Jetsettersblog

Princeville Ranch Adventures has introduced Ride N’ Glide, a new tour combining horseback riding and ziplining.

The first tour of its kind in Hawaii, Ride N’ Glide begins with a horseback ride to enjoy the magnificent mountain and ocean vistas of the North Shore, followed by a thrilling bird’s-eye view of the area soaring on three ziplines.

The tour concludes on horseback in the secluded valleys of Princeville Ranch.

For information, visit www.adventureskauai.com

All-Suite, Gourmet Inclusive® Property Features Chic Design, Private 1,300 Square-

Foot Rooftop Decks and Opening Specials of up to 30 Percent Off of Holiday Stays-

Azul Hotels by Karisma, a premier collection of Gourmet Inclusive® properties located throughout the Riviera Maya, Mexico, today announced the opening of Azul Fives Hotel by Karisma on November 1, 2010 in Playa del Carmen.

Azul Fives Hotel will be Azul Hotels’ third property and follows the openings of Azul Sensatori Hotel in November 2008 and Azul Beach Hotel in December 2005.

The Gourmet Inclusive all-suite property will feature 360 luxuriously designed one-, two- and three bedroom Suites, private and expansive rooftop lounge decks, a variety of gourmet dining options, a sky bar overlooking the azure Caribbean waters, and a 15,000 square-foot Zen-inspired Vassa Spa.

“We are excited to debut Azul Fives Hotel in Playa del Carmen, which has a style and energy that are unmatched by any destination on the Mexican coastline,” said Mandy Chomat, vice president of sales & marketing at Premier Worldwide Marketing, the exclusive worldwide representatives for Azul Hotels.

“Azul Fives Hotel will offer a sophisticated and authentic vacation experience, mirroring the lifestyle found in Playa del Carmen.

Its chic and contemporary design, opulent ambiance, decadent amenities and exceptional service are ideally suited to exceed the expectations of a wide variety of guests.”

Neighboring Playa del Carmen, guests of Azul Fives Hotel will have access to charming restaurants and fine dining, designer stores, eclectic shopping, unrivaled nightlife, and notable attractions including a selection of world-class championship 18-hole golf courses – all of which are only minutes away.

Azul Fives Hotel, tastefully designed in contemporary architectural style, will offer 360 luxuriously designed one-, two- and three-bedroom Suites (1,125 – 1,900 sq. feet) each with air conditioning, LCD flat-screen TVs and DVD players, mini-bars stocked daily, private marble bathrooms with rain forest showers, deluxe bathrobes, and oversized balconies or terraces.

For those looking to truly indulge, the Penthouse Suites at Azul Fives Hotel will boast private rooftop lounge decks.

The 1,300 square-foot private rooftop lounge decks will feature a deluxe double whirlpool, large lounging area with a sectional sofa and coffee table, chaise lounges ideal for sun bathing, pergola, charcoal barbeque grill, outdoor shower, half marble bathroom with sink and a patio dining table with an umbrella. Guests will enjoy daily gourmet breakfasts on their decks, where they can also host personal gatherings with family, friends and/or colleagues.

Glamorous two- and three-bedroom Suites (1,300 – 1,500 sq. feet) will accommodate up to eight people and include separate living rooms, fully equipped kitchens with granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances, powder room, and master bathroom with rainforest shower.

Designed to exceed guests’ expectations, Azul Fives Hotel will also provide elegant, two-bedroom Penthouse Suites (2,500 sq. feet), featuring all the luxuries of a Suite as well as a full bar, wine cellar, iPod dock, Jacuzzi, and a living room Internet station.

In addition to elegant accommodations, guests will savor a variety of gourmet dining and lounging options at Azul Fives Hotel, all of which will receive organic produce from the 70,000 square-foot Greenhouse at its sister property, El Dorado Royale, A Spa Resort, by Karisma.

Azul Fives Hotel will feature four restaurants, including Sea Olive, a seaside restaurant serving Mediterranean cuisine; Tsuki, where guests will enjoy Pacific Rim cuisine; Flavors, a non-pretentious, family-style world eatery overlooking a natural cenote; and Senses, a tailor-made private dining experience offering a unique culinary journey.

Multiple bars, lounges and light food terraces will also be located throughout Azul Fives Hotel including Zky, a stylish sky bar and lounge serving spectacular Caribbean views alongside the latest cocktail trends; and Breeze, Lizards, Palmas and Rainbow, beachfront and poolside swim-up bars boasting premium spirits, easy-going snacks, and iced coffees or teas.

Azul Fives Hotel is one of the Riviera Maya’s few properties with meal plan options – either Gourmet Inclusive or European Plan – providing guests the freedom to choose the best alternative based on their vacation desires and lengths of stay.

The signature Gourmet Inclusive plan includes accommodations as selected, all meals at any of Azul Fives Hotel’s gourmet restaurants, all local and international alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, 24-hour room service, fitness center, sauna and steam room, DVD rental menu, snorkeling and kayaking, full service concierge, daily and nightly entertainment and live music, and Kid’s Club.

The Kid’s Club provides something for everyone such as Fisher-Price toys and programs including Little People performances, My Gym Children’s Fitness Center activities, and Pack & Play offering complimentary cribs, changing tables, strollers, monitors, bottle warmers, baby spa robes and Gourmet Gerber baby food to make family vacations easy.

With the European Plan at Azul Fives Hotel, guests select accommodations and the following are included: daily activities program, nightly entertainment, tennis court, table games, shuffleboard, volleyball, Spanish and Mayan lessons, stretching, aqua aerobics, dance and cooking classes, scuba diving clinics, three swimming pools plus a children’s pool, and full service concierge.

Additional amenities at Azul Fives Hotel include a 15,000 square-foot Zen-inspired Vassa Spa, fitness center, VIP couple’s massage suites, hydrotherapy areas, weight training systems, cardio equipment, on-site bridal and kids suites, wedding packages, a relaxation lounge, and a high-tech meeting space for up to 250 people.

Rates at Azul Fives Hotel range from $282 for a Deluxe Suite to $1,229 for a three-bedroom Penthouse Suite accommodating up to eight people.

For Gourmet Inclusive stays including all gourmet meals served a la carte, premium alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, 24-hour room service and full service concierge, rates begin at $235 per person, per night.

Guests who book a Gourmet Inclusive vacation at Azul Fives Hotel by October 31, 2010 will receive up to 30 percent off stays from November 1, 2010 – January 2, 2011. This limited-time promotion is valid for travel over the holidays.

Reservations are available through a GI Vacation Consultant, or by calling 1-866-527-4762, or by visiting www.karismahotels.com

FLORIDA KEYS — Visitors are now just a finger tap away from comprehensive travel information and guidance from Key Largo to Key West with the free, newly released Florida Keys App.

The application currently is compatible with the OS 3.1.3 or later version of the iPhone, as well as iPod Touch and iPad. Users can travel the Keys with ease, accessing travel-related businesses, local weather, current events and venue locations, as well as interactive maps and videos that allow for an up-close and personal view of the Keys.

Both GPS Tours and Audio Driving Tours also are expected to debut in a 2.0 version.

A fully loaded database includes information on accommodations of all types, restaurants, attractions, diving and fishing, boating, marinas and watersports, eco- and kayaking tours, dolphin encounters and even where to stroll the best art galleries or relax in an outdoor park.

Real-time travelers on vacation can even “share” their trip photos and posts and link directly to a Facebook account.

The free app can be downloaded from the App Store as part of iTunes, or by visiting

http://floridakeysapps.com

MILFORD, CT, — Connecticut Air Charter has developed a comprehensive website designed to convey the ease and convenience of charter aviation.

Servicing clients with the largest selection of aircraft available, Connecticut Air Charter offers piston aircraft, turboprop aircraft, jets, and helicopters to any desired destination at the lowest prices available.

The new website has been designed to provide customers with easy accessibility to information pertaining to everything from the types of aircraft used, to destinations, to safety. Connecticut Air Charter helps travelers get to anywhere from anywhere.

With flights ranging from local, national, and international, Connecticut Air Charter will find the best price for any chartered flight.

Keith Reed, President and CEO of Connecticut Air Charter said, “We are extremely proud of our new website. The site exudes the professionalism we pride ourselves on every day. And, our new online charter quote feature allows visitors to our site to obtain a fast, easy, secure quote, 24 hours a day.”

As a referral-based company, there are no contracts to sign or fees to pay to Connecticut Air Charter.

“We receive payment from the charter operator they place you with. Because air charter prices vary seasonally, and charter operators are constantly making changes to their fleets,

“We stay on top of these changes and provides customers with an accurate quote every time. A pilot since 1994, Keith Reed is your aviation insider who will arrange the ideal air charter for your personal or business needs.

Connecticut Air Charter’s commitment to safety is evident. The new website also has a link exclusively dedicated to safety. We only partner with charter operators who significantly exceed FAA requirements, ensuring the experience that clients expect and deserve.

For more information on the launch of the new website for Connecticut Air Charter, call 203-742-1656 or visit http://www.ctaircharter.com

About Connecticut Air Charter:

Connecticut Air Charter has partnered with some of the worlds largest charter operators.

These charter connections result in large discounts for clients, in addition to discounts on hotels and rental cars.

Each and every charter inquiry is processed by a licensed pilot that will make a recommendation based on years of experience and an intimate knowledge of working with air charter operators.

Because there is no fee paid to Connecticut Air Charter by the clients they serve, their incentive is to find the best deal to keep them coming back.

Connecticut Air Charter, LLC, is an air charter broker, partnered with several local and national charter operators. This gives you access to more aircraft at lower costs than you would find on your own. Connecticut Air Charter will always deliver you the best deal that fits your business or personal travel requirements.

The Gardens Hotel, a historic boutique property at 526 Angela St. in Key West, recently debuted an innovative on-site wine bar.

At the d’Vine Wine Gallery, an Enomatic dispensing system enables guests to sample a taste, half-glass or glass of 36 different vintages.

Patrons “order” their choice of wines and desired amount on one of the system’s touch screens, paying with a prepaid card similar to a debit card.

Those staying at The Gardens, featuring 18 elegant rooms and suites on what was once Key West’s largest private estate, receive unlimited-use cards for their convenience during their stay.

As well as being open daily to hotel guests, the wine bar is open to the public from 5-10 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays.

The wine selection changes regularly, and bottles of all featured vintages are available for purchase.

The Gardens also offers a poolside tropical garden bar, live cabaret performances Thursday evenings and jazz in the garden Sunday evenings.

For more information and reservations, visit

www.gardenshotel.com

or call 800-526-2664.

Key West visitors can discover the island’s picturesque Old Town district and learn about its seafaring heritage on the Historic Key West Walking Tour, an entertaining and comprehensive 1.25-mile guided stroll.

Beginning at the Key West Shipwreck Treasures Museum at 1 Whitehead St., the tour includes an overview of the city’s diverse architectural styles, early shipwreck salvage industry, cigarmaking and sponge fishing eras and influence of the U.S. Navy.
Famous and infamous residents, indigenous plant life and pivotal events such as the Great Fire of 1886 are spotlighted as well.

Tours are scheduled November through April at 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., and 9:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. May through October.

Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling 305-292-8990 or visit the banner below.

Canada’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites
We’ve got 15 national treasures that the world has officially recognized—and plenty of others.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has named 15 Canadian national treasures World Heritage Sites. Here’s your list, so get crackin’!

At SGang Gwaay, an island in the southern portion of Haida Gwaii (formerly the Queen Charlotte Islands) in British Columbia, you can still walk among the remains of the Haida First Nations cedar longhouses and carved mortuary poles crumbling under hairdos of day-glo green moss. www.hellobc.com

Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, AB, is aptly named. It’s the place where, as far back as 5,500 years ago, Aboriginal peoples chased herds of bison over a cliff, killing the animals so they could use the buffalo meat, hair and other parts for their people’s survival. www.travelalberta.com

If you are after a more urban experience, the Historic District of Old Québec is a 400-year-old portion of Québec City, QC, bursting with European flair. www.bonjourquebec.com

In Old Town Lunenburg, NS (a British colonial settlement, established in 1753), the colourful wooden houses and buildings have been well-preserved or restored by past and present residents of the town. www.novascotia.com

L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site, situated on a northern point of the island of Newfoundland, uncovers the remains of an 11th-century Viking settlement, the earliest known European steps and establishment in the New World. www.newfoundlandandlabrador.com

There are 10 more Canadian World Heritage Sites, including:

•Nahanni National Park
•Dinosaur Provincial Park
•Kluane/Wrangell-St Elias/Glacier Bay/Tatshenshini-Alsek national parks
•Wood Buffalo National Park
•Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks
•Gros Morne National Park
•Waterton Glacier International Peace Park
•Miguasha National Park
•Rideau Canal
•Joggins Fossil Cliffs

Read more on Canada’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

video:

Tipi Camping Experience: Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pQb2T-ZR_s

Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHB4jhmXSFg

Quebec UNESCO Heritage Site
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpTP5UfUiXQ

Québec, ville inscrite au patrimoine mondial de l’UNESCO
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qEwJ3m549E

L’Anse aux Meadows
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzzAs1noEcA

Wood Buffalo National Park
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgdNhRxoly8

Parc National Wood Buffalo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mGFl_Izzi8

Marathon’s newest lodging property, the Holiday Inn Express & Suites at 13201 Overseas Highway, is slated to open Oct. 20 and will accept walk-ins and rooms booked directly with the property.

The Holiday Inn Express main reservations system begins accepting reservations for arrivals after Nov. 5, 2010.

Smoke-free and pet-friendly, the newly constructed hotel has 134 rooms and is to offer complimentary hot breakfast featuring the hotel chain’s signature cinnamon buns.

Other amenities include a marina with dockage, large outdoor pool, a 5,000-square-foot tiki bar and 24-hour fitness and business centers.

Guests can stay connected with free wireless high-speed Internet access in rooms and throughout the resort. Each suite features sofa beds, a microwave, refrigerator and wet bar.

For reservations before Nov. 5, call 305-289-0222. For reservations after that date, call 888-465-4329 or visit the banner below.

Four-legged family members can join overnight travelers to Key Largo when they stay at Amy Slate’s Amoray Dive Resort, located at MM 104 bayside.

“If you’re a pet owner, you know how difficult it can be to travel. No one wants to leave a beloved companion behind,” said Slate, a dog lover herself.

A maximum of two pets is allowed per room and a $50 pet fee applies. Owners must supply a dog bed, and leashes are required on property. A map with dog-walking areas around the resort is provided to guests upon arrival.

The pet-friendly resort is offering a 20 percent savings coupon on accommodations to visitors traveling with pets, valid through Dec. 15, 2010.

For more information, call 800-426-6729 or 305-451-3595, or visit www.amoray.com

Visitors to Key Largo, known as the dive capital of the world, have a new opportunity to explore the area’s reefs and wrecks with the Key Largo Scuba Shack.

Located at 97684 Overseas Highway in Key Largo, the PADI-affiliated shop is positioned inside the Seafarer Resort at MM 97.8.

The operation’s 37-foot Burpee dive vessel comfortably accommodates six to 10 divers on once-daily three-tank trips. Divers can customize a planned charter for morning, afternoon or night dive excursions.

According to shop manager Luke Popwell, the Scuba Shack offers complimentary divemaster guides with each charter, a for-purchase high-definition DVD video of customers’ dives and even a dip in the outdoor hot tub for a quick post-dive warm-up.

The Key Largo Scuba Shack is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (later for planned night dives). For more information, visit www.keylargoscubashack.com  or call 305-735-4313.

Inn at Oyster Point Renovates to Lure the Stylish Business Traveler

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA, – Step aside, notoriously utilitarian airport hotels. The bar has just been raised. The Inn at Oyster Point near San Francisco International Airport (SFO) offers waterfront accommodation in a resort-like setting with a beach, and, if you arrive by bay, a slip in the marina out front to park your boat.

As if that weren’t enough to stand out from the run-of-the-mill airport hotels in the area, the Inn just completed a stunning renovation, transforming itself into a uniquely stylish accommodation complete with designer interiors and original art that seems like it should be anywhere but near a major airport.

“We want to attract a younger, frequent business traveler who enjoys staying in a hotel with a sense of style and personality, as well as a complete array of business services,” said Kristen Phillips, Director of Operations for Waterford Hotels and Inns, the management company for the Inn. “We wanted this hotel to be tasteful yet modern, elegant but with many surprises, like the unusual art collection.”

As South San Francisco’s most recent hotel remodel, the 20-year-old Inn at Oyster Point began its bold facelift in early 2010.

The 30-room hotel was made over by the Andrew Alford Design Studio, and inspired by the most famous interior designer of the 1940-‘50s, Dorothy Draper.

“I wanted to turn the hotel into a jewel box work of art,” said Alford, a well-known San Francisco-based designer of luxury hospitality properties, including Kimpton’s Hotel Monaco San Francisco’s Spa Equilibrium, the Waterfront Hotel in Oakland’s Jack London Square, and Eden, a new restaurant in Miami.

“At Oyster Point, I muted the provocative design in the guestrooms and expanded it in the public spaces,” he said. From the quirky, conversation-starting art to the leopard print chairs, the hotel carries out Dorothy Draper’s philosophy to “always put in one controversial item – it makes people talk.”

All 30 oversized guest rooms (22 queens, 6 kings, 2 double-queens) at The Inn at Oyster Point feature unexpected extras few airport hotels offer:

Charming view of the bay and marina from a bay window
Fireplace
Two prints plus additional art
Oversized work desk and separate, comfortable seating area
Fresh, expanded, complimentary continental room-service breakfast
Large bathroom with spa robes and eco-friendly PAYA amenities
Keurig single-cup brew makers
iHome unit with iPod docking station
Free Wi-Fi
MiniBar

Additionally, guests of The Inn at Oyster Point may enjoy these unusual amenities:

Few small hotels boast their own full-service restaurant, but The Inn’s SouthHarbor Waterfront Restaurant & Bar is open for lunch and dinner weekdays, dinner on Saturdays and brunch on Sundays.

Serving fresh, California-style cuisine.
The bar hosts a lively happy hour weekdays 2:30 to 6:00 pm with amazing prices: Beers from $1.75, cocktails from $2.50.

Neighboring airport hotels share a shuttle, but The Inn at Oyster Point has its own.

Complimentary use of the Inn’s shuttle, which takes guests to and from SFO ten minutes away 7am to 10 pm approximately every quarter hour.

Shuttle service to BART or CalTrain three miles away upon request or to local companies and South San Francisco Conference Center when available.
Park & Fly Package:

With an overnight stay, guests can leave their car parked at the inn for up to two weeks for free.

Use of the public hiking path, the San Francisco Bay Trail, that follows the shoreline from Brisbane south past the Inn at Oyster Point to the airport.

24-hour business center with free printing.
Free and plentiful parking.

By fall 2011, there will be ferry service from the Oyster Point marina adjacent to the hotel to the East Bay (Jack London Square in Oakland).

The Inn’s location affords easy access to the sights and activities in downtown San Francisco and the Peninsula, as well as SFO.

The Boardroom SouthHarbor Waterfront Restaurant & Bar

The Inn at Oyster Point also attracts small meetings to its elegant Boardroom that seats 12, chic living-room lounge known as The Hamilton Room, which is perfect for informal get-togethers and receptions, and the hotel’s SouthHarbor Restaurant, where guests may enjoy outdoor deck dining.

The Inn at Oyster Point offers Winter/Spring rates as low as $165.00.

Significant discounts of up to $35.00 off are available on most Fridays & Saturday and Holiday Rates are as low as $99.00.

Get a $30 discount for an advance payment booking via the hotel’s website. For stays longer than four nights, extended stay rates start at $149. Check out all the packages available.

The Inn at Oyster Point, owned by Oyster Point Lodging, LLC, is located at 425 Marina Blvd., South San Francisco, CA 94080. Tel: 650.737.7633. Fax: 650.737.0795 www.innatoysterpoint.com.

For more information, please contact us at info@innatoysterpoint.com