Jetsettersblog

JUNEAU, Alaska- Heli-skiing is all about experiencing the rush of snow beneath skis flying down the mountainside in the natural environment at its finest, no groomed trails here.

In Alaska heli-ski opportunities are truly unique- stretching across many miles of mountainous terrain in very remote areas; the opportunities are endless for huge terrain and first descents into powder.

This immense area creates vastly different micro climates which offer many different weather conditions to test a wide range of skiing ability.

Many reputable heli-skiing operations outside of Juneau offer day trips with guides and pilots who are trained and experienced in evaluating snow conditions, snow stability, and risk management to make this adrenaline pumping activity as safe and enjoyable as possible.

Come experience it for yourself.

For more information on heli-skiing and other winter activties please visit www.traveljuneau.com

SOUTHWEST Idaho- Bogus Basin was created over 65 years ago by a group of volunteers and has grown into a full service recreation area.

From mid-November to mid-April the mountain is abuzz with activities for snow enthusiasts including 7 lifts, 37K of groomed Nordic trails, lit runs for night skiing and an 800 foot tubing hill.

For a more zen experience rent a yurt for your stay.

Yurts are accessed by Nordic ski and snowshoe trails only and provide visitors the peace and isolation of a hidden snow retreat.

Another option is head a little south to Brundage Ski Resort.

There are over 19,000 acres of backcountry Cat Skiing available here in the Payette National Forest.

Try an overnight cat adventure with sleeping arrangements high on the mountain in a Pacific Yurt.

Guides cook a delicious dinner by the wood fire and everyone can crash in their bunks before heading out on the next adventure.

Head to Idaho this winter to play in some powder.

www.visitsouthwestidaho.org

Mobile Applications featuring beginner sailing training applications for iPad, iTouch, iPhone, Android and Blackberry.

Taught by a US Coast Guard Licensed Captain and Instructor of American Sailing Association. Lots of fun!

Little Pines MUltimedia has launched Apps4Sailing.com, a website featuring beginner sailing applications for iPad, iPod, iPhone, and Blackberry, allowing new or rusty sailors access to affordable, individual sailing lessons anytime from anywhere.

Taught by a US Coast Guard Licensed Captain and Instructor of American Sailing Association Classes, the lessons are arranged in the order a typical sailing course.

Starting with Parts of a Boat, the lessons continue on to other topics such as Wind Theory, Balance, The Points of Sail, Leaving Docks and Moorings, Tacking, Person Overboard Techniques, Righting a Capsize, Knots, Anchoring and much more.

These topics are taught using narration, animation and digital video. The user is free to select whatever class she or he wishes to take at anytime and from anywhere on Earth.

“It is exciting that mobile technology has advanced the way it has.”, states Linda Cullum, CEO of Little Pines Multimedia. “I could see the value of being able to learn to sail while on the go in a fun and compact way.

These first lessons are aimed to be a preliminary course and will educate newbies on foreign sailing topics and terms in advance so that they can get the most out of their investment.

This method of receiving information also provides the opportunity for reviewing technique just before heading out or while on the water.”

Advanced lessons are also on the agenda for www.Apps4Sailing.com

The lessons were created using parent company Little Pines Multimedia’s “Learn to Sail with Multimedia VOL I and II” CDROM.

Adding 20 years of instruction experience, Captain Susan Smith enriches the learning environment by going into great detail with each lesson and adding valuable sailing tips.

Currently, the lessons are downloaded onto the user’s computer in the requested device format and can be played on PC or Mac as well.

For more information, please visit www.Apps4Sailing.com

Little Pines Multimedia is a publisher of high quality fun and educational CDroms/DVDs.

While Mexico has had a very liberal acceptance of US dollars for decades, the Mexican Government passed new laws beginning September 14, 2010.

With this new law, the use of American Dollars (CASH) to make purchases in Mexico will change. Other payment methods such as credit cards of all types and all issuing banks, Travelers Checks, Mexican pesos and non-American foreign currencies (such as Euros or Canadian Dollars) are NOT affected in any way by this new law.

The most noticeable differences to your customers will be:

Hotels and Exchange Booths, and Local Banks will only be able to change a maximum of $1,500 USD CASH per person per month into Mexican Pesos.

Previously there was no limit.

Businesses (including restaurants, shops, and DMC’s) will only be able to accept a maximum of $100 USD CASH per transaction – but the number of transactions per customer is not restricted.

Certain businesses may not be able to, or may choose not to accept American Dollars for any purchase at all (this may include shops, etc), however still accepting Mexican Pesos.

If a customer wants to purchase an excursion (for example) that costs $150 US dollars per person, customers will only be able to pay $100 of this amount in USD CASH and the remainder will need to be in another form of payment (credit card, Mexican pesos, etc).

Airlines are advising that within Mexico, they will only accept Mexican Pesos and credit cards for any fees (including baggage fees).

Vacationers should never carry large amounts of American dollars with them abroad, but instead they should consider either using a Credit Card, taking or locally withdrawing Mexican Pesos from an ATM (very easy and convenient), or use Traveler’s Checks (of any currency).

A new luxury boutique hotel in Alsace’s beautiful second city has just opened in Colmar. Hotel 14 is in the heart of the city’s historic centre close to the Cathedral. It is housed in an ancient pharmacy dating back to 1830, and offers the charm of an old manor house, while providing guests with a strong contemporary flavor.

The fusion between historic architecture and innovative design creates a warm and distinctive ambiance. The hotel features original furniture, sophisticated lighting and original paintings by the Spanish artist Alfonso Vallès.

As the hotel name implies it offers 14 rooms which feature luxurious bedding and deluxe mattresses. The bathrooms open on to the room and some have Jacuzzi tubs. All rooms are equipped with an LCD screen, free WIFI access, Ipod / Iphone speaker and docking station, mini bar, safe and in room toiletries from the prestigious and trendy brand AESOP.

Room prices start at 140 Euros per night.Colmar is 40 miles south-southwest of Strasbourg, on the Lauch River, directly to the east of the Vosges Mountains.

It has a sunny microclimate and is the driest city in France, with an annual rainfall of just 550 mm, making it ideal for Alsace wine. It is considered the capital of the Alsatian wine region.

Colmar is the home town of the painter and engraver Martin Schongauer and the sculptor Frédéric Bartholdi who designed the Statue of Liberty. The city is renowned for its well preserved old town, its numerous architectural landmarks and its museums, among which is the world famous Unterlinden Museum

Independent travel to Alsace from the UK is easy with Air France flights from London City to Strasbourg while British Airways and Easyjet fly from Heathrow and Gatwick respectively to the Basle-Mulhouse European Airport, 40 minutes from Colmar in the south of Alsace. Swiss fly from London City and Manchester to the European Airport. The increasingly popular train takes just over five hours from London to Strasbourg(Eurostar to Paris and the TGV Est to Strasbourg,Colmar and Mulhouse).

For further information on Hotel 14 visit www.hotelquatorze.com. To discover more about all that is happening in Alsace in 2010 visit www.tourism-alsace.com

The River Room Restaurant at the Oxford Thames Four Pillars Hotel, has just undergone a dramatic transformation, with a £150k refurbishment that has seen the hotel’s main dining room redesigned into a contemporary setting.

Stunning views across the lawns to the River Thames are framed by luxurious cream and black Zoffany curtains and feature walls and modern lighting complete the new look, with key focal points including an illuminated wine wall.

Rameth Kurdi, General Manager of the Oxford Thames Four Pillars Hotel, says “We are delighted to unveil this exciting new look for the River Room Restaurant.

The restaurant is hugely popular with both hotel guests and local diners and we wanted the space to reflect our modern, contemporary cuisine in its décor.

Modern cutlery and tableware has also been introduced, alongside an exciting new menu, and there is a real buzz amongst our regular guests who cannot wait to sample the new dining experience. I’m incredibly happy with the results of the renovation and look forward to welcoming our first guests through the doors”.

Food is incredibly important to the Four Pillars brand, with a huge focus on using local produce and suppliers.

Two of the hotels’ restaurants hold AA rosettes and the group is renowned for its promise of ‘doing the simple things well’. With a new menu launching in The River Room Restaurant on Tuesday 7th September and two new Sunday lunch offers starting on 5th September (2 courses for £16.95 or 3 courses for £19.95), delicious cuisine within the new contemporary setting will be more appealing than ever.

For more details or to book, visit: www.four-pillars.co.uk/thames  or call 01865 334 444.

When exploring Denmark by car, there is no better way to get a real taste for the country’s history, superb scenery, delicious cuisine and genuine Danish hospitality than by staying at the ‘Danske Kroer and Hoteller’ collection of individually owned Inns or ‘Kro’, which are dotted throughout the countryside.

With historic ‘routes’ dating back to the 12th Century, Denmark’s ‘kro’ were established on a decree from King Erik Klipping who ordered that inns be placed along the so-called ‘Kings Highway’ as staging posts to allow weary travellers to stretch their legs and enjoy a hearty meal. As a reward for providing a bed and a meal, ‘kro’ were granted a special Royal Licence to brew beer, distil spirits and bake bread – free of tax, both for their own use and to sell to the public.

Retaining these important sentiments, holidaymakers can still stay at some of the original Royal Privilege establishments with their thatched roofs, half-timbered frames and low-ceilinged parlour rooms, as well as an excellent selection of more modern properties, and enjoy service fit for a King.

Taking the regular overnight crossing from Harwich to Esbjerg on DFDS (www.dfds.co.uk), travellers fresh off the boat wanting to explore the Wadden Sea area need not drive far.

Only 9 kilometres away, overlooking the ocean at Ho Bay, the sensitively renovated traditional seaside hotel Hjerting Badehotel complements panoramic views and comfortably appointed rooms with a superb menu of seasonal delights. Rebuilt on the spot of the original ‘kro’ after it burnt down in 1914, the hotel still retains a strong connection with its 300 years of sea-faring history.

(‘Luxury Weekend Stay’ including B&B in a double room, coffee & cake, wine tasting, 3 course dinner starts from £99.50(DKK895)/person/night based on two sharing. Double rooms with a sea view and buffet breakfast from £155(DKK139)/room/night. www.hotelbadehotel.dk) .

Or just a little further up the coast, perched high on the dunes on the edge of the North Sea, take in more visionary flavours at Nymindegab Kro. Rich in nature with Ringkøbing Fjord, and vast dune heath areas right on the doorstep, outdoor activities such as cycling, walking and fishing are well rewarded with deliciously creative gastronomy such as local ‘marsh lamb’ with crispy wild herbs and marinated lobster with pickled rhubarb. (‘Gourmet Nights’ starts from £105(DKK945)/person including a 5 course dinner, accommodation in a double room and full breakfast. Double rooms with breakfast from £99.50(DKK895)/room. www.nymindgabkro.dk)

Set on the banks overlooking a tranquil inlet on the beautifully picturesque Limfjorden in North Jutland and within easy reach to the Thy National Park, Tambohus Kro’s history dates back to 1842 when a local hero Chresten Tambour single-handedly caught a gang of robbers and was granted the royal privilege to establish an inn as a reward for his good deed.

Since then, the inn’s reputation as an invitingly hospitable outpost has continued to grow, luring fish lovers from miles around with its specialist fish menu and seasonal feast of freshly caught fried eel, locally grown potatoes and rich butter sauce. (‘Weekend Stay’ including B&B in a double room, coffee and cake, 3 course dinner, music and dancing from £88.50(DKK795)/person based on two sharing.

Standard doubles from £75(DKK675)/room/night for Bed & Breakfast, two sharing. www.tambohuskro).

Co-founders of the gourmet route “gourmetruten” – a selection of kro and hotels who offer exceptional 5 course dining experiences, North Jutland’s Rold Gl Kro is situated just 600m from the ancient Rold Forest, a former haven for robbers and highway men at the period of the inn’s establishment.

Today, it provides a peaceful and stunning woodland escape to great hospitality and good food on the edge of one of Denmark’s largest forests with the opportunity to hike, horse ride, mountain bike, fish, canoe and swim right on the doorstep. (‘Gourmet Holiday’ including B&B, 5 course gourmet menu starts from £105(DKK945)/person based on two sharing a double room. Double rooms from £110(DKK988)/room with breakfast. www.roldkro.dk).

Crossing the impressive Store Baelt Bridge to the ‘garden isle’ of Funen, Brobyvaerk Kro has a stunning setting on the banks of the Odense River.

Having commanded this position since 1645, the ‘kro’ was awarded its ‘Royal Privileges’ in 1732 and continues to impress guests with its atmospheric candlelit rooms, art adorned walls and locally inspired cuisine.

An ideal location for exploring the island’s lush rolling pasture lands, steep cliff tops and wide sandy beaches, it is also only 20 kilometres from the fairytale city of Odense, home to the famous Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen. (‘Weekend stay’ including B&B, coffee and cake, aperitif, 3 course gourmet dinner starts from £89(DKK800)/person based on two sharing a double room. www.brobyvaerk-kro.dk)

With another 82 individually owned ‘kros’ and hotels in Danske Kroer & Hoteller’s
portfolio, holidaymakers have plenty of options for tailor-making their gourmet
tour of Denmark to suit their very discerning palates.

Getting there: Ideal for a self-drive holiday, the best way to experience the ‘kros’ is to arrive by ferry with DFDS Seaways (www.dfdsseaways.co.uk).  They offer a regular service of departures every other day between Harwich and Esbjerg, during June, July and August and crossings three times a week between September and May.

Guests of the spectacular new luxury resort, Borgo Egnazia in Southern Italy’s beautiful region of Puglia, are now able to indulge and relax in its deluxe Raison d’Etre-designed Spa.

The 1,800m² Egnathia Spa has now completed phase one of its opening; with the second phase taking place in winter of this year.

The Resort’s stunning newly opened Spa includes seven single treatment rooms, three double rooms, one spa suite with its own garden and steam room, one Thai massage room, an Infusion Bar and indoor pool. Later in the year, the eagerly anticipated Roman Bath-house will be opened, as well as other well-being facilities.

The Spa will also include a state of the art gym, a yoga studio, a hair salon, a barber shop and a huge ‘wet area’ based on the philosophy of the bath houses of Ancient Rome, offering a Tepidarium (warm room), Calidarium (hot room), Frigidarium (cold room), as well as two Roman bath scrub rooms.

As the key treatment rooms are now open, guests at Borgo Egnazia are currently making use of the Spa’s beautiful array of treatments which are on offer.

From massages to facials, body wraps to tailored spa experiences, there is something to suit every spa aficionado, whether they prefer to relax, soothe aches and pains, or simply give their skin a healthy glow.

Treatments and therapists at the Egnathia Spa have been created and trained by the Raison d’Etre specialists, and the products used are from the Australian, 100% chemical-free Sodashi brand.

Borgo Egnazia Hotel Villa Spa Golf Resort

o Now open at Borgo Egnazia: The Hotel, private villas, golf course, part of the Spa, the tennis academy and children’s club.
o Opening in Winter 2010/2011: The Village and its townhomes will be opening in stages across the final months of 2010.

This will include the village pool, and the cooking school.

The final opening stage of the Egnathia Spa will also be in winter 2010. The resort’s private beach club will also be opened at this time.

Borgo Egnazia features 28 three-bedroom pool villas; 72 townhouses in the Village (91 suites made up of 37 junior suites, and three single floor suites, plus 12 one-bedroom and 39 two-bedroom split level suites); and 63 rooms and suites in the hotel.

Rates per room start from Euro 210 per night on B&B (in the Hotel).

Special rates and packages throughout 2010 and 2011 are available.

British Airways and Ryanair offer seven flights to Bari during the course of the week, whilst Ryanair offers an additional three flights a week to Brindisi. Both airports are within 45 minutes of the resort.

For more information on Borgo Egnazia please visit www.borgoegnazia.com

The Puro Oasis Urbano, Palma Mallorca’s member of Design Hotels, re-opened this summer.

In March 2011, Puro Oasis Urbano´s own Music Studio will open in the new Private Wing, a completely new area which can be hired exclusively by musicians, or small groups looking for a private space to celebrate.

Mats Wahlström, founder of the hotel, said, “Music has always been at heart and soul of Puro Oasis Urbano.

The space is also good for groups or those looking for privacy, because of the location in a separate wing.”

In 2011 the hotel will also introduce The Private Wing Room. This space in a separate wing has a high ceiling, an open fireplace and traditional mosaic flooring creating a mix of Mallorquin design and contemporary style.

Since the hotel’s opening in 2004, Puro´s Opio Bar and Restaurant has been a popular nightspot where DJs play four nights a week to a crowd of locals and guests.

The hotel also has two new meeting rooms for 10 to 40 people.

For more information, call 800-337-4685 or visit

www.designhotels.com/puro

Coworth Park, the newest and first luxury country house hotel from Dorchester Collection, opened next to Ascot and on the border of Windsor Great Park.

The 70-guestroom Coworth Park is the only hotel in the U.K. to have its own polo fields and features the world’s first hotel spa to have treatments from Dr. Alkaitis.

It’s also the only hotel in the U.K. to grow and burn willow on the estate as part of its initiatives to reduce energy consumption.
Coworth Park features three restaurants overseen by Michelin-starred Chef John Campbell.

Guests can also ride horses in the equestrian center and have access to neighboring Wentworth Club’s champion golf courses.

Located 45 minutes from central London, the hotel stands in 240 acres of Royal Berkshire parkland.

One of Coworth Park’s 16 suites is The Dower House, a private house built in 1775 which has its own dining room, lounge, kitchen, study, and a secluded garden with its own stream running through it, home to Coworth Park’s family of swans.

The eco-luxury Spa at Coworth Park will be the world’s first hotel spa to offer treatments by Dr. Alkaitis.

Known for his organic, paraben free ingredients and simple approach, Dr. Alkaitis’s products are rich in anti-oxidants and healing enzymes.

The hotel breaks new ground by combining a wealth of eco-credentials in both its structure and its daily operating procedures.

For example, to reduce energy consumption there is a bio mass boiler within an underground Energy Center. This is fueled by burning willow which is grown on the estate, a first for a U.K. hotel.

Additionally, cooling for the hotel is provided by a ground source water circulation system of underground pipes known as “slinkys” within the hotel grounds.

Rates start at £235 ($372) per room, per night based on double occupancy.

Rates for suite accommodations start at £375 ($594) per night, per room.

All rates are inclusive of full English breakfast and exclusive of VAT.

For reservations or more information, call 011-44-1344-876-600, email reservations.uk@dorchestercollection.com  or visit www.coworthpark.com