Jetsettersblog

GENEVA – Explore the castles and countryside of the Loire Valley a velo et canot with Cyclomundo.

Cyclists will follow the Loire River and three of its beautiful tributaries, passing the Loire Valley’s many castles, fortresses, chateaux, and medieval villages, including the castle that inspired the author of Sleeping Beauty.

Three days are spent cycling through the Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and cyclists get to rest their legs during one day of canoeing one the beautiful Cher River as it joins the Loire River.

This relaxing itinerary never demands more than 25 miles per day from cyclists, which allow plenty of time to stop and explore the valley’s charming villages and sprawling castles and chateaux. Cyclomundo’s self-guided cycle touring option is the perfect way for active travelers to see this beautiful part of France, allowing them to travel at their own comfortable pace and focus on what is of most interest to them, all while benefiting from the expertise and piece of mind that comes from using an established, award winning cycling outfitter.

Like Royals: Cycling and Canoeing the Loire Valley is a 6 day/5 night tour with custom self-guided departures March to October.

The tour departs from Tours, easily accessed by a 2 hour high speed train ride from Paris.

Pricing from €570 per person based on double occupancy, prices include nightly accommodations, daily breakfast, two dinners, luggage and bicycle transfers, canoe rental, and full self-guided tour materials and support including maps, route notes and tips. Bicycle Rentals are not included but available upon request.

More details and full Itinerary available at http://www.cyclomundo.com/p_tours_chinon.htm
www.cyclomundo.com

GRAND CANYON, Ariz.–There’s still time to take your dream Grand Canyon whitewater rafting trip with Arizona River Runners this year. Arizona River Runners offers a unique 6-day oar-powered rafting trip with a hike-out that will prove to be a memorable adventure for travelers that want a bit more time to stretch their legs.

This 6 day/ 5 night trip takes travelers through the first 87 miles of the Grand Canyon and is perfect for those wanting a shorter oar-powered trip with more hiking. Unique experiences, side canyon exploration, stories, friendship, and inspiring views mixed with the color, majesty, and the excitement and anticipation of the many famous rapids of Marble Canyon make for a truly unforgettable Grand Canyon rafting trip.

The 6th morning takes guests on to Phantom Ranch for the start of their hike-out, the ascent to the South Rim.

The Bright Angel Trail is well maintained but is a long uphill hike with an elevation change of 4,400 feet.

The hike can be difficult for some people, but the views and the time on foot in the Canyon offer an exciting option.

Seeing the Grand Canyon from “the bottom up” offers adventurers a unique view and a sense of place in one of the most globally recognized and popular Natural Wonders of the World.

www.raftarizona.com

Europcar, the United Kingdom’s car rental company, has launched a loyalty program, Privilege.

Membership is free, allowing frequent hirers to benefit from tailor-made discounts, including up to 30 percent off all leisure rentals. Privilege provides members with time-saving benefits. It eliminates queuing and paperwork and guarantees reservations.

Plus, as well as saving money on car hire,

Privilege members have access to discounts from other premium services from Europcar partners.

Travelers sign up on Europcar’s website to earn Privilege activity points. From the very first hire, members are part of the Privilege Club, receiving guaranteed reservations as well as a 10 percent discount on leisure rates and special rates at participating Accor Hotels and access to the Accor loyalty program. Privilege Club also offers an express pick-up service for convenient car hire.

For more information, visit www.europcar.co.uk.

OHIOPYLE, PA – Wilderness Voyageurs, a Pennsylvania rafting company that’s been around since 1964, is putting out the call for short notice, unpredictable East Coast rafting adventures.

Class V rivers like West Virginia’s Big Sandy River and Tygart Valley Falls, Pennsylvania’s Top Youghiogheny and Indian Creek, and Maryland’s Savage River are seldom raftable, but on rare occasion when the conditions are primo and water flows are just right, usually after a major rain event or a rare dam release, these rivers offer some of the biggest water and most exciting rapids in the country.

In order to get the word out about these rare rafting opportunities and make them accessible to more than just the hardest of the hardcore, Wilderness Voyageurs has established the “The Adventurers Club”.

If there’s a major rain event that makes the Big Sandy River runnable, or a rare dam release that opens up Tygart Valley Falls to rafters, Wilderness Voyageurs sets up a trip and shoots out last minute email notifications to the Adventurers Club.

The Club is free to join and offers a unique opportunity for adventurous souls and weekend warriors to experience the East Coast’s rarest and most exceptional whitewater. These trips are often Class IV-V whitewater with waterfalls, big drops, huge holes, and all around gnarly whitewater.

The Adventurers’ Club is meant for whitewater enthusiasts and adrenaline junkies that thrive on big water and big risks. With often just a day or two of notice, the last minute nature of these trips adds to the adrenaline rush of actually running the rivers.

To learn more about the Adventurers’ Club, or to sign up, visit http://wilderness-voyageurs.com/adventuresclub.html

Variety Cruises is offering two-for-one summer specials. Second passengers in cabins cruise for free to the Greek islands, Turkey and Ukraine.

For solo passengers, the single supplement is waived. The special is valid on the Oct. 28 Aegean Odyssey cruise from Athens aboard the Harmony, which is priced from $2,150 per person; the Oct. 14, 21 and 28 Jewels of the Cyclades sailing from Athens aboard the Galileo, priced from $1,700 per person; and the July 8 and 22 Black Sea Treasures departures from Odessa/Ukraine aboard the Pegasus, from $2,690 per person.

The offer is available for a limited number of cabins and does not apply to group bookings. Port charges are excluded from any discounts.

The offer cannot be combined with any past, existing or future offers.

For more information, call 800-319-7776 or visit www.varietycruises.com

Fred Olsen is launching a package for anyone who will be cruising aboard one of its four ships on the line’s 65th birthday in 2012.

This package features a $75 onboard spending credit, pre-dinner cocktails for two, a celebration breakfast for two and a reprint newspaper from their date of birth (where available).

In addition, all participants will be entered into a prize drawing, with a chance to win 65 days worth of free cruising (subject to relevant terms and conditions). To book a celebratory package, inform Borton Overseas at the time of booking that they will be celebrating their birthday onboard, and Fred Olsen will take care of the rest.

For more information, call 800-843-0602 or visit www.bortonoverseas.com

Goway Travel is offering packages for the Naadam Festival of the Mongols, which originates from the Hun era (209 BC).

It consists of the three Games of Men namely, archery, wrestling and horse racing. The Naadam was a competition among the nomadic Mongol tribes to test whose horses were the best, who had the strongest men and whose soldiers were the most outstanding archers. The Mongols started celebrating Naadam Festival nationwide on July 11 to 12 each year since 1921 to celebrate their independence from China.

The opening ceremony is the most impressive part of this glorious festival as various rituals, traditional music and dance take place in the Central Stadium. Genghis Khan’s nine white flags are carried into the stadium by soldiers in the military uniform of Genghis Khan.

Hundreds of artists in traditional Mongolian costumes of different eras perform dances and songs for the opening ceremony while parading with hundreds of musicians and Tsam masked dancers.

Goway has been offering travel to Mongolia for years and while the best time to visit can be anytime between May to October. Goway’s private 12-day The Gobi and Karakorum Explorer is one of many independent travel ideas starting at $2,416 per person based on twin share.

Highlights of the journey include Ulaan Baatar, Erdene Zuu Monastary in Karakorum, the Flaming Cliffs of Bayanzag known for its abundance of dinosaur remains, the sand dunes of the Gobi desert, horseback riding to the glacier gorge of Yolyn Am.

Since 1970, Goway has been providing unforgettable travel experiences to Africa, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Latin America and idyllic island destinations. Today Goway is recognized as one of North America’s leading travel companies for individuals, families and groups to select exotic destinations around the globe. Goway has offices in Toronto, Vancouver, Los Angeles and Sydney, Australia.

For more information, call 888-469-2988 or visit www.Goway.com/asia/Mongolia

Hotel Indigo opened its third U.K. hotel in Glasgow.

On Waterloo Street, in the financial district, the hotel is in a converted Victorian building.

It was originally Glasgow’s first power station and once illuminated the Glasgow School of Art. With 95 bedrooms and the Limelight Bar and Grill, Hotel Indigo Glasgow offers artwork reflecting the history and architecture of the local area, including a mural of famous Glaswegians to paintings of 25 of Glasgow’s greatest heroes created by 25 up-and-coming local artists.

Every bedroom and suite is decorated with architectural scenes, with views of the local area, and individual floors feature corridor art showing more of the community story, including the history of the pub scene.

Hotel Indigo Glasgow joins two existing hotels in the U.K. — Hotel Indigo London Paddington opened in 2009, and Hotel Indigo London Tower Hill followed in 2010. Hotel Indigo Liverpool, with 151 bedrooms, is scheduled to open in June 2011.

For more information, visit www.hotelindigo.com

Hilton Worldwide has signed a management agreement with Mohammed Abdullah Juma Humaidan Al Falasi and Delta Emirates Contracting Co. for the DoubleTree by Hilton Dubai Al Barsha Hotel and Residence.

The 344-room property, scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of 2011, will be the first DoubleTree by Hilton property in Dubai and the second in the UAE, following the recently opened DoubleTree by Hilton Ras Al Khaimah.

The DoubleTree by Hilton Dubai Al Barsha Hotel and Residence will feature 180 hotel rooms and 164 serviced apartments with four meeting rooms, a business center, health club and outdoor swimming pool. This latest hotel development reinforces the brand’s debut in the region. The DoubleTree by Hilton Ras al Khaimah, UAE and DoubleTree by Hilton Aqaba, Jordan opened at the beginning of April and now welcome the world’s travelers with DoubleTree by Hilton’s distinctive hospitality experience.

For more information, call 800-222-TREE or visit www.hiltonworldwide.com

BOZEMAN, Mont.–On this paddling adventure and girlfriend getaway by AdventureWomen, Inc., women can hop in a kayak and explore Baja, Mexico, during October’s warm water and pristine weather.

No sea kayaking experience is necessary–only an adventurous spirit is required.

Travelers can explore deserted beaches, go hiking, and snorkel and swim with friendly sea lions. Guided sea kayaking tours are included each day with expert naturalist-guides to outlying islands, through sea arches, and along deserted cliffs and beaches.

Guests will also celebrate Halloween with a beach party, complete with piñatas and margaritas, and costumes are expected! Other highlights include “catered” camping at a remote safari-style beach camp, plus a Mexican cooking class.

Dates: October 27 – November 2, 2011.

Cost is $2,695 all-inclusive from Los Angeles ($800 deposit).

www.adventurewomen.com