Archive for December, 2005

Bay Hotel, Camps Bay Beach, Cape Town

Friday, December 30th, 2005

Boutique-style personal service combined with friendly relaxed charm compliments the sophistication and elegance of The Bay Hotel. Bay Hotel in Camps Bay is the only five star hotel located on Camps Bay Beach.

Camps Bay is one of the most popular spots in Cape Town for anyone who loves sandy white beaches shaded with palms. The beach stretches out before you, boarded in by granite outcrops on either side. The Bay has two magnificent backdrops the first being the turquoise blue Atlantic Ocean and the second being the Twelve Apostle Mountains.The Twelve Apostles Mountain Range, which is protected area by nature conservation, is home to many of the Cape floral kingdom.

The sunsets in Camps Bay are spectacular as you have completely uninterrupted view of the sun as it sinks into the Atlantic Ocean. The main road in Camps Bay, Victoria Road, which runs parallel to Camps Bay beach, is a popular spot with a host of restaurants, bars and hotels. The best-located hotels in Camps Bays is the Bay Hotel.

The Bay Hotel is an ideal spot for anyone looking for a luxurious room with exclusive amenities complemented by stunning views over the Ocean.

Every one of the 72 bedrooms and 6 suites gaze upon the spectacular vista that is Camps Bay.
Most rooms have spacious balconies and all have a private entrance lobby, en-suite bathroom with separate shower, mini bar, tea & coffee making facilities & built-in electronic safes. Rooms are fitted with either twin or king size beds.

Mountain Rooms (15)Mountain Rooms – South and East facing

Classic Rooms (5 Garden & 8 Pool)

Garden rooms – West facingPool facing rooms – North and West facing

Club Classic Rooms (6)North facing rooms with partial sea and mountain views, 2 of which are equipped for disabled guests. None of the Club Classic rooms have balconies.

Premier Rooms (35)27 West facing rooms with sea views. 8 North facing rooms with views of the sea and Lion’s Head.

Premier Mountain Rooms (3)Double-sized rooms East facing with magnificent mountain views.

Luxury Rooms (2)Spacious rooms facing West with sitting areas and balconies.

Suite (3)Magnificently appointed Suites facing West, all have a spacious lounge and balconies.

Hotel Amenities & Services
Tourism and Business Centre
Shuttle Service
24 hour Room Service
Soulever Wellness Salon
Foreign Exchange Facility
Secure Parking
In-house Florist
Change Room Facilities
2 dedicated rooms for the Enabled traveller
Laundry, dry-cleaning & valet service
Restaurant, Deli, Cigar Bar & Wine Cellar
Outdoor swimming pools & direct beach access

Room Facilities
Television ? Satellite & Guest Link
Air-conditioning & heating
Hairdryers
Heated Towel Rails
Private Entrance Lobby
Tea/ Coffee making facilities
Daily Local Newspaper
International Plug Points (220v) A/C
Mini Bar
Electronic safe
Complimentary Pressing Service
Choice of pillows

Posted in Accommodation, Cape Town Hotels, General, The Bay Hotel | No Comments »

The Sante Spa at The Winelands Hotel

Friday, December 30th, 2005

The Sante Spa & Wellness Centre at The Winelands Hotel was voted one of the ‘16 Best Spa’s on Earth’ by UK Elle magazine (May 2004).

It was the only spa on the African continent to receive this prestigious accolade.The magazine highlighted Vinotherapy®, Santé’s specialised detox and anti-ageing signature treatment, which offers grape seed therapy in the midst of the Cape vineyards. Santé Winelands is only the second spa in the world to offer the unique treatment, which was launched in 2001 by the French spa, Les Sources de Caudalie, near Bordeaux. Vinotherapy® utilises crushed grape seeds and grape seed oil, which are applied in massage, body wrap and scrubs to protect the skin against oxidative stress. In the short time since opening at the end of 2003, the The Winelands Hotel Resort and Wellness Centre has sparked interest from all over the globe.

It is South Africa’s first destination spa that sets out to redefine the wellness experience in this country. With its breathtaking position on a 190-hectare working wine estate in the picturesque Paarl Franschhoek Valley just 30 minutes from Cape Town and the international airport, it is dedicated exclusively to a health and wellness lifestyle.

The wellness centre offers the world’s best in terms of treatments and modern trends. At 2 700m?, it is twice the size of its nearest South African competitor and features a state of the art indoor swimming pool and equipment imported from Germany. Treatments available at the Santé Spa & Wellness Centre include Hamam, Serail, Kneipp, Tepidarium/Laconium, a Vichy shower and waterbed therapy. The Rainbow Hydrotherapy Bath furthermore offers a unique experience of colour, sound and magnetic field therapy. Pilates, Tai Chi and Yoga classes are available in addition to a modern gym and a range of outdoor activities, including bass fishing, horse riding, jogging, hiking and walking trails amongst the vineyards and surrounding mountains and golf is available at more than 5 top golf course in the near vicinity. The Santé Spa & Wellness Centre offers a variety of lifestyle programmes, ranging from detoxification and rejuvenation to anti-aging, weight-loss and Golf Fitness.

It also specialises in “Wellness for Business Executives”, featuring stress management, executive health programmes and corporate team building. During the grape harvest season the Santé Wellness Centre offers a shortened version of the ‘Grape Cure’, a cleansing and detoxification mono-diet that consists of grapes and which is based on a book written in 1928 by Johanna Brandt.

Guests can choose to stay in any one of the luxuriously appointed rooms. These include ten Manor House rooms; 39 Spa Suites; as well as seven fully equipped four-bedroom en-suite Vineyard Villas. The hotel provides every service one would expect at a luxury hotel, including a library, 24-hour room service, valet parking, concierge, same-day laundry and dry-cleaning services, DVD players in each room, chauffeur driven vehicles and guided tours.

Posted in Accommodation, Awards, Cape Town Hotels, Cape Winelands Hotels, General, Sante Winelands Hotel, Wellness | No Comments »

Awards The Twelve Apostles Hotel Cape Town

Friday, December 30th, 2005

 

RED CARNATION ON THE RED CARPET WE SCOOP MAJOR LEADING HOTELS OF THE WORLD AWARDS FOR 2005!

On 29 October, In New Delhi, India, The Leading Hotels of the World announced the winners of its Fourth Annual Commitment to Quality Awards. And of the ten properties honoured, no less than two were from the Red Carnation international collection of luxury boutique hotels.
These prestigious awards recognise Leading Hotels and Leading Small Hotels in five regions: Africa/Middle East, Asia/Pacific, Europe, Mexico/Caribbean/South America, and the United States of America and Canada. Two hotels, the properties that achieved the highest scores during their most recent Leading Hotels’ impartial, anonymous inspections, were named from each of five world regions. RCH hotels were winners in two of those five regions: The Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa in Cape Town, South Africa, and Hotel d’Angleterre in Geneva, Switzerland.
The Leading Hotels of the World Commitment to Quality Awards are now widely acknowledged as the benchmark for global luxury standards in the hospitality industry. The awards, which objectively measure the hotels from the traveller’s perspective, are based on the results of stringent inspections with more than 1,500 criteria, providing the most comprehensive reports in the luxury industry.
Mr Jonathan Raggett, Managing Director of the Red Carnation collection, was understandably delighted. “These awards mean so much to us, because they recognise all the hard work and effort, by every member of staff, that goes into making our hotels so special for our guests. Congratulations and thanks to everyone at both properties, and we look forward to similar results next year.”

Posted in Accommodation, Awards, Cape Town Hotels, General, News, Twelve Apostles Hotel | No Comments »

World Travel Awards Mantis Collection

Friday, December 30th, 2005

World Travel Awards

Mantis Collection has once again received acknowledgement for its achievements as a truly world class organisation. The 13th World Travel Awards were held on Sunday 13th November at the Royal Opera House in London. Mantis Collection walked away with no less than 4 World Travel Awards.
Over two million votes were cast from 156,000 travel agencies worldwide for a final list of 3,500 nominees in leading travel destinations, airlines, hotels, personalities and companies. Graham Cooke, president of World Travel Awards, said: “The survey is truly global in scale, independent and accountable. With a growing number of travel award ceremonies in the marketplace, we still have the most comprehensive travel surveys out there.”

Mantis Collection Wins 4 World Awards
World’s Leading Safari & Game Reserve – Shamwari Game Reserve
World’s Leading Conservation Company – Shamwari Game Reserve
World’s Leading Responsible Tourism Project – Bushman Sands Hotel and Golf Course
World’s Leading Boutique Hotel – Saxon Hotel
Mantis Collection’s Saxon Hotel in Johannesburg won World’s Leading Boutique Hotel for the sixth consecutive year. Shamwari Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape won World’s Leading Safari and Game Reserve and World’s Leading Conservation Company for the eighth year. Bushman Sands in the Eastern Cape won World’s Leading Responsible Tourism Project for the second consecutive year.
Adrian Gardiner, Chairman and Founder of the group, says, ‘We are delighted to be honoured with these awards, and feel that it is a true recognition of South Africa’s progress as a tourism destination, as well as a mark of the team’s hard work and dedication. The awards demonstrate the value and importance of an environmentally & ecologically aware product, and we are fully committed to continuing our development in this manner.’
We at Mantis would like to thank the travel trade for selecting us as a World Class achiever. Without you we are unable to thrive and prosper.

Posted in Accommodation, Awards, General, Mantis Collection, News | No Comments »

Cape Town Hotels in walking distance to CTICC

Wednesday, December 14th, 2005

If you are attending a conference in Cape Town and you want to be in walking distance to the Cape Town Convention Center we would recommend the following hotels:

The Arabella Sheraton Grand Hotel Cape Town – five star The Arabella Sheraton Grand Hotel Cape Town is located at the very tip of Cape Town’s foreshore. This hotel has unsurpassed views of the ocean and mountains.

City Lodge V&A; Waterfront Hotel – three starThe City Lodge V&A; Waterfront Hotel is centrally located at the gateway to the vibrant and dynamic V&A; Waterfront, within walking distance to the city centre.

Cullinan Hotel (Cape Town)
The hotel complements the rich, cultural heritage of Cape Town with a timeless architectural tradition. Every aspect of the hotel denotes the special care that it offers in providing guests with efficient and discreet service. Elegance and style is evident in the marbled foyer, with its majestic columns and lavish decor, rich furnishings and intricate metalwork.
The guest rooms are spacious with luxury bathrooms and each offer views of either Table Mountain or the Waterfront. This mid-market hotel is aimed at both business and leisure travellers, and provides a full range of services from the elegant breakfast room and a la carte restaurant, to a ladies cocktail bar.

Posted in Accommodation, Cape Town Hotels, City Lodge V & A Waterfront, Conference, Cullinan Hotel, General, The Westin Grand Hotel | No Comments »

A1 Grand Prix of Nations, Accommodation, Durban

Tuesday, December 13th, 2005

A1 Grand Prix of Nations, Durban, South Africa

We would like to congratulate Durban on winning the A1 Grand Prix bid. Should you be looking for hotel accommodation in Durban we would be happy to assist.

For further information on the Grand Prix in Durban please visit: www.a1gp.com

Practise: Friday, Jan. 27, 2006
Qualification: Saturday, Jan. 28, 2006
Main Race: Sunday, Jan. 29, 2006
Time difference: GMT + 2hrs
Airport: Durban International Airport
Currency: South African Rand
Average Temperature: 24 C(5 yr specific month average)
Average precipitation / month: 134mm(5 yr specific month average)

The Durban circuit is the only street race on the A1GP calendar. This exciting track has 9 corners and 5 straights and is going to be one of the fastest track A1GP has seen yet! The track is situated just off the coast and humidity will take its toll on the drivers as they battle “on the streets of Durban”.

Location: 800m from the Durban CBD and 300m from the North Beach coastline close to the Suncoast Casino and Entertainment World.Track Length: 3.283 Km Longest straight: Over 700m Laps: TBA Direction: Clockwise Address: Brickhill road, Durban, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa. This is the first international race Durban has held since the early 1980.s.

The feature race on Sunday 29th of January will be the first race on this new street track, created especially for A1GP.

Directions: From the N3, take all signs to ‘Beaches’. Once you reach the beachfront, follow the A1 signs.

From the North Coast/N4, take the off-ramp to Blue Lagoon, and then follow the A1 signs.
From the South, take the off-ramp to the Victoria Embankment. Follow this road until you reach the signs to the North Coast. Turn left into Stanger Street until you reach the exit to Argyle Road. Turn right and follow the A1 signs

Posted in Accommodation, Durban Hotels, Events, General | No Comments »

Cape Town Waterfront Hotels, New Years Eve Fireworks

Monday, December 12th, 2005

Ever year and this year will be no different Cape Town will start the year 2006 with a big firework show to light the Southern tip of Africa.

It is a show not to be missed and if you do not have a reservation over that time at one of the waterfront hotels such as the.

Cape Grace – five star This charming five star small hotel, situated in the V&A; Waterfront, enjoys an unrivalled location with the majestic Table Mountain as a backdrop.

Table Bay Hotel – five star Situated at the heart of Cape Town’s bustling V&A; Waterfront, the Table Bay Hotel combines Victorian elegance with contemporary charm.

The Radisson Hotel Waterfront – five star Guests at the Radisson Hotel Waterfront, Cape Town, experience a unique relaxed and casual ambience whilst still enjoying the luxury of a top five star hotel.

The Commodore Hotel – five star Located in the V&A; Waterfront, the Commodore Hotel offers guests breathtaking views, superb service and excellent cuisine in a friendly, secure environment.

Victoria & Alfred Hotel – four star The Victoria & Alfred Hotel boasts unrivalled views of Table Mountain and offers guests a memorable stay in this luxury four star silver graded hotel.

The PortsWood Hotel – four star The Portswood Hotel is located in the V&A; Waterfront, the heart of Cape Town’s tourism attraction.

We highly recommend that you contact us to see what we can do about getting you accommodation over New Years eve at the waterfront.

Posted in Cape Grace Hotel, Cape Town Hotels, General, News, Radisson Waterfront, Table Bay Hotel | No Comments »

Umhlanga Attractions and Accommodation

Monday, December 12th, 2005

Umhlanga Lagoon

This 26 hectare reserve on the southern bank of the Umhlanga River in Umhlanga Rocks, north of Durban consists of an estuary, dune forest and coastal forest. It was proclaimed in 1980. There are two trails in the reserve which offer opportunities to explore the fascinating animal and plant life in these two forest types.
The trails also provide pedestrian access to the beach. There is a small picnic site situated at the entrance gate. Bushbuck, blue and grey duiker as well as other smaller mammals occur here. Numerous species of birds have been recorded in the reserve which also boasts the southern-most location of the crested guineafowl. There is no accommodation in the reserve.

Blue Flag Status

The Blue Flag concept is an international campaign that has been keenly adopted by South African tourism, environmental and hospitality authorities. The Blue Flag award is a way of informing local and foreign visitors that accredited beaches are clean, safe and most importantly – environmentally safe. During 2003, the following beaches were awarded Blue Flag accolades:

The beaches of Umhlanga come alive during the South African school holidays, and offer a veritable feast of fun for the whole family. Wonderful rock pools, excellent swimming areas, warm tidal pools and a bona fide working lighthouse all make a visit to Umhlanga a worthwhile experience. Of course the fact that the beachfront restaurants and ice-cream parlours are just a stone’s throw from the ocean are also a major plus factor.

• Shopping in Durban: The Gateway Centre in Umhlanga

Umhlanga Rocks Hotels

Oyster Box Hotel – three starsThe Oyster Box Hotel is located on Umhlanga’s beachfront in a beautiful tropical garden providing guests with magnificent ocean views from the swimming pool.

Teremok Lodge – five starsThe 5 star rated Teremok Lodge which is located in Umhlanga Rocks on the beautiful and warm KwaZulu-Natal north coast in South Africa.

Beverly Hills Hotel – five starRenowned for its superb personal service, luxury accommodation and fine dining, the Beverly Hills Hotel is the epitome of gracious hospitality.

Umhlanga Protea Hotel – three starThe Umhlanga Protea Hotel is situated conveniently in the heart of Umhlanga Rocks near Durban, mere minutes from the beach.

Posted in Accommodation, General, News, Umhlanga Attractions | No Comments »

Oyster Box Hotel in Umhlanga – Durban

Monday, December 12th, 2005

We are very excited to offering our clients the Oyster Box Hotel situated on the sandy beaches of Umhlanga located 15 min North of Durban.

The hotel features a cocktail bar and a Grill Room Restaurant where local seafood, excellent South African wines and other delicacies are served.

The swimming pool and the all weather tennis court is available for the sporty enthusiasts.

All rooms and suites at the Oyster Box Hotel, Durban, are exquisitely appointed and provide air-conditioning, featuring private bathrooms and satellite TV. Internet facilities are available at the Hotel. The Oyster box is well run privately owned three star hotel offering great value for money. The standard sea facing rooms offer exceptional sea views.

To experience ward tropical Indian Ocean and its white sandy beaches we recommend the Oyster box hotel.

Posted in Durban Hotels, General, New addition to portfolio, Oyster Box Hotel | No Comments »

Liz McGrath Hotel Collection South Africa

Thursday, December 1st, 2005

Three Magical Christmas Destinations

The Cellars-Hohenort
Situated in the heart of the Constantia Valley in Cape Town, South Africa, The Cellars Hohenort is a haven of peace and tranquility unifying two great traditions, the magnificent restoration of the 18th Century Klaasenbosch wine cellars and the splendid manor house of the Hohenort, previously owned by the Spilhaus family. With its understated elegance and charm, the hotel boasts 55 luxury rooms and suites, with breathtaking views across the 9 acres of world renowned gardens and vineyard. Visit website

The Marine Hermanus
Perched on top of the cliffs at Hermanus, The Marine has one of the southern hemisphere`s most spectacular seascapes. The Marine has 43 individually decorated bedrooms and suites, each with its own private facilities. Commanding views extend across Walker Bay or over the beautiful internal courtyard, finely manicured gardens and the Overberg Mountains. Visit website

The Plettenberg
The Plettenberg, a 5 star Relais & Chateaux Hotel built on a rocky headland with breathtaking vistas of the sea, mountains and miles of golden sand in one of the most spectacular resorts in Africa – Plettenberg Bay. Our 38 luxury rooms and suites are all air-conditioned and offer a truly idyllic and indulgent experience. We have two swimming pools, one of which is heated, and both visually flow into the ocean below. Visit website

Posted in Cape Town Hotels, Cellars-Hohenort Hotel, General, Specials | No Comments »