Jetsettersblog

For The Mature Traveller

Anyone who longs to head off on a grown up gap year adventure but can’t face the thought of sharing a hostel or bedsit dormitory with a group of fellow travellers can now explore the world on wheels with Oz-Bus’s new ‘Comfort’ trip.

Oz-Bus is the adventure travel company that runs overland bus trips between London and Sydney, Kathmandu and New York. Embracing the surge in interest from the mature market, the entrepreneurial overland bus operator has launched a new trip offering an upgraded level of accommodation with twin share hotel accommodation in central locations.

All the adventure and excitement of the unknown will still exist on the journey, which crosses the globe in 88 days, but the new ‘Comfort Trip’ – which takes in 17 countries and three continents – will provide more in the way of creature comforts to appeal to the mature passenger.

Private twin share hotel accommodation will be automatically booked, rather than the current hostel and dormitory style accommodation that is offered to passengers, albeit still using local operators and accommodation that reflect an authentic experience of the country through which the bus is passing. Passengers will still enjoy the great outdoors in Australia where quality campsites are used from Darwin to Sydney.

Latest statistics gleaned from studies made over a year after Oz-Bus was re-launched show that 60% of bookings are from passengers aged over thirty, and 25% are made by passengers over 60.

The oldest passenger that Oz-Bus has hosted was an 82 year old grandmother who travelled all the way from London to New York on the pioneering trip via Russia and China earlier this summer. Almost 58% of passengers are female.

Oz-Bus owner Alastair Chrystal says: “While I was initially surprised by the numbers of older people wanting to travel on Oz-Bus, I am delighted that we should hold such all-round appeal, and ultimately the demand has given us the flexibility to develop our product and offer much more complex and culturally-oriented itineraries, such as the London-New York trip. Having listened to our passengers’ feedback, however, it became clear that many of the older passengers were keen to upgrade their accommodation. The younger adventure travel market is still very important to us and we recognise that this market is highly price sensitive so we have kept the budget trip and just added another level of product.

“I am very confident we will have no problem filling both levels of journey.”

The new Comfort Oz-Bus trip from London to Sydney costs £6799 per person which includes a refundable flight supplement of £600 and a local payment of €400. The original ‘Budget’ London to Sydney trip costs £5299, which includes a refundable flight supplement of £600 and a local payment of €250.

Prices include all travel, accommodation, breakfast daily, tour leader and guides in each country, and national park permits.

In addition to its London to Sydney trips, in 2011 Oz-Bus will be also running four trips from London to Kathmandu, three in budget and two at the comfort level, costing from £2749 per person, and a repeat of the sell-out London to New York trip which completed its pioneering journey on the 21st June. Brand new for 2011 will be the option of travelling by Oz-Bus from London to Beijing.

For more information visit www.oz-bus.com  or telephone:
(UK) 0800 7319427 (International) +44 1480 810080,

A beautiful 16th century Medici property, is offering its international clientele a special package on occasion of the first exhibition at Palazzo Strozzi in Florence, totally dedicated to the painter Agnolo di Cosimo, called the Bronzino (1503-1572), one of the most important author of the 16th century, during the Medici.

This unique event shows the history of the city of Florence.

The Offer Includes and is valid from the 1st October to the 6th November 2010 only….

- 2 nights in a deluxe double room

- Full buffet breakfast at the Restaurant (or Continental in the room)

- A 3-course dinner at the “Verrocchio” Restaurant (beverages not included)

- A beauty treatment per person at the Beauty Centre

- Free use of the Fitness Centre

- Daily courtesy shuttle from/to Villa La Massa and Florence (Ponte Vecchio)

- An entrance ticket per person for the exhibition and a catalogue

- Guided tour of the exhibition in the preferred language

£ 395.00 per person sharing in a double room tax and service included.

In a move to further grow the game of golf countrywide for the next generation of golfers and coaches, The Gleneagles Hotel has been named the home of the PGA National Academy for Scotland. As a result of this new branding, Gleneagles’ Golf Academy will now be known as the PGA National Academy, Scotland, the premier destination in the country for learning, developing and improving all aspects of the golf game.

The Wee Course will be renamed the Academy Course, and it will be promoted as a more versatile facility with a great atmosphere to learn the game. Artificial playing surfaces will be added over the winter to allow supervised group sessions to take place within this “on course” environment.

Commenting on the plans, Colin Pearson, the PGA’s strategic head of golf development (Scotland) said, “The addition of the PGA National Academy at Gleneagles is a fantastic boost to the many exciting developments that are already happening in Scottish golf at the moment. This facility will provide an excellent opportunity for players and coaches to work together to develop their skills and expertise, and over time can potentially provide a focal point for the development of coaching and education in Scotland.”

As part of the five-year development plan for The PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles, Jack Nicklaus will return to the course he originally designed to oversee refinements to the layout in preparation for the 2014 Ryder Cup to be played at the property.

Work is scheduled to begin this coming winter, with the initial focus being on the 7th, 10th and 18th holes.

The intent is to modernize the holes for today’s game and technology, as well as create some slight aesthetic changes and a better flow for spectators. Nicklaus’ original design opened in 1993 and he has since been kept abreast of the course’s progress. Following a visit in 2009, he made some suggestions designed to help with the overall preparation of the course for the 2014 Ryder Cup.

A member of Virtuoso, The Leading Hotels of the World, American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts and Connoisseurs Scotland, Gleneagles is set on 850 acres in Perthshire, Scotland. The hotel has three of the finest inland courses in the world — The PGA Centenary (host of the 2014 Ryder Cup), the challenging King’s Course and the picturesque Queen’s Course — the Spa at Gleneagles by ESPA, the Shooting School, the Equestrian School, the British School of Falconry, and the Gundog School (the first of its kind in the world). Additional active pursuits such as off-road 4×4 driving on two specially developed courses, tennis, fly fishing, swimming, croquet and more.

Gleneagles is located one hour’s drive from Glasgow or Edinburgh, both of which are easily accessible with direct flights from various U.S. gateways.

For more information, call 866-463-8734, email resort.sales@gleneagles.com  or visit www.gleneagles.com

The Corinthia Hotel Lisbon, which has the largest, most modern hotel conference facility in Portugal’s capital, has relaunched its “Meet For Free” promotion.

This promotion, valid through Dec. 31, will provide meeting planners the opportunity to take advantage of a free meeting package for every room booked (minimum 10 rooms). The promotion was launched January 2010 to support meeting and event planners who, despite signs of economic recovery, must still look for good value without sacrificing the quality of their events. According to Susana Martins, sales and marketing director, Corinthia Hotel Lisbon, “we had such a tremendous response from the offer that the Meet For Free program accounted for approximately 38 percent of our total conference bookings this year.”

The free meeting package for each night booked includes accommodation with free Internet, American buffet breakfast, one full-day meeting room in theater style, two coffee breaks, one buffet lunch (chef’s choice) including two soft drinks, one complimentary room and one upgrade to Club Suite per 25 paying guests, dedicated personal Events At Corinthia assistant, pre-programmed mobile phone with useful contacts and free local calls, complimentary office for group organizer, and complimentary upgrade to the “Five Senses” suite for group organizer.

Corinthia’s 518-room luxury property, located in Lisbon’s financial district, is a 10-minute drive from the city center with its boulevards, museums and shops.

It is also within walking distance to metro and train stops.

The Corinthia Hotel Lisbon’s conference facility has 15 rooms, with an additional two rooms on the top floor, all with direct natural day light, and a capacity for up to 1,400 people in a multi-purpose 32,000-square-foot area with a private entrance from the outside.

Break-out rooms for smaller meetings or workshops support all conference halls.

A fully equipped business center is available with experienced staff on hand to assist with any special requirements.

The hotel also features a new 3,000-square-meter spa complex, in partnership with the internationally renowned Malo Health Group.

For more information,

email pfriedrich@carinohotels.com

or visit www.corinthiahotels.com

Milan’s Hotel Principe di Savoia, a member of the Dorchester Collection, recently picked up a pair of honors including a World Luxury Hotel Award 2010 for Best Luxury Business Hotel in Italy and a Certificate of Excellence 2010 from TripAdvisor.

The World Luxury Hotel Awards recognize properties that set the benchmark for excellence in 54 countries from Argentina to Zambia. The Best Luxury Business Hotel in Italy prize was awarded to Hotel Principe di Savoia out of 10 hotels in early October at the World Luxury Hotel Awards gala in Hau Hin, Thailand.

Winter rates at Hotel Principe di Savoia begin at 360 euros ($509). For more information, call 011 39 02-6230-5555 or visit www.hotelprincipedisavoia.com

Hovertravel, launched in 1965 and the world’s longest running commercial hovercraft operator, is the fastest way to travel between the Isle of Wight and Portsmouth, England.

The hovercraft travels at 45 knots and can reach up to 65 knots. With more than 25 million passenger journeys achieved since its inauguration, Hovertravel now carries an average of 70,000 passengers per month.

Hovertravel is also a freight operator and Royal Mail has used the hovercraft to carry post to the island since 1980.

Hovercrafts operate by means of a cushion of air which is created beneath its hull and which overcomes the natural force of friction that occurs when a vehicle is in contact with land or water and which must be overcome if efficient movement is to be achieved.

The air lifts the hull clear of the surface over which it is travelling and with the resultant absence of friction, very little power is then needed to make the hovercraft move.

The Hovertravel terminals are located at Quay Road in Ryde and Clarence Esplanade in Southsea.

The service takes under 10 minutes and runs every half hour between 6:15 a.m. and 8:30 p.m., with a 15-minute service operating at peak hours.

Hovertravel also operates a Hoverbus between the Southsea terminal and Gunwharf Quays/Portsmouth mainline rail station which takes just four minutes.

Single tickets are £8.50 ($13.67) for adults and £4 ($6.43) for children.

Tickets can be purchased at the Hovertravel terminals and can also be booked online at www.hovertravel.com

This year, 247 international cruise ships arrived in Helsinki, carrying with them approximately 340,000 passengers from 143 countries.

The number of passengers came close to equaling last year’s record, when 360,000 passengers visited Helsinki aboard cruise ships. The 2010 cruise ship season began with the first cruise ship visit on April 21 and ended on Oct. 12.

Up to six cruise ships called on Helsinki at the same time during the busiest days. “The outlook for next season is positive, as we have already received more reservations for 2011 than we did for 2010,” said Cruise Network Manager Tuija Aavikko.

Visitors from the U.S. continued to represent the largest nationality, accounting for approximately 21 percent of the total. The share of visitors from Europe is growing with each year, however, with 18 percent of passengers representing the U.K. and 15 percent from Germany. The next biggest nationalities represented are Spain, Italy and Canada.

Over half of the international cruise ships that call on Helsinki use the port facilities at Hernesaari.

The City of Helsinki has plans to develop the harbor area in preparation for next season.

The development project includes new signposting; tidier grounds and streets, including thematic fencing to liven up the area; waterbus connection from Hernesaari to city center; improvements to the shoreline promenade; clearer routes for cruise ship passengers; and an event market along routes to promote tourism services.

For more information, visit www.visithelsinki.fi

Camp Jabulani launched a hands-on voluntourism program for people interested in participating in the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre (HESC). A visit to the HESC is always offered to Camp Jabulani’s guests, but requests for more interactive and participative experience as opposed to the guided tour where animals are simply observed have led to the establishment of opportunities for deeper involvement.

Adine Roode, Camp Jabulani’s managing director, said, “It is truly heartening to see such extraordinary and genuine interest by our clientele in becoming actively involved in conservation. Moving way beyond the tendency to simply donate cash towards worthy causes is a desire to be part of the change for good.

“We have always held the belief that one person can make a staggering difference.

To see so many now interested is fantastic! It is for this reason that we have decided to bridge the gap, albeit on a very small scale, between the good intentions and the actions required to mobilize them.”

The Pioneer for Change Program includes three nights at Camp Jabulani, with the traditional daily menu of activities (including elephant-back safaris, game drives, bush walks, spa treatments, hot air ballooning, watching the elephants swim at the waterhole, and a guided tour of the HESC).

The fourth day, however, diverges from the regular program with a new educational and interactive program.

On that day, guest have an early breakfast and departure at 6:30 a.m. to arrive at the HESC is at 7 a.m.

After an introduction to the center’s general manager, and a brief orientation of the facilities and the activities planned for the day ahead, it is time to head over to the butchery.

Clients will help prepare food and feed the cheetahs, wild dogs and vultures and smaller animals, then clear the animals’ feeding areas.

Volunteers will also have the opportunity to visit the Animal Hospital, and to meet with HESC’s resident vet (subject to his being on site at the time).

He will discuss with them any particular cases of interest, and the general challenges faced by the HESC when it comes to rehabilitating orphaned and injured animals that arrive at the center.

To conclude the experience, participants will be able to ask questions of the management team before returning to Camp Jabulani.

Once the experience is complete, a “Pioneer for Change” certificate will be issued to each participant to endorse their efforts as volunteers for the day.

In recognition of the work done by volunteers towards the HESC and animal conservation at large, Camp Jabulani will offer the fourth night on a complimentary basis to successful Pioneers.

For more information, see

www.campjabulani.com

Quark Expeditions announced that its new Sea Spirit — the former Spirit of Oceanus operated by now-defunct Cruise West — will make its maiden Antarctic voyage in December.

Quark said the Sea Spirit is a departure for the company as it is a luxury ship. All 57 cabins have sitting areas, facilities en suite and exterior views; 15 cabins have private balconies accessed by sliding doors. The public amenities include a reception desk, exercise room and a hot tub next to a bistro. “Sea Spirit takes our quality to a new standard, without sacrificing our exceptional reputation for polar adventure,” said Quark President Hans Lagerweij.

The inaugural 20-day “Explorers’ Quest” itinerary sails from Ushuaia, Argentina, on Dec. 22 to the Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia and the Falkland Islands. Disembarkation is in Ushuaia on Jan. 10. The expedition includes a night in a hotel in Ushuaia before embarking the ship.

All meals, accommodation and activities are included in the price. Travelers will be taken ashore in inflatable rubber boats. They will visit penguin rookeries and research stations as well as enjoy tea at a private camp or farm in the Falklands. The per-person price for a Main Deck cabin is $14,590.

In addition to the “Explorers’ Quest” itinerary, Sea Spirit will sail 11- or 12-day “Antarctic Adventure” voyages along the western coast of the peninsula.

Per-person prices for a Main Deck cabin range from $6,890 to $7,390.

Sea Spirit’s most luxurious cabin is the Owner’s Suite, which has a separate living room with a game and meeting area.

Large sliding glass doors lead to a private sun deck at the bow of the ship.

Amenities include a walk-in closet, high-definition plasma TV/VCR combination, and a Bose stereo system. The en suite facilities have a jetted bathtub, and the separate bedroom has a king-size bed. There is a sofa-bed in the living room. The per-person price for Sea Spirit’s inaugural Antarctic voyage is $21,990.

The inaugural sailing is available at a “Buy One, Get One” price. Depending on the cabin category, travelers can save from $2,800 to $5,400.

For more information, call 888-892-0171 or visit www.quarkexpeditions.com

Princess Cruises will offer 11 seven-day Mexican Riviera cruises from Nov. 19, 2011, to May 5, 2012, on the Sapphire Princess.

The itinerary includes calls at Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas.

Sapphire Princess cruises roundtrip from the Port of Los Angeles and will depart on

Nov. 19, Dec. 10 and Dec. 31, 2011, and Jan. 28, Feb. 18, Feb. 25, March 3, March 24, March 31, April 7 and May 5, 2012.