Jetsettersblog

The smallest town in Europe is offering you its biggest challenges.

French-speaking Wallonia is home to the smallest town in Europe, Durbuy. With its majestic castle and cobble-stoned streets, Durbuy is the perfect day trip to the Belgian countryside.

For sports and activity seekers, Durbuy Adventure, a company taking advantage of the town’s strategic location next to the River Ourthe, offers visitors a wide variety of 60 outdoor activities, such as kayaking and rope courses to test your limits in the heart of the Ardennes.

To learn more, visit www.durbuyadventure.be

Finland’s dramatic, fast-flowing rivers are in full flood in the spring and summer months, perfect for a thrilling raft or canoe ride through the country’s spectacular landscape.

The rapids at Ruunaa in northern Karelia are an especially popular venue, but there are similar rafting spots in many other parts of the country, including Kuusamo and Lapland. For experienced canoeists, the Tornio and Muonio rivers, running for hundreds of miles along the western border with Sweden, provide some thrilling opportunities.

For more information, go to www.visitfinland.com

It was the model’s treatment of choice at Erin O’Connor’s Model Sanctuary at the May Fair Hotel, the official hotel of London Fashion Week, in February; now the hotel’s May Fair Spa is offering the full Oxygen Revival treatment to give everyone the much sought after model glow.

Perfect for a quick fix pre party booster or much needed after a late night out, the Crystal Clear Oxygen Therapy, 30 minutes (£75) is an essential express treatment with intensive visible results.

This is the perfect rejuvenation treatment for dull, tired and ageing skin. This treatment replenishes lost oxygen in the skin, while active ingredients in the serum restructure the skin to visibly hydrate and plump out lines and wrinkles.

Increased oxygen in the body optimises the function of the cells. Aesthetically the skin appears more plump, creating a lifting effect making you look fresher and more awake; essential after a late night!

Hydration is restored, diminishing the appearance of crepeness associated with long and short-term dehydration.

Located at London’s iconic May Fair Hotel, the May Fair Spa epitomises pure indulgence; an exquisite haven of tranquillity.

The May Fair is the Official Hotel Partner of London Fashion Week

The cost of using a debit or credit card to book flights with some airlines has gone up by over 600 per cent in 18 months*, according to new research from Which? Holiday.

Ryanair charges 614 per cent more than it did 18 months ago for debit card transactions**, increasing fees from 70p to £5 per person each way, while using a credit card has gone from £2 to £5 per person each way.

It now costs 471 per cent more to use a debit card*** to pay for a flight with Wizz compared to 18 months ago. In February 2007 the fee levied for using a debit card was 70p per person each way, but the airline now charges £4 per person each way.

Thomas Cook UK now charges £10 per booking for using a debit card and First Choice customers pay £2.50, when 18 months ago neither airline levied a charge.

Which? Holiday found that it’s not all bad news for consumers, however. 18 months ago, bmiBaby levied a one per cent charge for paying with a debit card, but now there’s no charge. Virgin Atlantic has changed its policy to charge 1.3 per cent of the total booking for credit card payments, instead of £3 per person. On a booking costing £300 for two adults this amounts to a saving of over £2. BA doesn’t charge for using a debit card to pay for flights.

Some airlines also have a policy of not charging a fee for using a Visa Electron card****.

Lorna Cowan, editor or Which? Holiday, says:

“We understand that there is a charge to airlines for taking payment for flights with debit or credit cards and that this cost will be passed on to consumers. But how can some of these airlines justify charging over 600 per cent more than they did 18 months ago?

“The amount charged by the airlines should be reflective of the costs incurred by them. This does not appear to be the case with current charges, and we are concerned that airlines may be using them as a way of boosting profits.”

Bringing the total number of properties to five in Jordan for the Swiss group, the opening of the new Mövenpick Resort Tala Bay Aqaba is set to welcome guests from August 2009. The Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts portfolio continues to prosper in Jordan with the addition of a resort in Tala Bay-Aqaba. Owned by Zara South Coast Development Company (a subsidiary of Zara Investment Holding), Mövenpick Resort Tala Bay Aqaba will be the fifth hotel in Jordan to be operated by the renowned Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts group.

The new resort is located on the southern shores of Aqaba, making Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts the only group to be serving both of the city’s north and south beaches.

The Mövenpick Resort Tala Bay Aqaba is situated in Tala Bay, a new residential community on the southern shores of the Red Sea. The resort is located 15 minutes away from the city center of Aqaba, 20 minutes away from King Hussein International Airport and one hour away from the historical city of Petra and Wadi Rum.

The resort’s 306 modern rooms all enjoy mountain and Red Sea views. The resort operates eight restaurants and bars, which include Najel, an all-day dining restaurant; Casalingo, an Italian fine dining outlet; Sejan, the al fresco poolside restaurant; as well as various bars, including Baraka Lobby Lounge, Mello Chill-Out Bar, Siraj — the Arguilah Terrace, Azure Pool Side Bar and The Bop night spot.

The resort’s meeting and conference facilities are designed to suit every need ranging from wedding parties to meetings and seminars for groups or individuals and incentive packages. Leisure facilities are plenty with three large swimming pools, a large water slide, lazy river, ornamental fountains and waterfalls.

Other facilities include a diving center, children’s activity center, an open-air amphitheatre, banquet services, and a shopping arcade. The resort will introduce Jordan’s first purpose-built family bedrooms with separate bedrooms for parents and for children.

By the beginning of 2010, Mövenpick Resort Tala Bay Aqaba will complete the dedicated wellness area comprising of a Zara Spa, a salon, a nail studio and a fully equipped gym followed by an additional 150 rooms slated for completion in the second phase of the hotel project.

For more information, visit www.moevenpick-hotels.com

The Irish people, their culture and the stunning scenery found on the island of Ireland are what make it such a popular tourist destination. As part of Tourism Ireland’s 2009 global brand campaign “Go Where Ireland Takes You”, they have recently launched a number of online webisodes that showcase the unique “character and characters” of Ireland, highlighting the culture, charm, wit and friendliness of Irish characters, promoting it as a destination unlike any other.

Characters such as Padraic from the Aran Islands or Blackie from Doolin, County Clare will bring you on a journey of their home towns and villages, uncovering the hidden spots and traditions in a way that captures the spontaneity and fun of the Irish people.

The webisodes invite you to come and experience the island of Ireland first hand and understand why the locals are so passionate about the Emerald Isle.

Tourism Ireland will produce 10 webisodes in total, 6 have been released to date with the remainder being released throughout the coming months. The webisodes will allow you meet:

1. Padraic – Padraic takes you from Roundstone to Inisheer, the smallest of the Aran Islands, on a journey he calls “Hidden Ireland”.

2. Ciara and Ricky – Journey through Belfast City and take in sights such as Queens University, St. George’s Market, the Bookfinder’s Cafe and many more.

3. Blackie – Explore the home of Irish Traditional Music, County Clare, with the Uilleann Piper known as ‘Blackie’ as he takes you to Doolin, Lisdoonvarna and the Burren.

4. Irvine and Jonathan – The beautiful county of Fermanagh is revealed by Irvine and Jonathon as they show you Enniskillen, the Butter Market, the magnificent Lough Erne and Devenish Island.

5. Mick – Celebrating its 400th anniversary, there is no better place to be in 2009 than Kilkenny City. Mick shows you the sights which include Kilkenny Castle, the market, Thomastown and the Kell’s Priory.

6. Noelle and Hillary – Voted Europe’s friendliest city for 2009 by TripAdvisor, Noelle and Hillary warmly invite you to explore their beloved Dublin, taking in such hidden spots as Cow’s Lane, The Cake Café, St. Michan’s Church, Shebeen Chic Restaurant and Howth fishing village.

To see the Tourism Ireland webisodes, visit www.discoverireland.com

Strengthens Perth and Buenos Aires

South African Airways (SAA) has added capacity to its African network in keeping with its African strategy, while strengthening its network with additional flights from Perth, Western Australia and Buenos Aires, Argentina.

According to Thevan Krishna, SAA’s Head of Australasia, the changes are in line with changes to passenger demand in the current environment.

“We have assessed off-peak flights on several domestic African and international routes, reducing flights in keeping with a decline in demand,” Thevan said.

“However we are continuing to take up new opportunities in line with our plans to grow our extensive African routes and as a result, SAA’s presence in West Africa has been strengthened while more flights have been added on routes from Australia and Argentina. Further increasing our footprint in West Africa, three extra flights have been added to the popular West African destination of Lagos, Nigeria. This increases the number of frequencies on this route from four to seven per week.”

“On four of these days, SAA will use a Boeing 747-400 on this route due to increased demand as well as the requirement for a first class service on this route.”

“Also in West Africa, flights to Douala, Cameroon, will increase from two to three per week.”

As previously announced, SAA is going daily out of Perth on September 1, increasing the number of flights from five to seven per week, while flights from Johannesburg to Buenos Aires, Argentina, will increase from two to three per week.

“SAA will continue to closely monitor market demand and look for new market opportunities going forward. Further expansion of flight frequencies throughout Africa is expected to take place later this year,” Thevan concluded.

For more information on SAA flights and reservations please call 1300 435 972 or www.flysaa.com

SAA flies non-stop from Perth to Johannesburg five times a week and six times a week from Sydney. SAA flies to 39 cities in 29 countries on six continents and is the leading carrier in Africa. New Zealand passengers can connect through Sydney or Perth for the fastest way to reach the African continent. SAA is consistently voted the ‘Best Airline & Cabin Crew in Africa’, winning it again for the 15th consecutive year in the Travel Weekly Globe Awards in London. SAA took out top honours at the World Travel Awards in London, winning three awards in the Africa category. SAA is a member of STAR, the world’s largest and most comprehensive airline alliance consisting of 18 of the world’s leading airlines and 842 airport destinations across 155 countries.

Toga Hospitality, one of Australia’s largest accommodation providers, last night held the official opening of its two new Darwin properties, the Media Grand Darwin Waterfront and the Vibe Hotel Darwin Waterfront.

The properties were officially opened by the Chief Minister of the Northern Territory, The Honourable Paul Henderson MLA. The evening function was hosted by TV personality Ben Dark and featured performances by players from the Darwin Symphony Orchestra. The event was attended by over 200 guests including Darwin business leaders, tourism industry leaders and government officials.

The properties are located on the unique Darwin Waterfront, a multifaceted development with land and water based recreation, commerce, hospitality, retail, living and lifestyle accommodation and transportation.

As one of the largest single transformations the CBD of Darwin has ever seen, the investment costs of the development are more than AUD$1.1billion. In the first development stage alone, this consists of more than AUD$220m in community infrastructure which includes; a convention centre, retained sea lagoon, wave pool and roads and a significant investment in public art of more than AUD$2.5m.

“We are delighted to welcome these two new properties into the Toga Hospitality portfolio,” said Allan Vidor, Managing Director, Toga Group of Companies. “The Waterfront Development provides world class facilities such as safe swimming and parklands for locals and visitors and represents a change in the city’s dynamic, offering a whole new waterfront lifestyle to the people of Darwin.”

Medina Grand Darwin Waterfront
The newest addition to the Medina Apartment Hotel Group in Australia offers 121 studios and one bedroom apartments incorporating apartment-style living and home conveniences. The one bedroom apartments feature separate living and sleeping areas, a fully equipped kitchen, laundry and a grocery delivery service.

You can find out more about the Medina Grand Waterfront hotel at www.medina.com.au

Vibe Hotel Darwin Waterfront
The 120 room Vibe Hotel Darwin Waterfront is the ideal haven for guests that want to trade in tradition for a fresh and “Viberant’ accommodation alternative.

The hotel features 24 hour reception, pool, gymnasium, conference and function facilities as well as the Curve restaurant.

You can find out more about the Vibe Darwin Waterfront at www.vibehotels.com.au

Established in 1982, Toga Hospitality currently operates 48 hotels and apartment hotels in Australia, New Zealand and Europe under the Medina, Vibe, Travelodge and Adina brands. Toga Hospitality has a long-standing tradition in offering world-class service, covering all accommodation segments from value hotels to award-winning apartment hotels.

The Kimberley Coast in the North-West of Australia is widely regarded as one of the most spectacular cruising destinations in the world. Even better, those that know will tell you that July to September is the very best time of the year to experience the area.

The luxury private motor-yacht, Cosmos will be based on the Kimberley Coast during this season and is available for private charter. Free from the confines of the traditional large-cruise-ship schedule, this is really the opportunity for visitors to tailor-make the adventure cruising holiday of a lifetime.

Cosmos is offering 5, 7 and 10 cruising packages. Guests can start with a helicopter transfer to the boat from Kununurra in the Northern Territory. The trip in will give an excellent feel for the rugged and spectacular landscapes that characterise this part of the Australian Outback. The trip by helicopter is the only way to access some of the more remote parts of this countryside.

Cosmos is offering the only Kimberley Coast cruise option with the exclusive advantages that come with private charter.

Catering to charter groups of no more than 6, the crew of 5 are will ensure that this trip is an experience of a lifetime.

The crew consists of the captain, chef, hostess, deckhand and specifically for this trip, a dedicated local guide with over 35 years experience on the Kimberley Coast.

The experiences on offer are truly incredible and wonderfully diverse. Consider these examples:
• Bush walks taking in ancient cave paintings and wildlife watching

• Fishing remote reefs where every cast offers the prospect of an exciting hook-up

• Crabbing and oyster collecting – as much as you can carry

• Exploring the surrounds in the onboard tender

• Anchoring for the night, only metres from the King George Falls

• Experience the wonder of an 11metre tidal range

• Relax after a chef-cooked meal in the floating 5-star resort that is Cosmos

Despite the very affordable rates, there is the unique prospect to customise a Cosmos experience specifically for each charter group. The itinerary for each charter is individually prepared by Cosmos’ captain in consultation with the charter party to ensure that the locations and the experiences are best suited to each particular group.

A 10 day charter will cover the coast between Broome and Darwin, both of which are serviced by regular flights from the Australian capitals. Depending on the arrangements, 5 & 7 day charters will start or finish at Honeymoon Beach or Kalumburu Mission which can each be accessed via charter flight from Broome or Darwin. Flagship Charters can assist with transfer arrangements at both ends of the charter as required.

Package prices for the 10 day charter start from less than AUD$1,350 pp/day and include all meals, drinks and all on board activities.

For a private charter experience at these rates, Cosmos is expecting strong demand and a very full charter season.

Contact Flagship Charters on (02) 9555 5901 for further information.

Uninhabited islands, rarely visited reefs, amazing shipwrecks, wildlife of all kinds and it is here on Queensland’s doorstep. Len Zell, a ‘reefie’ marine biologist, diver, field guide and adventurer of more than 35 years and his mate Paddy McHugh, you know – the one of camel and deserts fame, are heading up from Cairns to Torres Strait from 4-18 February 2010.

This is ‘a trip of a lifetime’ for everyone – all on board Mike Ball’s luxury vessel Spoilsport. Len wants to get back to places, some he hasn’t seen for more than 33 years, and those he wants to revisit to see the changes for his upcoming books and most of all – have fun!

This trip is extremely unusual as it takes in examples of all the reef and island types the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) has to offer and gets up to the northernmost tip of the GBR – Bramble Cay – and many other places that no other tour operation goes to. Stunning islands, Aboriginal sites, the wreck of HMS Pandora, where Len has spent 6 months on-site as a diving volunteer with the Queensland Museum, is also on the itinerary so divers can see the remains of the ship that sank here in 1791 with 14 Bounty mutineers on board. We may visit other wrecks like the Quetta near Cape York.

Paddy is excited as Len is going to take him SCUBA diving a few times as it will be a part of the activities on offer.

But Paddy has one over Len – he hopes to introduce him to skydiving – this could be Len’s first 5 000 foot dive! Several of Paddy’s skydiving friends hope to come and there will be several opportunities for them to ‘do a dive’ in addition to the almost daily SCUBA opportunities and all the beach and island walking, snorkelling and birdwatching.

Only 24 pax and from AUD$5999p/p

The trip information can be found at www.wilddiscovery.com.au/docs/BrochureSS.pdf