Jetsettersblog

The new 2012 National Forest & Beyond Visitor Guides urge visitors to stop putting off the things they have always wanted to do and tick off a few from their wish list in The National Forest.

Ideas include walking through a carpet of bluebells, going off-road cycling with the kids, waking up in a woodland to the sound of birdsong, taking part in a Murder Mystery Night, staying in a log cabin, bottle feeding a new born lamb or learning to be a chocolatier for the day.

The new guides are bursting with ideas on things to see and do, and where to enjoy the woodlands and countryside. They also serve up a healthy dollop of local food of the area, showcase overnight accommodation and have some brilliant short break deals.

There is a competition inside to win a weekend break for two in the luxurious four-star Priest House Hotel. The fantastic prize includes two nights stay, with champagne cream tea on arrival, dinner each night in the award winning restaurant and full English breakfast each morning.

Over 100 representatives of local tourism businesses and organisations attended the Visitor Guides launch event at the new Radisson Blu Hotel, East Midlands Airport, on Tuesday 10 January hearing the latest news and plans to drive more visitors to the destination. At the event VisitEngland’s Chief Executive, James Berresford, outlined its domestic tourism campaign to promote the country in this special year with the 2012 Olympics and Jubilee celebrations.

Penny Wilkinson, Tourism Officer at the National Forest Company, said: ‘There really is something for everyone in The National Forest & Beyond. The new guides are packed with places to take the family, heritage and history attractions, and suggestions on where to enjoy a good walk in the woods.

‘One of the unique things about this area is the activities people can do – such as woodland crafts, survival schools and even llama trekking! It is definitely the place to tick off some of those things that you have always wanted to do!’

Download the new Visitor Guides at www.visitnationalforest.co.uk or pick up a copy from Tourist Information Centres in and around the Forest. To order a copy of the guide email enquiries@nationalforest.org  or telephone 01283 551211.

The Visitor Guides are produced by the National Forest & Beyond Partnership, which comprises the National Forest Company, East Staffordshire Borough Council, North West Leicestershire District Council and South Derbyshire District Council, to promote the tourism economy in the Forest and surrounding areas.

The New Taipei City Government has recently published a new comprehensive multilingual travel guide for the greater Taipei area. Named ‘New Taipei City, All in One – The Ultimate Travel Guide’, the book focuses on outdoor activities and the top attractions and provides practical information on how to get around New Taipei City.

The guide will be available to buy in early 2012 in all major bookstores across the capital and it will cost NT$149 (£3). It can also be downloaded free of cost via App Store for iPhones and iPads.

VIENNA, AUSTRIA– tripwolf (http://www.tripwolf.com), a mobile travel guide available in five languages, reports over three million mobile travel guide downloads at the end of 2011. This makes tripwolf one of the market leaders in mobile travel guides worldwide. The guides are equipped with valuable travel information, offline maps and an Augmented Reality viewer, meeting the needs of modern travelers. tripwolf’s mobile travel guides are available for iPhone and Android smart phones. Basic guides are free, while Premium guides currently cost $5.99 per destination, including free updates after purchase.

Among more than 200 destinations, the most popular tripwolf guides are those for Berlin, London and New York, followed by Barcelona and Paris. “With over three million guides downloaded for iPhone and Android, we are now among the most successful players in the field of mobile travel apps”, says tripwolf CEO Sebastian Heinzel. “Our apps are especially popular because they work offline and don’t require the user to have an internet connection to utilize the travel information.”

tripwolf’s travel content comes from the tripwolf editorial team, the tripwolf community and guidebook publishers like “Marco Polo” and “Footprint”. The apps combine great travel information and tips with useful features that traditional travel guidebooks cannot offer: With offline maps users can navigate through foreign cities, all without having to go online and pay for expensive roaming charges. Another feature, the Augmented Reality viewer, recognizes sights through a phone’s camera, showing names of nearby sights directly on the display. For the most relevant sights, the app contains further background information by Wikipedia.

The mobile travel guides by tripwolf are available in both iPhone and Android apps. tripwolf also offers white label and sponsoring solutions for travel guide publishers and tourism organizations such as the iPhone app for Footprint Travel Guides and the app for Tourism Tropical North Queensland in Australia which will soon be available.

About tripwolf:
tripwolf (http://www.tripwolf.com) is a personal online travel guide which is also available on mobile phones as a travel app. tripwolf combines traditional travel information from travel guides such as “Marco Polo” and “Footprint” with up-to-the-minute, high-quality travel tips from thousands of travelers from around the world. With over 3 Million guide downloads and 1.6 million app downloads, the tripwolf mobile app are among the most successful travel guides on the market. At the moment, more than 200 guides to the most beautiful destinations in the world are available as in-app downloads, and new guides are continuously being added. On the web users can browse hundreds of destinations and thousands of sights, restaurants, hotels and more and individually create a custom guide for download.

tripwolf is available in English, German, Spanish, Italian and French. Founded in 2008, tripwolf GmbH is led by Sebastian Heinzel and employs an international 15-member team based in Vienna.

The Idaho Division of Tourism has released the 2012 Idaho State Travel Guide.

The guide features regional and local information, event listings, photography, arts and culture listings, winter activities, golf courses, and a list of lodging options.

The guide is also available for download online and will soon be available as an online flip-book.

An assortment of travel planning brochures is available on the website, including the state map and the Idaho Scenic Byways Guide. To order the guide, call 800-847-4843.

Visit California, the official travel resource for the state, will release the 2012 California Official State Visitor’s Guide this month. The guide will feature articles, trip ideas, photography, maps and travel planners, and will be available for free.

The 204-page guide features Rob Lowe on the cover and opens with an introduction by the actor in which he shares his favorite California travel memories. Debuting in this new edition are offerings like California Dreamers, a selection of travel ideas from California celebrities such as surfing legend Jack O’Neill, food-truck entrepreneur Roy Choi and climber Beth Rodden.

Also new for 2012 are local tips and getaway ideas culled from the suggestions of Visit California’s Facebook fans.

The guide also includes 12 feature articles that highlight natural wonders including the California deserts, giant redwoods, north coast and mountains.

Also featured are off-the-beaten track road trips through the state’s river towns, urban finds like California’s microbrew revolution, and experiences ranging from theme park holidays to only-in-California cultural and historical fare.

Other highlights include a large-format, tear-out state map dotted with urban must-sees and destinations like movie locations, shopping hotspots and new theme park attractions.

Also included are events, 32 regional trip ideas and a statewide travel planner with hundreds of resources, destinations, and details on lodging.

Cedar City – Brian Head Tourism Bureau
CONTACT: Steve Szczecina
PHONE: (970) 568-7423
EMAIL: nancy@adventuremedianews.com
WEB: http://www.scenicsouthernutah.com

CEDAR CITY, UT – Where to Retire Magazine has selected Cedar City, UT as a top retirement town to be profiled in the January/February issue, available December 20, 2011 nationwide. Where to Retire is the only magazine geared toward helping people with retirement relocation decisions.

Where to Retire editor Mary Lu Abbott said Cedar City possesses qualities important to today’s retirees. “Located between Salt Lake City and Las Vegas, Cedar City lures retirees with dramatic landscapes of red rock canyons and juniper-studded foothills. The town is an ideal spot for active retirees and outdoor lovers, as fishing, skiing, kayaking, hiking and biking are just a few of the adventures awaiting in nearby national parks. As well, Southern Utah University adds vibrancy and a roster of cultural events,” Abbott said.

Cedar City ~ Brian Head Tourism Bureau learned of editorial plans to feature Cedar City in Where to Retire back in the summer of 2011. “Our office helped identify some retirees for the writer to interview to help tell the story,” states Bonnie Char, PR Specialist for Cedar City ~ Brian Head Tourism Bureau. “Part of our mission includes hosting qualified travel writers and journalists.

We were able to provide Mr. Houser with an itinerary and guide him to area highlights to capture the ‘flavor’ of Scenic Southern Utah.”

“Many people who read this magazine will be encouraged to visit Cedar City to see for them selves the splendor of south west Utah,” Char adds. “We welcome visitors (and residents) to stop by any visitor center, visit our website www.ScenicSouthernUtah.com, or contact our office for any assistance in planning a trip or excursion”.

According to Where to Retire’s press release, ”Each year, 700,000 Americans relocate to new towns to retire. Generally, relocating retirees are healthier, better educated and more affluent than those who choose to not relocate. They bring significant economic benefits to their new states and hometowns. Nationally, two dozen states and hundreds of towns seek to attract retirees as a source of economic development”.

Where to Retire magazine, launched in1992 with the goal of helping its readers find the ideal place to retire, is now celebrating its 20thanniversary. Published six times a year, the magazine covers the best retirement regions, towns and master-planned communities, and has a national circulation of 200,000.

A one-year subscription to Where to Retire is $18.00 (a 39% savings from the newsstand price). The magazine is also sold on various newsstands and at Barnes & Noble bookstores. For a magazine subscription, please visit www.wheretoretire.com  or send a check or money order to: Vacation Publications, Attn: Where to Retire, 5851 San Felipe Street, Suite 500, Houston, TX 77057. Phone Orders: (713) 974-6903.

Ever the purveyor’s of up-and-coming cities, a new year brings yet another opportunity for Hg2 to whip out our crystal ball and be the first to tell you where will be hip and happening in the coming year.

1. Toronto
In a country known for it’s exclamatory ‘O Canada!’ national anthem, there’s no city with more O’s to shout about than Toronto. Thanks to the attendance of indie heartthrobs like Ryan Gosling, the city’s annual Toronto International Film Festival generated more Hollywood buzz than Lindsay Lohan’s playboy cover. Along with the launch of a Shangri-La and Trump Tower, we have high-expectations from this low-key city for 2012.
Buy Hg2 Toronto here.

2. Bogota
Ever since the heyday of the cocaine cartels, Colombia has been stuck with a bad rep, but as the disco powder haze wears off foreigners are starting to take notice of the capital’s rich cultural offerings, mouth-watering foods and lively party scene. Bogota has all the trappings of any big city and the flair of a small Latin town – skyscrapers and world-class architecture sit alongside colourful colonial houses – making this the perfect city to explore the many layers that have been hidden behind violence all these years.
Read Hg2 Bogota here.

3. New Orleans
Many travellers know of the city thanks to the city’s annual Mardi Gras Festival, but since the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans has slowly been rebuilding itself. Now bigger and bolder than ever, New Orleans is back with a bang, reinstating itself as the favourite city of the Deep South.
Read Hg2 New Orleans here.

4. Almaty
Seasoned nomads and jaded tourists; this one is for you. Despite the old cliché left by Sacha Baron Cohen’s Borat, the largest city of Kazakhstan has more to offer than mankinis and vodka. Nestled in the foothills of the Zailiyski Alatau Mountains, head to Almaty in the summer when the tree-lined streets are perfect for wandering through the city’s cafes, shops, bars and historical landmarks. Be sure to get there before the tourist buses disembark.
Buy Hg2 Almaty & Astana here.

5. Johannesburg
Having long played the beast alongside the Capetonian beauty, sadly the city has been better known for its crime rate than its cityscape. Beyond the violent façade, Jo’burg is the city that’s seemingly always on a Red Bull Buzz and people beyond the border are starting to take notice of the city’s urban edge and gritty-cool party scene, even receiving the seal of ‘cool city’ approval by the opening of a number of independent boutique hotels like the Ilali.
Buy Hg2 Jo’burg here.

Hg2 | A Hedonist’s guide to Almaty & Astana (2nd ed)

Written by Isabelle Kallo & Elisabeth Lester

Book: 1st December 2011
iPhone & iPad: mid-February 2012
Nokia: Christmas 2011
Android & Windows Mobile: April 2012
PDFs from Hg2.com: available now

Probably one of the most misunderstood countries, Kazakhstan has more to offer than mankinis and toothless crones. Unfortunately, Borat did nothing for Central Asia’s cool credentials. But with two of its largest cities, Almaty & Astana seeing an influx of hip hotels, trendy bars and cool clubs, it seems Kazakhstan is on the up.

Sitting at the crossroads between Europe and Asia, coupled with its strong historical ties to Russia and a landmass bigger than that of Western Europe, Kazakhstan has plenty to offer even the most seasoned nomad.

Seasoned residents and journalists Isabelle Kallo and Elisabeth Lester scoured through Kazakhstan’s old and new capitals to find the very best of what’s on offer. Almaty, the most populous and popular city is a laid-back town, offering instant access to the mountains, and a walkable, leafy central area brimming with history. Since becoming Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana has embraced its new responsibility with ambitious plans to develop both itself and the country.

Encased in Hg2′s sexy, sleek and discreet book, the Almaty & Astana guide is split into clear chapters allowing the reader to explore where to SLEEP, EAT, DRINK, SNACK, PARTY, and how to take in the CULTURE, SHOP or PLAY, whether it’s just for a few hours or several weeks.

Hg2 Almaty & Astana is available in guidebook form from December, on Nokia’s Symbian/Meego platforms as an app as of Christmas and is downloadable as a PDF from the website now.

For more information and images please contact Marilyn MacDonald
Email: marilyn@hg2.com Tel: +44 (0)20 7221 9668/ +44 (0)77 8859 5108

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About Hg2:
Hg2 was born from frustration, after its founder, Tremayne Carew Pole, lost a weekend in Budapest trying to find a genuinely good bar. Recognising that many people experience the same disappointment, he decided to create a new type of city guide – combining engaging destinations and stylish design with unsurpassed local knowledge, to offer the ultimate handbook to a city break.

Bound is stylishly discrete snakeskin-like flexi-bound covers the guides all follow the same format, covering the best places to Sleep, Eat, Drink, Snack, Party, Shop, Play and take in Culture in each city. Considered reviews, ratings and photography throughout ensure the reader knows exactly what to expect before they go ensuring no disappointments.

The guides are published in print, online (www.Hg2.com) and as downloadable as PDFs, where continual updates from our local reviewers ensure that they never go out of date.

This April, Hg2 launched iPhone apps for all our guides. Building on the content of the guides, the applications also include augmented reality, GPS-enabled maps, user feedback, music playlists, Twitter integration and an itinerary planner. The mobile roll out continued with HP Tablet (WebOS) in October, and Symbian/Meego apps for Nokia in December 2011. 2012 sees a totally new iPhone and iPad app arriving in February and Android and Windows Mobile apps in Q2.

• 352 pages
• 250 photos
• More than 250 unusual places
• $26,95 – £17,99 – 19,90 €
• ISBN: 978-2-36195-008-8

Spend the night in the cabin of a dockside crane that you can rotate, in a tent hanging from a tree, in the depths of a salt mine, an igloo, a round house that turns with the sun, a survival podfrom, an oil rig platform, a giant hamster cage, a coffin, at the top of a lighthouse, in a cidercask, a glass pyramid, aboard a plane, on a private island, in a house anchored to the top of a factory smokestack, in a red cube in the countryside, in a train, a chapel or a prison…

Our selection of hotels, B&Bs, self-catering cottages and other unconventional lodgings, the result of five years of research, will let you spend a night unlike any other, which you will never forget.

More than 250 unusual properties, starting at €10 a night.

Written by local experts, our Secret Guides are intended for local residents and curious travelers alike.

JONGLEZ PUBLISHING – LOCAL GUIDES BY LOCAL PEOPLE

Already published:

Secret Amsterdam
Secret Barcelona
Secret bars and restaurants in Paris
Secret Brussels
Secret Florence
Secret French Riviera
Secret Geneva
Secret Lisbon
Secret London – an unusual guide
Secret Madrid
Secret Paris
Secret Provence
Secret Rome
Secret Tuscany
Secret Venice
Forbidden Places
Unusual Hotels of the World
Unusual Hotels – France
Unusual Hotels – UK & Ireland
Unusual nights in Paris
Unusual shopping in Paris

Thailand’s Premier Boutique Wellness Resort, Launches its first ever Cook Book

The Love Kitchen, the in-house restaurant, at ABSOLUTE SANCTUARY is proud to announce the launch of its much awaited cook book Food Made with Love from the Love Kitchen.

The thrice-nominated restaurant for Best Spa Cuisine of the Year by Asia Spa is well known for its signature dishes like Cheong Mon Burrito, Nori Handrolls and Sanctuary Spring Rolls. It has grown from strength to strength since its humble beginning and the recipe book epitomizes its success. Absolute Sanctuary, known for its wellness holiday programs, has carefully selected 60 of the restaurant’s most popular dishes and delightful thirst quenchers to be featured in the hard cover cook book.

“Over the years we have been inundated with constant requests from guests for recipes to take home with them to continue eating healthily at home. Recognising this need and with a mission to spread the love for cooking healthy and tasty meals, the idea of the cook book was born,” explains Executive Director Claire Bostock-Huang. “The menu at The Love Kitchen is a collection of recipes from inspiring chefs who have helped shape the restaurant namely Lucas Rockwood, Lisa Esposito and Dara Duchanee, and the recipe book showcases their passion and love for cooking healthily which is the essence of the Love Kitchen and the cook book.” Ms Bostock-Huang enlightens.

The Love Kitchen at Absolute Sanctuary was opened in 2008 with the fundamental concept of serving tasty but healthy food. Starting with a pure vegetarian menu, the restaurant moved towards a spa cuisine based menu in 2009 featuring both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes and added refreshing raw food items in 2011. Known for making healthy food tasty and using fresh natural ingredients, the Love Kitchen’s mission through the cook book is twofold: to demonstrate that healthy food need not necessarily be bland and to bring healthy cooking to the home kitchen.

Available from 18th December 2011, the hard cover recipe book will feature enticing appetizers, vegetarian and non-vegetarian main courses, tempting guiltless desserts, as well as refreshing detox dishes in keeping with the spirit of the resort’s detox focus. A special feature of the book is the heart facts introduction to each recipe giving the nutritional benefits of the ingredients that go into the making of each dish. Written by Singaporean writer Wee Kiat, a fan of the resort and restaurant, the book will be retailed not only in the resort but at selected book stores and wellness centers throughout the world.

To promote the cook book, the Love Kitchen under the directorship of Executive Chef Eddy Choungsomboon will feature a special menu highlighting its recipes from 19th December 2011- 31st March 2012. Chef Eddy will also be conducting cooking classes on an ongoing basis in 2012 for guests wanting hands-on guidance in cooking healthily. Of German and Thai descent and trained in Dietetics & Nutrition sciences, Chef Eddy intends to bring The Love Kitchen up a notch in 2012 with new recipes. A sequel cook book is in the pipeline.

For more information on cook book or The Love Kitchen please visit www.absolutesanctuary.com  or call +66 77 601 190.