Jetsettersblog

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota has millions of acres open to the public for hunting, fishing and exploration. To assist outdoor enthusiasts with these activities, the South Dakota Game Fish and Parks Department has created map books and downloadable GPS applications.

As a follow-up to the popular GPS maps, the SD GFP is unveiling an application that will be compatible with Apple’s iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch devices.

“These applications and maps are free to the general public,” said GFP GIS Specialist Chris Marsh.

“Once users download the ESRI arcGIS application to their Apple device, they can search for SD Hunting Maps. The application automatically brings our color coded hunting atlas maps into their phone, iPod or iPad.”

Users of the GFP maps via these devices should be aware that they will need active cell service to use the maps.

“These maps aren’t downloaded into the device, so internet connectivity is needed to use them,” Marsh said.

“Also, if the user wants to use the maps in the field to serve as a GPS, the Apple device has to have GPS functionality. All of the iPhones and some of the iPads have GPS capability.”

The GFP has plans to expand this program as well. “We are working on making these maps compatible with Blackberry, Windows Phone 7 and Droid devices,” said Marsh.

“We hope to have them ready within the next six months.”

Currently, outdoor enthusiasts can search digital maps through the GFP’s WILMA system, which offers users satellite imagery of public hunting areas as well as crop, grass, water and tree inventories of Game Production Areas across the state. GPS users can also download the public hunting areas into many of their Garmin, Lowrance and Magellan GPS units.

For more information on the Apple, WILMA and GPS programs, visit the Game, Fish and Parks website.

“Live Music Entertainment Music Captial of the World” adds golf to deep, diverse list of destination attractions.

BRANSON, MO – The Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and CVB (Branson) in Missouri has appointed Buffalo Communications (Buffalo) to provide targeted publicity and media-relations outreach for a collection of highly-rated golf courses and tourism partners.

Buffalo will promote the rising-star golf destination’s many advantages, including the No. 1-rated course in Missouri (and “America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses” by Golf Digest) and courses designed by or in tribute to PGA TOUR stars.

Also highlighted is the great diversity and flavor of Branson’s lodging, entertainment, outdoor adventure, restaurants, theme parks and related attractions.

The award-winning golf courses comprising the golf destination – known collectively under the brand promise “Branson: Discover Golf’s Ozark Mountain Oasis” – are:

• John Daly’s Murder Rock Golf and Country Club, http://www.murderrock.com,  417.332.DALY (3259)

• Payne Stewart Golf Club, http://www.paynestewartgolfclub.com,  417.337.2963

• LedgeStone Golf Course, http://www.ledgestonegolf.com,  417.335.8187

• Branson Creek Golf Club, http://www.bransoncreekgolf.com , 417.339.GOLF (4653)

While completely distinct in style and design, the four courses share a commitment to stellar hospitality, course conditions and value-oriented experiences amid the Ozark Mountains’ dramatic elevation changes and rock outcroppings, and unbridled nature in its abundant glory.

“Branson is an under-sung golf destination primed for greater exposure,” says Ross Summers, President/CEO, Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and CVB. “Buffalo Communications is a leader in this category and will help influence more golfers to choose our destination, and current visitors to play more golf.”

“Our firm is honored to help brand-build Branson’s golf destination beyond its world-famous entertainment status,” says Rich Katz, Managing Director of Buffalo. “With a new airport, natural beauty, year-round golf weather and countless activities, there’s something for everyone and certainly golf-destination aficionados.”

Golf courses and lodging partners offer numerous vacation options, including:

• Payne Stewart Golf Club (managed by Hilton) – a GOLF Magazine “Best-New Course” in 2009, dedicated to the late major champion who grew up in nearby Springfield – is connected with Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing and Hilton Branson Convention Center

• Branson Creek Golf Club, GOLF Magazine’s No. 1-ranked course in Missouri, teams with Clarion Hotel teams for stay-and-play packages at $116 through October, $97 in November, $76 in December

• LedgeStone Golf Course, within the Stonebridge Village resort community, boasts swimming pools, tennis courses, restaurant, clubhouse and rental-ownership lodging choices among the amenities

• Murder Rock Golf and Country Club – perfect for upscale golf getaways – offers nightly rentals at the Communities of Branson Creek with a selection of Fieldstone Villas and Bluffs homes. Designed to maximize space, they include many features of luxury homes. A two-bedroom Villa sleeping six persons, a two-bedroom / loft Villa sleeping eight and a four-bedroom Bluffs home sleeping 10 are some of the lodging options.

With more than 22,000 lodging and hotel rooms, Branson matches every style and budget.

The Lodging page at http://www.explorebranson.com  includes a directory of accommodations, resorts and spas.

For assistance planning a golf vacation to Branson: 800.296.0463.

Online Booking Now Available for Newly Launched Upscale Lifestyle Hotel Brand

Fort Lauderdale, FL – B Hotels & Resorts™ announced today that travelers looking to be among the first to experience this newly-launched, upper-upscale lifestyle hotel brand can now make reservations online at www.boceanfortlauderdale.com  for its flagship property, B Ocean™ Fort Lauderdale, which is set to open in December 2010.

B Ocean Fort Lauderdale is located on the famed Fort Lauderdale Beach at the corner of Sunrise Boulevard and A1A.

The beachfront property offers free high-speed Internet access and is minutes from the Las Olas arts and entertainment district, Port Everglades and the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport.

B is a fresh, innovative and unpretentious class of hotels designed to welcome today’s travelers by igniting a genuine emotional connection to the brand through highly personalized and all-sensory experiences, services and amenities.

With plans to introduce locations in major urban and resort destinations throughout the U.S. and the Caribbean, B Hotels & Resorts™ is creating a new genre in hospitality that offers a distinctive guest experience that it defines as self-expression.

“As a brand, B is all about offering an unrivaled personal experience to each guest that comes through our doors,” said Christopher Tompkins, Corporate Vice President and Brand Marketing Executive for B Hotels & Resorts™.

“We want our guests to feel welcomed, comfortable, and taken care of within the environment we create that is inviting and exceptional in the delivery of the overall experience. B Ocean Fort Lauderdale is reflective of our fresh innovative hotel design and we are eager to have both travelers and locals B Our Guest.”

B Ocean will feature all of the brand’s B Signatures, including; spa suite, B Indulged™; an excursion program, B Adventurous™, and a fitness center, B Active Dining and lounge concepts include B’Stro, offering guests and locals convenient “grab-n-go” items in the morning, gourmet chopped salads and organic fare at lunch, and wine, cheese and tapas in the evening. B Ocean will also feature SAIA, a signature sushi restaurant, and Quench – a casual outdoor patio/pool bar featuring specialty drinks, daily happy hour, and infinity-edge pool.

For guests that want to B In Touch, B Ocean has complimentary high-speed Internet access in all of its public areas, food & beverage outlets and guest rooms.

The hotel also has an area of the lobby that provides business center services where guests can easily access items that need to be printed e.g., boarding passes, etc. The brand is also establishing a new trend within the hospitality where guests will have high-speed Internet access while enjoying a day on the beach.

With ocean views from each suite and room, B Ocean features a range of accommodations including two Master Suites; 22 B Enhanced Junior Suites; 54 Stunning and Stunning Curve Rooms – boasting stunning floor to ceiling windows; and 162 Chic, Captivating and Captivating Curve Rooms. Each room and suite features The Blissful Bed – a signature bedding package from B Hotels & Resorts, designer white leather-front furnishings, and a 37” or 42” HD LCD television.

For corporate meetings, weddings and other events, B Ocean offers the scenic penthouse floor, B on Top. Accessible via B Express, an express elevator for groups traveling between the lobby and penthouse floor, B on Top™ features 8,000 square feet of flexible meeting space including the Infinity Ballroom, Horizons Junior Ballroom (which divides into three breakout rooms) and Impressions (a flexible pre-function meeting area).

Starting rates – based on dates, room category and availability – range from $129 to $499 per night.

About B Hotels & Resorts

B Hotels & Resorts is a new hotel brand alternative headquartered in South Florida.

The company’s mission is to establish a fresh, innovative and approachable portfolio of upper upscale hotels that welcomes today’s travelers, both business and leisure, by igniting a genuine emotional connection to the brand.

The company has defined a new genre in hospitality – Self-Expression. With the first property in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and future hotel, resort and boutique destinations planned globally, the brand incorporates today’s common lifestyle characteristics with unique elements that appeal to a broad-spectrum of guests.

B Ocean™ Fort Lauderdale scheduled to open in December 2010.

For more information and reservations, log onto www.boceanfortlauderdale.com  or call 888-66-BHOTEL.

Travel to Romania and Discover the Land of the Vampires

Austrian Airlines Vacation Center offers two TrueRomania vacation packages including airfare, hotel stay and private tour of Romania for travel this fall! For details call 800-790-4692.

This Halloween, what would you rather do? Stay at home and hand out candy corn and chocolate mini-bars, or travel around Romania, the land of vampires and the undead? http://www.romaniatourism.com

“Travelers often decide they want to visit Romania because they are intrigued with our famous Count Dracula,” notes Simion Alb, director of the Romanian National Tourist Office in New York http://www.romaniatourism.com

“But then … they’ll discover the ‘True Romania,’ with its majestic Carpathian mountains, medieval castles, charming villages and friendly people. We have so much natural beauty, culture and history to offer!”

“Our two combined air and land “True Romania’ vacation packages let you discover many secrets about Dracula, also known as Vlad the Impaler, together with a professional guide, who will show you the real treasures of Romania and its best known central region, Transylvania,” notes Bram Majtlis, president of Austrian Airlines Vacation Center http://www.austrianair-vacations.com

The weeklong True Romania Tour package

www.austrianair-vacations.com/TrueRomaniaTour

priced at $2,069 per person, double occupancy, starts with two nights at the Hotel Golden Tulip Victoria Bucharest. On the morning of the third day, you will meet your personal driver/guide to start your private ‘Dracula’ tour through Romania’s countryside in a comfortable, air-conditioned sedan.

This tour tells the ‘True Story of Dracula’ .

www.romaniatourism.com/dracula-legend.html

It takes you from Bucharest to Curtea de Arges, where you visit the 14th century ruins of the Old Princely Court built by Vlad’s ancestors, as well as Manole’s Monastery and the Monastery of Curtea de Arges (early 16th century), one of the most famous buildings in Romania. Then, travel on to Cozia Monastery, built in the 1300s by Dracula’s grandfather, Prince Mircea the Old, and through the lovely Olt Valley to Sibiu, once the richest town in Transylvania. Enjoy dinner and overnight in a traditional farmhouse in the village of Sibiel, outside of Sibiu.

The next day starts with a city tour of Sibiu, including the Evangelic Cathedral. Vlad’s son, Mihnea, who was assassinated right outside the church, is buried there. Then, visit the town of Medias, where Vlad was held prisoner, before traveling to the Saxon village of Biertan to visit the fortress church that is now a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. Overnight in Sighisoara.

Sighisoara is Romania’s best-preserved medieval town. Take a walking tour in the morning to visit the Clock Tower Museum, the Armor Room and Torture Room, and finally, the house where Dracula was born in 1431.

Depart for Brasov, founded in the 12th century by Saxon settlers, and visit the Black Church, the largest gothic-style church in Southeastern Europe.

A visit to Bran and Bran Castle, the setting for Bram Stoker’s ‘Dracula’ novel, concludes your tour. But rather than (not) sleeping here, you will spend the night in Sinaia, a beautiful mountain resort nearby.

Your final day in Romania includes a stop at the Peles Castle before returning to the Hotel Golden Tulip Victoria Bucharest for your last night, and you’ll fly back to the US the next morning.

If you only want to go for a long weekend (say, right around Halloween?), a second True Romania package

www.austrianair-vacations.com/TrueRomania

including three nights in Bucharest and a full day (10 hour) private tour to Brasov and Sinaia is available for $1,539 per person, double occupancy.

Entrance fees plus lunch en-route are included.

Both packages, valid for travel between now and December 9, 2010, need to be booked by a minimum of two people.

They include roundtrip air, economy class on Austrian Air from either New York (JFK) or Washington, DC (IAD), hotel accommodations, daily buffet breakfast and hotel service charges.

A weekend surcharge applies. Extension nights in Bucharest and upgrades are available upon request, as are rates for travel during other dates.

Advance reservations, at least 14 days prior to departure, are recommended. All travelers will receive a full-size map and a travel planner and will be entered to win a copy of the newly published book Vampires, Werewolves, Zombies: Compendium Monstrum.

The True Romania vacation packages must be paid in full within 7 days after reservations are confirmed, and no later than 14 days prior to departure. Once confirmed, the packages are non-refundable, non-transferable, and cannot be changed.

All packages will be booked on Austrian Airlines in economy class and are subject to schedule and space availability. Minimum stay is 3 nights or one Saturday overnight, and the maximum stay in Europe is 30 days. City Steals package prices include fuel surcharges but do not include US Customs / INS / Aphis fees / International Transportation Tax / Passenger Facility Charges / Civil Aviation Security Fee / domestic and foreign Security and Airport Charges of approximately USD $175 per passenger, depending on the itinerary. Additional taxes and fees may be collected by foreign governments. All taxes / fees / surcharges are subject to change and exchange rate fluctuations and may vary on the day of booking.

Further details may be found on www.austrianair-vacations.com.

For additional information or to make reservations, contact Austrian Airlines Vacation Center at (800) 790-4682, or via email: info@austrianair-vacations.com

IMTC (International Marketing and Travel Concepts) provides creative vacation packages to Central Europe as well as group tours. For more information, contact us at (800) 790-4682.

ZADAR, CROATIA – Adriatic Challenge, a notable yacht charter in Croatia offers, has just chosen North Sails to outfit its Bavaria 42 Match fleet.

Adriatic Challenge is well-known among tourists and sailing aficionados for containing the largest fleet of 42 Match yachts on the Adriatic.

Each of the 20 yachts will have an identical performance-boosting genoa to help with racing and cruising in the Adriatic Sea.

What This Means for Adriatic Challenge?

Each genoa, or large jib sail, will be made of North Sails’ proprietary material, a mylar/polyester laminate sailcloth known as NorLam XG.

This material, also known as Enzo, contains a high UV resistance, superior shape holding, and is ultra-lightweight. Yacht racers will feel the difference when they book a yacht from Adriatic Challenge, because the boat will be much easier to move and much more responsive.

Enzo sails, due to their durable, woven polyester cloth and UV resistance, are known to last through decades of catching the wind, if not forever. This is likely to be the last sail upgrade the Adriatic Challenge yacht charter will need for a long time.

Because the genoas have to perform in the variety of conditions that Sailing Croatia demands, these Norlam XG sails are made of composite materials, with a lighter front and a heavier aft.

The UV protective layer is glued and stitched onto the sailcloth so as not to create any air resistance, and the material’s low stretch rates will create a lot of thrust when tacking the genoa into the wind.

It won’t be easy to remove the old genoas from each of the twenty boats and replace them with the new, more technologically-advanced Norlam XG ones.

Each of the North Sails genoas will also have to be prepared prior to When the retrofitting is finished, Adriatic Challenge will further cement its place as one of the most amenities-driven Sailing Croatia companies.

Captain Stjepan Marinovac had this to say about the new purchase: “It will take some time to tune and make a tuning guide for this sail, but it will be exciting to see 20 bows with new genoas on starting line with North Sails logo.”

Conclusion

North Sails is well-known among sailors for its tech-centered approach to creating sails.

The best sailing technologies often lead to smooth, fast and versatile yacht rides.

With the help of North Sails, Adriatic Challenge is angling to be the best yacht charter in Croatia has to offer.

For more info:

Croatia Yacht Charter – Adriatic Challenge d.o.o.
Obala Kralja Petra Kresimira IV 38a
23210 Biograd n/M, Croatia
Mobile: +385 (0) 98 219 934
Phone: +385 (0) 23 385 088

Email: info@adriatic-challenge.com

web: http://www.adriatic-challenge.com

Puerto Rico’s St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort will host its first guests on Nov. 4, 2010, and is accepting reservations for stays after Nov. 11, 2010.

The 139-room property is situated on 483 acres of a former coconut plantation and native maritime forest, and will also offer a Remède Spa, a Robert Trent Jones Jr. golf course, a Jean-Georges Fern restaurant, meeting facilities and a kids’ club.

For more information, visit

THIS LINK.

Joe Scott, grandson of grocery store magnate Joe Albertson, has invested in two Idahoproperties.

Scott, owner of Alscott Real Estate, has acquired sole ownership of the historic Shore Lodge resort and the private golf community Whitetail Club in McCall.

With the help of several partners, he revitalized Shore Lodge and made it once again available to the public in 2008.

Now, having purchased all remaining interests in Shore Lodge and Whitetail Club from his former partners, he is seeking to transform the latter property into a family-friendly, year-round, mountain-lake residential resort community.

Adjacent to Shore Lodge, the Whitetail Club sits on 1,300 acres and is the area’s only private club and community.

It offers an 18-hole championship golf course designed by two-time U.S. Open winner Andy North, facilities including the 6,000-square-foot Fish & Swim Club and the 14,000-square-foot Athletic Complex, and access to the Shore Lodge’s beach and marina.

For more information, call 208-634-1725 or visit

www.whitetailclub.com

The Omni San Diego Hotel has introduced a Hassle-Free Holiday package that includes gift wrapping, fruitcake and valet parking.

In addition an onsite Holiday Concierge is available to direct guests to San Diego’s holiday festivities.

Available Nov. 21, 2010, through Jan. 4, 2011, the package is priced at a nightly room rate of $129 double.

For reservations or more information, call 800-843-6664 or visit THIS LINK.

and enter promotion code fruitcake

The Peninsula Beverly Hills has partnered with fashion designer Tory Burch to offer the Peninsula Girls Getaway with Tory Burch.

Included are two $100 Tory Burch promotional cards, which expire Dec. 31;

private, after-hours shopping at the Tory Burch Boutiques in Los Angeles or Santa Monica, or a private, in-room consultation and mini-trunk show with a Tory Burch stylist (advance reservations requested);

two $50 spa credits for any facial or body treatment; overnight valet parking for one car; continental breakfast for two; and a bottle of Nicolas Feuillatte Rosé Champagne.

The package is valid through Dec. 15 from a nightly room rate of $665 double.

For more information, call 80-462-7899,

email pbh@peninsula.com  or visit

www.peninsula.com/beverlyhills

The Peninsula Beverly Hills - The Peninsula Beverly Hills > LAX > 9882 Santa Monica Blvd > Beverly Hills > CA > 90212> Location. This Los Angeles hotel is close to Paley Center for Media, Museum of Tolerance, and Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Area attractions include La Brea Tar Pits.Features. The Peninsula Beverly Hills has a health club, an outdoor pool, a spa tub, a steam room, and a sauna. The onsite spa at this property offers massage and treatment rooms and beauty services. Business amenities at this 5.0 star property include a business center, wireless Internet access, meeting rooms for small groups, and business services. The Peninsula Beverly Hills has a restaurant, a bar/lounge, and a poolside bar. 24 hour room service is available. This property provides an airport shuttle (surcharge). Event facilities consist of a ballroom, exhibit space, conference rooms, and banquet facilities. The staff can arrange wedding services, event catering, tour assistance, and translation services. Additional amenities include a fitness facility, valet parking, and a concierge desk. This is a smoke free property.Guestrooms. The Peninsula Beverly Hills has 193 guestrooms. Televisions are equipped with premium cable television channels , DVD players, and video game consoles. Guestrooms provide CD players, complimentary newspapers, and multi line phones with voice mail. Beds have pillowtop mattresses and premium bedding. Guestrooms feature coffee/tea makers and complimentary bottled water. Bathrooms offer separate bathtubs and showers, handheld showers, bathroom phones, and scales. Additional amenities include climate control, minibars, and air conditioning. In addition, amenities available on request include refrigerators, microwaves, and irons/ironing boards. Turndown service is offered nightly and housekeeping is available. Cribs (infant beds) and rollaway beds are available. All guestrooms at The Peninsula Beverly Hills are non smoking. >The closest major airports to The Peninsula Beverly Hills are: Los Angeles, CA (LAX Los Angeles Intl.) 13.6 km / 8.4 mi Burbank, CA (BUR Bob Hope) 15.4 km / 9.6 mi The preferred airport for The Peninsula Beverly Hills is Los Angeles, CA (LAX Los Angeles Intl.). Distances are calculated in a straight line from the property’s location to the point of interest or airport

With the recent release of its Smithsonian Journeys Travel Adventures tour line up for 2011-12 to the travel agent community, the learning vacations brand is unveiling a new and dedicated website at www.smithsonianjourneystraveladventures.org  with social media access and a pending agent portal. For more information, visit www.collettevacations.com