Jetsettersblog

SENSE SPA DEBUTS on Virgin Gorda

AT ROSEWOOD LITTLE DIX BAY ON VIRGIN GORDA

BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS – Perched on a stunning seaside cliff within one of the Caribbean’s most celebrated luxury resorts, the Spa at Rosewood Little Dix Bay is a prized amenity. Now, with the debut of Rosewood’s new spa brand, Sense, A Rosewood Spa, the experience becomes even more rejuvenating, with the addition of relaxation-fostering opening and closing rituals, longer treatments, and the abundant use of indigenous ingredients such as Virgin Gorda honey, goat milk and Neem leaf; and salt harvested from nearby Salt Island.

Classes in movement and yoga have been introduced to energize the kids while parents enjoy their spa experience. These changes blend beautifully within what was already one of the resort’s most sought-after areas: outdoor relaxation spaces; treatment cottages with windows that open to the soothing sounds of the ocean; and spa pools set among three lushly landscaped acres overlooking Sir Francis Drake Channel.

“Far from standardizing the spa, Sense is all about honoring local traditions in healing and incorporating indigenous natural elements,” said Glen Ross, Spa Director. “In embracing Rosewood’s signature A Sense of Place® vision, the Spa offers an incomparable indoor and outdoor environment that brilliantly reflects its breathtaking surroundings.”

The Sense philosophy of Sense of Individuality, Sense of Balance, Sense of Place, and Sense of Tradition comes together to frame and enhance the spa experience with new opening and closing rituals that set a deeply calming tone. On arrival, guests are served a local bush tea of lemon grass and chamomile and complete a new lifestyle questionnaire that forms the basis for customized treatment recommendations. Treatments are now longer – a full 60- and 90-minutes – further encouraging complete renewal. Following each treatment, guests are escorted to their treatment cottage’s private outdoor terrace for “terrace time” – a brief respite allowing them to relax, meditate and absorb the entrancing 25-mile water views.

Sense offers a well-edited collection of treatments, many of which fuse the indigenous botanical resources that proliferate on the island with the traditional spiritual and physical healing arts of the Caribbean culture. “Unlike many spas that add treatment after similar treatment, we’ve actually reduced the number of treatments to hone in on those that are more reflective of the island’s culture and customs,” Ross noted. Among the most popular are:

Cool Aquastones & Aloe Therapy, a wellness-inducing treatment to soothe skin with aloe vera gel from the resort’s spa gardens combined with cucumber, lavender and chamomile.
Little Dix Bay Signature Body Scrub, a fragrantly smoothing blend of organic brown sugar, fresh mangoes and pineapple;

Salt Island Scrub, a deeply exfoliating experience, with tropical oils mixed with salt harvested from the British Virgin Islands’ Salt Island;

Natural Neem Facial, a toning and cleansing regimen, using a paste made from local Neem trees and aloe plants;

Virgin Gorda Goat Milk & Honey Wrap, a body mask of Virgin Gorda honey, goat milk and bananas to nourish and protect the skin;

To help parents enjoy their spa time while giving the kids a spa experience of their own, Sense offers two new high-energy classes for children (aged five and up) - Kids Move ‘N’ Groove and Kids Yoga - that introduce the youngest guests to the health benefits of movement and meditation. The classes are complimentary when a parent has booked spa treatments.

A true sanctuary for the inner and outer self, the hilltop Sense Spa at Little Dix Bay features nine treatment cottages, including a dramatic Cliff Spa Suite, a spa hideaway ideal for individual or couples’ treatments with an indoor room, outdoor terrace, dining area, outdoor shower, and hot tub; a striking bi-level infinity pool; and a hilltop yoga platform. Separate men’s and women’s changing rooms have private lockers, outdoor showers, plush terry bathrobes, slippers and an extensive selection of toiletries.

Perhaps the spa’s most peaceful retreat, the hilltop yoga platform offers 360-degree views of the bay and the surrounding islands. Accommodating private and group yoga classes for up to 12, the spa’s outdoor yoga practice is highlighted by the scent of island bougainvillea and salt air and sounds of the ocean and birds. The spa offers a wide range of yoga and meditation classes, including gentle, power and couples’ yoga; fertility yoga; mat Pilates; guided and couples’ meditation; and complimentary nature hikes along the resort’s Savannah Bay and Cowhill Trails.

Two to four-and-a-half hour multi-treatment packages are offered. Guests can also enjoy treatments in the comfort and privacy of their own suite, under the stars, or on the beach by special arrangement. The spa is open from 8am – 8pm daily.

 

Aberdeen Brunei Senior Masters

The European Seniors Tour will team up with Aberdeen Asset Management to stage an historic visit to Brunei next season for the Aberdeen Brunei Senior Masters, to be played over the Jack Nicklaus designed Empire Hotel and Country Club from February 26 – March 1, 2009.

The Empire Hotel and Country Club, built upon a stunning cliff top location, has hosted the Asian Tour’s Brunei Open since 2006 and will welcome former Ryder Cup Captains Bernard Gallacher and Sam Torrance for the Aberdeen Brunei Senior Masters next year, the Seniors Tour’s first tournament in the region.

The Aberdeen Brunei Senior Masters is sure to have a festival atmosphere as the beginning of the tournament week will coincide with Brunei’s National Day which falls on Monday, February 23 next year.

Martin Gilbert, Chief Executive of Aberdeen Asset Management, said: “We are proud to continue our support of the European Seniors Tour, following our successful three year association with the Senior Open Championship. Aberdeen Asset Management’s sponsorship of the Aberdeen Brunei Senior Masters combines our long-standing commitments to the Asia Pacific region and to golf. ”

Shuif Hussein, Chief Executive of the Stapleford Forum, said: “The Stapleford Forum is the business and networking forum of Stapleford Park and we are delighted to be involved in the first European Seniors Tour event in Asia. We are honoured to play a role in promoting Brunei to the UK and Europe and look forward to a reunion of the biggest names in golf in one of Asia’s best resorts.”

Andrew White, Chief Executive of tournament Promoters WSM Sponsorship, said: “Seniors golf is important to WSM. We are the current leading independent promoter on the European Seniors Tour and run events throughout the world including Barbados, Jersey and Poland therefore we are keen to see the schedule grow not only in the number of tournaments but in the territories into which we are taking Seniors Golf.

“We are also in the middle of brokering a major international TV deal which will serve to promote not only the tournament but Brunei as a leading global golf destination.”

Charlie Perring, Deputy Managing Director of the European Seniors Tour, said: “We are delighted to have this opportunity to visit such an exciting destination as Brunei, which will be a first for the European Seniors Tour.

“Our thanks must go to our title sponsors Aberdeen Asset Management, the Government of Brunei and to our Promoters WSM Sponsorship for enabling this tournament to take place. We look forward to the challenge that the Empire Golf & Country Club will provide for us and the part we can play in promoting Brunei to a worldwide audience.”

Aberdeen Asset Management’s existing golf sponsorships include former Open Champion Paul Lawrie and eight time European Tour Order of Merit winner Colin Montgomerie, as well as Asian Tour golfer Simon Yates and Ladies Professional Golf Association player Mhairi

Red Funnel ferry packages to Osborne House concerts

Red Funnel are offering ticket and travel packages for the Paul Weller and Girls Aloud concerts this July at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight

Red Funnel, the Isle of Wight ferry specialist, are offering tickets to both the Paul Weller concert on 26 July and the Girl Aloud concert on 27 July both to be held in the grounds of Osborne House in East Cowes, Isle of Wight, under a mile from the Red Funnel ferry terminal.

With an amazing catalogue of records from The Jam, Style Council and his solo work, Paul Weller has an amazing repertoire that includes ‘A town called Malice’, ‘That’s Entertainment’,’ Wild Woods’, ‘You do something to me’ and many more. Joining Paul Weller are indie rock four piece The Rifles and Arno Carstens, the South African rock star who featured at the 2007 Isle of Wight Festival.

Red Funnel has now announced they are able to offer fans ferry travel and accommodation packages to see Paul Weller at Osborne House.

Girls Aloud have become one of the most successful British pop groups of the decade, with a record-breaking 18 consecutive Top 10 singles (including three number ones), five platinum albums (including a number one) and record sales in excess of 4.2 million in the UK alone. With hits including their debut ‘Sound of the Underground’, ‘Love Machine’ and ‘Jump’ the pop princesses are set to light up the Island. Support acts will be confirmed shortly. Red Funnel has also announced that they are able to offer tickets to see the Girls Aloud at Osborne House concert which includes ferry travel and accommodation.

Both events take place just a mile from the Red Funnel ferry terminal in East Cowes, at Osborne House, the former home of Queen Victoria, which is one of the Isle of Wight’s top attractions and the beautifully landscaped grounds provide the perfect setting for the summer concerts.

For most UK mainland residents, travelling from Southampton to the Isle of Wight by ferry will be the easiest way to get to the concerts, with Red Funnel’s passenger vehicle ferries operating hourly from Southampton to East Cowes, with frequent scheduled buses with shuttle buses running from both terminals to the festival and official campsite.

About Red Funnel

Red Funnel Ferries has a fleet of 3 modern purpose-built ro-ro ferries sailing between Southampton and East Cowes and a fleet of 4 Red Jet hi-speed passenger catamarans operating between Southampton and West Cowes. Both services operate year-round.

Red Funnel also specialise in Isle of Wight accommodation, event and attraction tickets, activities, car hire, rail travel, insurance and much more.

Ryanair launches new summer routes from Stansted

Ryanair will start two new summer routes from London Stansted to Beziers, France, and Rimini, Italy.

Flights go on sale today and will operate in June, July and August.

Fares start from £15 and £26 respectively.

clickair launches new route from Gatwick

Spanish low-cost airline, clickair, is launching flights from London Gatwick to Vigo in South Galicia.

The three times weekly service starts on June 21, departing on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

The flights will be operated using Airbus A320 aircraft and fares are from £30 each way, including all taxes.

New Spanish routes from Norwich

Three low-fare services to Spain are to be established from Norwich this summer by Spanish carrier LTE.

Weekly flights Alicante, Barcelona and Palma are to start on July 5 with one-way fares starting at £69 (including taxes and charges). Tickets go on sale today.

Norwich airport has a high-profile marketing campaign planned to advertise the new services across its East Anglian catchment area.

Michael Harrington, managing director of the Palma-based airline, said: “These will be our first scheduled flights from a regional airport in the UK and we have chosen Norwich because of its strong local catchment area and the support we have had from the airport.

“We want to establish ourselves as the reference airline for Spanish destinations from Norwich and we are looking forward to extending the range of destinations served and frequency of flights.”

Airport managing director Richard Jenner said: “They are an established charter airline, having worked with UK tour operators such as Thomas Cook and Thomson – indeed, many passengers from Norwich have already flown with LTE to Lanzarote on First Choice holidays.”

“This is a great fit for us – LTE has a three - to five-year plan to develop its route network here.

“They want to fly throughout the winter and then if demand is there over a period of time, they want to increase services to three times a week, which will open up the short breaks and second homeowner markets.”

LTE runs a fleet of seven 180-seat Airbus A320s.

Greatest Elvis’ Fest to Rock Bolton UK

Bolton Arena has been rocked by a surge in ticket sales as ‘The Worlds Greatest Elvis’ joins forces with the original ‘Sweet Inspirations’ group for a one off performance on August 9.

Since going on sale on Monday, fans from up and down the country have been booking their place at arguably the UK’s biggest ever Elvis tribute concert.

Last year Shawn Klush stunned the UK with his incredible likeness to Elvis. Never before had a tribute come so close to capturing the magic of Elvis in both looks and voice on the special 30 years anniversary TV show.

Now, Shawn joins Elvis Presley’s backing singers, The Sweet Inspirations, for the first time in the UK and a spectacular line-up that includes young American sensation Justin Shandor and our very own world class Elvis tribute artists, Steve Preston and Gordon Hendricks.

Steve Preston has appeared on the Royal Variety performance and Gordon Hendricks is the biggest ever winner of the Stars in their eyes TV show.

Gwyn Hughes from Bolton Arena says that excitement has been building for the concert, which will mark 31 years since the passing of the King.

“We are sure the announcement will send the UK Elvis fans into sheer delight, as enquiries have been daily now for a month, said Gwyn.

He added “The thought of Shawn Klush, the Sweet Inspirations and three of the world’s top Elvis tribute artistes all appearing together at this wonderful venue is fantastic.

Bolton Arena is proud to be hosts for this concert, which I am sure, will be an historic occasion for the many Elvis Presley fans here in the UK.”

The show takes place on Saturday August 9th. Tickets can be purchased at the Bolton Arena on 08448 110999, prices are 28, 38 and 48.

A Golden Circle package is also available at 120, which includes top concert seats and access to the VIP lounge, where guests will receive welcome drink, canapes, access to exclusive pay bar, snack bar and after-show party, where they will meet the stars of the show. Free VIP parking also included.

More information, including footage of the artists performing, is available on the official website http://www.theworldsgreatestelvis.co.uk

Band of Brothers WWII Tour

Budapest-based ProCom Consulting Travel Agency’s “Beyond Band of Brothers” tour is run by Americans and Europeans who are passionate about the World War II era and believe that the best way for people to learn this is from the experiences of the people who lived through it.

The company’s goal and mission is to encourage the people that lived through World War II to share their experiences in order for the generations that follow to gain a better understanding. In addition to this special history tour, there is an exclusive “companion’ tour available for those who travel along with a partner who prefer less focus on World War II. The companion tour gives flexibility to see and do other things around the same area while the partner is touring the historical sites.

The concept allows the couple to travel on the same bus, be together at their hotel, and dine together, even though they take different tours in the day.

The story of Easy Company in the HBO series, “Band of Brothers” is the basis for the tour which goes to the same places that Easy Co. trained and fought.

Priced from 3,700 euros ($5,745) per person land-only, the packages include sightseeing, luggage handling, three-plus or four-star hotels. The tours spend two nights in the same hotel at four of the six destinations. The company’s mobile ‘back office team’ handles the luggage while the clients are traveling so that they can go directly to their room after arriving to a hotel. The “Beyond the Band of Brothers” tour begins in London before heading to Paris, Brussels, Nijmegan, Bastogne, Luxembourg, Munich, Salzburg and more. The tour feature almost weekly departures now through October.

Call 011-36-1-336 0203; email info@beyondbandofbrothers.com  or visit www.beyondbandofbrothers.com

Sweden Midsummer Festival in June

Midsummer is a national holiday in Sweden and is celebrated on the weekend nearest June 24. In 2008 Midsummer Day falls on Saturday June 21, but the festivities start the day before, on Midsummer Eve.

Swedes celebrate Midsummer with equal gusto to Americans partying on the Fourth of July. Midsummer’s Eve is celebrated all over Sweden, with dancing and singing around the Maypole. Maypoles are part of an ancient fertility rite that would ensure good harvests. In Stockholm, the Skansen (www.skansen.se) open-air museum will celebrate Midsummer with a three day event of concerts, games, performances and more.

Traditional Midsummer celebrations also take place at Läckö Castle on the shore of Lake Vänern (www.lackoslott.se/slottskalender_eng.asp) about two hours north-east of Göteborg. Läckö Castle is a 17th century castle complete with turrets and spires and an enchanting setting on Lake Vänern. There are magnificent public rooms and furniture, popular summer exhibitions and a castle garden. Opera and concerts are also held here. Midsummer festivities will take place on the ramparts on June 22.

Additionally, June 22-24 the castle will host a medieval marketplace where attendees can hone their archery skills, sample medieval fare and purchase “Middle Age” silver, ceramics, sweets and more.

Visit www.visitsweden.com

Rail Europe Cuts Thalys Fares by 50 Percent

Rail Europe is currently offering up to 50 percent off regular priced one-way full-fare tickets, on all routes of the high-speed Thalys trains connecting cities in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. Thalys tickets can be booked at the banner below, now through Sept. 17 for travel through Sept. 30.

Rail Europe’s one-way Summer Special fares from Paris to Brussels start at $109 (1st) and $70 (2nd). Paris to Amsterdam Summer Special fares start at $146 (1st) and $90 (2nd). According to Jean Michel Dancoisne, CEO of Thalys International, “80 percent of travelers choose the train over air, for travel between Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam.” These cities rank among the top cities visited by American travelers to Europe. Sales of Thalys train tickets year to date have increased 6 percent from 2007.