Jetsettersblog

Dubai-Based Jumeirah Group to Launch Five Star Frankfurt City Hotel as Part of PalaisQuartier

Frankfurt,– Dubai-based luxury hotel company Jumeirah is to launch a major new five-star city centre hotel serving business and leisure travellers to Frankfurt, following an agreement to lease and operate the hotel element of the city’s major new PalaisQuartier leisure and retail development, a project of MAB Development.

The lease agreement was signed between Jan G.F. Eijkemans, Director of MAB Development Group BV, and Gerald Lawless, Executive Chairman of Jumeirah Group in Frankfurt/Main yesterday. The agreement will see the 219 room luxury hotel launching in mid-2010 alongside the launch of the 112,000 m2 PalaisQuartier mixed use office and retail complex.

“We believe this agreement will see the establishment of a world-class, market-leading luxury hotel in Frankfurt city centre,” said Lawless. “We are delighted to be entering the German market with such a prestigious and high profile property and look forward to bringing the luxury and quality that so many German visitors to Dubai have experienced with Jumeirah right to their doorsteps.”

PalaisQuartier is located at the heart of Frankfurt at the Thurn-und-Taxis-Platz, within walking distance of the city’s financial district and stock exchange, pedestrian shopping areas and the city’s opera house. The mixed use development includes the reconstructed baroque 18th century Thurn und Taxis Palais and a 48,500 m2 retail development, some 42,000 m2 of premium office space and the 22,000 m2, 25-floor Jumeirah Hotel Frankfurt. The retail component, called MyZeil and designed by Massimiliano Fuksas, recently opened with great success. It is fully let and attracted over one million visitors during the first two weeks after opening.

“The level of hospitality and luxury the Jumeirah Group brings to their luxury hotels, fits perfectly in the PalaisQuartier project. We are delighted to welcome Jumeirah to Germany and are proud that we are able to accommodate the hotel in our project in Frankfurt,” said Eijkemans.

Guests of Jumeirah Frankfurt will enjoy a range of facilities including Jumeirah’s signature Talise spa as well as several restaurants and bars, meeting rooms and business facilities. The hotel will include a contemporary fine dining restaurant with a design commissioned from leading Japanese designer Takashi Sugimoto and his team at Super Potato, one of today’s most respected and innovative restaurant design consultancies. The overall interior design will be in responsibility of Peter Schilling & Associates and the building design has been completed by the German architects KSP Engel und Zimmermann. Both partners acknowlegded the efforts of the WingField Corporation to conclude the agreement.

“The Jumeirah Frankfurt Hotel is an important development in our company´s global expansion plan. It will serve Germany’s financial centre and one of Europe’s most important international business and travel hubs. Germany is one of the world’s largest economies and a market that has traditionally served as the third largest inbound market for Jumeirah’s properties. It’s a key market for us and we see this first move to invest in the German market as an important and sound link that cements an already strong connection,” said Lawless.

”I am immensely pleased by this further revitalisation of the Frankfurt hotel sector” enthused Petra Roth, Lord Mayor of the city of Frankfurt. “The Jumeirah Group’s decision to select Frankfurt, especially in the current economic climate, is a particular indication of their trust in our city and its future viability and sustainability. Hotel operators invest in Frankfurt because of its international character, its prosperity and its innovational energy.“ Frankfurt is very interested in strengthening its relationship with the Gulf States. With this new five-star hotel, from a company in our partner city Dubai, we will strengthen the potential contact to other partners in this region“.

World’s Leading Sailing Holiday Company to Take Delivery of New Yachts

The World’s leading sailing holiday company is maintaining its reputation as having a cutting-edge fleet with the arrival of five new yachts in Australia this year.

Sunsail Yacht Charters will welcome two ‘flagship’ Sunsail 44i high-performance cruising yachts to its Whitsunday fleet in June.

Sunsail will also take delivery of a new 49i in May, a new 39i in June and a new Sunsail 464 catamaran mid-November.

The Hamilton Island-based charter company has a fleet of about 40 high-specification luxury yachts and catamarans and works with the world’s leading yacht builders to design and create the perfect holiday cruising yacht.

The new Sunsail 44i, making its first appearance in the Australian charter fleet, is built by world-renowned boat builder Jeanneau and was designed by naval architect Phillippe Briand. The elegant deck lines, expansive cockpit, bow thrusters and top-of-the-range hardware make this high-end performance cruiser a joy to sail – providing style, comfort and performance in offshore passages and restful anchorages alike.

“The new Sunsail 44i is a high-performance cruising yacht built for comfort and designed for those looking for a fun week of sailing,” said Sunsail’s marketing manager Kim Lehmann.

“It is true to Sunsail’s strategy of offering comfortable blue-water yachts that combine excellent equipment and great performance. Jeanneau’s adherence to using high-quality fittings, and the delivery of interior volume without sacrificing performance, perfectly matches our brief.

“A strong commitment to environmental protection is also key, with Jeanneau’s Prisma Process injection moulding resulting in a 90 per cent reduction in harmful emissions.”

The Sunsail 49i, meanwhile is a beautifully finished four-cabin, four-head vessel offering exceptional space and luxurious comfort for families and groups.

The Sunsail 39i provides a spacious cockpit interior with twin helm, great control line layout and light and airy interior design.

And the Sunsail 464 catamaran, due to arrive in the Whitsundays in November, is a cruising catamaran combining spacious living accommodation, high quality construction and great performance. Down below, there are four en suite staterooms and a separate crew cabin with its own head, and the diesel generated air conditioning and heating throughout ensures comfortable living whatever the weather.

“One of the most important factors on a yachting holiday is cruising comfort,” said Ms Lehmann. “When guests sail with Sunsail they can be sure that we pay as much attention to the finishing touches as to the technical specifications on board.

“Sunsail works continuously to provide its customers with a bigger and better fleet and that is why we are continually adding new yachts to our fleet.”

Sunsail’s fleet of high-specification luxury yachts and catamarans cater for every kind of sailing experience and holiday, and yachts can be hired with or without a skipper.

The Sunsail base is just a three minute drive in the air-conditioned courtesy bus from Hamilton Island Airport, with flights arriving every day from Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Cairns.

Sunsail can even pre-provision your boat for you so you can be off and sailing within a couple of hours of touching down, following your safety briefing.

For more information

call 1800 803 988

or visit www.sunsail.com.au

Always dreamed of owning an impressive beach house complete with great amenities and located in an expensive resort area, but couldn’t quite justify the investment because you’d only be using it a few weeks or months of the year?

Shared ownership at The Pearle of Cable Beach may be what you have been looking for. It will give you a genuine excuse to visit one of the most unique and beautiful regions of Australia again and again, with the kind of amenities you couldn’t expect to have in a wholly-owned vacation home or high-end condo.

“Economic conditions around the world are forcing resort developers to reappraise their market offering,” says The Pearle developer Mr John Hay of Azina Holdings Pty Ltd, who is looking to successful overseas models as a way to make this enviable lifestyle investment affordable.

“Shared ownership has been successfully marketed in the USA for some ten years and is projected to become the major leisure property product in Europe within five years,” says Hay. “And Australia won’t be far behind.”

Last year, in the midst of America’s biggest recession since the 1930s, over 50,000 purchasers invested over $1.5 billion into this segment. “It’s a win-win situation for buyers, developers and resort managers. Every major hospitality brand from Four Seasons to the Ritz Carlton are putting their names behind shared ownership.”

“For just $225,000, you can part-own a quarter share of a luxurious beach house in Broome. Your friends who stay at your second home needn’t know that you share ownership with two or three other like-minded friends or fellow investors – in effect, you still have complete bragging rights!” says Hay.

And if you fall in love with the place, which is easily done, you can buy the whole property (for between $795,000 to $895,000) as your principal luxury residence or special getaway that will always be awaiting your arrival.

Azina Holdings has put together a Cable Beach Lifestyle without the Cable Beach price tag. Any savvy investment portfolio should include a mix of investment types and the shared ownership model helps smaller investors gain a foothold into property they may otherwise be unable to afford.

The resort real estate segment itself is experiencing high demand globally. It’s a segment that’s typically less volatile than primary or investor-driven markets as most resort investors are not highly-leveraged — so they are unlikely to drive down prices with rushed sales.

And what better time to put your money in bricks and mortar than right now, with interest rates at a fifty-year low.

While some luxury suburbs around Australia have been hit by the economic downturn, Broome has bucked the trend with values remaining relatively stable. Property values have increased by 14.8% per annum over the last ten years with average house prices currently at $660,000.

The tourism downturn has also bypassed the Broome region with resorts reporting the same or better bookings for the 2008-2009 period. And a recent report, commissioned by Tourism WA and authored by Australian economist Geoff Carmody, found that the Kimberley is better placed to weather the economic storm than other parts of the state.

In the year since The Pearle of Cable Beach opened its prestigious doors, visitor numbers have exceeded expectation and forward bookings are strong.

Prices start from $225,000. And a quarter share can be financed on $75,000 deposit. Your fully contained 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom residence offers modern kitchens stacked with European appliances, four plasma televisions, air-conditioning in every room and spacious indoor outdoor living areas including a large outdoor entertaining deck complete with stainless steel BBQs. All this adjoins a private lap pool. Standard resort facilities include a resort shop, small conference/meeting room, guest lounge, 25-metre Infinity Edge swimming pool, restaurant and bar, and tour desk.

The Pearle (and Broome in general) is also the best location to choose as your base for exploring further within the ruggedly beautiful and unique Kimberley and Pilbara regions.
The Pearle offers the ideal escape and an investment that is also a magnificent lifestyle choice.

Fly direct into Broome from Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. and for sales enquiries contact Mr John Hay, email john@thepearle.com.au or telephone + 61 428 412 188

Bliss spa is going global, stretching its beauty footprint in new W Hotels from Hong Kong to Doha, Barcelona to Dubai, and beyond. In addition to recent domestic openings in Atlanta, Scottsdale, and Hoboken, N.J, Bliss debuted in Asia last year with the opening of Bliss spa at W Hong Kong.

The spa brand also entered the Middle East with a new Bliss spa in the recently opened W Doha in Qatar. Launching a global growth plan, Bliss spa, which currently has 13 locations worldwide, will have 25 spa properties by 2011.

Bliss will open new spa locations within upcoming W Hotels debuting around the globe, including W Barcelona, W South Beach, and W Fort Lauderdale this year and W Dubai in 2011.

With this global expansion, Bliss continues to offer a menu of effective services, rhythm and blues tunes, and brownie buffet. Each new Bliss spa will feature the brand’s signature services, including the blissage75 and triple oxygen treatment, topped off with a selection of treatments inspired by the destination.

Bliss Hong Kong, which opened in October 2008 at W Hong Kong, has set up spa over two floors, featuring a retail beauty boutique, two movie-while-you-manicure (and pedicure) loungers, nine treatment suites — including two “BIP” (Bliss Important Person) suites for couples (one with a Jacuzzi and day bed), and one male/female relaxation room (perfect for a post-treatment cat nap), men’s and women’s lounges, a wet room and vitality pool.

Bliss Hong Kong features breathtaking views of Victoria Harbour with exclusive treatments.

The debut of W Hong Kong marked the W brand’s entry into China as well as the first Bliss Spa in Asia. Bliss Doha, which opened in March 2009, boasts 8,000 square feet of tension-fighting facilities, featuring a retail beauty boutique, three movie-while-you-manicure stations and two pedicure loungers, nine treatment rooms, including one “BIP” room where couples can enjoy a spaahh-inspired soaking tub. Bliss Doha exclusives include men’s and women’s Laconiums, crystal clearing (whitening facial), threading, and a bath soak treatment with a bliss bubbly blend. W Doha debuted as W’s first property in the Middle East, featuring the area’s first Bliss spa. The opening of Bliss Doha marks the 10th Bliss spa to open within a W property.

For more information, visit www.whotels.com

The Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism has launched a new website, www.visitpalmspringsinns.com  which features a diverse collection of Southern California boutique hotels, historic inns, bed and breakfasts and vacation home rentals.

Palm Springs has more than 70 boutique mid-century modern properties and Spanish villas.

Many of the small hotels in Palm Springs are independently owned and operated, including gay and lesbian resorts and naturist hotels.

Many of the vacation homes were owned or rented by Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe, Leigh Curtis and Elvis Presley.

Visitors can have their own happy hour by a private pool.

For more information, call 800-347-7746 or visit www.visitpalmspringsinns.com

Scandinavia is fast becoming a leader in the European gastronomic scene. Long standing traditions and local produce are being fused with contemporary tastes and influences to create exciting new flavours. Whatever your fancy, Scandinavia is sure to have something to delight your taste buds

. Read on to find out more about trendy new eateries, places to dine, budget meals, royal treatments, restaurants with spectacular views, dinner on historic grounds and other delicious news.

DELICIOUS DENMARK

The 2009 edition of the renowned food bible, the French Michelin Guide, has awarded a total of fourteen stars to Copenhagen restaurants. There is also an explosive demand for Danish organic goods and only a few other metropolitan cities in the world can match Copenhagen’s share of consumption of organic foods.

Copenhagen food hot spots

Restaurant Herman: Chef Thomas Herman has created an original interpretation of traditional Danish cuisine. Be prepared for a radical and affectionate take on some Danish classics, with names like “Burning Love” and “Shooting Star”! The restaurant was recently awarded a Michelin star.

www.nimb.dk

Check out more of Copenhagen’s Michelin awarded restaurants:

• Ensemble: www.restaurantensemble.dk
• Kokkeriet: www.kokkeriet.dk
• MR: www.mr-restaurant.dk
• KiinKiin: www.kiin.dk
• Kong Hans Kælder:www.konghans.dk
• The Paul: www.thepaul.dk
• Noma: www.noma.dk

The classic smørrebrød gets a Royal treatment
Restaurant Ida Davidsen in Copenhagen has an enormous menu with over 250 variations of the classic Danish open sandwich (smørrebrød). The Davidsen family opened their first smørrebrød restaurant in 1888 and it is now run by a fifth generation family member.

One of the oldest variations of the smørrebrød is “Dyrlægens Natmad”, which translates to “the veterinary’s night bite”.

It comes from a certain vet who insisted every night on a piece of smørrebrød piled with liver pâté, beef jelly, salty meat and onion rings. To this day, it still remains an irresistible classic!
www.idadavidsen.dk

Dine as a noble

Dragsholm Castle is one of Denmark’s oldest secular buildings scenically situated by the bay ‘Nekselø Bugt’ and surrounded by a moat and a large park. The castle, which is a combination of a mediaeval and a baroque castle, was erected around the 13th century.

The castle menu is based on seasonal ingredients from the locals and has strong roots in the Danish and Nordic cuisine. Dragholms slot also offers unique accommodation.
www.dragsholm-slot.dk

Organic Copenhagen

Copenhageners’ organic consciousness is also making its mark in the city’s gastronomy. An impressive 51% of all food consumed in the city’s institutions is organic – a world record. Today, the private sector’s share of spending on organic products in Copenhagen is about 23%.

Check out these healthy delights:

Restaurant Geranium is located in Kongens Have, the King’s Garden and run by two of Denmark’s best chefs, Rasmus Kofoed and Søren Ledet. The team uses organic and biodynamic ingredients exclusively –that goes for the wines as well, which come from all around the globe. The venue is contemporary and very stylish.

Rasmus Koefed is a double medallion winner of the prestigious Bocuse D’Or, the world cuisine contest, which is a chef’s equivalent to a world championship.
www.restaurantgeranium.dk

BioMio is located in Copenhagen’s fashionable meatpacking district, and has room for 250 people. Here they serve organic, healthy and tasty food at reasonable prices in a laid back atmosphere. On arrival you are given a chip card, and then you collect your own food and drink straight from the chef.
http://biomio.dk/

Axel Hotel Guldsmeden is another good choice for the conscious consumer. The hotel serves a wholly organic breakfast and the evening dinner in the restaurant is organically inspired. Hotel Guldsmeden also produces its own organic personal care products such as shampoo, body lotion, and soap that are available in the rooms. www.hotelguldsmeden.dk

Soupanatural is a micro cafe located in the area of Nørrebro and serves everything from porridge in the morning to dinner and evening drinks. The menu is organic and served in environment-friendly venue. Soupnatural was awarded the `Cities Most Conscientious´ in 2008.
www.soupanatural.dk

DELECTABLE NORWAY

Oslo on a budget

Oslo is known for being very exclusive both in regards to quality and price, but you can find an array of affordable restaurants and cafés in most parts of the city – especially in the areas around Youngstorget/Torggata, Grünerløkka and Grønland.

Brasserie 45 serves delicious continental dishes based on the finest produce at very competitive prices. It is well-known by locals and often serves food for people on their way to the movies or the theatre, or simply meeting business connections or friends. The restaurant has one of the best locations in town, right next to the National Theatre, Karl Johans gate and the City Hall.
www.brasserie45.no

A restaurant with a spectacular view
Fløien Folkerestaurant is a popular restaurant, not only among tourists, but also with the locals. Don’t miss the amazing panoramic view over Bergen – the islands – and beyond to the North Sea on the Outdoor Terrace, while enjoying a light meal from the restaurant, or simply enjoy the beautiful sunset on a late summer night with a cold refreshing drink.
www.dehistoriske.com/restaurant/floien-folkerestaurant/cuisine.asp

Dinner on historic grounds in Bergen,/u>
Bryggen Tracteursted has the reputation as one of Bergen’s quality restaurants. The restaurant is part of the Svensgården building, in a unique setting in Bryggestredet in the innermost part of the Hanseatic wharf, Bryggen. The wharf in Bergen is known worldwide as one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. It is the centre of historical Bergen and a must for any visitor to Bergen.

Bryggen Tracteursted consists of “Schøtstuen” – the Assembly Room, the Firehouse – representing the kitchen, and in the back the Stable and the Hayloft. In the back yard you will find an intimate open air restaurant where light meals are served during the summer season.

At Bryggen Tracteursted you will find a modern kitchen inspired by the traditions from Bergen and Hanseatic cooking.
www.bellevue-restauranter.no

SCRUMPTIOUS SWEDEN

Lunch time value in Stockholm

For those looking for low cost options in Sweden, it may be worth eating a hot meal at lunch time. Swedes themselves often have a hot meal at midday, so most of Stockholm’s restaurants offer good value lunches. Look out for “Dagens lunch” (“Lunch of the day”) or “Dagens rätt” (“Dish of the day”).

Listed below are some great lunch places to check out whilst in Stockholm

Hotorgshallen Saluhall – is a popular indoor food market where you can go for fresh and affordable food. It offers speciality foods from every corner of the world and a unique atmosphere. It is located in the centre of Stockholm.
www.hotorgshallen.se

Gooh Maltidsbutiker is a joint initiative between Lantmannen – A Swedish cooperative which consists of 42,000 Swedish farmers and award winning restaurant Operakällaren. Gooh is a new concept, merging dining out and take away.

The idea behind it to be able to offer healthy, well cooked meals for everyone at a reasonable price.

Gooh meals can be found in take away shops and supermarkets as well as in their own shops and restaurants throughout Sweden and Stockholm. Gooh also offers meals to businesses for lunch. Try their fish casserole, special meatballs or their homemade bread.
www.gooh.se

Gondolen is a restaurant located 33 metres above the water, overlooking Stockholm’s beautiful islands. For dining, this place can be rather expensive, however during lunch hours (11am-3pm) they offer great Swedish meals for around $15. The same restaurant owner also runs one of Stockholm’s oldest wine bars which is located on the ground floor of the building.
http://www.eriks.se

Cafe and coffee culture in Stockholm

‘Fika’ is a common way of socialising in Sweden. The Swedish word for a coffee break is “fika”. The word was originally backwards slang for the word ”kaffi” which is one way to say coffee in Swedish. But fika is more than a cup of coffee. It’s about coffee, or an equivalent drink, accompanied by a cookie, a roll or a sandwich.

Vurma is one of the trendy cafes with high “cosy” factor, which combine a traditional Swedish café with colourful cushions and sofas. With a personal and friendly style, considerate staff and tasty sandwiches with names like ‘buddy’, ‘stranger’ and ‘scruffy’, Vurma has become so popular that the first cafe in Vasastan has spun off to Kungsholmen and Södermalm.
www.vurma.se

Chaikaha is also a popular destination located in the old town (Gamla Stan), which serves first-class teas from around the world. As afternoon tea is an obvious trend in Stockholm Chaikaha is perfect, especially for the chillier times of the year.
www.chaikhana.se

Malmö – a mecca for foodies

When it comes to international culinary diversity, no town in Sweden can boast a greater variety of restaurants than Malmö. People from 170 different countries live in Malmö. Here, flavours from all over the world mingle happily with local home cooking, and there are places for every taste and size of wallet. Food in Malmö is noted for its host of enthusiastic cooking entrepreneurs, who serve everything from falafels to top gourmet dishes. Over the past few years, Malmö has also received a number of prestigious culinary awards – a sign of the steadily increasing quality of the food the city offers.

A great way to get around the Malmö food mecca is by Mat-Karavan. Mat-Karavan, started on the initiative of a few local food enthusiasts, taking people on a two-hour guided tour of Möllevångstorget and the surrounding district, where you can sample specialities from all over the world. The tour provides an excellent insight into the diversity of foods that culinary Malmö has to offer. Participant can enjoy the taste, sight and smells of all the exotic fruits and Arab delicacies for sale on the market stands or in the local shops.
www.matkaravan.nu

The Scandinavian Tourist Board (STB) is a joint initiative of the national tourist boards of Denmark, Norway and Sweden. STB and Principal Partner, Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), co-operate in Australia, to promote travel to Scandinavia. Carpe Diem PR & Events is the representative of STB in Australia.

Go to www.visitscandinavia.com.au  to learn more about Scandinavia.

Raffles Hotels & Resorts will manage a new hotel in the holy city of Makkah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The all-suite hotel is set to be the jewel of the prominent Abraj Al Bait Complex developed by Saudi Binladin Corporation in the Development of King Abdal Aziz Endowment Project, and will feature suites as well as an outdoor dining terrace overlooking Al Masjid al Haram.

A three-minute walk from the hotel, Raffles Makkah Palace will offer residents immediate access to the holiest site in Islam and the primary destination of pilgrims — the Kaaba within the Al Masjid al Haram.

Occupying the 11th to 26th levels, Raffles Makkah Palace will feature 198 suites.

With an average of three staff for every suite and complemented with round-the-clock butler service, residents at Raffles Makkah Palace can expect to receive the highest standards of attentive service that has become a signature style at Raffles hotels and resorts around the world.

Well-located high-speed elevators throughout the property will facilitate seamless and efficient service, and ease of access during the five daily prayer periods. Dining options will include the Tea Lounge at lobby level, which will feature a range of gourmet cakes, specialty tea blends and coffee roasts from around the world, with a tea and coffee sommelier on hand.

Raffles Creamery will offer personalized blends of ice-cream creations, prepared on a cold marble “teppanyaki” stone.

Levantine Restaurant will celebrate culinary delights influenced by the flavors of Eastern-Mediterranean while the all-day dining restaurant will offer cuisine from Asia and the Middle East.

A highlight at the all-day dining restaurant will be a chocolate room where chefs will prepare pralines and truffles, customized to suit each patron’s preference.

His and hers only fitness centers, beauty parlor and grooming salons, as well as access to an adjoining retail mall and Raffles Amrita Spa complete the range of facilities and services available at Raffles Makkah Palace.

For more information,

visit www.raffles.com

or click the banner at right.

The National Trust of Great Britain protects and conserves British gardens as well as the country’s famous homes.

The Trust is promoting homes significant to the lives of the Beatles as well as more traditional figures like Winston Churchill.

The Trust provides access to such homes as where the Beatles gathered to rehearse and write their songs, John Lennon’s childhood home, and homes related to Winston Churchill, Sir Isaac Newton, and even George Washington.

Americans visiting should be sure to join The Royal Oak Foundation — the U.S. membership affiliate of the National Trust, which protects and conserves some of the country’s top gardens.

Royal Oak membership, at $55, grants free access to such homes with famous past residents as well as all other Trust properties, over 300 historic houses and gardens, 700 miles of coastline, and 620,000 acres of open countryside.

For more information, visit

www.royal-oak.org

or www.historichousehotels.com

The Japan National Tourist Office is promoting Japan’s wealth of mountain climbing and hiking this summer. From mid spring, Japan opens public access to its mountains and hiking paths for visitors all summer long. The mountains of Japan offer a full range of trails and activities for both beginners and more advanced hikers. Even those who seek a more relaxed trip will enjoy panoramic views, hot springs and cultural experiences.

Out of 14 UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites in Japan, two are in the mountains: Shirakami Mountain Range occupies northern Honshu Island, and consists of endless untouched nature including beech tree forests.

The 321,236 acres has very few paths in order to maintain an untouched environment, but there is a 5.5-hour hike to the top of Shirakami-Dake, a 4,042-foot peak with a view of the panoramic Shirakami Mountains.

Yakushima Island is on top of a mountain range submerged in the ocean. This island is filled with untouched deep cedar forests and 1,900 other plant species.

Walking through this subtropical forest is the path to the highest point of the island, the summit of Miyano-ura-Dake, at 6,352 feet. Yakushima is known for the Jomon Cedar, one of the largest trees in the forest and over 7,000 years old. Trekking through this forest is already very popular among people who enjoy World Heritage Sites, making these hikes very memorable experiences.

Mt. Fuji is one of the most well-known landmarks in Japan and it has the highest elevation in the country at 12,388 feet. Mt. Fuji’s hiking trails to the summit are open to the public from July 1 through Aug. 26.

The trail to the summit is divided into 10 levels, and there are 19 cabins available to climbers along the way to the top. Buses and car traffic are allowed up to the fifth station, from where four trails to the summit start.

The hike to the top takes five to eight hours depending on the trail, and three to four hours to descend. Over 200,000 people make it to the top every year with some visitors utilizing an English-speaking tour of the mountain available from Tokyo.

The most popular Mt. Fuji experience is spending the night at or near the top and waking up to watch a sunrise from the summit.

For more information, cisit www.jnto.go.jp/eng  or www.japantravelinfo.com

Smart Destinations, the company behind Go Cards and Explorer Passes, announces the addition of the California Academy of Sciences as part of the Go San Francisco Card.

After nine years of planning, four years of construction and $488 million, the new California Academy of Sciences recently opened its doors to the world.

The new Platinum LEED certified museum is the only place on the planet to combine an aquarium, natural history museum, the world’s largest all-digital planetarium and a four-story rainforest dome under a 2.5-acre living roof. The Go San Francisco Card serves as a ticket to any of the 45+ participating attractions in San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Monterey and the Wine Country.

The Go San Francisco Card offers the ultimate in convenience, cost savings and flexibility for visitors to the city. Customers choose one, two, three, five or seven day cards at a low, pre-paid price.

Customers have the ability to use the card to gain access to an unlimited number of attractions each day from 9am to 5:30pm , The Go San Francisco Card also provides discounts at popular restaurants and shops and the ability to skip the lines at many attractions. Each Go Card also comes with a color-printed, pocket-sized guidebook full of maps, travel tips and itineraries for San Francisco.

“The ‘do more, see more’ vacation mantra is still valid, but it’s getting rounded out with ‘and do it for less,’” said Cecilia Dahl, Founder and President of Smart Destinations.

“By adding the California Academy of Sciences to our roster of San Francisco attractions, we’re proud to offer our customers the ability to visit a museum that is so rich in history and knowledge – a real “must-see” in San Francisco.”

“Officially the greenest museum in the world, we’re thrilled to be able to welcome additional visitors to experience all that the Academy has to offer under its mission to ‘explore, explain and protect the natural world,’” said Richard Peterson, Director of Travel Industry Sales at the California Academy of Sciences.

Among the top attractions included in the Go San Francisco Card are: Red and White Fleet Golden Gate Bay Cruise, Wine Country Day Trip with Grayline and the San Francisco Historic Cable Car Ticket. In addition to the California Academy of Sciences, in 2009 Smart Destinations also added numerous wineries to the San Francisco Go Card: Saddleback Cellars, Wm Harrison Winery, Summit Lake Vineyards & Winery and Steltzner Winery & Caves.