Jetsettersblog

Funjet Vacations is partnering with My Destination Wellness to offer Reboot Camp, a fitness, nutrition and wellness retreat event in Riviera Maya.

“Vacation is a time to relax, explore and enjoy new experiences, but for more and more travelers, it’s also become a time to refocus on working out and eating right,” said Mike Going, president of Funjet Vacations.

“That’s why we teamed up with My Destination Wellness on this exciting concept to bring a one-of-a-kind boot camp to our most popular vacation destination.”

Reboot Camp will be held Oct. 15 to 20 at the El Dorado Royale Spa Resort, by Karisma, in Riviera Maya, Mexico.

The camp will be led by David Pritchard, a fitness trainer who believes busy Americans should break bad habits by taking vacations to get back on their healthy paths.

He leads the training, nutrition and wellness plans for guests of My Destination Wellness fitness vacations.

The package includes five nights and six days accommodations and roundtrip airport transfers; up to four exercise activities per day, from beach power-walking, yoga and biking to cardio kickboxing, pilates and boot camp; healthy hosted meals and cooking demonstrations with take-home recipes; and practical workshops with nationally recognized speakers.

Pre- and post-retreat hotel, airfare and excursions are all available.

Funjet Vacations was founded in 1974 and is based in Milwaukee. It specializes in providing vacation packages with nonstop charter flights and scheduled airlines to hundreds of destinations including Mexico, the Caribbean, Las Vegas, Hawaii, California, Florida and Europe. For more information, visit www.Funjet.com

Amtrak is celebrating its 40th anniversary by offering the public an opportunity to view an Exhibit Train, a traveling display showcasing the railroad’s history.

The free exhibit showcases Amtrak history over the decades, displaying memorabilia like vintage advertising, past menus and dinnerware, and period uniforms.

Most locations also will feature train-themed kids’ activities at Chuggington Kids Depot.

Information about each stop can be found on the official website at www.Amtrak40th.com  along with other information about Amtrak history.

The train will be on display in these places and on these dates: June 25 and 26, Strasburg Rail Road, Lancaster, Pa.; July 9 and 10, Springfield Amtrak Station, Springfield, Mass.; July 16 and 17, New Haven Union Station, New Haven, Conn.; July 23 and 24, New London Union Station, New London, Conn.; July 30 and 31, Providence Amtrak Station, Providence, R.I.; Aug. 6 and 7, Boston South Station; Aug. 13 and 14, Depot Avenue, Freeport, Maine; Aug. 20 and 21, Main Street Landing, Burlington, Vt.; Aug. 27 and 28, Albany Amtrak Station, Rensselaer, N.Y.; Sept. 3 and 4, Steamtown National Historic Site, Scranton, Pa.; Sept. 10 and 11, Gateway Station, St. Louis; Sept. 24 and 25, Galesburg Amtrak Station, Galesburg, Ill.; Oct. 1 and 2, Chicago Union Station; Oct. 8 and 9, Jackson Amtrak Station, Jackson, Mich.; Oct. 22 and 23, King Street Station, Seattle; and Oct. 29 and 30, Portland Amtrak Station, Portland, Ore.

Hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., except Strasburg Rail Road events which opens at 9 a.m., and Steamtown National Historic Site, which is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Commemorative 40th anniversary merchandise will be available for purchase onboard the train including “Amtrak: An American Story,” a 144-page commemorative book that chronicles the history of the railroad with archival photographs, a historical timeline and personal narratives for each decade; “Amtrak: The First 40 Years,” a documentary DVD produced for public television that provides an exclusive look at hard-to-find photographs and video footage as well as interviews with past and present leaders; and a commemorative cachet (envelope) that bears a special pictorial postmark authorized by the United States Postal Service. For more information, call 800-USA-RAIL or visit www.Amtrak40th.com or www.Amtrak.com

VIA Rail Canada’s bike trains are back for summer.

In Canada there are thousands of miles of cycling paths from Toronto, Ottawa, Montréal, Quebec City, London, Windsor to Jonquière or Senneterre, and VIA’s Bike trains make it a simple and worry-free travel experience.

First launched in the summer of 2007, bike racks are now available year-round on select VIA Rail departures.

With increased baggage cars operating over VIA’s network including on the popular Ottawa-Toronto route, customers and cyclists can now connect to even more cycling destinations. Additionally, cyclists traveling to Toronto can continue on to Niagara Falls with their bikes using GO Transit services.

From Quebec’s extensive Route Verte (2,671 miles), the Greater Niagara Circle Route (86 miles), Ottawa’s Capital Parkway Network (136 miles) to any of Ontario’s Waterfront Trails (559 miles), VIA’s Bike Trains provide a multitude of cycling destinations to choose from this summer.

To use the bike trains, customers simply check their bikes in at the counter for a small fee. VIA staff handle the loading of the bikes and hand them back to the customers on the platform at their destination.

For a full listing of VIA’s Bike Train schedules, visit www.viarail.ca/bike

Tickets for the “Flavor! Napa Valley” food and wine event are now on sale. The four-day festival takes place Nov. 17 to 20 at the Silverado Resort and Spa (www.silveradoresort.com ) in Napa (www.legendarynapavalley.com ) and the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone (www.ciachef.edu/california)  in St. Helena.

Events include up-close and personal cooking classes and demonstrations with celebrity chefs, including Michael Chiarello of Bottega (www.botteganapavalley.com) , Thomas Keller of the French Laundry (www.frenchlaundry.com ) and Christopher Kostow from the Restaurant at Meadowood (www.meadowood.com ).

A gala dinner will be prepared by Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto of Morimoto Napa (www.morimotonapa.com ) and other local and celebrity chefs.

The Napa Valley Appellation Trail Tasting will feature more than 120 wineries from Carneros (www.carneros.com ) to Calistoga (www.calistogavisitors.com ), pouring wines from the individual appellations, paired with dishes created by renowned chefs like Tyler Florence (www.tylerflorence.com ) of Rotisserie and Wine, Ken Frank of La Toque (www.latoque.com ) and Brandon Sharp of Solbar at Solage (www.solagecalistoga.com ).

Master sommeliers and wine experts will preside over tastings.

In addition, “Dinner with the Napa Valley Winemakers” will pair some of valley’s best food and wine.

In addition, a Terroir-to-Table Brunch hosted by Steve Carlin, a master of the eat-local movement and founder and managing partner of Downtown Napa’s Oxbow Public Market (www.oxbowpublicmarket.com), will feature products from the growers and artisanal producers who supply the valley’s restaurants with the organic and sustainable raw ingredients.

Individual event tickets range from $95 to $250, with most events ticketed at the $95 level. Special packages that include entry into many of the events are available at two levels — $475 and $750. Tickets for many of the culinary classes and demonstrations are limited and are available through the festival’s website at www.flavornapavalley.com

Delta Air Lines is welcoming China Eastern Airlines as an official member of the Skyteam airline alliance. China Eastern’s membership complements its recent codeshare agreement with Delta. China Eastern, headquartered in Shanghai, has a route network includes more than 150 destinations in China and worldwide, that includes cities in Southeast Asia, Europe, North America, South Africa and Australia.

With China Eastern’s hub in Shanghai, and current SkyTeam member China Southern’s hubs in Guangzhou and Beijing, SkyTeam will now offer services out of the three largest Chinese markets. For more information, visit www.skyteam.com

Crystal Cruises is offering new “double bonus savings” of up to $4,000 per couple on select Panama Canal and South America cruises from January to April 2012.

The offer is good on new bookings made by Aug. 31 on cruises by both Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity. The savings is double the published amount of previous “bonus” promotions for the seven voyages.

The offer includes complimentary air transportation from 24 North American gateways (or an air credit), plus $500-per-person shipboard credit.

The “double bonus savings” is 57 to 62 percent off brochure fares.

Eligible cruises include Panama Canal/Caribbean sailings as follows:

Jan. 4 to 17, Los Angeles to Miami; Jan. 4 to 18, Miami to Los Angeles; Jan. 17 to 27, Miami to Caldera, Costa Rica; Jan. 27 to Feb. 6, Caldera to Miami; and April 21 to May 8, Los Angeles to New York City.

In South America, eligible cruises are the Feb. 6 to 20 sailing from Miami to Rio de Janeiro and the March 3 to 19 Buenos Aires-to-Miami cruise.

Both include an overnight in Rio.

Bonus savings fares start at $3,215 per person, double occupancy.

The Westin La Cantera Resort in San Antonio, Texas (www.visitsanantonio.com), is celebrating the 10th anniversary of The Palmer Course by launching a summer golf promotion through Aug. 28.

The promotion offers daily golf rates of $69 on weekdays and $79 on weekends for hotel guests, including cart rental and lunch at either clubhouse.

Golfers also receive a $20 “bounce back” coupon for future play (through Dec. 31) at the Resort Course.

Guests who take advantage of the promotion will be included in a prize drawing. The grand prize includes a two-night stay, a round of golf for two and a personalized memento from Arnold Palmer. The winner will be announced in early September. For more information, call 800-446-5387 or visit www.lacanteragolfclub.com. For general hotel information, call 800-937-8461 or visit www.westinlacantera.com

Condominium Connection is offering the savings of up to 50 percent at the Honua Kai Resort (www.honuakaimaui.com ) on Maui (www.visitmaui.com ) for fall travel.
Depending on the accommodations and travel dates, savings can range from approximately $2,380 to $4,220 for seven-night stays, which also include a fifth night free.

The offer is valid for travel from Aug. 14 through Nov. 17 and from Nov. 28 through Dec. 22, 2011.

Among the sample rates for a seven-night stay are $1789.77 for a one-bedroom, mountain view unit for two guests; $2,551.95 for a two-bedroom, resort view unit for up to four guests; and $5,308.06 for a three-bedroom, ocean view unit for up to six guests.

For more information, call 800-423-2976 or visit www.condoconnection.com

The James Chicago hotel is updating its rooms and service as it celebrates its fifth anniversary.

The work is scheduled for completion in September. The update is using artisan fabrics and natural weaves on both existing and new pieces, combined with sculpted hardwoods and waxed metals.

Custom-designed furniture is being hand-built by American craftsmen for the guestrooms and suites.

Several pieces of older furniture were reupholstered or refitted so as not to add to landfills.

The dining/work niche in guest rooms will now feature a larger, solid white oak table with soft edges and a dimmable wall-mounted lamp. A new Pantry Bar has been added to the standard guestroom that places the refrigerator at chest height.

Beds will get a linen duvet. Rooms also will feature a mini terrarium.

The James Chicago will partner with Harmonic by Intelligent Nutrients, a certified organic natural beauty line, which will provide in-room amenities.

Each guestroom mini bar also will feature a Harmonic Travel Kit ($25) and Harmonic Lip Balm ($12) for sale.

New in-room amenities include a complimentary triple-filtered water system, an eco-friendly pillow menu by Keetsa, and a European-style water boiler and Starbucks Via coffee.

The hotel offers bikes for adults and children, as well as complimentary use of an Audi Q7 TDI, which features clean diesel technology.

The mural art throughout the hotel is getting a better presentation, such as lighter-weight drapery and new lighting. Also, each elevator lobby will feature a large photo rendering of the Chicago skyline by graphic artist Nienke Sybrandy.

The arrangement of existing furniture will be reworked to create more open, usable spaces, particularly in common rooms such as The James Club.

Carpet in the second floor event space will also be replaced, while David Burke’s Primehouse will include fully re-conditioned booths and tabletops, new lighting and a Himalayan salt art wall installation.

For more information, visit www.jameshotels.com

Sheraton Hotels & Resorts Worldwide announced the official launch of its signature fitness program in Latin America –

“Sheraton Fitness Programmed by Core Performance.”

Sheraton Hotels and its owners are investing $120 million to roll out its new fitness program that lets guests use the strategies developed by the leading experts in pro-athlete training to become the ultimate road warrior.

In celebration of the roll out of the new program across the brand’s 28 hotels in Latin America, Sheraton’s Global Brand Leader Hoyt Harper hosted a kick-off fitness event at the Sheraton Rio Hotel & Resort.

This alliance marks the first time that Core Performance is partnering with a hotel company to create customized training and nutrition programs for travelers.

As part of the brand’s $6 billion global revitalization, more than 130 hotels feature the new fitness offering.

All Sheraton Hotels around the world will feature Sheraton Fitness by end of 2011.