Jetsettersblog

Affordably Luxurious Romantic Getaways

From Bailey Robinson

BAILEY ROBINSON (www.baileyrobinson.com  Tel 01488 689 700) the operator specialising in affordable luxury, has selected seven destinations - Fiji, South Africa, Mauritius, Malaysia, Antigua, Canada and India - ideal for weddings, honeymoons or romantic getaways.

WEDDING & HONEYMOON IDEAS & OFFERS:

INDIA - 12-night wedding & honeymoon packages from £5,000 per person

ANTIGUA - book 10 nights and receive a free wedding package from £1,565

FIJI - Royal Davui Island Resort - seven nights for the price of six from £3,880

MAURITIUS - Le Prince Maurice - bride stays free, seven nights from £2,740 per couple

ROMANTIC GETAWAYS:

SOUTH AFRICA - Garonga - five nights for the price of four from £1,230

CANADA - eight nights from £4,900 per couple in British Columbia

MALAYSIA - Pangkor Laut - seven nights for the price of six from £1,230 per couple

INDIA - This proposed wedding itinerary starts from Shimla at the foot of the Himalayas featuring the Wildflower Hall’s ornate glass-domed gazebo as the wedding location. This former Lord Kitchener residence, built in the grand colonial style, is now an Oberoi hotel.

Next up, Agra, 16th and 17th century capital of India and home to the world’s greatest monument built for love - the Taj Mahal - with accommodation in another Oberoi property, Amarvilas.

The itinerary concludes in Rajhasthan with stays in both Jaipur and Udaipur.

WEDDING PACKAGE PRICE: 12-nights from £5,000 per person which includes international flights, the wedding ceremony and city tours.

ANTIGUA - WEDDING OFFER: book 10 nights at Blue Waters and receive a free wedding package which includes room upgrade, registration, fees, bouquet, button hole, decorated gazebo, champagne, wedding cake and wedding breakfast with champagne.

Alternatively, for a 10-night honeymoon, silver or gold wedding anniversary receive a guaranteed room upgrade with a free champagne breakfast.

PRICE: 10 nights for the price of nine from £1,565 per person including accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis and international flights.

FIJI - Voted “The Most Romantic Island Hideaway in the South Pacific, Caribbean and Atlantic” by Condé Nast Traveller two years running, the Royal Davui Island Resort is the perfect wedding/ honeymoon location.

Various wedding options are available including a traditional Fijian ceremony.

HONEYMOON OFFER: seven- nights for the price of six from £3,880 per person on an all-inclusive basis and including international flights.

MAURITIUS - According to Condé Nast Traveller, there are few hotels in the world to rival the sheer physical beauty of Le Prince Maurice which stretches back from a private, reef-protected lagoon fringed by four white beaches.

Facilities include a magnificent infinity pool surrounded by sixty acres of glorious gardens. HONEYMOON OFFER: The bride stays free with prices starting from £2,740 per couple, including accommodation on a half board basis with international flights.

SOUTH AFRICA - Nestling in the Makalali Conservancy, west of Kruger National Park, Garonga is an exclusive secluded, incredibly romantic safari camp offers nature lovers an intimate, holistic, unhurried wildlife experience.

PRICE: five nights for the price of four from £1,320 per person on an all-inclusive basis including international flights.

CANADA - This suggested eight-night self-drive itinerary through British Columbia features beautiful Victoria, Clayoquot Sound, renowned for its bears, whales, sea lions, orca, porpoise, puffins and bald eagles, and Sonora Resort, the ultimate in scenic luxury, relaxation and gourmet dining.

PRICE: eight nights from £7,800 per couple, including international flights; two nights at Abigail’s Hotel including breakfast; three nights at Wickaninnish Inn; three nights at Sonora Resort including all meals, drink and a privately guided salmon fishing trip; car rental and a bear viewing tour.

MALAYSIA - Pangkor Laut, a stunning 300-acre private paradise island, boasts villas which are situated over water, on the beach and in the hills.

PRICE: Seven nights for the price of six from £1,230 per couple with accommodation on a room only and international flights and transfers.

IN ADDITION:

MALAYSIAN AIRLINES is offering free upgrades from business to first class on Asia and Australasia flights. Offer valid until 31st December 2009, must be booked by 30th September 2009.

Bailey Robinson (www.baileyrobinson.com Tel 01488 689 700) specialises in affordable luxury, designing individually tailor made journeys.

From its portfolio of fabulous handpicked hotels and resorts in over 65 destinations worldwide, Bailey Robinson can create the perfect itinerary. Whatever a traveller’s interests, dreams and aspirations - a romantic break for two, an action-packed family adventure or a life enhancing journey to the farthest reaches of the globe - Bailey Robinson has the solution.

MAKES PLANNING YOUR VEGAS TRIP EASIER THAN EVER BEFORE WITH EXCLUSIVE OFFERS FOR TRAVELERS

Vegas Attractions Combine Resources, Databases, Marketing Dollars and More,
Maximizing Outreach to Both Consumers and Travel Partners

LAS VEGAS - Cooperation versus competition: that is the new mantra for a group of Las Vegas-based tourist attractions banding together to form Best Vegas Attractions.

For consumers, Best Vegas Attractions helps makes travel decisions easier than ever before with incredible discounted values.

For businesses, the groundbreaking consortium is setting new rules for conducting business in the tourism industry.

Currently included in the group (in alphabetical order):

“BODIES…The Exhibition”: Showing at Luxor Hotel and Casino, this exhibition features actual human specimens and allows people of all ages access to sights and knowledge normally reserved for medical professionals.

Fashion Outlets of Las Vegas: Located 36 miles south of Las Vegas in Primm, Nev., the outlets feature more than 100 stores with up to 75 percent off designer fashions.

Hard Rock Café: This summer, expect Las Vegas’ second Hard Rock Café location. The new café will feature an extensive retail shop, a “LIVE” venue, private function and meeting rooms and a grand cafe restaurant with patio dining and entertainment overlooking the Strip. The (original) Paradise location will keep on “rockin’ away” with Hard Rock Café’s classic dining and retail items.

Las Vegas Monorail: The Las Vegas Monorail is a quick and convenient connection to the Las Vegas Strip, linking riders to the city’s world-class restaurants, shows, shops, clubs, hotels and casinos. In just 15 minutes,

Monorail riders can travel from one end of the Strip to the other in a safe, clean and climate-controlled environment - without the hassles of traffic or wasted time.

The Monorail’s electric, zero-emissions trains arrive every few minutes at each of the seven stations: MGM Grand; Bally’s/Paris Las Vegas; Flamingo/Caesars Palace; Harrah’s/Imperial Palace; Las Vegas Convention Center; Las Vegas Hilton and Sahara.

Madame Tussauds Las Vegas: Located in front of the Venetian Resort Hotel Casino, Madame Tussauds Las Vegas offers guests the unique opportunity to ‘interact’ with incredibly life-like iconic figures from the celebrity worlds of film, TV, music, sports and politics.

Guests can ‘grab hold’ of their favorite stars with our many interactive experiences.

With more than 100 wax figures, guests can take pictures, touch and get up close and personal in a themed setting. The attraction is open 365 days a year starting at 10 a.m.

Papillon Airways, Inc.: Founded in 1965, Papillon Airways, Inc. (French for “butterfly”) and Grand Canyon Airlines/Scenic Airlines since 1929 are the largest “flightseeing” companies in the world, with nearly 70 state-of-the-art helicopters and airplanes, specifically designed to reveal panoramic views beyond imagination.

The Halvorson family recently acquired Kenai Helicopters (now known as Grand Canyon Helicopters), Grand Canyon Airlines, Grand Canyon Coaches and Scenic Airlines. These companies are the only companies that fly the entire Grand Canyon including the South and West rims, in addition to tours of Las Vegas, Page/Lake Powell and Monument Valley.

Tours afford maximum flight time, enabling guests to fully discover Grand Canyon’s great wilderness and scenic attractions.

During busy months, the Halvorson companies fly more than 3,500 passengers daily.

“Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition:

Featuring more than 300 artifacts, as well as breathtaking replicas from the famous ship, the Titanic exhibit truly brings history to life inside Luxor Hotel and Casino.

BUSINESSES BANDING TOGETHER

“We were all going after the same consumers, practically tripping over one another to secure business. We are like-minded businesspeople and had all thought at one point or another, ‘there has to be a better way to do this.’

Ultimately, we realized we are stronger together,” says Robert Graff, vice president of marketing, Papillon Airways, Inc. “This partnership provides us with a platform to implement marketing, advertising, databases and sales strategies in an impactful and cost-effective way, expanding our reach beyond what we could accomplish as individual companies.

Through this consortium, we are targeting customers through wholesale and tour operators, travel agents, airline partners, concierges and many more.”
The group developed rack cards discount and referral booklets, all branded as Best Vegas Attractions.

The referral program officially began in May 2009 and provides cash incentives to concierges and front desk representatives’ and discounts to visitors.

More than 40,000 booklets are being distributed to more than 113 resorts. To incentivize both visitors and tour and travel representatives, the program is designed to save visitors up to $500 and concierge and front desk representatives to receive up to $100 per booklet in cash-back incentives.

CONSUMERS CASH IN ON VALUE

Consumers who patronize participating attractions will save anywhere from 15 to 50 percent off the regular prices.
“We know visitors who come to Las Vegas are searching for value,” concludes Graff.

“Best Vegas Attractions clearly lays out guest options, making it easier than ever to decide what to do while they are in the destination. Top that with incredible savings they will not be able to find anywhere else. We created this group because of the guests and for the guests.
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ABOUT BEST VEGAS ATTRACTIONS

Best Vegas Attractions (BVA) is a collaborative partnership among several Las Vegas visitor attractions, developed to increase awareness about the organization that will ultimately drive leisure and convention business to participating attractions. BVA’s objective is to provide value-added opportunities for travelers and visitors through special offers and values. By partnering on marketing, public relations and advertising efforts that include strategic branding, Web site production, collateral production and distribution, BVA attractions combine resources on activities at a fraction of the cost, which saves their respective companies time and money.

For more information, go to www.bestvegasattractions.com

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…

Chateau D’Arnac is now taking bookings for wedding parties and the property will also be the venue for a number of planned cookery courses in Autumn 2009 and Spring 2010.

Weddings: The beautiful and romantic chateau, in the heart of the Correze, is a perfect venue for weddings. The chateau, which sleeps up to 10 people, is ideally suited to house the family hosting the wedding and their guests.

Further accommodation is available in the adjoining Gatehouse to the chateau as well as at Les Noyers in the nearby village of Curemonte, listed as a ‘Village de France’.

The chateau was acquired by Lady Sarah Tetley Hall in 2005 and has been restored to a very high standard. It is regarded as one of the most romantic properties in this lovely part of central France.

Lady Hall says: “The size and layout of the chateau make it a wonderful location to hold a very special wedding.

“The large reception rooms, coupled with the use of the terrace overlooking parkland, provide a memorable venue for functions”. Chateau D’Arnac can make all the necessary arrangements including booking the service at a choice of local churches with choirs or other music at the chateau, the Reception with drinks, dinner and dancing, booking local hotels, transport , flowers and all the many details necessary to ensure a perfect wedding day.

Cookery Courses The cookery courses at Chateau D’Arnac are being planned for September and October 2009, and for Spring 2010.

These will be priced on an all inclusive basis with a stay of four nights at the chateau and hosted by a local chef and wine experts. There will be 5 cooking session in the chateau, as well as trips to meet local food produces and winemakers. Also included will be a special gala dinner as the finale of the course and guided visits to nearby Villages de Frances including Rocamadour, Argentat, Turenne and Collanges La Rouge, all of which are all less than ½ an hour from Chateau D’Arnac.

Make Destination Weddings in Ireland a Reality like never before!

Dream Irish Weddings Launch New Fairytale Irish Wedding Locations…

Two Irish Castles and a luxury Golf Resort in the magical Shannon Region on Ireland’s West coast have got together to offer Dream Wedding Locations at outstanding value!

Dream Irish Wedding is a strategic alliance of three of the most renowned and trusted Fairytale Wedding Venues in Ireland. All 5* properties are perfectly appointed and perfectly equipped to turn any occasion into the most memorable.

This group can orchestrate the perfect, stress free and unforgettable event no matter what the occasion.

Their passion for perfection and meticulous attention to details ensure your dream becomes a reality!

From seamless airport transfers to check out, absolute event management allows you to relax and take full advantage of the entire region and what the venues have to offer, safe in the knowledge that an expert team is looking after everything.

Affordable Luxury has never been so accessible. High quality events and management don’t have to break the bank, Dream Irish inclusive packages cater for all budgets and styles.

You can choose an all-inclusive package or tailor make your own. Flexibility to have your event on off peek days guarantees even more savings!

Full Details of all packages & services are available on their website, www.dreamirishwedding.com

Planning your honeymoon escape? Check out Bales Worldwide’s ultimate Honeymoon Collection for the latest in romantic inspiration. From sunset drinks in the desert beauty of India’s Rajasthan, to the breathtaking scenery of Canada’s wilderness, a wildlife extravaganza in South Africa, to the natural wonders of New Zealand – a range of stunning honeymoon locations await! Visit THIS LINK

New Zealand – Top to Bottom in 20 days
Check out the best of New Zealand with this 20 day itinerary. Variety is the key – journey from idyllic Waiheke Island, to the bustling streets of Auckland and through a land steeped in colonial and Maori culture. Experience the sulphurous springs of Rotorua, enjoy Napier’s Art Deco elegance, and sip a tipple or two at Hawkes Bay vineyards. Head to the South Island for whale watching off the Kaikoura Peninsula, adrenaline filled adventure in Queenstown and the rich majesty of Milford Sound.

The deluxe accommodation throughout allows in you to relax in style, from the chic boutique style of the Boatshed on Waiheke Island, to the secluded retreat that is Treetops Lodge near Rotorua.

Prices start from £4,825 per person based on two sharing, including return flights, accommodation, car hire, transfers, most meals and a number of honeymoon special offers including wine and food hampers, a 4WD safari, Michelin star cookery courses and wine tasting.

South Africa – Wildlife Safari to Beach Paradise
This ten day extravaganza starts with a chance to unwind at The Long Beach Hideaway outside Cape Town.

Be pampered at this beautiful beachside location overlooking eight miles of unspoilt white sand, with uninterrupted views of Hout Bay and Table Mountain. On day four fly to Port Elizabeth and the Shamwari Game Reserve, for wild game viewing and luxury lodge accommodation. After two days of game drives, it off to the pristine beaches of the Indian Ocean and the Oceana Beach and Wildlife reserve for a 5-star food and spa experience. Finally, head to the Art Deco masterpiece that is Shamwari Townhouse in Port Elizabeth.

Savour a drink in the Champagne Lounge, indulge your taste buds with fine foods and be pampered with a spa treatment or two.

Prices start from £3,119 per person based on two sharing, including return flights, transfers, most meals, free lodge upgrade at Shamwari Game Reserve and free spa experience at Oceana Beach.

Canada – Clayoquot Wilderness Resort

Clayoquot Wilderness Resort is a truly unique hideaway, located near Tofino on Vancouver Island. Arrive in style on a float plane from Vancouver, before settling into one of 20 luxury tents and enjoying a private candlelit dinner. The white tents, set under the rainforest canopy, are raised on platforms and are beautifully furnished, complete with queen sized bed.

Gourmet meals are created by highly skilled chefs in the main building’s open kitchen, and wonderful fresh picnics can also be provided – why not head off to a secluded glade for a romantic meal al fresco? Enjoy a free two hour massage, wallow in one of the three wood fired hot tubs, try your hand at kayaking, fishing and rock climbing, or head off on a peaceful horse ride through the unspoilt landscape.

Prices start from £4,500 per person based on two sharing in September, including flights, transfers, accommodation and most meals.

India – Romantic Rajasthan

Escape the tourist trail in romantic Rajasthan and stay in a series of luxury camps that surpass all expectations. Your honeymoon starts in Jaipur, at the stunning Samode Bagh camp located in the beautiful Mughai gardens near the Samode Palace. From here, head to rural Rajasthan to stay at Chhatra Sagar tented camp. This tranquil haven has 11 exquisite tents overlooking a lake teeming with wildlife - marvel at the hand painted floors and enjoy some of Rajasthan’s finest cuisine.

On day 6 transfer to the wonderfully peaceful Deogarh Khayyam camp, set on the shores of a beautiful lake in the Arvalli Mountains. From this tranquil waterside location, head to the heart of the desert and the Manvar Desert Camp.

Set amidst the sand dunes between Jodhpur and Jaisalmer, this camp offers spectacular sunsets, fabulous local dancers and musicians, plus the opportunity for a camel ride or jeep safari. Your final location is the fabulous Wilderness Camp west of Rohet, which comprises of just six exclusive tents surrounded by dunes and scrubland.

Prices start from £1,995 per person between 1st October and 10th December based on two sharing, including return flights, accommodation, sightseeing, excursions, transfers and most meals.

Romantic Indochina

A journey through wonderfully scenic Vietnam and Cambodia is great honeymoon option. This 14 day itinerary takes you from the elegant French-colonial Hanoi in Vietnam to the majestic temple complex of Angkor in Cambodia, via a myriad of wonderful locations.

The trip includes a two night traditional junk cruise of Halong Bay, a visit to Vietnam’s former capital of Hue, a river tour to Minh Mang’s tomb, an excursion to the Forbidden Purple City, and a chance to relax on the white sands of Hoi An.

Visit awesome UNESCO World Heritage Sites and reserves, stay in luxury accommodation such as The Residence Hotel and Spa in Hue, savour world class cuisine, explore temples and pagodas, and take in the stunning scenery throughout.

The itinerary includes two full days to explore the breathtaking Ankgor Wat and its surrounding temples and monuments.

Prices start from £2495 per person based on two sharing, for travel between 1 April and 30 June 2009, including return flights, transfers, accommodation and most meals. This also includes free room upgrades at all hotels.

Boutique Peru

This 13 day holiday offers Peruvian highlights, coupled with exceptional boutique accommodation.

Luxurious and eco-friendly, these exceptional hotels present a new range of boutique options that offer all meals and a full range of services. Kick off with a day exploring historic Lima, before flying to Puerto Maldonado and the Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica – reached by a 1 hour canoe ride!

Stay in your own thatched cabin set on a raised platform, complete with private bathroom and hammocks on the terrace.

Enjoy two days of activities and excursions from bird watching and photography, to wildlife observation and even astronomy! Day 6 and 7 take you to the Andes and the awe-inspiring remains of Machu Picchu – staying at the Inkaterra Machu Picchu. Your journey carries on to take in Cusco, before you fly to Juliaca for a stay on the shores of Lake Titicaca. Relax at the wonderful Hotel Titilaka which enjoys 270º views of the lake and offers pampering spa facilities.

Prices start from £3995 per person based on two sharing, including return flights, transfers, accommodation, sightseeing/excursions and most meals.

For reservations please call 0845 057 0600 or look online at
www.balesworldwide.com/honeymooncollection

Sonesta Maho Beach Resort & Casino, located on the Caribbean island of St. Maarten, has a new “Free Wedding Package,” valid for travel through 2010.

Brides and grooms booking a minimum of 10 rooms on the resort’s all-inclusive plan for seven nights or more earn a free wedding with all the works including personal wedding sales consultant to help couples design their nuptials; one-hour with wedding coordinator on wedding day; ceremony venue; documentation charges; stamp duties; official marriage license; on-site officiate; translation of documents into English;

courier charges; customized cocktail reception and dinner; open bar during the event; custom designed wedding cake; sparkling wine for a toast; signature Sonesta champagne flutes; and 10 percent off select spa services at The Good Life Spa.

All-inclusive rates start at $174 per person, per night through Dec. 19, 2009, and $204 per person, per night through April 4, 2010.

Sonesta Maho Beach Resort & Casino’s free wedding package is based on a minimum of 10 rooms staying a minimum of seven nights on the resort’s all-inclusive plan or a minimum of 70 room nights with a customized wedding package.

Rooms booked outside of the group block will not be counted towards free wedding package eligibility. |

This offer is subject to availability and black-out dates.

Rates are based on double occupancy. Service charges and taxes are included.

For more information or to book the offer, call 602-904-5584 or email weddings@mahobeach.com

Azul Hotels by Karisma has opened the Azul Villa Carola, a six-bedroom, six-bathroom property. Among other perks, the new property offers guests access to the neighboring Azul Beach Hotel and its Gourmet Inclusive amenities. Packages include customized vacation experiences based on guests’ interests and needs, from the Villa’s Family & Friends and Wedding & Events offerings to its Royal package, which includes a private chef and yacht trip for a group of 20.

The 10,700-square-foot home features ocean views, a private pool, an outdoor Jacuzzi for 10 and a dedicated staff, including the Villa’s majordomo (butler), who greets guests with a welcome glass of champagne followed by 24-hour personal care.

The villas accommodates 12 adults and eight children in its two master bedrooms, two deluxe bedrooms, two classic bedrooms and luxury pullout bed in the main living area, each with air conditioning, a flat-screen TV, a DVD player, an iPod docking station, a marble and mahogany bathroom, an oversized balcony or terrace, and bathrobes.

It also features a fully equipped, granite gourmet kitchen with a Nespresso coffee machine, a six burner stove, a refrigerator/freezer and a dishwasher.

Guests can prepare meals themselves or take advantage of the optional in-villa chef service. Outside, the villa offers king-sized beach day beds, in-pool lounge chairs, a brick pizza oven, a rollaway gas grill, a dining table for 12 and a pergola-covered dining table for 10.The is also an onsite supply of baby/child essentials like strollers, cribs, baby formula, bottles and beach games as part of the Pack & Play program.

The Villa is also home to a variety of high-tech offerings, including Nextel radio for swift communication with the majordomo, wireless Internet access, video surveillance and an armed security system, and a surround-sound system and a Wii console.

Azul Villa Carola also offers the following packages: The Gourmet Inclusive Family and Friends package features a personalized vacation planner, a private babysitter for eight hours per day, DVD cinema service, a private chef for three daily meals and a Mayan-themed beach party complete with full décor, gourmet food and live entertainment.

The Gourmet Inclusive Wedding & Events package features an onsite wedding coordinator, filing of all documents, a justice of the peace, a professional wedding photographer, an online bridal registry and wedding website, floral arrangements for the bride and groom, a private chef for one night, a handmade wedding album, and a decorated master suite for the wedding night with breakfast served in bed the following morning.

The Gourmet Inclusive Royal package includes roundtrip limo service for 12 people, a premium full bar, an aromatherapy menu, a pillow menu, a private beach butler, Bvlgari bathroom amenities, monogrammed bathrobes, high-tech meeting equipment, a private chef for three daily meals, daily newspaper delivery by the majordomo, a candlelight lobster dinner for 12 at Sky Aqua Pier, a chill-out party with a DJ, and a private yacht trip for 20.

Azul Villa Carola rates start at $2,300 per night.

Packages range from $3,300 to $6,700.

For more information, call 866-527-4762

or visit www.karismahotels.com

According to the Discover Dominica Authority, as more couples are choosing to plan destination weddings, the island’s hotels are offering special packages for all newlyweds.

Among packages and deals to couples are Jungle Bay Resort & Spa’s Jungle Bays Escape Weddings and Honeymoons coupon special which deducts $500 off the reservation.

This offer includes a professional wedding planner. This special is valid on reservations booked by Aug. 31. Rates begin at $1,500. When booking refer to coupon code wedding09.

For more information, call 767-446-1789 or visit www.junglebaydominica.com/weddings.cfm

Calibishie Cove’s Caribbean Honeymoon package includes seven nights in the Paradise Penthouse, a bottle of champagne, extra flowers, one candlelight dinner, one waterfall tour and a one-day kayak rental to explore Dominica’s coast, river and island. Rates begin at $1,595 per couple.

For more information, call 813-417-8448 or visit www.calibishiecove.com

The Anchorage Hotel’s Honeymoon Package includes seven nights, welcome drink and fresh fruit platter, bottle of champagne, daily breakfast, one five-course private candlelight dinner, airport transfers, one whale and dolphin safari tour and one trip to Screws Sulphur Spa.

Rates begin at $1,699 per couple.

For more information, call 767-448-2638 or visit www.anchoragehotel.dm

Calibishie Lodges’ Honeymoon Special includes four nights accommodations, airport transfers, private driver and car, welcome honeymoon drink, a bottle of champagne, flowers, daily breakfast, and excursions including hike to Chaudiere Pool, water tubing in Concord and a visit to the Indian River and National Park.

For more information, call 767-317-1843 or visit www.calibishie-lodges.com

Rainforest Paradise’s Couples Package offers accommodations in a river cabin, daily breakfast, and a tour and lunch at the Rainforest Mushroom Farm.

For an additional charge, guests can take advantage of their spa treatments and full day tours of the island.

Rates begin at $840 per couple.

For more information, call 767-449-3074 or visit www.rainforestparadise.com

Crescent Moon Cabins is offering newlyweds a five-night stay in their rainforest cabins overlooking the Caribbean Sea.

This special includes daily organic dinners for two and private tours upon request to Boiling Lake, Morne Trois Pitons and any of the waterfalls.

For more information, call 767-449-3449 or visit www.crescentmooncabins.com

For general destination information, call the Discover Dominica Authority at 866-522-4057 or visit www.discoverdominica.com

Couples getting married at historic Scone Palace by Perth might well be forgiven for arriving late, should they choose to hold their ceremony in the palace’s spectacular Murray Star Maze.

The Maze, designed in the shape of a five-pointed star, comprises 2,000 beech trees, half of them green, half of them copper, creating a unique tartan effect.

At its centre is a beautiful pentagonal fountain, which provides the perfect location for an intimate ceremony.

Designed by contemporary maze designer Adrian Fisher, the Maze is 215 feet across, and lies on the ancient area of flat ground known originally as the Monks’ Playgreen.

Couples can also choose to hold their ceremony upon Moot Hill, the crowning place of the Kings of Scots and the scene of Scottish parliaments from the 13th – 15th Centuries.

The tiny gothic Chapel, next to Moot Hill, is another popular location for ceremonies, with its intricate stone carvings and magnificent Italian alabaster monument.

Tel. 01738 552300

www.scone-palace.co.uk