Jetsettersblog

At Sofitel, children experience incredible stays that guide them through global cultures and traditions, like little Princes and Princesses. As part of its Magnifique Family package, Sofitel is donating €2 per night to the Saint-Exupéry Foundation, making it an active participant in developing future projects for children worldwide.

Born in Lyon, France in 1900, Antoine de Saint Exupéry first flew at the age of twelve. His passion for airplanes continued to burn brightly until his tragic disappearance in 1944. In 1943, he published The Little Prince, a story that has become famous around the world.

With Magnifique Family, Sofitel is delivering its own vision of the magic of childhood through a set of strong values: world exploration, travel and environmental protection. During their entire stay, children will have the opportunity to experience the imaginary world of the Little Prince, including a travel diary that is given to them. The diary has space to write about each of their discoveries and add new drawings and photos every day, just as the Little Prince told his story to the narrator. It promises to make every memory unforgettable.

Available at some one hundred Sofitel locations, the Magnifique Family package includes:

• accommodation in a luxurious setting, the perfect atmosphere for families
• for children, a -50% discount on a second room
• free breakfast for children
• optional late checkout up to 4:00 pm

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The Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Youth Foundation, under the aegis of the Fondation de France, was created by the heirs of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. Its mission is to launch, stimulate, finance and promote long-term actions born out of local initiatives to support children in difficult environments, both in France and worldwide. These are concrete projects that help children understand the need to live a meaningful life while developing confidence in themselves and their future. The work of the Foundation is based on the universal humanist values of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, which resonate with people around the globe.

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Sofitel, World Class Hotels & French Elegance

Sofitel is the only french luxury hotel brand with a presence on five continents with 120 addresses, in almost 40 countries (more than 30 000 rooms). Sofitel offers contemporary hotels and resorts adapted to today’s more demanding and more versatile consumers who expect and appreciate beauty, quality and excellence. Whether situated in the heart of a major city like Paris, London, New York, Shanghai or Beijing, or nestled away in a country landscape in Morocco, Egypt, French Polynesia or Thailand, each Sofitel property offers a genuine experience of the French “art de vivre”.

Discover Sofitel on www.sofitel.com
Discover A|Club at Sofitel, the worldwide Accor loyalty program on www.a-club.com

Folk music, Morris Dancing, storytelling, lantern processions and even a traditional mummer’s play welcome visitors to the beautiful South Hams village of Stoke Gabriel on Saturday 21 January, when the village’s ancient, medieval apple tree wassailing ceremony takes place. Blue Chip Holidays has a range of high quality self-catering cottages nearby starting from as little as £56 per person for three nights. These can be booked at www.bluechipholidays.net

The wassailing tradition dates back to at least Saxon times and sees villagers singing or wassailing to the oldest and best apple tree in the village orchard to ensure a good apple crop for the coming year. The Wassail King and Queen, accompanied by the Wassail Singers, lead a procession of willow lanterns to the orchard, where cider is poured over the tree roots and toast is hung in the branches. The trees are then wassailed by candlelight, blessing them to bring fruitfulness, and saluted with a dramatic volley of shotguns that are fired to chase away evil spirits and to wake the trees from their winter slumber.

Following this intriguing and endearing ceremony the gathered crowd will be entertained by the Newton Bushel Morris Dancers, the Bovey Tracey Mummers, who will perform a medieval pantomime, local folk music and story-telling into the night. Home-made soup, pasties and cakes, a barbeque and a bar featuring warm mulled cider will also be available. Children are encouraged to bring their lanterns to participate in the ceremony. Entry for adults costs £2.50 and children £1.00.

Where to stay in Stoke Gabriel:
Sunnyside is a former 18th Century Inn that has been converted into a cosy two bedroom four-star rated cottage for four. It has a good sized master bedroom as well as a children’s room with two bunk beds. It has a small front garden and a rear courtyard area with furniture. Three nights starting on 21 January can be booked from £56 per person – £224 total. Seven nights can be booked from £309. Deep link: www.bluechipholidays.net/sunnyside

For bookings call 0844 7044987 or visit www.bluechipholidays.net

Rose Cottage is a beautiful, traditional whitewash stone cottage for three. Complete with a charming stone fireplace, wood burning stove and a turning staircase to the first floor, this winter retreat is as cosy as it gets. Upstairs are two lovely bedrooms with views to the river and the Church, while outside the cottage has its own walled garden. Three nights in Rose Cottage can be booked from £69 per person – £208 total. Seven nights can be booked from £286.

Deep link: www.bluechipholidays.net/rosecottage
For bookings call 0844 7044987 or visit www.bluechipholidays.net

The pretty village of Stoke Gabriel, which sits on the banks of the River Dart, is blessed with its own Mill Pond where crabbing, fishing, sailing and canoeing can all be enjoyed. It has traditional shops, a post office and two cosy English pubs as well as its own riverside café/bistro, a park and a host beautiful walks to enjoy.

Close by Blue Chip Holidays also has a beautiful creek-side property that’s perfect as a base for the weekend, especially if you enjoy ornithology and quiet riverside living.

The Old Cider Press is a beautifully converted four-star rated four bedroom house that sleeps eight. Situated within yards of the River Dart its living rooms and bedrooms possess spectacular views overlooking Bow Creek where Kingfishers, Herons and Egyptian Geese can be spotted alongside many other species.

The Old Cider Press has its own private slipway, patio with barbeque area and parking for 3 vehicles. Internally, the property has been sympathetically converted and immaculately finished.

Situated in Tuckenhay, a village described as Devon’s best kept secret, the property is within a short walk of two friendly traditional village pubs. It sits opposite Stoke Gabriel on the River Dart and is also within 3 miles of Dartmouth, from where you can take a river cruise to the historic castle town of Totnes.

The Old Cider Press is available for three nights from 21 January from £61per person – £490 total. Seven nights coinciding with 21 January, can be booked from £689 (£86 per person). For bookings call 0844 7044987 or visit www.bluechipholidays.net
Deep link: www.bluechipholidays.net/oldciderpress

Not traditionally known as a honeymoon destination, Latin America offers everything a newlywed couple could wish for from their trip of a lifetime. Over the past 12 months specialist tour operator Journey Latin America have seen a 60% increase in the number of couples enquiring about honeymoons in this part of the world and as a result have just launched a collection of brand new honeymoons for couples looking for something a bit more unique than the typical Maldives, Seychelles, Mauritius offering.

With the whole of the continent to choose from, Journey Latin America has taken the stress out of booking a honeymoon in Latin America by designing eleven unique itineraries in the areas they feel are most suited for a romantic holiday-of-a-lifetime. Each holiday offers the best accommodation in the most romantic locations and newlyweds will enjoy private excursions to visit the region’s best highlights, travel in private transport and benefit from having all their flight arrangements etc pre-booked. And with the help of a dedicated travel consultant, couples can choose to personalise their trip even further to make their holiday a truly memorable experience.

A few of Journey Latin America’s hot honeymoon picks include:

An Alternative Honeymoon Safari in Brazil, 15 days from £4,069pp
For a relaxing and stress-free honeymoon, but one that is full of adventure, this honeymoon ticks all the boxes. Stay at two of the best lodges in Brazil’s primary wildlife wilderness areas, the Amazon and the Pantanal. Add a couple of days at the stupendous Iguazú Falls on the border with Argentina and stay a few days in fabulous Rio de Janeiro, enjoying its views and sunlit beaches.

Nicaragua, 12 days from £2,026pp
For those looking for something a bit more adventurous and off-the-beaten-track, offering a bit of adventure and discovery, unspoilt scenery with glimpses of wildlife and a little history and culture Journey Latin America propose a honeymoon in Nicaragua, fast gaining popularity among travellers but as yet free of hordes of tourists.

Argentina, 15 days from £4,914pp
For couples looking for something a bit different from their honeymoon: who are not keen on the idea of lying on a beach all day, and would prefer to fill their time with exciting, unique experiences in stunning natural scenery, Argentina will not disappoint. Staying in first-class hotels, feast on sumptuous steaks in Buenos Aires, trek amongst the glaciers of Patagonia, and relax in the beautiful wine region around Mendoza.

Costa Rica, 11 days from £2,384pp
The friendly, peaceful little country of Costa Rica is the perfect choice for a relaxing honeymoon spiced up with a bit of adventure and wildlife watching. This honeymoon holiday includes white water rafting, spotting turtles and exotic birds at a top rated jungle lodge, and long lazy days on a near perfect Caribbean beach; all while based at first class accommodation.

Recently returned from her honeymoon in Peru, Head of Product Diana Henderson says ‘Latin America really is a wonderful place for a honeymoon. From a moonlit dinner on a secluded Brazilian beach to star-gazing in the Atacama desert to cruising down the Amazon on a luxury boat, there really is an endless amount on offer to make your trip one to remember. The biggest problem is trying to work out what you can realistically fit in!’.
For more information on Journey Latin America and to see our full range of holidays, please visit www.journeylatinamerica.co.uk  or telephone: 020 8747 8315.

Paul Allen and Burt Rutan, who collaborated on SpaceShipOne, the first privately funded, manned rocket ship to fly beyond earth’s atmosphere, are working together again on an air-launch system to provide orbital access to space with greater safety, cost-effectiveness and flexibility.

Allen’s new company, Stratolaunch Systems, will build a mobile launch system with three primary components. One will be a carrier aircraft, developed by Scaled Composites, the aircraft manufacturer and assembler founded by Rutan. It will be the largest aircraft ever flown.

The system will also have a multi-stage booster, manufactured by Elon Musk’s Space Exploration Technologies. It will also have a state-of-the-art mating and integration system allowing the carrier aircraft to safely carry a booster weighing up to 490,000 pounds. It will be built by Dynetics, a leader in the field of aerospace engineering. Stratolaunch Systems has set a goal of bringing airport-like operations to the launch of commercial and government payloads and, eventually, human missions. Plans call for a first flight within five years.

Wroxton House Hotel near Banbury is offering a truly uplifting Spring Break from 9th – 11th March 2012 with entertainment from Elgar and the Orchestra.

The event has been arranged in conjunction with Arts in Residence, a specialist promoter of cultural breaks in the UK. You are invited to get away from it all at this quintessentially English Hotel whilst enjoying some of Elgar’s most rousing works and learn more about ‘the man behind the music’.

The package includes 2 night’s dinner, bed and breakfast, 2 lunches and an afternoon tea before departure on the Sunday for £275.00 per person (twin/double room), £299.00 (single room). The price includes all meals, wine, beverages, course fees and accommodation.

Terry Barfoot, Director of Arts in Residence said:

‘We offer music courses in country hotels that have been picked for their superbly appointed positions. Wroxton House is a fine example of that as it will allow us to enjoy the experience of music and the arts in comfort and style.

Our courses are open to everyone and offer a friendly house party atmosphere with people who have plenty in common.’

Wroxton House Hotel near Banbury is a beautiful ‘chocolate box’ hotel dating back to 1649 and complete with thatched roof and inglenook fireplace. The hotel is privately owned by Gill and John Smith who have completely refurbished the property with a great deal of love and attention. This beautiful hotel has impeccable style which makes it the perfect setting for the works of Elgar – one of the great masters of the romantic era.

To book please telephone 02392 383356 or email: info@artsinresidence.co.uk  You can also visit www.artsinresidence.co.uk

For further information on the hotel please visit
www.bw-wroxtonhousehotel.com  or call 01295 730777.

Seeking imagination for a big short break in these financially testing times? The Aosta Valley offers great value winter escapes in luxury lodges and sumptuously cosy hotels. All these sweet temptations have one thing in common – a guarantee of a room with a view in one of the best places to kiss in Europe!
www.aosta-valley.co.uk

MOUNTAIN HIGH
Hut is no way to describe this charming alpine beauty, perched high above the delightful alpine village of Champlouc. Stay the night and set off on an early morning snow show walk, adding in some snow yoga for good measure, taking in the towering limestone peaks. Mealtimes are a typically gastronomic affair using local and organic Valle d’Aosta produce. Luggage is carried by snowmobile to this magical Walser village dating back to the 14th century. Enveloped in the serenity of these surroundings, live it up in rustic luxury at Hotellerie Mascognaz and gaze in wonder at where your feet have magically landed! From €230 per night for two on a half-board basis.
www.hotelleriedemascognaz.com

BELLE VIEW
Take refuge at the Hotel Bellevue in the unbelievably beautiful and tranquil village of Cogne deep in the natural habitat of the Gran Paradiso Nature Reserve. This home away from home offers views over the protected and peaceful surroundings where wild ibex graze freely and more than one hundred wild bird species, including the Golden Eagle, fly high. Cogne is reached only by one sole winding road from the deep Aosta valley below, ensuring a big short break like no other. From €210 per night for two on a bed & breakfast basis. www.hotelbellevue.it

BLIND DATE, COURMAYEUR
Cupid strikes his bow on 14th February in Courmayeur each year, as Saint Valentine is the Patron Saint here! Courmayeur boasts a festival of lovers like no other and the Aostans really know how to party! Fancy dress processions weave through the cobbled streets to the beat of local folk music, bright red heart shaped balloons adorn street corners, and anyone looking for love and a spot of alpine dating can leave love letters on one of the notice boards and Cupid will oblige! Kick back and relax a deux in the heart of Monte Bianco country! Book into the appropriately named Mont Blanc suite with a private rooftop Jacuzzi and count the stars surrounding this beast of a mountain one by one – you won’t be left wanting anything else! From €280 for two per night on a bed & breakfast basis. www.montblanchotel.it

Wendy Wu Tours, a provider of tours to China, rolled out the brochure for its new Wendy Wu Concierge program. Wendy Wu Concierge is designed for clients looking for the ultimate travel experience and custom itinerary design. According to Wendy Wu, founder and chief executive officer of the company, “Wendy Wu Concierge was created specifically for the American market, a premium service offering luxury vacations custom built by our destination specialists and the individual client to create a personal and unique experience.”

Mark Grundy, senior vice president of the company, said, “Wendy Wu Concierge is designed for clients who want to experience the very best of a destination and do it completely on their own terms — the ultimate destination with the ultimate in luxury. The pinnacle of luxury travel, Wendy Wu Concierge is the culmination of everything Wendy has learned in 20 years of taking travelers to China.”

Wendy Wu Tours began operations in 1998 and provides first-class group tours and luxury arrangements for individuals and private groups visiting China. Wendy Wu Tours has offices in Shanghai, Xian, Sydney, London and New York.

The coming W Paris — Opera Hotel represents a new style for hotels in the City of Light. W Hotels Worldwide will mark its debut in France on Feb. 14 with the opening of W Paris — OpÈra hotel. Owned by Barcelona-based Meridia Capital, the hotel is set inside an elegant 1870s Haussman-era heritage building.

Situated across the street from the OpÈra Garnier, W Paris — OpÈra was conceptualized to create a dynamic dialogue between the historic faÁade of the building, Paris as the City of Light, and W’s DNA by infusing a sense of energy into the quintessential Parisian neighborhood. This approach results in a stimulating fusion of New York’s dynamism and its never-ending energy with the sophistication and culture of Paris.

The hotel design revolves around an oversized backlit digital undulating wall that defines the central core of the building and weaves through the public and private spaces. The “spark” will appear as a dotted pattern that forms abstract clouds. This wall will be set at various tempos to create different moods to match the season, event, time of day, and location within the hotel, bringing the historic building to life with a glowing vibrancy. The elevators, DJ booth and staircases will be cloaked in red to give the illusion of being inside an epicenter of energy.

Historic features of the 19th century building, such as ornamented columns, vaulted ceilings, marble staircases and fireplaces, have been partially restored, celebrated and often juxtaposed against contemporary elements. The original stained-glass windows and mosaic flooring on the second floor will be protected to reflect the building’s heritage.

The five-story hotel will have 91 stylish guest rooms, including 20 suites and two Extreme WOW Suites (W’s interpretation of the Presidential Suite). With soaring ceilings up to three and a half meters in height, the guest rooms and suites offer a contemporary, spacious design and stunning views of OpÈra Garnier and the Parisian streets. For more information, call 011 33 (0)1 44 77 10 68.

Imaginative Traveller, the one-stop-adventure-specialist-shop for travellers wanting to select the ‘best of the best’, is showcasing 175 trips to 68 destinations across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East in its 2012 brochure, out now.

Of those trips, cherry picked from leading global operators including ‘The Adventure Company’, Dragoman, Gecko’s, Intrepid and Peregrine, over 110 are new , 19 of them ‘family adventures’.

Brand Manager, Liddy Pleasants, who has worked for Imaginative Traveller for over half of the company’s 20 years in the business, says, “Using our destination knowledge and travel expertise, we’re able to select the most imaginative, exciting and fun adventure tours from around the world.”

Trips fall into two categories; ‘Traveller Basic’, which are predominantly (but not exclusively) trips which use public transport, and ‘budget’ accommodation in locally-owned hotels and ‘Traveller Plus’, which are predominantly (but not exclusively) trips which use private transport and superior accommodation in locally-owned hotels.

Imaginative Traveller is also ramping up their most popular service this year: bespoke, tailor-made adventures for groups of all sizes to almost 70 global destinations. Trips can include anything from luxury honeymoons, trekking trips, beach holidays and private versions of standard group trips and the most popular destinations being Egypt, India, Vietnam and Tanzania. The company is anticipating the sales of tailor made to double this year.

For bookings, contact Imaginative Traveller on 01728 885561 or visit www.imaginative-traveller.com

Here are Imaginative Traveller’s Top 5 new trips for 2012

The Best of Burma, 15 days from £1,002 per person ex Rangoon or £1718 per person including flights ex UK.
Why? Now the tourist embargo has been lifted, Burma is fast becoming one of the most popular requested destinations in South East Asia. View the Shwedagon Pagoda, visit the giant stupa and Buddha in Bago, Cruise the Irrawaddy River to Mandalay, discover the temples of Pagan, meet the fisherman of Inle Lake.

Week in Jordan, 9 days from £659 per person ex Amman or £919 per person including flights ex UK.
Why? 2012 marks the 200th anniversary of the ‘discovery’ of Petra, and, after an unsettled period earlier this year, bookings – and consumer confidence – are now recovering strongly. With Libya and Syria currently off limits, Jordan will be the one to watch in the Middle East.

Teens on the Trail, 13 days from £1,399 per person ex Lima or £2004 per person including flights ex UK. Why? Why spend another boring beach holiday with the family when you can take them on one of the most adventurous trips on offer: mountain biking around Cusco, trekking the Inca Trail, river rafting and a homestay in local village houses in Chinchero. In fact, the only down-side to the tour is that your children will probably beat you to Machu Picchu. Please note that although the large majority of Imaginative Traveller trips are for children aged 6 years plus, this trip if for children aged 12 years and over.

Bolivia and Argentina Overland, 21 days from £1140 per person ex La Paz or Buenos Aires or £2126 per person including flights ex UK.
Why? Argentina was identified as one of the emerging destinations of 2012 at this year’s World Travel Market. With a stunning overland drive through spectacular scenery, the opportunity to stay on an Estancia to learn the way of the gauchos, visits to world-class vineyards and more, this trip immerses passengers in the ‘quintessential Argentinean experience’, as well as including highlights of neighbouring Bolivia and Chile, such as the Uyuni Salt Flats and the Atacama desert.

The Wilds of Iceland, 11 days from £1810 per person ex Reykjavik or £2107 per person including flights ex UK.
Why? Most tours in Iceland just hug the edge of this wild and extraordinary country, but this one takes you deep into the incredible landscapes of the interior. Part of the trip is by foot, part by 4WD jeep, so that passengers won’t just see the highlights but also venture into the areas almost impossible to explore independently. Highlights include the Gullfoss Waterfall, a three day trek through the highlands, a visit to Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon (home to numerous floating icebergs -and one of Iceland’s most famous natural phenomena) and a glacier hike on the largest icecap in Europe.

Notes to Editors
Imaginative Traveller has been operating for over 20 years and provides trips which allow groups of up to 22 people to experience a country’s quintessential culture. Trips include unique homestays, distinctive activities, original itineraries and unusual accommodation and transport, all in the company of exceptional local and western guides.

From October 2011, Imaginative Traveller joined Dragoman Overseas Travel Ltd.

Scottish mountain bike holiday experts Highlands & Islands Adventures, best-known for their epic all-mountain tours, have just launched a new trip that focuses as much on the fabulous food, drink and culture of Scotland as it does on the tasty trails.

The new, week-long ‘Tastes and Trails of Scotland’ mountain bike tour gives you the chance to explore some of the more off-the-beaten-track corners of the west coast of Scotland – not just on your mountain bike – but by steam train, boat, and on foot, ensuring you soak up as much of the wild, natural beauty of Scotland as possible.

Highlights of the vacation include: a trip on the Jacobite Express steam train, made famous in the Harry Potter movies and voted as one of the top train journeys in the world by National Geographic magazine; a Michelin-starred lunch at Kinloch Lodge on Skye; a walk to a secluded hilltop bothy; whisky tasting; a wildlife boat trip off Applecross followed by world-class seafood at the Applecross Inn; and more outstanding Highland hospitality than you can shake your kilt at!

This mountain bike adventure takes in the majesty of the Cairngorms, the pure, white sands of Arisaig, the rugged wilderness of the Isle of Skye, and the untouched beauty of the Applecross peninsula.

H&I Adventures currently have three dates planned for 2012 at a cost of £955 per person. This includes seven nights’ 3-star accommodation, breakfasts, all transport throughout the week, the services of a fully qualified mountain bike guide and driver, a wildlife boat trip, and a distillery tour and whisky tasting.