EXQUISITE HOTELS AND RESORTS
REPRESENTED BY MOIRA FITZPATRICK
Moira Fitzpatrick Presents Holiday & New Year Offers
Dear Colleague,
With the holiday season gearing up, we would like to offer last-minute suggestions for holiday getaways and New Year celebrations. And, of course, we would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a happy holiday season. Looking back on 2012, we hope you had a successful year despite difficult financial times – and wish you continued success in 2013. Let’s hope the debt crisis will work towards resolution.
We are pleased to introduce our new property: Hotel Le Pigonnet. Located close to the centre of Aix-en-Provence within beautifully landscaped French gardens, this 5-star, 48-room, 18th century hotel offers an ideal base for exploring Provence.
R&C hotels win accolades: Hotel Orfila has been named among the four Best Hotels in Madrid in Tripadvisor during the last six months, and rated among first and second Best Hotels during two of those months. Also, the General Manager Veronica Garcia Castel received the prize for the Best Young Hotel Manager 2012, given by the D.O.La Mancha. The Yeatman, in Porto, Portugal, won a Condé Nast Award: Most Excellent City Hotel.
Casa Velha do Palheiro in Madeira is offering a free golf package. Details: http://www.casa-velha.com/en/golf-packages/free-golf-package.html
The Hotel Palacio de Luces in the North of Spain is offering a special Christmas Eve package that includes a deluxe double room, breakfast, special Christmas dinner, Loewe’s amenities, access to wellness area, private parking and wifi – starting at 135 euros pp dbl.
Additionally, we would like to invite you to view our updated website, where you can find more detail about the 26 Relais & Chateaux Hotels, plus 10 Grand Chef Restaurants in Spain & Portugal www.moirafitzpatrick.com These are all divided into different regions of the two countries and will explain some of the attractions and highlights of each area.
To follow Moira’s recent travels in these two countries, please visit tinyurl.com/MF-EuropeTripOCT2012
RELAIS & CHATEAUX HOTELS
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THE POST HOTEL & SPA (www.posthotel.com)  This legendary hotel and spa in the Canadian Rockies offers a bounty of outdoor winter activities perfect for a holiday ski getaway, including two- and three-day midweek ski packages (arrive Sun, Mon, Tues). Just minutes from the Post Hotel by complimentary shuttle, and offering more than 4200 acres of world class ski terrain, the Lake Louise Ski Area is considered one of Canada’s finest. The two-day ski package includes accommodation, two day’s skiing and two breakfasts. Standard room with two beds costs $414 pp dbl; deluxe room with King bed costs $453 pp dbl. The equivalent three-day package costs $621 pp dbl and $679 pp dbl. The resort also offers Romance, Spa and Gourmet packages throughout the winter season. Please contact Moira for a special amenity in the room.
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MANOIR HOVEY (www.manoirhovey.com)  This award-winning, 5-star, century-old Quebec manor offers two-night holiday packages which include full country breakfasts, fine dinners and gratuities, and a romantic sleigh ride. The Christmas Celebration package also includes eggnog on Christmas day, Christmas brunch and a candle-lit Christmas dinner. This package is available on Dec 24 & 25 or 25 & 26, from $435 pp dbl. The New Year's package also includes the New Year's Eve Gala, which kicks off with hors-d'oeuvre and a glass of Champagne, followed by an elaborate 6-course dinner, capped off with Champagne, sweets and dancing. Available Dec 30 & 31 or Dec 31 & Jan 1, the package costs from $515 pp dbl. The hotel’s pre/post-Christmas treat of three nights for the price of two includes dinners, breakfasts and gratuities with the exception of the 3rd night. Valid to Dec 20 and Jan 3 to June 13, 2013.Travel Agent Commissions are paid twice monthly. Please contact Moira for a special amenity in the room.
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Relais & Chateaux properties in Spain (19 hotels; 9 Grand Chefs) and Portugal (7 hotels; 1 Grand Chef) are sprinkled over different regions – each with its own traditions, cuisine and culture.
CASA VELHA DO PALHEIRO (www.casa-velha.com)  Formerly a hunting lodge built in 1804 and comprising three buildings, this luxury 37-room, 5-star hotel near Fuchal on the island of Madeira borders the famous Palheiro Gardens, created over 200 years ago. It also has direct access to the championship Palheiro Golf course with privileged tee-offs for guests. The hotel is offering a seasonal package that includes 7 nights’ accommodation in best double room available upon arrival, breakfasts, return airport transfers, welcome bottle of wine and fruit basket, one dinner, guided tour to Old Blandy Wine Lodge, free access to Palheiro Gardens. Cost from 540 euros pp dbl; Feb3 - Mar 31 650 euros pp dbl and Apr 665 euros pp dbl. This package is not available Dec 23 - Jan 2. Please contact Moira for a special amenity in the room.
HOTEL ORFILA (www.hotelorfila.com)  Near the Prado, Thyssen Bornemisza and Reina Sofia Museums, and a few minutes from Old Madrid and the Golden Mile (city’s most exclusive shops), this small 20-room, 12-suite palace, built in 1886, offers guests a special three-night Christmas package for two, including double superior room with buffet breakfast, welcome glass of Champagne and Spanish sweets, one Gourmet menu for 2 people in "El Jardin de Orfila", personal concierge service, free parking, late checkout and VIP status. Package price is 770 euros; valid from Dec 1 through Jan 1. A four-night New Year’s package for two includes the same as the Christmas package with one Tapas menu instead of the Gourmet menu and New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner. Package price is 1,380 euros. Please contact Moira for a special amenity in the room.
MAS DE TORRENT HOTEL & SPA (www.mastorrent.com)  Located around one hour north east of Barcelona, the most authentic and chic region on the Costa Brava, with its sandy beaches, medieval villages, and olive groves, this 39-room hotel was originally an 18th century masia and offers spectacular views, delightful gardens and impeccable service. The hotel, which features both classical and contemporary suites, some with their own private pool, is offering a New Year’s Eve Special that includes accommodation for two, three or four nights in a suite, buffet breakfast or continental breakfast in room, Champagne tasting on Dec 30, dinner and ball on New Year’s Eve, free access to the Mas Spa area. Cost is from 1,300 euros for two. Please contact Moira for a special amenity in the room.
 Although closed for the winter, the resort is now booking adventures for the 2013 season from May 19 to Sept 29 and suggest the Elders Package (offers a complimentary stay for up to two elders, aged 55 and older traveling with families of six or more adults) would make a perfect Christmas gift for a multi-generational family. This safari-style luxury tent camp and adventure resort offers customized wilderness activities, and has recently wrapped up a particularly successful season, garnering the Most Excellent Eco Resort in the US & Canada in Conde Nast Johansens’ 2012 Awards for Excellence, as well as a Certificate of Excellence in 2012 from TripAdvisor, the world’s largest online travel site. Agents receive booking commissions of 10% on the total value of resort packages. Please contact Moira for bookings and receive a shipment of BC Sockeye smoked salmon.
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SPARKLING HILL RESORT (www.sparklinghillresort.com)  Sparkling Hill will combine the sparkle of Christmas and crystal to welcome in the New Year with gourmet food, music and dance. The two-night New Years Eve package includes accommodation, daily full hot buffet breakfast for two, New Years Eve 3-course dinner, Austrian midnight buffet, Sound of Music performance (approx two hours), dancing to live music in the ballroom, glass of champagne at midnight, and access to Kurspa and facilities. Rates start at $790 plus tax for two for two nights (check in Dec 30 or 31, 2012); $565 for single. Commissions for travel agents are based on the cost of the total package. Please contact Moira for bookings and a nice bottle of Okanagan wine in the room.
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EXECUTIVE HOUSE HOTEL (www.executivehouse.com)  This European-style boutique hotel in the heart of Victoria, BC, offers a special holiday treat – the one-night Butchart Garden Package, which includes accommodation and two tickets to the Gardens. Starting Dec 1, the Gardens offer tens of thousands of colored lights, evergreen swags, holly wreaths, Twelve Days of Christmas displays, live entertainment and outdoor ice skating. The hotel’s one-night Bed & Breakfast Package is ideal for a last-minute Christmas shopping extravaganza. The hotel welcomes Belmiros Restaurant, one of Victoria’s most anticipated new restaurants, offering fresh local influences and an extensive selection of wines. Please contact Moira for a special amenity in the room.
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HOTEL LE PIGONNET (www.hotelpigonnet.com)  Located close to the centre of Aix-en-Provence, this 5-star, 48- room, 18th century hotel combines traditional and contemporary styles. Surrounded by beautifully landscaped French gardens – the very gardens Paul Cezanne frequented to paint his famous Mount Sainte-Victoire – Le Pigonnet has welcomed such diverse celebrities as Princess Caroline, Iggy Pop and Clint Eastwood. The hotel includes a restaurant, outdoor bar and lounge, lounges, meeting facilities, wellness area and spa, outdoor swimming pool, fitness room and hammam. Nearby activities include exploring Provence, visiting the Granet Museum, attending the Grand Theatre of Provence and Ballet (Le Pavillon Noir), shopping, tennis, golf, horseback riding. Please contact Moira for a special amenity in the room.
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VILLA LA VEDETTA (www.villalavedettahotel.com)  This romantic 18-room/suite, five-star hotel sits atop Piazzale Michaelangelo, offering an ideal base for holiday travelers who wish to explore Florence during the day and spend the evenings relaxing in a quiet urban retreat with amazing city views. The hotel’s New Year’s package includes minimum two nights in room or suite of choice, daily full buffet breakfast, special gala New Year’s Eve dinner (including beverages), live music and daily afternoon tea with homemade pastries. Package is valid from Dec 30 to Jan 1, and starts from 450 euros for two. Also included are complimentary shuttle service to/from Florence city centre, use of private sauna and gym, wifi internet and car parking. Please contact Moira for best available rate and bottle of Chianti in room.
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