Jetsettersblog

LOS ANGELES – It’s never been a better time to visit Los Angeles than now through the end of summer with the unveiling of LA Inc.

The Los Angeles Convention & Visitors Bureau’s new “Top 100 Vacation Deals.”

The sizzling summer offers are available through August 31, 2009.
For a complete listing of hotel offers, visit this  link

Stay in the middle of the action and save up to 40 percent with a Hollywood Getaway at Sportsmen’s Lodge Hotel or Renaissance Hollywood Hotel & Spa.

Choose from online exclusive getaway packages including two nights of accommodations, a seven-day unlimited ticket to enjoy all the new entertainment at Universal Studios Hollywood, complimentary breakfast for two, complimentary parking and roundtrip transportation between your hotel and Universal Studios Hollywood.

Wind down with a midweek or weekend stay at a choice of 16 Westside hotels.

Escape to The Sofitel Los Angeles, where visitors who book a guestroom by July 5, 2009 get their fourth night free, in addition to a sumptuous picnic basket. If performing arts or a studio tour is on your travel itinerary, visit Inter Continental Los Angeles Century City, where guests who stay a minimum of two nights receive breakfast for two, complimentary parking and a tour of Sony Studios or two tickets to Grauman’s Chinese Theater.

Rates start at $269.

In Beverly Hills, The Residence Inn treats travelers to an American Express gift card valued at $50, complimentary AMC movie tickets for two, free WiFi and complimentary breakfast for two starting at $229. At the Holiday Inn Century City, travelers who book two nights obtain the third night free.

For the ultimate ocean-side retreat, take advantage of beachside getaways at Hotel Casa Del Mar with rates starting at $395 per night based on space availability, Le Margot, A JW Marriott Beach Hotel & Spa highlighting two Swedish massages with guestroom rates starting at $459 based on space availability, or Shutters On the Beach which offers a $50 hotel credit and guestroom rates starting at $525 per night based on space availability.

Discover culture in the heart of downtown Los Angeles with Millennium Biltmore Hotel’s “I Love (Downtown LA)! Package for two which highlights a one night stay priced from $179 per night based on space availability, breakfast and tickets to the Museum of Contemporary Art, tickets to the Grammy Museum and vouchers to visit the ESPN Zone.

Other attractive downtown hotel deals include Wilshire Grand Los Angeles’ “Beat the Heat,” whereby the guestroom rate is based on the high temperature of the day of your stay with a $20 room upgrade and 20 percent off hotel dining.

At the Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites, guests relax in a deluxe guestroom, savor a three-course pre-fixe dinner for two at LA Prime Restaurant and obtain complimentary overnight parking.

In addition to these exclusive packages, travelers can obtain up to 50 percent off on LA’s top cultural, dining, entertainment and other top attractions.

Head to Hollywood for a night at the theatre with 35%-50% off theatre tickets to Dirty Dancing at the Pantages Theater, Hollywood. While in the area, enjoy $5 off regular Adult/Child admission to Madame Tussaud’s Hollywood Wax Museum, or treat yourself to a complimentary dessert with the purchase of an entrée when dining at the renowned Geisha House on Hollywood Boulevard.

While in downtown, embark on a larger-than-life feature film adventure with $2 off Adult admission and $1 off Children’s admission to an IMAX movie at the California Science Center IMAX Theater, or enjoy $3 off admission to the Grammy Museum at L.A. Live. Stop for lunch at Zucca Ristorante, an upscale Italian establishment, currently offering a $19 lunch special and $5 parking for guests of the restaurant.

Chill out on the Westside with a complimentary appetizer while dining at Crustacean, one of Beverly Hill’s finest eateries, or experience 2-for-1 general admission to the Skirball Cultural Center.

Soak in the sun at the city’s top seaside eateries with offers including 15% off the total bill at I Cugini’s in Santa Monica, or a complimentary dessert with the purchase of an entrée at Geoffrey’s Malibu.

Take in the sites and sounds of the Santa Monica Pier boardwalk with 15% off an unlimited-ride wristband at the popular weekend beachside destination, Pacific Park.

The Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau is a private, non-profit business association whose primary mission is to market and promote Los Angeles as the premier site for leisure travel, meetings and conventions. Though not part of city Government, LA INC. is recognized as the city’s official tourism marketing organization.

For more information about “Los Angeles Top 100 Vacation Deals,” visit the official visitors information website of Los Angeles at www.discoverLosAngeles.com

Experience all that Mexico has to offer at Barceló’s all-inclusive resorts

Now is the best time to visit Mexico, thanks to never-before-seen deals offered by leading all-inclusive hotelier Barceló Hotels & Resorts. With more than 75 years of experience in the travel and leisure resort industry, this Spain-based hotelier knows what it takes to make a great vacation, and with an extensive portfolio of resorts in some of Mexico’s most sought-after destinations, Barceló can provide something to suit every traveler’s taste and at an all-inclusive, upfront price that cannot be beat.

Best of all, each Barceló property infuses the unique characteristics of the destination into its architecture, style and amenities, guaranteeing that guests will enjoy a more authentic cultural travel experience in colorful, vibrant Mexico.

With fun to be had by all–whether you choose to relax by the beach, practice your golf swing or partake in exhilarating water sports–Barceló Hotels & Resorts is ready to welcome you with warm, authentically Mexican hospitality in a friendly, inviting setting, found at each of the hotelier’s thirteen properties in Mexico.

For couples and families seeking the best of the Mexican Riviera, the all-inclusive Barceló Maya Palace Deluxe, a luxurious five-in-one resort complex in the dazzling Riviera Maya, offers a postcard-worthy backdrop of lush, tropical landscapes and white sands bathed by the crystalline waters of the Caribbean Sea.

Ideally located on Mexico’s eastern coast between the sizzle of Cancun and the intriguing ruins of Tulum, this Club Premium Barceló resort boasts a family entertainment program, two kids’ clubs, a 16,000 square-foot spa and wellness facility and an extravagant array of dining options, from delectable à la carte restaurants to exquisite buffets.

On-site activities include seven lit tennis courts, in-pool aqua aerobics, snorkeling, kayaking, diving, mini golf, beach volleyball, sailing and windsurfing.

For those who would like to discover the tempting flavor of Cancun, Barceló Tucancun Beach, located on the northeastern tip of the Yucatan Peninsula and encircled by the warm turquoise waters of the Caribbean, is a great fit.

Whether you are hoping to dance all night long at Cancun’s famous dance clubs or wanting to enjoy a more quiet holiday in a paradisiacal retreat, the choice is there.

Your kids will be well taken care of, as family entertainment is fully provided. Guests can also enjoy a variety of water sports as well as three outdoor swimming pools, a state-of-the-art spa and beauty salon, five bars and four dining establishments, including international buffets and fine dining, a la carte restaurants.

A family favorite on the Pacific Coast, Barceló La Jolla de Mismaloya, an all-suite, all-inclusive, Club Premium hotel, just minutes from historic downtown Puerto Vallarta, offers a multitude of activities that appeals to all.

This AAA Four Diamond hotel includes 317 one- and two-bedroom guest suites, decorated in a soft-contemporary palette of neutral tones, accented with tropical colors.

Each suite opens onto a large balcony with a panoramic view of Mismaloya Bay and the resort’s peaceful, surrounding gardens. Travelers can enjoy a variety of water sport offerings as well as four outdoor swimming pools with waterfalls and a children’s slide, Jacuzzis, an on-site shopping promenade, a state-of-the-art spa and fitness center and five restaurants, ranging from resort casual to world-class cuisine.

For more information on Barceló Hotels & Resorts or any of its more than 180 properties, visit http://www.barcelo.com

About Barceló Hotels & Resorts

Barceló Hotels & Resorts is among the world’s top 25 largest hospitality and travel companies. Barceló was established in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, in 1931, first as a transportation provider and then as a hotel and travel company.

The family-owned, privately held company has been world-renowned for more than 75 years for its excellence in service and its innovation within the tourism industry.

The hotel company owns or manages more than 180 properties in 16 countries. Barceló’s hotels and resorts are found in key destinations and cities throughout Europe, North America, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean.

The company offers a large variety of hotels and resort types to accommodate all travelers, from budget-minded to upscale guests seeking luxurious accommodations.

Barceló specializes in all-inclusive resorts that make vacation planning both convenient and affordable, offering one upfront, all-encompassing price.

Offering Ocean-Inspired Treatments and Stunning Ocean-Front Setting

Kapalua Resort’s all-new 30,000 square foot spa offers world-class facilities including 10 outdoor hales, infinity saline lap pool, full service salon and state-of-the-art fitness center with Maui’s only Kinesis Circuit Training System

KAPALUA RESORT, MAUI, HAWAI`I –

Spanning over five acres in the heart of Kapalua Resort, the brand new Kapalua Spa will celebrate its highly-anticipated opening.

Kapalua Spa pays respect to Kapalua’s unique sense of place and incorporates the healing benefits of the ocean in everything from its signature treatments to tranquil seaside décor.

“Kapalua Spa embraces the healing properties of the ocean and our beautiful natural surroundings.

Walking into the spa is like entering an elegant, open air beach house – everything from the tropical wood and sea glass interiors to the expansive views and personalized amenities — the beauty of the ocean and its calming properties are seen in details big and small,” said Spa Director, Crystal Poe-Cabatbat.

Overlooking serene Kapalua Bay, Kapalua Spa’s 30,000-square-foot facility mirrors its environment with 19 treatment rooms, including 10 outdoor hale (bungalows), three private stone soaking tubs and dual treatment space for couples.

At Kapalua Spa guests can take advantage of sauna, steam room, whirlpool and a cold rain shower in each of the men’s and women’s relaxation lounges. In addition, guests will enjoy the services of a beauty salon, spacious movement studio, the island’s only spa-dedicated saline lap pool and sunning deck as well as fitness facilities with state-of-the-art cardio, strength and full-range-of-motion Kinesis Circuit System.

A juice bar – which will feature natural and organic beverage and snack selections– as well as a spa boutique with skin care lines and gifts, will also be available for visitors.

“Guests will find that Kapalua Spa is a gathering place where they can focus on wellness, healing and balance,” said Sylvia Sepielli, Kapalua Spa’s renowned spa visionary.

“Kapalua Resort has created a timeless product, which can be enjoyed and embraced by Hawai‘i visitors and residents, time and time again.”

One of the many aspects that set Kapalua Spa apart is its signature treatments and products.

The ‘Awa and Cacao Lomi Wrap treatment is an 80-minute skin treatment, designed exclusively for Kapalua Spa by Hawai‘i Island resident, Darrell Lapulapu.

The treatment features a lomi lomi technique to gently exfoliate the skin with a unique blend of Hawaiian ‘awa, cacao, ginger, sandalwood and oats – all made with local and natural ingredients to aid in cleansing impurities from the body.

Other signature treatments include the Hawaiian Spirulina Wrap, Pōhaku Brown Seaweed Facial, and the one-of-a-kind Journey Through the Ocean dual therapist massage, featuring warm stones, Hawaiian lomi sticks and a nutrient-rich spirulina exfoliant that prepares the skin.

Natural and island-based product lines such as Pure & True Organic Beauty, Lapulapu Natural Skin Integrity, Osea, Aromatherapy Associates and Phytomer to name a few will be featured at Kapalua Spa.

For more information on Kapalua Spa, please visit www.kapalua.com  or call 1-866-941-KSPA (5772).

ABOUT KAPALUA SPA

Overlooking serene Kapalua Bay, Kapalua Spa is located on five lush acres in the heart of the world-class Kapalua Resort.

Featuring 19 treatment rooms, including 10 outdoor bungalows – allowing visitors to experience the resort’s scenic natural surroundings.

Kapalua Spa offers a number of exclusive, signature treatments that incorporate the healing properties of the sea and feature locally-sourced, natural treatment products.

Guests will relax and rejuvenate at the spa’s world-class amenities, including private stone soaking tubs, relaxation rooms with sauna, steam, whirlpools and rain showers, a luxury beauty salon, movement studio, infinity saline lap pool and sunning deck as well as an ocean-view fitness center with state-of-the-art cardio, strength and Kinesis Circuit System.

For more information on Kapalua Spa, visit www.kapalua.com  or call 1-866-941-KSPA.

ABOUT KAPALUA RESORT

Kapalua Resort is a 22,000-acre, master-planned community set amidst two nature preserves and pineapple fields on Maui’s northwest coast.

The resort is renowned for its world-class golf courses,

The Bay and The Plantation; 11 residential communities; premier accommodations at The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua and The Ritz-Carlton Club and Residences, Kapalua Bay; The Kapalua Gold Villas, a condominium rental program; Kapalua Luxury Homes, a vacation home rental program;

a tennis complex; three white sand beaches, including two of America’s Best Beaches, and a variety of restaurants and shops. Nearby Kapalua Farms offers organic farm-to-fork produce and eggs to resort restaurants and the Maui community. Kapalua Resort hosts a signature event series each year: the PGA TOUR’s season-opening SBS Championship in January, Whale Quest Kapalua in February, The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua’s Celebration of the Arts in April, Kapalua Wine & Food Festival in June and the Kapalua LPGA Classic tournament in October.
For more information, visit www.kapalua.com  or call 1-800-KAPALUA.

It is with great joy that I can announce the rebirth of this hotel so dear to the Monegasques since 1929.

In order to provide our guests with even more than before, we have completely rethought the hotel and restored it to its former glory, whilst adding the modern touches necessary to today’s comfort.

The Monte-Carlo SBM group has undertaken the global reinterpretation of the Monte-Carlo Beach with pride. The constant policy of optimisation of our hotels is being carried out assiduously.

From the conception of the project to the opening of the hotel to the public, we have taken great care to carry out this work in perfect harmony with the preservation of our planet. This philosophy has been rewarded with the “chantier bleu” label given to construction sites with a minimum impact on the environment.
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More than a large-scale renovation, it is a new vision of the hotel trade that we are presenting to you.

The Monte Carlo Beach is now offering even more comfort, gastronomy, care, nautical activities, vegetation and space… all in a remarkable setting.

Chic and timeless, the Monte Carlo Beach perpetuates the very elegance of the Riviera and the Groupe Monte-Carlo SBM’s art of fine living.

For its eightieth birthday, it is flaunting its eternal youth — with elegance and spirit.

Bernard Lambert
CEO
Groupe Monte-Carlo SBM

The rebirth of the Monte Carlo Beach

It is the event of the spring: After a winter of backbreaking work, the Monte Carlo Beach is emerging from hibernation to present its new face. The Groupe Monte-Carlo SBM wanted to breathe new life — a fighting spirit and modernity — into this emblematic address on the Riviera. A luxurious and convivial setting, reviving the splendour and glamour of the Roaring Twenties.

Today, the Monte Carlo Beach boasts a new terracotta-coloured exterior which greatly enhances the building and creates a perfect harmony with the cobalt blue waters of the Mediterranean just a few metres away… a tribute to the great potters who made the region famous. The Monte Carlo Beach, in all its finery, seems to play with the sun all day long, each hour providing the pretext for presenting a different colour of the spectrum.

Redesigned entirely by India Mahdavi, the Monte Carlo Beach is an ode to the Mediterranean. In this new decor, the sea is omnipresent, creating an obvious and harmonious duo with the hotel— a permanent guest, much to the delight of everyone.

Although the spirit and the form remain unchanged, the Monte Carlo Beach appears completely transformed. Perspectives, materials, lines, space: A total metamorphosis has taken place. After many months of thought and work, the result presented to the world today meets everyone’s expectations.

From the moment you enter the lobby, redesigned entirely featuring a Terrazzo marble floor, you are aware of the designer’s very personal touch.

From the terrace of the Elsa restaurant to the corridors on the second floor, decorated with large portholes, there is a resolutely dynamic air about the place.

The forty airy rooms and suites are in perfect harmony. With the Mediterranean as the only horizon, the feeling of spaciousness and light is accentuated.

Here, like everywhere at the Monte Carlo Beach, almost all the furniture and objects are the fruit of India Mahdavi’s imagination.

These unique decorative items have been created in order to blend naturally into the different parts of the building and emphasize the global conceptual vision of the project.

The rooms and suites at the Monte Carlo Beach are highly innovative. State-of-the-art technology, to satisfy the clients’ fondness for all things new, is combined with a touch of all things romantic. How can anyone remain insensitive to the wall frescos exuding so much grace? Painted by Aurore de la Morinerie, these reminiscences of Matisse – for the colours – and Cocteau’s Santo Sospir period – for the charcoal – contrast with style to the stripes above the beds.

Landscaper Jean Mus has created the gardens full of bewitching fragrances which provide a serene cocoon for visitors.

Everywhere, even in the nooks and crannies, the Monte Carlo Beach brandishes proudly its restored identity.

India Mahdavi is adding her special touch
to the Monte Carlo Beach.

Opened in 1929, the hotel so dear to the Monegasques is about to be reopened. The new Monte Carlo Beach will be unveiled in May 2009.

The Monte Carlo SBM group wanted one of the most distinguished architect-designers to give back the Monte Carlo Beach its original glamour.

“It is with great pleasure that we have chosen India Mahdavi to revamp the Monte Carlo Beach. We plan to offer a completely different experience for our future guests” says Bernard Lambert, CEO of Monte-Carlo SBM. India Mahdavi’s luxurious and contemporary touch to this magnificent 1930’s seashore villa will arouse great enthusiasm.”

Architect and designer India Mahdavi is forever breathing new life and creativity into her projects, ie the Hotel Condesa DF in Mexico, the On Rivington in New York the Connaught in London, private homes in Australia, Spain, in London and Paris…

Her nomadic culture and upbringing has also greatly influenced her furniture collection, which is can be seen in her Parisian show room. Moreover, she has collaborated with luxurious brands such as Bernardaud and Ruinart, to develop special lines of products.

After having just launched Hélène Darroze’s restaurant at the Connaught in London, she has inaugurated her new version of the Parisian bistro “Germain” in association with Thierry Costes, in the heart of Saint Germain des Prés.

Meet the designer India Mahdavi

Your past creations have been very eclectic.
What have you accomplished at the Monte Carlo Beach that you have never done before?

The place itself is for me the starting point of a story, of a project. Each story is different, each project is unique, and every each is a first time.

Although I’ve already worked on a seaside hotel in Miami, working on this mythical Riviera gem is something completely new to me. I plan to revive the great epoch of the 1930’s with modernity and elegance.

What made you decide to take on this project?

First and foremost, its location. The Monte Carlo Beach is tucked away an authentic Mediterranean scenery, surrounded by cypresses and Aleppo pine trees, with an amazing view across the bay. English-speakers have a special name for exceptional places like this - a spot – and the Beach is not only a spot but a magical one.

It’s a breath of fresh air between Cap Martin, its seashore and lush vegetation, and Monaco, one of the most sophisticated places on the Riviera. Such a unique and rare challenge was too tempting to ignore ! The size of the building was just perfect for me because I don’t like hotels that are too big.

Boasting 40 rooms, the Monte Carlo Beach enables me to give the place a touch of grand villa. Last but not least, my relationship with the Société des Bains de Mer was paramount: I listened and absorbed their requirements and expectations before setting everything into motion, a process which has lasted over a year…

How do you operate?

What was the starting point of your work at the Beach?
I work on instinct, searching for the obvious, mental images … and then I go for the fragrances, colours, fabrics and lighting.

For the Beach I imagined, much more than just a tale, a romance, a timeless sentimental story, with a backdrop of images of the Riviera: brightly-coloured juxtapositions of Matisse’s collages, George Hoyningen-Huene’s black and white photographs of elegant young women in bathing suits, and the Riva boat, a symbol of a certain way of life.

My personal input fuelled the project and reinforced it: I spent part of my childhood in the hinterland behind Nice and it’s still etched in my memory. I feel I have been on a trip down memory lane by intertwining beach and mountain landscapes.
The graphic language I chose for the hotel is based on Monaco’s recurrent themes : stripes , the Monte Carlo Beach DNA, and lozenges the Principality’s coat of arms. In a nutshell, I opted for a more classical and elegant approach for this hotel rather than a “design” one.

How did you program your work on the “new” Monte Carlo Beach?
Our main purpose was to give the sea the lead role in our story.
Axes within the indoor and outdoor spaces are more fluid now, and they are all connected to the sea.
By designing a real-size mock-up room, I was able to improve my concept: the sea in the room, a porthole between the bedroom and the bathroom, sliding doors for casting shadows of light and depth. By connecting the loggia and the promenade with a private stairway, the bedrooms now looks rather like a bungalow. We had the same sort of idea for the lobby and the restaurant… they now reach out to the terrace.

Your creativity is diverse, multifaceted (interior design, architecture, scenography , which of these skills has played the major role?
All of them. I have been able to express myself in many ways throughout this project: interior design for the global concept, architecture when rethinking the spaces, scenography for redesigning the lines of the bedrooms and the suites.

To remain faithful to the tradition of “Arts Décoratifs”, we designed exclusive furniture for the hotel, we also chose the tableware, selected the materials, the colors and the fabrics.

As an Artistic Director, I surrounded myself with highly competent professionals: Jean Mus, a landscaper specialised in Mediterranean gardens, designers Ich&Kar for the visual identity, Capucine Puerari for the uniforms, and artist Aurore de la Morinerie for the frescos in the bedrooms.

During this incredible adventure, what has been your biggest challenge?

Creating a new language and a strong identity for the Monte Carlo Beach. It’s been a very ambitious artistic management mission.
Combining creativity and novelty with given logistic and time schedule requirements has been quite a challenge. I hope I’ve delivered what was expected of me!

What added value has India Mahdavi brought to the Beach?

A modernized and respectful vision of the spirit of the Société des Bains de Mer.

This hotel is a jewel in the crown of Monaco : families have had beach tents here for generations, others have learned to swim, and some have even fallen in love….! It is my wish that the Beach will charm its guests once again.

Continue reading Welcome To The Monte Carlo Beach…

Wollongong is welcoming the winter months with some piping hot deals designed to melt away the recession blues.

Just one hour south of Sydney the region offers a wide mix of holiday activities together with Grand Pacific Drive’s stunning ocean and escarpment views, plenty of modern hotels and cozy guest houses.

Wollongong’s Novotel Northbeach has a great Winter Warmer package that includes overnight accommodation, full buffet breakfast at Windjammers restaurant and a gift pack of six bottles of red wine from just $289* per night twin share. Offer excludes June 26-27 and July 6-7 and is valid until October 5, 2009.

A little further south is Gerringong’s stylish Bellachara Boutique Hotel, which has a garden room with complimentary buffet breakfast from $150* per night twin share. Available Sundays to Thursdays until August 31, 2009 and bookings for three nights score a balcony room upgrade subject to availability.

Great winter warmer deals even extend to activities along Grand Pacific Drive, including a Jervis Bay cruise to catch the humpback whale migration now underway. Whale watch bookings are essential and visitors can receive 15 per cent off the cruise price by mentioning Tourism Wollongong’s Winter Deals at time of purchase.

Other activities include Skydive the Beach in North Wollongong, hang gliding from Bald Hill and Harley Davidson rides across Sea Cliff Bridge and into the escarpment behind Grand Pacific Drive.

Winter warmer deals are subject to availability and are available via www.tourismwollongong.com.au

For more information, maps and itineraries on Grand Pacific Drive visit www.grandpacificdrive.com.au

Pullman hotels and resorts, hotels designed specifically for today’s business and leisure travelers, announced today that the Pullman Bali Legian Nirwana will open in September 2009. Pullman Bali Legian Nirwana will be Accor’s first Pullman in Indonesia.

PULLMAN AND INDONESIA

Commenting on the debut of the Pullman brand in Indonesia, Gerard Guillouet, Vice President Accor Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore said, “Bali is a very well known and loved tourist and event destination in Indonesia. The addition of the hotel is complimentary to the existing network of Accor hotels in Bali, where Accor currently operates 6 hotels under Novotel, Mercure and All Seasons hotel brands.

The opening of Pullman Bali Legian Nirwana enhances the global portfolio of the brand, as the first Pullman in a resort location in South East Asia.”

PULLMAN - ON THE ISLAND OF THE GODS

The five-storey Pullman Bali Legian Nirwana has 351 guest rooms, all with a private balcony or terrace.

The hotel has a combination of hotel rooms and studios, enabling deluxe accommodation for couples or for families in a combined apartment style space.
Pullman Bali Legian Nirwana offers two swimming pools, one of which is ideally located overlooking the beach, providing a perfect spot to catch the sun setting across the ocean.

Additionally the hotel will house an expansive day spa, with a selection of relaxing treatments incorporating traditional Balinese ingredients and therapies.

As a hallmark of the Pullman brand, enabling our guests to stay connected with family or business is essential.

Each guest room is therefore equipped with high-speed internet access, LCD interactive TV entertainment system, plug and play adaptors and satellite television selection .

The hotels Kid’s Club is fully equipped with activities and games that will keep even most active and creative children engrossed, providing time for the parents to enjoy the leisure facilities of the hotel.

The hotel enjoys a prime location, just opposite one of Bali’s most renowned beaches - Legian Beach. Stretching north from Kuta, Legian benefits from its proximity and easy access to shops and bars, whilst being slightly removed from the hustle of central Kuta.

Easily explored on foot, various activities including antique hunting, souvenir shopping, or beach activities such as surfing, sun-tanning or simply relax on the beach adjacent the hotel.
Phillipe Battle, General Manager of Pullman Bali Legian Nirwana said,

“The hotel will be an ideal venue for guests to relax, in an environment specifically designed around flowing spaces, deluxe facilities, ease of access to the latest technology and warm, professional service that regular visitors to Bali have come to expect.”

THE PULLMAN NETWORK TODAY

The Pullman Hotels and Resorts brand was officially launched in Asia Pacific in January 2008, and today operates 12 hotels throughout the region.

Globally the network is 38 hotels today and will increase to 50 hotels in 23 countries by the end of 2009.

In addition to Pullman Bali Legian Nirwana, throughout the region Pullman hotels are committed to open in

Seoul,
Gurgaon (New Delhi),
Dongguan,
Lijiang,
Sanya Bay,
Guilin,
Chengdu,
Guangzhou,
Vung Tao,
Sapa and Lao Cai.

The Daytona Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau’s Travel Industry Sales Department has just announced several partnerships designed to help promote the destination via tour operators to wider audiences.

The CVB is working with the Central Florida and Kissimmee CVBs on its “Sunrise to Sunset” itinerary, which begins with a sunrise on the “World’s Most Famous Beach” and moves westward.

The “Space, Speed and History” itinerary features the Daytona Beach area as well as Florida’s Space Coast and St. Augustine. Suggested stops within the Daytona Beach area include the Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse, the Marine Science Center, Ocean Walk Village Shoppes, Cracker Creek Canoeing, Gamble Place, Downtown Daytona Beach, Angell & Phelps Chocolate Factory, the new Daytona Beach Kennel Club & Poker Room, and cultural pursuits including the Daytona Beach International Festival, Daytona Beach Symphony Society, the historic Daytona Beach Bandshell, Museum of Arts & Sciences, Southeast Museum of Photography, and many great dining options.

Student and team-building groups are also encouraged to visit the Old Spanish Sugar Mill in DeLeon Spring State Park, the Daytona 500 Experience, Daytona Lagoon, and the Daytona Beach Aqua Safari. In addition to making great geographical sense, partnering also makes great budget sense.

For more information, call 386-255-0415, ext. 126, or visit www.daytonabeach.com  then click on Travel Pros.

Beckons Summer Fun Seekers

“The island nation is one of the most exciting places to visit this summer with peace finally prevailing” - Ms. Al Mansoori

This summer Sri Lanka offers the adventurous holiday maker an exciting array of options. The Indian Ocean island is rapidly becoming a destination of choice for those who want a stimulating vacation to recharge their batteries and energise their outlook.

Whether it’s wandering calmly over the lush central highlands, hanging in a wicker basket as you gaze over the breathtaking views passing lazily beneath you, or the more high-octane thrills of crashing down tumbling river flows in a white water raft, Sri Lanka promises experiences that will persist in the memory long after the thrill of the activity has subsided.

“With peace finally prevailing after almost three decades of strife, Sri Lanka is an ideal getaway for regional travellers being only three and a half hours flying time away from the Gulf,” said Heba Al Ghais Al Mansoori, Middle East Director of Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau.

“It’s not all necessarily adrenalin pumping stuff as for the more leisurely inclined explorer, there are pastimes that will allow you to experience the wonders of this tropical isle without so much as breaking into a sweat including hiking tours that take in the varied landscapes of the island and can be conducted at a gentle pace opening up the colourful and abundant array of plants, bird species and other wildlife to be found across the countryside,” remarked Ms. Al Mansoori.

Cycling and mountain biking are another way to get about, with undemanding trips available for those who wish to visit the ancient ruins and temples of a country whose history and heritage stretches back thousands of years. Pedalling unhurriedly through the country lanes, you can hear the rustle of the forest come alive and enjoy the whiff and heady scent of flowers in bloom. For those who prefer a greater exercise challenge, the undulating roads of the hill country make for a more intense cycling workout.

If heights are your thing, you can spend some time around the central highlands, home to Mount Pidurutalagala, Sri Lanka’s tallest mountain. Here you can paraglide, flying over the forests and lakes like a bird, or indulge in rope sports, abseiling down sheer cliff faces close to magnificent waterfalls.

Hot air ballooning is also an extremely popular activity in this part of the island and offers a unique way to explore the country as you silently float over the lakes and forests, you can spy deer and elephants who are oblivious to your presence, along with the occasional bemused farmer who has happened to glance upwards!

Water features as a significant part of Sri Lanka’s inland landscape, with turbulent rivers, spectacular falls and calm lagoons for the intrepid enthusiast to enjoy. White water rafting is one of the longest established adventure sports on the island, with rivers providing thrills, glorious scenery and the chance to view life in the villages en route.

The most popular area for rafting is along the Kelani River in Kitulgala, close to where the classic film ‘Bridge on the River Kwai’ was shot. Canoeists and kayakers can also explore the various waterways, with professionals able to run some extremely challenging rivers that run through the forests.

With all this activity available inland, it’s easy to forget that Sri Lanka also has some magnificent beaches, with one at Unawatuna being acclaimed as one of the world’s top 10. Being a relatively small island, you will never be far from the azure waters and bronze sands of the coast and if lying down and absorbing the rays isn’t for you, you can try your hand at surfing in waters that average a blissfully warm 27°c. Arugam Bay, on the east coast, has long been established as a surfing hotspot, with sufficiently high waves to attract international contests. When conditions are ideal, it is possible to catch a wave that will carry an experienced board rider 800 metres.

When the season finishes at Arugam Bay, it’s just opening up at Hikkaduwa, on the west coast, about 100km from Colombo. The waves here are around 2 metres high and of sufficient interest to attract international surfers during the season.

If your interests lie under the water, you can scuba dive and snorkel at a number of resorts, exploring coral reefs and old Dutch shipwrecks that are home to vividly coloured tropical fish and other aquatic life.

If it’s faster paced water sports that you want, you can hire out jet skis, learn to wind surf or try your hand at water skiing.

Taking a break from all these sporting activities, the capital Colombo offers all the attractions of a busy city, with star-rated hotels, shopping malls and a vast array of restaurants and clubs that cater for all tastes.

A relaxing day can be had at the renowned Hakgala Botanical Gardens, with 27 acres overflowing with roses and ferns and at the Peradeniya Gardens in the city of Kandy, where you will also find the ancient Temple of the Tooth.

If you are keen to discover the origins of your morning cuppa, the central highlands feature tea estates where you can learn how the world’s most popular brew travels from luxuriant bush to your breakfast table.

Regardless of whether it’s excitement or relaxation that you crave, Sri Lanka’s rich cultural heritage and history is sure to leave you as captivated and charmed as the countless travellers who have visited throughout the ages.

The island is only four hours flying time from the UAE and travelling there is easy with SriLankan Airlines. The operator flies to Colombo from Dubai ten times a week and runs a daily service from Abu Dhabi. The operator has been voted Central Asia’s Airline of the Year for two consecutive years.

Parkdean Holidays offers a huge diversity of activities for all ages at its 24 holiday parks, set in some of the best locations the UK has to offer. Here, we focus on the three S’s: Surfing, Skiing (or snowboarding) and Scuba Diving!

Families who love taking to the piste during the winter months, can now ski and snowboard all summer long, while water-babes can ride the waves at some of the top surfing beaches in the UK, or explore the underwater world waiting for them with the help of the experienced teachers at one of Parkdean’s Scuba Diving schools.

Skiing and snowboarding

One of Parkdean Holidays Star Parks, Warmwell Holiday Park, is home to the Dorset Snowsport Centre, which boasts a Snowflex Ski Slope.

Set in acres of woodland, Parkdean’s Warmwell holiday park is the ideal setting for the two slopes, both of which have the world renowned Snowflex Surface.

The 110m main slope offers a ‘Big Kicker’, tabletop jumps, rainbow, straight rails and a quarter pipe, while the gently sloping 300m2 Nursery Slope offers two safe teaching lanes for beginners. Looking for something a bit different? Well why not book a half hour ringo session and go shooting down the slopes in a giant rubber ring!

Parkdean Holidays hosts the ever-popular Warmwell Summer Jam, which takes place in June, attracting riders from around the UK to compete on the day. You can enjoy a stay at this woodland park in a lodge holiday home from just £365.

Surfing

Three of Parkdean Holidays Parks, Ruda Holiday Park (North Devon), Newquay Holiday Park (Cornwall) and Holywell Bay Holiday Park (Cornwall) offer surfing facilities and surf schools.

Ruda Holiday Park at the UK surfing Mecca Croyde Bay (a RipCurl Best Beach) in North Devon is a Parkdean Star Park and boasts some of the best surf the UK has to offer.

The surf school; Surf South West at Ruda, has highly qualified instructors available to teach all ages and all abilities and there is an Offshore Surf Shop on park.

Ruda Holiday Park sponsors the world famous GoldCoast Oceanfest from 19-20th June, which is held just off the holiday park at Croyde Bay.

GoldCoast Oceanfest

http://www.goldcoastoceanfest.co.uk

is the single largest event in the North Devon festival, hosting over 500 athletes competing for 10 freesports titles. Showcasing over 25 live music acts on stage with top international artists, adjacent to the oceanside Croyde arena hosting a Trade Village, incorporating licensed bars and restaurants.

Grassroots events and pro workshops, adrenalin zones, workshops, exhibitions, sampling booths, simulators and hospitality suites, all add to the great atmosphere of the event.

Ruda Holiday Park is also the perfect location to witness various surf events including the world famous Christian Surfers Pro Surf Tour.

Scuba Diving

Three Parkdean Holiday Parks; Sea Acres Holiday Park (Cornwall), White Acres Holiday Park (Cornwall) and Challaborough Bay Holiday Park (South Devon) all offer Scuba Diving facilities.

Challaborough Bay Holiday Park is set in the South Hams in Devon. In addition to the beautiful countryside, the South Hams boast some of the most fantastic beaches in the UK.

Visitors to the park can benefit from the Scuba Diving Centre, which offers lessons from fully qualified PADI Instructors.

The area offers various reef, scenic and wreck dives. Burgh Island, opposite Challaborough Bay Holiday Park, allows for the most magnificent scenic dives in Devon, while the coastline has six shipwrecks to explore in addition to the most beautiful reefs in the UK. You can book in advance by calling 01548 811 260.

“We pride ourselves on offering unrivalled facilities for visitors who enjoy different outdoor experiences,” says John Waterworth, CEO, Parkdean Holidays.

“With breaks in the UK on the up, we are seeing a huge rise in bookings for this summer and with our holiday parks, we can offer a value-added experience, with fantastic locations, accommodation and facilities.”

From caravan and camping plots to spacious caravan & luxury lodge holiday homes,

Parkdean Holidays’ standard of accommodation appeals across the board, from those looking for great value family breaks to couples and groups who want a Parkdean Holidays Star Park experience.
www.parkdean.com  Tel: 0871 641 0170

Terranea Resort, Los Angeles County’s first coastal resort, will celebrate its grand opening on a 102-acre bluff top site in Rancho Palos Verdes, the former Marineland site, which closed 20 years ago.

The $480 million luxury resort, owned by Los Angeles-based Lowe Enterprises and operated by Destination Hotels & Resorts, will host community, government and business leaders to celebrate the grand opening. Highlights will include a dedication by the Gabrielino-Tongva Indian Tribe native to the region, music and dance performances, and a demonstration of the resort’s signature quartz crystal “singing bowls” as the doors are opened to welcome the first guests.

Terranea enjoys 270-degree views of the Pacific and is one of the rare places that sunrise and sunset can be seen over the ocean from the same vantage point.

The public will stroll Discovery Trails, the new, extensive coastal network of trails that traverse inside Terranea Resort and continue outside the property, as well as take in the more than 14 acres of preserved habitat areas and new public beach access.

Terranea is a 582-room resort including a 360-room hotel with 32 suites, plus 20 bungalows, 50 oceanfront casitas and 32 oceanview villas.

It also offers a 50,000-square-foot oceanfront spa complex, three pools, eight restaurants, bars and lounges and a nine-hole, par 3 golf course.

For more information, call 310-802-7433 or visit www.terranea.com