The Mercury Cinema has been chosen as the venue for all of these screenings.

Admission for adults and concessions costs AU$15 and AU$12 respectively.

LateRooms.com.au recommends a wide variety of last minute accommodation in Adelaide that may appeal to cinema buffs.

More information on the event can be found at http://www.ozasiafestival.com.au

Stars such as Linkin Park, Shakira and Rick Astley will be providing entertainment at the 2011 Formula 1 Singtel Singapore Grand Prix next month.

SINGAPORE — The organisers of the 2011 Formula 1 Singtel Singapore Grand Prix have confirmed that an all-star line-up of entertainers and musicians will be performing during the high-profile race event.

Taking place around the sporting action from September 23rd to 25th, a number of special zones and stages will be set up to play host to various household names.

Linkin Park, Shakira, Shaggy, Boy George and Rick Astley will be among the international music acts who will be in attendance, alongside a number of local performers.

Meanwhile, variety will be provided by the likes of Bollywood Express, satirical musical revue Forbidden Broadway and the African acrobatics and stunt performers of Frititi.

This is in addition to the excitement of the grand prix itself, which will see the likes of Sebastian Vettel, Mark Webber, Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button competing for precious points in this year’s F1 championship.

Tickets for the event can be purchased for as little as S$38 (GBP19.25), with the most comprehensive packages priced at S$1,288.

Go to http://www.singaporegp.sg/media/entertainment_2011.php  for full details of the entertainment line-up for the racing event.

Possible on Three 2012 Austin-Lehman Adventures

Spanning Argentina and Chile

New Adventure Vacations Visit Wine Regions, Highest Mountains,

Driest Deserts and Two Faces of Patagonia

Billings, MT, Aug. 24, 2011 – Award-winning tour operator Austin-Lehman Adventures (ALA – http://www.austinlehman.com/), the active travel company setting adventure vacations standards in The Americas, Europe, Africa and beyond, announces three new itineraries for 2012 embracing the diversity, culture, cuisine and natural wonders of both sides of the Andes in Argentina, Chile and south to Patagonia.

Wine aficionados will appreciate Argentina & Chile – Wine Country, a 9-day multi-sport (trekking, horseback riding, cycling) program at $5,098 per person, double, that begins in Mendoza and ends in Santiago. The 2012 tour dates are Feb. 13-21, Mar. 5-13 and Dec.24-Jan. 1. See: www.austinlehman.com/winecountry

This itinerary encompasses the Uco Valley of Argentina and Mendoza´s wine regions (Malbecs and Torrontés) in a dry desert at the foothills of the Andes as well as Chile’s vines (Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Carmenere) that grow in the Colchagua Valley, a lusher colonial-flavored landscape near the Pacific. The scenic drive across the Andes takes guests along the base of Mt. Aconcagua (22,841 foot elevation), the highest peak of the Americas and anywhere outside of the Himalayas.

Dan Austin, ALA’s founder and owner said that the enjoyment of these trips is enhanced by “engaging guests on bike, horseback and on foot in the living cultural experiences available in these two extraordinary countries.”

“We completely avoid the “factory” winery tour,” says Austin. “At one winery we will blend our own wine; at another there’s a superb culinary experience.” One stop is for a five-course lunch planned around Argentina wines at Chef Lucas Bustos’ restaurant at Rica Malen Winery. Another is an overnight stop at a Colchagua Valley (Chile) vineyard.

“Our choices for lodging are boutique hotels at the vineyards, haciendas and estancias (authentic working cattle ranches) that become true highlights of the trip,” he says.

Two other new trips for 2012 that span both Argentina and Chile:

Argentina & Chile – Patagonia is a 10-day, moderately paced mountaineering adventure with hiking trips and horseback tours priced at $5,498 per person, double, that begins and ends in El Calafate (South Patagonia) for transfers to Buenos Aires and covers much of the territory of Bruce Chatwin’s In Patagonia. The 2011-2012 tour dates are Dec. 19-28, Feb. 20-29, Mar. 12-21 and Dec. 31-Jan. 9. See: www.austinlehman.com/2012patagonia

Highlights include (in Argentina) trekking to the best views of the Southern Face of Cerro Torre, its lake and hanging glaciers, and the Egger and Standhard spires plus views of the Fitz Roy massif, Mt. Saint Exupery, and Poincenot peaks. There’s also a glaciologist-led ice hike over the Perito Moreno Glacier to observe its surreal formations of ice peaks and blue crevasses.

Crossing into Chile participants take in Torres del Paine National Park including Lago Grey Beach for iceberg viewing, Grey Glacier (a 3.75-mile-wide wall of ice), and Lago Pehoe where Andean Condors are regularly seen soaring above.

A third new tour is Argentina & Chile – Salta to Atacama a 10-day cycling, horseback and hiking adventure priced at $5,298 per person, double, that begins in the northwest Argentine city of Salta and ends at the Atacama town of Calama with air transfers to Santiago, Chile. The 2012 departures are offered year-round.

See: http://www.austinlehman.com/chile-argentina—salta-to-atacama-trips-104.php

Highlights include cycling Los Cardones National Park, wine tasting at local bodegas, museum visits, the UNESCO World Heritage site of Humahuaca Canyon and three full days exploring Chile’s Atacama, the driest desert in the world.

About Austin-Lehman Adventures

Austin-Lehman Adventures, with a 37-year legacy, provides adventure vacations on five continents, has built an international reputation for small group active travel to destinations in North, Central and South America, Europe, the Pacific Rim and Africa. The company specializes in adult and family multi-sport, hiking, biking vacations that emphasize history, culture and nature’s charms. Trips are limited to 12 guests (18 on family departures) and feature excellent regional dining, distinctive accommodations and all-inclusive rates and services. In addition to scheduled group departures, ALA offers customized trip planning. ALA offers each traveler a money-back satisfaction guarantee.

For a comprehensive 2011 catalog and to get on the list for the 2012 edition (available in the fall) call toll-free 1.800.575.1540, or e-mail info@austinlehman.com  To review current trips, schedules and itineraries log onto: http://www.austinlehman.com

The fabulous five-star Princesa Yaiza Suite Hotel Resort on the beaches of Playa Blanca in Lanzarote is delighted to announce that they have now introduced a trio of new facials from the prestigious French brand ‘Carita Paris’ to their already impressive spa menu as well as incorporating brand new LPG, Pilates and Power-plate equipment to the spa and sports centre.

Carita Paris

Carita Paris is known the world-over as the anti-ageing specialist, utilising cutting-edge, avant-garde technology and the refinement, simplicity and sophistication of its products. The Princesa Yaiza Thalasso Spa is now offering guests the opportunity to benefit from these incredible products with three main treatments designed to improve firmness, elasticity and skin tone.

Mother of Pearl

A beautiful, rejuvenating treatment that is suitable for all skin types, in which sunflower seeds, pearl and soy protein remove all traces of fatigue, eliminate dead cells and stimulate cell regeneration. Guests will see the immediate effects of vitality and luminosity.

(60 minutes; 95€)

Firming Lift

A powerful firming and smoothing action from Princesa Yaiza’s revolutionary new spa equipment combined with unique massaging techniques achieves firm, yet smooth, soft and radiant skin.

(105 minutes; 140€)

Perfect Gold

The perfect rejuvenating and anti-aging treatment that visibly reduces wrinkles and lines. Combining advanced technology, beautiful Carita products and the expert hands of the Yaiza Spa specialists; after just 1 hour 45 minutes skin will appear distinctly firmer, more toned with wrinkles noticeably reduced.

(105 minutes; 150€)

LPG (Lipomassage)

Guests can also take advantage of the exclusive new LPG machine now available at the Thalasso Spa and experience Lipomassage, the first 100% natural, non-invasive rejuvenating technique that has been scientifically proven to permanently eliminate stubborn fat and re-invigorate the skin.

(60€ per session)

Luxopuncture

One of the newest treatments to be introduced to the Yaiza Spa is the infrared acupuncture technique of ‘Luxopuncture’, a branch of Chinese medicine that stimulates the same reflex points as acupuncture without the use of any needles or lasers.

It is a totally natural treatment with no unpleasant side effects or pain during the treatment. Luxopuncture is used to combat stress, migraines, insomnia, and obesity and can be used to as a technique to help quit smoking.

Luxopuncture also rebalances the production of serotonin, which regulates the appetite and helps reduce compulsive eating, picking at food and longing for sweets! The treatment is also used to reduce anxiety and reactivates the digestive system to reduce liquid retention.

Princesa Yaiza Sports Centre

The stylish and modern sports centre at the Princesa Yaiza has also seen a recent enhancement to its sporting facilities and equipment including the introduction of a Pilates Reformer machine, a High Chair Pilates machine, a vibrating Power Plate platform, a TRX Suspension Trainer machine and a Pilates Cadillac.

Sovereign Luxury Travel (0844 415 1936; www.sovereign.com) is a 5% Early-Booking Discount and an Online Booking Discount – 3 nights from £519 per person on a bed and breakfast basis, departing 6th October 2011. Price includes flights from London Gatwick and private transfers.

Saving up to £81 per couple
www.princesayaiza.com