Jetsettersblog

Nestled on the fringing Great Barrier Reef of Tropical North Queensland, Fitzroy Island Hunt Resort offers a new luxurious island getaway.

Located 45 minutes by ferry from Cairns, Fitzroy Island Hunt Resort offers a choice of accommodation options, from one and two bedroom apartments, beachfront suites to a luxurious penthouse.

Day trippers and overnight guests can choose from activities such as snorkelling and diving directly off white sand beaches, national park walks, fishing, sea kayaking and Great Barrier Reef cruises. From A$275 (approx £130) per room per night.

www.fitzroyisland.com.au

Darwin’s most recent restaurant to open has a difference; it’s been set up so that the customers tick off their own orders and the food is served in disposable bowls.

The plates are biodegradable and the food is Indian cuisine – just make sure you leave room for the rosewater scented ice cream!

www.saffrron.com

Jabiru Safari Lodge in North Queensland’s Mareeba Wetlands offers visitors a back‐to‐nature experience. Located in the 2000‐hectare Mareeba Tropical Savannah and Wetland Reserve, the lodge is just over an hours’ drive west of Cairns and consists of luxurious African-style safari tent cabins.

The reserve of open savannah woodland, grassland, and freshwater wetlands provides a unique setting for the Jabiru Safari Lodge, and guests can enjoy walking trails, boat tours, wildlife safaris and privately guided nature experiences. Eco Safari Cabin from A$160 (approx £75) per person per night.

www.jabirusafarilodge.com.au

A new self-drive tour has been launched by Tourism Victoria linking Melbourne to the renowned Yarra Valley wine region, the gourmet Mornington Peninsula and wildlife haven Phillip Island.

Located southeast of Melbourne, the three regions make up a convenient touring triangle, bringing together some of the very best experiences a visitor can have in Australia’s most compact and diverse state.

The tour, conveniently named Melbourne’s Southeast Touring Triangle, winds through scenic valleys and coastline, award-winning wineries, delectable food, boutique accommodation, world-class golf courses, beautiful parks and gardens and Australian nature at its best.

With nearly 100 wineries to visit -including Moët & Chandon’s Australian base- head to the Yarra Valley for hot air ballooning at dawn before descending into a vineyard to enjoy a breakfast of sparkling wine and local produce; a favourite destination for lovers of nature, each evening Phillip Island hosts the little penguins’ parade, Australia’s most popular wildlife event; while on the Mornington Peninsula you will be immersed in a Mediterranean feel, driving through rolling hills of olive groves and vineyards, past lavish cliff-top mansions and stopping to enjoy waterfront restaurants and cafés.

From the quiet, self-catering Yering Gorge Cottages, surrounded by nature, to the stunning brand-new, family-friendly Silverwater Resort or the iconic Glynt Manor lavish mansion, there are accommodation options to suit every taste and budget throughout the way.

The three regions are no more than ninety minutes apart from each other so you can plan your journey over three, four, five days – or even longer.

- Melbourne to Yarra Valley: 56km/35 miles, 60 minutes’ drive

- Yarra Valley to Phillip Island: 140km/87 miles, 90 minutes’ drive

- Phillip Island to Mornington Peninsula: 105km/65 miles, 75 minutes’ drive

- Mornington Peninsula to Melbourne: 104km/64 miles, 75 minutes’ drive

For more information on Melbourne’s Southeast Touring Triangle please visit www.visitmelbourne.com/southeasttouring

For more information on Melbourne and the Australian state of Victoria please visit http://www.visitmelbourne.com/uk

To see for yourself what Melbourne and Victoria have to offer please visit http://www.visitmelbourne.com/uk-tv

If you thought that booking an all inclusive holiday meant compromising on food quality, think again as Thomson dispels the ‘quality versus quantity’ myth once and for all with the launch of an all new ‘Gourmet Inclusive’ Resort in Mexico…

The weak pound and economic uncertainty of the past few months has led to a rise in popularity of all inclusive package holidays*, where all food, drink and entertainment are included in the initial cost. This reflects the rising number of consumers who demand to know the cost of their holiday ‘up front’, so that they can go abroad with a budget for any extras firmly set.

However, some people presume that this might involve a trade off, compromising food quality for quantity. Images of buffets serving luke-warm chips and pizza spring into their minds. Thomson is keen to dispel any quality versus quantity perceptions surrounding all inclusives, and its ultimate myth-busting property opens on the Riviera Maya in Mexico this May.

To start with, the chef at one of Sensatori, Mexico’s six restaurants used to work at El Bulli in Catalonia, Spain. This is the same El Bulli that has been voted best restaurant in the world a record four times in recent years. At his adults-only restaurant, Le Chique, chef Jonathan Gomezluna concocts the ultimate eight course gastronomic tasting menu for guests**. The Fat Duck-esque menu consists of such creations as cigar-flavoured foam and mozzarella bubbles.

Sensatori, Mexico prides itself so much on the quality of its food that its all inclusive board is being referred to as ‘Gourmet Inclusive’. The other five restaurants all offer the same high quality. At Tapaz Restaurant, guests can customise their tapas meals which are then personally presented to them by the chefs. Zavaz offers high-quality Caribbean favourites like seafood ceviche.

The traditional Mexican restaurant, Zocalo, prides itself on its authentic offering, complete with a live mariachi band. While, at Sienna, the Italian chef remains true to his roots at this Tuscan-inspired trattoria.

Another common assumption made about all inclusives is that they only serve non-branded or local alcohol as part of the board basis. At Sensatori, Mexico premium brand alcohol is served as standard, throughout the hotel.

Dining is a major focus for the new resort, but not to the detriment of other elements. There are separate areas for adults and families, allowing both customer groups to enjoy holiday experiences tailored to them.

All accommodation offers hot tubs, king-sized beds, large balconies and mod-cons including Ipod docking stations, plasma TV’s and DVD players. A collection of swim-up suites allow customers to step right into a lazy river pool from their room.

Ed Sumner, General Manager of Lifestyle Product Development says, ‘Sensatori, Mexico is the ultimate example of how there is such a thing as affordable luxury, where guests really can have it all.’

Thomson offers 14 night holidays in Mexico, staying at the 5T Sensatori, Mexico from £1,299 per person, based on two sharing, departing from London Gatwick on the 28th May. This price includes flights, accommodation on an all inclusive basis, transfers and taxes and charges.

For further information go to http://www.thomson.co.uk , or call 0871 231 3235.

Piedras y Olas, Nicaragua’s Happening Eco-Lodge, a Base for Adventure

SAN JUAN DEL SUR, Nicaragua, —Piedras y Olas, the popular and happening venue in this southern Pacific coastal fishing village, is a 66-unit luxury hotel and resort.

Built on a hillside overlooking the village, the resort features three beautiful infinity pools and the whole complex is surrounded by lush, landscaped gardens.

Piedras y Olas is perfectly situated as a base for exploring the multiple choices of arranged adventure tours including climbing expeditions to the areas many volcanoes including the towering Mombacho and on the island of Ometepe in Lake Nicaragua, two more – Maderas and Conception, the latter is active.

Other activities include canopy (zip-line) tours, sailing on Pelican Eyes, the resort’s 42’ sailboat, surfing, sport fishing, scuba diving and horseback riding. Free transportation takes guests into the village of San Juan and can be arranged at a minimal cost to Maderas and other local beaches.

Tours to explore the local surroundings including the colonial city of Granada, the ‘white towns”, lakes and lush rainforests are easily arranged.

One of the biggest employers in the community, Piedras y Olas Hotel has two restaurants, a trendy bar with weekly entertainment and, besides adventures, offers many varieties of packages including a popular wedding program. Piedras y Olas, a Pelican Eyes Resort, is easily reached by Continental, TACA or American to Managua with arranged transfers.

www.piedrasyolas.com

Now guests of Walt Disney World Resort can access a powerful new vacation planning and in-park guide on their iPhone or iPod touch. At over 200 pages, including over 150 photos, they now can have all of Walt Disney World Resort in the palm of their hand wherever they go and whenever they want.

TimeStream Software announces the release of the powerful new “Walt Disney World” Notescast for the iPhone and iPod touch.

With over 200 pages of information, over 150 photos, and rich in-depth content, the new Walt Disney World Notescast is a comprehensive vacation planner and in-park guide covering nearly every aspect of the entire resort and all four theme parks, including the Magic Kingdom , Epcot , Disney’s Animal Kingdom , Disney’s Hollywood Studios and more.

Now available from the Apple App Store, the new Walt Disney World Notescast contains a wealth of categories, including:

* 118 Walt Disney World Attractions
* Walt Disney World Annual Events
* Walt Disney World – Explore the Magic
* Walt Disney World Parades
* Walt Disney World Resorts
* Walt Disney World Tickets
* Walt Disney World Phone Numbers
* Walt Disney World Tips
* Walt Disney World Tours
* Walt Disney World Vacation Packages
* Disney’s Magical Express
* How to Plan Your Vacation
* Hidden Mickey Tours
* The History of Walt Disney World
* Find Disney Characters
* Guests with Disabilities
* Vacation Planning Tips
* What’s New
* What’s Coming
* And much more!

“This Notescast contains a phenomenal amount of valuable information.”, said Mike Westby of TimeStream Software. “From in-depth descriptions of every attraction and the history of Walt Disney World, to phone numbers and even Hidden Mickey tours, I think users will be very pleased with the quality and value we included in this Notescast title.”

The Walt Disney World Notescast for the iPhone and iPod touch is available at the App Store.

The Walt Disney World Notescast is also available for the iPod Classic, iPod 5th Generation and iPod nano at http://www.Notescasts.com

ABOUT TIMESTREAM SOFTWARE

From 200 page interactive Notescast titles for Walt Disney World Resort in Florida to a complete Notescast guide to the Sheraton Maui Resort in Hawaii, TimeStream Software is the leader in the development of iPhone and iPod Notescast titles for both businesses and individual users.

Today global brands have discovered using TimeStream Software’s Notescasts to extend their marketing and sales message, as well as web site content, beyond the PC and out into the mobile lives of an all new customer channel of over 135 million iPhone and iPod users.

Learn more about mobile marketing with Notescasts at http://www.TimeStream-Software.com.

FRANKFORT, Ky., –Kentucky has one of the nations’ best state park systems in the country with 17 state resort parks and 24 state recreational parks. Visitors can hike, bike, camp, golf, fish, boat, swim, picnic and just get away from it all.

The park system offers rustic lodges with all the creature comforts and plenty of campsites nestled in some of the most breathtaking scenery in the US. Located in South Central Kentucky, Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park is one of Kentucky’s newest resort parks.

The Park borders one of the States clearest lakes with a full-service marina that rents pontoon boats that are perfect platforms for relaxation or scuba diving. Recreational activities at the park take place year round and the park maintains 15 miles of nature trails that include stunning views of the 28,000-acre lake.

The trails can be used for mountain biking, hiking and horseback riding. The park’s campground also includes 24 horse camping sites adjacent to the trail system.

Accommodations at Dale Hollow include 60 modern guest rooms featuring a private balcony and patio. If fishing, diving, hiking, swimming, biking, and riding doesn’t fill your day, grab your clubs and head to beautiful 18-hole golf course.

The par 5 eighth hole measures 539 yards and its green is framed by a waterfall and several small caves.

In addition to the extensive state park system, Kentucky also has several National Parks and Recreation Areas, including:

The Land Between the Lakes, a vast national recreation area between Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake; and Mammoth Cave National Park.

http://www.kentuckytourism.com/outdoors

Uncle Sam Boat Tours, located in Alexandria Bay,  unveiled technologically advanced GPS audio tour (TriggerPOINT) systems on its vessels, providing unparalleled visitor experiences in multiple languages simultaneously.

MARKHAM, ON, CANADA – AudioConexus, the leader in GPS Tour Entertainment for sightseeing, announced today its partnership with Uncle Sam Boat Tours to deliver GPS triggered audio tours in English, Mandarin, Korean and Hebrew.

Uncle Sam Boat Tours, located in Alexandria Bay, today unveiled technologically advanced GPS audio tour (TriggerPOINT) systems on its vessels, providing unparalleled visitor experiences in multiple languages simultaneously.

Utilizing satellite (GPS) technology, prerecorded audio commentary is triggered by GPS location and delivered to passengers using wireless receivers and headsets.

Furthering its commitment of delivering exceptional visitor experiences on its tour boats, Ron Thomson, President and Owner of Uncle Sam Boat Tours said “We are removing language barriers for our visitors and providing better customer service for our guests.

“We have fully automated the delivery of our foreign language tours so that our staff can focus on making our tour experiences in the 1000 islands even more meaningful and memorable. Offering foreign language audio tours advances our commitment of delivering high-quality, fun, entertaining and educational tours for visitors from around the world or around the corner.”

Uncle Sam Boat Tours delivers two GPS audio tours in four languages simultaneously, on its one hour “Millionaire Row” tour and its Two Nation Tour, an international tour that offers close-up enjoyment of historic and scenic wonders in both Canadian and American sections of the 1000 Islands and famous Boldt Castle.

Visitors on these tours enjoy a colorful historical tapestry of the river, the islands, and narrow island passages surrounded by the natural beauty of the islands and originality of its magnificent island homes.

“We are delighted to launch GPS tours with Uncle Sam Boat Tours,” said Jonathan Stanley, President & CEO of AudioConexus Inc.

“These tours were delivered as the result of close collaboration with Uncle Sam Boat Tour’s General Manager and Captains who provided us with valuable insights into this unique and historical region.

“We couldn’t be more pleased and excited about this upcoming tourism season. With so many diverse islands and captivating island homes it’s been a thrill to be working in the 1000 Islands. It’s a sightseer’s paradise.”

About Uncle Sam Boat Tours

Uncle Sam Boat Tours has been providing scenic cruises of the 1000 Islands for over 80 years right from its downtown Alexandria Bay location, opposite Boldt Castle.

Uncle Sam provides regularly scheduled sightseeing cruises, a Boldt Castle shuttle, and luncheon and dinner cruises from May through October. The most popular cruise is the two nation tour, a 2 ¼ hour cruise departing from its home port of Alexandria Bay NY. For an international tour that offers enjoyment of historic and scenic wonders in both Canadian and American waters. At the end of each trip there is an optional stop at Boldt Castle on Heart Island for a self-guided tour.

Uncle Sam Boat Tours provides entertaining audio tour commentaries in English, Mandarin, Korean and Hebrew.

About AudioConexus Inc.

AudioConexus Inc. (“ACI”) provides GPS triggered sightseeing tours in multiple languages simultaneously, removing language barriers for foreign language travelers. As a leading GPS Media and Entertainment company, we create GPS audio and video experiences in the real world, where urban and natural environments transform into theatrical backdrops for exceptional storytelling.

The company provides tourism operators with significantly enhanced tour products and visitor experiences in any language, any topic, anywhere. We help tourism and mass transit operators to increase sales, reduce costs, and promote safer driving.

AudioConexus Inc. provides GPS triggered sightseeing tours in multiple languages simultaneously, removing language barriers for foreign language travelers.

For further information, please contact us at (905) 492-1300.

Welcome to the newly opened Beach Club Resort located in beautiful Parksville, British Columbia, on Vancouver Island. The Beach Club Resort offers guests an unparalleled vacation experience.

Situated on Parksville Beach with stunning ocean and mountain views, the resort features 140 tastefully appointed suites with every imaginable amenity.

This full service resort includes delectable dining at Pacific Prime Steak and Chop Restaurant as well as pampering indulgence at the Stonewater Spa.

The hotel is located on the site of the historic Island Hall Resort, and just steps from Parksville Beach, voted one of the Top Favorite Family Friendly beach in North America by Better Homes & Gardens Magazine readers and editors.

Parkville is the business hub of the Oceanside region and with its fabled beachfront it’s no wonder this long standing favourite destination remains a quick and affordable romantic weekend getaway and family vacation hotspot.

For your next vacation getaway and excellent value packages experience beachfront luxury at your fingertips and sand between your toes.

www.beachclubbc.com  1-888-760-2008

Getaway value packages include:

Escape The City – Two nights accommodation in a studio ocean-view room, two manicures, two lunches, two signature martinis $199 per person based on double occupancy.

Beachside @ The Beach Club Resort – Two nights accommodation in a One Bedroom Oceanview Suite with your choice of a outdoor beachfront side-by-side Swedish or Deep Tissue massage per person, weather permitting or One Private In-room Swedish or Deep Tissue massage per person and one $50 food credit for Pacific Prime Steak & Chop Restaurant per person. $299. per person based on double occupancy.

www.beachclubbc.com  1-888-760-2008

Beach Club Resort Contact: Lori Koop

Sales and Catering Manager

The Beach Club Resort

250-947-2103

www.beachclubbc.com

250-248-6300 x3