Greetings!
 Spring is finally here, and with it comes the season (if
there is one) of travel. Since my last newsletter, I've enjoyed a
winter respite in Victoria punctuated with a long weekend in the
Colonial Cities of Mexico, an exciting "gig" as trip director for a
huge conference at a resort in Phoenix, and a most amazing trip to
Africa including a Botswana safari in the pampering hands of
Orient-Express. In two weeks, in fact, I was on 17 flight segments
including bush planes and a helicopter - and never missed a
connection or had a luggage delay!
All this travel, of course, in the interests of finding new
adventures ensuring my clients of fulfilling and memorable travel
experiences.
Call me today - let me keep those experiences coming your way!
Roger Kershaw
E- mail: info@RogerKershaw.com
| Featured Hotels |
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The
Westcliff, Johannesburg, South Africa Clearly one of
my favourites worldwide, the Westcliff is the only hotel
property in the Orient-Express group that was not already an
operating luxury hotel when O-E took it over. The Westcliff
was designed as an exclusive gated enclave of luxury
townhomes, villas and apartments, high on the wooded slopes of
the city's north side, with an enviable view of the zoological
gardens of Jo'burg. O-E rescued it from that fate of urban
sprawl and has re-organized it into collection of 117 suites
and rooms, each exquisitely appointed, and with every feature
and amenity you could desire. Whether as an overnight or for a
resort experience, the Westcliff is a wonderful experience.
Virtuoso guests receive Daily full breakfast, a
$50 food and beverage credit, complimentary airport transfer
on arrival, and an African gift from the General Manager.
Casa
de Sierra Nevada, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Set in a silver-trading town designated a national
monument, this cluster of charming 16th- and 18th-century
buildings is a historic landmark. This is one of the newest
additions to the Orient-Express collection. Recently
renovated, the 31 rooms and suites distributed among five
mansions are each unique, many with peaceful courtyards,
private balconies, or stone fireplaces. Located in the heart
of this magical village where traffic lights and neon signs
are banned, the property encompasses a Laja Spa, pool, Sazón
Cooking School and Andanza, one of the best Mexican
restaurants (AAA Four Diamond) in the Colonial Cities area.
Virtuoso guests receive Daily full breakfast and
a Sierra Nevada snack accompanied by two margaritas!
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| Way Up There |
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The hottest new hotel in Paris has only one room and can be
reserved for only one night, exactly 2 months in advance by
online lottery. Hotel
Everland resembles a boxcar perched atop the
Palais de Tokyo, a wall of windows providing panoramic views
of the Eiffel Tower. The groovy interior has a king-side bed,
mod white lounge (with vintage record collection), and room
service breakfast. This travelling art installation is the
brainchild of the Swiss art duo, Lang and Baumann. 333 to 444
euros/night. Closed Mondays.
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| Top Ten Business Class Seats |
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The air has never been a more comfortable place for
passengers in business class. Flat-bed seats are now
obligatory while spacious layouts are also becoming the norm.
Here are the top ten in the air today (alphabetically - it's
only your personal preference that matters to me!).
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| Love It or Hate It, In-Flight Cell Phone Use Has
Arrived |
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S ay goodbye to one of the last remaining phone-free havens.
Emirates Airlines announced in March that it is outfitting
its planes with technology that will allow passengers to use
their mobile phones in flight. Emirates is partnering on the
project with AeroMobile, which has developed technology that
allows cellular phones to work at a low-enough level that they
don't risk interfering with a plane's other systems. Emirates
is shelling out $27 million to roll the system out fleetwide.
Air France quickly followed, and recently V Australia
Airlines, Alaska Airlines and Southwest Airlines have all
announced similar plans.
Perhaps hoping to allay passenger fears about being stuck
next to a cellphone-wielding Chatty Charlie on a 13-hour
flight to Tokyo, Emirates says passengers will only be allowed
to make five or six calls per flight. And they point out that
flight crews will have the power to turn the system on and off
as needed, making it less likely that the woman sitting in 26D
is able to initiate a conference call at 3 in the morning.
Depending on your point of view, this is either a great
step forward, or just another reason to dread boarding an
airplane.
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| Announcing: My New Website |
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My website, www.RogerKershaw.com,
has recently been completely overhauled, and now offers a full
range of interactive Virtuoso-fed interactive features for
your reference.
For example, under the heading of Plan
Your Trip, check out the "Featured Getaways" and "Virtuoso
Discoveries" links, for the most recent special offers and
packages exclusive to Virtuoso clients like you. In the same
area, a visit to "Destination
Guide" offers a wealth of information compiled by the
renowned Columbus Guides. The Travel
Resources section also includes a collection of links I
often use personally to get you the latest and most accurate
information on the myriad aspects of your travel experience.
In coordination with www.RogerKershaw.com is my new site,
www.RogerKershawCruises.com,
dedicated to luxury cruises, including adventure and river
cruising. This site is a work in progress but already contains
a brief overview of each major player in this industry, and
every ship in their fleet (including weight, guest capacity
and crew complement). Watch this site for announcements soon
of Virtuoso specials including Voyager Club and Virtuoso
Explorer sailings and the special amenities and benefits
awaiting you there.
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Feature Destination -
Botswana |
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Welcome to one of the best parts of Africa.
Botswana, a country well known for peace and
tranquility, diamonds and Dr. Livingston (I presume), holds a
lot of surprises. There is no one better placed to bring those
surprises to reality than Orient-Express Safaris.
Our trip (and soon, I hope, to be yours) started from New
York city, aboard South African Airways, recently voted the
best business class flat bed in the skies. Landing in
Johannesburg, we were met by O-E staff, personally
fast-tracking us through the unfamiliar customs and
immigration process to a waiting mini-van for the short drive
to one of my new favourite hotels in the world, the
Westcliff. A short welcoming reception and by the time
we arrived in our room, our luggage had preceded us. Our stay
was too short, but the flight to Botswana awaited in the
morning, again accompanied by O-E ground assistance at every
move.
 Our all-to-short, three-night visit included all
three deluxe safari camps in the O-E portfolio, starting
with Savute Elephant Camp, Chobe National Park,
sometimes referred to as the elephant capital of the world.
The entire staff turned out to welcome us, as they do all new
arrivals, with songs and dancing, and after a refreshing pause
in this all-inclusive resort, we took our first game drive.
Elephants, of course, were the main attraction, but there was
a plethora of other game and birds, and - at sundown - a most
spectacular sunset.
 The guest quarters in all three camps are similar:
a dozen or so deluxe tents on permanent foundations with full
facilities including a stocked (and complimentary) bar fridge,
air conditioning, a spa-quality bath, and large private decks
ideal for game viewing or a private dinner by sunset. Wake up
calls are accompanied by a tray of tea, coffee and biscuits at
your doorstep. Guest facilities include an open-air lounge;
pool; business centre and library with Internet connection,
television and satellite telephone; a gift shop with local
crafts featuring some made by the staff of each camp; and spa
services. All meals and beverages are included, and feature
both local and international cuisine prepared to exacting
standards of quality and health. No worries about ice cubes
here!
 Our next stop, at Khwai River Lodge, is a
perfect location for observing the perennial drama of the
African bushveld and provides excellent birding. Our game
drives here included a visit to the neighbouring village, and
almost sharing a meal of fresh-killed giraffe with a pride of
lions. A troop of gorillas, a breeding herd of elephants, and
rare sightings of a leopard, caracal, and other exotic animals
were highlights of these drives.
 Our last stop was the serene paradise of Eagle
Island, deep within Botswana's Okavango Delta. The area
offers exceptionally high quality wildlife viewing with
prolific birdlife and mammal sightings. It is also the site of
one of the most romantic bars in the world, the Fish Eagle
Bar. Here our game viewings were by motor launch, mokoro
(traditional pole-propelled canoe), and an exhilarating
helicopter ride - all included, for all guests. The helicopter
provided a bird's eye view of a submerged huddle of
hippopotami that we would have missed even from a canoe.
Our safari over far too quickly, we returned to South
Africa for a couple of nights at the "pink lady" of Mount
Nelson, O-E's showcase property in Cape Town, one of the
most exciting cities on the planet. Still amazingly
inexpensive, Cape Town is also an excellent base for
excursions to Cape Agulhas (dividing the Atlantic from the
Indian oceans), the Winelands, and the Garden Route.
More
photos of our Africa Academy here==>
Referrals welcome!
The highest compliment my clients can give is the referral
of their friends, family and business associates. Thank you
for your support. |
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