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.

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

Whether guests have tickets to the events or not, the city will be full of spectators and luxury London hotel group Radisson Edwardian has released a series of last-minute offers available during the games. Radisson Edwardian’s hotels are located in some of the most sought-after neighborhoods in London, including destinations near the Olympic sites, optimal shopping destinations and theaters. With prices starting at £160 ($254) per night for a standard double, Radisson Edwardian hotels are an ideal base for exploring the many Olympic event sites.

The Radisson Edwardian Mercer Street Hotel is a new boutique property in London’s hidden village of Seven Dials and is within 30 minutes of the Olympic Park. Rates start from £455 ($719) per night, for a standard twin room, based on a three-night stay.

The five-star Radisson Edwardian Hampshire Hotel is in Leicester Square and has rates from £465 ($735) per night, for a standard, double room, based on a three-night stay.

The Radisson Edwardian Berkshire Hotel on Oxford Street is less than 25 minutes from the Olympic Village and within a 10-minute walk to Hyde Park, the location for the triathlon/marathon and swimming events. Rates begin at £325 ($513) per night, for a standard, single room.

The Radisson Edwardian Vanderbilt is a short walk from the National History Museum and Horse Guards, which will host the Glamazonian Volley Ball competition. Rates start at £249 ($394) per night, for a standard, single room, based on a two-night stay.

The Radisson Edwardian Grafton is ideal for guests who would like easy access to all Olympic venues including the Village, Wembley and Greenwich Park. Rates are from £399 ($631) per night, for a deluxe room based on a three-night stay.

The Radisson Edwardian Heathrow provides a gateway to the South West London sporting venues including Hampton Court Palace (cycling), Eton Dorney (rowing) and Wimbledon (tennis). Rates are from £150 ($237) per night, for single occupancy.

The Radisson Edwardian Guildford is the newest addition to the Radisson Edwardian brand, and is for those who require convenient access into London but prefer a less urbane landscape. Rates are from £295 ($466) per night. All the rates above are shown as excluding tax and breakfast and are strictly subject to availability. Payment must be received at time of reservation.

Trafalgar’s offer is valid on new 2012 air-inclusive bookings only when booked and paid in full Feb. 6, 2012 through March 30, 2012. Savings will vary by itinerary length, departure date, destination and airline. The offer is not valid on itineraries heading to London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Russia, Scandinavia and Eastern Mediterranean, and is subject to availability.

“As the travel industry sees airline costs rise, Trafalgar recognizes that consumers are looking for ways to save wherever they can,” says Paul Wiseman, president of Trafalgar USA. “By introducing this limited-time Anniversary Sale, clients can take advantage of impressive savings that will cover increasing flight costs and still leave extra spending money to bring home memories from their trip.”

Savings are valid on most of Trafalgar’s most popular trips, including the nine-day Madrid, Seville and Barcelona itinerary.

This At Leisure getaway combines several included dining and sightseeing highlights with lots of free time for clients to explore the cities on their own.

In Seville, guests are introduced to Trafalgar’s Be My Guest dining experiences as they enjoy a meal at an authentic Andalusian hacienda.

Other highlights of the trip include hop-on/hop-off sightseeing in Barcelona and a fiery Flamenco show in Seville.

Travelers also have the opportunity to win the Madrid, Seville and Barcelona trip for two, courtesy of Trafalgar and Patricia Schultz, bestselling author.

For more information and to enter to win this fantastic holiday, visit

www.workman.com/1000places/events

But of course, one shouldn’t have to sacrifice certain popular experiences that have always been a must on the tourist trail, so the key here is reading the fine print and asking tour operators lots of questions, which might just uncover some esoteric activities already on the itinerary.

Off to trek the Inca Trail? How about a bit of camel conservation en-route? Heading out to Costa Rica to relish in its varied topography, or get up close to some turtles? Well what about spending a bit of time with one of the laziest and loveliest animals around; the Sloth. Or maybe impress friends at home with a superior knowledge of fruits, having completed a tropical fruits course?

Here’s a couple of ideas, to spark holiday maker’s imaginations in 2012.

Conserving the camels

Visitors to Peru in 2012 have the chance to visit the home of the Inca civilization, the breath-taking peaks of the Andes and its native camels! Those visiting Peru in the New Year can visit the world famous Machu Picchu site and also partake in a week’s camel conservation. i-to-i volunteering offers life changing travel trips including the experience of feeding and caring for these native animals as well as learning ancient Andean traditions such as weaving camel wool, set in an awe-inspiring landscape.

Prices start from £899 per person for 2 weeks land only. Accommodation is provided in a homestay and guest house, spending time and eating meals with local families. The trip also includes breakfast and dinner whilst volunteering, airport pick-up, in-country orientation and 24 hour support. For more information call i-to-i volunteering on 0113 3504 459 or visit www.i-to-i.com

Kung Fu monk

China’s Martial Arts Academy allows visitors to train in Kung-Fu at their own pace with the very best in Chinese martial arts masters whilst enjoying the backdrop of the picturesque Fujian mountains that surrounds the academy. Time away from training allows travellers to discover the untouched surrounding landscape of South East China and partake in group activities such as Bamboo rafting. Mandarin lessons are also a memorable inclusion, giving the opportunity to learn about traditional Chinese cultures, as well as the chance to experience calm and tranquillity whilst meditating with Monks.

Prices start from £899 per person land only for 4 weeks. 27 nights’ accommodation is provided staying on site at the academy, with most rooms boasting stunning scenic views of the surrounding area. The rooms are basic, with one to two single beds with very firm Chinese mattresses and a simple wardrobe for clothes and personal possessions. All meals are provided at the academy and are prepared by the academy cooks. Meals are made in the local style and with local produce; however, some Western dishes are served occasionally, airport transfer, orientation and 24hour support is included. Also included is martial arts training five days a week, meditation five days a week and Mandarin classes. For more information call Real Gap Experience on 01892 516164 or visit www.realgap.co.uk

Chilling with the Sloths

Travellers can make a real difference to orphaned Sloths (ahhh) in Costa Rica. Real Gap Experience offers a trip allowing visitors to stay within a Sloth sanctuary, getting up close and personal with the laziest but loveliest animals in the wild. Highlights of the trip include caring for the endangered creatures and nursing them back into health. The sanctuary, with the help of volunteers, has already returned many injured and orphaned Sloths back in to their natural environment. This trip also allows volunteers to visit the nearby unspoilt Cahuita Beach as well as participate in the unusual activity of tropical fruit lessons.

Prices start from £719 per person for 3 weeks land only. Includes accommodation within the rescue centre (so that volunteers can keep a close eye on their new furry friends at all times), all meals, airport pick-up, details orientation, airport accommodation and 24 hour support. For more information call Real Gap Experience on 01892 516164 or visit www.realgap.co.uk

“Fashion Week isn’t just about the shows themselves; the destinations where they’re held tend to be buzzing during that week with increased activity and more touristic attractions than usual,” says Nadine Hallak, travel expert for Cheapflights.co.uk.

While London hosts one of the world’s most prominent Fashion Weeks, travellers should take the opportunity to grab a quick escape and see how some of world’s other stylish destinations do it.

New York is always first to kick off the global calendar of the world’s most notable Fashion Weeks. This year’s Fall / Winter shows in the Big Apple will run from 9 to 16 February. opening with a spectacular show starting the afternoon of 9 February known as Fame and Music Unite Rocks Fashion Week. This is where up and coming designers and musical artists showcase their talents in a spectacular show where style meets entertainment. Tickets can be purchased online through TicketLeap and start from £51. Other events include a Pop-Up Art Event Celebrating Beauty-Art Fashion also on 9 February and the Small Boutique Fashion Week 2012 Show & Market showcasing handmade goods on 11 February. Flights to New York during February start from £229 return.

Paris Fashion Week takes place from 28 February to 7 March. Here is the true home of haute couture. Those lucky enough to be invited can witness heavyweights such as the houses of Chanel and Valentino weave their magic across the various runways at the famous Louvre. While non-industry folk are unlikely to either be invited or source tickets some other way, the city is still worth a visit during this time as it glitters even more than usual with the buzz of the fashion world and the arts in general. Its streets turn into a veritable runway of celebrity, and people-watching at its sidewalk cafes is practically a live show in itself. For a guaranteed glimpse of celebrity, head to the bars of Hotel Costes, Mama Shelta’s and Pershang Hall. Travellers should also check out the Louvre itself, take a stroll through the streets of St. Germain or simply unwind with a cruise along the Seine. Flights to Paris in February start from £79 return.

Stepping off the beaten track to a lesser known Fashion Weeks is that of Copenhagen, Denmark, which runs from 1 to 5 February. As well as featuring top Danish and international designers, it’s also of great interest for those who enjoy art and culture. Visitors can attend exhibits such as The Designer’s Nest Exhibition on 2 and 4 February, the Henrik Adamson / Fashion Photography on 2 February and the Shoeshibar & APA Presents on 4 February. Copenhagen is a sophisticated, yet down to earth city, with lots to offer the visitor in terms of world class cuisine, culture and of course, beer! Flights to Copenhagen during February start from £98 return.

Staying off the beaten path is another stylish destination – Istanbul, Turkey, where Fashion Week takes place from 8 to 11 February. The event here showcases mostly Turkish designers, many of whom have studied abroad, including designer Asli Guler who spent some time at London’s Central St. Martin’s, Atil Kutoglu who graduated from Vienna, and Bahar Korcan, who has showcased in New York and Paris. Visitors are exposed to brands they won’t find anywhere else while enjoying the wonderful sights Istanbul has to offer, such as Aya Sofia, shopping at the Grand Bazaar or visiting the Dolmabahce Palace. The city also offers some of the best nightlife in the world in districts such as Beyoglu. Flights to Istanbul in February start from £149 return.

Another less mainstream Fashion Week is that of Belgrade, Serbia taking place from 29 March to 7 April, when domestic and some lesser known designers from abroad showcase their creations in a variety of runway events. In a city like Belgrade, attending the shows is not the main focus. Given that it’s outside the Euro zone, its rate of conversion and low ground costs make it highly affordable for Brits. It also happens to have one of the world’s best up and coming nightlife scenes and like New York, is referred to as a city that never sleeps, making it a great weekend break destination for party lovers. For a mix of bars, restaurants and nightclubs, visitors should try Strahinjića Bana Street, known as one of the city’s fun zones. Culture vultures should head to the Bohemian quarter of Skadarjila, the famous Fortress museum showcasing the city’s history and the municipality of Zemun. Flights to Belgrade during April start from £165 return.

To search and compare flights to these or any other destination, visit http://www.cheapflights.co.uk/

The Mere Golf Resort & Spa in Knutsford, Cheshire has launched its first Residential Spa Package for Easter, the perfect way to enjoy a well-earned Easter escape in luxury. Guests can enjoy overnight accommodation in a Club Room, a half hour spa treatment of their choice and make the most of the extensive Health Club facilities which include a 20 metre indoor pool and thermal zone, all rounded off with a two course dinner for two in the new Browns at The Mere brasserie.

This first residential spa package is available throughout March and April, following the resort’s redevelopment and re-opening in March as a luxury Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa, offering world class conference and event facilities, golf course and spa, along with a new build hotel comprising of 81 beautiful guest rooms and suites, and three dining options across the resort.

“Taking a luxurious Easter escape break is the perfect way to spend time over the holiday period. This is the first time guests will be able to enjoy our spa experience as residents following the re-opening of The Mere resort, and this package gives them a chance to sample at their leisure the hotel, the spa and the new brasserie dining experience.. We’re sure guests will leave revived and rejuvenated,” comments Graeme Nesbitt, Resort General Manager at The Mere.

The full package consists of:
Overnight accommodation in one of the hotel’s exquisite Club Rooms
Full English Breakfast
One half-hour treatment in the Spa
Two course dinner for two at Browns at The Mere
Full use of the health club facilities

The Spa Residential Package costs from £125 per person, per night, based on two people sharing a Club Room. The Spa at The Mere has a 20m indoor swimming pool, a large hydrotherapy vitality pool with massage jets and thermal zone, complete with hammam, caldarium, aroma steam room, salt infusion, and rejuvenating experience showers. The Spa offers a range of premier spa treatments including purifying facials & skincare rituals, relaxing massages and body treatments.

It is conveniently located in Mere, Knutsford close to Manchester and Liverpool and just off the M6 and M56 motorways.

Editors Notes:
The Mere Golf Resort & Spa was purchased by the Boler family in 1984 and is an independently owned luxury resort. From March 2012 the resort will offer an 81 bedroom hotel and two new restaurants including ‘Browns at The Mere’ and the ‘Club Lounge and Bar’ alongside its existing championship golf course, conference and event facilities for up to 550 people and a state-of the-art health club and spa. Situated in the heart of Cheshire, the resort is close to Manchester, Liverpool and Chester.

Further Information:
To find out more please visit: www.themereresort.co.uk
You can also follow The Mere Golf Resort & Spa on Facebook and Twitter at:
www.facebook.com/TheMereResort  www.twitter.com/LifeatMere

A suprisingly cosmopolitan taste of the world is on offer in the Peak District’s Historic Border Country – in north east Derbyshire!

Stretching from the Elizabethan splendour at Hardwick Hall past the dramatic hillside ruin of Sutton Scarsdale Hall to the fairytale heights of Bolsover Castle and centred around the market town of Chesterfield, the Historic Border Country is where The Peak District meets Robin Hood Country.

And there’s a surprising international flavour adding to the traditional English feel of historic market towns and glorious Peak District countryside.

How about toasting what was once the the most northerly vineyard in the world – and which celebrates 40 years of wine production in 2012?

Renishaw Hall – the stately home of the Sitwell family for nearly 400 years – not only boasts a fascinating and eccentric history as well as Italianate gardens laid out at the turn of the 20th century, but also a vineyard that has been producing quality English wine for four decades.

Until 1986, it was certified as the most northerly in the world and 40 years on, the vines still produce Renishaw’s white and sparkling wine that can be bought from the Renishaw shop. Vineyard tours and tastings are also available for groups. (www.renishaw-hall.co.uk)

Head nine miles south from Renishaw’s Italian-inspired gardens and vineyard and there’s another taste of Italy in the market town of Chesterfield.

Most famous for its church with a twisted spire, Chesterfield provides more than a few surprises, inlcuding a unique wine shop and restaurant offering a new approach to Italian wine and food.

Both a specialist wine shop and fine dining restaurant, which features in both the 2012 Good Food Guide and the 2012 Michelin Guide, Nonsolovino opened as the ONLY wine shop in the UK outside of London where you an experience a revolutionary wine tasting system – and the ONLY place in the UK where all those wines on offer are Italian.

Food is at the heart of Nonsolovino, which means ‘not only wine’ in Italian, and its latest innovation is their Bocconcini menu, which translates as ‘small bites’ – Nonsolovino’s own version of tapas. (www.nonsolovino.co.uk)

But if Spanish tapas is more your style, Chesterfield has that on the menu too – at a hotel that opened last year bringing a subtle hint of Spanish hospitalilty to the Peak District’s Historic Border Country.

Chesterfield’s first four star hotel – with 100 bedrooms, including 6 stylish suites (two with balcony hot tubs) – Casa has brought a dash of Spanish flair to the heart of this historic market town.

Casa is the Spanish word for ‘home’ – reflecting the family background of hotel developer and Chesterfield-based entrepreneur Steve Perez, the man behind the VK Vodka Kick drinks brand – and the Spanish theme runs throughout the decor, helping create a vibrant, warm ambience.

Its 100-cover restaurant, Cocina, serves first class Spanish tapas as well as traditional local dishes, and uses ingredients grown locally on the farm belonging to Steve Perez. (www.casahotels.co.uk)

For accommodation suggestions and short break ideas in the area visit www.visitchesterfield.info

Marking 60 years of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign, the Diamond Jubilee celebrations will celebrate around an extended weekend on 2 – 5 June 2012. Officially unveiled this morning, the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant on Sunday 3 June will see a procession of 1,000 boats travel down the Thames, from Battersea to Tower Bridge, flanking the Royal Barge which will transport the Queen. The procession, which will include vessels of all shapes and sizes from around the world, including tall ships and square riggers, fishing and cargo boats, yachts, tugs, steamers and canoes, is expected to be the biggest televised event ever to take place.

VisitEngland Chairman, Lady Cobham said:
“The Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant is a remarkable undertaking and a fantastic draw for London. However, the rest of England has also been gripped by the occasion and there are celebrations taking place throughout the country, from the royal family’s official residences, stately homes and national galleries, to parks and public spaces and in private gardens and family homes.”

Here are just a few of VisitEngland’s highlights of the Jubilee year calendar:

Sixty Photographs for Sixty Years – The Drawings Gallery, Windsor Castle
Opening on 4 February, an exhibition of 60 photographs of The Queen, including the work of leading press photographers of the past six decades, will go on display at Windsor. The exhibition presents a portrait of The Queen’s reign as captured in fleeting moments on both official occasions and at relaxed family gatherings. The exhibition includes pictures of Queen Elizabeth II on regional and international official visits, leading the nation on Remembrance Day, in the Garter Day procession at Windsor, hosting Heads of State and inspecting the graduating officer cadets at Sandhurst. It also records important personal and family milestones and her lifelong love of equestrianism and of her corgis. The exhibition will run until January 2013.
www.royalcollection.org.uk

The Wild, the Beautiful and the Damned at Hampton Court Palace
Running 5 April – 30 September 2012, this royal-themed exhibition tells a story about the fascination of love, glamour, celebrity, lust and power and involves some of the key characters that lived, loved and died at Hampton Court Palace – Charles II, James II, William III & Queen Mary II and Queen Anne. Beauty was a good thing: it was a reflection of divine perfection, an indication of virtue. This temporary exhibition will contain magnificent artworks to reveal the stories and scandals, and will include items from the Royal Collection and other public and private collections, many of which are not currently on display.
http://www.hrp.org.uk

The World Comes to Windsor Castle
Held in the private grounds of Windsor Castle on the evenings of 10, 11 and 13 May, the Diamond Jubilee Pageant will pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II’s 60-year reign in a performance that brings together over 500 horses and 800 international performers. Dance, music, military and equestrian displays from around the world will feature in this major show: Around the World in 60 Years and 90 minutes. Visitors will be taken on a journey around the world, reflective of the Queen’s State and Commonwealth visits during her rain: starting out from London and visiting the Americas, Australasia, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe and finally Great Britain. The seven acts draw from their respective continent, ensuring a colourful cultural display. Tickets available at www.diamond-jubilee-pageant.com

Bright, Shiny Diamond Jubilee Beacons – Various locations
England has a centuries-long history of beacon lighting to mark national events and the beacon is widely recognised as a symbol of united celebration. On 4 June, 2,012 beacons will be lit across the whole of the United Kingdom, as they were for the Queen’s Silver and Golden Jubilees. Locations already confirmed include the highest school in England, Flash Church of England school in Staffordshire (which has just 10 pupils); three of His Grace the Duke of Westminster’s estates in Sutherland, Cheshire and Lancashire; and 60 beacons along the length of Hadrian’s Wall – one for every year of the Queen’s reign.
www.diamondjubileebeacons.co.uk

Go Down to the (Diamond) Woods – Various locations
To celebrate the Diamond Jubilee, the Woodland Trust is helping millions of people to come together with their communities to plant 6 million trees. The Jubilee Woods Project, fronted by Patron HRH The Princess Royal, aims to create hundreds of Jubilee Woods across the country, and 60 special Diamond Woods, of at least 60 acres – to transform our landscape in a generation and provide a lasting legacy for many years to come. This includes the Trust’s new Flagship Diamond Wood in the heart of The National Forest in Leicestershire, a haven for wildlife and a monument to Her Majesty. To find out more or get involved, visit
www.woodlandtrust.org.uk

Partake in a Big Jubilee Lunch – Countrywide
Building on the established Big Lunch initiative, the Big Jubilee Lunch will encourage friends and neighbours to share lunch in their local neighbourhoods on Sunday 3 June. Based on the premise that a connected community is a safe and happy community, the Big Lunch Initiative was founded by the Eden Project in 2009 and provides the tools and support needed for members of the public to organise and encourage shared neighbour lunches once a year, and as a result to build lasting and valuable connections. The initiative hopes to double participation numbers in 2012, and to create an annual Thanksgiving Day of sorts, all of our own. To find out more about hosting or joining a Big Lunch, visit www.thebiglunch.com

A Capital Celebration – London’s Exhibitions
In addition to the river pageant, London will be host to several exhibitions on the Royal Family and the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. Showing at the V&A from 8 February – 22 April, Cecil Beacon’s Royal Portraits will include 60 photographs depicting the Royal Family at home and on official occasions. A new permanent exhibition opening at Kensington Palace on 26 March, Victoria Revealed, will look at the life and reign of Queen Victoria – England’s longest-reigning monarch – while Tower Bridge will be re-presenting the Crown Jewels exhibition for the Jubilee year, with new displays showing the jewels like never before.

For more information on Jubilee events around the country, visit www.enjoyengland.com/jubilee