Jetsettersblog

The Woodstock Inn & Resort in Woodstock, Vt., is offering two golf packages from May 1 through Oct. 31. The Heritage Unlimited Golf package includes unlimited golf with a cart, use of the practice facility and a yardage booklet, as well as daily breakfast, from a nightly room rate of $298 double.

A minimum length of stay might be required. And the Woodstock-Quechee Golf package features two rounds of golf with cart (one at The Quechee Club and one at the Woodstock Golf Club), use of the practice facility and daily breakfast from a nightly room rate of $458 double, with a two-night minimum.

For more information, call 888-481-8802 or visit www.woodstockinn.com

Royal Tea has returned to Toronto’s Fairmont Royal York’s Library Bar after a two-week hiatus. Afternoon tea is served on Saturdays from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sundays from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. The cost is $35 for basic tea service and $60 for The Royal Tea Experience, featuring upgraded food items and a glass of Moet Chandon Brut champagne.

In addition, the hotel now offers the Royal Winter Warmth package, valid on Fridays and Saturdays through April 25 for CAD$259 per room, per night. Included are valet parking for one vehicle, afternoon tea for two, and a Fairmont tea keepsake.

To book the package, visit www.fairmont.com/royalyork/hotelpackages/celebration/theroyalwinterwarmth.htm

. To reserve afternoon tea in advance, call the Library Bar at 416-860-5050 or email festive@fairmont.com.

Amtrak Guest Rewards members can earn more points towards free travel and other rewards with the “Spring Ahead” promotion.

Amtrak Guest Rewards members will earn double points on qualifying Amtrak travel now through May 7.

Members can earn triple points on qualifying travel starting National Train Day, May 7 through May 21.

To take advantage of the promotion, passengers must be members of Amtrak Guest Rewards and must first register to participate. Amtrak Guest Rewards members must provide their membership number when making a reservation to ensure they receive credit for all qualifying travel.

Cancelled or refunded reservations and/or tickets are not eligible to receive extra points.

Other restrictions apply.

Amtrak Guest Rewards members earn two points for every dollar spent on Amtrak travel, with a 100-point minimum no matter the price.

Members also can earn points from more than 1,000 program partners.

Free Amtrak travel starts at 1,000 points. Members may register online at www.amtrakguestrewards.com Continue reading Amtrak Unveils “Spring Ahead” Guest Rewards Promotion…

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski, Federal Railroad Administrator Joe Szabo and others were at the Amtrak Locomotive Facility in Chicago to discuss the next stage of construction on the Chicago St. Louis Corridor.

Quinn announced a $685 million agreement to begin construction on the next phase of high-speed rail between Chicago and St. Louis.

The federally funded project will move Illinois closer to faster trains and improved service along its high-speed route.

Ray Lang, senior director, Amtrak government affairs, said, “Since we’re talking economic development today, in Illinois we have an Amtrak payroll of more than $89 million and we buy almost $61 million in goods and services from Illinois-based businesses.

Amtrak is a $150 million engine for the Illinois economy.

Those numbers are certain to rise as the number of trains and routes we operate continues to grow with our state and federal partners here in Illinois, across the Midwest and around our system.

We will enable more Chicagoans to do business downstate and more downstaters can get to Chicago and all it has to offer without worry about gas prices, tolls, traffic and parking. We’ll connect Illinois with more of the Midwest, faster.”

“Our ridership is already through the roof, with 4.7 million passengers using our Illinois stations last year,” Lang said. “Ridership on the Chicago-St. Louis corridor was up 13 percent last year and another 8 percent so far this year. That increase came despite disruptions last construction season. We’ll manage another big increase this year with the work by Union Pacific and the patience of our passengers.” For more information, call 800-USA-RAIL or visit www.amtrak.com

United Continental Holdings, Inc. said all Continental flights operated with Boeing 757-200 aircraft now feature new flat-bed seats in BusinessFirst, marking the second major milestone in the installation of 180-degree flat-bed seats throughout Continental’s international fleet.

Continental completed the retrofit on its 22 Boeing 777s in December 2010. Continental operates 41 Boeing 757-200 aircraft, flying principally between its New York hub at Newark Liberty International Airport and Europe.

In addition, the tenth United Boeing 777 to be outfitted with flat-bed seats in both United First and United Business is scheduled to enter service in April. United completed the retrofit of its Boeing 747-400 and international 767-300 aircraft with flat-bed seats in its premium cabins in 2009.

On retrofitted aircraft, United and Continental offer premium cabin customers flat-bed seats that recline 180 degrees, along with power ports and headset and USB plugs. iPod connectivity enables customers to view their personal videos and music.

Each seat offers audio and video on-demand and a 15.4-inch video screen. In addition to the reconfiguration of the international fleet, United plans to expand Economy Plus seating to all Continental aircraft beginning in 2012, offering more extra-legroom economy seating than any airline in the world.

Icelandair said it will reinstate service from Canada with flights from Toronto starting April 13, 2011. Passengers traveling on Icelandair from Toronto should be advised that all flights previously scheduled to depart from Terminal 1 will now operate from Terminal 3. Seasonal service from Toronto will continue through Oct. 30, 2011. Further, seasonal service from Halifax will begin June 2, 2011 through Oct. 17, 2011. Travel agents needing assistance should contact Icelandair Travel Agent Support at 800-223-5500, prompt #4.

In addition to service from Toronto and Halifax, Icelandair offers non-stop service to Iceland from Boston, New York-JFK, Seattle, and seasonal service from Washington, D.C., Minneapolis -St. Paul, and Orlando Sanford. Connections through Icelandair’s hub at Keflavik International Airport are available to over 20 destinations in Scandinavia, the U.K. and Continental Europe. Icelandair also allows passengers to stopover in Iceland at no additional airfare.

Alaska Airlines will launch its first nonstop service between California’s Bay Area and Kauai.

Starting March 27, Alaska Airlines flight 863 will depart Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays at 7:50 a.m. and arrive at Kauai’s Lihue Airport at 10:29 a.m. Return flight 868 will depart Lihue on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays at 2:20 p.m. and arrive in San Jose at 10:40 p.m.

On March 28, Alaska flight 879 will depart Oakland International Airport on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:50 a.m. and arrive at Lihue Airport at 10:29 a.m. Return flight 886 will depart Lihue on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays at 2:20 p.m. and arrive in Oakland at 10:40 p.m.

Alaska will operate the flights using its Boeing 737-800 aircraft, seating 157 passengers, with 16 seats in first class and 141 seats in coach class.

The combined service from San Jose and Oakland will add more than 57,000 seats annually to Kauai’s tourism economy.

Passengers on the inaugural flights departing San Jose and Oakland will be treated to Hawaiian music, hula, and Kauai coffee at the boarding gate, and greeted with the fresh flower lei of Kauai upon arrival by representatives of the Kauai Visitors Bureau.

The summer flight schedule for Düsseldorf International Airport goes into effect on Sunday, March 27.

In this summer flight schedule, over 60 airlines fly to 175 destinations worldwide in over 50 countries, including a large number of attractive new destinations. The airlines have scheduled up to 2,300 flights per week in total.

Christoph Blume, CEO of the airport management, said, “A particular highlight is the nonstop route to Beijing which Air China operates four times per week. For business travel and for North-Rhine Westphalia as a business location, it is a very important offer.” In the new flight schedule, direct flights are offered to 25 intercontinental destinations. The passengers can choose between 91 intercontinental flights every week. “We are welcoming a new airline with TAP Portugal and its Lisbon connection,” said Blume.

For more information, visit www.duesseldorf-international.de.

The Theatre by the Lake in Keswick is due to stage Frank Wedekind’s Spring Awakening.

LAKE DISTRICT, ENGLAND — A new version of controversial play Spring Awakening can be seen at the Theatre by the Lake.

First performed in 1906, German dramatist Frank Wedekind’s work explores the traumas of adolescence and the repression faced by young people in a provincial society.

The Next Stage theatre company will present its interpretation of the play, adapted by Edward Bond, between Sunday April 24th and Wednesday April 27th at the Keswick venue.

Evening performances are scheduled to begin at 19:30 BST and tickets are priced at GBP9 plus booking fee.

Written during the 1890s, Spring Awakening caused a scandal when it was eventually performed due to Wedekind’s thinly veiled criticism of German attitudes towards sexuality.

Scenes featuring abortion, homosexuality and suicide saw the work banned temporarily, while the writer went on to produce other works such as Pandora’s Box in 1904.

However, the play has remained popular with audiences and theatre groups over the years.

In 2006, a highly successful musical adaptation opened on Broadway and rumours of a film version have also surfaced recently.

NEWPORT, Wales, United Kingdom — The Celtic Manor Resort — host of golf’s 2010 Ryder Cup and premier luxury retreat less than two hours outside London — announces it is now accepting entrants for the Ryder Cup Anniversary Challenge.

On October 3, 2011, play the famed Twenty Ten Course on the one-year anniversary of what many have hailed the most exciting Ryder Cup of all-time.

Participants will compete for either Team USA or Team Europe in an 18-hole, four-ball (better-ball) match play format.

Adding to the experience, pins will be set in the same locations as those used in last fall’s singles session, locker and team rooms adorned with many of the same trappings enjoyed by the world’s best professionals and a champagne celebration held on the balcony of the Twenty Ten Clubhouse at the conclusion of play.

Package prices start at $US395 and include:

• 18 holes on Twenty Ten Course with live scoring

• Breakfast upon arrival in allocated team room

• Commemorative team shirt, sweater and hat

• Champagne reception on balcony of Twenty Ten Clubhouse

• Three-course celebration dinner in Samuel Ryder Suite
For those wishing to stay at Celtic Manor’s five-star Resort Hotel on the eve of the Challenge, package prices start at $US480.

“The Ryder Cup Anniversary Challenge offers an exclusive opportunity for amateur golfers to closely mimic the atmosphere of golf’s most venerated team competition,” says Dylan Matthews, Chief Executive of Celtic Manor. “Test your golfing mettle by experiencing the camaraderie, pomp, pressure and elation unique to the Ryder Cup.”
For those unable to make the anniversary date, there is an opportunity to relive the dramatic final day of the 2010 Ryder Cup on the first Monday of every month (April – September), when the holes are cut in the identical spots as last year’s singles session. An option to upgrade the experience and use one of the 2010 Ryder Cup player or captain lockers is also available.
Arrangements for longer visits can be made as well – see www.celtic-manor.com for other stay-and-play packages. Golf at classic links courses like Royal Porthcawl and Pennard can be facilitated by resort staff.

For more information, email Reservations at bookings@celtic-manor.com;  call 866.789.5779 (U.S.) / 877.354.2003 (Canada) and ask for Golf Sales Manager Sean Clancy; or visit www.celtic-manor.com.

About Celtic Manor Resort

Located less than two hours outside London, Celtic Manor Resort hosted golf’s 2010 Ryder Cup and is the UK’s foremost luxury retreat. Featuring 1,400-plus acres of panoramic parkland and wooded hills, it is recognized as the “Gateway to Wales.”
A popular destination among business and leisure travelers, golf-tour operators and corporate incentive agents, five-star Celtic Manor offers myriad amenities.

These include three championship golf courses (the Montgomerie, Twenty Ten and Roman Road), two lavish hotels (the majestic, 330-room Resort Hotel and historic, 70-room Manor House), charming country inn (Newbridge on Usk), six savory restaurants, two tranquil spas and state-of-the-art health clubs, a golf academy and miles of hiking trails.

A convention center, exhibition hall, array of well-appointed suites, meeting rooms and large ballrooms are also available to host groups up to 1,500 for conferences, weddings and other special events.

Celtic Manor is privately owned by founder Sir Terry Matthews, the Ottawa, Canada-based telecommunications entrepreneur who was born on the Celtic Manor site when the original Manor House was a maternity hospital.

Getting There: Celtic Manor is 45 minutes from Bristol International Airport (BRS) and Cardiff International Airport (CWL). London Heathrow Airport (LHR) is a two-hour drive, with rail service from Paddington Station (London) to Newport, Wales also available.