Jetsettersblog

Virgin Atlantic announced details of its new Clubhouse at New York-JFK Airport.

It will be 10,000 square feet and will open early next month. The design is a joint effort of an in-house design team and the New York-based architectural practice, Slade Architecture. The idea is create an “Uptown” themed space. It will be a combination of a private members club, boutique hotel lobby, restaurant service and chic bar plus a few surprises. It will be located airside, adjacent to the Virgin Atlantic gates, allowing passengers to maximize their time in the Clubhouse before boarding the aircraft.

The new lounge will also introduce Virgin Atlantic’s first overseas spa.

As part of the spa treatments, there will be the first-ever hair salon in any U.S. business class lounge, with services provided by renowned New York City-based salon and product company Bumble and bumble.

Virgin Atlantic offers three daily flights from JFK to London Heathrow, plus additional twice-daily flights from Newark to London Heathrow.

Encompasses Four Corners of Central Europe

Tour Itinerary Showcases Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Czech Republic
To Reveal Secrets of the Austro-Hungarian Empire

SCOTTSDALE, AZ, – European travel company Pure Adventures (http://pure-adventures.com/), a division of Discover France Adventures (http://www.discoverfrance.com), announces new “4 Corners of Central Europe” 8-day self-guided cycling tours revealing Old Europe that was once part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire of the Hapsburg dynasty.

Cyclists exploring at their own pace the intersections of Austria, Slovakia, Hungary and the Czech Republic are armed with maps, lodging, breakfast daily, luggage transfers, local emergency support, cell phone rental (for local calls only), orientation, riding routes and cue sheets, suggestions for visitation and dining, bike delivery, pickup, fitting, and fully equipped bicycle rental for the duration with GPS device for navigation (one per group or couple).

The self-guided per person double occupancy rate is 1290 Euros; a single supplement is 350 Euros. For those more comfortable with a guide, special escorted tour departures are July 15-20 and Aug. 26-Sept. 2, 2012. Custom guided tours can be arranged for a minimum of four guests. The price is slightly higher per person at 1940 Euros based on double occupancy, inclusive of everything on the self-guided program plus a guide, support van, and some guided visits at selected sites. See: http://pure-adventures.com/tours/central-europe-cycling.php

“These four countries represent some of the best historic cycling in Central Europe,” said Loren Siekman, Discover France director, who added that mornings may reveal a UNESCO heritage site with time in the afternoon for a castle visit or winery.

Accommodations are three-star guest houses and small hotels. Some meals are taken in the hotel or just a short walk away. Accommodations include a private bathroom and a variety of other amenities. Local guides and experts are available by phone to assist during a self-guided trip with any kind of emergency and breakdown (except flats). Maps provided are accurate, topographical maps by national map publishers such as the Czech Tourist Club (Czech Republic) and VKU Harmanec (Slovakia). The scales of all maps are 1:50 000 or 1:75 000.

Travel includes the Lednice-Valtice area, a composed landscape created by the Liechtenstein family, dotted with follies, ponds and chateaux. The powerful Esterhazy family settled in Austria’s Eisenstadt and Hungary’s Fertöd where they employed the famous composer Joseph Haydn. Lake Neusiedl is a highlight in the lowlands of Burgenland, ideal for leisurely biking, birdwatching and refreshing swims. This tour, with the exquisite wines of Burgenland and the hearty cuisine of Hungary, blends easy cycling with a mix of architecture and nature preserves.

About Pure Adventures
Pure Adventures http://pure-adventures.com/ is an outgrowth of the success of Discover France Adventures, in its 18th year in 2012. Discover France Adventures has been organizing bicycle tours and hiking tours in France since 1994 and has offices in the US and France. Discover France is a pioneer in bringing self guided cycling and hiking and now multisport adventures to a broader market outside of Europe. Discover France Adventures and Pure Adventures award-winning tours are “competitively priced yet high quality with substantial support,” reports Loren Siekman, Discover France director, “a unique combination that makes a Europe adventure more easily accessible to more people.”

Visit http://www.discoverfrance.com  and http://pure-adventures.com / for all the details or contact them by phone at 800.960.2221 or by email at info@pure-adventures.com

The whole family will thrill to the sight of the Dromoland School of Falconry’s feathered friends

Newmarket-on-Fergus, IRE. — What could be better than a destination vacation at a luxurious castle hotel in Ireland? Why, the opportunity to experience a legendary creature in its native habitat, of course–and at a package rate.

Dromoland Castle in County Clare is a wonder unto itself, with its lavish interiors, fine dining, deluxe accommodations, spectacular amenities, and wealth of outdoor recreational opportunities. Add the Dromoland School of Falconry to the mix, and flights of fancy surely follow. The falconry school is home not only to the eponymous falcons, but also to creatures even more mysterious, known for being lethal night hunters, incredibly beautiful, and the favored companion of Harry Potter. Yes, it’s the owl!

Seeing an owl in the wild is a rare treat, but with this Owl Evening Family Package experience, guests will get to spend time with them up close and personal. The experience begins when an expert falconer explains what to expect from the evening. Guests are then guided on a journey through the ancient walled garden, with the owls’ spooky evening calls haunting the night.

The Owl Evening Family Package, available through April 22, 2012, includes one night’s accommodation in a luxurious guestroom and a full Irish breakfast for two adults and up to two children (under12 years). Rates begin at € 295.00 EUR total per room.

Dromoland Castle: sending spirits soaring at every turn

About Dromoland Castle:
Dromoland Castle, located in Newmarket-on-Fergus, County Clare, was built in the 16th century. Majestically set on the shores of Lough Dromoland, it is surrounded by over 410 acres of breathtaking scenery, including a championship parkland golf course. Lavish interiors, fine food and superb wines complement the deluxe accommodations of the Castle’s 99 guest rooms, while Dromoland Castle Golf and Country Club, an intimate spa and traditional outdoor recreational opportunities ensure a unique guest experience.

Dromoland Castle is located at Newmarket-on-Fergus, Co. Clare, Ireland. The hotel can be contacted at 011 353 61 368144 or 1-800-346-7007; website www.dromoland.ie.  Reservations can be made through the hotel (sales@dromoland.ie); through The Dromoland Collection at www.dromolandcollection.ie ; or through Preferred Hotels & Resort at 1.800.323.7500 or www.preferredhotels.com.

The Dromoland Collection comprises Dromoland Castle and Castlemartyr Resort, two of Ireland’s finest and most celebrated hotels. The hotels in this collection embody the legendary Dromoland tradition of incomparable hospitality complemented by exquisite surroundings, yet each possesses a distinctive style, character and charm all its own.

Celtic Tours is offering a new Castles and Cottages self-drive package for Ireland and is promoting the package by offering travel agents 18 percent commission on the land portion to sell it. The package provides the means to explore the back roads of Ireland staying in luxury castle hotels and bed and breakfasts chosen from a selection of possibilities. The package is available from April through November, priced $699 per person double occupancy, land only.

Celtic Tours is a family-owned company founded more than 40 years ago, offering travel programs to Ireland, the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, other European destinations, Australia, New Zealand and Tahiti.

The Hotel Der Kleine Prinz Baden-Baden has created a new app that is now available for free at the Apple App store.

The app offers a wide variety of additional services to the user. Apart from the hotel presentation with its high-quality 360-degree tours through guest rooms and suites, users will find useful travel information related to the hotel and the city of Baden-Baden with its surroundings. Services include directions to places of interests, weather forecast, local news and exclusive hotel offers for various occasions. An integrated booking template enables mobile reservations. For more information, email info@derkleineprinz.de

London’s townhouse-style 51 Buckingham Gate, Taj Suites & Residences is offering the Romance at 51 package, priced from $780 and including one night’s accommodation for two adults in a Junior Suite or One-Bedroom Suite, Champagne breakfast, two treatments (one per person) at the Spa at 51, half bottle of Champagne or bottle of white or red house wine, strawberries dipped in chocolate, romantic candlelit bath for two, romantic turndown gift, and complimentary evening drinks and canapés in the Library from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. For more information, call 888-922-7096 or email reservations@51-buckinghamgate.co.uk

Chicago-based specialty travel company Vacations By Rail’s European product line grew this year with the addition of five new independent rail vacations to some of Europe’s most popular cities. New packages include the following city combinations: Berlin-Prague-Vienna, Paris-French Riviera, Prague-Vienna-Budapest, Rome-Florence-Venice and Vienna-Salzburg-Munich.

Each European rail package includes centrally located hotels with daily breakfast, city orientation tours, and first-class rail travel and seat reservations connecting each city. New European rail vacations start at $1,215 land only, per person double. For more information, call 877-929-7245.

Discover the contrasting scenery of Oman’s Wahiba Sands, Hajar Mountains and Muscat’s dramatic coastline on a new camping and private yachting adventure with luxury travel specialists, Scott Dunn.

Brand new for 2012, this new itinerary begins with a night at each of the new luxury tented camps in Wahiba Sands and in the Hajar Mountains, followed by a night on a private yacht, dropping anchor at uninhabited islands with powder white sand beaches.

The first part of the adventure begins by visiting the old domed mosque at Jalan Bani Bu Ali near the town of Al Kamil before exploring the depths of the Wadi Bani Khalid, clambering over giant boulders or swimming in the crystal clear waters of the wadi. Guests can climb the lonely mountain tracks where they will find no signs of civilisation other than a distant Bedouin tending his camels.

Whilst at the new Wahiba Sands camp, guests can watch the setting sun from the stylish Majlis or ‘meeting’ tent which is luxuriously furnished with low hand-carved Arabic furniture, cushions and traditional hand woven rugs. Lamps and candles are lit in preparation for nightfall when binoculars and maps of the night sky are provided for budding stargazers.

Following the desert, the adventure continues northwards into the Hajar Mountains. Stopping en route at the old settlement at Mizfa near Ibra, guests can make the rest of the journey into the mountains on foot. This journey takes in the deserted village of Birkat Al Mawz and ruins of Tanuf before finishing the ascent at the new Tanuf Mountain camp located at 1,000m with views towards Oman’s highest peak, Jebel Shams.

The next day, guests will set sail on their very own private yacht. Sailing highlights include the islands of Sawadi, the world-class Marina Bandar Al Rowdha, turtle-shaped Fahal Island and the picture-perfect Damaniyat Islands, offering a treasure trove of secluded bays and shallow reefs of vibrant colours where guests can snorkel with tropical fish, rays and even turtles. The itinerary concludes at Shangri-La Barr al Jissah Resort and Spa for three final nights of luxury.

Guests can also extend their holiday with a few nights relaxing in the Maldives with easy connections with Oman Air from Muscat to Male.

Luxury travel specialists, Scott Dunn can arrange seven-night tailor made itinerary including one night at the Chedi Muscat on arrival, one night luxury camping in Wahiba Sands, one night in the Hajar Mountains, one night on a private yacht charter and three nights at the Shangri-La Barr al Jissah Resort and Spa from £2,245 per person including Oman Air flights and transfers.

For more information on Scott Dunn’s tailor-made holidays to Oman call 020 8682 5075 or visit www.scottdunn.com

Many tourists have already discovered and fallen in love with Lagos in the Algarve, Portugal: with its friendly locals, superb beaches, modern marina and eclectic nightlife, it is a fabulous holiday destination. Now the word is spreading and tourists and travel editors have recently voted Lagos into first place on TripAdvisor’s list of “15 Great Cities to discover in 2012″

With the opening of the A22 motorway, Lagos is now only a 50 minute drive from Faro airport so more tourists are travelling further west for their holidays to the Algarve. Many who reach Lagos are so impressed with the unspoilt historic town with its numerous restaurants and bars, and beautiful beaches, that they are hooked and vow to return again.

There is a wide choice of accommodation in and around the city but the recently opened Belmar Spa & Beach Resort offers a modern, stylish four star resort in an enviable location overlooking the Porto de Mós beach, but still only a few minutes drive from the city centre.

The resort is ideal for family holidays and those who wish to go out and explore the locality and all it has to offer. The professional Reception staff can help to advise visitors on things to do which may include: dolphin watching, boat trips, hot air balloon trips, mountain bike treks, visits to the zoo and museum to name but a few.

To relax after a busy day exploring, Belmar Spa offers luxurious beauty treatments in addition to the extensive indoor facilities including pool, sauna, Turkish Bath, Jacuzzi, hydrotherapy pool and gymnasium.
There are also four outdoor pools, a sports pitch/tennis court and a children’s playground to keep the kids happy.

The resort comprises an aparthotel with studio, one and two bedroom apartments and two bedroom duplex apartments, in addition to two clusters of two and three bedroom apartments. All accommodation is spacious and luxurious with all the conveniences of modern day living, including satellite television, air conditioning, fully equipped kitchen, including dishwasher and washer/dryer, a safe and underground parking.

All accommodation is self-catering; however a continental buffet breakfast is served daily in the main restaurant. This can be pre-booked when making a reservation and an à la carte breakfast menu is also on offer. Room service is available to guests in the aparthotel from 8am until midnight.
The Lobby Bar is ideal for an aperitif before dinner at Restaurante Levante*, which offers delicious Mediterranean cuisine in a relaxed setting with striking sea views.

Flights to Faro can be booked with airlines including Monarch (www.flymonarch.com ), British Airways (www.ba.com ) and Easyjet (www.easyjet.com ) from the UK. Aerlingus (www.aerlingus.com ) from the Republic of Ireland. Ryanair (www.ryanair.com ) now offer flights to Faro from the UK, Republic of Ireland and many other European destinations. Car hire or taxi transfers to and from Faro airport can be arranged through Oceânico Direct.

Please visit www.oceanicodirect  for more details. Or call 00351 282 771 810, / e-mail reservations@oceanicogroup.com

*Opening times vary depending on season.

About us: Oceânico Group is one of the leading property developers and resort and golf operators in the Algarve. The Group consists of Oceânico Developments, Oceânico Golf and Oceânico Direct.

Open all year round La Plagne’s brand new swimming pool and SPA complex ‘l’Espace Paradisio will have the most amazing selection of activities and relaxation facilities for the whole family to enjoy. Winner of the Famille Plus award ‘l’Espace Paradisio provides affordable leisure activities and a ‘family friendly’ environment. Boasting a phenomenal view of the slopes, this resort makes for a perfect getaway with plenty of fun and games for the children too.

After an intense day on the slopes you can rest assured knowing that you’ll be returning to Turkish baths, a sauna, a cold plunge pool, a Jacuzzi and much more.

Inside Facilities: 340m2 (Available until September)
- A 70 m2 spa pool
- Turkish baths, sauna, infra-red treatment rooms, cold plunge pool and Jacuzzi
- A play area for children
- A health and beauty clinic with a full array of treatments including massage and facials. (Combi prices from 30€)

Outside Facilities: (Available from June)
- A 280 m2 fun pool
- 3 fun slides (20m long)
- Splashpad (aquatic games)

Fitness Classes all year round:
Aquafitness and aquabiking

To find out more visit www.la-plagne.com