Jetsettersblog

FROM NEW YORK WITH SPECIAL ADMIRALS CLUB LOUNGE OFFER

New Individual Annual Admirals Club Memberships Now Available for 20 Percent Off When Purchased Online Using Promotion Code NYE

NEW YORK, – In celebration of American’s new nonstop service from New York (JFK) beginning Nov. 18, New York-based travelers can now receive a 20 percent discount on new individual annual Admirals Club® memberships.

Memberships must be purchased online at www.aa.com/morenyc using promotion code NYE now through Dec. 31, 2010.

Terms and conditions apply.

American Airlines is adding new service to Rio de Janeiro. American Eagle is launching service to Fort Lauderdale Fla., Cincinnati, Indianapolis, and Norfolk, Va.

“In 1939, American Airlines opened the industry’s first VIP lounge at La Guardia Airport, forever changing the airport travel experience at airports,” said Art Torno, American Airlines Vice President – New York.

“For more than 70 years, the Admirals Club lounge has been known for outstanding hospitality and service, and we know this special Admirals Club promotion furthers our commitment to enhance the travel experience for our premium New York travelers.”

Admirals Club lounges around the world feature an array of amenities for business and leisure travelers to relax, refresh or recharge before, between or after flights. Members and One-Day Pass holders at all domestic Admirals Club locations – including three in New York – can enjoy complimentary Wi-Fi access powered by T-Mobile.

For those who prefer to use the multi-functional Business Center within the club, newly installed HP Compaq 8000 Elite Business PCs allow customers to check e-mail and conduct business on a highly secure, stable and efficient device.

The Cyber Cafes feature brand-new HP TouchSmart PCs with built-for-touch applications that allow customers to experience music, photos, games and video in a visually-engaging manner beyond what a mouse or keyboard can do.

On Oct. 1, domestic Admirals Club lounges began offering well brand spirits, as well as beer and house wines, as a complimentary service to customers visiting the lounge.

Premium spirits, wines, beers and a selection of Amora™ fresh food items continue to be available for purchase in all U.S. Admirals Club lounges. Menu items vary by location, and include fresh salads, sandwiches, hot entrees and small bites.

Seasonal and regional specialties are featured throughout the year, with special chef demonstrations offered at select clubs.

All menu items are available to enjoy in the club or for carry-out. Customers visiting an international Admirals Club location can continue to enjoy complimentary alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

American operates more than 40 Admirals Club lounges in airports throughout the world and continues to reinvest in its products with new technology and lounge refurbishments. For example,

American is investing approximately $40 million in facility improvements, including renovations to the Admirals Club in Concourse D at La Guardia as well as a 3,000 square foot expansion of the Concourse C Admirals Club at JFK.

For more information on Admirals Club lounges, including Admirals Club membership and One-Day Pass information, log on to www.aa.com/admiralsclub

Simpson Bay, St.Maarten-The Budget Marine Match Racing Cup which will take place March 1st 2011, will once again showcase the skills and abilities of professional skippers from around the world. This 3rd edition of Match Racing which is a pre-event for the 31st St.Maarten Heineken Regatta will open its doors and host sailors from around the world.

In the past teams from Poland, USVI, the United States and Russia have participated in this event and organizers are looking forward to hosting international sailors.

Peter Holmberg of the USVI has won this race the first 2 years and many wonder if he will take home 1st place for a third time. Budget Marine is the title sponsor and is offering $10,000 in prize money this year.

Match Racing started its journey with the America’s Cup races over 100 years ago and has been evolving steadily since then.

History tells us that the first match race in one-design boats was the Omega Gold Cup in Bermuda over 50 years ago.

The Budget Marine Match Racing Cup will use identical Jenneau SunFast 20’s for the race which are owned and operated by Lagoon Sailboat Rentals here in St.Maarten.

With places up for grabs for eight teams, it is imperative that those who wish to partake send in their sailing CV’s to the regatta office at regatta2@heinekenregatta.com Once the selection process has been made teams will be notified of their participation in this 3rd edition Match racing event.

The organizing committee has gone to great lengths to make sure that each year this event remains competitive and professional while still allowing the participants to enjoy the near perfect conditions of Caribbean sailing.

It is their goal to host teams from around the word and showcase what the tiny island has to offer the world of sailing. Past participants of this regatta such as Peter Isler, Gavin Brady and Eugeny Nikiforov go head to head for the shot at taking home the grand prize, but Peter Holmberg has steadfastly held them at bay.

Once teams have been selected to participate in this Match Racing Cup they must place a $500 deposit to secure their spot.

Entry fee is minimal and once selected teams will be notified immediately.

Applications are being accepted from all sailors, male or female who think they have what it take to compete.

An ISAF ID is appreciated when sending in your information.

Organizers are pleased to say there has never been a lack of interest for this race so make sure you send in your information as early as possible.

The final date to send in your information is January 7th 2011, applications will not be accepted after this date.

The Notice of Race for this event will be posted online at www.heinekenregatta.com for those who are interested in more information and any additional questions can be sent to

director@heinekenregatta.com

Fjallabyggd (“Mountain Settlement”) is a skier’s dream. Its slopes are perfect for downhill and there are tracks for telemark skiing.

Winter sport enthusiasts can also go ice skating, rent snowmobiles and try ice fishing.

Fjallabyggd (pop. 2,200) is a municipality in northeast Iceland uniting the towns of Ólafsfjördur and Siglufjördur.

Good news for visitors: the distance between the towns actually dropped to 90 miles, down from 140 miles with the opening of a new tunnel in 2009.

When the snow melts, Fjallabyggd turns into a paradise for hikers. There are a variety of hiking paths in the majestic landscape.

Tourists are also drawn to the black-sand beaches and the peaceful Ólafsfjardarvatn Lake, which is about as hard to pronounce as that world famous volcano of ours.

Anglers can choose from a range of locations.

Apart from fishing in the lake, they can fish in the rivers Ólafsfjardará and Hólsá, try their luck with saltwater fishing on Hédinsfjördur fjord, or simply toss their baited hook off the pier.

Midnight cruises, some of which cross the Arctic Circle, are available and can be combined with hiking trips.

Journalist Andrew Evans writes about Siglufjördur in the Bradt Iceland Guide
www.bradt-travelguides.com/details.asp?prodid=179

“This is the kind of town where nobody locks their doors, where everyone knows each other, but where outsiders are as welcome as the sun.”

He continues, “A most remarkable trek crosses the eastern mountains at the Hestskard Pass and down into the untouched Hédinsfjördur or “heathen’s fjord.” Free of roads, traffic, people and towns, this may very well be the most pristine fjord in the whole country.”

For further information visit www.fjallabyggd.is or call +354 464 9200 (Ólafsfjördur) and +354 464-9100 (Siglufjördur). See more at: http://vimeo.com/7880080

The northernmost region of the Coast Range that surrounds Skagway, Alaska provides the perfect balance of low angle lovin’ and steep, exciting descents. The variety of terrain provides options for all skiing abilities and snow conditions.

Sunrise turns on AK steeps. -Jay Beyer

The mountains surrounding Skagway have a relatively dry, continental snowpack and some of the clearest and most stable weather conditions anywhere in Alaska. This means more skiing and less weather days during your trip.

Your expert guides are adept at finding the perfect terrain to match your ambitions and ability. Lead guides have over 10 years of experience guiding ski descents in Alaska and extensive avalanche safety and forecasting knowledge.

As Emergency Medical Technicians, your guides bring a comforting, professional level of safety awareness and expertise to skiing in this wilderness setting.

Home to an extremely rugged, heavily glaciated mountain landscape, the historic town of Skagway is filled with spectacular views and gold rush lore.

Included in the cost of your trip are lodging at a bed and breakfast, transportation to and from the airport and heli-pad, and classic big mountain skiing.

Trips can be scheduled for one to seven days, and you can view more details on our website www.akheliskiing.com.

Partnered with TEMSCO Helicopters, Inc., we provide the ONLY heli-skiing in Skagway! TEMSCO Helicopter’s Pilots are trained under the high standards of FAA part 135 and 133 and are some of the most experienced helicopter pilots in Alaska.

With a solid reputation and exemplary safety record in over 50 years of service, TEMSCO matches our commitment to safe ski adventures!

Miles of untracked terrain, steep open faces, and a guaranteed 10,000 feet of descents per day are enough to blow the mind of seasoned veteran’s and first time heli skiers alike. Our season kicks-off in February 2011 and continues through April.

Prefer to earn your turns? Backcountry skiing trips with Alaska Mountain Guides are paralleled only by Ski/Snowboard Mountaineering courses with IWLS. Courses and trips are filling quickly. Contact us soon!

Please call or email to learn more about our trips and courses.

Alaska Mountain Guides & Climbing School, Inc.
907-766-3366 Office
800-766-3396 Toll Free
climb@alaskamountainguides.com

International Wilderness Leadership School
801-742-0100
800-985-4957 Toll Free
info@iwls.com

Australia’s Italian snow holiday experts, Skiare Ski Tours have recently partnered with MTA Travel, so can now offer assistance with a full range of travel services including airfares, rail, overland tours, travel insurance and of course, their speciality, exceptional accommodation, ski hire, ski passes, instruction and tour packages in one of the most stunning ski terrains in the world, the Dolomites.

With the strengthen Aussie dollar and some special bonus offerings, now make a Skiare Dolomites ski holiday surprisingly affordable.

From February 5th to March 19th 2011, Skiare is throwing in seven days free ski hire with a Skiare Silver Holiday.

The Silver holiday package priced from just $1,750 based on a brand new ski in ski out apartment or $2,350 in private hotels with breakfast and dinner included is exceptional value as it includes 7 nights accommodation, 6 day Dolomite Superski pass with private transfers for a days skiing in Cortina and other ski areas when required, 6 days of guiding and instruction and transfers from Bolzano or Alta Badia.

Transfers from other locations such as Innsbruck, Verona, Venice or Munich are also available for a nominal surcharge.

What sets a Skiare holiday apart from others is that is highly personalised with each and every package being designed specifically to meet individual needs and the flexibility to cater for all tastes and budget with their range of hotels, pensions, B&B’s and apartments, all privately owned and run by the families who own them.

Part and parcel of the personalised Skiare experience is having a European expert ski instructor guide you to the best destinations in the Dolomites remarkable 1200 kilometre of skiable terrain while providing expert tuition and tips along the way; so whether you are a novice or seasoned skier, you will literally come away feeling like a local and better for the experience!

Skiare’s local knowledge guarantees you a sensational Dolomites experience. Skiare’s principals ski instructor, Thomas Peintner who was born and bred on the slopes of Alta Badia and his Australian wife Debbie who boasts more than 15 years experience working in travel, personally designs every ski day for their guests, whether it be a cruisy day skiing while exploring hidden valleys and taking in sights like spectacular frozen waterfalls or if you’re up for a challenge, skiing the World Cup run or long, untouched, powder laden off-piste trails and incredible shutes.

They also deliver on unexpected surprises and unique experiences ranging from unique plough horse tows run by local farmers, reaching a 3312 metre high glazier by helicopter to take the ultimate long run all the way back to your hotel!

You can even revisit history with a day long ski tour around the WWI battlefields, discover and exploring the troops hidden mountain tunnels and getting a first hand experience of the conditions that the Austrians and Italians encountered.

The ultimate day out however, is the Sellaronda, a 40 kilometre circular run which takes you through four picturesque valleys and villages.

And for those travelling with non-skiers who are interested in experiencing the beauty of the World Heritage listed Dolomites, without hitting the slopes, they can organise alternative activities ranging from Farmer’s Cooking Classes to museum visits.

While steeped in culture, the recently listed world heritage Dolomites are not lacking in technology, boasting state of the art snow making, heated gondolas and even high tech lift tickets which scan then record your every run so you can revisit your adventure on-line and see where you’ve been and how much territory you covered each day.

The off snow and après ski experiences are just as rewarding. With three languages and a wonderful fusion of Italian, Austrian and Ladin cultures, new experiences are around every corner.

Whether you are wanting to try local delicacies at the local’s favourite eateries, fine wining and dining at a 3 Michelin Star restaurant or even visiting some exceptional local wine cellars, Skiare’s knowledge of the 100 plus mountain huts, local bars, pizzerias, trattorias, Michelin Star and Gambero Rosso restaurants is second to none.

The Dolomites season kicks off on November 27th and runs through until April 10th 2011 and if last year’s winter is any indication, this year promises to be a bumper season

Further information is available at

www.skiare.com.au

Finnkirka, the elegant sea cliff at the entrance to Kjøllefjord in Finnmark, takes on the form of a monumental cathedral and is an old Sami sacrificial site. Hurtigruten has for decades presented Finnkirka as Europe’s most elegant cliff. Now it is built up to be one of Hurtigruten’s major winter attractions in the north.

It is a holy place that emerges in front of the eyes of the guests onboard the Hurtigruten ships as they enter Kjøllefjord.

A cathedral formed rock formation rises from the water. The cliffs are shaped like a church: the so-called “Finnkirka”, “The Sami church”. In the past, this location was used as a sacrificial site by the Sami people, and even today the locals still worship this special place.

Some time ago, the local population and Hurtigruten came up with the idea of keeping the holy splendour of the Finnkirka ablaze with light even during the winter months.

The very special lightshow premiered October 18.

Light artist Kurt Hermansen set the glowing stage for the Finnkirka. “Its almost like words cannot describe this spectacle. You just have to experience it”, enthuses Vebjørn Jacobsen, head of the Finnkirka project at Hurtigruten.

Light plays a crucial role throughout the whole Hurtigruten voyage – even in winter.

The sun is only marginally over the horizon, and north of the Arctic Circle it does not appear at all for several weeks. Yet the winter landscape of the Norwegian coast shines in fascinating colours in the twilight.

During the winter months, the colour palette ranges from arctic blue and snow white to fiery yellow and soft mother of pearl.

“The interplay of light and shadow is wonderfully mysterious”, is how Hurtigruten guest Iselin Marshall from France describes the impressions of her winter trip.

Another mystical experience is the Northern Lights, the highlight of any journey in the cold winter season. Those who have witnessed the fascinating polar lights are sure never to forget this sight. It is a natural spectacle that does not happen at the press of a button.

It requires a bit of luck. That is why the Hurtigruten ships follow “the traces of the Northern Lights” and support the search for the glowing phenomenon with varied activities onboard and wintery land excursions.

French guest Marshall was particularly impressed with the tour to the North Cape in early January: “The sun appeared for just a few minutes, creating a very mystical atmosphere.”

And while the Hurtigruten guests still enthuse about their excursion to the North Cape or the dog sledge tour over a crispy roasted fish cake on the outer deck, the Northern Lights suddenly appear.

They complete their whirly dance in the dark sky, they jerk, shine and disappear again. British guest Graham Denby is deeply fascinated: “What a very special and truly impressive experience.”

The magical Finnkirka light show can be experienced daily on board the Hurtigruten vessels until the end of the winter season in March.

Hurtigruten is a world leader in expedition cruising and is represented in Australia by Discover the World Marketing.

For more information contact Hurtigruten on 1800 OCEANS (1800 623 267)

hurtigruten@discovertheworld.com.au

Visit the Big Apple and shop til you drop. This Bloomingdales Shop Til You Drop Package includes overnight stay ONLY at Doubletree Guest Suites Times Square or Doubletree Metropolitan Hotel PLUS the following items upon check-in:

- $50 Bloomingdales gift card.
- 15% Bloomingdales savings certificate.
- Complimentary Bloomingdales signature gift and package delivery from Bloomingdales to your hotel (on purchases of $250 or more).
- 10% Macy’s savings certificate.
- 10% off at NHL Store.
- South Street Seaports savings packet.
- Complimentary champagne toast at Thalassa Restaurant.
- 20% off 50 or 80 minute spa treatment at Equinox (14 Wall Street location only).
- $15 off of Top Button’s Walking Shopping Tour.


- 15% off at City Crab and Seafood Restaurant.

Book our Bloomingdales Shop Til You Drop Package today by visiting www.hilton.com/nyc-shoppers  or by calling 1-800-HILTONS and requesting plan code B21.
Package is available at these six hotels ONLY – now through June 30, 2011.

Fiji will host the 2011 Asia Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) team championship, The Nomura Cup, from 16-19 August 2011, in the process becoming the first South Pacific island nation to stage the prestigious event.

A total of 14 countries including Australia, Bangladesh, Cook Islands, Guam, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Taiwan and Thailand will contest the trophy next year.

Venues for the event will be Denarau Island and the Vijay Singh-0designed Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course marking the first time the event has been played across different links in its 48-year history.

Announcing its decision to stage the event in Fiji, the world governing body of Golf, Royal & Ancient of Scotland (R&A) said the development of Natadola Bay and the Denarau golf courses and the increased interest in golf in the destination had been a catalyst for the decision to stage the event in Fiji.

Safari Island Lodge has announced the opening of its new dive operation – Nananu-I-Ra Island RAKIRAKI.

Targeting Bligh Waters + Vatu-I-Ra Passage as its main areas, the operation can cater for up to 24 Divers with 80 Tanks available on two dive boats.

For further information, please contact Mr Warren Francis at

warren@safarilodge.com.fj

Bounty Island has launched a ticket-to-the-past cultural experience featuring the Mamanuca Island group’s first firewalking display.

The resort’s new cultural program – offered every Wednesday and Saturday – showcases the Firewalkers of Beqa, legendary for their ability to walk on white hot stones. Visitors also experience natural herbal medicines, indigenous dance, wood carving and traditional weaving as part of the cultural experience.

Much of the cultural experience is provided by Bounty Island’s Nakelo landowners, the direct descendants of the first Fijians.

The program is open to guests from all island resorts and all hotels on the mainland, as well as cruise ship passengers who often have limited free time to experience the local Fijian culture.

More information visit www.fiji-bounty.com