England On My Mind

Coworth Park

There’s nothing quite like a late summer, early fall jaunt to the English motherland.

The leaves are just about to change, the air smells of fresh fire and rain, and everyone starts to pile into the pubs at 6pm. Theater, food, and wine… England isn’t what it used to be.

In fact… it’s better.

And right now, new hotels across England are offering unrivaled luxury from which to explore the country’s most unique attractions with developments including York’s first five-star hotel & spa, Stratford-upon-Avon’s first boutique style hotel and London’s largest hotel opening in a generation.

Significant new openings, situated by some of the country’s most iconic attractions, are set to make the destination even more appealing for visitors looking to enjoy luxurious accommodation while exploring England’s unique history, heritage, culture and countryside. From chic and contemporary urban hotels to sophisticated countryside estates and manor houses featuring imaginative golf courses and spas, properties across England are being created to cater to the most discerning traveler.  New hotel openings include:

The Cedar Court Grand Hotel & Spa

The Cedar Court Grand Hotel & Spa: Station Rise, York, North Yorkshire, YO1 6HT, +44 (0)845 409 6430

The Arden Hotel: Waterside, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 6BA, +44 (0)1789 298682

Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London: 200 Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1 7UT, +44 (0)844-415-6780

Coworth Park: London Road, Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 7SE, +44 (0)134 487 6600

ABode Chester: Grosvenor Road, Chester, CH1 2DJ, +44 (0)124 434 7000,

Casa Hotel: Lockoford Lane, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S41 7JB, +44 (0)124 627 5302

The Halcyon: 2/3 South Parade, Bath, BA2 4AA, +44 (0) 122 544 4100

Rockliffe Hall: Hurworth-on-Tees, Darlington, County Durham, DL2 2DU, +44 (0)132 572 9999

Heacham Manor Hotel: Hunstanton Road, Heacham, Norfolk, PE31 7JX, +44 (0)148 553 6030

For more information about visiting England: www.VisitEngland.com

Eyes Wide Shutter

We’re always looking out for an eye-catching, artistic good time so when we heard about the InterContinental London Park Lane‘s new unique Insider Experience offering guests an unforgettable photography experience around key London landmarks, we had to check into it.

The EYE Photographic Workshop has been created in collaboration with professional photographer and founder Michael Potter, offering guests of the hotel a one-day photography workshop with a digital SLR camera.

Canon 35mm digital camera equipment will be provided if clients do not have a digital SLR camera with them. The workshop not only gives guests access to London’s iconic sights and landmarks, but allows them to acquire a valuable new skill and a truly local and authentic experience to take back home.  The workshop is for all levels and for those looking for an intimate size class with real hands-on experience.  Be it knowledgeable amateurs or snap-happy novices, the workshops are tailored to all abilities and offer an unforgettable hotel stay in one of the world’s most famous cities.  Guests enjoying the experience will be offered the choice of four different packages:

Old and New

Contrasts the new buildings with the old, juxtaposing the historic aspects of London with the city’s modern pace of life.

Pro Studio Fashion Shoots

Guests learn how to shoot fashion on a model both in Shepherd’s Bush Market and at a studio.

Wildlife in Richmond Park

Guests learn the techniques of stalking and photographing birds, large game and the landscape of the park.

Petersham or Clifton Nurseries

An opportunity for guests to visit the greenhouses and plants exhibited at the nurseries and photograph the setting and local environment.

The photography experience kicks off with introductions and coffee in the Club InterContinental of InterContinental London Park Lane. After a brief on camera operation and basic digital photography techniques, it is onward-bound with a professional tutor for a day of shooting.  During a working lunch in the city, guests take an opportunity to review their own shots before spending the afternoon with individual photography tasks.  The day finally comes to a close back at the hotel where participants have the opportunity to edit their collective shots and compile their own slideshow on a DVD.

Prices start from approximately US $1,548 for two people (plus VAT) including one night’s accommodation at the prestigious InterContinental London Park Lane and a one-day tailored workshop for two with EYE Photography.

For reservations or additional information on unique Insider Experiences at InterContinental London Park Lane:

http://www.london.intercontinental.com or call 888 424 6835.

Design Hotels – Christmas Travel Deal

We think there’s nothing quite like a hotel that can make you feel like you’ve stepped into a cleaner, better, sexier world; a world with great lighting where your wrinkles disappear and attractive majordomos cater to your otherworldly whims.

Whether that means an extraterrestrial haven created by Renzo Piano or Delphine Buhro and Michael Dreher’s Frankfurt den, the 25Hours Hotel (seen here). With that in mind, we’re always keen on sniffing out what the Design Hotels™ group is doing.

Design Hotels™, a group of chic design-oriented hotels from across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, offer just about everything for the design aficionado, the swanky lover of all things cutting-edge, hip, and sleek when it comes to modern hospitality design. So, for those longing for some style and festivity this holiday season, they’ve decided to fill our special Jaunt Magazine readers in on a little christmas travel deal not to be missed.

Check this out, but you better act fast!

This year, Design Hotels™ will be releasing its first annual gift guide to give away fantastic prizes worth up to €2,000/$2,991 each!

From December 1 to the 24th, visitors to Design Hotel’s website (www.designhotels.com) will not only receive a special holiday recommendation – from a themed weekend break to a Thai island-hopping adventure – but they can register to win free nights, designer bags, complimentary meals, and more.

A sneak preview of some of the prizes include:

A three-night stay in a pool villa at X2 KuiBuri, a seaside resort in Thailand, including a round-trip transfer to and from Bangkok airport

A two-night stay including breakfast in a suite at The Hotel – Lucerne, designed by French star architect Jean Nouvel

A €100/$200 voucher to spend on food and beverage at Sanctum Soho, London’s coolest Rock’n’ Roll hotel

Limited edition Raf Simons for Eastpak bags.

To join in the festive fun, participants only need to register their name and email address on http://www.designhotels.com/happyholidays and each morning from December 1-24th, 2009, a new calendar window will be opened to reveal an insider tip and prize.

Guests can then register within 24 hours to be eligible to win the gift shown. The winner will be chosen at random the following day and notified by email.

For the prize draw on December 1st, users can register from November 23rd onwards.

In addition, the Rock’n’Roll-inspired London-based Sanctum Soho is running it another brilliant (as those charming Brits would say) Christmas package. Fans and visitors of the Sanctum Soho include the likes of Franz Ferdinand, Joss Stone, Prince Harry, Natalie Imbruglia, and yes… your favorite tit trawler, Katie Price.

The Xmas at Sanctum Soho package includes:

A 3-night stay (Dec. 24, 25 and 26) with complimentary breakfast
Christmas Eve Dinner
Christmas Day Lunch
Boxing Day Brunch (“Boxing Day” is the day after Christmas)

Rates start at $815 per person, based on double occupancy.

For reservations: www.designhotel.com/sanctumsoho