Jetsettersblog

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Anyone who travels has, at some point, had to endure the long boring wait in an airport because of a delayed flight. This time is often grueling especially when the delay is long.

Finding ways to keep yourself occupied is not always easy. The following is a list of activities to make the time more enjoyable and also lessen the stress that delays can cause:

For one: Read a book, magazine or newspaper that you brought; or, explore the airport bookstore and find some interesting reading material. The airport bookstores are actually pretty interesting. Almost all of them have several newspapers and different types of magazines, ranging from hobby to fashion, and of course several different types of books.

Number two: Try exercising by walking around by exploring the airport terminal. This may sound crazy, but it can be quite interesting, especially to children. Walk around the terminal you are in, or if you have lots of time to spare, venture over to the next terminal as many airport terminals have different restaurants and shops. Kids will enjoy walking around instead of being forced to sit in the same spot and since airports are pretty large it’s easy to get in some exercise.

Number three: Take the extra time that has suddenly been handed to you and catch up on all those calls you need to make. Parents traveling for business could give their kids a surprise call. They will love it.

Number four: Check out the airport’s shopping facilities. Large airports have an abundance of shops, allowing lots of opportunities to distract yourself from the flight you are waiting for. Unfortunately, this can be hard in some smaller airports, but almost every airport has a “tourist shop,” so find it and check out some of the local offerings.

Number five: Eat a meal or get a snack. Airports often have some fast-food and healthy dining choices, coffee bar choices, or simply a snack section at the bookstore. Regardless, you will be able to satisfy your boredom and your hunger.

Number six: Watch TV. Most airports now have TVs and will have several channels to choose from. Catch up on the latest news or find a cartoon channel to entertain your kids.

Number seven: Listen to music. In order to drown out those distracting airport sounds, pop in your headphones and listen to your music device, whether it’s an iPod, mp3 or even the old walkman.

Number eight: Stay in the airport lounge. Often there are airport lounges that have various offerings. Some have TVs, some have a mini restaurant and some offer free internet access. Be sure to ask if you are permitted in the airport lounge, because some airlines have restrictions. If you are not a member of these lounges, as a passenger, you are often able to purchase day passes. Though these may seem costly, with free snacks, beverages and internet, they are often worth the cost.

Number nine: People watch. Yes, this might sound a bit strange, but it can be quite entertaining. We humans have a knack for living our lives in very different and unusual ways. So while you are waiting for your plane, take a look around and watch your fellow travelers and how they react to delayed flights.

Number ten: Draw or scribble on a notepad. One traveler notes that he brings a notepad and pencils just in case there is a delayed flight. Even if you’re not an artist, drawing, or scribbling figures, on paper can be somewhat relaxing and helps the time pass.

So, there’s no reason to wait in anger if your next flight is delayed. Try some of these tips and see how they can lessen stress and make the time fly by.
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Priority Club Connect is an online community for Priority Club Rewards members.

It provides a forum for members to connect and engage with other travelers and to learn about the Priority Club Loyalty program and the InterContinental Hotels Group family of brands.

Topics of discussion range from exotic travel destinations and special offers to packing tips and financial travel information helpful for any traveler. To join the community and contribute your travel tips and experiences, please visit: http://community.priorityclub.com/

SEQUOIA NATIONAL MONUMENT, Calif. —Tucked right next door to Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks is a luxury backcountry retreat that offers travelers the ultimate outdoor adventure with deluxe amenities, pampered hospitality, and distinctive cuisine.

Sequoia High Sierra Camp welcomes guests in 36 deluxe canvas bungalows complete with comfortable amenities and vistas of Kings Canyon.

Set amidst Lodgepole and Red Fir Pine at 8,282 feet. Accommodations include plush-top beds with feather pillows, Pendleton wool blankets, and outdoor sitting areas with deck chairs, spectacular views, and daily maid service.

Guests are spoiled with three delectable daily meals included and served in an al fresco dining pavilion. Each night offers unique plated dinner delights, as menu options range from Alaskan halibut with chevre and mint risotto, to prime veal with goat cheese gnocchi, and Muscovy duck breast with wild mushroom polenta – followed by sweet treats like mountain berry crumble or chocolate molten cake.

Day hikes traverse the region’s meadows and mountainsides, and seven giant sequoia groves are within a scenic day trip of the grounds.

Anglers can cast a fly-fishing line in nearby lakes and creeks, and wildlife enthusiasts are likely to spot black bears, deer, and assorted songbirds.

From wildflower walks and photography to simply taking an afternoon siesta in the shade, options for rejuvenation also abound.

Season: Mid-June to Mid- September, weather permitting.

Rates: $300 per night, per person rates (based on double occupancy) includes lodging, three meals each day, personal toiletries and use of bedding and towels.

www.sequoiahighsierracamp.com

News from Aspen/Snowmass for winter 2009-2010

Over $US130 million invested On-Mountain in last six years

Aspen Skiing Company (ASC) will invest nearly $8 million in on-mountain improvements this
year and has invested more than $130 million over the previous six seasons, giving guests the
most seamless skiing/riding experience in the industry. Improvements over that period include 11 new lifts with two new gondolas, the industry-leading Treehouse Kids’ Adventure Centre, three new restaurants, additional terrain plus the new Snowmass base village.

The Little Nell undergoes extensive remodel
In addition to the on-mountain improvements, the company will complete the first phase of the
$18 million room renovation at The Little Nell hotel this Fall.

The Little Nell, Aspen’s only five-star, five-diamond hotel, just steps away from the Silver Queen Gondola is setting a new standard in hotel room design with the commission of internationally known designer Holly Hunt.

Hands-Free gate access

Aspen/Snowmass will be the only resort in North America to have 100 percent hands-free radio frequency gate access across the four mountains for the 2009-2010 season.

Tickets will be a plastic card with a chip inside detecting guests as they move through lift lines.

Now there’s no
need to dig in your pocket to find your pass or ticket, allowing for smooth and quick access to the slopes.

A tunnel easing skier traffic will be built on Buttermilk above the terrain park – specifically above
Uncle Chucks Glades – to separate terrain park traffic and regular skier traffic.

Viceroy Snowmass to 0pen Winter 2009

The 2009/2010 season welcomes the opening of the LEED (Leader in Energy and Environmental
Design) Silver-certified Viceroy Snowmass, Viceroy’s first foray into the mountains, and the anchor hotel for the new $1 billion base village at Snowmass.

The Viceroy Snowmass will open with 152 guest rooms, a 7,000 square foot spa, a fine dining restaurant and café.

Going Green

Aspen Skiing Company (ASC) continues to be the ski and snowboard industry leader in sustainable business practices. By combining tangible projects here with policy changes at the state and national level, ASC hopes to become carbon neutral by 2020 and ultimately ensure the future of skiing and riding in Aspen/Snowmass.

ASC is proud to announce energy improvements over the last two seasons, including Western Colorado’s largest solar array; installation of energy monitoring systems; new LEED certified buildings; The Little Nell’s Eco-Luxe program and Green Suite; a wind energy trial program; water storage expansion and environmental-friendly clothing and ski/snowboard waxes to guests.

2009-2010 Season Dates, World Class Events & Deals

The lifts begin running on November 26, when Aspen Mountain and Snowmass open for the 2009-2010 winter season; Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk will open on December 12. Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk are slated to close on April 4, and Aspen Mountain and Snowmass will close on April 11.

From the Women’s FIS World Cup Alpine Ski Races in November to the CoverGirl Snow Angels Invitational in April, the 2009-2010 season is packed with world class events.

Highlighted by ESPN Winter X Games 14 in January, the events calendar includes exciting parties, free concerts and athletic competitions. Aspen/Snowmass will host Olympians from November through January as they prepare and qualify for the Olympic Games in February.

Brightening Aspen’s already vibrant scene, several new and renovated restaurants and boutiques are opening their doors. From successful, local restaurateurs unveiling yet another stellar eatery, to world-renowned brands establishing an Aspen outpost, visitors will experience exceptional dining, shopping, nightlife and, of course, outdoor adventures throughout the year.

Following are highlights of recent openings and highly anticipated developments unfolding this past year in Aspen.

Coming soon, the world-renowned Italian restaurant Il Mulino is opening a location in the new
Residences at The Little Nell. Known as one of New York’s landmark dining institutions, Zagat
readers have rated Il Mulino as the top New York City Italian restaurant for more than two decades. (520 East Durant Ave.; 970.920.7272; www.rlnaspen.com; www.ilmulino.com)

Syzygy owners are setting up shop in a new building on Aspen’s “restaurant row” with two levels of dining and nightlife. On the main floor, an approachable bistro-style restaurant dubbed Ute City is set to open fall 2009 and will offer indoor and outdoor dining with affordable menu items, live music, creative cocktails and infusions, and a vibrant atmosphere.

Opening December 2009, the lower level will house Syzygy’s signature fine dining and boisterous nightlife in a contemporary space, complete with a private dining room, DJ booth and a dedicated dance floor.
(308 East Hopkins Ave.; www.syzygyrestaurant.com)

Club Chelsea has transformed into The Mustang, a restaurant and nightlife venue offering authentic Mexican fare and Rocky Mountain classics for lunch and dinner from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and drinks until closing. The Mustang is also outfitted with new flat-screen TVs, Karaoke and an expansive outdoor dining area on Hyman Ave. (415 East Hyman Ave.; 970.920.0066)

Cloud Nine Brownies owners Jim and Jill Pomeroy opened up shop in Aspen Highlands Village, giving a storefront to their famous chocolate indulgences.

In addition to offering their complete selection of brownies, the Pomeroys are cooking up breakfast baked goods, lunch selections and serving coffee and tea. Visitors can watch brownies being made in the display kitchen, and the coffee shop is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week. (Aspen Highlands Village; 1501 Boomerang Road, #5202; 970.925.7171; www.cloudninebrownies.com)

Dark Horse Alley is tucked between two shops on Cooper Avenue, with a “secret garden” setting for its coffee and espresso cart. Serving fresh French press coffee, pastries, frozen drinks, sandwiches and more, this new Aspen gem is quickly becoming a locals’ favorite. (531 East Cooper Ave.; 970.319.2068)

Fat City Plaza at 520 East Cooper Ave. offers a new model for Aspen retailers. The original 3,700-square-foot room has been divided into five spaces between 270 and 735 square feet.

The first restaurant tenant to sign on is Kenichi, opening Noodles by Kenichi, a take-out noodle bar in late summer. (520 East Cooper Ave.)

Noted Aspen eatery, Gusto Ristorante, received a face lift from local designers Poss Architects, changed management and unveiled a new menu under the name Gisella. The restaurant reopened June 12 and offers a romantic ambiance with cuisine focusing on several regions of
Italy. Offering dinner nightly. (415 East Main St.; 970.925.8222; www.gisellaaspen.com)

Explore Booksellers has drastically revamped its restaurant and dubbed the new space Escape.

No longer serving strictly vegan cuisine, Escape offers a vegetarian menu with daily fish dishes
and maintains its emphasis on healthful food for lunch and dinner. (221 East Main Street,
970.925.5338; www.explorebooksellers.com)

Fun Worldwide Lab has transformed into N9NE Steakhouse. Scott DeGraff, restaurateur and owner of both ventures, completed a sleek redesign of the space formerly occupied by Cooking School of Aspen, installing a state-of-the-art demonstration kitchen and contemporary finishes.
DeGraff is also a partner in other N9NE Steakhouse locations in Las Vegas and Chicago, and the
Aspen outpost will feature N9NE Steakhouse signature dishes including Sashimi, Bone-In Filet,

Continue reading Cool New Things at Aspen, Colorado USA…

Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City, N.J., on Nov. 7 will present the second annual “Savor Borgata — An Evening with Borgata Chefs” at The Water Club.

This year, each restaurant will be represented with their own culinary station, offering guests the rare opportunity to sample signature menu items and interact with celebrated chefs Wolfgang Puck (Wolfgang Puck American Grille), Bobby Flay (Bobby Flay Steak), Michael Mina (SeaBlue, A Michael Mina Restaurant), Michael Schulson (Izakaya — A Modern Japanese Pub), Stephen Kalt (Fornelletto Cucina & Wine Bar), Geoffrey Zakarian (The Water Club at Borgata), Romeo DiBona (Old Homestead Steak House), Ron Ross (Borgata Executive Chef) and Thaddeus DuBois (Borgata Executive Pastry Chef).

Wine pairings will be made by Olympic gold medalist Peggy Fleming’s Fleming Jenkins Vineyards & Winery. Offering everything from chic Italian to modern Japanese fare all under one roof, Borgata’s wide array of restaurants presents guests with a one-of-a-kind culinary experience complete with an extensive wine collection of over 24,000 vintages.

Savor Borgata will be 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. inside The Water Club at Borgata.

Tickets cost $125 per person and can be purchased at www.theborgata.com  or by calling 866-900-4TIX. For room reservations and Savor Borgata package information, call 866-MY BORGATA.

Chicago in 2010 will offer new tours, exhibitions and hotels, and an array of Tony award-winning theater productions.

Here’s a summary of what’s new.

Next summer, Lincoln Park Zoo will unveil its newly renovated man-made pond, which has been transformed into a natural revitalized ecosystem. A boardwalk surrounds the pond.

This 14-acre wilderness classroom features naturalist interpreters and a range of educational programs and mobile labs. Admission is free.

The Ledge at the Willis (formerly Sears) Tower Skydeck allows visitors to step out onto glass bays extending four feet from the side of the building in the 103rd floor.

The Art Institute recently opened the 264,000-square-foot Modern Wing designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Renzo Piano. It houses the Art Institute’s collections of 20th century European painting and sculpture, contemporary art, architecture and design, and photography on three floors of galleries. The $300 million project also features an outdoor sculpture terrace, a garden courtyard, and a 600-foot-long pedestrian bridge linking the museum to Chicago’s popular Millennium Park.

The Hotel Palomar, a modern sky-rise hotel in the River North area, features 259 guest rooms, 5,000 square feet of meeting space and a signature Kimpton restaurant fronting on State Street.

It is scheduled to open in February. The Elysian, an ultra-luxury property in the Gold Coast, will feature residential-styled guest rooms and suites averaging 889 square feet with fireplaces, terraces, private bars and advanced technology.

The opening date has not been announced.

Scheduled to open in June, the JW Marriott is located in the former Continental & Commercial National Bank building designed by Daniel Burnham in 1914. The $396 million restoration of this historic landmark turns the building into a 610-room hotel.

Highlights of the 2010 Broadway in Chicago (www.broadwayinchicago.com) season in the historic Downtown Theater District include “Mamma Mia!”, Jan. 10 to 24; “Dreamgirls,” Jan. 19 to 24; “August: Osage County,” Feb. 2 to 14; “The 101 Dalmatians Musical,” Feb. 16 to 28; “Billy Elliot,” begins March 18; “The 39 Steps,” May 19 to 30; and “Shrek the Musical,” July 13 to Sept. 5.

For more information, call 877-CHICAGO

or visit www.explorechicago.org

InterContinental Hotels Group signed two new Hotel Indigo properties in Glasgow and Liverpool. Hotel Indigo is IHG’s newest hotel brand and offers guests boutique hotel design as well as the peace of mind they get from staying with a large hotel group.

There are 27 hotels open in North America and 59 more are planned around the world.

The brand began its global roll out earlier this year with the opening of Hotel Indigo London Paddington in January 2009.

Hotel Indigo Glasgow is scheduled to open mid-2010 with 96 bedrooms.

Situated on Waterloo Street, this converted bank building will offer guests easy access to the financial district, main shopping area and Central Station.

The second new property, Hotel Indigo Liverpool, is scheduled to open in spring 2011.

Owned by existing IHG franchisee Sanguine Hospitality, the 151-room hotel will be situated in the city center, providing a great location for both business and leisure guests.

For more information, visit the banner ad at right.

Avia Savannah pays centenary tribute to Savannah’s own Johnny Mercer with the offering of the “Too Marvelous For Words” package.

Throughout the month of November, guests can discover and celebrate the life of the legendary lyricist and vocalist. Starting at $199, the “Too Marvelous for Words” Johnny Mercer package includes a specially discounted guestroom or suite; two Johnny Mercer cocktails at the Avia Wine Bar; a full European breakfast buffet for two each morning at the Avia Kitchen;

and a complimentary special-edition Johnny Mercer CD “Moon River, Johnny Mercer Sings the Johnny Mercer Songbook” Centennial Album — the last album recorded by Mercer in London in 1974 just remastered to be released Nov. 2, 2009.

Package prices vary based on room selection and are valid Nov. 1 to Nov. 30, 2009. Package is subject to availability and not valid with any other promotion or discount.

Tax and gratuity are not included.

For more information, call 866-644-2842 or visit www.aviahotels.com

Continuing to add new destinations worldwide to its boutique hotel collection, Desires Hotels International has set its sights on the Blue Ocean Reef resort located on the island of Roatan.

 The hotel’s 17 luxury villas offer views of the pristine oceanfront and a white sand beach stretching over 2,500 feet in length. Situated in the lush landscape are spacious one, two, and three bedroom villas, complete with living room area, dining room, kitchen, and terraces.

Rates vary by season and a one bedroom villa starts at $200 per night during low season and is $350 per night during peak season.

Blue Ocean Reef resort is scheduled to open in late December 2009.

The resort features a luxurious infinity pool, beach club, in-room spa services, and multiple dining options as well as activities such as diving, snorkeling, and boat tours.

In addition, the resort has created the Roatan Zoo and Island Adventure, an 11-acre sanctuary that is devoted to the rescue and care of injured or orphaned animals and is open to the public for a close up encounter with the wildlife of Honduras.

 For more information, visit www.desireshotels.com

Pueblo Bonito Rosé Resort & Spa, a Los Cabos property overlooking the Sea of Cortez, will offer an all-inclusive option for guests staying three or more nights.

Now guests will be able enjoy all the luxurious amenities of Pueblo Bonito Rosé with the added value of an all-inclusive plan.

The optional all-inclusive package includes daily a la carte or buffet breakfast, snacks, poolside and beachside lunch, themed nights or a la carte dinners, and room service.

The optional package also includes all non-alcoholic and selected alcoholic beverages, such as house beers, wines and spirits. A small additional charge will be applied to the seafood themed dinner as well as to dinners at Pueblo Bonito Rosé’s award-winning Italian restaurant, Fellini’s.

The all-inclusive option can be purchased during booking or upon arrival. The cost per person per day, in addition to room rates, is $100 for adults over the age of 12 and $50 for children between 5 and 11 years old. There is no charge for infants and toddlers up to 4 years of age.

The optional all-inclusive package must be purchased for the entire length of the stay for all guests.

For more information, visit www.pueblobonito.com

The Aria Resort & Casino, which is set to open Dec. 16 at City Center in Las Vegas, will feature the Spa at Aria. The spa will focus on the elements of salt, stone, earth, fire and water. The two-level Spa will offer 62 treatment rooms, a full-service salon, a fitness center, a boutique, poolside spa cabanas and Las Vegas’ first co-ed spa balcony, featuring an outdoor therapy pool and views of Aria’s poolscape.

In addition to skincare and massage rooms, the spa will feature ashiatsu, couples’ massage, Thai massage, hydro-therapy and Vichy rooms, as well as three spa suites.

The spa will be exclusively available to guests of CityCenter’s hotels; the salon will be open to the public. Both will begin accepting reservations Nov. 9. To book a treatment, call 877-312-2742.

For hotel information, call 866-359-7757 or visit www.arialasvegas.com