Jetsettersblog

Abercrombie & Kent unveiled two new family holidays featuring national parks in the American West, The Grand Canyon and Beyond and Discovering California’s National Parks.

The programs are led by expert guides who offer insider knowledge to illuminate the hidden side of the parks and their histories.

“Most families find that their daily lives are so hectic with work and school that summer vacations are the only time they have to truly reconnect,” said Bob Simpson, vice president of product planning and business development at Abercrombie & Kent USA, LLC. “Travel is often the most uninterrupted time they spend together during the year.

But it shouldn’t be a chore to plan. And it’s too important to get it wrong. Our guests look to us to be responsible for their holiday from beginning to end and our goal in designing these new itineraries was to deliver a more active, more engaging, more personalized way to experience these extraordinary places as a family.”

The Grand Canyon and Beyond explores desert canyons, the Colorado River, Zion National Park’s trails and the rim of the Grand Canyon on little-known trails, led by Grand Canyon Field Institute guides.

The trip includes a visit to the studio of photographers Emery and Ellsworth Kolb. Clients can learn about the latest paleontological discoveries in Grand Staircase Escalante and the geology of Zion National Park from private guides.

Accommodations include the Enchantment Hotel in Sedona, with its acclaimed Mii amo Spa, and the Red Mountain Resort in St. George, Utah.

Departures are June 24 to July 1 and Aug 4 to 11. The price starts at $5,095 per person double occupancy. Bookings made by March 31 save $250 per person.

Discovering California’s National Parks presents California gold country and the scenery along the Pacific coast and in Yosemite National Park.

It includes a drive on Highway 1 to the Avenue of the Giants and Redwood National Park and a leisurely float trip down the American River through the heart of California’s gold country. Yosemite Conservancy guides take clients on an easy walk through Yosemite Valley or an energetic Glacier Point hike four miles down to the valley floor.

At a lunch at Ahwahnee Lodge clients will meet historian Lee Stetson (featured in Ken Burns’ National Park series on PBS) as he portrays 19th century naturalist John Muir. Also included is a private visit to Crystal Cave, a maze of stalactites and stalagmites formed of marble. Accommodations include Cavallo Point Lodge, one of Conde Nast Traveler’s 200 Best Hotels, and Carter House Inn, which is comprised of four restored Victorian townhouses in Old Town Eureka. Departures are June 21 to 30 and July 29 to Aug 7. The price is from $5,895 per person double occupancy.

Bookings made by March 31 save $250 per person. Abercrombie & Kent began offering African safaris in 1962, and today offers travel to more than 100 countries on all seven continents. For more information, call 800-554-7094.

ON VIRGIN GORDA, B.V.I.

Rehydrate with true coconut water before the Caribbean Breeze Spa Treatment only in May and June

Virgin Gorda, B.V.I. – Guests that book the Caribbean Breeze Spa Treatment this May and June at Sense, A Rosewood Spa® at Rosewood Little Dix Bay, will receive a complimentary and local treat. Rehydrate before your spa treatment when a coconut is selected from the surrounding lush gardens, opened just for you and served with a straw. Drink coconut water directly from the source instead of a carton, this May and June, only with the Caribbean Breeze Spa Treatment.

The taste of the fresh coconut water is enhanced when it is sipped while relaxing next to the two-tiered infinity spa pool before your treatment overlooking the Caribbean below.

Once you are refreshed, the relaxation continues with the 90-minute Caribbean Breeze Spa Treatment which takes place in an open-air treatment room offering spectacular views.

The treatment begins with a head-to-toe exfoliation with Pineapple Papaya Enzyme Scrub followed by a full-body wrap of aloe, ginger root and antioxidant-rich green tea. As the nourishing mask soothes the skin, the scalp is massaged with warm Coconut Oil and then the body is misted with hydrating coconut milk and massaged with Kukui Lotion.

The Caribbean Breeze Spa Treatment will be available only during May and June 2012 including the complimentary coconut for $180.

Sense, A Rosewood Spa® overlooks the sparkling waters of Sir Francis Drake Channel and offers an array of Caribbean specialties and indigenous treatments such as the Virgin Gorda Goat Milk & Honey Wrap and the Salt Island Scrub. The spa’s relaxation area features a two-tier infinity pool and an exclusive Cliff Spa Suite is available for couples.

The spa also hosts Yoga, Pilates and meditation classes. Spa services are offered daily 8 a.m.-8 p.m. and rates at Rosewood Little Dix Bay start at $495 per night. For more information or to make reservations Rosewood Little Dix Bay, please contact (284) 495-5555 or visit www.littledixbay.com

Located on Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands, the timeless resort offers discerning clientele an arms-length respite from day-to-day stresses amidst lush foliage, a half-mile crescent-shaped beach, and a colorful barrier reef. Guests can choose from a wealth of elegant villas and guest rooms, including hexagonal cottages and two- and three-bedroom villas nestled along gorgeous gardens and shaded footpaths.

The resort’s three dining venues specialize in fresh Caribbean cuisine, including the open-air Pavilion, the intimate Sugar Mill, and the Beach Grill, which serves light-fare on the white sands. SENSE®, A Rosewood Spa offers the finest in beauty and recuperative programs in a dramatic setting, with treatments that utilize indigenous botanicals plucked right from the resort grounds. Complimentary services include a wide array of watersports, use of the on-site fitness center and tennis courts, and more. www.littledixbay.com

Keauhou Beach Resort on Hawaii Island invites music lovers and Hawaiian cultural enthusiasts to a weeklong Aloha Music Camp on July 1-7. Guests can enjoy classes in ukulele, slack key guitar, hula, oli (chant), lei making, and instrument crafting. Instructors include world-class musicians and performing artists like:

Alan Akaka, steel guitar
Kaliko Beamer-Trapp, Hawaiian language and ukulele
Dr. Samuel Gon III, oli (chant)
Uluwehi Guerrero, hula
Ozzie Kotani, slack key guitar
Dennis Lake, ukulele building
Herb Ohta, Jr., ukulele
Anakala Philipo Solatario, storytelling and kukakuka (discussion)
For more information and registration, visit www.AlohaMusicCamp.com.

Looking for a new way to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year? Renew your marriage vows at Outrigger Hotels and Resorts on the most romantic day of the year. A non-denominational kahu (priest/officiate) will conduct complimentary vow renewal ceremonies for hotel guests registered at any Outrigger Hotel in the Hawaiian Islands. Couples will receive a certificate and a photograph memento to commemorate the special day. For more information, visit www.Outrigger.com.

NEW DEVELOPMENTS

Guests can now enjoy a newly renovated Courtyard Kauai at Coconut Beach featuring $13 million of updated public spaces, restaurants, meeting rooms, lobby, and recreational amenities. Highlights of the renovation, which was completed in January, include a reconfigured pool, new jacuzzi, expanded fitness center, family game room, and an eLounge with the latest technology for guests to stay connected with friends and families while on the island. The ocean-view restaurant, Voyager Grill, is also offering new menus featuring Hawaii Regional Cuisine with fresh ingredients from local farms. For more information, visit www.Marriott.com.

TRANSPORTATION

On June 7, United Airlines will launch a new daily route between Washington DC’s Dulles International Airport and Honolulu International Airport (Oahu), providing the only nonstop service between the two points. United is currently the largest carrier servicing Hawaii from the mainland U.S. For more information, visit United.com.

ACCOLADES

Five Hawaii establishments have been awarded with the AAA Five Diamond Award and 28 others have earned the Four Diamond Award for 2012.

The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua (Maui), Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, and Four Seasons Resort Hualalai at Historic Kaupulehu (Hawaii Island) earned the Five Diamond status in the lodging category while Oahu’s Chef Mavro and La Mer at the Halekulani both earned Five Diamond designations for the restaurant category.

For more information and to see a complete list of the Five Diamond and Four Diamond winners, visit www.NewsRoom.AAA.com.

TripAdvisor’s 2012 Traveler’s Choice Awards honors several Hawaii hotels in various categories voted on by the website’s readers. The Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea led the pack, earning the most honors including No. 3 for Best Hotels in the US, No. 12 for Best Hotels for Service in the US, and No. 16 for Best Luxury Hotel in the US. Other highlights for Hawaii include:

St. Regis Princeville (Kauai): 6th for Best Luxury Hotels in the US

Four Seasons Resort Hualalai at Historic Kaupulehu (Hawaii Island): 16th for Best Hotels in the US

Koa Kea Hotel and Resort (Kauai): 23rd for Best Hotels in the US

The Kahala Hotel and Resort (Oahu): 25th for Best Luxury Hotels in the US

Travaasa Hana (Maui): 25th for Best Relaxation/Spa Hotels in the US.
For more information, visit TripAdvisor.com.

The Spa at The Setai, Miami South Beach debuts three all-natural product lines and corresponding treatments designed to provide lasting wellness. With the purest ingredients available, the three new eco-inspired product lines, VOYA, Ila, and SpaRitual, stay true to The Spa’s organic and holistic philosophy of reviving the body, mind and soul.

Each product line was chosen for its commitment to quality, sustainability, and the natural healing traits of ingredients.

VOYA produces organic hand-harvested seaweed based products that harness the therapeutic properties of the sea;

Ila works directly with local growers in India, Morocco, Pakistan, the Himalayas, and the Amazon Rainforest to create exotic blends of oils used to stimulate the body’s healing energy; and SpaRitual, a company dedicated to creating eco-friendly products and packaging, uses Vegan ingredients from around the world to provide an all-natural plant based alternative.

Each treatment is performed in The Setai’s exclusive spa suites where guests can enjoy ocean and pool views as well as a private bath and steam room. Newly added rituals include:

VOYA Organic Seaweed Leaf Envelopment for Detoxification (120 minutes) – This treatment incorporates the purest seaweed, hand harvested to ensure that the highest content of bio-actives is preserved. The treatment begins with a body and facial exfoliation of seaweed and spiny bamboo blended with seaweed oil.

Next, the body is cocooned in whole seaweed leaves for toning and firming while special leaves are used on the face. Whilst the envelopment and face masque are processing, a conditioning hair masque is massaged into the scalp.

After twenty minutes, the seaweed leaves are removed and the excess seaweed gel is massaged into the skin. The treatment concludes with the application of seaweed face cream, eye serum and body moisturizer.

Ila Rainforest Rejuvenation Facial (60 minutes) – This rejuvenating facial helps skin cells regenerate at a deep level. Careful preparation of the skin is essential to facilitate penetration of the skin. Deep lymphatic drainage and warm herbal compress massage and stimulate the flow of lymph for a toning and firming effect. An Amazonian rainforest mud masque rich in key botanicals for anti-ageing completes this unique facial

Ila Kundalini Back Massage (60 minutes) – A powerful massage therapy, aimed at balancing the nervous system.

A synergistic blend of essential oils including cardamom, jasmine and patchouli in a base of pure organic Argan oil is applied using ancient massage techniques. The energetic combination of botanical essences and marma point massage opens the flow of subtle healing energy through the chakras for increased vitality.

In a paradise of pools, palms and Zen-like peace, The Spa brings healing spirits and traditions from the East, offering numerous unique treatments and amenities to its guests. From shiatsu, massage and aromatherapy to ancient Balinese healing therapies using exotic herbs, oils and spices proven to relax, restore and rejuvenate, there is something to feed everyone’s soul.

Full spa menu available upon request. Treatments range from $60, to $620 for spa rituals. For reservations, contact The Spa at 001.305.520.6900 and for more information, visit www.setai.com

Save 20% on All Spa Treatments at THE ROYAL’S SPAzul & the Gran’s SPAreal

Cancun/Riviera Maya, MX — Forget March madness — at Real Resorts March is Spa Month so come and relax! Book any all-inclusive vacation between now and February 26th for travel during March 2012 and receive a 20% discount on all spa services at THE ROYAL’S SPAzul and the Gran’s SPAreal.

Enjoy a 20% discount on all holistic and Mayan inspired massages, facials, body treatments and wraps, hydrotherapy treatments, couples massages, as well as manicures, pedicures and salon services. In addition, guests of the ROYALS can use the SPAreal’s hydrotherapy pools and sauna at anytime, as well as enjoy yoga, spinning and Pilate’s classes without any additional fees.

March value packages feature all-inclusive suite accommodations, fine dining, adult beverages, taxes and gratuities.

SPA Month is available for bookings at THE ROYAL Cancun priced from $563 per night for double occupancy; THE ROYAL Playa del Carmen priced from $520 per night, for double occupancy; the Gran Caribe Real Cancun from $301 per night for double occupancy; and at the Gran Porto Real Playa del Carmen from $368 per night for double occupancy.

Reservations must be made using the code SPA2 and this offer is not valid for previously booked reservations. Guests will receive a 20% discount voucher upon arrival that is good for any and as many spa services as they would like at their respective resort’s spa. For more information and reservations contact your travel agent or visit online at www.RealResorts.com.

THE ROYALS – Cancun & Playa del Carmen

Designed for the most discerning guests seeking a truly romantic experience, THE ROYAL Cancun and THE ROYAL Playa del Carmen offer service from the heart.

This luxury gourmet, all-inclusive, all-suite, adult only resorts exude romance. Each offers an array of warmly appointed suites with features that include ROYAL® bedding, double Jacuzzi tubs, in-room adult beverage bars with premium liquors, a choice of aromatherapy candles, a flat screen TV and a Boise sound system equipped for an IPOD.

Enjoy signature touches including private butlers to help you unpack and press a few items of clothing; complimentary room service either delivered discreetly through a Magic Box in each suite or on a fine dining table; a Romance Concierge who will assist with the special planning of private events such as a moonlight beach dinner for two;

Beach Butlers to keep you cool and comfortable with sunscreen and frozen treats; and gourmet dining at a selection of international a la carte and buffet restaurants that feature show cooking stations and nouvelle cuisine.

The Gran Caribe Real Cancun & The Gran Porto Real Playa del Carmen

Gran Resorts consider fun a serious pursuit and has perfected the art of a vibrant, yet relaxing vacation. With premium beachfront locations in Cancun and Playa del Carmen, the Gran Caribe Real and Gran Porto Real are dedicated to providing heartfelt service and the extras that create a memorable holiday.

Both all-inclusive resorts offer luxury suites and amenities appealing to singles, couples and families. The Family Junior Suites with bunk beds are favorites for kids, while the spacious suites with indulgent amenities including a complimentary mini bar appeal to all ages. Guests enjoy international dining, resort activities, and most importantly — exclusive personal service that comes from the heart.

About Real Resorts

Real Resorts is a privately owned hotel company in Mexico. THE ROYAL in Cancun and THE ROYAL Playa del Carmen are repeat recipients of the prestigious International Star Diamond Award, a recognition awarded by The American Academy of Hospitality Sciences to select five star hotels that exceed a selection of criteria for facilities, operations and service.

The Gran Caribe Real in Cancun and the Gran Porto Real in Playa del Carmen offer personal service and upscale accommodations appropriate for families and travelers seeking a casual vacation experience. Reservations can be made by calling 800.760.0944. For more information visit online at: www.RealResorts.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.

Put a spring in your step with The Mere Golf Resort and Spa’s first Residential Spa Package

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

SHA Wellness Clinic has re-opened after an extensive expansion and renovation. The clinic currently covers 1000m² but with the new extension will double in size to 2000 m².

Guests can now enjoy a new high tech fitness room, added treatment rooms and a larger Spa area to improve health and wellbeing.

SHA will also be launching The SHA Boutique. The new store will exhibit an exclusive selection of products such as herbal teas, natural cosmetics, books, music and clothing from luxurious brands Bulgari and Hermes amongst others. Guest can now maintain the SHA lifestyle at home.
The renovation included:
8 new medical consultation rooms.
3 new macrobiotic consultation rooms.
1 dentist consultation room.
2 sickbay rooms
2 rooms for hydrotherapy colon
11 cabins for natural therapies
1 double cabin (for couples) with terrace for summer.
1 en-suite Cabin
new acupuncture room

The Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire, Scotland, unveiled what it’s calling the “next generation of spa,” with the launch of ESPA Life. Set within an 850-acre Perthshire estate, and offering access to the hotel’s facilities, the spa features packages to address the stresses and strains of modern lifestyles. Encompassing holistic medicine, sports injury, physical therapy and personal training, the packages are carried out by the ESPA Life team, which includes naturopaths, osteopaths, physiotherapists, traditional Chinese medicine acupuncturists and herbalists, personal trainers and spa therapists.

According to Patrick Elsmie, Gleneagles’ managing director, “By working with our expert team, guests will be able to create the perfect program for them — whether it’s a one-off consultation, one of our set four- or seven-day programs, or a plan set out over a period of months. This will help them to address their own personal lifestyle goals, from reaching their optimal weight, to helping them sleep better and de-stress, to improving sports performance, or simply having a general health check-up in a nurturing and calming environment.”

The ESPA Life specialists carry out specific wellness tests designed to help identify possible problems and test how well the body is functioning. Following this, guests are recommended treatments from a whole plethora of lifestyle programs that are available, offering something for everyone. For more information, call 866-463-8734.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts’ Westin Hotels & Resorts brand overhauled its WestinWorkout program to transform fitness facilities at its 186 hotels around the world into fitness studios featuring new equipment, blue-light therapy and more.

The new fitness studios will roll-out globally throughout 2012.

Westin chose to remove select pieces of equipment that guests were not using as frequently in order to provide more floor space for yoga, stretching and fitness classes. Versatile pulley machines were also added to smaller fitness studios to further maximize space and provide a greater range of workout options.

Westin worked with Philips to create ideal lighting for the re-designed fitness studios and is the first hotel brand to introduce ActiViva Lighting, Philips’ new energizing fluorescent lighting, into its gym facilities.

The lighting will be customized in all workout zones to coincide with the type of exercise taking place in each specific area.