Jetsettersblog

Enter to Win Two Tickets to a Giants Game in San Francisco

Plus the “Giants Home Run” Package

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – You’ve been there through thick and thin, watching the Giants slug it out on the field year after year. Well, now that they’re defending world champs, you too deserve a little credit for your loyalty all these years. Personality Hotels is here to treat you like one of our hometown heroes with the “Giants Home Run” package. You know you’re a champ, and now it’s time to travel like one. For those who are feeling lucky, enter the “Show Us Your ‘Giant’ Personality” Facebook contest, taking place April 8-29, and you could win not only the “Giants Home Run” package but also two tickets to an upcoming Giants game!

The “Giants Home Run” package includes:

Overnight accommodations in San Francisco at your choice of three Personality Hotels: Hotel Union Square, Hotel Diva or Kensington Park (the SF man cave)

A $25 Giants gift card that can be used for concessions, tickets or “gear” at the Giants dugout store (or three beers)

Two “I have a ‘Giant’ Personality” custom T-shirts (channel The Freak)

A special discount at Morton’s Steakhouse (boys night out)

Two fake beards a la Brian Wilson (fear it)

Late check out until 2 p.m. (even guys need beauty sleep)

The “Giants Home Run” package is valid from April 8 – September 30, 2011. Package rates start at $185, excluding tax and based upon availability. For reservations, call 800.553.1900 or visit www.personalityhotels.com

Until  –April 29, 2011 Personality Hotels is hosting the “Show Us Your ‘Giant’ Personality” Facebook contest where contestants can enter to win a pair of Field Club tickets to the “Battle of the Bay” SF Giants v. Oakland A’s at AT&T Park on Saturday, May 21 at 4:10 p.m. The lucky winner will also receive deluxe hotel accommodations at their Personality Hotel of choice and the accompanying “Giants Home Run” package.

To enter the contest, consumers are asked to “like” Personality Hotels’ Facebook page at www.facebook.com/personalityhotels. Then, click on the Personality Hotels “Contest” tab for instructions. Eligible contestants will submit a picture of themselves dressed up paying homage to their favorite Personality on the Giants team, and post their photo to the Personality Hotels’ Facebook contest page. The photos that receive the most Facebook “likes” will be considered finalists. The Personality Hotels judging team will make the final decision which photo has the most GIANT Personality. Photos can be submitted beginning on April 7 at 11:59 p.m. (PST). The contest closes on to April 21, 2011. The voting period will take place from April 22 to May 5, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. PST. The submissions with the top five amounts of “likes” will be reviewed and the winner will be announced by Personality Hotels on May 9, 2011.

Established in 1982 as San Francisco’s first boutique hotel company, Personality Hotels is the largest privately owned boutique hotel operator in The City. From a quaint European-style suite to a zenful night’s sleep amid sounds of a tropical rain forest, Personality Hotels can oblige. Celebrating the unique personality in all of us, Personality Hotels consists of an eclectic collection of four San Francisco boutique properties including SEXY Hotel Diva, GRAND Kensington Park Hotel, AUTHENTIC Hotel Union Square and TIMELESS Steinhart Hotel. Located in the center of the action, all Personality Hotels are within walking distance of Union Square shopping, theatres and restaurants. For more information and to book reservations, call 800.553.1900 or visit www.personalityhotels.com

HOPKINS, Belize- Award-winning Hamanasi Adventure and Dive Resort showers guests with incredible adventures inland and at sea.

Using Hamanasi as a convenient home base, guests can venture out to explore the Best of Belize on and offshore. Imagine spending a day scuba diving the Southern Barrier Reef or snorkeling with whale sharks and the next day trekking the Mayan Mountains in search of ancient ruins or searching for wildlife at the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary. Hamanasi’s Reef and Rainforest Packages are designed to let guests customize their adventures based on the number of days they’ll be staying. Other possible trips include hiking to Mayflower Water, kayaking or canoeing through the jungle on the Sittee River, searching for tropical birds at a 19th century sugar mill, and hiking the caves of Blue Hole National Park.

At night adventurers will fall asleep to the soothing sounds of the ocean and coastal littoral forest. Accommodations range from beach front rooms and cottages to private treehouses and honeymoon suites. Package prices determined by length of stay, season, and type of accommodation.

Media Contact: Nancy Harrison, 970-568-7423, Nancy@adventuremedianews.com, www.hamanasi.com. Photos Available. Click here for Hamanasi Adventure and Dive Resort media kit.

‘Marry Me for Free’ Package to Sonesta Maho St. Maarten
Brides and grooms are cordially invited…. to make a run for it! Couples who nix their home-based event get a free Caribbean wedding to boot with Sonesta Maho Beach Resort & Casino’s “Marry Me for Free” package in St. Maarten. Groups booking 10 rooms for five nights or more get a discounted rate of $195 per room, per night and wedding (ceremony plus reception) is on the house.

This destination wedding is not only free – it’s free-ING. Gone is the pressure to invite relations magically appearing out of the woodwork. Wedding coordination gets passed off to the resort’s in-house pro. Weather worries are cut to a minimum, as the Caribbean typically promises warm weather and sunshine, plus stunning photo backdrops.

Beachfront, barefoot and backed by a loving handful of friends and family, the happy couple can say “I Do” amidst a relaxed Caribbean vibe. The “Marry Me for Free” package at Sonesta Maho Beach Resort & Casino includes:

• Ceremony venue (cliff-side gazebo or function room)
• On-site wedding coordinator for one hour
• Officiate
• Open bar during event
• Customized wedding reception/dinner (based on package selected)
• Custom wedding cake
• Sparkling wine toast
• Suite upgrade for bride and groom
• Signature Sonesta Champagne Flutes (for bride and groom)
• 10% off of all services at The Good Life Spa
• Welcome gift for bride and groom
• BONUS – 50% off stay (room-only) for couple’s one-year anniversary

Sonesta Maho Beach Resort & Casino also handles the official marriage license, documentation charges, stamp duties and translation of documents. Offer must be booked through Sonesta Wedding Sales. Rates are subject to 21% tax and service charges. Subject to availability, limited-time offer.

To book your “Marry Me for Free” package or to receive more information, visit www.Sonesta.com/MahoBeach  or call Maho Wedding Sales’ Coordinator Andrew Rippel at 718-544-1100 or arippel@mahobeach.com

Top Female Surfers Set for Sydney’s Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic

The likes of Carissa Moore and Stephanie Gilmore are set to compete in the event.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, — The world’s top female surfers will be heading to Sydney in the coming weeks to face off at the 2011 Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic.

Each of the Association of Surfing Professionals’ (ASP’s) top 17-ranked women will battle it out for a share of the AU$110,000 prize pot at the event.

Among the stars set to compete are four-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore and up-and-coming world tour rookies Laura Enever and Tyler Wright.

Gilmore is likely to start as one of the favourites, having taken last year’s Beachley Classic title by beating fellow Australian Sally Fitzgibbons in the final.

Her 2010 victory was the third time she had won the event, having first triumphed in Sydney as a wildcard entry in 2006.

Other hot contenders are likely to include Hawaii’s Carissa Moore, who is sat at the top of the ASP Women’s World Title rankings after the opening event on the Gold Coast, Queensland.

The Beachley Classic championship takes place from May 3rd to 8th at Dee Why, located around a 20-minute drive from Sydney’s central business district.

Further information is available at http://www.aspworldtour.com

ECHO River Trips
http://www.echotrips.com/rogue/yoga/

SUBJECT: Journalists are invited to experience the scenery and serenity of a Rogue River Yoga and Rafting Trip with ECHO River Trips

LOCATION: The Rogue River, Southwest Oregon

DATES: July 20-24 OR August 3-7, 2011

DESCRIPTION: ECHO River Trips will be hosting a one of a kind yoga retreat that combines the serenity of Vinyasa yoga with the scenery of Oregon’s Wild and Scenic Rogue River. Former ECHO river guide Susan Fox, now a certified Vinyasa yoga Instructor and life coach, will accompany ECHO guides and rafters on a truly serene 5 day trip down the Rogue. Rafters will start off each day with a relaxing Vinyasa yoga session held in one of the most scenic studios imaginable. The days will be spent floating the 38-mile Wild and Scenic stretch of the Rogue while enjoying the river’s stunning landscape, abundant wildlife and warm waters. Rafters are invited to spend their evenings hiking, fishing, playing games, or just relaxing on the beach.

The trip includes 5 days and 4 nights of yoga, rafting and riverside camping, along with three healthy, organic and delicious meals per day prepared by ECHO’s river guides, who are as skilled at riverside cooking as they are at navigating rapids. The 2011 trips run July 20-24 and August 3-6, both trips are open to qualified members of the press.

INCLUSIONS: Transportation from Galice, Oregon to the river and back, professional river guide services, all meals from lunch day 1 to lunch day 4, all camping equipment (tent, sleeping bag, pad, chairs) and all rafting equipment (boats, paddles, helmets, dry bags).

EXCLUSIONS: Travel expenses to and from Galice, Oregon, pre/post-trip lodging expenses, personal expenses, guide gratuities.

JOURNALIST REQUIREMENTS: Writers with an assignment for an article related to outdoor adventure, yoga, fitness vacations, family travel, whitewater rafting, or similar will be considered. If you write for a major print publication (100,000 circulation or more) or are on assignment as a freelancer, you may be eligible for this trip. Please provide clips or links to current articles / publications. Journalists will be considered based on the criteria of national exposure, circulation of publication, and Letter of Assignment.

- Surfing Australia’s High Performance Centre (HPC) will now offer surfers access to the best coaching in the world’s best waves. The inaugural Fiji Surf Camp will introduce surfers to world class surf breaks including Tavarua, Cloudbreak, Wilkes Passage, Swimming Pools, and Namotu under the direct supervision of the finest, fully accredited coaches.

Camp participants will receive:
- 4 days surfing
- 3 nights’ accommodation (www.sonaisali.com)
- All meals
- Airport transfers
- Cultural experiences including local village tours and activities
- Boat transfers to surf breaks
- HPC coach in the water coaching surfers
- Video analysis after every surfing session

Dates: Depart Friday June 3rd and return on Monday June 6th 2011
Price: $1700 (Please note: surfers must book and pay for their own flights)
Who: Surfers under 18 years of age who are ready to advance their surfing on reef breaks

CLICK HERE to download information flyer (PDF).

CLICK HERE to register online.

For more information contact:
James Eggington – HPC Manager
Phone: (02) 6674 9868
Email: hpc@surfingaustralia.com

Terms & Conditions:
• A total of six participating surfers will be required before the camp is booked
• Deadline for registration is April 30th 2011

www.surfingaustralia.com

–Nova Scotia is a world unto itself, rich in maritime culture and history, and Summer Feet Cycling offers travelers the chance to explore this amazing destination on an authentic getaway. This cycling tour takes travelers to the local level so they can fully experience this unique Canadian province. Guests will ride along quiet coastal roads and farms, with accommodation at lovely old resort overlooking the Annapolis basin.

Cyclists will be treated to views of lighthouses above the Bay of Fundy where guests will see some of the world’s most dramatic tides, and a candle-lit tour of the old burying grounds with the telling of historic tales, which makes for an unforgettable night. Other highlights include a trip aboard a 25’ Zodiac boat for an up close look at migrating Humpback whales, dining on local favorites and the freshest seafood found anywhere, a hearty lunch of favorite comfort foods at Mrs. McGee’s farm kitchen, and much more. As a smaller more specialized company, Summer Feet Cycling is able to offer travelers much more for their dollar than larger tour companies.

Also, instead of having limited dining choices from a pre-selected menu, Summer Feet takes travelers to the best restaurants and lets them choose whatever they want. Best of all, activities are all included on each tour—so there are no hidden fees. Dates: July-September. Price is $2895 per person ($600 single supplement), hybrid bike rental included. Airfare and alcoholic beverages are not included.
www.summerfeet.net

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.

Park Hyatt hotels offer elegant, contemporary luxury, along with highly attentive personal service in an intimate and refined environment. Located in many of the world’s premier cities and select resort destinations, Park Hyatt combines understated sophistication with distinctive regional character. From the exquisitely appointed guestrooms to the critically acclaimed art program to the signature restaurants featuring award-winning chefs, every detail of the stay experience is thoughtfully and impeccably executed. Park Hyatt hotels serve discerning, affluent individual business and leisure guests. In addition to the 26 Park Hyatt hotels currently open around the world, 13 new properties are under development in seven countries. In 2010, more than 30 new Hyatt-branded properties were opened worldwide across all Hyatt’s brands.

OHIOPYLE, PA – Wilderness Voyageurs’ Civil War Bike tour offers cyclists a chance retrace the footsteps of civil war soldiers as they visit famous battle sites like Gettysburg, Antietam, Harper’s Ferry and the Monocacy Valley. Cyclists will ride through the beautiful rolling countryside of rural Pennsylvania, Maryland and West Virginia, while visiting Civil War battlefields, and 18th and 19th century stone barns and brick farmhouses along the way. T

he 4 day all-inclusive trip is fully supported with guides and a support vehicle, and a historian leads tours of each civil war site. Each night is spent at a charming Bed & Breakfast in the country where guests are invited to relax on the front porch, play a game of croquet on the lawn, or sit and enjoy each other’s company. 2011 Departures take place June 19th, August 14th, October 16th, and new departure dates will be added as needed. All-inclusive pricing starts at $1075/person based on double occupancy, and includes tour guide, meals, lodging, battlefield tours and support vehicle. http://wilderness-voyageurs.com/bike-tour-gettysburg.html

PORT ANTONIO, Jamaica – After a quarter of a million US dollar upgrade, Great Huts, one of Jamaica’s most distinctive resorts, has something new for visitors seeking an Afro-Caribbean vacation in a rustic setting this Spring and Summer.

The Jamaican resort opened its brand new Queen of Sheba and African Sunrise huts as part of its renovation of the Port Antonio property which offers a secluded beach, jungle and panoramas from its cliffs.

The completed renovation and upgrades coincide with the current 2010-2011 winter tourist season which has drawn guests from as far apart as Poland to the Pacific Northwest of the United States.

Dr. Paul Rhodes, proprietor of Great Huts, said the upgrades at the property were timely and augur well for Port Antonio.

“The new Queen of Sheba and African Sunrise huts are part of an overall strategy to maintain a broad appeal to visitors and to prepare for what we believe will be an eventual upswing in the island’s northeast coast. Great Huts offers breathtaking views, all in a rustic environment but in a quality setting,” noted Rhodes.

Photograph of Queen of Sheba accommodations available at: http://tinyurl.com/queenofshebaroom

The Queen of Sheba, which can sleep up to eight guests, features honeycomb coral and limestone boulders, a 30-foot in diameter bedroom with hot tub, small fish pool with water fall, and is adorned with fabrics and ornaments from Côte d’Ivoire and Jamaica. The third level of the hut offers a breathtaking view of the Caribbean Sea.

The African Sunrise is a 30-foot tall lighthouse-like stone structure with panoramic views of the Caribbean Sea and Jamaica’s beautiful mountains. The structure sits 15 feet from the edge of a 70-foot cliff.

While favored by adventuresome honeymooners, this dramatic unit is not for the faint of heart. African Sunrise also features a memorial to the souls who perished in the Atlantic slave trade.

Photograph of African Sunrise available at: http://tinyurl.com/africansunrisephoto

The “at home” Afro-Caribbean experience begins the moment guests enter the cozy and inviting jungle surroundings at Great Huts. A virtual jungle garden, Great Huts provides a natural, relaxing and refreshing environment for the discerning and spiritually conscious traveler. Guests are known to return because of the knowledgeable and friendly staff who greet them with warm Jamaican smiles.

With its physical renovation complete, Great Huts – a cool alternative to the traditional villa vacation – has been promoting its faith-based packages to Jewish, Christian and other believers for the Spring and Summer seasons.

Since its opening in 2001, the property has been developed in an environmentally responsible manner, and has become an integral part of the community and beloved by its numerous repeat visitors.

“Dr. Paul,” as he’s known to his neighbors, is a physician who volunteers his services to the Port Antonio homeless shelter which he established. Guests also have the option of participating in resort-led community service at the shelter – www.greathuts.com/shelter.htm.

For further information, call + 1 876 350-0077 or email info@greathuts.com

About Great Huts

Built upon a four-plus acre plateau atop the northeast point of the Jamaican coast, Great Huts is an intimate vacation village of comfortably furnished dwellings, including Wi-Fi in communal areas, expansive cliff side views with dining areas, hammocks everywhere, a lovely beach and a sea pool. Activities range from total relaxation and quiet water sports to dramatic day trips such as valley hiking, river rafting, mountain climbing or a visit to a Kingston museum, gallery or historical/ spiritual attraction.

For further information, visit www.greathuts.com



– A true all-inclusive experience, this 13 day Egyptian tour de force will take you up and down the Nile with your own private Egyptologist. The tour begins in Cairo, where you’ll meet up with your full time private Egyptologist and explore the Great Pyramids, the Sphinx, the Cairo Museum, and Khan el Khalili Bazaar. After Cairo you’ll fly to Luxor to see the Valley of the Kings, Queen Hatshepsut’s Temple and the Temples of Karnak. Next up is a 4 night cruise on the Nile River from Luxor to Aswan, with stops at Edfu and Kom Ombo to visit the Temples of Horus and Sobek. Uopn arriving in Aswan you’ll tour the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk before a short flight to the magnificent temples of Abu Simbel. Last but not least you’ll fly to Alexandria for a 2 night stay in “The Pearl of the Mediterranean”. Sightseeing opportunities in Cleopatra’s City include the Greco-Roman Museum, Pompeii’s Pillar and Alexandria’s famous fish market.

Great Safaris’ Great Egyptian Discovery package takes all-inclusive to the next level, adding a full time private Egyptologist escort to the standard inclusions of accommodations, meals, and activities. Great Safaris takes care of all the planning and logistics, all travelers need to do is make it to the airport on time. Pricing for the Great Egyptian Discovery ranges from $4155 to $6925 per person based on double occupancy, depending on level of accommodations and seasonality.
www.greatsafaris.com/great-egyptian-discovery.html