Jetsettersblog

Readers of Cond é Nast Traveler have honored five Red Carnation Hotel Collection properties as the ”Best in the World” in Condé Nast Traveler’s prestigious 2011 Readers’ Choice Awards. The Milestone Hotel , 41 , Egerton House Hotel, and The Rubens at the Palace all earned spots among the Top 40 Hotels in the British Isles. Among the Top 20 Hotels in Africa, The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa in South Africa was ranked 4th with scores in the high 90s for rooms and service and a perfect 100 for activities.

The Reader’s Choice awards reflect the combined opinions of 28,876 Condé Nast Traveler readers rating the cities, islands, and hotels they visited in the past year, and the airlines and cruise ships they traveled with. Because of the range and depth of the survey and responses, the Readers’ Choice Awards are a unique and trusted source of travel advice respected around the world.

The Featured Red Carnation Hotels
Situated in the heart of Kensington, the quiet and understated elegance of The Milestone is celebrated for its style, comfort, and exalted levels of personal service. Earning an impressive 97.6 for service, this five-star hotel opposite Kensington Palace and Gardens has 56 individually designed rooms and suites, and six two-bedroom apartments, lavishly decorated with the finest fabrics and furnishings. Boasting 24-hour butler service, restaurants’ offerings ranging from traditional afternoon tea to full course dinners, this exquisite hotel is a short stroll to the Royal Albert Hall, and in easy reach of Knightsbridge and the West End. The Milestone also earned a place on Condé Nast’s 2011 Gold List.

An intimately elegant townhouse, The Egerton House Hotel in Knightsbridge is a shopper’s delight with Harrods and Harvey Nichols a short stroll away, and the West End theatres ten minutes from the hotel. This luxury five-star hotel boasts 28 individually designed rooms and suites, breakfast dining room, and a 24-hour menu to enjoy in room, lounge or bar. Renowned for its impeccable levels of service, charm and attention to detail, it is the perfect place to stay while enjoying the best of London. The Egerton House Hotel also earned a place on Condé Nast’s 2011 Gold List.

41 is a discreet, haven of style and comfort, residence only hotel overlooking The Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace . A chic black and white design scheme is complemented by the plentiful rich mahogany throughout the hotel, and the Executive Lounge where natural daylight floods in from the glass roof. This intimate club-like property offers the height of five-star luxury: 28 rooms and beautiful suites including two unique hospitality suites, butler service, 24-hour room service, the latest in-room technology, full concierge service, “plunder the pantry” whenever you wish, and an outstanding level of personal service. 41 also earned a place on Condé Nast’s 2011 Gold List.

Perfectly located opposite Buckingham Palace, the newly restyled The Rubens at the Palace is the ideal hotel for leisure, pleasure, meetings and business. Renowned for its stunning facilities and stellar service, over and over guests at The Rubens Hotel call their stay “outstanding” and “unrivalled.” The Rubens at the Palace overlooks the entrance to the Royal Mews and offers stunning views of the impressive pageantry of Changing the Guard and the Royal Parks. The choice of luxury 4-star accommodation at The Rubens is breathtaking: 143 deluxe guest rooms, 8 royal rooms, 10 luxurious suites; and two 1- and 2-bedroom apartments. Many rooms and suites have views over the Royal Mews.

The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa – a peaceful sanctuary nestled at the edge of the world, with staggering views of the majestic Twelve Apostles mountain range and the Atlantic Ocean. This five-star Cape Town hotel is only 5 minutes from Camps Bay and 15 minutes from the City Centre and V&A Waterfront. Guests can experience the best of both worlds – vibrant Cape Town, and a haven of natural beauty. Facilities include 70 sea and mountain facing bedrooms and suites including the Presidential Suite; two pools; the award-winning Sanctuary Spa; Azure restaurant; Café Grill; Leopard Bar; and a 16-seat private cinema. The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa also earned a place on Condé Nast’s 2011 Gold List .

The Red Carnation Hotel Collection

The Red Carnation Hotel Collection is an award-winning collection of five and four star family-run boutique hotels in London, Dorset, Guernsey, Geneva and South Africa. Each property has its own individual character and unique location that reflects the local environment, culture and cuisine. They all share the qualities central to the Red Carnation’s ethos that win them so many prestigious awards – splendid luxury, generous hospitality, inventive and traditional cuisine, private art collections, passionate service and loyal staff committed to creating richly rewarding experiences for all their guests. For more information about these award-winning hotels and the rest of the Red Carnation Collection, please go to www.redcarnationhotels.com .

For more information about these award-winning hotels and the rest of the Red Carnation Collection, please call Toll Free from the USA/Canada 1.877.955.1515; contact the Central Reservations Service toll free from almost anywhere in the world: + 800.1698.8740; and visit us at www.redcarnation.com  or book@rchmail.com

CAREFREE, Ariz. — The Boulders, A Waldorf Astoria Resort, offers a getaway that will test your handicap and soothe your soul. This Arizona vacation package lets you enjoy your choice daily of: unlimited golf on one of our championship golf courses OR one $150 credit for spa services at our world-renowned Golden Door Spa. You will also be able to enjoy one of six restaurants with a daily $25 food and beverage credit.
The Boulders Resort has achieved a balance with nature that other golf resorts can only dream of enjoying. Providing a truly unique sense of place is what sets The Boulders apart, as does its remarkable slate of golf, spa, dining and recreational activities. Highlighting the beauty of the Sonoran Desert, The Boulders Resort offers its guests accommodations that combine elegant luxury with the type of amenities a season traveler demands.

Of course, the action and ambiance continue on the golf course at this intoxicating Arizona golf resort, that’s centrally located just scant miles from the bustling city of Scottsdale. The two Jay Morrish-designed golf courses provide a trek through the brilliant desert beauty, as well as challenge all level of golfer.
Dates: November 9, 2011 – September 8, 2012
Price range: $414
For more information, please click here.
https://secure3.hilton.com/en_US/wa/reservation/book.htm?execution=e1s1

The gardens of Chateau La Chaire were once the finest of their day being created in 1841 by Samuel Curtis, the famous botanist and a former director of Kew Gardens. He was also the person who first built a house on the site of La Chaire. The name means ‘pulpit’ and was used to describe a large rock overhanging the hillside. Little trace of this remains as it was demolished during the Napoleonic wars so that Rozel might be commanded by a battery of 24 pounders. However the site of the gun emplacement is still clearly visible.

Samuel Curtis first saw La Chaire in the summer of 1841. He instantly knew this was the location he had been searching for to create his subtropical plant paradise. His search had taken him all over the British Isles, from Inverness in the north of Scotland to Dorset on the south coast of England. Until he reached La Chaire, no one location had the right combination of climate, geography, topography and geology that Curtis had been looking for. At La Chaire he found a narrow, verdant, steep-sided valley running in an east-west direction. At the eastern end of the valley lay Rozel Bay and the sea with stunning views across to St Malo and mainland France. To the west the valley wound its way through, what appeared to Curtis on first sighting, to be mountainous country which sheltered La Chaire from the full force of south-westerly winds sweeping in from the Atlantic.

A swift-running stream filled the valley bottom, emptying itself onto the shingle beach of Rozel Bay. The south-facing side of the valley was positively Mediterranean in aspect, a steep and rocky cliff face with sun-baked soil and some natural terracing. The north-facing valley side was not quite so steep and covered with lush vegetation comprising evergreen oak, Quercus ilex and Jersey elm, Ulmus x sarniensis. It had the warmth of the Mediterranean coupled with the humidity of Chile or Tasmania.

Curtis judged correctly that frost would be virtually non-existent and the bedrock, (unlike the rest of Jersey which was granite), was a soft purple conglomerate, or pudding stone, which could be penetrated and disintegrated by tree roots into soil eminently suited to the growing of subtropical shrubs. Curtis had indeed found his garden.

Curtis started work on La Chaire almost immediately, although he did not move permanently to Jersey until 1852. On the south side of the valley he built a small square house under the cliffs shelter and began creating a series of paths and terraces leading to the summit. At the summit was a rocky outcrop, where during the Napoleonic wars a gun battery had been built. This outcrop became known locally as the “Pulpit” rock, and it is said that Curtis preached the gospel to his gardeners, toiling away on the slopes below him, from this point. Whether this increased their productivity no one knows, but the gardens of La Chaire certainly begun to take shape relatively quickly. Letters sent by Curtis to Hooker at Kew during 1841-42 talk about the planting of deep shelterbelts of æIlexÆ, (evergreen oak, Quercus ilex), at both the eastern and western extremities of the garden.

Samuel Curtis died in La Chaire on January 6 1860 and he and his daughter Harriet are both buried at St Martins Church. Towards the end of the 19th century the property was bought by a Mr Fletcher who planned grandiose alterations. He pulled down Curtis’ house and built the present one in its place. He also organised a complex system for watering the gardens.

The Fletchers lived there in great style with the house having marble floors and its own private ballroom; however after some time the house and gardens deteriorated due to financial problems. After the first world war the property was bought by a Mrs Rose but by then there were few survivors of the Curtis regime. One of these was the outstanding pink Magnolia – now on adjoining property – which is the largest of its kind in Europe.

In 1932 La Chaire was bought by a Mr A V Nicolle and during his tenure the garden once again became a place of beauty with Mrs Nicolle seeking expert advice from Kew.

During the German Occupation the house was empty with one gardener in charge. He was disgusted when the Germans dug up, for transportation to Germany, some of the prized trees, a Magnolia Campbellii amongst them. However many of them had their roots damaged in the operation and it is thought that they never flourished in their new home. There is also a story that a wartime plane lies buried somewhere in the grounds.

The gardens make an interesting walk for holidaymakers and locals as well as providing an excellent view of the Ecrehous and coast of France. The grounds are also home to a variety of birds and wildlife including Kingfisher, Nightingales and Red Squirrels.

For further information contact the hotel direct on 01534 863354

www.hatton-hotels.co.uk  www.chateau-la-chaire.co.uk

Baltic Holidays are offering a City and Spa package for £615 per person in Estonia this winter.

Stay in Tallinn, 2011 European City of Culture, and combine this with a stay in a Manor House Spa complex deep in the Estonian Countryside.

The deal includes flights, all transfers, 2 nights in the 4 star Von Stackelburg Hotel in Tallinn, on a bed and breakfast basis with one evening meal, and ice skating in Tallinn Old Town.

An hour’s transfer to the 4 star Vihula Manor in Northern Estonia, sees 3 nights on a half board basis sampling fine cuisine every night in their restaurant , and then the chance to burn it off with ice skating, Nordic Sticks and cross country skiing all included in the price, and a 90 minute massage to finish off.

An ideal winter experience for those wanting some winter exercise combined with culture and cuisine

Available from the 24th November through to 31st March 2012

All this from £615 per person including flights, from a number of Uk airports.”

www.balticholidays.com  Tel : 0161 860 5248

Los Angeles area chefs and restaurateurs are gearing up for another two weeks of delicious meals and fantastic deals during the biannual dineLA Restaurant Week, Jan. 22 – 27 and Jan. 29 – Feb. 3, 2012. During the two consecutive weeks, Angelenos and visitors alike will have the opportunity to indulge in specially priced three-course menus for lunch or dinner at more than 300 of LA’s best restaurants. American Express is the presenting sponsor of the dineLA program.

Discover the Arts in Los Angeles Brought to You by Wells Fargo
For the fourth year in a row, LA INC. partners with Wells Fargo and over 30 cultural attractions to offer visitors up to 50 percent off on admission, gift items and more across Los Angeles to promote the rich performing and visual arts the City has to offer. Promotion runs Jan. 16 – April 30, 2012.
www.discoverLosAngeles.com

MAJOR ATTRACTION NEWS

In December 2011, the San Diego Zoo will introduce a new 4-D theater to coincide with the start of Jungle Bells, the Zoo’s holiday celebration. The 50-seat theater will combine the visual drama of a 3-D film with a variety of sensory effects that are built into the seats and theater environment, such as water mist, blustery wind, snow, bubbles, scents, seat vibrations and more. The theater is located near the Conrad Prebys Polar Bear Plunge exhibit. Entertaining and educational films, each about 15 minutes long, will show throughout the day. The cost of a film is $6 per person in addition to Zoo admission.

MAJOR EVENT NEWS

The peak of San Diego’s whale watching season occurs December through April when majestic California gray whales make their annual migration from the Arctic waters to the warm lagoons in the Gulf of California for breeding. These “peaceful giants of the sea” come within miles of San Diego’s coastline and can be viewed on daily whale watching excursions and from Cabrillo National Monument on Point Loma.

On December 21, 2011, the annual pre-Christmas football bowl game, the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl, is played at Qualcomm Stadium in Mission Valley and matches teams from the Mountain West and Western Athletic Conferences. The nationally recognized event features all the pomp and circumstance of a major college post-season football game.

On December 28, 2011, the Big Bay Balloon Parade, a harbor-side parade in downtown San Diego, is followed by the Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl, a major college football game at Qualcomm Stadium in Mission Valley featuring teams from the Pac-10 and Big 12 Conferences. The exciting gridiron action is augmented by spectacular pregame and halftime pageantry.

From January 15 – 20, 2012, more than 180 of San Diego’s finest restaurants participate in San Diego Restaurant Week, a celebration of the local dining scene with prix fixed menus.

The Farmers Insurance Open is an annual PGA Tour men’s golf tournament played January 23 – 29, 2012, at the Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla, home of the 2008 U.S. Open.

Click here for more information on San Diego’s Major Events this winter.

NEW HOTELS AND NAME CHANGES

LEGOLAND® California Resort in Carlsbad announced the Summer 2013 opening of the LEGOLAND® Hotel. The three-story LEGOLAND Hotel will provide guests the interactive family experience that has brought success to LEGOLAND California as well as bring children’s imaginations to life. The 250-room LEGO®-themed hotel will feature brightly colored LEGO décor, a pool area and restaurant. LEGOLAND Hotel will be the first of its kind in North America, and construction is set to begin in November 2011.

In September 2011, the Kimpton Hotel Group acquired Sé San Diego Hotel in downtown and re-launched the upscale urban property as Hotel Palomar San Diego, a Kimpton Hotel. Hotel Palomar offers Kimpton programs including the InTouch loyalty program, “Live Like a Local” daily tips for guests, wellness programs, eco-friendly practices and products and pet-friendly amenities. The hotel plans to be closely connected to the San Diego community, especially arts and cultural organizations, by hosting art exhibits and supporting local charitable organizations.

HOTEL PROMOTIONS

In 1991, Loews Coronado Bay Resort opened its doors on a private 15-acre peninsula off the Pacific coast in Coronado. In 2012, Loews will embark on an extensive lobby and restaurant renovation, marking 20 years in which the hotel has maintained its AAA Four Diamond status and earned national praise for its innovative family offerings. To celebrate 20 years of hospitality, Loews Coronado Bay Resort is offering special 20th Anniversary perks and packages including money-saving hotel deals for guests.

The Paradise Point Resort & Spa is celebrating its 50th Anniversary of hospitality on Mission Bay with special promotions starting in January 2012. Guests can win prizes playing contests with trivia from each decade: the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and 00’s, with a chance to win a weekend for $8.25 per night—the price for a room in 1962. The hotel is also collecting and publishing stories from guests about their experiences at Paradise Point during the past 50 years.

In 2012, the Ramada St. James Hotel in downtown San Diego’s historic Gaslamp Quarter celebrates its 100th Anniversary. When the 11-story downtown hostelry opened in 1913, it claimed to be the tallest building with the fastest elevators in San Diego. Through the years, the property has served as everything from a tourist hotel to a single-room-occupancy and an R&R resort for military personnel during WWII. Today, the St. James is a historic boutique hotel with whirlpool tubs in several of its 99 rooms and suites and includes a newly refurbished two-story sign on top.

MEETINGS & CONVENTIONS HOTEL NEWS

In November 2011, the city of Oceanside in San Diego’s North County celebrated the opening of the newly constructed Courtyard by Marriott San Diego Oceanside, located in the emerging Rancho Del Oro business district, close to area businesses, Camp Pendleton and the area’s beaches. The hotel features 133 guest rooms and nine suites and offers 64 double queen rooms, a feature typically in high demand by groups. The property’s Endless Summer Ballroom, which can accommodate up to 160 guests, is ideal for large group functions, while the Blue Crush Boardroom, with seating for 12 guests, is suited for executive retreats or intimate breakout sessions. The hotel also offers a pre-function foyer and creative outdoor space including a fire pit for breakouts and receptions.

Click here for more information on San Diego’s Meetings & Convention properties.

HOTEL AND CASINO RENOVATIONS

In September 2011, Sycuan Casino in San Diego’s East County completed a nine-month, $27 million property renovation that affected every area of the casino interior. Renovations included new design in the casino gaming areas, an all-new non-smoking buffet, a new sports bar and grill restaurant, and the installation of a one-of-a-kind specialty lighting fixture in the main lobby. Other visual upgrades were included in the poker room, off track betting area, bingo pavilion, gift shop and restrooms.

Located in the heart of downtown San Diego, The Westgate Hotel announced that a 37,000-sq. ft. PureFitness Sports Club will open on its property by early 2012. The fitness center will offer hotel guests and club members an upscale health and wellness experience. The state-of-the-art facility will include a cardio deck with more than 200 pieces of equipment, circuit training and three separate group exercise rooms offering classes in spinning, yoga and boot camp. The 15,000-sq. ft. roof deck will feature an Olympic-sized lap pool, a lounge area with a fire pit and Jacuzzi, and outdoor fitness and training stations. Additional amenities will include 5,000 sq. ft. of locker space, a steam room, sauna, laundry and dry cleaning services.

RESTAURANTS, BREWERIES AND NIGHTLIFE

Opened November 2011 in Little Italy, UnderBelly is the latest venture of Consortium Holdings, the collective behind several of San Diego’s most progressive restaurants, including Neighborhood, Noble Experiment and El Dorado. The restaurant group fashioned its own version of a traditional Japanese ramen bar, with 52 seats in an intimate 1,100-sq. ft setting. The name “UnderBelly” refers to the prized pork cut favored by Tokyo’s revered gods of ramen. UnderBelly’s culinary offerings pay tribute to traditional Japanese beliefs, emphasizing quality, consistency and approachability, while always respecting the ingredients and regional customs—you won’t find a single spoon inside the establishment. Regional ramen options, including a vegan alternative, are available along with assorted toppings, pork buns, gyoza and light appetizers. UnderBelly’s beverage program is dominated by an internationally focused, 27-handle draft beer list of rare styles, deliberately enticing diners to experiment. A rotating selection of beers from Japan’s Hitachino Nest are also featured, in addition to four varieties of draft wine from Sonoma Valley.

In September 2011, Saltbox, a “new American gastro-lounge,” opened under the culinary direction of Executive Chef Simon Dolinky. The restaurant is located in downtown San Diego’s former Suite & Tender in the Sé San Diego, which is now the new Hotel Palomar. In his debut menu, Dolinky draws inspiration from local San Diego purveyors and farmers for an ingredient-driven “social plates” menu designed to be accessible and inspiring. Sample dishes include lobster corn dogs with ginger remoulade, beef cheek tacos and snap pea kim chee, and crispy fried asparagus with poached egg and paprika vinaigrette. Saltbox also unveiled a trend-setting bar and cocktail program, created by in-house master mixologist Erin Williams of Pegu Club in NYC fame.

The Habit Burger Grill, a popular Irvine-based burger eatery, opened its first San Diego location in October 2011 in Mission Valley. Started in Santa Barbara in 1969, The Habit has additional San Diego locations planned, including a location in Carmel Mountain Ranch. The Habit is best known for its made-to-order “charburgers,” grilled over an open flame that are reasonably priced. The eatery also serves fresh, char-grilled sandwiches, tossed to order specialty salads, onion rings, sweet potato fries, “hook and line”-caught albacore tuna and a variety of hand-blended shakes and malts.

In October 2011, Bolillo Tortas, a restaurant specializing in tortas (Mexican sandwiches), opened in downtown San Diego’s East Village. Bolillo offers a unique fusion of favorites like turkey breast with cranberry and beef kosher-style tortas and traditional styles like carne asada and Cuban.

Click here for more information, on Restaurants, Breweries and Nightlife.

SHOPPING

In September 2011, Westfield University Town Center, one of San Diego’s premiere shopping destinations, began a $180 million renovation and expansion project slated for completion by December 2012. The plans include the addition of a new dining terrace with full-service restaurants, including Tender Greens, new shops and San Diego’s first ArcLight Cinemas, a 14-screen, 1,800-seat luxury theater experience. The Phase I revitalization plans are designed to meet LEED Gold certification standards for environmental sustainability.

VISUAL ART AND MUSEUMS

TRASH, the latest museum-wide exhibition at The New Children’s Museum in downtown San Diego, now through March 30, 2013, features the work of 12 artists from around the globe focused on the kid-friendly and timely topic of trash. Through inventive, participatory artworks, TRASH takes an invisible but important issue and invites kids and parents to explore new perspectives through each work of art, along with hands-on art-making projects, artist lectures, family workshops, special events and more.

Visions of Coronado at the Coronado Museum of History & Art , January 12 – February 20, 2012, showcases the work of local artists in a wide variety of media, materials and styles. All pieces are original art and pertain to the city of Coronado.

San Diego’s Craft Revolution, an exhibit of post-war Modern to California design, is on display now through April 15, 2012 at the Mingei International Museum in Balboa Park. This local exhibition reveals the important contribution of San Diego craftsmen to the post-war Southern California art scene. The progression from sleek modernism to unconventional handmade objects such as furniture, doors, jewelry and ceramics are explored. Many of these San Diego-based artists received national attention and participated in major Southern California exhibitions, including the California Design series held in Pasadena and Los Angeles. The exhibition features over 60 artists including Arline Fisch, Jack Hopkins, James Hubbell, Larry Hunter, Rhoda Lopez, Toza and Ruth Radakovich, Kay Whitcomb, and Ellamarie and Jackson Woolley. San Diego’s Craft Revolution is part of Pacific Standard Time, an unprecedented collaboration that brings together more than 60 cultural institutions from across Southern California.

Mexican Modern Painting, currently on display through February 19, 2012 at the San Diego Museum of Art in Balboa Park, features selected paintings from The Andrés Blaisten Collection of 20th-century Mexican art. The exhibit features 80 paintings dated between 1907 and 1962 from well-known painters like María Izquierdo, Diego Rivera, David Alfaro Siqueiros and Rufino Tamayo, and from less familiar painters like Alfonso Michel, Federico Cantú and Angel Zárraga. Also on display through February 19, 2012 is Experiments in Abstraction: Art in Southern California, 1945 to 1980, which addresses a generation of California-based artists who explored the possibilities of abstraction in the years following World War II. A distinctive style, identified as Hard-Edge painting, was developed by pioneering artists such as Karl Benjamin, Lorser Feitelson, Oskar Fischinger, Helen Lundeberg and John McLaughlin; partly a reaction against Abstract Expressionism, Hard-Edge emphasized angular lines, reduced forms, precise surfaces and rich colors. Walk from the Sun, now through March 18, 2012, marks the first solo exhibit at a museum for Southern California artist scott b. davis (davis uses a specialized shorthand in which he forgoes capitalization). davis’ photographs of Southern California, taken at night with a large-format camera, document iconic aspects of the region like the Hollywood sign. Other works offer moody and enigmatic looks at seemingly abandoned highways, parking lots and buildings. davis is currently living in San Diego.

Click here for more information on San Diego’s Visual Art and Museums.

PERFORMING ARTS

La Jolla Music Society has a variety of performances scheduled for their 2011-2012 season running now through May 2012. The Society’s music series feature diverse music and dance styles including classical, chamber, jazz and modern. Performances are held in venues in La Jolla and the North Park neighborhood. Notable performances include the New York Philharmonic playing Debussy and Tchaikovsky, the Mark Morris Dance Group and Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band.

The Tony Award-winning La Jolla Playhouse’s 2011-2012 season ends with American Night: The Ballad of Juan José, January 27 – February 26, 2012, a West Coast Premiere of a new comedy by Culture Clash with Jo Bonney. As Juan feverishly studies for his U.S. citizenship exam, he becomes ensnared in a tumultuous, whirlwind journey through pivotal moments of American history. Juan discovers America’s best in a handful of unsung citizens who made courageous choices in this provocative, irreverent comedy about our shared past and future.

As part of its 2011-2012 season, the Tony Award-winning Old Globe theatre in Balboa Park presents Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas, November 19 – December 31, 2011, returning for its 14th year to The Old Globe. Some Lovers, November 26 – December 31, 2011, features Academy- and Grammy Award-winning music legend Burt Bacharach and Tony Award-winner Steven Sater (Spring Awakening) in a World Premiere musical that re-imagines The Gift of the Magi , the classic O. Henry Christmas tale, for today’s audiences. Dividing the Estate, January 14 – February 12, 2012, written by Pulitzer Prize-winner Horton Foote and nominated for a 2009 Tony Award for Best Play, is a comedy about family, money and greed in present day Texas. The Recommendation, January 21 – February 26, 2012, is the story of Aaron, smart, charming and over-privileged, and his new college roommate from a middle-class immigrant family. The two soon become the best of friends as Aaron shares his world of favors and fortunes.

TRANSPORTATION AND TOUR COMPANIES

Starting November 2011, Bite San Diego launched a tour in La Jolla including seven popular restaurants: Brick and Bell, Bubbas Smokehouse BBQ, The Cottage, Cups, Extreme Pizza, Harvard Cooking School and We Olive. Bite also offers Old Town Walking Tours incorporating tastes from eight different restaurants and a guided historical tour of Old Town San Diego.

So Diego Tours’ newest offering is Tequila, Tacos and Tombstones, a food and beverage tasting tour of popular restaurants in Old Town State Historic Park. The walking tour combines dining with the story of San Diego in the 1820s-1850s. Guests hear commentary on Old Town’s history, which according to the tour was “a place where bull fights were a weekly occurrence, brutal executions were up for public viewing and the souls of today’s ghosts thrived as living beings.” Tours begin at 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays, and the cost is $45 per person.

Click here for more information in San Diego Transportation and Tour Companies.

AIRLINE NEWS

Alaska Airlines announced a daily non-stop flight from San Diego to Honolulu starting November 2011.

In September 2011, Spirit Airlines increased its service between San Diego and Las Vegas to three daily flights.

Effective December 15, 2011-April 15, 2012, United Airlines is providing a seasonal route between San Diego and Mammoth, CA.

For more information, on flights to San Diego, visit www.san.org.

AWARDS

In October 2011, The Lodge at Torrey Pines in La Jolla was honored with the 2012 AAA Five Diamond Award, the 10th year in a row that the luxury resort has captured one of the travel industry’s most prestigious awards. Since opening in 2002, The Lodge at Torrey Pines remains a premier luxury destination hotel and features authentic California Craftsman-style architecture and furnishings, as well as a remarkable location overlooking the Pacific Ocean and adjacent to the famed Torrey Pines Golf Course and Torrey Pines State Reserve.

Happiness is calling in San Diego. For more information on San Diego offerings, including exciting vacation packages and valuable coupons for attractions, restaurants and more, visit the San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau’s website, www.sandiego.org, or call 619-236-1212. In San Diego, visit the International Visitor Information Center, located along the Embarcadero at the corner of West Broadway and Harbor Drive in downtown; the La Jolla Visitor Center, located at the corner of Herschel Avenue and Prospect Street in La Jolla, and the California Welcome Center, located in the Viejas Outlet Center in Alpine.

Visitors to Ireland who are short on time but keen to see as much as possible of the island are now able to quickly get around by seaplane.

A new base for seaplanes on the famous River Shannon in the south-west of Ireland has been established, and will form part of a network of facilities providing seaplane services around the country.

It will be operated by Harbour Flights and will complement a commercial seaplane service based in the lakelands of County Fermanagh in Northern Ireland set up under UK aviation law earlier this year.

Harbour Flights will be offering flights from a number of key locations around the island including Limerick city, Galway city, Inishmore, Cobh, Waterford and Dublin. It will also provide sight-seeing flights over scenic Lough Derg and from Mountshannon onto the Aran Islands, taking in the famous Cliffs of Moher.

Harbour Flights chief executive Emelyn Heaps says: “Essentially a new airport has been created.

“We want to connect Ireland and provide a better, simpler and quicker way to travel around this country for visitors and business people alike. I believe seaplanes will revolutionise tourism in Ireland.”

In May this year Lakeland Seaplane Tours, based at Enniskillen Airport, in Northern Ireland, became operational. Serving the world-renowned lakes of Fermanagh and with access to some 300 square miles of waters the company collects and drops off at many of the hundreds of jetties and hotels dotted around the country.

In addition to pleasure and scenic flights Lakeland Seaplane Tours offers unique Fly’n'Dine and Fly’n'Stay packages, wedding packages and historic trails.

Ireland’s seaplane services mean that visitors can travel much faster from one side of the Emerald Isle to the other, for example, flying from cosmopolitan Dublin in the east to the monument-rich Aran Islands off the rugged west coast in just over an hour.

www.discoverireland.com
www.harbourflights.com
http://lakelandseaplanetours.com

KOLOA, Kaui, Hawaii — The island is waiting for you. With Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa’s Balance package you’ll enjoy one round of golf at Poipu Bay Golf Course and a daily breakfast buffet for two. It is recommended that tee times be booked prior to arrival through the hotel concierge desk.
The Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa’s freshly renovated guestrooms, lush tropical gardens and infinite amenities present myriad options for each guest to create their own personalized retreat. Kayak in the lagoons, indulge in a reviving treatment at Anara Spa, or simply breathe in the refreshing ocean breezes. Play championship golf or tennis, savor fine dining or delight in an authentic Luau. The lovely setting of this Kauai resort hotel lets you easily explore the natural wonders of our Garden Isle, as well as the many area museums, galleries and shops. An exquisite experience awaits you at this captivating luxury hotel in Kauai.
Dates: November 4, 2011 – December 31, 2011
Price range: $470
For more information, please click here.
http://kauai.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/offers/details.jsp?offerId=102770&isBookable=true

Spend the Holidays in Your Own Private Villa at the Luxurious Bahama Beach Club on One of the “Top 10 Beaches in the World”

Vacation with loved ones and friends on Great Abaco Island where tropical Bahama Beach Club welcomes guests for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years

Great Abaco Island, Bahamas — Bahama Beach Club, a luxuriously intimate beachfront villa resort situated on one of National Geographic’s “Top 10 Beaches in the World” is gifting holiday revelers with a trio of festive celebrations.

Fete Thanksgiving and Christmas with five-star meals and luxurious beachfront villa accommodations, or ring in the New Year with a gourmet buffet, fireworks and entertainment. For the price of a hotel room, book a private, two- to five-bedroom villa and unwrap a host of world-class indulgences, including access to the famous Treasure Cay Resort and an array of land and sea activities.

Overlooking the sugary-soft sands of Treasure Cay Beach, the jasmine-scented setting at the Bahama Beach Club is far from the casino and cruise ship crowds of Nassau and other mega-tourist destinations. This elite oasis prides itself on providing privacy and tranquility along a stunning, palm-dotted beach ranked “The Best Beach in the Caribbean” by Caribbean Travel & Life.

Bahama Beach Club offers the privacy and convenience of fully-furnished, lavishly-serviced villas with the services and amenities of a luxury resort. Defined by British Colonial elegance, each spacious beachfront villa is individually decorated with colorful fabrics and rattan furnishings along with grand master suites, private balconies, fully-equipped kitchens, spacious living rooms and spectacular ocean views.

For the holidays, Bahama Beach Club is pulling out all the stops to gift guests with memories of a lifetime. Seasonal experiences include:

Thanksgiving
The Club-hosted Thanksgiving Day Dinner includes Roast turkey and honey-glazed baked ham with all the trimmings and desserts of the classic American feast. Cost is $35 per person plus 18% service charge. Children under 12 years are half price.

Christmas
The Christmas Day Holiday Buffet will feature fresh Bahamian seafood, , smoked salmon, roast turkey, smoked ham, barons of beef and an array gourmet treats. Cost is $35 per person, plus 18% service charge. (Children under 12 are half price.)

New Year’s Eve
The party of the year will include dining, cocktails, dancing, entertainment and fireworks, with buffet featuring beef tenderloin, coconut-crusted chicken, Bahamian grouper, desserts and more. Cost is $68 per person plus 18% service charge. (Children under 12 are half price.)

The upscale resort’s concierge can pre-stock the kitchens with groceries, arrange for a chef to prepare a gourmet meal in your villa or in a romantic pool- or seaside setting, book spa treatments done in the privacy of your villa or on the beach to the relaxing sounds of the ocean. Guests also enjoy access to Treasure Cay’s 150-slip marina, championship 18-hole golf course, tennis courts, and the Tipsy Seagull Bar, open nightly for cocktails, camaraderie and dancing.

Ideal for romantic getaways or family holiday gatherings, Bahama Beach Club is located on charming Great Abaco Island, which is part of the Abacos, a spectacular chain of about 100 tropical isles known for velvety soft sands, translucent blue waters and laid-back, family-friendly atmosphere.

Cars, golf carts, and bicycles can be rented and taxis are available at all times. Many local island restaurants provide complimentary taxi service for diners. Boats can also be rented or you can travel by scheduled ferry boats to New Plymouth on Green Turtle Cay and to Hopetown on Elbow Cay. Divers also flock here for some of the world’s best diving off the Abaco Great Barrier Reef, which includes miles of coral reefs and underwater caverns.

On- and off-site amenities at the Bahama Beach Club include:

- 3.5 mile powder-white beach voted “The Best Beach in the Caribbean”;
- Two fresh water swimming pools and swim-up bar;
- Pampering concierge services, including custom-arranged activities, from an island excursion such as diving, snorkeling or fishing to a beachfront family barbeque or private massage and spa treatment;
- New chef-driven fine dining restaurant
- Casual beachfront bar and grill;
- Grocery shopping;
- Duty-free shopping;
- Two oceanfront Jacuzzis; and
- Close proximity to the famous Treasure Cay Resort, with a championship 18-hole golf course, tennis courts, 150-slip marina and the Tipsy Seagull Bar open every night for dancing and cocktails.

The Bahama Beach Club, only an hour’s flight from Miami, is conveniently located close to two international airports: seven miles from the Treasure Cay Airport (TCB) and some 21 miles from the Marsh Harbour Airport (MHH).

Rates for a two-bedroom, two-bath villa start at $300 and rates for a four-bedroom, four-bath villa start at $700. Prices include daily housekeeping services, cable TV, air conditioning, and unlimited in-room long distance calling to the United States and Canada, and high-speed wireless Internet. Bahama Beach Club also offers all-inclusive family meal plans. For more information about the Bahama Beach Club, visit www.bahamabeachclub.com  in the Bahamas call 242-365-8500 or from U.S and Canada call toll free (800) 284-0382.

2012 marks the Diamond Anniversary of Mauritius travel pioneers Beachcomber, a landmark that truly demonstrates their expertise and longevity in the Indian Ocean hotel industry. To celebrate 60 years in the business, Beachcomber Tours is delighted to offer couples 60% off half-board accommodation for a second guest when travelling in June 2012 to their flagship property in Mauritius, the luxurious Royal Palm.

Since opening their first hotel back in 1952, Beachcomber Hotels has grown to feature 8 stunning hotels in Mauritius and the beautiful Sainte Anne Resort & Spa in the Seychelles.

This fantastic 60% saving can now be booked at the world famous Royal Palm, a hotel that truly sets the standard for luxury in the Indian Ocean. Situated on an amazing stretch of beach and just a short walk to lively Grand Baie, the elegant yet welcoming Royal Palm is renowned for its flawless service and outstanding hospitality as hotel staff outnumbers guests by three to one.

Some of the highlights at this luxurious hotel include superb cuisine from internationally recognised chef, Michel de Matteis, a magnificent Spa by Clarins and spacious all-suite accommodation offering magnificent views towards the calm, crystal waters of Grand Baie.

Beachcomber Tours (01483 445685; www.beachcombertours.co.uk) offers 7 nights from £2,390 per person based on 2 sharing a Junior Suite on a half-board basis, departing June 2012. Price includes 7 nights accommodation, economy class flights and private hotel transfers.
Saving £1,500 per couple
www.beachcomber-hotels.com