Jetsettersblog

Holiday Rejuvenation in Slovenia

When it comes to holiday travels, Slovenia has something for everyone. 

If your ideal vacation includes relaxing in the lap of luxury, then coastal Portorož with its mild Mediterranean climate is the place for you. Portorož offers luxury hotels along with complete relaxation of body and mind at spas such as the Wai Thai and the unique Sauna Park, as well as entertainment and gaming at the Grand Casinò Portorož. If you would prefer to traverse the side of picturesque slopes instead, then magical Pohorje is where you should be. The tourist area of Pohorje offers four ski resorts, which all vary in degrees of difficulty. This winter wonderland also offers superb places to eat near the ski slopes, the Adrenaline Park, horseback riding, carriage rides and night sledding for the non-skiers.

To learn more, visit www.slovenia.info

St. Nicholas in Turkey

For those seeking an exotic oasis with an abundance of historical culture, the Mediterranean coast of Turkey is an ideal location to spend the holidays.

Every December, Christian clergy, scholars and tourists from around the world make the pilgrimage to the southern Turkish village of Demre to honor St. Nicholas, the historical figure who inspired the legend of Santa Claus. St. Nicholas was bishop of the ancient city of Lycian, during the fourth century A.D., which is now Demre. In the sixth century, the Church of St. Nicholas was constructed over his tomb, and now the Church continues to honor its namesake saint with an annual three-day symposium in early December, the International St. Nicholas Symposium. Tourists are welcome to experience the symposium, where they will find a wide collection of St. Nicholas icon images offered in stone, weavings, wax and metal, to name a few.

For more information, visit www.tourismturkey.org

Welcome the New Year in Germany

Take a trip to Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate this New Year’s for a party you won’t soon forget.

Each year the New Year’s Eve Party in Berlin presents a varied stage program of international music stars, famous rock and pop bands as well as live acts, which line one of the world’s most beautiful and famous streets, the ‘Straße des 17. Juni’, between Brandenburg Gate and Siegessäule. Along this 1.5 mile long stretch in the heart of Berlin, visitors to this year’s event will find three show stages, eight video screens, eight party tents, more than 100 food and refreshment stands as well as stunning light and laser performances. As soon as the clock strikes midnight, fireworks light up the Berlin sky and people clink their champagne glasses and wish each other “Gutes Neues Jahr” or “Happy New Year.” Afterwards, several DJs tailored to the taste of different age groups offer entertainment well into the morning. The people of Germany welcome the New Year in a merry way!

For more information, visit www.silvester-berlin.de

Ring in New Year’s in Croatia

Every New Year, main squares and central plazas of Croatian cities and towns become the stage for a collective celebration of rich entertaining programs that last until the early morning hours.

The entertaining programs consist of some of the best Croatian musicians and oftentimes various guests from abroad. Dubrovnik becomes especially popular with visitors since it offers a perfect setting for the biggest party of the year. Streets of the Stradun are filled with locals and thousands of visitors from the neighboring cities as well as international guests.

For information about this year’s program, visit www.croatia.hr

Win a Trip to Europe, 4 great prizes!

Enter the Visit Europe drawing for a FREE TRIP for TWO to Europe: Liverpool, Oslo, Stockholm or the Azores

Liverpool, a European Capital of Culture in 2008.

Roundtrip tickets donated by American Airlines, four nights at the new Hard Days Night Hotel and Liverpool Passes. Arranged by VisitBritain and Liverpool08.com.

Oslo and the Opera.

Roundtrip tickets on Continental Airlines and performance tickets to the new National Opera House, opening next April. Plus four nights at the new Grims Grenka design hotel and Oslo Passes. Arranged by VisitNorway.com/us.

The Azores.

To the lush island of São Miguel in Portugal’s mid-Atlantic Azores. The Azores Express package includes roundtrip tickets (from Boston), six nights at Bensaude Turismo’s Terra Nostra Garden Hotel, set amid thermal springs. Arranged by Azores Express.

Dynamic Stockholm.

Roundtrip tickets on Scandinavian Airlines, four nights at the Grand Hotel Stockholm, one of Scandinavia’s richest in history and tradition; and Stockholm City Cards. Arranged by www.VisitSweden.com.

To enter and win a trip to Europe, go to www.visiteurope.com/contest

Win a Trip to Europe for two

American Express Travel and the European Travel Commission invite you to enter for a chance to win a trip for two to Europe.

Teaming up to bring you the best of Europe, American Express Travel and the European Travel Commission will be giving away one of five great trips for two to Europe through the end of November. To enter for a chance to win, log on to http://www.morereasonstovisiteurope.com/

Austrian Holiday Splendor

The New Year’s Eve Ball, also known to many as the Imperial Ball, is the highlight of a week-long celebration of the arts, music and Imperial splendor of Vienna.

Around 700,000 visitors are expected this year for the 18th New Year’s Eve Trail, which winds its way from City Hall through the narrow streets of the historic Old Town. Huge screens, numerous stages, three DJ line-ups, an astrology village and some 70 refreshment booths serving punch and mouthwatering delights from all over the globe will turn Vienna’s city center into a resplendent party thoroughfare. And while spending New Year’s in Vienna, waltzing the first night of the New Year away amidst the splendor of the Imperial Palace is a fantasy for many. Every year the Annemarie Victory Organization makes this dream come true for a small group of American travelers. The best seats will be reserved in the Grand Festival Hall so they can enjoy a gala dinner and marvelous music for dancing in their choice of several glamorous ballrooms, which is sure to make this an experience they will never forget.

To book your holiday travel to Austria, visit www.austria.info

Pampered in Costa Rican Paradise

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica—To experience the ultimate rejuvenation and relaxation pack the bags for the Costa Rica’s serine costal paradise. NatureAir the world’s first and only carbon neutral airline has teamed up with Central America’s best spa resorts for the ultimate spa retreat. In five days experience nearly seven hours of spa treatment. Stay in the honeymoon suite then sit back and relax at four different spa treatments. Let loose in a three-hour full body treatment, it will seduce the senses with a bamboo lemongrass herbal bliss and a lemon rock massage. Other spa treatments include a dry brushing and aromatherapy massage, a gentle massage utilizing fingertips to relax tired muscles and sooth away stress. If this isn’t enough imagine the wave of four hands massage. Two therapists will simultaneously perform a choreographed full body massage. It will be heaven! This pristine retreat leaves couples plenty of time unwind in hot springs, relax on the balcony overlooking the breathtaking scenery of Costa Rica’s forests and mountains, crystalline waters and the stunning Arenal Volcano.

Stays include the Villa Blanca Cloud Forest Hotel and Spa in San Jose, and Arenal Kioro Suites and Spa in Arenal Volcano. This romantic Costa Rica vacation includes spa treatments, breakfast, lodging, and private airport and hotel transfers. The cost of this five-day spa retreat is priced to please at $1,970 per person. For reservations call: 1- 800-235-9272

Kumuka Worldwide Adds New South East Asia Itineraries

Kumuka Worldwide
TEL: 814-725-1880
:john@atmstravelnews.com
http://www.kumuka.com/

BROOKLYN, New York–Kumuka Worldwide is pleased to announce the release of several exciting new itineraries in South East Asia.

The popularity of Kumuka’s 15 day Vietnam Discovered tour has lead to the introduction of a 10 day ‘Highlights of Vietnam’ tour, priced at $1170. The tour travels the length of Vietnam from Ho Chi Minh City in the south to Hanoi in the north, including the bustling cities of Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi. It includes an overnight traditional junk cruise on Halong Bay, the Cu Chi Tunnels and incorporates two internal flights to maximize time spent discovering Vietnam’s highlights.

An increased interest in cultural festivities has lead to two new Thailand tours that offer a good dose of the festive culture. The first is an annual tour for the Surin Elephant Round Up Festival in November, which has an amazing 100 elephants display their grace, strength and intelligence in games of soccer, log carrying and tug-of-war. The festival tour also visits Kanchanburi and the bridge over the River Kwai, to the old capital of Siam, Ayutthaya, and goes to Khaoyai National Park. This tour, priced at $960, is 9 days in duration and departs on 11 November 2007.

The second festival tour is the nine day ‘Loi Krathong’ (the Festival of Lights), which departs on 18 November 2007 and is priced at $1040. This festival is held on the full moon night of the twelfth lunar month and is one of Thailand’s oldest and best preserved traditions. Throughout Thailand, hundreds of thousands of ornately decorated krathong, or banana leaf floats, carrying candles and incense sticks are set adrift in rivers and waterways. In Sukothai province the festival also features a procession of offerings, a sound and light show and a firework display. This tour also visits Kanchanaburi, the Bridge over the River Kwai, Hell Fire Pass and the old capital of Siam, Ayutthaya. It also includes a cruise on a rice barge, and an overnight stay on a floating jungle lodge.

Kumuka tour costs are all inclusive, covering sightseeing and entrance fees. Tours are fully escorted by professional and knowledgeable tour guides who ensure that travellers get the most out of their trip to these fascinating regions.

For more details on Kumuka Worldwide’s Asia tours see http://www.kumuka.com/  or call 800 517-0867.

Dude Ranch Holidays

The Dude Ranchers’ Association
PHONE: 866-399-2339
info@duderanch.org
http://www.duderanch.org/

CODY, Wyoming—For many, holiday’s come wrapped with “to-do lists.” Extra chores without additional time can seriously dampen what’s supposed to be “the most wonderful time of the year.”

That’s why more and more families are tossing out the lists and giving each other the very special gift of time. Member ranches of the Dude Ranchers Association or DRA, as it’s known, are hosting more guests then ever during the holiday seasons. It seems travelers are discovering A DRA guest ranch an ideal place to give thanks and make merry with friends and family. Since 1926 the DRA has set standards for the industry, extending membership only to those ranches consistently meeting distinguished levels of quality and authenticity. Spectacular scenery of the wilds, family style meals and activities, and Western hospitality make a holiday spent at a dude ranch one to remember.

Consider the Rock Springs Guest Ranch in Bend, Oregon where Thanksgiving begins with a traditional turkey feast on Thursday evening. Guests can be active - riding on trails snaking through forests of pines or making tracks through the wilderness on snowshoes. Or, guests can take it easy - soaking in the hot tub by day and languishing in front of a toasty fire by night.

No worries about checking that turkey thermometer at The Wind Walker Ranch in Spring City Utah. Leave that to the gourmet Chef. The staff serves up roasted turkey and all its trimmings to guests who dine like Kings! The day after Thanksgiving, visitors are invited to burn some calories by joining in the ranch tradition of finding the perfect yuletide tree to bring down and haul back to the lodge. Visitors to the C Lazy U Guest Ranch, near Granby, Colorado enjoy a holiday just like the ones spent at Grandma’s house. Each rustic suite includes its own trimmed tree and each family has its own Christmas turkey to carve. These are just a few holiday adventures available from DRA ranches.

There are more than 100 DRA member ranches located in 12 Western States and Western Canada. Yet, choosing a specific DRA ranch isn’t difficult with an all-inclusive website allowing users to search for ranches by location, time of year, price, category, and special packages. Staffers are always eager to answer questions about member ranches and are happy to forward a membership catalog as well. To be assured of a quality ranch vacation, make sure to look for the DRA member logo on a ranches website or literature before booking your Western retreat. The DRA advises seasonal travelers to reserve their space early, as availability is limited