Jetsettersblog

The Nam Hai’s indulgent gourmet and spa break

Valentine’s Day celebrations at Vietnam’s most luxurious beach front resort, The Nam Hai, are set to seduce guests with gourmet cuisine, indulgent couple’s spa treatments and the most opulent accommodation in Vietnam.

Resident Executive Chef, Richard Wilson has prepared a romance inspired menu designed especially for sharing to be enjoyed over a poolside candlelight setting with sweeping views over China Beach and to the Cham Islands beyond.

With the resorts resident pianist setting the mood for the evening’s celebrations, guests can enjoy the Nam Hai’s special Champagne cocktail served with fresh strawberries.

The Valentine’s Dinner is US$250++ per couple and begins with Chilled Cream of Asparagus Soup with Truffle Oil.

Duck rillete with cornichions and dill pickles served with melba toast follows leading into the main event offering a sumptuous fresh seafood plate of king prawns, langoustine, oysters, lobster and tuna tartare served with crunchy fennel coleslaw, potato and bean salad and lemon mayonnaise and tomato basil salsa.

Dessert is a grand mariner and chocolate parfait, decedent chocolate tart and lush strawberries.

Couples at The Nam Hai also have the opportunity to indulge at the award-winning spa, a sanctuary for relaxation and renewal of body, mind and spirit. Surrounded by a tranquil lagoon, the facilities include eight luxurious private spa villas, four single and four double. Each spa villa is appointed with a changing room, steam shower, separate private bath and a relaxation room which houses an oversized day bed perched at the edge of the lagoon.

Designed with lovers in mind, the Love Bath Ceremony Bathing Ritual (US$100) including Champagne and canapés, invites guest to luxuriate in a bath strewn with rose petals and infused with a pure blend of aromatherapy oils and Himalayan bath salts.

Unrivalled 5-star all villa accommodation at The Nam Hai amid the unique culture of Central Vietnam combines gourmet cuisine and abundant recreational pursuits in an atmosphere of unsurpassed opulence at Vietnam’s most exclusive oceanfront resort.

Accommodation ranges from one-bedroom villas to a five bedroom beach front pool villa with prices starting at US$750++ per villa per night.

The resort also offers four floodlit tennis courts, badminton courts, basketball court and a state of the art health club. An 18-hole golf course is opening nearby in the near future with bespoke local cultural, historical, shopping and sightseeing tours available on request.

The Nam Hai is 10km from UNESCO World Heritage listed Hoi An, a colourful and well preserved traditional Asian trading port with a fusion of Vietnamese, Chinese and French cultures dating from the 15th century. It is also close to numerous historic attractions, including World Heritage-listed My Son, site of the ancient Cham civilization, and Hue, the former Imperial capital.

The resort is connected to the world via Danang’s international airport, just 30 minutes from the resort, offering direct flights from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Singapore and Bangkok.

The Nam Hai is managed by GHM, one of the world’s leading creators and operators of award-winning, distinctive luxury hotels and resorts, throughout Asia and the USA. The five-star resort is a member of the prestigious The Leading Small Hotels of the World.

For more information on The Nam Hai Resort and for reservations, visit: www.ghmhotels.com

Kipling & Clark unveiled its 2009 Luxury Family Travel Itineraries: Cambodia-Laos-Thailand for Families, 17 Days; Thailand-Laos-Cambodia Family Tour, 16 Days; Cambodia-Thailand Family Expedition, 13 Days; Japan Spring Break Family Tour-Tokyo-Takayama-Kyoto, seven Days;

Thailand and Laos Travel for Families, 12 Days; Cambodia and Vietnam for Families, 16 Days; India Travel for Families-India Highlights, 11 Days; China Summer Luxury Adventure for Families, 17 Days;

China Summer Tour for Families-Hong-Kong-Yunnan, 17 Days; Chengdu-Yangzi River Cruise-Beijing-Shanghai, 17 Days; China-Hong Kong Summer for Families, 14 Days; and China & Japan Cultural Contrasts for Families, 16 Days.

Kipling & Clark provides high-touch, private, luxury travel arrangements to greater China, Japan and Southeast Asia. Long-standing, intimate relationships and extensive experience with the finest hotels, resorts, restaurants and guides enables Kipling & Clark to create custom, unique journeys for discriminating travelers who want to immerse themselves in the culture, food, art and architecture of the beautiful and exotic Pacific Rim.

For more information, call 312-836-9071 or see www.kiplingandclark.com

With A New Celebratory 35th Anniversary CD Rom

Award winning luxury tour operator ITC Classics is delighted to unveil its Platinum Collection 2009, but not quite as you know it.

A NEW APPROACH FOR THE 21ST CENTURY
To launch the Platinum Collection into the 21st Century and to commemorate International Travel Connections’ 35th Anniversary in 2009, the Platinum Collection will first be launched to ITC Classics’ clients as an interactive CD-Rom, featuring ITC Classics’ best selling luxury hotels and holidays from around the world. ITC Classics prides itself on offering exceptional, wholly bespoke holiday experiences which are exclusively commissioned for their clients.

However, this will not be replacing the “coffee-table” style brochure which will be printed early in 2009.

Jennifer Atkinson, Chief Operations Officer comments, “ITC Classics is continually striving to exceed customer expectations at every level. The Platinum Collection 2009 in CD-Rom format will be another first for ITC Classics and is something clients have been requesting. It includes a selection of tempting ideas and activities available at different resorts that the ITC Classics concierge team would be more than happy to organise.”

A SAFE PAIR OF HANDS

ITC Classics operates within the Civil Aviation Authority guidelines and is a bonded member of the regulatory bodies ATOL and ABTA, ensuring full financial protection.

We operate under a strict code of conduct, ensuring that not only are we responsible for each and every supplier involved in every package we sell but also that our service to our clients – from booking to travel arrangements to our after-sales service - is strictly regulated. So to travel with ITC Classics is to enjoy complete peace of mind.

HIGHTLIGHTS FROM THE 2009 PLATINUM COLLECTION

Six Senses Hideaway Ninh Van Bay, Vietnam

Accessible only by boat, the site of the Six Senses Hideaway on dramatic Ninh Van Bay is quite unique, taking full advantage of its secluded setting. Impressive rock formations, a curve of white sand beach, a playful stream and towering mountains behind, all add to the sense of being luxuriously at one with nature.

ITC Classics (01244 355 527; www.itcclassics.co.uk)  offers 7 nights in a Garden View Villa with breakfast including transfers and return flights with Singapore Airlines from £1,505pp based on two sharing.

The Nam Hai, Vietnam

Located on a secluded 1km stretch of the celebrated China Beach near the ancient port of Hoi An, the award-winning Nam Hai is a luxury resort comprising 60 One Bedroom Villas and 40 Pool Villas. Managed by GHM Hotels, The Nam Hai is no ordinary beachfront getaway. This is a benchmark setting for sybarites in search of real class. Sprawled across 35 hectares, this splendid spa resort opened in December 2006.

ITC Classics (01244 355 527; www.itcclassics.co.uk) offers 7 nights in a One Bedroom Villa with breakfast including transfers and return flights with Singapore Airlines from £2,120pp based on two sharing.

Shanti Ananda Maurice, Mauritius

Located in the south of Mauritius, Shanti Ananda is spread over 36 acres of tropical gardens offering stunning views over the Indian Ocean. The perfect escape for total rejuvenation, this enchanting resort boasts a luxury 50,000 sq ft spa with 17 treatment rooms, surrounded by water to soothe the soul. Dining comes in all different styles, from Spa cuisine, based on the 5,000 year old medical science of Ayurveda, to Pebbles Restaurant serving International cuisine in a relaxed setting.

ITC Classics (01244 355 527; www.itcclassics.co.uk)  offers 7 nights in a Junior Suite Ocean View with breakfast including transfers and return flights with British Airways from £2,579pp based on two sharing.

Hermitage Bay, Antigua

Hermitage Bay is Antigua’s newest luxury boutique resort. Tucked away beside a secluded white sand beach, this all-inclusive property offers 25 Cottage Suites with an intimate and private atmosphere. Guests can watch the sunset from their bathtub, cool off in the crystal clear waters surrounding the resort or indulge in one of the many treatments offered in the spa.

ITC Classics (01244 355 527; www.itcclassics.co.uk)  offers 7 nights in a Beach Cottage Suite on an All Inclusive basis including transfers and return flights with British Airways from £2,270pp based on two sharing.

FURTHER EXCITING ADDITIONS
• The Beach House at Manafaru, Maldives
• Naladhu, Maldives
• Diva Resort & Spa, Maldives
• Baros, Maldives
• Sultans Way, Maldives
• Raffles Grand Hotel D’Angkor, Cambodia
• Amansara, Cambodia
• Six Senses Hideaway Can Doa, Vietnam
• Victoria Hoi An Beach Resort, Vietnam
• Atlantis, Dubai
• Al Bustan Palace, Muscat
• Ritz Carlton Doha
• Kempinski Soma Bay, Egypt
• Soneva Kiri, Thailand
• La Plantacion, Tenerife

BETTER THAN A BUTLER

ITC Classics has gone one step further in offering their clients the ultimate bespoke holiday experience. ITC Classics’ Concierge is a highly trained team offering a five star service and the best insider knowledge of luxury hotels and destinations. Just a phone call away, they are on hand to ensure every single moment of a guest’s holiday is unforgettable, from swimming with dolphins, to private planes and Christmas trees in suites nothing is too big or too small.

The Concierge team offer a wholly bespoke, gift wrapped service which is 100% tailor-made to suit the wishes of their clients.

To request a copy of the Platinum Collection CD-ROM or for further information please contact ITC Classics (01244 355527; www.itcclassics.co.uk

Cruisin’

Halong Bay, Vietnam – Halong Cruise’s new Halong Violet junk will be launched in September 2009. With just 6 immaculately decorated cabins, including 4 suites, with king sized beds, Jacuzzis, private balconies and personal butler service, the Halong Violet will provide a unique experience on Halong Bay. Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1994, Halong Bay’s karst islands rise up out of emerald waters covered in vegetation. Only a few are habitable; many have been sculpted into strange shapes by the wind and weather. This floating boutique hotel will be able to cruise to untouched areas of the Bay whilst providing all the services you would expect from a 5 star hotel; fine dining, a cozy lounge and spacious library, sun deck, spa and gym.

www.cruisehalong.com

Big River

Mekong River, Vietnam-Cambodia – Founded in 2008, Heritage Lines will launch their luxury boutique cruise boat, the Jayavarman in August 2009. Inspired by the golden age of cruise liners, the Jayavarman marries avant-garde French colonial design with enchanting Indochinese architecture to perfection. There are 27 expansive staterooms and junior suites spread over the 4 decks with floor to ceiling panoramic sliding glass doors opening onto private balconies. The boat cruises between Saigon in Vietnam and Angkor in Cambodia, providing explorative journeys of the Mekong River of between 3 and 7 nights.

www.heritage-line.com

On the Beach

Jimbaran, Bali – The much loved luxury Orient Express resort of Jimbaran Puri is set to open 22 new Luxury pool villas in April 2009. Each spacious villa will have its own swimming pool, and hard wood deck where spa treatments can be enjoyed. All villas are set amidst a traditional Balinese garden courtyard, with separate bed and living rooms, and personal, unobtrusive butler service. Villa guests will enjoy all of the facilities that are provided at the hotel. The villas are an exceptional choice for those seeking the luxury of space, privacy, style and comfort in a property on Bali’s beachfront.
www.jimbaranpuribali.com

White Palace

Varanasi, India – With over 100 years of opening and managing hotels in India and beyond, Taj Hotels & Resorts will open the Nadesar Palace in Varanasi in January 2009. Nestled in the heart of this bustling city, amongst mango orchards, marigold and jasmine fields, the 10 roomed Nadesar Palace was built by the East India Company. The meticulously fashioned accommodation, draws inspiration from the city, its culture and its timeless traditions, all accommodation is generously scaled with large windows overlooking the gardens and spacious bathrooms in cool white marble. As with all Taj properties, the newest hotel in their portfolio will provide impeccable service and unparalleled facilities.

www.tajhotels.com

Travel Indochina’s Handmade Holidays Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos NEW brochure for 2009/2010!

Travel Indochina is excited to announce the launch of its new Handmade Holidays for Travellers: Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos brochure.

The brochure is currently being distributed to travel agencies across Australia.

The Travel Indochina Handmade Holidays range provides travellers with a specially-selected range of travel products from across the Indochina region. “Our designers have again produced a brochure that is both stylish and informative – the clear layout means our travel agents and passengers alike can see information about our destinations at a glance, which is great when they are trying to design their own itinerary.” says Katrina Cameron, Communications Manager at Travel Indochina.

This brochure is part of Travel Indochina’s successful Handmade Holidays range including Travel Indochina’s other favourite destinations – India, China, Thailand and Borneo.

You will find an enticing range of options for travelling to Indochina – to help you tailormake the ideal holiday.

The best of our hand-picked hotels and resorts are featured, as well as Travel Indochina’s impressive range of independent journeys. ‘City Stays’, hotel and honeymoon packages, family experiences and unique, local adventures – these itineraries have been designed by our expert staff, who have lived and worked across this region for many years. There is also a wide choice, from half a day to 10 days/9 nights duration, from Budget to Superior and Deluxe accommodations.

NEW! for this year….
As well as some fantastic new hotels (from affordable, boutique guesthouses and home-stays to opulent, once-in-a-lifetime retreat destinations) and independent journeys, this brochure also features more of Travel Indochina’s most popular Small Group Journeys for 2009/2010.

This makes it easier than ever to combine your own hotel stay, City tour or family adventure with the amazing quality and value of a Travel Indochina Small Group Journey. With genuinely small groups of 15 or less like-minded travellers, expert Western tour leaders and local English-speaking guides, unique itineraries, superior boutique accommodation, a genuine commitment to responsible travel, and local offices offering 24/7 support – this is the way to travel in Asia

Crystal Cruises has launched a Save Now, Save Later promotion. When guests sail on any 2009 Europe, Trans-Atlantic or Crystal Symphony Asia cruise, they’ll be guaranteed 20 percent savings on almost every cruise in every category in 2010.

 The 2009 cruise must be booked by March 31, and the 2010 cruise must be booked by Nov. 30, 2009. Eligible 2009 Save Now cruises include all Crystal Symphony cruises departing March 27 through Sept. 3 and/or all Crystal Serenity cruises departing May 23 through Nov. 12. Included are itineraries through China, Southeast Asia, Dubai, the Middle East, Western Europe, the Baltic, the North Cape, the British Isles and the Black Sea, as well as Trans-Atlantic voyages and more than a dozen seven-, 11- and 12-day Mediterranean cruises.

The 20 percent Save Later offer extends to every 2010 cruise aboard the Crystal Symphony and the Crystal Serenity, except the World Cruise and its segments and the December holiday cruises, for a choice of more than 50 2010 itineraries.

LEADING ASIA SPECIALIST LAUNCHES NEW ‘INDOCHINA FOOTPRINTS’
SMALL GROUP JOURNEY

The introduction of a new 13 day “Indochina Footprints” small group journey from Travel Indochina is testament to the operator’s continued commitment to sustainable tourism and further cements the company’s reputation as the leading Asia specialist for responsible travel.

This new addition to the recently-launched Small Group Journeys brochure incorporates all the usual high standards and benefits associated with Travel Indochina’s touring, but also enables travellers to give something back to the destinations they are visiting. Featuring all three of the tour operator’s key destinations, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, the journey highlights many of the issues facing these incredible countries and gives travellers a chance to help out on volunteer programmes for 2 days of the inspiring itinerary.

Travel Indochina’s General Manager, Chris Orme explains: “We are delighted to introduce the “Indochina Footprints” journey to our programme as responsible travel is becoming increasingly important to our customers. To demonstrate our commitment to the destinations we sell, we will donate US$100 to our chosen charities for every traveller who books this journey.”

One of the causes that volunteers can help out with is the Childsafe Centre in Phnom Penh, which was set up to help local street children; guests will also have the chance to eat at a local restaurant run by the disadvantaged kids. Other opportunities include working at the inspiring Angkor Hospital for Children, the Gecko Environment Centre in a floating house on Lake Tonle Sap and taking part in a ‘book party’ organised by Big Brother Mouse, that aims to improve literacy in the rural villages of Laos.

As well as the two days’ volunteering, highlights of the “Indochina Footprints” small group journey include the fascinating sights of Saigon, the mesmerising temples at Angkor, the ornate monasteries of World Heritage-listed Luang Prabang and learning to cook Laos style.

The Small Group Journeys and tailor-made travel arrangements offered by Travel Indochina allow for more genuine experiences with local people and their environments, thus avoiding the negative impacts of mass tourism. With group sizes limited to a maximum of 15 people, Travel Indochina’s customers benefit from opportunities for cultural exchange, with options such as homestays and eco-lodge experiences enabling social interaction with people from different backgrounds.

Travel Indochina differs from many other tour operators in that it employs local staff, wherever possible, in its overseas offices. With a base in several cities across Indochina, the tour operator is better-placed to control the content of its itineraries and the actions of its suppliers. The Asia specialist also involves its customers, enabling them to learn more about responsible travel and how they can help through provision of their ‘Tread Lightly’ booklet. More details on Travel Indochina’s responsible travel policy can be found at:
http://www.travelindochina.co.uk/home/global/responsible-travel

The 13 day “Indochina Footprints” journey starts from £1,530 and is operated on two dates: 13th April and 12th October 2009. Prices are based on twin-share accommodation and include 12 nights’ bed and breakfast, domestic transport, sightseeing as per the itinerary, a western tour leader and local English-speaking guides.

Pacific Delight Tours released its “2009-2010 China & Asia Experience” brochure in tandem with the news of a new preferred partnership with Ritz-Carlton that affords Luxury Gold Experience and Luxury Gold Exclusive tour participants accommodations at the luxurious Ritz-Carlton Beijing and Portman Ritz-Carlton, Shanghai. Additionally, all Gold Exclusive travelers are now upgraded to higher room categories in hotels and on Yangtze River cruises aboard Victoria Cruises Premier Series Fleet.

The new 84-page brochure details many of Pacific Delight’s Asia products, including both categories of the fully-escorted Gold tours, offering the very best in accommodations, sightseeing and cultural experiences: the Luxury Gold Exclusive program, limited to just 16 participants; and Luxury Gold Experience, designed for 26 travelers.

The brochure also details the company’s extensive Yangtze River cruising program, a tour component that is available on most programs: China & Asia SuperValue tours, offering some of Asia’s most popular destinations and sightseeing opportunities, at affordable prices; China & Asia Escapades packages, combining classic Asian cities with culturally-wealthy destinations such as Tibet and Japan; pre- and post options to Tokyo, Tibet, Vietnam and Bangkok among others; and City Highlights packages, allowing travelers to custom design vacations, choosing from among numerous leading Asian cities.

For the 2009-2010 season, Pacific Delight’s Luxury Gold Exclusive and Luxury Gold Experience packages call at China’s most intriguing cities, including Beijing, Xi’an, Shanghai, Guilin and Hong Kong, combined with luxury cruises on the Yangtze River. The 15-day Grand Yangtze River & Huangshan Mountain Gold Experience package actually traverses the river’s longest navigable length, providing guests the opportunity to embark on an excursion to Huangshan Mountain, celebrated for its spectacular rock formations, unusually shaped pines, hot springs and sea of clouds.

The programs also emphasize culinary experiences that blend Chinese and Western meals, including a Beijing Duck dinner party, a feast in Xi’an featuring the Empress Dowager’s favorite dumpling and a Tang Dynasty dinner banquet with traditional music and dance performances. Gold Exclusive guests enjoy junior suites with private balconies aboard Victoria Cruises’ Victoria Anna and Victoria Jenna, a la carte dining and small group shore excursions. Escorted throughout by knowledgeable, bi-lingual Pacific Delight tour guides, these top-shelf offerings range from 13 to 16 days, with prices for Gold Exclusive tours at $4,990 to $6,590 per person, double, and Gold Experience packages from $2,999 to $4,999.

China & Asia SuperValue programs boast deluxe hotels throughout; outside cabins on Victoria Cruises ships; daily breakfast and most lunches and dinners. In addition to eight, 11-, 12-, 16- and 18-day programs to China, some with the Yangtze River, there is the six-day Tokyo & Kyoto program; 11-day Japan In-Depth package; 17-day Thailand & the Golden Triangle; 14-day Visions of Thailand, Vietnam & Cambodia trip; and 11-day Hong Kong, Singapore & Bangkok vacation — all with sightseeing, special cultural activities and performances. Land and land/cruise packages range from $1,299 to $4,499.

The China and Asia Escapade packages — the company’s mid-range product level — comprise a 14-day Japan & China package; a 15-day Tibet and Yangtze River itinerary; and a 17-day Asian Escapade program combining Hong Kong, Beijing, Xi’an, Guilin, Shanghai and Bangkok. Land and land/cruise packages are $3,199 to $3,899. City Highlight packages, where guests mix and match destinations, include upstream and downstream Yangtze River cruises; and cities such as Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Guilin, Hangzhou, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Suzhou, Yangshuo, Xi’an and Lhasa (Tibet). Other Asian possibilities are Tokyo and Vietnam; Cambodia’s Angkor Wat; and Thailand’s Bangkok, Chang Mai, Chang Rai and Phuket.

 Prices depend on the choices made for the personally designed vacations.

All programs feature pre-confirmed hotels; Asia domestic air/land transportation, most meals, sightseeing, local tour escort, fuel surcharges, hotel taxes, service charges and baggage handling. Pacific Delight offers special airfare to China and Asia from the U.S. on United Airlines, Delta/Northwest Airlines, Continental Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airways and Air China. Pacific Delight Tours is the market leader in escorted and independent tours to China, the Orient and Southeast Asia.

For information, call 800-221-7179 or visit www.PacificDelightTours.com

Sheraton Hotels and Resorts have targeted May 2009 as the debut for its Nha Trang property in Vietnam. The 281-room, 30-story Sheraton Nha Trang Hotel & Spa will be the first international upscale hotel brand to open on the beach in Vietnam. A grand opening is planned for June. With its towers operating at full capacity in both Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, Sheraton has expanded to the coast with a hotel that sends up an ocean view from every room.

Sheraton’s first beach resort in Vietnam complements its existing properties in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City — the 299-room Sheraton Hanoi Hotel and the 483-room Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers. The Nha Trang hotel’s eight categories of accommodation range from deluxe rooms to 62 executive suites and one 180-square-meter presidential suite. Its food-and-beverage outlets include a 180-seat international buffet; an upmarket, 102-seat dim sum and noodle restaurant (a first for Nha Trang); a deli; and a wine bar.

The hotel’s full-service spa offers nine treatment rooms, as well as separate locker rooms for men and women, each with steam, sauna and whirlpool. The lap pool will be complemented by a children’s pool.

Given the proximity to Ho Chi Minh City by air (55 minutes), the hotel anticipates robust business traffic. The Sheraton’s nine meetings rooms, including a ballroom and an equally large function room, open up to 1,800 square meters. Upon opening, Sheraton will be rolling out its Link@Sheraton environment, a lobby lounge space that provides comfortable work stations, free Wi-Fi access and Internet-enabled computer stations to guests. The new café concept also provides ready access to plasma televisions, daily newspapers and a variety of food and beverages.

 The product debuted at Sheraton hotels worldwide in September. For more information, visit www.starwoodhotels.com

Ho Chi Minh City’s Caravelle Hotel is stepping into the year of its Golden Anniversary with a new spa package. Between Dec. 1 and March 31, Saigon’s downtown landmark is offering a two-night Caravelle Relaxation Spa Package at $498 for double occupancy. Upgrades to the hotel’s signature deluxe rooms will cost $89 for doubles per night. For suites, the upgrade costs $200 per night.

The special rate includes a buffet breakfast and a spa treatment, including a 60-minute body massage and a 30-minute manicure/pedicure, facial or Qi Shaving.

Opened on Christmas Eve in 1959, the Caravelle won fame during the American War (known as the Vietnam War in the West) when correspondents watched the conflict erupt on the fringes of the city from the hotel’s rooftop terrace and filed stories from bureaus located within and around the hotel. In 1998, after more than two decades of operation on a shoestring budget, the aging landmark was resuscitated with a complete renovation and a complementary, 24-story tower.

For more information, email mcm@caravellehotel.vnn.vn  or visit www.caravellehotel.com