Jetsettersblog

For a limited time, companies based in California that newly enroll in the American Airlines Business ExtrAA program can receive up to 20,000 Business ExtrAA bonus points — enough for 10 Economy PlanAAhead awards valid for travel in the Continental United States, Canada and Mexico.

Part of the American Airlines Business Suite of travel products, Business ExtrAA is a complimentary program that rewards small and medium-sized companies for doing business with American. With Business ExtrAA, companies accrue points when their employees travel for business on American Airlines, American Eagle or American Connection-operated flights and include the company’s Business ExtrAA account number in their reservations. Employees can also earn American Airlines AAdvantage miles on their personal frequent flyer accounts when traveling under their company’s Business ExtrAA number, so both the company and the individual traveler benefit.

This latest promotion is designed to support American’s expansion in Los Angeles as American and American Eagle grow service by 28 percent at Los Angeles International Airport with the introduction of 32 additional roundtrips beginning April 5, with new nonstop service to

Albuquerque, N.M.; Boise, Idaho; El Paso, Texas; Houston (George Bush Intercontinental); Oklahoma City; Phoenix; Salt Lake City; Sacramento, Calif.; Tucson, Ariz.; and Shanghai, China.

Through this promotion, companies in California that newly enroll in the Business ExtrAA program will have the opportunity to reach the maximum 20,000 points bonus via a stepped approach. To earn the first award ticket, companies must enroll in the Business ExtrAA program using promotion code BIGCAL and have any one of their employees fly one qualifying roundtrip using the company’s new account number during the offer period, March 21 through June 30, 2011.

Newly enrolled companies that spend $15,000 or more on qualifying flights within the offer period will earn another 8,000 Business ExtrAA bonus points, equivalent to an additional four roundtrip travel awards.

And companies that spend a total of $30,000 or more during the offer period will earn another 10,000 Business ExtrAA bonus points, equivalent to an additional five roundtrip travel awards.

Every employee who travels using the company’s Business ExtrAA account number can help the company earn points. For more information on the promotion, visit www.aa.com/bigcal.

Business ExtrAA points can be redeemed for more than 50 travel awards, including flights, upgrades, AAdvantage Gold status, and Admirals Club one-day passes, conference rooms and memberships. Companies can choose how points are redeemed.

For more information, call 800-457-7072 or visit www.aa.com/business.

Once upon a time, in a not-so-far-away land, American and British theatre lovers discovered that in Toronto, ON, they could buy a ticket to a Broadway-calibre show for 100 Canadian dollars, but it would only be $50 or £25 on their credit card statements back home.

Fans of Andrew Lloyd Webber flocked to Toronto to see Donny Osmond as the definitive Joseph in “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” while a few blocks away the magnificent puppetry of “The Lion King” was seen by nearly 3 million people.

While times have now changed for the credit-card statement (a $100 Canadian ticket will now cost $100 US or about £65), a ticket to Toronto theatre still provides exceptional value, as the performances and production quality of Toronto’s mega-shows are on par with New York’s Broadway and London’s West End.

Meantime, if you’re a true theatre fan like me, you know that much of the world’s finest theatre happens “off” Broadway and “off” West End. In Toronto, there’s no equivalent term but there isan equivalent experience—and this is where visitors to Canada are reminded they’re not in New York or London.

The lesser-known performance spaces of Canadian Stage Company, Buddies in Bad Times, VideoCabaret, Acting Upstage and many others deliver theatre experiences that send audience members away with powerful—often uniquely Canadian—memories. And that’s true value.

VideoCabaret is not your everyday term, even in the theatre world. But as I discovered in Toronto, it’s code for some of the most powerful and most marvellously creative theatre I have ever seen.

In a nutshell, it works like this: book the back room of a nightclub, build a tiny black shadowbox (about 15 sq ft) as your stage, install pinpoint-perfect lighting, clothe and paint a mega-talented cast of about seven actors in hyperbolic style, and let them tell great Canadian tales through satirical language, facial expression and quick juxtaposition.

On my recent Toronto theatre trip, VideoCabaret took me through Canada’s involvement in World War I in a jarring, emotional, funny and poignant play—that included characters from Sir Wilfred Laurier to German POWs to the Duchess of Cornwall—all told within the confines of the shadowbox stage.

It is uniquely Toronto, and whatever tale these actors are telling, you need to experience it.

World’s Biggest Gay Theatre! Across town in the area known as Church Wellesley Village, theatregoers find the remarkable Buddies in Bad Times Theatre.

In a country where gay “issues” have mostly ceased to exist (Canadian gays have been allowed serve in the military since the early 90s, and could legally marry and adopt children since the early 2000s), it may seem like the gay stories have all been told. Well, Buddies in Bad Times has been telling gay stories since 1979, and today still finds plenty of GLBTQ material to perform on its stage—the largest facility-based queer theatre company in the world. The company’s 2011 season, says Artistic Director Brendan Healy, “tackles experiences of citizenship, racialization, religiosity, marginalization and social repression…encompassing the full complexities of contemporary queer existence with humour, intelligence and ferocity.”

Most recently was the remounting of “The Silicone Diaries,” which dramatizes a character’s male-to-female transition. Fascinating stuff.

Keeping it current. Perhaps best known of Toronto’s play producers is Canadian Stage, which has its own two gorgeous performance venues in the city centre, and mounts around 10-14 productions each year focusing on contemporary theatre.

Some of it, such as the upcoming productions of “Saint Carmen of the Main”and “Project: Humanity’s The Middle Place,” are decidedly Canadian with stories that take place in Canadian settings, while others take audience members to story settings around the planet and even into space.

On my recent theatre trip I was lucky enough to see “The Anderson Project,” a magical one-man show by legendary Canadian actor Robert Lepage.

Double Feature. There’s one piece of theatre that rarely gets mentioned in theatre stories, and that is the décor and history of the theatre venues themselves.

While Toronto has many world-class facilities, one stands out for its sheer historic significance—not to mention its pure visual interest regardless what’s playing on the stages: The Elgin & Winter Garden Theatres, which opened in 1913 (Irving Berlin performed) and 1914 respectively.

The fact that I said stages in the plural is not necessarily remarkable for a theatre venue; many modern performing arts centres have multiple stages in one complex.

What is unique about these two theatres is that they are stacked, literally, on top of each other. The Winter Garden sits seven storeys above the Elgin.

They are the only surviving “double-decker” theatres still operating in the world. Tours are offered that take theatre and architecture lovers through the elegant, gilded Elgin before venturing way upstairs to the magical Winter Garden, a theatre like none I’ve everseen.

Its walls are covered in delicate garden murals and the support columns are disguised as trees; the ceilings are covered in leaves and paper lanterns.

While these theatres don’t have a resident company, they are in frequent use by professional and community theatres. Those lucky patrons who saw Donny Osmond in “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” saw him at the Elgin.

You can catch Christopher Plummer as “Barrymore”there from the end of January to the beginning of March this year.

While once upon a time Toronto’s theatre scene was about dollar value, today it’s definitely a scene in its own right. Whether watching mega-productions such as the recent pre-Broadway run of “Priscilla Queen of the Desert” and the upcoming “The Secret Garden”(Feb. 8-March 19)or tiny-but-powerful shows mounted inside a black shadowbox stage, theatregoers will find that Toronto’s live performance scene is an exceptionally valuableexperience, with memories that live happily ever after.

Selected Toronto Theatres and/or Companies
Acting Up Stage Company: mostly musicals, some new works
Angelwalk Theatre: mostly musicals
BirdLand Theatre: plays and musicals
Buddies in Bad Times Theatre: world’s largest facility-based queer theatre company
Canadian Stage: mostly contemporary theatre
Crow’s Theatre: mostly plays questioning accepted truths about history
Dancap Productions: large-scale musicals
Factory Theatre Company: new Canadian plays
Hart House Theatre (University of Toronto): variety of productions
Little Red Theatre: children’s theatre
Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People: youth theatre
Mirvish Productions: large-scale musicals
Nightwood Theatre: mostly women’s theatre
Stage Centre Productions: classic theatre
Studio 180: mostly “socially relevant” theatre
Tarragon Theatre: new plays
VideoCabaret: satirical historic drama in blackbox stage

www.ontariotravel.net

Avanti Destinations is offering two new luxury romance packages in Europe.

Avanti’s new Romantic Tuscan Escape is a three-day package in Castel Monastero, a luxurious five-star Tuscan villa near Siena.

The villa is known for its romantic atmosphere, gourmet cuisine and wonderful spa treatments.

The property offers scenic vistas of the nearby village, rolling hills and vineyards.

Internationally renowned Chef Gordon Ramsey oversees the menus of the villa. Included are two nights’ accommodations, a candlelight dinner, a 20-minute massage, a three-day compact car rental to explore the countryside and daily breakfast at the villa.

Pricing is from $1,225.

Romantic Croatia is a perfect getaway accented with the breathtaking scenery of Croatia.

It spotlights the beautiful UNESCO World Heritage towns of Dubrovnik and Split, which are located on the picturesque Dalmatian shore.

Adding to the romantic ambiance is a stay on the intimate island of Hvar, an idyllic setting with its fields of lavender, stunning white sand beaches and quaint medieval old town.

The package includes one night in Split, three in Dubrovnik and three in Hvar.

Also in the package is a private sightseeing tour in Split and Dubrovnik, two dinners in charming local restaurants, ferry tickets and transfers, a bottle of select Croatian wine to greet arrival in Split and Dubrovnik, and more.

The eight-day Romantic Croatia program is priced from $2,425.

According to Harry Dalgaard, president of Avanti, “Europe has always been a dream destination for honeymoons and anniversaries, and with a recovering economy, it is more popular than ever.

To help travel agents capitalize on this growing demand, we have created two new romance packages that appeal to those who seek something very special for their romantic vacations and honeymoons.

We have expanded romance options throughout Europe and Latin America. These new options, combined with our specialty packages created for lovers of wine and food, a honeymoon or romantic vacation can easily be created by our travel agent customers.”

For more information, call 800-422-5053 or visit www.AvantiDestinations.com

In response to a steady increase in solo travelers, Abercrombie & Kent is waiving the single supplement or reducing it by as much as 75 percent on journeys to the destinations most requested by solo travelers, from African safaris to cultural discovery programs in Europe to adventure cruises to the Galapagos Islands and boutique river cruising on China’s Yangzi River.

“Small group escorted travel is a natural fit for solo travelers,” says Scott Wiseman, president of Abercrombie & Kent USA.

“Not only does it allow a solo guest the ability to share the experience of exploring a destination with other like-minded travelers, but at the end of each day he or she is able to enjoy the privacy of their own accommodations.”

Abercrombie & Kent is offering more than 30 Solo Savings departures on 13 of its most popular programs.

Highlights of China includes the Great Wall, the Terra Cotta Warriors and the Three Gorges.

A behind-the-scenes tour of the country’s only underground museum reveals the secrets of ancient China.

Explore the Yangzi River and life along its scenic shores on a luxury cruise aboard the award-winning Sanctuary “Yangzi Explorer,” 12 days from $5,475 plus $945 single supplement (was $1,890).

The Snows of Kilimanjaro ascends Africa’s highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro, skirting highland montane and dense rubber tree forests, through haunting volcanic lava landscapes and breathtaking canyons.

In the forest zone, watch for elephant, blue monkey, bush pig, perhaps even baboon.

Eleven days, priced from $5,340 plus $0 single supplement (was $945).

Tanzania Wildlife Discovery takes guests to a wildlife haven, the Ngorongoro Crater, where clients can view game by hot-air balloon over the Serengeti’s immense, open plains and breathe deeply under Tanzania’s star-studded night skies.

Meet the Maasai and visit Olduvai Gorge, where ancient fossils provided clues to man’s origins. Ten days, priced from $5,650 plus $0 single supplement (was $530).

Wings Over Kenya immerses clients in Amboseli National Park, the Laikipia Plateau and the Masai Mara, while flying between permanent tented and A&K mobile camps. Survey a private stretch of river where hippo gather; and unwind over elegant meals and intimate sundowners.

Eleven days, priced from $8,775 plus $0 single supplement (was $1,625).

Egypt Unveiled explores Egypt’s historic wonders, featuring visits to pyramids and temples; a luxury Nile cruise aboard Sun Boat IV stopping at Luxor and off-the-beaten-track Denderah, Edfu and Kom Ombo; and sail around Elephantine Island in a felucca.

Eleven days, from $5,165 plus $0 single supplement (was $1,380).

Turkey: A Journey Through History shows how Turkey transformed from its Greek and Roman beginnings through the glories of the Ottoman Empire.

View the masterpieces and riches that remain in its ancient cities — Perge, Ephesus, Phaselis and Aphrodisias — and those created by master builder Sinan in Istanbul.

Thirteen days, from $9,975 plus $951 single supplement (was $3,805).

“In a recent survey of Abercrombie & Kent’s solo travelers, nearly 40 percent chose to travel solo because their partner doesn’t share their interest in the destination or time and scheduling conflicts may prevent family or friends from joining them,” said Wiseman.

“Twenty-five percent prefer to travel alone — perhaps to pursue a special interest, like history or wildlife photography.”

Many of Abercrombie & Kent’s small group escorted programs feature low single supplements of 15 percent or less.

With multiple departure dates to choose from and a varied range of destinations and experiences, including Extreme Adventures, A&K makes it effortless for solo travelers to find the right journey to discover the world on their own.

In 2010, 18 percent of all Abercrombie & Kent adventure cruise bookings were solo travelers. Small ship cruising attracts the solo traveler not only because of the intimate atmosphere and attentive service found on a smaller vessel, but also the attractive solo travel rates offered by A&K.

From single stateroom options on MV Eclipse in the Galápagos, to MV Le Boreal in Antarctica, where select single supplements are only 30 percent of the double rate (typical industry single supplements are between 50 percent and 100 percent).

Travel with A&K combines the convenience, service and security of a U.S.-based company with a network of 60 on-site offices around the world, providing round-the-clock support. Private airport transfers are provided on arrival and departure. An A&K tour director accompanies all escorted journeys, from beginning to end, to offer insider expertise on everything from local history and architecture to the best restaurants and shopping, in addition to being a friendly travel companion focused on ensuring each member of the group enjoys the trip to the fullest.

For more information, call 800-554-7094 or visit www.abercrombiekent.com

Green Tea LLC introduced Travaasa Destinations, a new collection of experiential destination hotels. The hospitality brand combines an extensive selection of customizable programming with natural locations.

The first Travaasa Destination, Travaasa Austin, will open April 14, 2011. The second property, formerly known as Hotel Hana-Maui, is slated to open as Travaasa Hana in June 2011.

The collection will be adding additional properties in desirable ocean, desert, rainforest and mountain locales that feature signature rich cultural heritage.

Each property in the Travaasa Destinations collection delivers locally infused programming within five core pillars — adventure, culinary, culture, fitness and spa.

Guests of Travaasa Destinations choose their own schedule, with varying skill and fitness difficulty levels available.

The pricing model includes all activities, daily spa services, gourmet meals, snacks and accommodations. Rates start at $595 per person, per night based on double occupancy.

Travaasa Destinations’ portfolio consists of campus-style hotel properties, each with less than 100 rooms, which blend harmoniously with natural surroundings and incorporate local flavor into all features of the property.

Travaasa Destinations’ current properties were acquired by Green Tea LLC., in 2010 for undisclosed sums.

Debuting on April 14, 2011, Travaasa Austin is located on 210 acres of the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve overlooking beautiful Lake Travis in Texas Hill Country, 30 minutes from downtown Austin.

The property infuses Austin’s strong musical background and Western roots throughout its selection of activities and comfortable décor to create an experience that reflects the culture of the region.

Programming ranges from equine experiences at the on-site stables, cowboy poetry and storytelling at the fire pit and an outdoor challenge course to fitness classes, yoga sessions, and spa treatments.

Texas-fusion cuisine, such as the chef’s signature chocolate pepper cake, immerse guests in local tastes while cooking demonstrations and skills courses allow visitors to take a little bit of Austin home with them.

Travaasa Hana is located along the shoreline on 69 acres of Maui’s eastern coast. The 70 rooms include sprawling sea-ranch cottages and bungalow-style garden suites, offering dramatic ocean and mountain views, many featuring private lanai hot tubs. Whether participating in the hotel’s calming health and wellness classes, enjoying cultural programming such as traditional lei making, surfing Maui’s legendary waves or hiking through lush tropical forests, Travaasa Hana’s upscale amenities and tranquil location make for countless memorable experiences for guests. Travaasa Hana will open in June 2011.

Green Tea LLC is a subsidiary hotel acquisition, development and management company owned by Amstar, a real estate investment manager with more than $1.5 billion in assets.

The Travaasa Destinations concept is the brainchild of Joy Berry, an executive director of Amstar and co-founder and president of Green Tea LLC, and Chris Manning, a vice president of Amstar and co-founder and principal of Green Tea LLC.

For more information, call 855-TO-TRAVAASA or visit www.travaasa.com

Blount Small Ship Adventures will commemorate its 45th year of business in 2011. The company will celebrate this milestone all year long with new cruise itineraries and onboard festivities for guests.

In 2011, the company is offering 22 cruise itineraries. New routes explore the Mississippi River and the shores of New England and Canada. Many of the company’s popular cruises will be offered again in 2011 with an expanded schedule of activities, including more excursions, guest lectures, wine tastings, culinary demonstrations, onboard naturalists, photography workshops and more.

All of the company’s ships have been refurbished.

The ships still have their signature bow landings, allowing guests to step directly from ship to shore, and retractable pilot houses, taking its ships below the lowest bridges of waterways like the Erie Canal, where larger ships cannot travel.

“When my father founded this company in 1966, his vision was to take our passengers to destinations that the big ships simply couldn’t reach,” said Nancy Blount, president of the company. “Last year, we changed our name to Blount Small Ship Adventures to honor my father and our company’s visionary, Captain Luther H. Blount. Today I’m so pleased that we can celebrate the success of his business with exhilarating new cruise itineraries and special onboard opportunities for our guests.”

New Itineraries for 2011 include “Journey through Central America: Belize to Guatemala,” “Gems of the Virgin Islands,” “Caribbean Spectacular: St. Maarten & Antigua,” “Bahama Beachlovers: Caicos to Nassau,” “Skylines and Islands: New York City to Toronto,” “Discover Ontario: Scenic Georgian Bay,” “Charming Chesapeake Bay” and “Cultures and Traditions: Charleston to the Chesapeake.”

For more information, call 800-556-7450 or visit www.blountsmallshipadventures.com

Austin-Lehman Adventures launched three new family adventures to National Parks this year.

The trips embrace the best of Yosemite, Bryce/Zion and Arches National Parks.

“National Park vacations have always been a major part of our offerings,” said Dan Austin, founding director, noting that his company first began offering trips into Yellowstone decades ago.

“Year after year it’s our Yellowstone Park vacation packages that outsell all others; however we have seen interest in all of our National Park vacations grow at an astounding rate.”

The three new National Park vacations are for families with children ages 7 and up. All are six-day/five-night itineraries. Yosemite Family Vacation is offering departures July 10 to 15, July 17 to 22, July 31 to Aug. 5 and Aug. 7 to 12.

The per-person double rate is $2,398 ($780 single supplement), and from $1,918 to $2,158 for children.

For 2011, Austin-Lehman Adventures’ Preserve a Park Program recipient will be Yosemite National Park, with $100 per guest booked on all Yosemite vacations going to the Yosemite Conservancy.

This California adventure gets up close and personal with a 2,425-foot waterfall, a soaring 8,842-foot granite dome, and a 3,000-year-old, 300-foot-tall Giant Sequoia tree, with hiking, rock climbing, swimming and rappelling to complete action-packed days.

Utah’s Bryce/Zion Family Vacation departs June 26 to July 1, July 3 to 8 and Aug. 21 to 26.

The per-person double rate is $1,998 ($580 single supplement), and from $1,598 to $1,798 for children. Guests hike past waterfalls, natural springs and hanging gardens in Zion’s Virgin River Narrows, ranked one of America’s best adventures by National Geographic; ramble streamside in Kolob Canyon beneath sheer, 1,600-foot sandstone walls; take a sunset bike ride through Snow Canyon State Park; and hike the magical hoodoo rock formations of Bryce’s Peek-a-Boo and Queens Garden trails.

Arches to Moab Family Vacation departs June 12 to 17 and June 19 to 25, with additional adult departures May 29 to June 3, June 5 to 10, Aug. 28 to Sept. 2 and Sept. 4 to 9.

The per-person rate double is $2,398 ($680 single supplement), and from $1,198 to $2,158 for children.

This trip includes biking into Colorado National Monument’s burnt-orange sheer-walled canyons, rafting Westwater Canyon of the Colorado River beneath ancient granite walls dating back over 1.7 billion years, and studying petroglyphs and rituals of Fremont, Anasazi and Navajo communities of hundreds of years past.

Austin noted that in addition to high demand for Yellowstone vacation packages this year, demand for his Glacier National Park tours is also above average with a 35 percent increase in early season bookings.

“It is clear the national parks of the West continue to be those iconic destinations on everyone’s wish list,” Austin said, adding that the “Canadian Rockies are experiencing a comeback this year as well.” He attributed this interest in great part to the documentary work of Ken Burns (“America’s Best Idea”) and plans to add a Yellowstone Luxury Safari Camp & Lodge trip in 2012 and National Parks of the Northeast in 2013.

Austin-Lehman Adventures, with a 37-year legacy, provides adventure vacations on five continents, specializing in small group active travel to destinations in North, Central and South America, Europe, the Pacific Rim and Africa, offering family multi-sport, hiking, biking vacations that emphasize history, culture and nature’s charms.

Trips are limited to 12 guests (18 on family departures) and feature excellent regional dining, distinctive accommodations and all-inclusive rates and services. In addition to scheduled group departures, ALA offers customized trip planning. ALA offers each traveler a money-back satisfaction guarantee.

For more information, including a free 2011 catalog, call 800-575-1540, e-mail info@austinlehman.com  or visit www.austinlehman.com

Dvorak Expeditions is offering a fly-fishing adventure in Colorado’s Gunnison Gorge in June.

It’s rafting outfitter Bill Dvorak’s favorite time to guide wide-eyed fishermen on what many refer to as the nirvana of Rocky Mountain fly-fishing trips.

It begins in early June when water temperatures start to increase and continues for three to four weeks.

Large stoneflies, also known as salmonflies, averaging three inches in length, emerge from the river bottom to hatch, breed, flutter through the air, and land on the water.

Native trout, which derive three-quarters of their year’s protein from this short-lived hatch, go into a feeding frenzy. “That’s when the fun really begins,” said Dvorak, owner of Dvorak’s Rafting Expeditions, who has been leading commercial fishing expeditions through the gorge since 1982.

“Every time you make a cast during the stonefly hatch you have a legitimate chance of catching the biggest fish you’ve ever seen.”

The Gunnison River as it flows through the Gunnison Gorge, downriver from the national park of the same name, traditionally has the largest stonefly hatch of any Colorado fishery.

Rainbows and browns over five pounds are common.

The remote stretch of backcountry water (accessible only by foot and horseback) has been designated Gold Medal by the Colorado Division of Wildlife.

The reason for the Gunnison’s reputation is its inaccessibility.

There are only three trails leading into the Gunnison Gorge giving access to approximately one mile of bank fishing at each trail head.

The only way to fish the entire 14-mile corridor is by raft and there are only two commercial launch permits issued on any given day.

To access the launch site fishermen must hike one mile down a steep trail to the river while horses pack-in all the gear.

Dvorak Expeditions limits its trips to eight anglers accompanied by four guides offering a choice of two days or three days on the river. Nights are spent in secluded riverside camps dining on gourmet campfire cuisine.

Rates begin at $525 per person, per day and include all meals, rafting equipment, professional guides, camp amenities and transportation to the river from Montrose, Colo.

Participants may rent or bring their own sleeping bags and tents and must provide their own tackle and Colorado fishing license.

While June is considered prime time, there’s excellent angling throughout the spring and summer from late May through late September. According to Dvorak, weekly departures are starting to fill so it is recommended that anyone interested in scheduling a Gunnison fishing trip in 2011 should do it soon.

There’s a 10 percent discount offered for parties of four or more people.

Bill and Jaci Dvorak have been operating Dvorak Raft, Kayak and Fishing Expeditions since 1969. As one of the early pioneers of white-water river rafting in the Rocky Mountains, the Dvoraks own the first outfitter license issued by the state of Colorado.

Their river trips, white-water skills camp and swift-water training programs are world renowned and have been featured in National Geographic, the Chicago Tribune and seen on ESPN and various television specials. Fully guided and outfitted trips are offered across nine rivers (Arkansas, Colorado, Dolores, Gunnison, Green, North Platte, Rio Chama, Rio Grande and San Miguel) in Colorado, Idaho, Mexico, New Mexico, Utah and Texas.

For more information, call 800-824-3795 or 719-539-6851, email info@dvorakexpeditions.com  or visit www.DvorakExpeditions.com

General Tours Small Group Traveler reduced prices on all of its Small Group Journeys and Privately Guided Touring worldwide. Through July 29, travelers save $600 per couple when they pay-in-full at time of booking for travel anytime through April 2012.

Guests can choose from more than 50 Small Group Journeys with never more than 16 guests as well as from the company’s Privately Guided trips which feature a personal car, driver and guide for each traveling party. This flexible discount can be applied to General Tours’ affordable airfares which have been specially negotiated with the world’s premier carriers, including Lufthansa, United, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, EgyptAir and on LAN’s expanded routes to South America.

These savings are also applicable on land-only bookings when guests book air with their preferred travel agent.

Clients will also save $600 per couple on the River of the Pharaohs package, redesigned for a more intimate and in-depth experience during this momentous time in Egypt’s history.

The nine-day trip has been updated with a brand new five-star hotel, the Kempinski Nile, and the luxurious, all-suite Alexander the Great river ship, a member of the Chaïne des Rôtisseurs.

Now priced from just $3,044 per person after discount, the trip includes extensive sightseeing in and around Cairo, all Nile shore excursions, an excursion by air to Abu Simbel, and a special visit to Tahrir Square with the company’s engaging Egyptologists, all of whom participated in the dramatic events which captured the world’s attention earlier this year.

Travel agents who are members of General Tours Rewards earn a $100 bonus per booking when their clients take advantage of these special $300 per person savings. There is no cap or limit to how much an agent can earn in bonuses – which are paid when clients travel. Agents who are not yet Rewards members can sign up free at www.GeneralToursRewards.com

For more information, call 800-221-2216 or visit www.GeneralTours.com

Aer Lingus will begin flights to the U.S. from Bristol, England, beginning March 27. Bristol is located one hour and a half from London and is ideally located for touring England and Wales.

To celebrate the flight launch, Destination Bristol has developed a dream vacation contest at www.VisitBristol.co.uk/USA in which U.S. visitors can enter to win a vacation to Bristol and Bath, along with complimentary roundtrip flights from Aer Lingus.

The contest is open to U.S. visitors until June.

The flight links have originated from the partnership of Aer Arann and Aer Lingus, which teamed to offer a new Aer Lingus regional route between Bristol and Dublin.

The regional flight addition now provides links from New York, Boston, Chicago and Orlando with through connections on a 45-minute flight from Dublin to Bristol. The route even allows U.S. visitors to tour Dublin along the way.

Aer Lingus Regional, operated by Aer Arann, will fly three roundtrip flights on six days each week and two return flights on Saturdays between Dublin and Bristol offering new morning, afternoon and evening frequencies.

U.S. visitors returning home will also benefit from the new U.S. Customs and Immigrations clearance facilities in Dublin allowing them to arrive in the U.S. as domestic passengers.

This prevents visitors returning home to the U.S. after a long flight and having to clear customs upon arriving in the U.S.

Between 2005 and 2010, around 500,000 passengers travelled directly between Bristol and New York. Travel by foreign residents using Bristol Airport has increased 161 percent since 2003, with each overseas visitor using the airport. Flights will be operated by Aer Arann ATR 72 aircraft and crew with the first flights on March 27, 2011. Flights are on sale at www.aerlingus.com  For a full list of activities and more information about visiting Bristol, visit www.VisitBristol.co.uk/USA