Jetsettersblog

Norwegian Cruise Line has tightened its cancellation policies effectives with bookings made after Jan. 1.

“We review all of the policies from time to time,” NCL said. “This now puts us on par with the other lines in terms of the cancellation policy.”

The line will charge a 100 percent penalty for those who cancel 14 days before the cruise; currently the 100 percent penalty kicks in at seven days.

Currently, the deposit is forfeited for those who cancel 30 to 75 days in advance for a cruise six days or longer.

The penalty will increase to 50 percent or the deposit, whichever is greater, for cancellations 30 to 55 days out and 75 percent or the deposit 15 to 29 days before departure for six-day or longer cruises.

For garden villas, courtyard villas and specialty suites, the penalty is 25 percent or the deposit, whichever is greater, for cancellations 90 to 119 days prior regardless of cruise length, 50 percent or deposit at 56 to 89 days, and 100 percent for 55 days or less. Currently, the 100 percent penalty kicks in at 45 days or less.

“This is an opportunity for NCL to make more money,” said one travel agent. “They keep 100 percent of the client’s money and then turn around and sell the cabin.

” The 55 days for a specialty suite is a little much. It sure helps my insurance sales.”

Design Hotels’ Winter Spaces promotion gives guests more time and space in over 60 of its member hotels.

Those staying before April 3, 2011, can enjoy a free upgrade, a complimentary room night or save 10 percent off the best available rate when booking through

www.designhotels.com

Participating hotels include Wine & Spa Resort Loisium, a wine-themed hotel in Austria with its own vineyards; Wanderlust, a new quirky boutique hotel in Singapore with four floors designed by different design firms; and The Weinmeister, a city retreat for the creative crowd with Apple iMacs in every room.

For a full list of participating hotels, visit www.designhotels.com/winterspaces

The three different options are three for two, offering one complimentary overnight stay (minimum stay of three nights); a free upgrade to the next available room category (minimum stay of two nights); or save a minimum of 10 percent off the best available rate (minimum stay of two nights).

For more information, email res@designhotels.com  or visit www.designhotels.com/winterspaces .

Sol Meliá added 11 hotels to the exclusive “Preferred Hotel Group,” a worldwide sales solutions provider to more than 750 hotels and resorts under a brand portfolio characterized by luxury, innovation, service and elegance in the hotel industry.

The affiliation will reinforce the company’s strategic positioning in international markets in which the Preferred Hotel Group has been working for 40 years and where it boasts a great reputation.

The hotels admitted to the Preferred Hotel Group must comply with more than 1,600 quality standards which act as guarantees for the agents, subscribers and end consumers of the facilities and services they expect to find in the hotel, in addition to other controls such as independent inspections of the hotels. The hotels also benefit from the sales and marketing services provided by Preferred and from the Group’s strategic alliances with partners.

Sol Meliá has added two hotels from its Meliá brand, three from its ME by Meliá brand and six from Gran Meliá, the company’s flagship luxury brand.

All of the hotels, along with others that the company expects to add in the future, have met the standards demanded by the Preferred Hotel Group related to location, architecture, interior and exterior design, facilities, technological equipment and food and beverage services, amongst others.

The 11 hotels have been included in two of the five categories that make up the group — Preferred Hotels & Resorts (Gran Meliá Puerto Rico, Gran Meliá Cancun, Gran Meliá Don Pepe, Gran Meliá Colón, Gran Meliá Palacio de Isora, Gran Meliá Victoria, ME Madrid, ME Barcelona and ME Cancun) and Summit Hotels & Resorts (Meliá México Reforma and Meliá Cabo Real).

For more information, visit www.preferredhotelgroup.com

Gutsy Women Travel is offering a nine-day/eight-night Costa Rican Traditions Tour and a special savings of $200 when clients bring a friend on a double occupancy package.
The group will view the Arenal Volcano and observe the tumbling lava rocks and spewing gases and relax at the luxurious Tabacon Resort with its hot springs and tropical gardens.

The trip includes a yoga session on the beach at the tropical paradise of Playa Tambor on the Pacific Ocean.

At night, clients can venture with their tour manager to the hip community of Montezuma whose town is filled with art and cafes.

A visit to one of the most scenic reserves in Costa Rica, Monteverde Cloud Forest, is also included.

Costa Rican Traditions arrives Jan. 15, 2011, and is priced at $2,210 per person, double occupancy.

Share accommodations are priced from $2,310 and single supplement is $710 for those who would like their own accommodations.

For more information, visit

www.gutsywomentravel.com

Hilton Garden Inn launched an online Facebook sweepstakes for a chance to win a free weekend getaway. Facebook fans can enter the sweepstakes at

www.Facebook.com/HiltonGardenInn and five lucky fans will be chosen at random to receive a free two-night weekend getaway at their choice of more than 510 Hilton Garden Inn locations around the world.

Hilton Garden Inn’s Enjoy a Holiday from the Holidays Sweepstakes starts Nov. 22 at 12 a.m. ET and is open through Dec. 13 at 11:59 pm ET. In order to enter the sweepstakes, Facebook users must “like” Hilton Garden Inn and be older than 18 years of age. The five lucky winners will be chosen at random on Dec. 17.

To enter the Holiday Recovery Sweepstakes, visit www.Facebook.com/HiltonGardenInn

For more information, call 877-STAY-HGI or visit www.HGI.com

Best Western is offering a bonus reward to travelers who purchase a $100 Best Western Travel Card online at www.travelcard.bestwestern.com/holiday10us

The Best Western Travel Card can be used like cash to pay for accommodations and incidentals at more than 4,000 Best Western hotels worldwide. For every $100 Best Western Travel Card purchased, choose from one of the following rewards — 2,500 Best Western Rewards points, $10 Best Western Travel Card, $10 Amazon.com Gift Card, $10 Home Depot Gift Card, $10 Walmart Gift Card, or a $10 Carrabbas, Flemings or Outback Steakhouse Gift Card. To receive the bonus, you must be a member of Best Western Rewards and purchase the card at www.travelcard.bestwestern.com/holiday10us 

If you are not a member of Best Western Rewards, join for free at the ad above.

Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants announced a national “Spark Your Spirit” campaign at 51 Kimpton hotels in 23 cities across the country.

From now until Jan. 15, travelers are treated to holiday-inspired perks, including Secret Social Upgrades.

Guests who find the secret winter password on Kimpton’s Facebook or Twitter pages can recite it upon arrival to receive a complimentary perk, from a restaurant appetizer to room upgrade.

With Warm Me Up Treats, travelers can enjoy hot and cold chai tea and coffee in the morning and make their own hot chocolate with all the fixings each afternoon in the living room-style lobby. It’s a Wonderful Wine Hour offers complimentary hot toddies (spirits optional), red and white wines and seasonal bites by the fire are the perfect escape from cold winter nights.

With Wii Love Winter, travelers can spark their competitive spirit with winter Wii games in the hotel lobby during wine hour. With Spirited Sparks, guests can opt to purchase “Winter Maple Port” or “Honied Grouse” cocktails created by master mixologist Jacques Bezuidenhout at most adjacent Kimpton restaurants (cocktail recipes and photos available upon request).

Live Like a Local, offered as every hotel, includes daily tips and activities for how to explore the city, from fun daytime doings to a night on the town.

Mind.Body.Spa allows travelers to relax and wind down with a national 20 percent discount on all in-room spa services.

Travelers can book Kimpton’s “Spark Your Spirit” package in advance for $10 more than the best available rate, which includes overnight accommodations; a $25 food and beverage credit to be used at adjacent Kimpton Restaurants or for one in-room dining; and complimentary in-room movie and popcorn. The “Spark Your Spirit” package rates start at $179, vary by location and are based on availability.

Reservations can be made at www.KimptonHotels.com  and entering SPIRIT in the rate code box, or by calling 800-KIMPTON and requesting the “Spark Your Spirit” package.

The New York Palace Hotel is offering guests who book a three-night stay by Dec. 31 for travel between now and March 31, 2011, a 15 percent discount off their entire stay.

The Palace Hotel special includes a choice of Superior, Club, or Tower accommodations, including Premier Junior and Corner Suites.

Guests must stay all three nights to receive the promotional rate, which is subject to availability. Rates fluctuate, depending on stay dates. Discount applies to room rates and black-out dates apply.

To book a three-night stay at the New York Palace, call 212-888-7000 or email reservations@nypalace.com

For more information, visit www.nypalace.com .

The Jewel Hotel has opened its doors at 11 West 51st St., in New York City.

The hotel features 135 custom-designed guestrooms that range from single rooms to two-bedroom, two-bathroom suites with kitchenettes. Guestrooms feature workstations, luxury bedding, LCD TVs with multimedia connectivity and alarm clocks with iPod docking stations.

The Jewel features eco-friendly bathroom features and is targeting LEED Silver certification for environmentally sustainable design, construction and operation.

Other in-room amenities include free high-speed Internet access, coffee/tea maker, two-line speaker phone and portable phone with direct dial phone number.

Most rooms have floor-to-ceiling glass walls and some have views of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Radio City Music Hall and Rockefeller Center.

Guests of The Jewel can enjoy complimentary chilled bottled water, coffee, tea and newspapers.

The Jewel also provides a Lounge on the second floor with free high-speed wired and wireless Internet, free printing and use of work stations, as well as a fitness room and the option of exercise equipment delivered to the guestroom.

Guests also gain free access to year-round indoor/outdoor dining at the Terrace Club, located next door to the Jewel. Instant check-in via a high-tech reception kiosk awaits guests at their arrival.

A 24-hour guest services/concierge desk is also available to help find dining locations, suggest activities or give directions so that guests can make the most of their time in New York.

Additionally, guests of The Jewel receive discounts to area attractions, including visits to Top of the Rock and NBC Studios, as well as VIP tickets to the Museum of Modern Art. The Jewel offers full-service amenities and conveniences at rates, which start at $239 per night for a standard weekday room.

For more information, visit www.thejewelny.com

British Airways will increase its frequency of flights to Tampa, starting in March 2011.

The airline will serve this popular destination with one flight per day. Tampa is the perfect gateway for holidays in Florida, giving customers the chance to experience a wide range of destination and breaks, all easily reached from the convenience of one airport. From beaches and parks to the lively city centre and cultural centers, there is something for everyone.