Jetsettersblog

Thought you knew it all about the Whitsundays? How about these new experiences to get the creative juices flowing? Yellow Sub, Ngaro Sea Trail, luxury accommodation, and more.

LUX ACCOMMODATION

Designed by renowned architect Walter Barda, with landscaping created by celebrity landscape designer Jamie Durie, Hamilton Island’s Yacht Club Villas have been completed and have opened a select few doors to holiday guests. Ideal for groups of up to eight people, the four-bedroomed, four-bathroomed villas look out over Dent Passage, Hamilton Island Marina and the surrounding Whitsunday Islands.

The stand-alone villas reflect Barda’s vision to create an informal ambience that makes the most of the unique and beautiful island setting.

The villas, designed with natural timbers and sweeping lines, include furnishings by leading design group, Coco Republic.

All include a spacious open plan living/dining room with complimentary movies on demand and state-of-the art gourmet kitchen with Miele appliances.

Guests staying in the villas have access to an exclusive waterfront lagoon pool, exclusive use of a four-seater golf buggy and the individual attention of a member of the Island concierge team, who will contact them before their visit and personally look after them during their stay.

Hayman has commenced development on an exclusive collection of Beachfront Suites which will present new standards in international resort excellence.

Eight absolute beachfront suites on the shores of Australia’s most celebrated private island destination will offer breathtaking uninterrupted views of the Coral Sea and beyond and unsurpassed interior and exterior appointments. Designed by internationally renowned architect, Kerry Hill, each suite will provide 120 square metres of sheer luxury, featuring superb appointments including a stunning private plunge pool. Works are planned to minimise any inconvenience to valued guests.

SIGHT SEEING

 Whitsunday favourite, the Fantasea Yellow Sub.

This iconic Whitsunday cruise is operating to beautiful Bali Hai on the inner Great Barrier Reef as a half day sub and snorkel adventure.

The tour starts and finishes with an exciting 45 minute jet boat ride across the Whitsunday Passage on board Fantasea Cruisin, a luxury Naiad jet boat.

The leather seats have a customised layout designed for panoramic views. On arrival at Bali Hai, an amazing underwater experience awaits in the air conditioned comfort of the famous Yellow Sub.

Bali Hai is the ultimate snorkelling destination sheltered from most weather conditions making it ideal for all ages and abilities.

Snorkel in the shallow waters near the beach or for the more adventurous, explore deeper water at the edge of the fringing coral reef.

Fantasea operates the only half day tours in the region visiting this location, making it ideal for anyone who wants to explore the Whitsunday islands and snorkel in only half a day, with both morning and afternoon departures available from Airlie Beach.

NATURAL ENCOUNTERS

To experience the Whitsundays on a journey over land and sea, the Whitsundays Ngaro Sea Trail is the perfect option, officially launched at the beginning of June.

The Sea Trail is the latest of Queensland’s ‘Great Walks’ and is the first to combine land and water elements. Named after the traditional owners of the Whitsundays, the Ngaro people, this latest walk will allow visitors to follow in the indigenous peoples’ footsteps and experience a remarkable journey on Hook, Whitsunday and South Molle Islands.

Visitors can travel by commercial boat, sailing vessel or canoe and trails will range from short and easy to long and challenging.

This product is not brochured, which is naturally enticing for the business events market when looking for something different!

FOOD AND WINE

From the ‘paddock’ to plate in a matter of hours – now that Daydream Island Resort & Spa has secured the region’s first commercial fishing license for a resort, this will be a reality for lucky diners on the island. Fresh Coral Trout, Tuna and Spanish Mackerel are just some of the Whitsundays’ local specialties being served so fresh the flesh is falling off the bone.

Daydream adheres to the strict regulations governing fishing in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park area and does not catch any protected or endangered fish species.

Airlie Beach’s favourite fish café is spreading it’s wings, with the opening of a new Fish d’vine in Cairns and the cross-over of holiday makers has already begun. Customers arriving in Airlie Beach have already dined at Cairns and just love it. Some have heard about the Whitsundays wonderful fresh local seafood and some just need another Rum cocktail. And it’s vice versa with Cairns hosting satisfied customers on their way north from Airlie Beach.

The Cairns venue itself is truly stunning and along with their passion to showcase the amazing culinary delights from our ocean and waterways and to have the largest rum collection in the southern hemisphere makes for a pretty special dining experience.

Wearable Creations n Colour Awards

Be surprised, bedazzled and bemused. Now in its eighth year, the show has become one of the outstanding events on the Rotorua calendar. A not to be missed fun spectacle of bright lights, brighter colours and brilliant creations accompanied by music and dance.

A charitable wearable arts style fashion show, the Rotorua Wearable Creations n Colour Awards showcase the talent of many people from throughout the Bay of Plenty region. The event celebrates the creativity of communities and helps build the confidence and self-esteem of many young people in particular.

The show is full of fun and festivity, music and dance, and of course, wonderful and sometimes weird, colour creations.

Now in its eighth year, it has become one of the events on the Rotorua events calendar.

Go to: www.rotoruanz.com/events

Rotorua Wearable Creations n Colour Awards

ROTORUA ENERGY EVENTS CENTRE

THURSDAY AUGUST 26 – SATURDAY AUGUST 28, 2010

Matinee
26th Aug, 2010 – 11am – 1.30pm
Adult NZ$20, Child NZ$5

Show
27th Aug, 2010 – 7pm – 11pm
Adult NZ$30, Child NZ$20

Gala Award Night
28th Aug, 2010 – 7pm – 11pm
Adult NZ$40, Child NZ$25

Sydney Opera House has introduced French and German language versions of its most popular visitor experience, The Essential Tour.

Operating three times a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) the hour long tours are an interactive audio-visual experience which bring to life the dramatic story of one of the world’s busiest performing arts centres.

The tours have been introduced in response to increasing demand from the European market said Sydney Opera House commercial director Maria Sykes,

“Germany and France are important markets for Sydney Opera House, providing the largest number of international visitors outside of the UK, USA and Asia.

We anticipate that the number of visitors coming from these countries will grow over the coming years so it is vital that we continue to expand the range of available experiences to meet the needs of our guests.”

In 2006 Sydney Opera House became the first tourist attraction in Australia to offer daily tours in Japanese, Korean and Mandarin and it is anticipated that tours in other languages will be introduced over time.

More than 320,000 visitors take a tour of the building each year.

The new tours are the latest addition to the range of tourism experiences at the global landmark, which welcomes 7.4 million visitors annually.

In recent years the tourism business at Sydney Opera House has seen a major resurgence with a number of new products created for the domestic and international market.

Recent introductions include Show Plus dining and accommodation packages, a partnership with leading restaurants and hotels which combine dining, accommodation, tour and parking options in a pre-paid package.

The Opera and Koalas experience provides access all areas at two Australian icons.

The morning starts with a backstage tour of Sydney Opera house, where visitors visit areas normally off limits to the public before travelling by water taxi to Taronga Zoo for an in-depth interactive look at Australian animals.

A partnership with Sydney Seaplanes combines two of Australia’s most breathtaking features, Sydney Opera House and Sydney harbour.

The Backstage Tour and Sydney Secrets package offers a behind the scenes exploration followed by a coastal flight. The Essential Tour and Sydney Highlights combines a flight over landmarks such as Bondi Beach followed by a tour.

For more information visit or to make a booking www.sydneyoperahouse.com or call + 61 2 9250 7250.

JETSETTERSBLOG.COM
It’s in 34 languages

Jetsettersblog.com saves you money in 50+ ways

1. Travel news and discounts for all countries
2. Worldwide air and hotel packages
3. Beach resort packages, swim suit & beach gear discounts
4. Airfare news and bargains, frequent flyer info & coupons
5. Concert tickets, packages, discounts, webbandstand.com
6. Theme park discounts and tickets worldwide
7. Adventure travel deals, gear closeouts and coupons
8. 2 for 1 bargains for cruises, airfares, hotels
9. Last minute savings on airfare and hotels
10. Alternative airline savings
11. Spa resort bargains, spa coupons
12. Outdoor gear closeouts and bargains
13. Lift ticket & gear deals, ski & snowboard resort deals
14. Spring break, student travel cards, Europe bargains
15. City Passes worldwide, culture passes
16. Worldwide Cruise discounts, theme cruises
17. Golf resort deals, Green Fee deals, equipment closeouts
18. Wilderness lodging discounts, camping gear closeouts
19. Family Hotel specials, road trip planning, gear coupons
20. Day Cruise bargains, dinner cruises, whale watching
21. Books and Guidebook discounts
22. Sailing vacation deals, sailing gear, deck shoe closeouts
23. Restaurant coupons, dining deals
24. Special occasions info, wedding and honeymoon bargains
25. Fashion, shopping info, apparel discounts and coupons
26. Gaming resort bargains, dining bargains, Vegas perks
27. Nightclub info, VIP passes
28. Motorsports tickets, DVDs, and hotel packages
29. Museum info and passes, group discounts
30. Motorcycle tours and ride gear closeouts
31. Fishing, hunting licenses online, outdoor gear closeouts
32. Boating and marine gear info and closeouts
33. Car rental bargains, coupons
34. Performing Arts packages, theatre ticket discounts
35. Yoga packages and Yoga DVDs, Massage DVDs
36. Luxury travel discounts, Relais & Chateau deals
37. Rail tours, packages, student & senior passes, select pass
38. Olympic tickets, sports travel packages
39. Tennis resort deals, apparel coupons, tourney tickets
40. Surfing packages, info, equipment closeouts
41. Comedy club tickets, info, VIP passes
42. Festival info & tickets, packages worldwide
43. Global tours and tickets discounts
44. Motorcoach tours, info, group deals
45. RV trips, discounts, packages, atlases, park discounts
46. Heritage tours and tickets
47. Cottage packages
48. Health warnings, info, visa info
49. City hotel packages, tickets, culture discounts
50. Jetsettersmagazine.com destination features
51. Jetsettersradio.com jetstreams.com
52. Beachbooker.com cabinweb.com
53. webbandstand.com for worldwide concert tickets

There’s still time to book a dream holiday in Tuscany this summer. Cottages, farmhouses and villas with fabulous views, swimming pools and handy local restaurants still have peak-season weeks available for rental through Invitation to Tuscany (020-8444 9500; www.invitationtotuscany.com ).

In a tiny mountain village a 40-minute drive north of the charming walled city of Lucca is an old stone house with breathtaking views. Described as a ‘magical hideaway’, Il Tartufo sleeps up to five and has attractive rooms, including one with an entire wall of glass for making the most of the never-ending mountain views.

There is also a furnished outdoor terrace and garden surrounded by mountain peaks and a simple shop and bar/restaurant a short walk away.

The area is recommended for its spectacular landscapes and activities such as walking, climbing, caving and bird-watching. Pisa is a 45-minute drive away and the coast an hour. Rental from late-June to September is £649 per week.

On the edge of a delightful little medieval hill town 40 minutes drive from historic Volterra, is an ancient olive mill which has been imaginatively converted into a stunning home – with a fabulous indoor swimming pool. Sleeping six, Il Tasso has a huge kitchen/living room with vaulted ceiling and marble floor, and beautiful gardens with views of surrounding hills.

A highlight is the pool with stone-vaulted roof, ancient columns, underwater lighting and a wave machine.

The village of Montecastelli has a small shop/bar, pizzeria, Romanesque church and 12th-century castle, and there are great walks on marked trails. Weekly rental until September is £1,286.

Il Rustico is the ground floor of an old farmhouse within a walk of another magical hill village half an hour’s drive from Siena.

Full of traditional Italian country charm, with terracotta floors and beautiful brick-vaulted ceilings, it sleeps four and shares use of a large outdoor pool surrounded by vineyards and olive groves and a terrace with far-reaching views over the Chianti hills.

There is a private furnished patio and an excellent village restaurant within a walk. Rental is £1,036 per week through the summer.

Join One Michelin, Executive Chef Serge Gouloumès, local ‘chef celébre’, for a day of gourmet discoveries and learn some of his culinary secrets at the Four Star Deluxe Hotel, Le Mas Candille, Mougins, Cote d’Azur.

Stay at this desired location, just a few kilometres from Cannes and find out how Serge has maintained his Michelin star since 2005.

The Culinary course includes a visit with Serge to Forville Market in Cannes to select the best seasonal produce. Guests then return to the kitchen of Michelin star restaurant, ‘Le Candille’, to gather around the stove and learn how to prepare the produce and chef’s recipes.

Pick up plenty of useful advice as Serge shares his secrets.

After experiencing the buzz of the kitchen, enjoy lunch behind the scenes in the chef’s kitchen.

This is followed by a selection of cheeses and regional wines carefully selected by the head sommelier. Complete the experience with a dessert from the gastronomic menu of Le Candille accompanied by tea or coffee and take home a candille apron as a souvenir of the day.

Le Mas Candille offers many options of Gift Certificates including cookery courses and Spa packages and gift certificates can be customised on request.

The stunning 4 Star Deluxe Hotel offers an eclectic blend of traditional architecture, contemporary amenities and service that matches attention with discretion.

A member of Relais & Châteaux, the hotel offers 46 beautifully designed guestrooms, including seven suites, the first Shiseido Spa in Europe and a Michelin starred restaurant.

Le Mas Candille is a great option to explore the French Riviera.

Culinary Course rates are €195 per person, half-day Class. Minimum of 2 people, includes round-trip transfers between the hotel and market.

Bedroom rates start from €245 per room, per night plus €1.50 tourist tax per day.

For further information or to book please contact on +33 (0)4 92 28 43 43;

advanced reservations are recommended for the Culinary Course, subject to availability.

Cruceros Australis
Jorge Rodriguez
Phone: 1.877.687.3772
Email: australis@bellsouth.net
Web site: www.australis.com

SANTIAGO, Chile – The 5th annual 50 Tours of a Lifetime announces the “best of” list, naming tour operators from around the globe.

As one of the best of the best, Cruceros Australis takes world travelers from the glossy pages of National Geographic Traveler to the icy blue waters of Cape Horn.

The three ships, Via Australis, Mare Australis and Stella Australis (set to launch this year), take passengers on expeditionary cruises between Ushuaia, Argentina and Punta Arenas, Chile.

Travel through fjords and bays, viewing glaciers and magnificent mountain scenery.

Passengers will disembark to visit colonies of Elephant Seals and Magellan Penguins.

These expeditions allow passengers to observe wildlife in their own habitat from up close.

Passage through the Beagle Channel heralds the majestic “Glaciers Avenue,” a spectacle of blue ice.

Inside the Darwin Mountain Range, expedition guides take you through forests and glaciers visiting a completely uninhabited Chilean National Park.

In addition to guiding every day landings in small groups, expedition leaders prepare and present daily lectures in both English and Spanish to complement the educational component of the expeditions.

The talks take place both on the ship (with audio-visual support) and on land during excursions.

Daily excursions board Zodiac motorized boats to get close-up views and learn about the Marinelli, PIa, Piloto and Nena glaciers. Also, explorations of bays and islets, including Tucker Islands, bring passengers to remote, wild uninhabited places with no signs of civilization.

All cruises also include a visit to Cape Horn, where passengers may disembark.

This is the last headland before arriving in Antarctica, and also the place where the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans meet.

The ship continues to Wulaia Bay for a brief visit to one of the most important indigenous sites of the region, and a confirmed site of Charles Darwin’s explorations.

All of the rooms include a large window; dining includes international and regional cuisine, alongside an array of South American wines and all the ships have spacious viewing decks. Every program is all-inclusive, offering each passenger meals, an open bar, excursions and lectures.

Three and four night cruises are offered from September through April each year. Call 1.877.678.3772, email australis@bellsouth.net

or visit www.australis.com  for more information.

Take Experiential Travel to Next Level
Myths and Mountains
CONTACT: Allie Almario
TEL: 775-832-5454
E-MAIL: allie@mythsandmountains.com
WEB: http://www.mythsandmountains.com

There are a few essential things that separate a tourist from a world-traveler – the most important being accommodations.

Where a tourist might choose to shack up in a high-end suite, a world traveler seeks out an experience that will deepen their understanding of the country they’re visiting.

As one of Travel + Leisure’s Top Adventure Outfitters, Myths and Mountains arranges unique, culturally immersive accommodations on all of their trips in order to provide eye-opening opportunities for every sleep number.

One of the greatest ways to get to know a culture is by staying in a local’s home.

On Myths and Mountain’s Insider’s Machu Picchu trip, travelers are welcomed as honored guests in the homes of Quechua Indians to experience what small village life in Peru is like.

Unlike most travelers, Myths and Mountains guests are able to witness ancient traditions handed down from generation to generation that still play apart in locals’ daily routine.

On this trip, Peruvians share intimate aspects of their lifestyle – everything from shopping for produce at a food market in Cusco, to a hands-on cooking lesson with a local chef.

Myths and Mountains allows travelers to get up close and personal with world cultures by staying at traditional campsite locations on a trek to Mt. Everest Base Camp.

These sites may not have down feather, king-size beds, but guests will be integrated into the Himalayan lifestyle unlike any other trip.

Bunking next to professional climbers who will summit Mt. Everest in the next weeks or setting up tents side-by-side with a Nepalese Sherpa is an once-in-a-lifetime experience that dissolves the line between a tourist and local.

As explorers hike to 19,000 feet in elevation, they will stop by villages and monasteries, learn about the regional environmental issues and meet the Sherpas and mountaineers who have left such deep imprints on the area.

For travelers who value upscale comfort but still want a real taste of the country they’re visiting, Myths and Mountains has arranged ‘glamping’ trips in South America and Southeast Asia.

In Chilean Patagonia, guests will rest their head in casually elegant yurts in the heart of striking, natural beauty.

Stunning views of Torres de Paine are right on the doorstep and the swanky digs offer the comfort of an upscale hotel room and gourmet meals served by a Chilean chef, with the novelty of camping and the convenient proximity to the national park.

Travelers can choose to venture to the other side of the globe – Cambodia.

On this temple and beach safari, guests will be accommodated in surprisingly luxurious safari tents in the Cambodian jungle with first-class service and delicious food. Adventurers start the day at dawn to see the sun rise over historic sanctuaries and end the evening exploring Preah Kahn temple by torchlight.

For more information on individual itineraries or Myths and Mountains, contact Allie Almario at (775) 832-5454

or allie@mythsandmountains.com

Myths and Mountains is a member of Trusted Adventures, a consortium of award-winning companies matching active travelers with over 350 unique trips walking, rafting, cycling and trekking in over 85 destinations worldwide.

OSA PENINSULA, Costa Rica–This tiny patch of Costa Rica’s last remaining tropical humid rainforest holds nothing less than 2.5% of the world’s biodiversity.

Travelers that fly into the Osa Peninsula are astonished at how small this piece of land is: cruising just below the clouds you can see the ocean on every side of the peninsula, including dense forests as well as lands that have been put to other uses by man.

The Osa Peninsula is home to more than 750 species of trees -with close to 80 being endemic to the Osa conservation area-, 117 species of reptiles and amphibians, 365 species of birds and over 120 species of mammals, all with various examples of endemism.

The area holds the largest population of Scarlet Macaws in the country, and is well known for being the home of iconic species like the tapir, the jaguar and the enormous humpback whales.

But the most special thing about the area is not only the diversity of plants, animals, and ecosystems that comprise the Osa Peninsula, but the fact that the thriving wildlife is so easy to spot.

El Remanso Rainforest Wildlife Lodge offers visitors to the Osa Peninsula to spend days in seclusion discovering the wonders of this small slice of land in Costa Rica’s wilderness.

For more information, visit www.elremanso.com

Chef Daniel Boulud’s first UK restaurant, Bar Boulud, London opens its doors today at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

This widely anticipated, French inspired, bistro and wine bar is directly accessible from Knightsbridge and will follow the successful format of Bar Boulud in New York which has achieved significant acclaim.

The Adam D. Tihany designed interior seats 169 in two large connecting rooms, the first with an impressive zinc topped bar and the second with a sleek open kitchen.

Classic materials such as wood, leather and cork add a contemporary touch and an aesthetic inspired by the craft of wine making, including walled wine stains from Chef Boulud’s favourite vintages and photography of various renowned Lyon bistros and brasseries.

Guests can also watch the chefs at work at the charcuterie bar running along the edge of the open kitchen or dine in one of the two interconnecting private dining rooms, both seating 16 people each.

A full bistro menu is based on seasonal, rustic French cooking and includes signatures dishes such as Truffled White Sausage, Grilled Atlantic Sea Bass, Braised Rabbit Ragout and Coq au Vin as well as a selection of terrines and pâtés made on site under the direction of acclaimed charcutier Gilles Verot.

With a focus on Burgundy and the Rhône Valley, an impressive selection of wines, by the glass and by the bottle, and occasionally from Magnums, Jeroboams and Rehoboams, feature old world wines as well as new world selections made in the Rhône or Burgundy spirit. A selection of beers is also available on draft from small, artisanal producers and continental microbreweries with specially designed glassware for tasting portions.

Trained in France by legendary chefs Roger Vergé, Georges Blanc and Michel Guérard, Boulud opened his first restaurant Daniel in New York in 1993, which last year received the prestigious Three Michelin Star status.

Daniel was shortly followed by Café Boulud, Bar Boulud, DB Bistro Moderne and, most recently, DBGB Kitchen and Bar, on the Bowery. His culinary roots can be traced back to his family farm near Lyon, France where he developed a love of home cooking using fresh seasonal produce.

Appointing Dean Yasharian from Bar Boulud in New York as Executive Chef and Stephen Macintosh from The Wolseley as General Manager, Bar Boulud, London is set to follow in the successful spirit of Boulud’s superb New York restaurants, becoming the latest jewel in London’s culinary crown.

Bar Boulud, London will open from 6.30am to 1am daily.

To celebrate this exciting restaurant launch, Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park is offering one night in a deluxe room beautifully prepared with soft Victorian furnishings, Breakfast for two and Lunch or Dinner for two at Bar Boulud, London from just GBP 365.

Be one of the first to experience the Capital’s hottest new restaurant and then relax and unwind in the spacious surroundings of our comfortable guestrooms, many of which offer glorious summertime views across the Royal Parkland of Hyde Park.

Based on double occupancy, this rate is exclusive of VAT and 5% discretionary service charge and is subject to availability until December 2010.

Reservations can be made by contacting the hotel directly on +44 (0) 207 201 3773, or through the direct on-line reservations service, www.mandarinoriental.com/london