Jetsettersblog

www.visitbritain.us/robinhood  which offers itineraries, behind-the-scenes location information and travel ideas.

VisitBritain, the national tourist office for England, Scotland and Wales, is inviting travelers to visit the British sites that set the stage for this year’s action-adventure film from director Ridley Scott, “Robin Hood,” starring Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett, in theaters May 14.

VisitBritain launched a Robin Hood-themed microsite,

Visitors can follow in a legend’s footsteps while walking Nottinghamshire’s Robin Hood trail, stopping at 12 thematic locations along the way that explore the legend of Robin Hood. Nottingham Castle has a Robin Hood — The Movie exhibition of costumes, props and behind-the-scenes memorabilia from the new film, which was created by the movie’s set designer, Sonja Klaus, and will be on display through October.

May is Robin Hood month in Nottingham, with activities planned including, jousting, archery and medieval festivals (www.mynottingham.gov.uk/robinhood).

Travelers can also explore the locations that provide the backdrop for the film, which was shot on location in England and Wales.

In Nottinghamshire, travelers can embark on the Robin Hood trail using a map that highlights 12 locations throughout Nottinghamshire.

Each location is relevant to the legend and includes places he lived, fought, hunted and preyed upon rich folk.

“In the Footsteps of Robin Hood,” a free audio trail podcast is available for free download on the website.

For more information, visit www.robinhoodbreaks.visitnottingham.com

Visitors to Nottingham Castle can tour the 17th century mansion built on the site of the original medieval palace, once the seat of power for the Sheriff of Nottingham.

Just a short distance away from the Old Market Square, this ducal mansion, which is in use as a museum and art gallery, houses most of Nottinghamshire’s finest and decorative art collections. Also at the foot of the castle is the seven-foot Robin Hood statue.

City of Caves plays an integral part in Nottingham’s history, as well as the time of Robin Hood and the Sheriff of Nottingham. Visitors can travel back in time at this attraction and explore the labyrinth of hand-carved limestone caves underneath the city, which once led to the Nottingham Castle.

For more information, visit www.cityofcaves.com

Travelers can end their day in Nottingham with a pint at Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem, thought to be the oldest pub in England.

Carved out of castle rock, it is thought that tales of Robin Hood were told here, helping to spread the word about the legend and his antics.

For more information, visit www.triptojerusalem.com.

Nearby, visitors should travel to Sherwood Forest and stop along the way in the village of Edwinstone. Here, travelers can find the Church of St. Mary, where Robin Hood and Maid Marion were wed. There is a statue of Robin and Marion in the town center.

Legends say Robin Hood lived in many parts of Sherwood Forest National Nature Reserve. Here, visitors can find the Major Oak — the oldest living tree in the forest that some say was Robin Hood’s hideout.

Visitors can also travel along walking and cycling trails and stop by the new “Robin Hood — The Movie” exhibition, which appears like a medieval encampment deep in the forest.

A large wooden cart that was used in the film provides rustic seating to view behind-the-scenes footage.

In August, visitors can attend the annual Robin Hood Festival, which re-creates the Robin Hood legend with sword fighting, story telling and archery demonstrations.

For more information, visit www.sherwoodforest.org.uk  or www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/countryparks

Film locations used in “Robin Hood” include Freshwater West, in Pembrokeshire, Wales, which served as the setting for the French invasion scene in Robin Hood. This expanse of beach in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park is ornamented by pools of rocks and bordered by low cliffs.

For more information, visit www.visitwales.com

The Virginia Water, also in Surrey, was one of the settings chosen for “Robin Hood.” Located a few miles outside London, it is part of The Great Park, which comprises thousands of acres of gardens, lakes and woodland.

The Great Park is recorded in Saxon documents as a hunting forest used by monarchs and nobles. Adjoining the royal residence of Windsor, it has evolved over the centuries under the patronage of Kings and Queens.

For more information, visit www.theroyallandscape.co.uk

A battle scene featuring mounted warriors was filmed in the glens of Thorpe Pastures in Dovedale. Visitors can discover this dramatic limestone ravine famous for its stepping stones that cross the River Dove.

This part of the Peak District is superb for walking, riding, cycling and climbing.

For more information, visit www.derbyshireuk.net/dovedale.html

In the film, the Tower of London was recreated via an elaborate set and digital effects, but visitors to London can visit the real Tower of London and get an authentic flavor of this brutal period in Britain’s history.

The fortress on the banks of the River Thames has been a royal palace, a prison, an execution site, an arsenal, a mint, a keep for wild animals and a jewel house.

You can see artifacts from every part of this history on a visit. See the crown jewels, awesome architecture, and fearsome arms and amour.

For more information, visit www.hrp.org.uk

For general information, visit www.robinhoodthemovie.com  or www.visitbritain.org

Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises is bringing back the high-speed thrill ride, The Beast.

The 30-minute burner to the Statue of Liberty and back offers a mix of adventure, speed, water, music, comedy and New York sightseeing, making it ideal for the whole family.

The Beast is on the prowl to Sept. 30, 2010, departing from Pier 83 every hour, on the hour, from 12 pm through dusk.

Tickets are $23 for adults and $17 for children ages five to 12. Children less than 40” tall will not be permitted to ride.

Tickets may be purchased online at the ad at right or at the Pier 83 ticket office.

To receive 50 percent off on up to four tickets, apply the Beast10 when booking by May 23, 2010.

International Expeditions is offering a small-group 15-day Laos and Vietnam program that includes visits to sacred wats and traditional villages and stops at three UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The program is designed to offer daily immersions into the cultures.

It also features a cruise overnight along Halong Bay aboard a junk (traditional wooden sailboat); a view of the Xe Pian National Protected Area from 21 feet above the ground from the back of an elephant, and explorations of cities on foot and cyclo-rickshaws.

The itinerary also offers a glimpse into the cities of Hanoi and Saigon’s rich architecture from grand government buildings to traditional wats (temples), where guests can interact with local monks and those who have traveled from other countries to study.

Clients can take part in traditional sacred ceremonies, including tak bat, when they will bring rice to monks as they make their way through the city streets.

Guests will also participate in a traditional Lao Baci ceremony held to celebrate special events.

IE has expanded its offering to five 2011 departures: Jan. 8 and 15, Feb. 5, Nov. 5 and Dec. 3.

Each departure accommodates a maximum of 12 guests. With 30 years experience in nature travel, International Expeditions specializes in engaging small-group journeys to Earth’s greatest natural and cultural destinations.

For more information, visit www.ietravel.com

Paul Gauguin Cruises, operator of the Paul Gauguin luxury cruise ship in the South Pacific, is targeting couples in search of romance.

The “Romantic Escapades” package gives guests the opportunity to disembark for a night to spend an evening in an overwater bungalow at the InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa.

Couples can enjoy treatments at the resort’s Deep Ocean Spa, which boasts a glass-bottom overwater couple’s bungalow, and candlelight dinners for two on a private motu.

The InterContinental Bora Bora is also home to the only overwater wedding chapel in French Polynesia.

A variety of commitment and wedding packages are available for both beachside and chapel ceremonies.

The resort’s most popular ceremony package includes traditional gowns, a Tifaifai quilt (a traditional Tahitian wedding quilt symbolizing a couple’s union), a local priest, dancers and musicians, tropical flower arrangements, leis and crowns, as well as a wedding certificate made of traditional tapa.

Onboard the Paul Gauguin, romantic options await couples, including spa treatments at the new Deep Nature Spa, sunset dinners on the stateroom balcony, private dives and island excursions, in-stateroom bottle of champagne, celebratory confections, and a Polynesian blessing ceremony performed by Les Gauguines, the ship’s own Polynesian entertainers.

For more information, call 800-848-6172 or visit www.pgcruises.com  or www.boraboraspa.intercontinental.com

Best Western has added four new hotels to its growing presence in Japan — the 242-room Best Western Hotel Fino Sapporo, the 145-room Best Western Hotel Fino Oita, the 72-room Best Western Naha Inn and the 168-room Best Western Fukuoka Nakasu Inn.

The four new hotels join Best Western’s existing portfolio of seven hotels in Japan, located in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagasaki, Hirosaki, Sendai, Takayama and Wakayama, further establishing the brand’s position as one of the country’s fastest-expanding hotel chains.

Another two properties are also set to soon join Best Western in Osaka and Sapporo in July and November 2010.

Courtyard by Marriott, Mumbai International Airport opened its doors in Mumbai.

The launch represents the foray of the famous Courtyard by Marriott brand in the city, making it the sixth property in India (The brand already has a presence in Chennai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and, most recently, Gurgaon).

The hotel near the international airport in Mumbai offers its guests 331 rooms and suites along with dining options and other hotel amenities such as meeting rooms, an executive club lounge, executive club rooms, and both Asian and Western dining choices such as a noodle bar and bakery.

With the launch of the new Mercure Beijing Downtown last week Accor is celebrating its 400th hotel in the Asia Pacific, since its launch in the region in 1982.

Beijing’s new property is also the 670th Mercure property to open globally, as well as the 99th Mercure to open in the Asia Pacific region, says Accor.

“The first 100 hotels took 18 years to achieve and since these early days, the momentum has accelerated significantly with 300 hotels being celebrated in late 2007 and now just two and a half years later the 400th hotel milestone,” said Michael Issenberg, Accor Asia Pacific chairman and COO.

Since Accor’s launch in the Asia Pacific back in 1982, the property group has expanded to 15 countries throughout the region.

This year, Mercure will launch almost 40 properties, and will celebrate entrance into new and emerging countries including India with the Mercure Hyderabad (80 rooms) and Mercure Lavasa (150 rooms); and Vietnam with the Mercure Hue Gerbera (110 rooms) and the Mercure Hado Hanoi (250 rooms).

In total Accor operates 670 Mercure brands in 50 countries.

The Anantara Phuket Resort & Spa has just added iPads to its repertoire of guest amenities. Guests can book a massage at the Anantara Spa, schedule a dive excursion to the Similan Islands or read the latest headlines in their local paper from virtually anywhere on the iPads. For more information, visit www.anantara.com

Crystal Cruises this year is offering two more “Ultimate Vintage Room Dinners” during the Crystal Symphony’s July 2 Baltic voyage and Crystal Serenity’s Aug. 24 Black Sea cruise, with Dominus Estate proprietor Christian Moueix and three-Michelin-starred Chef Heinz Beck of La Pergola restaurant in Rome. Menu and prices for the dinners vary depending on wines selected.

On May 2, the Crystal Serenity held an “Ultimate Vintage Room Dinner” that featured Beck’s signature pasta Fagotelli La Pergola with a 2006 Gaia Rey chardonnay and black cod with a 2004 Corton Charlemagne.

The dinner, offered for $950 per person, included such other superstar wines as a 1996 Romanée Saint-Vivant, a 1989 Vega Sicilia Unico and a 1996 Chateau D’Yquem, each complemented by one of Beck’s specialties.

During this dinner, attended by just 10 guests, a variety of rare fine wines was selected by renowned Master of Wine Philip Goodband and then expertly paired with a menu created by Beck. Goodband led guests through the six-course dinner, highlighting the nuances of each cuvee.

These “Ultimate Vintage Room Dinners” can only be purchased onboard and will be served in the intimate Vintage Room, which accommodates up to 12 guests on Crystal Symphony and 14 guests on Crystal Serenity.

Besides these “Ultimate” experiences, every cruise offers Vintage Room dinners, typically starting at $210 to $250 per person.

The Tropicana Las Vegas has unveiled its renovated pool, a milestone of the $165 million Phase 1 transformation at the property.

With a tropical setting and a South Beach-inspired theme, the four-acre pool area features an expansive deck with landscaping, waterfalls and private lounge spots, as well as new, swim-up blackjack tables.

The pool also features several connected lagoons and a number of cabanas that come with fresh fruits, snacks, chilled towels and full bottle service.

In the heart of the main pool is Leblon Cove, a private island sponsored by Leblon, an ultra-premium cachaça produced in Brazil. Leblon Cove will feature hand-shaken caipirinhas mixed with Leblon cachaça and fruit juices of the day.

Guests can also reserve a lounge spot on the island.

The three bars in the pool area feature exclusive cocktails, including Key Lime Margaritas made with Ambhar platinum tequila, Acai caipirinhas, the Leblon caipirinha and Tropicana hard lemonade.

Guests can also enjoy poolside lunches and snacks from the South Beach Café & Deli.

The pool is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

For more information, call 888-826-8767 or visit www.troplv.com