Jetsettersblog

Star Clippers, which operates three of the world’s most romantic tall ships, is offering complimentary flights from London for UK-based passengers to join selected sailings for summer 2011 Mediterranean cruises on board the 170-passenger Star Clipper and her sister ship Star Flyer, saving up to £350 per person off published airline fares.

Summer 2011 voyages on board these fully crewed, beautifully appointed clipper ships include itineraries around the Greek islands and Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean. The complimentary flights offer is for bookings received by 30th April for return travel from London to the airport closest to the embarkation/disembarkation point and includes a choice of 9 sailing dates and cruises of 7 nights’ duration. The offer applies to the following itineraries:

• Star Clipper, Northern Cyclades on June 25, July 9 and August 13 and 27, round trip from Athens, calling at Camlimani and Kusadasi (for the antiquities at Ephesus) in Turkey, and Patmos, Amorgos, Mykonos and Monemvasia in Greece. The August 13 departure has a yoga theme, with complimentary talks, classes and guided meditation. From £1,160 per person, including including flights from London to the value of £350 per person, full board on the ship and port taxes (transfers extra).

• Star Clipper, Southern Cyclades on August 6 and 20, round trip from Athens, calling at Rhodes; Bodrum and Dalyan in Turkey; dramatic Santorini and Hydra, haunt of many artists. The August 6 departure has a yoga theme, with complimentary talks, classes and guided meditation. From £1,160 per person, including including flights from London to the value of £350 per person, full board on the ship and port taxes (transfers extra).

• Star Flyer, Greek Isles & Turkey on July 23, departing Athens and calling at Mykonos, Kos, Patmos, Chios, Dikile (for Pergamum), Cannakale (for Troy) and Istanbul. From £1,160 per person, including including flights from London to the value of £350 per person, full board on the ship and port taxes (transfers extra).

• Star Flyer, Yachtsman’s Paradise on July 16 and 30, departing Istanbul and calling at Canakkale (for Troy), Myrena, Sarti, Skopelos, Skiathos, where the movie Mamma Mia was set, Skyros, Poros and Athens. From £1,160 per person, including flights from London to the value of £350 per person, full board on the ship and port taxes (transfers extra). Notes to editors: Star Clippers operates three of the world’s largest and tallest sailing vessels. Visiting ports often untouched by larger cruise ships and offering passengers the activities, amenities and atmosphere of a private yacht, Star Clippers is recognised as one of the premier speciality cruise lines. Guests can enjoy the romance of sailing on board a true tall ship in a relaxed atmosphere with high standards of service provided by an attentive crew.

All three ships have expansive teak decks, swimming pools, informal dining, a convivial Tropical Bar on deck and a comfortable piano bar and are large enough to offer first class accommodation and dining, but small enough to call into intimate ports, untouched by large cruise ships. The two smaller ships, Star Flyer and Star Clipper, take 170 passengers each, with a crew of 70, while Royal Clipper carries 227 with a crew of 106.

Contacts:

Star Clippers reservations: 0845 200 6145

E-mail: star.clippers@fredolsentravel.co.uk

Website: www.starclippers.co.uk

Australians are being urged to take inspiration from the musical journeys of eight talented young musicians and to start Making Tracks by taking an Australian holiday.

In the lead up to this weekend’s YouTube Symphony Orchestra 2011 performance at the Sydney Opera House, four of the orchestra members who each partnered with a contemporary Australian musician, have been on their own musical journeys to different parts of the country.

Their journeys have been captured in four videos called Making Tracks, and are backed by the original compositions created during their trips, to inspire Australians and others to get out and explore Australia.

Tourism Australia Managing Director Andrew McEvoy said Australians now have the opportunity to follow in their footsteps and immerse themselves in the range of Australian holiday experiences on offer.

“It is easy to take for granted all the things about Australia that inspire visitors to holiday here but Aussies too can reap the benefits of taking a holiday in their own backyard,” McEvoy said.

“Through Making Tracks we get to see how these eight incredible musicians were transformed by the landscapes and experiences during their time in Australia.

“Now we want Australians to be Making Tracks of their own – whether it’s taking a trip to experience our country’s iconic destinations or getting off the beaten track,” he said.

Andrew McEvoy said Australia continues to be the most popular holiday destination for domestic travellers, with Australians taking more than 67 million overnight trips in 2010.

To get some inspiration for planning their next domestic holiday, Tourism Australia is urging Australians to log on to view the Making Tracks videos at www.australia.com/makingtracks
and for 29,000 reasons why There’s nothing like Australia for a holiday visit www.nothinglikeaustralia.com.

The Making Tracks Stories:

Episode 1: See Australian guitarist Luke Webb and his musical and travelling partner English cellist, Desmond Neysmith as they travel to New South Wales and Western Australia, where they participated in a range of Australian experiences, including kayaking in Manly, surfing at Bondi, climbing the Sydney Bridge Climb, watching the sun set on Cottesloe Beach, a tour of Kings Park in Perth and a hike in the Kalgoorlie.

Episode 2: Australian pianist and keyboardist Andy Bull and travelling partner Taiwanese clarinettist Irene Chen on their visit to South Australia to experience Kangaroo Island and the Remarkable Rocks and then on to the Northern Territory, where they visited Kings Canyon and took a scenic flight over Uluru.

Episode 3: Australian guitarist Dewayne Everettsmith and American viola player Jasmine Beams on their travels to Tasmania and Victoria where they participated in a range of Australian experiences, including a day exploring the historic city of Hobart, journeying across the Western Wilderness to Strahan on the west coast of Tasmania, then flying to Melbourne for an urban tour, taking in the city’s famous laneways and galleries and a scenic helicopter flight over the 12 Apostles.

Episode 4: Follow Australian pianist and guitarist Stu Cullen and American bassoon player Samuel Blair on their travels to the ACT and Queensland as they cycled around the shores of Lake Burley Griffin, visited the National Gallery and took an early morning hot air balloon over Canberra.

Lufthansa to invest in passenger and freighter fleet Supervisory Board approves ongoing modernization and expansion of Lufthansa aircraft fleet

The Lufthansa Supervisory Board approved orders for 35 new aircraft at its meeting on Wednesday. Thirty of the aircraft from the Airbus A320neo family are for the Passenger Business, the other five orders are for Boeing 777 freighters for the business segment Logistics. Investment in new aircraft strengthens the competitiveness of airlines in the Group. Besides greater fuel efficiency, all the models on order will help lower operating costs as well as noise levels and emissions. The orders are yet further steps in Lufthansa’s ongoing fleet modernisation and expansion policy.

The total orders will include twenty five A320neo and five A321neo aircraft destined for continental European traffic in the Passenger Business. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2016. The aircraft come with improved aerodynamics and new engines. They burn around 15 percent less fuel than today’s comparable models. Moreover, their noise emissions lie cumulatively between 10 to 15 dB below current noise limits and further improve noise reduction compared with the present fleet.

The business segment Logistics will receive five new Boeing 777 freighters, which are slated to join the fleet from 2013. They will be utilised to seize growth opportunities fuelled by rising demand. Aside from their high fuel efficiency, the noise footprint of the new freighters is smaller than that of the existing fleet. The Boeing 777F is the most modern freighter of its size.

The orders in total are valued at list price at close to four billion US dollars. They will be funded from the Group’s own assets or from external financial resources.

Notes to Editors:

Share wild spectacular nature, quiet fire-side moments and fun times in the lap of luxury when honeymooning at exclusive Blanket Bay.

On the edge of New Zealand’s Mount Aspiring National Park Blanket Bay offers all the ingredients for the Ultimate Alpine Honeymoon. Only three hours’ flight from Sydney, Brisbane or Melbourne, and a short distance from Queenstown at Glenorchy, Blanket Bay is a sublime summer or winter honeymoon destination.

“Many honeymooners come to Blanket Bay’, comments the property’s long-standing General Manager, Philip Jenkins. “We specialize in making every couple’s stay with us an amazing experience, ensuring that not only are the little romantic touches given but that each has an opportunity to share a once-in-a-lifetime experience together. This is why we have devised our Ultimate Alpine Honeymoon Package”, enthuses Philip.

This Ultimate Alpine Honeymoon Package is all-inclusive. It features five nights’ in a luxury Lodge or Chalet Suite overlooking beautiful Lake Wakitapu and the high mountain peaks of the Humbold Range. Flowers and Champagne on arrival, all meals including each evening a five-course dinner in a choice of locations, plus a spectacular alpine gourmet picnic just for two on Wyuna High Country Station are just some of the romantic inclusions. On one of the evenings a private candlelit dinner for the couple is staged in Blanket Bay’s exclusive Wine Cave.

“Recently Jack Wall successfully proposed to celebrity Jennifer Hawkins after a romantic candlelit dinner at the Lodge. Afterwards, just outside their Chalet under the stars and surrounded by candles Jack popped the question. Naturally we helped prepare this special evening setting”, muses Philip Jenkins.

If simply indulging at Blanket Bay is not enough, then there is an amazing array of adventure awaiting – trekking, skiing and heli-skiing, jetboating, kayaking, fishing, horse riding, trips to world famous Milford Sound plus 4WD tours to name a few. All readily on hand and easily organized.

For those that really want to go over the top, Blanket Bay has devised their Over The Top Honeymoon Picnic addition. From the lawns of Blanket Bay the couple lift off via helicopter to fly to a choice of spectacular mountaintop locations overlooking Lake Wakatipu for a private gourmet champagne picnic. Here they are left alone to enjoy the gourmet hamper, waltz to a melody on the wind up gramophone or simply lie back and absorb the scenery. Location choice includes Lake Isobel, Sleepy Hollow, Hanging Rock, Emerald Tarn and on top of the spectacular Humbold Range. Naturally there is an additional cost for this remote once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Blanket Bay’s Ultimate Alpine Honeymoon package includes:

• Five nights’ luxury accommodation for two in a Chalet or Lodge Suite

• Bottle of Champagne and fresh flowers on arrival

• Breakfast each morning

• Pre-dinner cocktails each evening

• Private gourmet picnic for two on Wyuna High Country Station

• Five course dinner each evening in a choice of locations, including exclusive private dinner for two in the Blanket Bay Wine Cave

• Access to wide range of Lodge facilities within the all-inclusive tariff

Special offer: From 15 April to 1 September 2011 a confirmed complimentary upgrade is available based upon availability at time of booking. This is valued at up to NZ$3,500.

Tariff (NZ$)

5 April to 15 September 2011: $5000 plus tax per couple (normal rate $7500)

25 October to 15 December 2011: $7950 plus tax per couple (normal rate $11750)

15 April to 15 September 2012: $5000 plus tax per couple (normal rate $7500)

The Over The Top Honeymoon Picnic is an additional $2,300 per couple.

About Blanket Bay

Established in 1999, Blanket Bay is an expansive lakeside property on a 65,000 high country farm, combining the sophistication of the world’s finest alpine lodges and the unique characteristics of New Zealand. The intimate resort consists of 12 guest rooms including spacious suites, intimate lodge rooms and elegant chalets. A member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, accommodations offer travellers vast sitting rooms, king-sized beds, stone fireplaces, secluded balconies and spectacular views. Blanket Bay is consistently voted by many of the world’s leading publications, such as Conde Nast Traveler, New Zealand’s top accommodation and one of the world’s great Lodges.

The Over The Top Helicopter Company

Over The Top is Queenstown’s only locally owned and operated helicopter company. Louisa (Choppy) Patterson started her flying career in Queenstown in 1976 and established Over The Top – The Helicopter Company to provide unique experiences, that as a visitor, she herself would enjoy. The company specialises in exclusive and customised helicopter tours providing friendly, personalised service. Modern turbine helicopters and experienced pilots guarantee the safest and most memorable journey into New Zealand’s mountain wilderness.

It’s not too late to book a fantastic, great value holiday for the family this May half-term with Eurocamp – a week-long break at Eurocamp’s Le Vieux Port parc in Gascony starts from just £402.

Beautifully situated on the Atlantic Coast in Messanges, Gascony, this popular parc has a host of activities the whole family will enjoy, including a superb pirate ship themed pool complex and even horse riding on parc.

Awarded the prestigious La Clef Verte award, Le Vieux Port also enjoys direct access to a long, sandy beach, surrounded by stunning sand dunes, which is perfect for body boarding or even surfing.

There’s also an exciting adventure playground, tennis, table tennis, and a whole host of games and sports events happening during the summer months – and the parc’s very own grill restaurant makes an ideal place to eat, when you’re not at the parc’s popular weekly barbecue.

Eurocamp’s accommodation options are ideal for young families, shaded by fragrant pine trees and mum and dad can easily relax outdoors with a bottle of locally produced wine on the decking of their mobile home, while the children are safely sleeping inside.

Venturing off parc, the whole family will love to watch the boats at the spectacular Tour d’ile de Re Yacht Festival, where more than 400 yachts take part in a circumnavigation of the rocky island just off the mainland and both amateur and professional yachtsmen compete. Held on the 7th May in nearby Gascony, the festival would make for a fun filled day out for the whole family ‘spotting’ boats.

Beautiful Bordeaux and bustling Bayonne are also both within easy reach by car for day trippers – or why not take a short 45 minute drive to Spain for the day to experience the rich culture of Donostia San Sebastian and enjoy some authentic Tapas.

A seven night break from 28th May 2011 with Eurocamp at Le Vieux Port in Gascony, costs just £402 for the whole family – staying in a 2 Bed Comfort mobile home (sleeps a maximum of 7, maximum 6 adults), accommodation only.

For further information on Eurocamp, please call 0844 406 0552 or visit www.eurocamp.co.uk

South Australia (www.southaustralia.com ) is not only regarded as Australia’s wine capital it is also famed for its innovative cuisine, featuring fresh local produce, and is home to some of the country’s top chefs and restaurants. With 17 wine regions, including the Barossa and Clare Valleys, McLaren Vale, Adelaide Hills and Coonawarra and over 300 cellar doors, South Australia also boasts world famous names like Jacob’s Creek, Penfolds, Wolf Blass and Peter Lehmann. Adelaide alone is within an hour’s drive of over 200 cellar doors.
Here are ten top food and wine touring options:

1. Barossa Daimler Tours (read more)
2. Cycling the Clare Valley Riesling Trail (read more)
3. Behind The Scenes Tours at Historic Penfolds Magill Estate (read more)
4. Visit Celebrity Owned Vineyards (read more)
5. Blend Your Own Wine (read more)
6. The Louise and Appellation (read more)
7. Paddock to Plate with Exceptional Kangaroo Island (read more)
8. The Eyre Peninsula’s Seafood and Aquaculture Trail (read more)
9. The Flinders Feral Food Menu Outback at The Prairie Hotel (read more)
10. The ChocoVino Experience (read more)
Plus – Did You Know? (read more)

BAROSSA DAIMLER TOURS offers luxury, behind the scenes wine tours from the comfort of a 1962 Majestic Major Daimler. These escorted tours incorporate first class tastings of 26 premium wines including the remarkable 100 year old Para Liqueur Tawny. Not normally open to the public, Kalimna Vineyard is home to Shiraz grapes used in the world renowned Penfolds Grange, as well as the famous ‘Block 42’ Cabernet Sauvignon vines thought to be the oldest in the world (1880s). www.barossadaimlertours.com.au

Other ideas and operators include:
BAROSSA EPICURIAN TOURS www.barossatours.com.au
LIFE IS A CABERNET www.lifeisacabernet.com.au
PRIME MINI TOURS offers value for money touring www.primeminitours.com
RICH & LINGERING www.richandlingering.com.au
A TASTE OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA www.tastesa.com.au
ADELAIDE’S TOP FOOD & WINE TOURS’ “Grazing on Gouger”, a progressive four-course dining tour. www.topfoodandwinetours.com.au
BOOKABEE TOURS AUSTRALIA’s “Botanic Gardens Bush Food Trail” to taste Aboriginal bush foods and learn about bush medicines and plant uses, traditional duck hunting techniques and food gathering practices. www.bookabee.com.au
CYCLING THE CLARE VALLEY RIESLING TRAIL takes in up to 30 local wineries over 33 kms of trail. This walking and cycling route follows a disused railway line through the heart of the Clare Valley from Clare to Auburn. The route, which can be cycled one way in about two hours, starts in Auburn, 90 minutes drive north of Adelaide. Bikes are available for hire in Clare. www.clarevalley.com.au
Other cycling options and food and trails include:
BAROSSA CLASSIC CYCLE TOURS’ “Red Ochre to Red Wine Tour”, a fully catered, eight day, 700 kms. road tour starting and finishing in the Barossa. www.bccycletours.com.au
THE BAROSSA CHEESE AND WINE TRAIL comes with four locally made cheeses and a trail map with six route options matching wines to cheeses. www.barossacheese.com.au
BEHIND THE SCENES TOURS AT HISTORIC PENFOLDS MAGILL ESTATE. One of Australia’s most famous wineries is located just 15 minutes from the centre of Adelaide. Tours include the “Great Grange Tour” which takes an exclusive look around the original Penfold family home built in 1845 where guests taste six Penfolds Super Premium Wines and Penfolds’ 20-year-old Bluestone Tawny from the barrel. www.penfolds.com

Other options include:
SEPPELTSFIELD, Australia’s leading fortified winemaker, offers tours of its historic 1851 winery. ‘The Legend of Seppeltsfield’ tour features tastings of sparkling, table and fortified wines, including the 100 Year Para Liqueur Vintage Tawny. www.seppelt.com.au

VISIT CELEBRITY OWNED VINEYARDS – a growing number of well-known faces are getting involved in winemaking and are producing their own branded wines. To date Ian Botham, Olivia Newton John, Greg Norman, Nick Faldo and award winning director Scott Hicks are all producing branded wines from vineyards in South Australia and visitors to the region can include these vineyards in their itinerary as many operate an ‘open cellar’ policy.

BLEND YOUR OWN WINE – There are a range of options to try your hand as a winemaker at some of South Australia’s most famous vineyards:
BLEND IT LIKE BLASS – Guests at Wolf Blass can blend their own version of the award-winning Black Label wine at the winery’s state-of-the-art visitor centre in the Barossa. www.wolfblass.com.au
WYNNS COONAWARRA ESTATE on the Limestone Coast offers guests tours of this historic winery before entering the laboratory to create their own Cabernet, Shiraz and Merlot blends. www.wynns.com.au
PENFOLDS’ “MAKE YOUR OWN BLEND” – Guests at Penfold’s Cellar Door in the Barossa can take home their own handmade Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvedre blend in a personalised bottle. www.penfolds.com
Other ‘hands on’ experiences include:
COOKING SCHOOLS -
CHEESEMAKING at Udder Delights Cheese Cellar www.udderdelights.com.au
PRESERVING, SMOKING AND CURING – Producers of McLaren Vale offer cheese, bread and sausage making, olive oil processing, preserving, butchery, smoking and curing experiences. www.producers.net.au
A CHEF’S FRESH FOOD SHOPPING TOUR – The best way to explore Adelaide Central Markets is to join food expert Mark Gleeson on a gourmet walking tour including visits to stallholders and tastings of fresh produce. Adelaide Central Markets are 140-years-old, featuring a huge range of fresh produce over 80 plus specialist stalls. www.centralmarkettour.com.
THE LOUISE, Barossa’s premier vineyard retreat, offers private “Signature Barossa Experiences” – nine of the region’s top boutique winemakers open their doors exclusively to hotel guests providing an opportunity to meet the individuals responsible for making some of Australia’s most prestigious wines. Each tasting provides a different insight – organic and biodynamic wines, alternate varietals, barrel tasting, specific and inspired food pairing, rustic heritage and old vine. www.thelouise.com.au

APPELLATION AT THE LOUISE was named “Top Restaurant in South Australia” by the “2011 Australia Good Food and Travel Guide”. Additionally, in ranking their Top 14 restaurants in Australia, Appellation was the only restaurant outside Sydney and Melbourne to make the list. Appellation is located within The Louise and is run by British-born Executive Chef Mark McNamara. www.appellation.com.au

PADDOCK TO PLATE is a food safari tour from Exceptional Kangaroo Island focussing on the island’s diversity of produce and the passion of the producers. A full day can incorporate seafood, artisan cheese, olive oil, honey, marron (an Australian freshwater crayfish), native spices, yoghurt and wine. For example, Sue and Dan Pattingale are renowned olive oil producers – their herbaceous, peppery oil is harvested from ancient, gnarled trees from across the Island. www.exceptionalkangarooisland.com

THE EYRE PENINSULA’S SEAFOOD AND AQUACULTURE TRAIL is a self-drive experience showcasing the best the region has to offer – southern bluefin tuna, abalone, oyster, prawns, scallops and southern rock lobster. www.seafoodtrail.com
THE “FLINDERS FERAL FOOD” MENU at the famed Outback Prairie Hotel in Parachilna, serves native Australian cuisine where guests are treated to local meat and native herbs, fruits and vegetables including kangaroo, emu, saltbush mutton, and rabbit, combined with unusual ingredients such as paperbark, wattle and acacia seeds, samphire, muntries and mountain pepperberries. The property’s signature dish is the ‘Feral Mixed Grill’ that includes camel sausage, kangaroo fillet and emu mignon with a red wine pepperleaf jus

THE CHOCOVINO EXPERIENCE at Hahndorf Hill Winery in the Adelaide Hills offers paired wine and chocolate tasting experiences based on the concept that gourmet chocolate, as with fine wine, has the ability to reflect terroir. www.hahndorfhillwinery.com.au

DID YOU KNOW?
Half of Australia’s total wine production comes from South Australia
South Australia has the nation’s largest area of vineyards (70,302 hectares) producing more wine than any other state, manufacturing almost 700,000 litres annually.
Jacob’s Creek (alias Premium Wine Brands Pty Ltd) has signed a five-year agreement with The All England Lawn Tennis Club making Jacob’s Creek the Official Wine of Wimbledon until 2015. Jacob’s Creek Regional Reserve wines are now available in the UK.
Some of the world’s oldest Shiraz vines are in the Barossa. They are highly treasured as some are over 150 years old.

Executives from the Florida Trails Association, Palm Beach Tourist Development Council, and Palm Beach County Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB), as well as county and city officials, were on hand on Saturday, for the unveiling of the official signage at the Riverbend Park in Jupiter, Fla. designating The Palm Beaches an official Florida Trail Gateway Community.

The Palm Beaches is one of only 14 areas in Florida to carry the designation, which is awarded by the Florida Trail Association. With the recognition comes additional support from the Florida Trail Association to encourage visitors to plan their Florida trail experience using the designated community’s hotels, restaurants, shops, in‐town amenities, and other local ecotourism attractions.

“This designation is a tremendous asset for our destination,” says CVB President and CEO Jorge Pesquera. “In addition to our 47 miles of pristine coastline, and the gateway to The Florida Everglades, we offer limitless nature‐based activities and experiences for visitors to enjoy. This designation helps throw a spotlight on The Palm Beaches as a prime location for exploring Florida’s great outdoors.”

According to VISIT FLORIDA research, nearly 70 per cent of visitors to the sunshine state included a nature‐based activity as part of their vacation in 2010, which was up more than 11 percent from the previous year.

The 1400‐mile Florida Trail, which is one of 11 national scenic trails in the country, runs through the Northeast Everglades Natural Area (NENA) and the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail in Palm
Beach County.

The Florida Trail intersects with NENA at several locations, including: Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail, DuPuis Management Area, J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area, Hungryland Wildlife Management Area, Loxahatchee Slough Natural Area, Cypress Creek Natural Area, and Riverbend Park.

Also located within The Palm Beaches, the town of Pahokee sits along the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail and is another Florida Trail Gateway Community.

Rich with exotic wildlife, natural treasures, and recreational activities, The Palm Beaches is an ideal location to explore Florida’s natural wonders. From hiking and biking to paddling and riding, the area offers an activity for any age or skill level. Visit www.PalmBeachFl.com/eco‐adventures   for a complete listing of eco‐adventures in The Palm Beaches. For additional information on the Florida Trail Association, visit www.FloridaTrail.org

About Palm Beach County Convention and Visitors Bureau
The Palm Beach County Convention and Visitors Bureau is the official destination marketing organization for Palm Beach County, Fla. Tourism is among Palm Beach County’s major industries generating a direct annual economic impact of $2.8 billion in the local economy, producing $23 million dollars in bed‐tax revenue and lodging sales of approximately $623 million.

– Hyatt Hotels Corporation have announced that a Hyatt affiliate has entered into an agreement with Driftwood Maldives Private Ltd. to manage Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa Island in the Maldives.The hotel will commence operating as Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa on April 1, 2011.

Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa will be the first Hyatt hotel in the Maldives, a chain of 1,200 coral islands in the Indian Ocean, located southwest of India, just south of the equator. The first resort in the Maldives to follow Earth Check certification standards for construction and operations, the hotel’s design provides for guest comfort and privacy, while ensuring sensitivity to the surrounding environment. Situated in the Indian Ocean’s largest and deepest atoll, Huvadhoo, the hotel opened in late 2009 and has been operating as Alila Villas Hadahaa. In its first year of operation, the hotel garnered recognition as one of Condé Nast Traveler’s 2010 Hot Hotels, Condé Nast Traveler’s Best New Spas in 2010, and 2010 DestinAsian Luxe List’s 41 Best New Hotels of the Year.

“The Maldives draws 94% of its travelers from Europe and Asia, regions where the Park Hyatt brand has a significant presence and is well known,” said Stephen G. Haggerty, global head of real estate and development for Hyatt Hotels Corporation. “Opening Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa will broaden the range of fantastic Park Hyatt locations and will help further Hyatt’s goal of being the most preferred brand in every segment we serve.”

Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa offers 50 luxurious villas with private decks and bedrooms with living areas. Designed by SCDA Architects of Singapore, the modern villa interiors include natural timber and stone in a minimalist, contemporary design. Fourteen of the resort’s 50 villas are elevated over the Indian Ocean with an uninterrupted view of the breathtaking Maldivian horizon and are a private enclave for guests who yearn for tranquility. The other 36 villas are designed with intimate gardens featuring outdoor baths and rain showers. Individual plunge pools are outstanding features in some of these villas. Less than 30 steps from the azure water, they provide complete privacy and serenity to discerning travelers.

“Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa is an exclusive, island hideaway with private villas veiled by lush, natural vegetation,” noted Peter Fulton, managing director, Hyatt International, Southwest Asia. “Secluded and serene, Hadahaa is more than 10 kilometers from the closest inhabited island and is an ideal destination for a honeymoon, scuba-diving, or a soul-searching vacation. Located 400 kilometers south of Male International Airport and spread over 86,000 square meters, the resort offers some of the best diving opportunities in the world. Spectacular coral reefs teeming with brilliantly colored marine life can be found only 50 meters from the silver sands that wrap around the island’s periphery.”

Park Hyatt Hadahaa features two specialty restaurants, The Dining Room and Battuta’s, as well as a poolside bar and 24-hour in-villa dining. With a mesmerizing view of the ocean, The Dining Room is an intimate two-story a-la-carte restaurant serving an array of international delights for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Battuta’s, the only indigenous restaurant in the Maldives serving gourmet regional cuisine, features an open kitchen and Maldivian-inspired interiors for elegant, yet casual dinners. Bell’s Bar, an open-air lounge-style bar, perched beautifully between the ocean and an infinity swimming pool with breath-taking ocean views, features an impressive selection of vintage wines and champagnes, as well as cocktails, imported beers and fresh juices.

“The Maldives is one of the most popular vacation and spa destinations in the world and the number of visitors there increased by 21% in 2010,” said Ratnesh Verma, Hyatt Hotels & Resorts’ senior vice president, real estate and development for Asia. “Hyatt is delighted to introduce our Park Hyatt brand to this resort destination with such a spectacular property.”

The hotel features a fitness and health center, multiple swimming pools, and a five-star PADI diving water sports center. Activities range from kayaking, snorkelling and diving to Maldivian cooking lessons, dolphin spotting, sunset cruises and guided visits to local artisan villages. A large freshwater pool overlooking the ocean provides guests with a picturesque backdrop during a casual swim or for lounging poolside. Guests looking for peace and solitude can visit the Spa Pool within the tranquil spa enclave. Shaded garden pavilions complement the serenity of the spa poolside.

The onsite PADI 5 Star dive center offers an opportunity to dive amidst undisturbed reefs and sites in this untouched atoll where the marine life is virtually more abundant and varied than anywhere else in the Maldives. Diving enthusiasts will enjoy experiencing the rich and diverse marine life, including a variety of sting rays – Spotted Eagle Rays, Porcupine Rays, Whiptail Stingrays, Marbled Sting Rays, sharks, and large numbers of green turtles and Hawksbill Turtles. On rare occasions, lucky divers have spotted Ornate Eagle Rays, Guitar Sharks, Whale Sharks, Marlins and Mobulas.

This advice has been reviewed and reissued. It contains new information in the Summary and under Safety and Security: Terrorism (the United States Department of Homeland Security has commenced implementation of the new National Terrorism Advisory System). The overall level of the advice has not changed.

Summary

•We advise you to exercise caution and monitor developments that might affect your safety in the United States because of the risk of terrorism.
•Pay close attention to your personal security and monitor the media for information about possible new safety or security risks.
•The United States Department of Homeland Security’s Advisory System (HSAS) Threat Level is at Orange for all domestic and international flights, indicating a “high” risk of terrorist attack. It is at Yellow or “elevated” for all other sectors, indicating a “significant” risk of terrorist attack.
•The Department of Homeland Security will phase out by 27 April 2011 the five-level, colour-coded alerts of the Homeland Security Advisory System (HSAS) it has used since March 2002. It has been replaced by the National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS).
•All Australians passport-holders eligible to travel to the United States under the Visitor Waiver Program must apply via the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA). For further information, please see our travel bulletin on entry into the United States.
◦Be a smart traveller. Before heading overseas:
◦organise comprehensive travel insurance and check what circumstances and activities are not covered by your policy
◦register your travel and contact details, so we can contact you in an emergency
◦subscribe to this travel advice to this travel advice to receive free email updates each time it’s reissued.

Terrorism is a threat throughout the world. You can find more information about this threat in our General Advice to Australian Travellers.

We advise you to exercise caution and monitor developments that might affect your safety in the United States because of the risk of terrorism. Pay close attention to your personal security and monitor the media for information about possible new safety or security risks.

The United States Department of Homeland Security’s Advisory System (HSAS) Threat Level is at Orange for all domestic and international flights, indicating a “high” risk of terrorist attack. It is at Yellow or “elevated” for all other sectors, indicating a “significant” risk of terrorist attack.

The Department of Homeland Security will phase out by 27 April 2011 the five-level, colour-coded alerts of the Homeland Security Advisory System (HSAS) it has used since March 2002. It has been replaced by the National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) .

Under the NTAS system the Department of Homeland Security will issue formal, detailed alerts when the United States Government receives information about a specific or credible terrorist threat. These alerts will include a clear statement that there is an “imminent threat” or “elevated threat”. The alerts also provide a concise summary of the potential threat, information about actions taken to ensure public safety, and recommended steps that individuals, communities, businesses and governments can take.

Terrorism alerts are posted at www.dhs.gov/alerts

Further information on safety and security is available from the following United States government agencies

•the Department of Homeland Security
•the Transport Security Administration
•the Federal Bureau of Investigation
•the Federal Emergency Management Agency
Crime
According to official figures, the estimated number of violent crimes declined in 2009 for the third consecutive year. However, there were still over 1.3 million violent crimes reported nationwide in 2009. Tourists are often targeted for petty crimes such as pick-pocketing and theft, particularly on public transport.

Check specialist travel guides and/or seek local advice for information on districts you might choose to avoid due to the high crime levels present in those areas.

Local Travel
The United States enforces restrictions on travel to Cuba. The embargo applies to all United States citizens and permanent residents wherever they are located, and all people and organisations physically in the United States, including Australians. If you plan to travel to Cuba, make sure you are familiar with the sanctions. For further details, see the Office of Foreign Assets Control website.

Airline Safety
Please refer to our travel bulletin for information about Aviation Safety and Security.

Natural Disasters, Severe Weather and Climate
Many parts of the United States are subject to different natural hazards, including earthquakes, fires or wildfires, floods, extreme heat, hurricanes, landslides and debris flow (mudslides), thunderstorms and lightning, tornadoes, tsunamis, volcanoes (Hawaii, Alaska and Pacific Northwest), winter storms (freezing rain, heavy snow and blizzards) and extreme cold. To see declared disasters by state and to learn what to do before, during and after each of these events, visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s website. General information on fires in the United States is available at the US National Interagency Fire Center website. If you are in areas affected by natural hazards, you should monitor media reports and follow the instructions of local authorities. Mandatory evacuation orders are issued on occasion and apply to everyone, including Australians.

Severe hurricanes occur in the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic coastal regions of the United States. During the hurricane season (June to November), landslides, mudslides, flooding and disruptions to essential services may occur.

Australians considering travel to areas often affected by tropical storms should give careful thought to the possible dangers and inconveniences should a storm strike. If you are travelling during hurricane season, you should contact your tour operator to check whether tourist services at your planned destination have been affected.

The direction and strength of hurricanes can change with little warning. You can check the latest hurricane information at the National Hurricane Center website. Television and radio services provide extensive advice from local, state and federal authorities.

In the event of an approaching hurricane, you should identify your local shelter. Flights in and out of affected areas could be delayed or suspended. Available flights may fill quickly. You should contact your airline for the latest flight information. The hurricane could also affect access to sea ports in the region. In some areas, adequate shelter from a severe hurricane may not be available to all who may choose to stay. You should familiarise yourself with your hotel or cruise ship evacuation plans.

You should carry your important documents at all times in a zip-lock bag (i.e. passport, arrival/departure record, photographic identification, airline ticket information, credit and debit cards, travellers’ cheques and cash, etc.) or secure them in a safe, waterproof location. We also suggest that you contact friends and family in Australia with updates about your welfare and whereabouts. For further information, see our Travel Bulletin: Severe Weather – Cyclones, Hurricanes and Typhoons.

All oceanic regions of the world can experience tsunamis, but in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, there is a more frequent occurrence of large, destructive tsunamis because of the many large earthquakes along major tectonic plate boundaries and ocean trenches. See the Tsunami Awareness brochure.

If you are caught in a disaster in the United States you can register that you are safe and well on the Red Cross “Safe and Well” website so your family and friends may review the site and confirm your safety.

If a natural disaster occurs, follow the advice of local authorities.

Wildlife
Australians are advised to respect wildlife laws and to maintain a safe and legal distance when observing wildlife, including marine animals and birds. You should only use reputable and professional guides or tour operators and closely follow park regulations and wardens’ advice.

Money and Valuables
Before you go, organise a variety of ways to access your money overseas, such as credit cards, travellers’ cheques, cash, debit cards or cash cards. Australian currency and travellers’ cheques are not accepted in many countries. Consult with your bank to find out which is the most appropriate currency to carry and whether your ATM card will work overseas.

Make two photocopies of valuables such as your passport, tickets, visas and travellers’ cheques. Keep one copy with you in a separate place to the original and leave another copy with someone at home.

While travelling, don’t carry too much cash and remember that expensive watches, jewellery and cameras may be tempting targets for thieves.

As a sensible precaution against luggage tampering, including theft, lock your luggage. Information on luggage safety is available from Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority. The United States has specific requirements regarding locks used on airline baggage. See the Transport Security Administration’s website for further details.

Your passport is a valuable document that is attractive to criminals who may try to use your identity to commit crimes. It should always be kept in a safe place. You are required by Australian law to report a lost or stolen passport. If your passport is lost or stolen overseas, report it online or contact the nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate as soon as possible.

You are required to pay an additional fee to have a lost or stolen passport replaced. In some cases, the Government may also restrict the length of validity or type of replacement passports.

For Parents
For general information and tips on travelling with children see our Travelling Parents brochure.

If you are planning on placing your children in schools or childcare facilities overseas we encourage you to research the standards of security, care and staff training within those establishments. You should exercise the same precautions you would take before placing children into schools or childcare facilities in Australia.

Ideas on how to select childcare providers are available from the smartraveller Children’s Issues page, Child Wise and the National Childcare Accreditation Council.

Local Laws
When you are in the United States of America, local laws and penalties, including ones that appear harsh by Australian standards, apply to you. If you are arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you but we can’t get you out of trouble or out of jail.

Information on what Australian consular officers can and cannot do to help Australians in trouble overseas is available from the Consular Services Charter.

Penalties for drug-related offences, including marijuana use, are severe and provide for minimum mandatory sentences.

In fiscal year 2009 (1 October 2008 to 30 September 2009), the United States Department of Homeland Security apprehended 613,000 foreign nationals, detained 383,000, and removed 393,000 from the country. If you are travelling in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona or southern California, expect to have your documents inspected by authorities without warning and on a random basis, including on public transport. For further information on the penalties for ‘overstaying’, see the Entry and Exit Requirements section below.

On 23 April 2010, the Governor of Arizona signed into law measures that make it a misdemeanour to lack proper immigration paperwork, such as a passport and Form I-94 or Form I-94W, if asked by law enforcement officials to show them. It also makes it unlawful to transport or harbour anyone unlawfully present in Arizona. Although some of the measures are being contested in the courts, it is important that you have your documents available for scrutiny if you are asked by law enforcement officials to present them.

Some Australian criminal laws, such as those relating to money laundering, bribery of foreign public officials, terrorism and child sex tourism, apply to Australians overseas. Australians who commit these offences while overseas may be prosecuted in Australia.

Australian authorities are committed to combating sexual exploitation of children by Australians overseas. Australians may be prosecuted at home under Australian child sex tourism laws. These laws provide severe penalties of up to 17 years imprisonment for Australians who engage in sexual activity with children under 16 while outside of Australia.

Information for Dual Nationals
The United States recognises dual nationality. Dual nationals are required by United States law to travel with both passports and use their United States passport to enter and exit the United States and its territories.

Our Travel Information for Dual Nationals brochure provides further information for dual nationals.

Before travelling, dual Australian/United States citizens should consult travel information on the United States Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs’ website.

Entry and Exit Requirements
Visa and other entry and exit conditions (such as currency, customs and quarantine regulations) change regularly. Contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of the United States for the most up to date information.

The United States administers a strict entry regime and you may be refused entry on arrival if you don’t comply with entry requirements. We strongly recommend you contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of the United States of America about your specific circumstances, well in advance of travel, including if you plan to transit the United States.

From January 2010, HIV infection no longer makes a foreign citizen ineligible to apply for a visa to travel to the United States. Applicants who were previously refused visas because they were HIV positive, may now be eligible for a visa and may reapply.
For up-to-date visa information, you should review information contained on the following United States Government websites before deciding whether to seek entry under the Visa Waiver Program or to apply for a visa:

•Embassy of the United States of America in Australia
•Destination USA
•US-VISIT Program
If you are visiting the United States for business or pleasure, you may be eligible to be admitted for 90 days under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). If you wish to work (including on journalism assignments), study, or stay for more than 90 days, you are not eligible for entry under the Program and you must obtain a visa before travelling.

Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA): All Australian passport holders visiting or transiting the United States under the Visa Waiver Program must apply for an ESTA, preferably at least three days (or 72 hours) prior to travel to the United States, at a cost of USD14.

ESTA is a web-based system administered by the United States Government that determines the preliminary eligibility of visitors to travel under the Visa Waiver Program prior to boarding a carrier to the United States. Travellers who do not have a valid ESTA may be denied boarding, experience delayed processing or be denied admission at a United States’ port of entry.

To obtain a travel authorisation, each family member travelling is required to complete an ESTA application using the online system. For further information, please see our travel bulletin on entry into the United States.

There have been reports of unauthorised websites charging users to submit ESTA applications, or wrongly claiming to produce a faster approval process.

The only official site is at http://www.cbp.gov/esta. To avoid imposter sites, we caution against using links in emails or from other websites to access this site.

If you are travelling on your Australian passport and seek to enter under the Visa Waiver Program, including transit stops, your passport must be:

•machine-readable if issued prior to 26 October 2005;
•machine-readable and have a digital photograph if issued on or after 26 October 2005; or ;
•an e-Passport if issued on or after 26 October 2006.
Australian passports that do not have two lines of 44 characters at the bottom of the personal particulars page are not machine-readable. To confirm whether your passport is machine-readable or an e-Passport, please contact the Australian Passports Information Service on 131232 (within Australia).

Australian citizens travelling on an Emergency Passport, Document of Identity or Provisional Travel Document without a valid United States visa may have difficulty entering the United States. Australians intending to travel to or transit through the United States on one of these documents are advised to make every attempt to obtain an appropriate United States visa before seeking to enter into the United States. For more information see the US Customs and Border Protection website.

You should ensure that you provide accurate and current travel document details to your airline. If you obtain a new or replacement passport, make sure you update any frequent flyer profile or otherwise advise your airline. A new or replacement passport requires a new ESTA for entry under the Visa Waiver Program. If there are discrepancies in the data you have provided you may be held up by immigration officials while they investigate. This can take several hours.

Whether you are staying with family or friends or staying at a hotel, you will need to provide full details of a valid address in the United States when you check in for your flight. A five-digit zip code (post code) is required for all addresses. If you are a permanent resident of the United States, you will be asked for your Alien Registration Number and your country of normal residence.

Many United States permanent residents (‘greencard’ holders) believe they can live abroad as long as they return to the United States at least once a year. This is incorrect. Permanent residents who leave the United States for extended periods, or who cannot show their intent to live permanently in the United States, may lose their permanent resident status. Full details are contained in the United States Government’s publication ‘Welcome to the United States: A Guide for New Immigrants’ .

The Form I-94W Arrival/Departure record is being phased out for Visa Waiver Program admissions. Air and ship crew will let you know if you are required to complete one. If you have a white Form 1-94 or a green Form I-94W in your passport, you must surrender this to airline or ship check-in staff at the time you leave the United States.

The expiration date printed on your visa does not allow you to stay in the United States up to that time. Visitors are lawfully present in the United States only up to the date stamped on their Form I-94 or Form I-94W Arrival/Departure record, or if you have not been issued with either form, up to the date stamped in your passport. If detected, visitors staying beyond the 90-day Visa Waiver Program limit or beyond the date stamped on their Arrival/Departure Record or passport may be arrested and detained for 7 weeks or more, deported and likely barred from re-entering the United States, possibly for life.

Where children are travelling alone or with one parent/guardian, we recommend you carry a notarised letter of consent for travel signed by the non-travelling parent(s) or guardian.

Australians with a criminal record (regardless of how minor or how long ago the offence took place) should ensure they seek advice from their nearest United States Embassy or Consulate about their visa requirements for entering or transiting the United States as they may be refused entry.

Make sure your passport has at least six months’ validity and carry copies of a recent passport photo with you in case you need a replacement passport while overseas.

Health Issues
Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory disease. In 2010, several states have reported an increase in cases and/or localised outbreaks of pertussis, including a state-wide epidemic in California. The United States Government’s Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises it is not necessary to delay travel to an area that is experiencing a pertussis outbreak, but visitors should make sure they are up to date on their vaccines. For further information visit the CDC’s website at http://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/outbreaks.html and the Department of Health and Ageing Immunise Australia website.

On 10 August 2010, the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced it had moved to a post-pandemic period in response to pandemic (H1N1) 2009. The virus is expected to remain as a seasonal influenza virus and local outbreaks may occur. For more information see the WHO website.

We strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive travel insurance that will cover any overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation, before you depart. Confirm that your insurance covers you for the whole time you’ll be away and check what circumstances and activities are not included in your policy. The Australian Embassy and Consulates-General cannot assist with medical expenses. Remember, regardless of how healthy and fit you are, if you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel. The Australian Government will not pay for a traveller’s medical expenses overseas or medical evacuation costs.

Your doctor or travel clinic is the best source of information about preventive measures, immunisations (including booster doses of childhood vaccinations) and disease outbreaks overseas. The World Health Organization (WHO) provides information for travellers and our ‘Travelling Well’ brochure also provides useful tips for staying healthy and travelling with medicines while overseas.

The standard of medical facilities and care throughout the United States compares favourably with that available in Australia. Medical costs in the United States are, however, extremely high. A visit to a doctor in the United States for even minor complaints can cost several hundred dollars, excluding laboratory tests or medication costs. In the absence of accepted health insurance (or proof of ability to pay), payment would generally be required up front.

The United States Centers of Disease Control and Prevention publishes “Health Information for Travelers to the United States”. This site provides information on diseases in the United States and links to state-specific information.

The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has confirmed cases of avian influenza in birds in a number of countries throughout the world. For a list of these countries, visit the OIE website. For information on our advice to Australians on how to reduce the risk of infection and on Australian Government precautions see our travel bulletin on avian influenza.

Wellbeing Escapes, the wellness holiday experts, have handpicked the best resorts and hideaways around the world aimed at helping to address ‘sleep health’ issues.

By identifying resorts which offer specific programmes aimed at improving sleep patterns, Wellbeing Escapes ensure their clients can gain access to experts providing top tips and bespoke programmes designed to help the stressed out and sleep deprived. Below are some of Wellbeing Escapes’ recommendations for finding the way to the perfect shuteye.

Almyra, Cyprus – Sleep Well and Revitalise Programm

Packed with sleep enhancing treatments, relaxing activities like yoga and even a special diet to aid sleep, guests will rekindle a good sleeping pattern in no time and leave feeling truly rested and refreshed. Prices from £1650pp sharing, £1750pp single.

Aldemar, Crete – Thalasso Relaxation

The benefits of thalassotherapy for aiding sleep are immense. Harnessing the power of the sea, this programme is great for easing muscular tension and stress throughout the body leaving each guest to sleep like a baby. Prices from £1250pp sharing, £1280PP single.

SwaSwara, India – Ayurvedic Sleep

It is recognised that subjects often fall asleep during and after Ayurvedic sessions as treatments allow the body to open up to total relaxation. Daily Ayurvedic treatments will help guests let go of toxins and tension leaving a feeling of calm and relaxation. Prices from £1900pp sharing, £2300pp single.
Thermia Palace, Slovakia – Mineral Waters and thermal muds

With their high mineral content the thermal waters and sulphurous mud in Piestany are wondrously therapeutic. An anti-stress holiday will focus on unwinding aches and pains through various thermal water treatments, massages and activities. Prices from £910pp sharing, £1120pp single.

The Wellbeing Escapes website also recommends the latest products and technology to facilitate better sleeping patterns including the Lumie Body Clock Starter, the Primavera Organic Lavender Pillow Mist, Alpine Sleep Soft Ear Plugs, Holistic Silk Lavender Eye Mask and Deep Calm Bath and Shower Oil.
How better to catch up on your beauty sleep than with Wellbeing Escapes..

For more information on the best sleep packages and products please visit ‘The Insider’ at www.wellbeingescapes.co.uk