@DEAR NAME@ Pay For 4 and Stay For 7 At The Fabulous New Four Seasons Resort Mauritius The new Four Seasons offers an unforgettable experience on the enchanting island of Mauritius: a harmonious settlement nestled in the most natural setting, offering hotel suites, fine dining establishments and full leisure, recreation and relaxation facilities. From now until Saturday 28th February 2009 (excluding the festive season, from 22nd December 2008 - 11th January 2009) Quintessentially members can pay for four nights and get a further three complimentary nights, including breakfast, in a superb Pool Villa or Residence Villa. Members wishing to travel before Saturday 20th December can take advantage of even more fantastic offers. Book a Mangrove Pool Villa and you will get a complimentary upgrade to a Lagoon Pool Villa (subject to availability at reservation stage). Members will also be given complimentary green fees for the first round of golf for one guest per villa. For more information or to book please contact travel@quintessentially.com. Free Night Offer At The Kasbah Tamadot Stay four nights for the price of three, or stay a little longer and enjoy five nights for the price of four, or seven for the price of six. You will probably have already heard about Kasbah Tamadot, Sir Richard Branson’s stunning retreat set at the foothills of the High Atlas Mountains. The property has 24 magnificent bedrooms and suites but new to Kasbah Tamadot are a further six luxurious Berber Tents complete with sumptuous plunge pools. The tents are perched on the hillside and offer unsurpassed views over the Atlas Mountains and river valley. All luxury tents are fully air conditioned during the warmer months and heated during the winter. For any members wishing to visit, we are pleased to offer the following deal: For arrivals between now and Thursday 18th December, you can stay for four nights, pay for three and enjoy a complimentary night in a Berber Tent. This offer is also valid for longer stays but only applies to stays in a new Berber Tent. For more information or to book please contact travel@quintessentially.com. Free Night Offer At Parrot Cay, Turks and Caicos Stay seven nights for the price of five. Situated on a private island, Parrot Cay is an escapist paradise with an emphasis on rejuvenation. Light and spacious, the garden and ocean facing rooms are cool and peaceful retreats. The one bedroom beach houses and one to three bedroom villas feature contemporary teakwood furnishings, four-poster beds and white muslin fabrics. Private pools in the larger villas and plunge pools in the beach houses provide additional luxuries. The COMO Shambhala retreat has become a byword for holistic well-being, achieved through yoga, meditation, diet and ancient oriental therapies. Make the most of the resort’s watersports facilities, tennis and gymnasium workouts, whilst an infinity-edge pool and miles of talcum powder sands encourage leisurely swims and sunset strolls. This offer is valid for bookings until 31st January 2009 (subject to availability) but does not include Christmas and New Year (from Friday 19th December 2008 – Saturday 10th January 2009 inclusive), due to the busy festive season. The offer applies to all room categories, including villas, and is inclusive of breakfast as well as return airport transfers (for commercially scheduled flights only). For more information, or to book, please contact travel@quintessentially.com. Exclusive Package Offer at Crown Macau A visit to Hong Kong is not complete without a sojourn over to Macau, Asia’s answer to Vegas, where Quintessentially members can now experience the über-luxury of Crown Macau with this fantastic package. Make the most of this exclusive offer and enjoy award-winning interior designer Peter Remedios’ sumptuous rooms for a break to pamper yourself in the tranquil spa and try your luck at the tables. Crown Macau is offering Quintessentially members a unique package which includes a night in a Deluxe Room, a MOP 1,000 food and beverage credit, a HKD 500 Crown Casino match play voucher as well as a 30-minute lime and ginger body scrub when booking Crown’s signature massage. Situated on Taipa, away from the usual Macau hustle and bustle, this luxurious property provides a myriad of delectable dining options, a vibrant casino and a tranquil spa, which spans over two floors of the hotel and is the perfect place to rejuvenate body and soul. Package rates: 1 Nov – 31 Dec 2008 Weekdays: HKD 3,280 Weekends: HKD 4,280 1 Jan – 31 Jan 2009 Weekdays: HKD 3,380 Weekends: HKD 4,380 The above package rates are subject to tax and service charge and are based on single or double occupancy. For more information or to book, please contact travel@quintessentially.com. Explore the Galapagos When our favourite scientist stumbled across the Galapagos Islands way back when, he found a treasure trove of natural wonders that led him to challenge generations of inherited wisdom. Relive evolutionary history by exploring the wild Galapagos Islands from a new point of view: from the water. Now you can hire your own luxury, fully-staffed catamaran to drift around the islands, so you wake to a new exciting scene bursting with nature every morning. By day you will get up close to the action on a kayak, paddling through aquamarine waters and past pristine beaches, watching turtles come up for air right beside you. Gliding into solitary bays, your only neighbours will be the indigenous sea lions, turtles, flamingos and iguanas. Kayaking is combined with walks through the Galapagos’ dramatic interior to breathtaking viewpoints, and the opportunity to snorkel with the friendly fur seals. During your week-long exploration, evenings are spent eating gourmet food aboard your luxury 82ft yacht, under fantastic sunsets. The price is GBP 7,920 per person, based on eight sharing the luxury Galapagos Vision. This price includes business class international flights on American Airlines, internal flights, two nights in Quito, eight nights on the yacht, food, drink and transfer fees. For more information or to book, please contact travel@quintessentially.com. Caribbean Seven Day Yacht Charter over Christmas and New Year This is a wonderful opportunity to charter the fabulous Yacht Maraya for seven days over Christmas and New Year in the Caribbean. Maraya - which translates as “many mirrors” - is the newest launch to hit the charter collection. This 2008, 54m motor yacht offers the very latest innovations in technology along with the rich and luxurious comforts expected from a charter vessel and an abundance of both internal and external spaces for her guests to escape, relax and fully enjoy their freedom onboard. The yacht’s contemporary styling and crisp minimal interior designs by Claude Misser present the guests with elegant curves and strong vertical lines combined with exquisite materials and countless refined finishing touches. Some of the yacht’s more striking features include: a master state room balcony, which can be lowered whilst at anchor to provide a completely private external relaxation area for the principle guests; over 450m2 of external space, consisting of five separate deck areas, each with their own on-demand entertainments; and a great selection of toys ranging from a professional ski/wake boat to a pair of radio controlled racing yachts. The weekly rate is EUR 300,000 and the owner will accept just seven days over the Christmas and New Year period. For more information or to book please contact travel@quintessentially.com. Free Night Offer at One of Cape Town’s Most Desirable Addresses Feeling weary, stressed or in need of a quick break? Then let the fabulous Cape Royale indulge you. They currently have a fantastic summer package available, where Quintessentially members can stay for seven nights and only pay for five; stay for five and pay for four, or stay for four and pay for three. You will also receive a choice of either a complimentary 30 minute Swedish back massage or a 30 minute express manicure or pedicure. One bedroom suites start from ZAR 3,740 per suite per night (including VAT) and you will receive complimentary transfers within a five mile radius of the hotel. The package is valid between Wednesday 7th January – Thursday 30th April and Tuesday 1st September – Sunday 27 December 2009 (excluding Wednesday 28th January – Saturday 31st January and Tuesday 24th – Thursday 26th February). For more information, or to book, please contact travel@quintessentially.com. Jet Off to New York for the January Sales January is a great time for bargain hunters who don't mind the cold and want to take advantage of the great post-holiday sales, so how does a three night stay at the Hotel Gansevoort grab you? Located in the fast-rising Meatpacking District close to Greenwich Village, Hotel Gansevoort is one of the city’s most fashionable celebrity retreats. Its minimalist and sophisticated style is reflected in the rooms, each boasting plush feather beds, Egyptian linens, plasma televisions and modern artworks. The hotel’s centrepiece is the heated rooftop pool with underwater soundscape and the spectacular roof garden and lounge with stunning 360-degree views. Japanese-inspired cuisine is served at Jeffrey Chodorow’s Ono and you can discover the joys of the new-wave G Spa and Lounge or explore the district’s voguish designer boutiques. Exclusively for our UK members, we can offer you three nights from GBP 849 per person including complimentary return flights with British Airways in World Traveller and private transfers. Valid Tuesday 1st January – Monday 31st March 2009. For more information, or to book, please contact travel@quintessentially.com. Suite Dreams at the Ritz Paris Purveyor of the ultimate Parisian experience, The Ritz is a grand dame hotel - an opulent classic that never goes out of fashion. There are a thousand objective and rational reasons why you should visit The Ritz but if you need a few more, then Quintessentially members are entitled to a number of great benefits when staying there. Stay on a Friday or Saturday night and get a preferential suite rate - up to 25% off the rack rate - which includes accommodation in a one bedroom suite, a daily American breakfast, complimentary access to the swimming pool, the Ritz Health Club and the green golf of the ‘Grand Jardin’ and you will, of course, receive full VIP treatment. Rates: A Superior Suite is priced at EUR 1,200 per night An Executive Suite is priced at EUR 1,450 per night A Deluxe Suite is priced at EUR 1,750 per night This offer is valid until Thursday 25th December for new bookings only (not valid for existing ones) and is subject to the hotel’s availability. A stay on a Friday or Saturday night is compulsory to benefit from these rates. For more information, or to book, please contact travel@quintessentially.com. Quintessentially Travel Diaries Each month, one of our travel experts will give you the lowdown on their recent adventures. This month, Marisa Legner, our New York based travel specialist, tells us about her week in Port Antonio, Jamaica. For members considering a visit to Jamaica, or any other destination, we are here to offer honest and impartial advice with firsthand knowledge to help you plan the perfect holiday. PORT ANTONIO, JAMAICA The best destinations in the world take a bit of effort to get to, but they are well worth it. Port Antonio, Jamaica is one such place. Set in the secluded northeast corner of Jamaica, this pristine region has breathed new life and freshness in a country that many travellers have labelled as over-commercialised. Set on a stunningly diverse coastline against the dramatically lush background of the Blue Mountains, Port Antonio’s untouched and unexploited location provides the truest get-away-from-it-all holiday. GEEJAM After flying into Norman Manley International Airport, Geejam’s private pilot will whisk you off for the quick 20 minute flight to Port Antonio. Once you arrive at the private airstrip, a Geejam chauffeur will be waiting to take you on the 45 minute drive to the all-villa hotel, passing through traditional villages and winding mangrove forests. Upon your arrival at Geejam, the gates open and you will enter a world reminiscent of pages from a Rudyard Kipling novel – lush, jungle-like features with mango and coconut plants and twisted powerful trees that create a canopy for the flora, fauna and wildlife to flourish. Punctuated by winding walkways overlooking the sparkling Caribbean Sea, you happen upon each of the five villas (4 one-bedroom and 1 three-bedroom with a private pool), set beautifully into various corners of the property. Each is outfitted with all the creature comforts like Apple TV, iPod docking stations and WiFi, and you will be able to dine at the Bushbar restaurant, offering traditional Jamaican fare and innovative pan-Asian cuisine. I stayed in Mento, The most secluded of all the villas, Mento is very well integrated into the lush surroundings. With its sprawling terrace peering through the vegetation to the Caribbean Sea and its private hammock located down a short pathway amongst the trees, Mento was the perfect choice for someone looking to relax from it all. With only 14 guests at any given time, you can definitely see why this is an “insider escape” and has been favoured by the Hollywood, musical and fashion elite such as Sharon Stone, Grace Jones and No Doubt. Port Antonio is ripe with some of the most diverse stretches of sand to choose from and I would recommend doing a different one every day. The fantastic, attentive Geejam staff is only a phone call away from the cell phone they provide you with during your stay, and they will take you (without any additional cost) to any beach of your choice – and they are always ready with suggestions. Try Winnifred Beach - the “local’s” beach - where you can find Jamaican families cooking up traditional lunches in-between dips in the clear blue waters. Frenchman’s Cove, my favourite beach and named by Condé Nast Traveler as the “prettiest beach in the world” is characterised by the winding freshwater river that eventually meets up with the warm ocean waters rushing in – a refreshing mix on a hot day! Or try Monkey Island - Geejam’s private boat will take you there. Though you won’t find any monkeys here, this island just off the coast (which was devoid of any other visitors when I went) makes for the ultimate in relaxation and is surrounded by stunning reefs and marine life, perfect for snorkelling. There are so many activities to partake in, and I would most recommend taking a day to sail the stunning Rio Grande River on a traditional bamboo raft complemented by a home-cooked on-site river lunch. Ask the punter to take you to Scatter Falls and he will dock the boat and lead you through the lush coffee fields to these beautiful secluded waterfalls that he will help you climb. Whether you make this holiday an adventurous one with treks up the Blue Mountains and deep-sea fishing, or whether you choose to simply unwind and relax in the comfort of your villa’s private terrace or on the beach, Geejam, and Port Antonio, is the perfect escape. If Marisa’s diary has inspired you to embark on travels of your own, our travel team will be more than happy to talk about organising a trip for you. Please contact travel@quintessentially.com.