Jetsettersblog

Alamo Rent A Car and Enterprise Rent-A-Car — both owned and operated by the Taylor family of St. Louis, Mo. — recently have expanded their operations to meet customer demand and enhance car rental service on the islands of Hawaii, Kauai and Molokai.

Alamo’s new office on Molokai is its sixth airport location in Hawaii. Alamo, which has been operating in Hawaii since 1984, also has locations at the Honolulu Airport; Lihue, Kauai Airport; Kahului, Maui Airport; Kailua, Kona Airport; and the Hilo Airport; and off airport in Waikiki and Kaanapali, West Maui.

Enterprise’s new branch offices are located at the Hilo; Kona; and Lihue, Kauai, airports. Enterprise — which has been operating in Hawaii since 1984 — will continue serving the Honolulu and Maui airports, as well as 20 home-city locations throughout the islands.

According to Paul Kopel, vice president and general manager for Alamo Rent A Car and Enterprise Rent-A-Car, the new Alamo and Enterprise locations began accepting car rental reservations in June. They also have hired additional local employees and received official blessings during the past few weeks.

Kopel oversees Alamo Rent A Car, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and National Car Rental operations throughout Hawaii. In 2007, Alamo Rent A Car and National Car Rental were acquired by the Taylor family, who have owned and operated Enterprise since 1957.

Horizon Air is bringing back direct service from Los Angeles to Sun Valley for the 2009-10 winter season and adding flights from Los Angeles for the 2010 summer season.

The airline will also operate flights between Boise and Sun Valley during these periods. Currently, Horizon serves Sun Valley from Seattle only.

Horizon will operate one daily direct flight from Los Angeles (LAX), Boise and Seattle to Sun Valley during the ski season from Dec. 19, 2009, through

March 21, 2010, and the summer season from May 28 (Seattle) and June 26 (Los Angeles/Boise) through Sept. 6, 2010. Horizon’s new Sun Valley winter and summer service replaces the current year-round schedule from Seattle only, which will end after Sept. 7 and resume in the winter.

For more information, visit www.horizonair.com

or www.sunvalley.com

Marking this year’s 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson’s world-changing visit to New York Harbor, NY Waterway Tours is adding the “America: Who We Are Cruise” on immigration, conducted in partnership with the National Park Service and the National Parks of New York Harbor Conservancy.

NY Waterway Tours is holding the line on prices this year and reducing specialty tour prices as budget-conscious visitors enjoy the world-famous skyline day or night, and special cruises that focus on history.

Most tours depart from the NY Waterway Tours Terminal at West 38th Street and the Hudson River Park, with free bus service between points throughout Manhattan and the NY Waterway Ferry Terminal, next door at West 39th Street.

For New Jersey visitors, the cruise starts with a free roundtrip commuter ferry ticket from the Port Imperial Ferry Terminal in Weehawken to the West 39th Street Terminal.

For more information, call 800-533-3779 or visit www.nywaterway.com

San Diego area independent agency Aer Travel has joined forces with Altour.

Aer Travel was founded in 1983 and serves the corporate, leisure and entertainment markets in the greater San Diego area. Noteworthy is its following by the San Diego Chargers football team and its fans.

The agency has handled the team’s travel arrangements for more than 10 years, and has organized road trips for fans the past several years, including over 300 fans and Chargers staff to their game in London last year.

For more information, visit www.aertravel.com or www.altour.com

from Birmingham, London Gatwick, London Luton and Manchester airports* -

Award winning low fares airline Monarch is strengthening its network to the Canary Islands with the launch of new year-round scheduled services to Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura from Birmingham, London Gatwick, London Luton and Manchester airports*.

From 19th October 2009, one flight a week will operate to Gran Canaria from Birmingham and up to two flights a week will operate from London Gatwick and Manchester. In addition, from 21st October 2009, one flight a week will operate to Fuerteventura from Birmingham, London Gatwick and London Luton and up to two flights a week from Manchester. Flights are on sale now at www.monarch.co.uk for travel until 27 March 2010, with fares including taxes starting from just £52.99 one way (£90.99 return).

Commenting on the launch of the new services, managing director of Monarch flights and holidays, Liz Savage said, “We are delighted to be expanding our network to the Canary Islands with the launch of scheduled flights to Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura in addition to our existing routes to Tenerife and Lanzarote. We are seeing huge demand for our mid-haul destinations – in June we carried 59% more customers to Lanzarote and 16% more customers to Tenerife compared to June 2008 and the addition of Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura means even more people can take advantage of our low fares and award-winning onboard service to these popular sunshine islands this winter.

“The onboard service offered on Monarch’s scheduled flights, which includes extra legroom seating, a great range of tasty hot and cold food and selected inflight entertainment is over and above the levels provided by most low fare airlines and is perfectly suited for longer flight sectors such as the Canary Islands.”

The introduction of services to Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura brings the total number of flights operated by Monarch to the Canary Islands to up to 64 per week, with almost 500,000 seats available this winter season – a 32% increase on last winter.

Monarch operates scheduled flights to Spain, Gibraltar, Portugal and Cyprus from Birmingham, London Gatwick, London Luton and Manchester airports. In addition to year-round low fares, Monarch also offers a unique range of tasty hot and cold meals onboard with prices from £3.00.

To enable customers to select where in the cabin they sit and ensure that families and groups sit together, seats can be pre-booked at £7.50 per one-way flight, or from only £15, extra-legroom seats are available, which offer up to six inches of extra space.

Passengers travelling on scheduled flights can also avoid the queues at the airport and take advantage of online check-in which is available between seven days and 4.5 hours prior to departure.

In addition to flights, Monarch also now offers a huge range of great value holidays, accommodation options, car hire and travel insurance.

For further information or to book Monarch flights, Monarch Holidays or Monarch Hotels, please visit www.monarch.co.uk

OpenSkies is offering special summer fares on its business flights between New York (Kennedy and Newark) and Paris (Orly), and between New York (Kennedy) and Amsterdam (Schiphol), in July.

Through July 31, travelers can fly from New York City to Amsterdam in Biz Seat for only $565 one way and only $1,039 one way in the Biz Bed Cabin.

They can fly from New York City to Paris for only $628 one way in the Biz seat.

The Biz Seat fares are open for travel any time, while the Biz Bed fares are valid for travel now through Sept. 11.

Airfares are one-way based on roundtrip purchase, non-refundable and subject to availability.

Fare doesn’t include government fees and taxes of up to $164 and a $2.50 September 11th Security fee.

OpenSkies reserves the right to rescind this offer at any time.

Other significant restrictions may apply.

Fiery Wines And Whale Muggings To Modern Kings And Paniolos

So you think Hawaii is all about surfing, hula dancing, pineapple cocktails, sunbathing on the most stunning beaches in the world and being the location of the TV series, Lost? You’d be surprised to find that there is a whole new Hawaii waiting to be discovered, below is a list of a few things that you may have not placed in the same sentence as Hawaii before.

1. Go wine tasting in the shadow of a volcano

Who knew that award-winning wines were made in Hawaii? Inspired by the volcanic soil of the Big Island, the Volcano Winery, tucked between two majestic volcanoes, has been producing wine since 1993, their signature award-winning wines are made from the ‘Symphony grape’ and are available for wine tasting and purchasing. www.volcanowinery.com

2. Follow in the footsteps of Barack Obama

Bang on trend, operators on Oahu are now offering special ‘Obama Tours’, taking visitors on whirlwind journeys through the life and times of Obama in Hawaii; where he was born, where he went to school; his favourite restaurants, surf spots and beaches. Special Obama tours are available with expert guides.
www.obamatourhawaii.com (tickets from USD 40)

3. Visit the only royal palace in the USA

There has been a royal court in Hawaii for centuries. The Iolani Palace, built in 1882 in Oahu is as majestic as it is surprising. This Palace was at the height of modernity when it was built (designed with a European flair, it had electricity and telephones even before the White House in Washington DC). www.iolanipalace.org  (tickets from USD 5)

4. Get up close and personal with Humpback whales

Every year between November and May, approximately 1,000 Humpbacks make the 4,000 mile trip to the archipelago to breed and give birth. For visitors, the site of Humpback Whales is a once in a lifetime spectacle, and in Hawaii visitors can get up close and personal (within 100 yards), to witness the incredible acrobatic displays of these huge beasts. You can whale watch from every island, however the calm, clear waters between Maui, Molokai, and Lanai are considered the best spots to see Humpback whales. http://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov

5. Become a Paniolo for a day

The Waimea area of the Big Island is home to what was once the largest cattle ranch in the USA – Parker Ranch. Waimea town is also home to the Parker Ranch Visitor Centre, with a museum of early cowboy life in Hawaii. Cowboys are known as “paniolo” to the local folks and today there are various cattle ranches and working farms that visitors (and especially families) can enjoy.

Horse riding, understanding the basics of farming life and generally learning how to become a paniolo is on the cards at these modern day ranches. http://www.kahuaranch.com ; http://www.princevilleranch.com ; http://www.haleakalaranch.com ; http://www.kualoa.com

6. Feel the heat of one of the most active volcanoes in the world

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on The Big Island encompasses more than 229,000 acres spread over 35 miles, from an altitude of 13,677 feet to sea level. Kilauea on the Big Island has been erupting for more than 25 years, its lava creating a plume of steam as it spills into the Pacific Ocean.

Encircling the crater of Kilauea Volcano is a 50 mile drive, which descends to the coast where visitors can view active lava flows plunging into the sea. www.nps.gov/havo

7. It’s a budding astronomer’s nirvana

Hawaii is considered the best place in the world for stargazing due to its remoteness and lack of air or light pollution.

Perched high atop Mauna Kea on the Big Island, rising 13,796 feet above sea level, 11 telescopes representing 13 countries watch the heavens and lead the field in astronomy research.

A visitor’s centre set 9,200 feet up has several small telescopes for public use and for beginners a stargazing program runs every night where visitors are guided through telescope use and a constellation tour of the sky. www.imiloahawaii.org ; http://www.ifa.hawaii.edu

8. Dive some of the best reefs and shipwrecks in the world

Due to Hawaii’s volatile navy history, its volcanic topography and sheer isolation, the islands are a mecca for divers across the world. The Cathedrals off Lanai offer dramatic coral pinnacles and caverns rising from the seventy foot depth to the surface. Another spectacular dive site is Molokini Island off Maui.

Because of its natural abundance, Molokini was named a State Marine Life and Bird Conservation District. Oahu offers spectacular shipwreck dives, with the wrecks such as the Yo-257 (a 1940 war ship), Sea Tiger (Chinese vessel) and Mahi (voted as one of the wreck dives in the USA) just minutes away from the coast. www.gohawaii.com/uk

9. Take a helicopter flight over the second largest canyon in the Pacific

Waimea Canyon, known as the ‘Grand Canyon of the Pacific’ on Kauai’s west side, is more than 3,000 feet deep and provides stunning panoramic views of crested buttes, rugged crags, and deep valley gorges.

The best way to capture the enormity of this canyon is by helicopter. From the air visitors can catch a glimpse of the Mana Waipuan Falls, one of the largest in the world, along with the emerald mountains descending into the sapphire oceans. www.gohawaii.com/uk

10. Discover the only Green Beach in the USA

The Big Island is home to the only ‘green beach’ in the USA. Papakolea Green Sand Beach has olive-colour sand due to the green semi-precius stone olivine. This is a secluded beach on the South Point of the Ka’u district of the Big Island, only reached by a rugged 2 mile hike.

Spanish tour operator Viatges Tuareg is the first to offer a 22-day tour of Central America following the Volcanoes and Colonial Cities Trail created by tourism bodies last year.

The trail follows the old “Camino Real” or Royal Road built by the Spanish Conquistadors, and covers 1000 kms, passing by more than 30 of Central America’s most spectacular volcanoes, many of which are still active.

The Volcanoes and Colonial Cities Trail is the first result of the combined efforts and integration of tourism resources of all the Central American countries to promote the natural and cultural attractions of the region.

The Central American volcanoes offer a great diversity of landscapes and ecosystems, from lush cloudforest to barren lava fields, and a wide range of opportunities for adventure. These are some of the most exciting experiences awaiting visitors on the Volcanoes Trail:

• Go surfing on the volcanic sand of Cerro Negro in Nicaragua, near the colonial town of Leon

• Dive to the bottom of the crater at Coatepeque and Llopango in El Salvador. Lakes have formed on the crater of these two dormant volcanoes, providing an exhilarating setting for all types of water-based activities.

• Sleep in a crater, staying at the Valle de Anton in Panama. The town, built inside the crater of a dormant volcano, also offers thermal waters for a well deserved soak after a day volcano trekking.

• Watch boiling mud pots, fumaroles and small thermal rivers as you climb up the Rincon de la Vieja Volcano in Costa Rica.

El Salvador has strengthened its position as a growing international tourism destination following the agreement signed between European tourism services provider Transhotel and local tour operator Salvadorean Tours, based in El Salvador.

Through this agreement, Transhotel will offer travellers to El Salvador everything from transfers and accommodation at the main hotels in the country to half day and full day tours of the main tourist attractions and connections to neighbouring countries such as Honduras and Guatemala.

The more than 75,000 travel agencies throughout the world associated to Transhotel will be able to offer their customers a range of exciting destinations in El Salvador, such as the archaeological sites of Joya de Cerén and Tazumal, the colonial city of Suchitoto, the Lakes and Volcanoes Trail, The Flower Trail and city tours of San Salvador.

For further information: www.salvadoreantours.com

World-renowned golf course designer Pete Dye, often called the “Greatest Modern Day Architect,” sketched his early vision for a special sort of golf course in French Lick, Indiana, on a napkin at a local restaurant.

His vision is now being etched into the hilltops near West Baden Springs Hotel, and in 2009 the 18-hole Pete Dye Course at French Lick will open as one of the premier championship courses in the Midwestern United States.

Having built courses all over the world including great coastal sites, this course arguably could be considered Dye’s best inland site offering golfers 30-mile panoramic views of the countryside in all directions.

Selected as the site for the 2010 PGA Professionals National Championship, the Pete Dye Course is being carved into the hillsides. Dye aims for this to be a “walkable” course, but golfers are sure to feel Dye’s signature sting as they tee off from vista to vista on this 18-hole masterpiece.