Jetsettersblog

Rain Forest Aerial Trams in Costa Rica launched its Caribbean Cacao Experience, for cruise ship passengers traveling with Carnival Cruises.

The program traverses the Limon province immersing guests into authentic Costa Rican culture, and history, immersing guests in Costa Rican culture and history and including a lesson in traditional chocolate making.

The Caribbean Cacao Experience begins with a 40-minute air-conditioned motorcoach ride to Hone Creek District, home of Cahuita National Park, where guests encounter orchids, a bromeliads garden, the tent homes of the Bribrí and Cabecar Indigenous. Once used by the “Chamans” (healers), it has also been home to social acts and ceremonies over thousands of years.

Clients will see Costa Rican sculptures that represent the life, style and history of original Afro-Caribbean settlers and visit the burrocarril station, an alternative transportation created by the Cahuitan community.

The programs reviews the history of the Cacao, allows guests to interact in the traditional methods of chocolate making and features a presentation of an organic banana and sugar cane plantation.

First established in 1994 in Costa Rica, Rain Forest Aerial Trams locations serve as wildlife reserves, ecotourism attractions and research parks.

All Rain Forest Aerial Tram parks offer a unique combination of adventure and education. Guides are professionally trained bilingual naturalists.

As experts in biology and natural history, they are committed to sharing the secrets and knowledge of the rain forest passed down through generations.

The original Rain Forest Aerial Tram Atlantic was established in 1994 in Costa Rica by H.J. von der Goltz, a visionary and nature lover. It was the first operation of its kind anywhere in the world, with a unique requirement: it had to be built in the middle of 1,200 acres of dense jungle without impacting the forest.

Today, five Rain Forest Aerial Trams located in Costa Rica (Pacific and Atlantic), Saint Lucia, Dominica and Jamaica, serve as wildlife reserves and ecotourism attractions.

The exceptional combination of attractions such as the Tram ride, Bobsled and Zip Line plus the experience, training and commitment of a multi-lingual and naturalist guides guarantees an educational, adventurous and unforgettable experience for guests.

For more information, call 866-759-8726 or visit www.rainforestrams.com

RCI and InnSeason Resorts, creators of the Northeast Experience and providers of resort vacation and ownership opportunities, have announced the completion of a new multi-year affiliation relationship that will allow eligible InnSeason owners, who become RCI members, access to a broad array of exciting vacation opportunities.

Effective March 18, 2010, InnSeason Resorts owners who become RCI members will be able to enjoy vacations at a variety of RCI affiliated destinations around the globe and have access to a significantly broader range of resort experiences, including more all-inclusive options and more nightly exchanges. Similarly, RCI’s 3.8 million members will now also enjoy the opportunity to exchange into InnSeason Resorts properties.

For more information, visit www.wyndhamer.com  or the banner below.

Lincoln Center, the performing arts center in New York City, now offers foreign language tours of the facility available in French, German, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish as well as American Sign Language tours.

Art and architecture buffs will enjoy the new specialty Art and Architecture tour which offers an in-depth examination of the architectural design of Lincoln Center’s buildings and public spaces as well as an intimate look at the paintings, sculpture and prints that make up Lincoln Center’s expansive collection of visual art. Some of the artists whose work can be seen inside Lincoln Center’s theaters and around the 16-acre campus include Lee Bontecou, Alexander Calder, Marc Chagall, Jasper Johns, Richard Lippold, Henry Moore, Elie Nadelman, and David Smith, among others.

Visitors with a special interest in jazz can take advantage of the Jazz at Lincoln Center tour which takes them through several beautiful venues at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s home in the Time Warner Center featuring incredible views of Central Park and the Manhattan skyline and state-of-the art facilities designed specifically for the performance of jazz music. Groups of 15 or more receive up to $3 off the regular Lincoln Center Tour ticket price.

Group tours can include specialty tours and can be scheduled Monday through Friday from 10 am to 4 pm as well as Saturday mornings and Sunday afternoons.

Groups should plan to book at least a month in advance. Tour Schedule and Reservations:

Daily tours are available from 10 am to 4:30 pm. Tours last approximately one hour, and range in price from $8 to 15 with lower prices for children, students, seniors and groups. Reservations are recommended for all tours.

Foreign language tours, American Sign Language tours, specialty tours and group tours must be reserved in advance. All tours begin at the David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center, located on Broadway between 62nd and 63rd streets.

To make a reservation, call 212-875-5350 or email tour_desk@lincolncenter.org

For more information on Lincoln Center, visit www.lincolncenter.org

Starwood Capital Group, in collaboration with The Koll Company and Del Mar Development, introduces Hacienda Beach Club & Residences, a new residential beach club resort on Medano Beach in the heart of Cabo San Lucas.

Hacienda Beach Club & Residences offers the unique opportunity to own and rent beachfront villas and resort residences with access to the region’s best swimming beach.

Located at the site of the Hacienda Hotel, host to the likes of Bing Crosby, John Wayne and Desi Arnaz, amenities on property include a Beach Club, festive Kid’s Club, fitness center and a resort spa. The restaurant, Cocina y Cantina, is open to the public.

Hacienda Beach Club & Residences features an array of real estate options ranging from one- to four-bedroom Resort Residences and four-bedroom Beachfront Villas with private infinity pools.

All residences are thoughtfully designed with artisan touches, including natural stone, ceramic and hardwood finishes.

Resort Residences offer marina and Sea of Cortez views from private, sun-soaked terraces while the two-story Villas are appointed with every modern convenience, capturing the spirit of Old Mexico.

Full-ownership real estate prices range from $751,500 to $5.2 million.

Hacienda’s rental program offers accommodations, daily housekeeping, access to the fitness center, spa, beach club and all dining outlets.

Beachfront villa guests receive the services of a butler, chef and a personal golf cart for use during the visit with no minimum night stay required.

For guests inclined to venture beyond the resort, Hacienda’s concierge can arrange: cultural tours, hiking, sport fishing, sea kayaking expeditions or a tee time at one of Cabo’s premier golf courses. Rental program rates start at $695 per night.

For more information, call 866-845-5277 or visit www.haciendacabosanlucas.com

Sixty-six places for well-being in five European countries for relaxation and pampering can be found in the Wellness/Spa brochure of Romantik Hotels & Restaurants.

Three categories — “Wellness Plus,” “Wellness” and “Wellness Light” — as well as bilingual descriptions in English and German help to select the right hotel. Under the headline “For body, mind and soul,” the Romantik Hotels invite guests to discover the varied world of beauty treatments, relaxation offers and spa facilities.

With the help of the three categories, everyone can find a program corresponding exactly to their wishes.

Each of the 66 Romantik Spas has its own character.

The Romantik Hotel La Bastide de Gordes & Spa, located in the Provencal Gordes, has an indoor and outdoor pool, and offers a view over the Luberon Valley.

A Thai Spa attracts guests at the Romantik Seehotel Ahlbecker Hof on the island of Usedom.

Further to the south, in the Austrian Dobriach at Lake Millstattersee, the Romantik Hotel Seefischer am See offers a sauna on the water.

A grotto, filled with pure ice crystals, offers a contrast after a sauna session at the Romantik Hotel Schweizerhof in Grindelwald.

Wellness vouchers as give-away are available at www.romantikhotels.com

Turning Japanese At The Launch Of Residential Garden Tours At The Dormy House Hotel

The Dormy House Hotel in the Cotswolds is turning Japanese for the launch of four residential garden tours which will feature a Japanese tea ceremony and the chance to tour a privately-owned Japanese garden with the award winning designer Julian Dowle.

The first of the courses, which cost £450 for an inclusive package of luxury room, fine dining and transport to gardens, runs on May 4 to 7, 2010.

The price also includes entry and guided tours of the gardens of Sudeley Castle, Kiftsgate and Sezincote and the chance to tour Hidcote with its head gardener. Subsequent tours will run: 1 – 4 and 8 – 11 June 2010, and 7 – 10 September 2010.

The private Japanese garden that guests visit is located in the grounds of the Farncombe Estate which is home to the Dormy House Hotel, near Broadway, and owned by the late Jørgen Philip-Sørensen.

The Japanese garden was designed by Julian Dowle for Mr Jørgen Philip-Sørensen who has owned the Dormy House Hotel and the Farncombe Estate for over thirty years.

Julian remains the only garden designer to win all 3 medals for a show garden at the annual Chelsea Flower Show, a feat he accomplished in 2005 for his garden “A Soldier’s Dream of Blighty”.

A gold medal, the best in show and the people’s choice were the 3 accolades awarded for the scheme which was designed with the Chelsea Pensioners and sponsored by Mr Sørensen’s other business interest – Ecover.

Guests are shown around the garden by Julian himself, in addition to being treated to a special lesson in Japanese pruning and enjoying a relaxed dinner and question and answer session.

The Japanese tea ceremony will be hosted by a local expert and involve the serving of green teas and authentic Japanese delicacies.

There is also a special preferential rate offered for guests attending the garden tour wanting to arrive a day before the tour begins or an extra night after the tour comes to an end. Booking early is recommended.

Dormy House Sales and Marketing Manager Orazio Pollaci says of the decision to launch the tours “this is an exciting new opportunity being offered by the Dormy House, incorporating some of the most beautiful and picturesque gardens to be found in the country, just a stone’s throw away from our doorstep.

There is plenty for other halves to enjoy too, with local walks and sightseeing either locally, or in the nearby historic conurbations of Cheltenham and Stratford”.

The Cayman Islands Department of Tourism (CIDoT) is delighted to announce a new partnership agreement between the Cayman Islands, one of the world’s leading dive destinations and the British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC), the UK’s leading dive club and the sport’s national governing body.

As one of the world’s leading dive destinations for all levels of diver from beginners and families to advanced and technical divers, the Cayman Islands offers a huge diversity of snorkel and dive activities, with a broad range of dive lodges, liveaboards and in excess of 300 dive sites across all three islands – Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman.

The superior quality and visibility of the water surrounding the Cayman Islands is undisputed, with underwater visibility up to 30 metres and year-round water temperatures of around 26ºC.

BSAC, with its proactive marketing campaigns and its regular communication with members, offers CIDoT an invaluable opportunity to access dive enthusiasts who may be new to the Cayman Islands, as well as making existing fans of the destination aware of the latest developments in the dive community on Cayman.

Don McDougall, regional manager for the Cayman Islands, Europe says: “Diving is one of the most important sources of international visitation for the Cayman Islands.

With 2010 being a landmark year for Cayman, as we await the imminent sinking of the USS Kittiwake to form an artificial reef, coupled with the most recent opening of new eco-dive resort Lighthouse Point, this new partnership agreement is most timely.

“I am very confident that we will be able to work together to great mutual benefit. We are aware that many divers communicate through the BSAC forum and rely on the organisation to source inspiration and ideas for their next dive holiday.”

BSAC Chief Executive Mary Tetley welcomed the Cayman Islands as an exciting partnership for BSAC and its members. “BSAC members are constantly looking for new and inspiring places to dive and snorkel and our partnership with Caymans will really open up this beautiful and diverse dive destination to so many more of our members.

“We look forward to building our relationship and showcase just how easy it is to learn and go diving and snorkelling in the Cayman Islands.”

The CIDoT will be partnering with BSAC on dive events, promotions, newsletter and website communications, as well as widening its channels of distribution through the many tour operator partners that currently work with BSAC.

In return, the Cayman Islands gives BSAC members the opportunity to discover and experience some of the most thrilling snorkel and dive experiences in the world, such as Stingray City, Bloody Bay Wall, and the ‘Dive with a Researcher’ programme at the Central Caribbean Marine Institute on Little Cayman.

For further information about diving in the Cayman Islands visit www.divecayman.ky or call + 44 (0) 20 7491 7771.

High resolution copyright-free images of the Cayman Islands are available at no charge from www.fotoseeker.com

To mark the 85th birthday of the museum’s founder, Rudolf Leopold, until -May 24, 2010 Vienna’s Leopold Museum is presenting a collection of 150 stunning watercolors that are rarely shown in public due to their sensitivity to light.

This exhibition at the Leopold Museum in the MuseumsQuartier lifts the lid on 200 years of watercolor painting in Austria.

Among the 5,700 works of art in the Leopold collection are thousands of watercolors so sensitive to light that they very rarely go on display.

A selection of these treasures will be on display in 2010 to mark the 85th birthday of the museum’s founder, Rudolf Leopold.

Some of the pieces in the 150-strong collection ranging from the Biedermeier period to the late 1980s will be on show for the first time at the exhibition.

Exhibits include 19th century, Jugendstil and early expressionist watercolors while artists such as Herbert Boeckl, Oskar Laske and Josef Dobrowsky represent the post-1918 period.

Hidden Treasures of Austrian Watercolor Painting, until -May 24, 2010
Leopold Museum,
MuseumsQuartier, Museumsplatz 1,
7th district
www.leopoldmuseum.org

Outrigger Hotels & Resorts in Asia has launched a dedicated website for its two resorts in Phuket. OutriggerPhuket.com makes it easy for travelers to exchange information and comments about the two resorts on social media sites as well as get detailed information, browse photo galleries, and book latest offers from the two resorts.

The website contains the new brand identity for Outrigger in Asia.

The identity builds on Outrigger’s 60-plus years’ hospitality experience in the Pacific and fuses it with Asian service values. Darren Edmonstone, Outrigger’s senior vice president for Asia, said the new website and Outrigger’s operations in Asia are being built on four pillars which make up the brand DNA of Outrigger Hotels and Resorts: deep respect, native wisdom, enriching discoveries and quiet strength.

“In practice this means we respect local values, listen to needs, and create meaningful experiences that show the best of Phuket,” he said. “A visit to OutriggerPhuket.com provides a wealth of information on discovering Phuket.”

To celebrate the launch of www.OutriggerPhuket.com, two promotions have been launched. Outrigger Serenity Terraces Resort, which opened in April 2009, is offering a “Discover Your Romance” package starting at THB 6,600 per night for a Serenity Room.

Guests who stay a minimum two nights receive a full breakfast in the beachfront restaurant, a 60-minute spa treatment at the resort’s Navasana Well-Being Centre, and roundtrip airport transfers by private limousine.

The rate is per night and subject to 18.7 percent service charge and government taxes. The offer is valid until Dec. 31, 2010.

Outrigger Laguna Phuket Resort and Villas, which opened in December 2009 near Bang Tao beach in Phuket, is offering a 229 square meter, two-bedroom villa at THB 6,000, a 457 square meter three-bedroom pool villa for THB 9,000, and a 604 square meter four-bedroom pool villa is available from THB 13,000. Rates are subject to 18.7 percent service charge and government taxes

The offer is valid until March 31, 2011. For more information or reservations, call 011-66-76-318-230, email laguna@outrigger.co.th

Fishmore Hall in Ludlow, Shropshire has joined forces with Ludlow Castle to offer every couple the fairytale wedding of a life time.

The former medieval Royal Palace is situated in the centre of the picturesque town of Ludlow and surrounded by stunning Shropshire countryside providing a beautiful backdrop for a wedding.

With a wealth of original features and historical architecture where better to celebrate the most important day of your life with 100 of your closest friends and family.

After the wedding ceremony, Fishmore Hall will take care of all the reception details providing a variety of delicious canapés and champagne drinks reception in the castle itself. Back at the hotel the dedicated Fishmore team will guide guests to the lavishly decorated award winning restaurant for the wedding breakfast.

Located in the heart of Ludlow the privately owned Georgian Boutique hotel is only a short drive from Ludlow castle.

With stunning views across the beautiful Shropshire countryside the hotel is available for exclusive use, enabling close friends and family to stay close by.

The hotel has 15 intimate contemporary-styled bedrooms all with superb bathrooms. Ludlow’s foodie reputation is upheld by Fishmore Hall, whose 2 AA Rosette restaurant offers a variety of menus for the happy couple which samples the best of seasonal and local produce.

Laura Penman, Hotel Owner said: ‘We are delighted to be given this amazing opportunity to work with such a famous Shropshire landmark and a beautiful wedding venue. This partnership allows us to work closely with Ludlow castle to provide each happy couple with the fairytale castle wedding of their dreams.”

Fishmore Hall is also holding their annual Wedding fayre on Sunday 16th May from 11am – 4pm when couples will have the opportunity to learn more about the partnership with the Castle and how Fishmore Hall can help make your wedding day a day you will never forget.

The joint Exclusive Use wedding package-which includes room hire at the castle for the ceremony, room hire at Fishmore Hall and all 15 bedrooms with full English breakfast the following morning-starts from £4,000.

For more information please visit www.fishmorehall.co.uk  or telephone 01584875148.