Jetsettersblog

Scheduled to open in January 2010, Hyatt Regency Curacao Golf Resort, Spa & Marina, the only resort on the island to offer 18 holes of championship golf, is now accepting reservations.

Each of the 350 rooms has a view of the water and is located on one of the few remaining natural preserve peninsulas in the Caribbean. The resort will feature uninterrupted water views on three sides, white sand beaches, extensive meeting space and luxurious amenities.

Hyatt Regency Curacao Golf Resort is located at Santa Barbara Plantation, a 1,500-acre luxury master planned resort community taking shape along a natural harbor known as Spanish Water, 25 minutes from Curacao’s capital city of Willemstad.

Santa Barbara Plantation will offer a variety of residences and amenities such as a homeowners’ beach club and the 120-slip Seru Boca Marina capable of accommodating vessels up to 80 feet in length.

The resort will have four restaurants, all of which will feature menu items drawn from indigenous ingredients and techniques.

The three-meal restaurant will showcase an exhibition kitchen and feature Mediterranean cuisine.

The Swim Pool Bar & Grill, a high-energy pool bar, will cater to pool devotees during the day and hotel guests at night. At the Grill, the hotel’s food and beverage team will offer traditional bar staples with a Pan Latino influence.

The golf club grill, Shor, will be an American seafood grill centered on fresh seafood presented in a contemporary way.

Resort guests may incorporate health and wellness into their stay by taking part in the Hyatt Pure(TM) experience.

The hotel’s 4,500 square foot full-service Hyatt Pure spa will feature four treatment rooms that can accommodate both indoor and outdoor treatments. Adjacent to the spa is a beauty salon and StayFit@Hyatt fitness center, which offers the most updated Life Fitness equipment and training.

Other resort amenities include a multi-level outdoor pool, complete with dramatic water features, lounge and cabana area; four tennis courts; Camp Hyatt; bicycle and jogging paths; volleyball courts; and a marina offering water sports, diving trips, snorkeling and more.

The combination of the rugged terrain of the Tafelberg Mountain, the Caribbean Sea and Spanish Water create a world-class setting for the resort’s 18-hole championship golf course.

Designed by the renowned golf architect Pete Dye, the golf course, named Old Quarry, is the jewel of the resort and will measure approximately 7,200 yards and will include a 8,000 square foot pro shop and Shor, the golf club grill. Old Quarry will also offer a driving range and golf lessons will be available for guests.

The theme of Old Quarry, like Hyatt Resorts, is authenticity and is carried throughout the course.

The resort will features more than 18,500 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting and banquet space as well as catering that utilizes local ingredients and technology to support sophisticated presentations.

Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com

The U.S. Virgin Islands’ new Inntimate Treasures promotes small hotels of St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas.

The package includes $50 in attractions and activity coupons, and a $50 dining certificate along with an eco-friendly, USVI-branded gift bag that includes a bottle of Cruzan Rum, and a USVI-branded T-shirt.

The Inntimate Treasures package is valid for bookings made through Oct 15 for travel between June 16 and Oct. 31 and is based on a four-night minimum stay.

“The Inntimate Treasures package allows travelers to explore our islands from a different perspective. It allows for personalized service and gives our visitors the opportunity to have a unique Caribbean experience along with some great savings at our restaurants and attractions,” said Commissioner of Tourism Beverly Nicholson-Doty.

Visitors, says the USVI, may not be aware of the benefits to staying in a smaller hotel, which may include the ability to build a relationship with a small hotel owner; local insights into “off the beaten path” activity and sightseeing recommendations; “Home-cooked” meals; personalized service; and intimate experience.

Hotels participating in the Inntimate Treasures promotion include Coconut Coast Villas, Estate Concordia Preserve and Harmony Studios on St. John; Arawak Bay: The Inn at Salt River, Carrington’s Inn, Club St. Croix and Colony Cove (Antilles Resorts), Company House Hotel, Frederiksted Hotel, Hibiscus Beach Resort, Holger Danske Hotel, Hotel Caravelle, Hotel on the Cay, King Christian Hotel, The Palms at Pelican Cove, Sand Castle on the Beach, Tamarind Reef Hotel and Villa Greenleaf on St. Croix; At Home in the Tropics Bed & Breakfast, Galleon House, The Green Iguana, The Inn at Villa Olga, Miller Manor Hotel & Guesthouse, Pavilions and Pools (Antilles Resorts), Pineapple Village Villas, Sapphire Village, Crystal Cove and Watergate on St. Thomas and Virgin Islands Campgrounds on Water Island.

The Inntimate Treasures package applies to new bookings only.

Reservations can be made through any travel agent or by visiting the “Where to Stay” section on VisitUSVI.com

For more information, visit www.VisitUSVI.com

The high-speed rail link between Helsinki and St. Petersburg is due to open in the summer of 2010.

The new rail link will shorten the journey time at first to three and a half hours, and later to three hours, from the current five and a half hours.

The train has been named Allegro, which means “fast” in Italian.

In the initial phase, three scheduled trains will operate in each direction daily, with the number later increasing to four per day.

Each train will have seven carriages and a total of 350 seats.

There will be a restaurant, a business class area, facilities for disabled passengers and designated seats for passengers travelling with pets.

Passenger numbers on the Helsinki-St. Petersburg line are expected to triple within five years of the introduction of the high-speed service.

The trains are operated by Oy Karelian Trains Ltd, a company jointly owned by the Finnish national rail company VR Ltd and the Russian rail company OAO RZD.

visit www.visitfinland.com.

Port Bourgenay Holiday Village, Vendee

Eurobuster prices start from GBP361 (previously GBP404) per week for a family of four in a one-bedroom apartment

The Port Bourgenay Holiday Village is a superb location for a family holiday in the Vendee region of France. Located 9km south of Les Sables-d’Olonne, this 90-hectare car-free village offers numerous activities for all ages, ranging from a 9-hole golf course to an aquatic centre with three swimming pools. Veillon beach is just 1.5km away and is accessible either on foot or via the seasonal tourist train.

Teenagers can meet at ‘The Spot’ where a range of daytime and evening activities are organised, or they can take advantage of the bicycle hire, archery and flying trapeze courses available within the resort. For more information, please visit: http://www.pv-holidays.com/vendee-charente/port-bourgenay/holiday-village-france_rental_306-2_fp

Le Rouret Holiday Village, Ardèche

Eurobuster prices start from GBP384 (previously GBP545) per week for a family of four in a one-bedroom apartment

Opened less than three years ago, Le Rouret Holiday Village is a 100-acre multi-activity resort located in the Ardeche region of France.

The resort offers extensive activities for families with teenage children with a number of activities arranged through the onsite children’s clubs.

Teens can choose to take up mountain biking, canoeing or horseback riding, as well as taking advantage of the onsite facilities that include mini golf, table tennis, circus training and a large outdoor swimming pool.

This property also features a teenagers-only zone known as ‘The Spot.’ For more information, please visit: http://www.pv-holidays.com/ardeche/le-rouret/holiday-village-france_rental_370-2_fp

Branville Holiday Village, Normandy
Eurobuster prices start from GBP476 (previously GBP717) per week for a family of four in a one-bedroom apartment

An excellent choice for families with sporty teens, Branville Holiday Village features a huge outdoor water sports complex, the ‘Aquaclub,’ with swimming pools, water slides and wave machines.

Free children’s clubs and ‘Le Spot’ teenage meeting place is available on site.

Villers-sur-Mer is less than 10km away where families can sail dinghies and catamarans or try their hand at wind surfing.

Fencing, horserding, circus training and tennis coaching are all available onsite at an extra cost.

For more information, please visit: the PV HOliday banner above.

For more information on any of the properties listed above, please visit: the PV Holidays banner above.

Join Americans for UNFPA and Wildland Adventures on a Trip of Discovery to Ethiopia

Wildland Adventures
CONTACT: Kurt Kutay
TEL: 206-365-0686
E-MAIL: info@wildland.com
WEBSITE: www.wildland.com

SEATTLE, Wash — Travel — especially to locations with a distinctly different culture from ones’ own — opens the eyes and hearts of those visiting, and a successful travel experience should include personal interaction with the Indigenous people and culture. Wildland Adventures has integrated this into every trip they offer, which is one of the reasons they are proud to partner with Americans for UNFPA (United Nations Fund for Population Activities; www.americansforunfpa.org) and Planned Parenthood Golden Gate (PPGG) to conduct an educational fundraising tour of Ethiopia.

The nine day “Americans for UNFPA & PPGG Leadership Delegation” tour is designed for people who really do make a difference.

This small group tour (with no more than 16 participants) will travel into the heart of the close-knit and traditional Ethiopian culture to experience first-hand the challenges — and victories — encountered by the projects and field staff of the UNFPA and PPGG. The itinerary gives participants in-depth exposure to both organizations’ efforts to provide women and children’s health care and promote human rights — first with a general overview of the programs, followed by field visits to programs in process, and meetings with women receiving support in Addis Ababa, Hossana, Bahir Dar and Lalibela.

The Ethiopian Delegation Donor tour departure is scheduled for October 18-26, 2009 and starts at $5995 per person (based on a group of 16 participants). $1250 of your payment is a tax deductible donation to Americans for UNFPA and PPGG, and will directly support the work of the UNFPA field offices.

There is also a 7-day extension available to visit the historic monasteries and castles of Axum and Gondor and to view game in the beautiful Simian Mountains from Ethiopia’s premier eco lodge, which begins October 26 and continues through November 1 and begins at $2650 per person, of which $200 is a tax deductable donation.

The Americans for UNFPA and PPGG operate in both urban and rural areas of the country — and delegates will observe how different the issues that affect women and children in sprawling urban environments are from the issues that affect rural villagers. While in Addis Ababa, delegates will visit the Bright Futures (Biruh Tesfa) project. This program, which operates only in the country’s sprawling metropolis, helps protect poor urban girls from abuse and exploitation. Delegates also visit the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital to learn about this bastion of protection – the only accessible option for Ethiopian women who suffer from the crippling, embarrassing and often deadly effects of fistula.

The next few days of the trip focus on a very different environment — the rural areas. In Hossana, delegates visit PPGG’s flagship international program — Community-Based Reproductive Health — which brings maternal and child medical services to 1300 villages where medical care had previously been lacking. In the village of Bahir Dar, guests visit the Light for Eve (Berhane Hewan) program, which works to protect children from (or give support for those already in) child marriages.

Delegates will also visit Lalibela, which UNESCO has helped provide with “modern conveniences” such as electricity and paved roads. There will be time along the trip to explore the local culture and scenery, as well as to visit with both the participants in each project.

Wildland Adventures’ partnership with the Americans for UNFPA continues with three more unique experiences in 2010, to Guatemala, Malawi and Cambodia, and planned trips for 2011 and 2012.

For information and reservations visit Wildland Adventures on the web: www.wildland.com  or 800-345-4453 or e-mail info@wildland.com .

About Wildland Adventures

Wildland Adventures was founded in 1986 by Kurt and Anne Kutay with the intention of offering authentic worldwide cultural and natural history explorations for active and inquisitive travelers.

Wildland Adventures was rated the #1 Best Adventure Outfitter on Earth in 2009 by National Geographic Adventure Magazine, moving up from the #4 spot held in 2008. Wildland also operates educational fundraising trips in conjunction with the non-profit Americans for UNFPA (United Nations Fund for Population Activities), an international agency that promotes the right of women and their families to enjoy a life of health and equal opportunity.

At the core of Wildland Adventures is its commitment to conservation and authenticity. On a Wildland Adventures’ trip, there are remarkably few barriers between visitors and local cultures, creating an authenticity in the way people travel and the places they encounter. A sample of destinations offered by Wildland Adventures includes Costa Rica, Peru, Patagonia, Belize, Alaska, Turkey, Egypt, Africa, India, New Zealand and Antarctica.

Terranea Resort, Los Angeles County’s first coastal resort, will celebrate its grand opening on a 102-acre bluff top site in Rancho Palos Verdes, the former Marineland site, which closed 20 years ago.

The $480 million luxury resort, owned by Los Angeles-based Lowe Enterprises and operated by Destination Hotels & Resorts, will host community, government and business leaders to celebrate the grand opening. Highlights will include a dedication by the Gabrielino-Tongva Indian Tribe native to the region, music and dance performances, and a demonstration of the resort’s signature quartz crystal “singing bowls” as the doors are opened to welcome the first guests.

Terranea enjoys 270-degree views of the Pacific and is one of the rare places that sunrise and sunset can be seen over the ocean from the same vantage point.

The public will stroll Discovery Trails, the new, extensive coastal network of trails that traverse inside Terranea Resort and continue outside the property, as well as take in the more than 14 acres of preserved habitat areas and new public beach access.

Terranea is a 582-room resort including a 360-room hotel with 32 suites, plus 20 bungalows, 50 oceanfront casitas and 32 oceanview villas.

It also offers a 50,000-square-foot oceanfront spa complex, three pools, eight restaurants, bars and lounges and a nine-hole, par 3 golf course.

For more information, call 310-802-7433 or visit www.terranea.com

A new tour company invites travelers to feel the wind in their face as they explore the best of Juneau — from the steps of the Capitol to remote whale watching beaches.

Open since 2008, juneau jeep adventures offers small-group Jeep tours with local guides presenting breathtaking scenery and the local history and culture of Alaska’s capital city.

Travelers can choose the four-hour Jeep adventure to discover downtown Juneau’s history, view the Mendenhall Glacier from a distance, pass through the Auke Indian village site, visit the Shrine of St. Therese, picnic at Eagle Beach, and finish with a tour and tasting at the Alaskan Brewing Company.

Or enjoy the five-hour Jeep and zip adventure tour through downtown’s narrow streets, cruise to north Douglas Island to walk the 1.5-mile Rainforest Trail.

Then continue to Eaglecrest Ski Area for a canopy tour with Alaska Zipline Adventures.

For travelers who prefer to set their own course, custom four-hour guided adventures are available to explore destinations of their choice.

For more information, visit

www.juneaujeep.com

The Strand, a new 177-room hotel in Manhattan’s fashion district, will debut August 2009.

Housed within a contemporary metal and glass structure on 37th Street off Fifth Avenue, the hotel is a new build designed by New York architect Gene Kaufman.

Among the highlights are public spaces adorned with vintage fashion photography from the Condé Nast archives; a restaurant making its New York debut (A Fish Called Avalon, the South Beach dining fixture for 20 years); and an open-air rooftop bar that features a retractable roof and views of the Empire State Building.

Rack rates for the hotel will start at $325. Other special features of the hotel will be a multi-use event/meeting space accommodating up to 350, a fitness center with massage services, and a well-stocked library and espresso lounge with a daily selection of international newspapers.

For more information

or reservations,

call 212-448-1024

or visit www.thestrandnyc.com .

Moab Travel Council
CONTACT: Tina Snyder
TEL: 800-635-6622
E-MAIL: info2@discovermoab.com
WEB: www.discovermoab.com

MOAB, Utah -When Mother Nature turns up the thermostat during the summer months, you can beat the heat and the crowds, and enjoy many “cool” adventures in Moab.

Start your day early with one or two of the short hikes in Arches National Park, such as the Double Arch Trail (.5 miles round trip) or the Windows Trail (1 mile round trip), then enjoy the comfort of your car as you continue through the park to Devil’s Garden for lunch in the shady picnic area. Water is available at the Devils Garden Trailhead so make sure to refill your water bottles.

When it comes to temperature, there is nothing “fiery” about the “Fiery Furnace”. Take the afternoon Ranger guided hike through this shady labyrinth of narrow sandstone canyons and fins. The route requires minor scrambling and squeezing through tight spaces and is one of the most incredible and spectacular places in the park. Make your reservations for this hike upon your morning arrival.

Delicate Arch is a great late evening hike, when photographic opportunities are at a peak, especially during the full moon. Take a snack and a flashlight (for the hike back) and watch a spectacular sunset from this amazingly scenic location.

The Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park also offers numerous short hikes that can be done during the cooler morning and evening hours. Mesa Arch trail is a half-mile round-trip, go early and capture amazing sunrise photos of this beautiful arch on the cliff edge.

Take the scenic drive through the park, with its numerous view points, to see spectacular vistas that allow you to see nearly 100 miles in any direction, resulting in panoramic views that encompass thousands of square miles of canyon country.

Although the world famous Colorado River often conjures images of wild, churning rapids and heart-stopping near capsizes, the rivers of the Moab area have a softer side as well.

For miles at a time they are simply wide, quiet streams that, on clear days, reflect a mosaic of rock cliffs and sky.

Calm water float trips in canoes, kayaks and rafts are available.

Half-day and full day raft trips with experienced guides cost surprisingly little and are great for the entire family from toddlers to grandparents where you can experience Canyonlands National Park from the bottom, gazing up the tall canyon walls. Motorized jet boat tours provide a way to experience the river without getting wet, which is perfect for photographers.

The “Daily,” located northeast of Moab along Utah Highway 128, is a whitewater trip ideal for a short adventure or an overnight camping trip. Six named rapids are located between Hittle Bottom and Takeout Beach.

The rapids may range in difficulty up to Class III and can be challenging at high water levels.
For those seeking more thrills,

Westwater Canyon is a great choice for a short, but challenging whitewater adventure, with 11 rapids that may range in difficulty up to Class IV.

Scenic highlights are the Precambrian “black rock”, which forms the walls of a 200 foot deep inner canyon, with sheer walls of rust-colored Wingate sandstone tower above.

Historic features within the canyon include the miners cabin and the outlaw cave.

Cataract Canyon, located in the heart of Canyonlands National Park, is the best known wild whitewater trip. With 26 rapids ranging in difficulty up to Class V, “Cat” trips offers an abundance of heart-pounding thrills, as well as calm scenic stretches and can be done in one day or over several days.

Shorter trips utilize a jet boat for the upper portion of the trip. Visitors to Cataract Canyon may hike to view the rock art and cliff dwellings; left by Indians who once lived in the canyon or just enjoy the massive red rock walls and pinnacles that tower above the river.

Cataract Canyon is one of the most isolated and starkly beautiful areas of the 48 contiguous states.

From calm water kayaking and canoeing to white water rafting, the Colorado River will satisfy your craving for quiet serenity and heart-bounding adventure.

Go from the rivers to the mountains, as the cool green peaks of Manti-La Sal National Forest beckon, providing a pleasant change to the heat of the surrounding semi-desert lands. With peaks reaching near 13,000-feet, visitors find some of the Forest’s most incredible hiking and biking trails.

The La Sal Mountain Loop Road is a 60-mile long route, which follows Scenic Byway 128, through Castle Valley and is great for a summer afternoon drive. Driving up Castle Valley, the indescribable rock formations of the Priest and Nuns and Castle Rock are visible. A right turn onto the La Sal Mountain Loop, and the route begins an immediate ascent toward the National Forest. Along the route are numerous overlooks with breath-taking vistas featuring the three unique land ecosystems of alpine, desert and red-rock canyons.

Shortly after passing the turnoff to Warner Lake Campground and picnic area, the road descends into Mill Creek Canyon, before climbing again for the final descent past the Ken’s Lake Recreation area and into Moab.

This loop is also a great way for mountain bikers to access hundreds of miles of cool summer trails from Geyser Pass Road ranging from 8 to 50 miles in length.

The popular Moonlight Meadows Trail is a wonderful opportunity for cyclists and hikers to get out of the heat and revel in the beauty of the alpine experience.

Beautiful mountain lakes are scattered across the mountain range, offering excellent trout fishing and great camping locations for car, tent, RV and motor home campers.

The wind whispering in the aspens and peaceful bubbling brooks, create an unbelievably relaxing atmosphere and an unforgettable experience. Whether it is for a few hours or a few days, by car, foot or bike, the beauty and solitude of the La Sal Mountains should top your summer adventure list.

Remembering to use plenty of sun block, dress appropriately and drink plenty of water (a gallon a day per person is recommended) will make a visit to Moab a “cool” summer vacation.

For more information contact the Moab Area Travel Council at 800-635-6622, visit the Moab Visitor Center at the corner of Main and Center streets or their website: www.discovermoab.com