Jetsettersblog

Featuring Train, Lifehouse,
Colbie Caillat, and The Script

For the second year in a row, VH1 and Sixthman will sail the seas for the VH1 Best Cruise Ever, featuring Train, Lifehouse, Colbie Caillat, The Script, and many more. The annual music festival will take place on board Carnival Inspiration from Tampa, FL, to Cozumel, Mexico on April 28th – May 2nd 2011 . Guests can book the last few cabins by calling 1-877-379-9180 or visiting www.vh1bestcruiseever.com.

Grammy-winning group Train is ready to get the boat rocking, and Lifehouse has packed their bags once again for the 2011 journey on the seas. VH1 “You Oughta Know” alumni Colbie Caillat and Irish trio The Script are also excited to perform for their biggest fans during this uniquely intimate music-lover’s vacation.

Special guests on VH1 Best Cruise Ever will include VH1 “You Oughta Know” artists Alpha Rev, Mat Kearney, and Thriving Ivory, and returning cruisers SAFETYSUIT. Also joining the cruise are Civil Twilight, One eskimO, Ben Rector, Crowfield, The Daylights, Hope, Nikki Jean, and Ryan Star. To top off the late night dance parties, Trailer Park Ninjas and Yacht Rock Revue will play the cruisers’ favorite covers. Top 20′s Jim Shearer’s own band, Deck of Jack , will add a new flavor to the lineup as well. In addition to seeing these artists perform in up-close-and-personal setting, guests will enjoy VH1-themed onboard activities, contests and more.

With last summer’s tropical getaway a distant memory, musicians and music lovers alike will board VH1 Best Cruise Ever to defrost from the winter blues. While soaking in the sun, guests will have the once and a lifetime opportunity to vacation with some of VH1′s favorite artists! Leaving all distractions behind, fans will take pleasure in all the Caribbean has to offer as they enjoy round-the-clock musical performances and unpredictable celebrity sightings. VH1 Top 20 host Jim Shearer, along with BestWeekEver.tv personality Michelle Collins will host fun on-board activities including a Royal Wedding theme night with vow renewals, a VH1 music video theme night, and a nighttime pajama party! Guests can also enjoy all of the amenities and facilities aboard the “Fun Ship” Carnival Inspiration, which offers an expansive water park, exclusive adults-only retreat, resort-style pool, and numerous other features.

More than one third of the guests already booked are returning from last year’s inaugural VH1 Best Cruise Ever. Get your cabin today! Cabins for VH1 Best Cruise Ever start at $799 per person based on double occupancy plus taxes and fees. For more information, go to www.vh1bestcruiseever.com

The Spanish Grand Prix takes place at the Circuit de Catalunya in May.

BARCELONA, SPAIN,– Motor racing stars such as Jenson Button, Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel will head to Barcelona for the Spanish Grand Prix next month.

The fifth race of the Formula One season is due to take place at the Circuit de Catalunya on Sunday May 22nd, with practice sessions and qualifying starting two days before.

Mark Webber won the race for Red Bull last year after a dramatic finish, but the Australian will be just one of several drivers aiming to clinch glory on the track this time around.

World champion Sebastian Vettel got his title defence off to the perfect start with victory in the Australian Grand Prix last month.

However, Hamilton is already close behind the German after finishing second in Melbourne and will be aiming to close the gap as the season progresses.

The Circuit de Catalunya, situated to the north of Barcelona in the town of Montmelo, is known for its challenging combination of high and low-speed corners.

With Spanish driver Fernando Alonso of Ferrari also aiming to win the championship this year, the atmosphere at the track is sure to be electric for the Grand Prix.

A weekend pass for general admission to the circuit is priced at GBP148.37.

Motorsport fans considering cheap hotels in Barcelona can find plenty of accommodation at LateRooms.com, which recommends the Hotel Barbara Barcelona.

Visit http://www.formula1.com/default.html  for more information on this event.

Los Cabos, – Located at the tip of the Baja Peninsula, at the very point where the Pacific Ocean meets the Sea of Cortes, Los Cabos is a destination that offers the very best of land and sea. From azure waters brimming with incredible marine life to dramatic desert featuring distinct vegetation and landscapes, Los Cabos has a raw, natural beauty that is unmatched by any other location in Mexico. This unique backdrop lends itself to once-in-a-lifetime adventure that cannot be experienced anywhere else; two new excursions in Los Cabos capitalize on that very quality.

Launched in January, the Outback & Camel Safari Tour by Cabo Adventures offers travelers a new and unique way to explore the Baja outback, complete with a beachside camel ride along the pristine San Cristobal coastline. Brought to Los Cabos specifically for this new excursion, the camels have been trained by and kept under the watchful eye of Sidi-Amar Taou of the Bedouin tribe of Niger, one of the last Nomadic tribes in existence. Approximately four hours in length, the tour additionally features a walking tour of the desert, where a seasoned guide educates the group on the native vegetation, flora and fauna of Baja Sur. The trip concludes with a traditional Mexican meal, complete with handmade tortillas, mole chicken, salsa and much more along with a tequila tasting.

The Outback & Camel Safari Tour is the newest addition to Cabo Adventures’ lineup of exciting activities in Los Cabos; a complete list of tours, and additional information can be found on the Cabo Adventures website.

For the latest underwater excursion, look no further than Cabo Expeditions, now offering a truly transcendent experience for animal lovers and adventure-seekers; swimming with the whale sharks. Whale sharks, known as “Gentle Giants of the Sea,” are the largest fish in the world and this new experience allows travelers to get up close and personal with these magnificent creatures. Lasting a total of eight hours, this amazing new tour includes roundtrip, private transportation from Los Cabos to La Paz Bay, bilingual and certified captains, marine biologists, federally licensed guides and a spotter plane to help find the best place to locate the whale sharks in their feeding grounds.

Each tour allows a maximum of 10 people to ensure an intimate and truly unforgettable experience and currently runs daily from January through June.

Los Cabos, located at the tip of the 1,000-mile long Baja Peninsula, is home to award-winning hotels and resorts, championship golf courses, rejuvenating spas, world-class sport fishing and much more. With a unique landscape of dramatic desert and white sand beaches, Los Cabos is an exotic escape within easy reach of most U.S. cities.

With non-stop flights or convenient connections available from Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Kansas City, Missouri; Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York/Newark, Oakland, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, California, Seattle and more, Los Cabos is both accessible and exciting. For more information, images and videos from Los Cabos, please visit www.visitloscabos.travel follow us on Twitter @LOSCABOSCVB and visit our Facebook and YouTube accounts.

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — PGA National Resort & Spa — home of the PGA TOUR Honda Classic and five award-winning championship courses – is once again rolling out its popular “Summer Escape and Play” package, highlighted by unlimited daily golf, nightly deluxe accommodations and access to the famous Waters of the World mineral pools.
Complete with over $300 of extra value, the Summer Escape and Play starts at $79 per night (per person) and runs from May 20 – September 30, 2011. Package features include:
• Unlimited daily golf on The Palmer, The Squire, The Haig or The Estates courses with complimentary replay rounds
• Nightly accommodations onsite at PGA National’s award-winning resort hotel
• Club storage and access to PGA TOUR-quality practice facilities with unlimited practice balls
• Access to the Waters of the World mineral pools at The Spa
• Daily breakfast, with ample selection of hot and healthy items
• Fifty percent off clinics at the David Leadbetter Golf Academy
“Our Summer Escape and Play package is ideal for taking full dawn-to-dusk advantage of the resort’s array of championship golf, luxuriously appointed rooms, world-class spa and numerous amenities including fine dining at Ironwood Grille and popular iBAR,” says Joel Paige, Vice President and Managing Director.
For more information on the Summer Escape and Play, or to make reservations, visit www.pgaresort.com, or call (800) 533.9386. Complimentary replay rounds are booked at the course the day of play following the first round. A $30 cart fee applies at the course for the first round of the day (each day). A $50 surcharge applies to play The Champion — site of the Honda Classic and famous “Bear Trap” — one of the most demanding, three-hole stretches on the PGA TOUR. Taxes and resort fees are not included. Rate based on double occupancy and availability.
About PGA National Resort & Spa
PGA National Resort & Spa is a national, premier golf vacation and meeting destination. The legendary 379-room Florida resort recently completed a $65 million comprehensive revitalization, including a new front entrance, outdoor pool and pavilion, new Ironwood Grille and iBAR, as well as enhanced public areas, golf courses and landscaping.
PGA National Resort & Spa offers 90 holes of championship golf on five courses, including the famed Champion course, home to the PGA TOUR’s Honda Classic. The resort’s storied golf history includes hosting the 1983 Ryder Cup, 1987 PGA Championship, and nearly two decades of the Senior PGA Championship. In addition to The Champion, PGA National’s award-winning golf courses are: The Palmer, The Haig, The Squire and The Estates.
Other distinguishing features include a 40,000 square-foot European Spa with 32 treatment areas and the exclusive “Waters of the World” outdoor mineral pools, a world-class 33,000 square-foot health-and-racquet club with 19 Har Tru tennis courts, 40,000 square feet of self-contained conference space and nine on-site restaurants and lounges.
Conveniently located within easy driving distances of major Florida population centers, the AAA Four Diamond resort is 15 minutes from Palm Beach International Airport (PBI), one hour from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) and 90 minutes from Miami International Airport (MIA).

The Westin Nanjing also Marks Starwood’s Debut in the bustling Capital of Jiangsu Province

Lengthening its lead as the largest five-star hotel operator in China, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) announces its landmark debut in Nanjing, China with the opening of The Westin Nanjing. The first Westin to open in the bustling capital city of Jiangsu Province, The Westin Nanjing boasts an ideal location at the top of the Nanjing International Center.

With the addition of The Westin Nanjing, Westin now operates 11 hotels in China and is set to double its footprint in this key global market in the next two years. The rapid expansion of the Westin brand is helping to drive Starwood’s growth in China, where Starwood plans to increase its portfolio from 70 to more than 114 hotels by the end of 2012.

“The Westin Nanjing is a terrific addition to our fast growing portfolio in China, giving us a foothold in one of the country’s most vital economic and cultural centers,” said Nancy London, Vice President and global leader for Westin Hotels. “Fueled by the success of its distinctive wellness positioning, Westin is well on its way to establishing itself as an international market leader with unprecedented opportunities for growth in the world’s most rapidly developing economies.”

Overlooking Xuanwu Lake, The Westin Nanjing is located in the Hunan Road central business district in the heart of downtown Nanjing. The hotel provides direct access to Nanjing’s leading businesses, entertainment and shopping and is close to the Xuanwu Lake subway station and the Nanjing Train station. Nanjing Hall of City Planning & Construction Exhibition is just five minutes away.

“We are very excited to introduce the Westin brand to Jiangsu Province and expect the hotel to contribute to the increasing importance of Nanjing as a tourism and business destination,” said Mr. Richard Deutl, General Manager of The Westin Nanjing. “Known for its stellar global reputation and emphasis on wellbeing, The Westin brand is an ideal choice for the dynamic city of Nanjing and will undoubtedly emerge as a top choice among business travelers.”

The soothing Westin Sensory Welcome creates a memorable first impression as guests enter the hotel, with its blend of signature white tea scent, music, botanicals and mood lighting. Guests at The Westin Nanjing will awaken their senses with the Westin Heavenly Bath® experience and restore in the Heavenly Bed®, a 10-layer ensemble of luxurious comfort featuring a pillow-top mattress set, a cozy down blanket, three crisp sheets, a comforter, duvet and five plush pillows. Rooms also feature 42″ LCD HDTV, high-speed Internet access, mp3 docking station, and an ergonomic work space to offer travelers convenience and productivity in a tranquil setting.

The Westin Nanjing features three restaurants and lounges headed by renowned executive chef Ricky Yin, including Seasonal Tastes on the 23rd floor with an open kitchen, full-length windows and magnificent sunrise views of Xuanwu Lake, and the Five Zen5es – a favorite among locals and tourists alike for its authentic Huaiyang cuisine and sleek design.

Ideal for both business functions and social events, The Westin Nanjing provides more than 10,000 square feet of meeting and banquet space including a 5,700 square-foot grand ballroom overlooking the lake. Additional amenities include a full-service business center, indoor, heated swimming pool and WestinWORKOUT® gym with the latest in cardio equipment and weights.

About Westin Hotels & Resorts

Westin Hotels & Resorts makes the healthiest choices irresistibly appealing, so guests leave feeling better than when they arrived. With over 170 hotels and resorts in over 36 countries and territories, Westin is owned by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. Starwood Hotels is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1025 properties in nearly 100 countries and territories with 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, and the recently launched Aloft®, and Element SM. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.

Great opening offers at this and other great new hotels can be found at www.starwoodhotels.com/newhoteloffers

The best German-language plays of the year are celebrated at Theatertreffen in Berlin.

Berlin’s Theatertreffen is one of the most important events of the year for fans of German-language theatre.

Taking place at the Haus der Berliner Festspiele between Friday May 6th and Monday May 23rd, this ‘theatre meeting’ is based around a showcase of the ten best productions from the previous season.

The plays are selected by an independent jury of experts from a list of approximately 400 productions staged in the German capital.

In addition, Theatertreffen includes a varied programme of discussions, premieres, prize ceremonies, concerts and exhibitions.

The ten most notable productions for this year’s event were announced on February 15th. They include works by celebrated playwrights such as Arthur Miller, Henrik Ibsen and Anton Chekhov.

Der Kirschgarten, a German version of Chekhov’s famous drama The Cherry Orchard, will be staged at the Haus der Berliner Festspiele on Monday May 9th and Tuesday May 10th.

Alternatively, theatre-goers may choose to enjoy Nora oder Ein Puppenhaus – A Doll’s House by Ibsen – on Sunday May 15th and Monday May 16th.

Tickets for both productions are available online, priced between EUR15 and EUR53 (GBP13.20 and GBP46.80).

Although the plays are performed in German, visitors not fluent in the language should still find plenty to enjoy during Theatertreffen.

As well as the drama, the event offers a number of performances that transcend the boundaries of language, such as dance and physical theatre.

There will also be an exhibition looking at the role of women in the theatrical arts, entitled Women Directors: A Male Profession in Female Hands.

People planning a visit to this year’s Theatertreffen can use LateRooms.com to browse a range of recommended Berlin hotels, including the Maritim Hotel Berlin.

For more information on this event, visit http://berlinerfestspiele.de/en/aktuell/Startseite.php

Offers Family Memories For a Lifetime

Standing on the edge of the Grand Canyon, Rebecca felt a connection to this magnificent place that can’t truly be appreciated until you experience it yourself. She was there with her family on Trafalgar’s Family Experience “Pioneers of the Old West,” and so far the trip had just been amazing. Her son, Ben, has a love affair with the National Parks, and so it has been their family goal to see as many of them as they can while the kids are still young enough to hang out with Mom and Dad. This Trafalgar trip also supported her belief that the United States is an amazing travel destination and Americans shouldn’t ignore it just because it is their own backyard.

This particular backyard is unlike anywhere else in the world. The American Southwest is so vast and stunning in its scope and beauty that even 12-year-old Ben was in awe. 10-year-old Sarah was apparently pretty cool with it too, pointing out and exclaiming at the variety of birds she saw through the binoculars. “Look, Mom, a Condor!” she shouted with excitement. “They were almost extinct!” And indeed they were until, in December of 1996, six young captive-bred condors were released into the wild in Arizona, 30 miles north of Grand Canyon National Park. Currently over 70 condors soar over northern Arizona and southern Utah. Many of them frequent the Grand Canyon, especially during the summer, and a number of them live in wild nest caves in and around the Grand Canyon. It was all very exciting for a young bird watcher!

All the statistics about the Grand Canyon are easily found on Wikipedia, and although Rebecca had done some research before the trip, she found that listening to the Trafalgar local specialist was a particularly entertaining way to get educational “insider” tidbits that she knew weren’t on the internet. This, she felt, was one of the advantages of having chosen Trafalgar: she had heard that the guides were amazing, and she wasn’t disappointed. Their Tour Director and all the local guides were top of their field in knowledge, and she found them all charming and informative.

At this point in her Trafalgar vacation, Rebecca and her family had already visited the haunting Montezuma Castle National Monument and jeeped their way through the incredible Red Rock Country. She maintains that Sedona alone would have been worth this trip, with its gorgeous landscape, art and culture, and spiritual history. Ben and Sarah had enjoyed playing in Oak Creek Canyon and seeing the stars through the telescopes at Lowell Observatory. Next they were off to Navajo Country and Monument Valley, another place she had always wanted to take her children. The children, however, were more interested in the included Poolside Pizza Party Highlight Dinner, another special element that only Trafalgar offers.

As she stood breathless on the edge of the North Rim of the canyon listening to their wonderful guide and watching the hawk migration (an event which happens every fall), Rebecca felt that she had stepped into a timeless and eternal moment. She said that sharing this experience with her family, knowing they would remember this trip for a lifetime, is what makes a vacation like this priceless.

For more information about Trafalgar’s Family Experience “Pioneer Adventures of the Old West” or any of their other Family Experiences in the United States or Europe, contact your Travel Agent, call 866-544-4434, or visit www.FamilyTravelExperiences.com

About Trafalgar Tours
For over 60 years Trafalgar has been using their knowledge and expertise to design unforgettable guided vacations that offer authentic, one-of-a-kind experiences connecting travelers to stunning worldwide destinations. Trafalgar’s vacations include First Class hotel accommodations, luxury transportation by motor coach, rail or cruise ship, outstanding cuisine, daily included sightseeing and optional excursions, both with expert local guides, and the personal concierge services of Trafalgar’s Tour Directors, who share their insider’s view and reveal hidden places not mentioned in guidebooks.

Trafalgar takes care of all the details so their guests can enjoy must-see classic treasures, unique local experiences, and the flexibility to explore each destination in-depth.

Discover the world of Trafalgar and “rediscover the romance of travel.™”

Trafalgar was established in 1947 and provides exceptional worldwide vacations to Europe, Britain, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South America and China.

FOR TOP PRODUCING TOUR OPERATOR

Lion World Tours, the leading tour operator from North America to Southern and Eastern Africa, has been recognized as Top Producing Tour Operator by South African Tourism for the second year in a row.

The honor was bestowed at the second annual Ubuntu Awards at an elegant reception at the St.Regis Hotel in New York City on April 7, 2011. The reception recognizes the Trade engagement in the U.S. towards South Africa as a destination.

The event was hosted by Ms. Sthu Zungu, president of South African Tourism, North America, with H. E. Ebrahim Rasool, South African Ambassador to the United States, South Africa’s Minister of Tourism, the Hon. Marthinus van Schalkwyk, and South African Tourism Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Thandiwe January-Mclean among the dignitaries present.

The emcee was well-known travel expert Peter Greenberg.

Accepting the award, Lion World Tours President Lucille Sive said, “It’s marvelous to see our team’s hard work and efforts validated yet again by our partners at South African Tourism. We strive to give our clients and visitors to South Africa as many options and price points as possible, and the results have been nothing but positive. With new offerings and packages specifically designed for single passengers in which the single supplement fee is waived, as well as packages where the second passenger enjoys a savings up to $600, we hope to see even more visitors from North America enjoy everything South Africa has to offer.

Lion World Tours specializes in group and individual tours to Southern and East Africa, and is a member of Travel Corporation, which also includes Trafalgar Tours, Contiki, Brendan Vacations, Red Carnation Boutique Hotel Collection, Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection and Insight Vacations.

In its fifth decade, clients continue to benefit from Lion World Tours’ destination knowledge, expertise, and emphasis on customer service. With their safari specialists all having first-hand knowledge of Africa, Lion World Tours can confidently assist clients in creating an African adventure that fits their specific interests as well as their budget. Affordable luxury and value for money are what keep clients coming back to Lion World Tours. www.lionworldtours.com

Many travellers question the services and expense of a quality in-country tour operator and often opt to go it alone by renting a car and seeing a country with road maps and guide books to direct them along. I must admit I have gone this route a few times before wising up to the benefits of a qualified tour operator such as African Travel Inc.

My keen young ATI van driver/guide (Linda, a man, whose name means “one who is caring”) is of the Xhosa tribe, the same tribe as Nelson Mandela, the George Washington of present day South Africa. Linda speaks seven languages and tribal dialects and it was interesting to hear him mixing it up with people along our day tour to Pretoria and the Lesedi Cultural Village west of Pretoria.After leaving the Saxon Hotel, Villas and Spa, I had Linda stop at a Sony store in the wealthy Melrose district in Joburg for a piece of camcorder equipment. Even though it was after rush hour we had a difficult time finding a spot to park and settled on a loading zone area but Linda stated we may get booted by security, so I was concerned for his sake, and after only five minutes in the store we came out to find a wheel boot clamped to the van. After a few minutes of tribal lingo street arguing with security, we paid the fine and were back on the road. I mention this small waylay because if you had rented a car and this incident happened it would have been most difficult to navigate yourself out of the situation, let alone the traffic patterns for the easiest exit.

We drove the 50 kilometres or so along Highway 1 between Joburg and Pretoria. The new fast track Goutrain will open this summer between the two cities and it should relieve the traffic congestion on the highway, which is undergoing some construction. Luckily Linda had us in the fast lane and soon we were at the magnificent Voortrekker Monument high atop a ridge overlooking Pretoria.

The heritage monument came to life with Linda’s description of the Italian marble murals that detail the history of Zulu wars with the Afrikaners – the Dutch and Germany homesteaders that came into South Africa in the 1830s and changed the balance of power. Without a thoughtful, well-versed guide such as Linda, the monument would have been just dull stonework.

We stopped later at the Paul Kruger home in Pretoria; South Africa is well known for its Krugerrands, and of course they are named after one of the presidents of the Afrikaner Transvaal Republic that comprised the north eastern area of South Africa. The home and museum is a time capsule of the Victorian age when Kruger wielded power from 1883 to 1900 when he yielded power to the British during the Anglo-Boer war. The rand is sporting a strong presence as a currency so it is recommended to exchange your money to rands while visiting.

After a visit to Church Square, the central business area of Pretoria that boasts heritage sandstone and granite edifices that still serve as banks and government buildings, we were off to the Parliament bluff overlooking the Capital. Called Union House, the Parliament Italianate structures overlook a terraced parkland that was packed during President Mandela’s inaugural in 1993. By the way, citizen Mandela, at 93 years, lives nearby the Saxon Hotel in Joburg. Living history in the neighbourhood!

We later drive west out of Pretoria to the Lesedi Cultural Village in the mountains near the Crocodile River. Lesedi (light in tribal dialect) nourishes the cultures of these tribes: Zulu, Xhosa, Nebele, Sotho, and Pedi.  Indigenous artisanship and craftsmanship can be purchased at the entrance before the tour of the five villages farther up the hills.

After Zulu war dancing and singing around a boma fire ring in the ceremonial hut, we find ourselves dining at the Center’s buffet-style smorgasbord that included crocodile stew, ostrich stew, lamb, chicken, and traditional vegetables and desserts. The animal skin clad master of ceremonies dined at our table, like a regal Zulu king.

You will have to wait a little longer for a full story about these ATI tours, along with photos, to appear in Jetsetters Magazine. I must mention another reason you want a reputable and reliable tour operator that provides exceptional drivers/guides such as Linda – he knew every bump and curve in the rain swept road back over the two lane pass to Joburg. Linda and African Travel Inc. “Know Africa!”

To book your Africa adventure contact your local travel agent or log on to www.africantravelinc.com

I am off now for a Soweto tour to the Apartheid Museum with ATI. Tune in again tomorrow. – Kriss Hammond, Editor of Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com

It is reported that the planet’s longest non-stop flight is from JFK New York to Johannesburg on South African Airways. During the 16 hour flight, two crews are needed for the long haul because pilots can only fly 9 hours a day. SAA is rated Africa’s best airline and I believe it is true; their entertainment line up onboard was superb, and the free Man Vineyard wine was excellent. I caught up with all the Hollywood Oscar nominated films, and tuned in to hip African music. After a couple of pony bottles of the South African vintage the flight seemed to pass quickly.

Once in Joburg, which sits at over 6,000 feet, I was met by my African Travel Inc., representative, Freddy, and personal driver Linda (a man), Joburg is just coming out of the summer and the spring like autumn air was refreshing. Customs and Passport control at the Joburg airport were the fastest I have experienced.

Linda drove me through Joburg to one of the swankest neighbourhoods in Joburg, to the Saxon Hotel and Spa, a private estate turned into a small boutique luxury hotel by the owner, Mr. Dow, who made his fortune in insurance, and still lives on the property. My suite overlooks Mr. Dow’s personal koi pond and heated swimming pool. Get the bed and breakfast plan at the Saxon when booking with African Travel Inc. The locally grown fresh dried fruits are tasteful and tastefully presented by a wonderful staff – the waitress even courtesies at breakfast. The scrambled eggs can accompany imported Scottish smoked salmon.

To book your South Africa adventure contact your local travel agent or log on to www.africantravelinc.com and scope out their exceptional tours. I am off now for a Pretoria city tour and cultural tour. Tune in again tomorrow. – Kriss Hammond, Editor of Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com