Jetsettersblog

Ireland’s Dromoland Collection, the five-star destination resorts of Dromoland Castle and Castlemartyr Resort, are offering packages.

Dromoland Castle’s offer includes five nights’ accommodation in a deluxe guestroom as well as full Irish breakfast each morning in the relaxing and elegant Earl of Thomond restaurant.

The package rate of 1,375 euros per room is based on two people sharing; as many as two children under 12 years of age may share at no additional charge. The package is available until Aug. 31.

At Castlemartyr Resort, family B&B package includes two nights’ with full Irish breakfast each morning, as well as dinner for two one evening in the Bell Tower Restaurant.

Also included is membership in the” Very Important Kids” Club, which entitles them to lots of special treats, such as an arrival amenity, kids’ high tea in the evening, access to the swimming pool during designated hours, and movie night.

A day at Fota Wildlife Park is also included. The package rate begins at 264 euros per night based on two people sharing and as many as two children under 12 years of age.

This package is available until Oct. 31.

Guests may transfer stays between Dromoland Castle and Castlemartyr Resort, but dates must run consecutively; package rates include government tax and service charges.

For more information, call 800-323-7500 or visit www.castlemartyrresort.ie , www.dromolandcollection.ie  or www.preferredhotels.com

Artisans of Leisure is offering private culinary tours that include such things as a private cooking class in the farmhouse kitchen of a renowned cookbook writer in Sicily, an early morning tour of a busy food market in Bali with a local chef, a private wine tasting in the chateaux of Burgundy and Bordeaux, sake tasting in Tokyo with a world famous expert, dining with a family of royal chefs in India, private cooking classes at Istanbul’s premier culinary academy.

The culinary tours are customized to each traveler’s level of interest and proficiency in the kitchen, whether they are casual cooks, professional chefs or adventurous foodies.

“Culinary-focused travel offers a fascinating way to learn about how cuisine relates to a culture’s history, traditions, lifestyle and beliefs about health,” said Ashley Isaacs Ganz, founder and CEO of Artisans of Leisure.

“Our tours offer access to some of the world’s most enriching and authentic culinary experiences.”

The company offers 16 culinary tours for 2011-12, including new tours in India, Switzerland, France, Sicily, Portugal, Hungary and Southeast Asia.

The company can also customize culinary tours, upon request. Activities can be adapted to accommodate travelers with food allergies, gluten-free diets, vegetarian or kosher requirements, and other special dietary needs.

Food and Wine of Portugal is eight days visiting the Douro Valley, Porto, Lisbon, Sintra, Alentejo and Evora, with a wine tasting in the Douro Valley and Alentejo, cultural touring in Lisbon and Sintra, tasting port wine in Porto, a meal at the home of a renowned wine family, a private cooking class, olive oil tasting, and riding in a private traditional rabelo (a wooden boat for transporting wine).

Also available are Flavors of Southeast Asia (16 days, Singapore, Saigon, Hoi An, Hanoi, Chiang Mai, Bangkok); Food and Wine Tour of Switzerland (seven days, Zurich, Basel and Alsace, Bern, Gruyeres, Lausanne and Lake Geneva); Food and Wine of Austria (eight days, Vienna, Wachau, Burgenland, Styria); Wine Tour of Hungary (six days, Eger-Tokaj Wine Region, Budapest); Vietnam for Foodies (11 days, Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hue, Hoi An, Saigon); Food and Wine of France and Switzerland (10 days, Paris, Champagne, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Lyon, Lausanne and Lake Geneva); Cooking Tour of China (11 days, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong); Culinary Tour of Japan (eight days, Tokyo, Kyoto, Hakone); Thailand for Foodies (nine days, Bangkok, Chiang Mai); India for Foodies (12 days, Delhi, Jaipur, Udaipur, Mumbai); Food and Wine of Australia (nine days, Melbourne, Yarra Valley, Adelaide, Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Sydney); Culinary Tour of Mexico (15 days, Merida, Mexico City, Puebla, Oaxaca, San Miguel de Allende); Gourmet Northern Italy (10 days, Piedmont, Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany); Art and Culinary Tour of Sicily (13 days, Palermo, Marsala, Sciacca, Ragusa, Syracuse, Taormina); and Culinary and Art Tour of Spain (11 days, Madrid, San Sebastian, La Rioja, Bilbao, Barcelona).

In addition to these culinary tours, Artisans of Leisure can incorporate culinary activities into any of their cultural tours worldwide. All Artisans of Leisure tours feature private, personalized touring and accommodation at the most acclaimed hotels and resorts in the world. Artisans of Leisure tours are private and depart daily. Artisans of Leisure is a luxury tour operator specializing in private, customized tours in more than 45 countries throughout Asia, Europe, South America, Africa, the Middle East and the South Pacific.

For more information, call 800-214-8144, email info@artisansofleisure.com  or visit www.artisansofleisure.com

AdventureSmith Explorations has announced a two-for-one special (cruise rate only in shared cabin) for four late summer and early fall departures in the Galapagos Islands on the 32-passenger motor yacht Galapagos Evolution.

The cruises take place Aug. 25 to Sept. 4, Sept. 8 to 18, Sept. 15 to 25, and Sept. 22 to Oct.1, and sail roundtrip from Quito, Ecuador. Included are a seven-night Galapagos cruise, pre- and post-cruise Quito hotel accommodations, airport/hotel transfers, roundtrip flights between mainland Ecuador and the Galapagos, and a half-day tour of Quito’s old town, a UNESCO designated World Heritage Site.

Fares, which are guaranteed when 16 guests have signed up for the program, start at $5,895 for the first traveler, with the companion paying only $1,100 for extras, such as in-country air tickets, a transit control card and park entrance fees.

Those who forego the two-for-one offer and pay full price for the cruise can opt for a complimentary four-night Amazon adventure extension plus free extras valued at $600 per person.

Bookings must be made by July 30. For more information, call 800-728-2875 or visit

www.adventuresmithexplorations.com

Collette Vacations will absorb the cost of any additional hotel taxes imposed by the Florence and Venice city councils.

With the new tax increase, travelers staying at four- and five-star hotels located in these cities will be charged 4 euros per person, per night. Florence began its tax increase on July 1 and Venice is slated to start Aug. 28.

In January, Collette had already announced their commitment to absorb the cost of a similar hotel tax for their travelers to Rome. While some tour operators are offering to credit passengers who are obligated to pay the tax upon check-in, Collette’s tour managers will pay the new tax upon check out of the hotel.

“We want to assure travel agents who have clients on one of our many Italy tours that include Florence, Venice or Rome — or who have clients thinking about travel to these cities in the future — that our pricing is guaranteed,” said Dan Sullivan Jr., president and CEO. “Your clients will not be billed for the new tax and there will be no need for reimbursement.”

Collette Vacations is a family-owned business headquartered in Pawtucket, R.I.

For more information, call 800-340-5158 or visit

www.collettevacations.com

“Top Chef’ Season 5 Fan Favorite Fabio Viviani will sail on the Wind Surf’s Oct. 22 Athens-to-Rome cruise, during which he will conduct a lecture, a question-and-answer session, and a cooking demonstration.

The seven-day sailing visits Milos and Monemvasia, Greece; and Messina, Amalfi and Ischia, Italy. Cruise fares start at $2,399 per person, double.

For more information, call 800-258-7245 or visit www.windstarcruises.com

Variety Cruises has launched end-of-summer two-for-one discounts in the Mediterranean, where second passengers in the same cabin sail free, and there is no single supplement for solo travelers.

The cruises sail coasts and islands of Greece and Turkey, and must be booked by Aug. 16.

Among the cruises are “Classical Greece” aboard the 25-cabin Harmony V, departing Aug. 19 and 26, for a savings of $2,590; “Aegean Odyssey” aboard the 22-cabin Harmony G, departing Aug. 12, for a savings of $2,390; “Jewels of the Cyclades” aboard the 26-cabin Galileo, departing July 29, Aug. 19 and Oct. 28, for a savings of up to $1,890; and “Turquoise Coast & Islands of the Eastern Aegean” aboard the 12-cabin Halis Temel, departing Sept. 17 and Oct. 15 and 22, for a savings of up to $1,490.

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

Cunard Line’s Queen Victoria will reprise its Americas season in late 2011 and early 2012, which include updated itineraries through the Panama Canal and sailings to the Hawaiian Islands, the Caribbean and Mexico. Fares start at $1,295 per person, double.

The cruises include the new, 15-day Panama Canal Explorer, departing on Dec. 6, 2011, and Jan. 30, 2012, from Fort Lauderdale to Los Angeles, and from Los Angeles to Fort Lauderdale on Jan. 4, 2012, from $1,295 per person, double; the 11-day roundtrip Panama Canal sailing, departing Fort Lauderdale on Jan. 19, 2012, from $1,295; the 17-day Panama Canal Treasures cruise, departing Feb. 28, 2012, from Los Angeles, from $2,095; and the 14-day Hawaiian Adventure, roundtrip from Los Angeles, departing on Dec. 21, 2011, and Feb. 14, 2012, from $1,695. For more information, call 800-728-6273 or visit www.cunard.com

Greater Fort Lauderdale is sharing in the celebration of gay marriage in New York by launching a new webpage to help newly hitched couples plan the perfect escape, www.sunny.org/honemoonwithpride.

The “Honeymoon with Pride” contest offers five nights at The Royal Palms Resort & Spa, a 62-room full-service, male-only gay resort.

Couples will also be treated to a couples massage, long-stemmed chocolate strawberries, a bouquet of rainbow roses, dinner for two at G.G.’s, with a wine flight and special cake dessert.

The “Preferred Pride” package at The Atlantic Resort & Spa, Fort Lauderdale’s luxury boutique hotel overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and Blue Wave beaches, offers a three-night stay in an Ocean View Studio featuring a private balcony, fully-equipped kitchenette and an oversized marble bathroom, plus a couples massage, two complimentary welcome cocktails, and room upgrade (based on availability).

To enter to win one of the honeymoon escapes, visit www.sunny.org/honemoonwithpride

To further commemorate this milestone, the Preferred Pride package is offering a complimentary couples massage at Spa Atlantic for the first 10 newlywed couples booking the package for their honeymoon, available now through Dec. 31, 2011.

For reservations, call 877-567-8020 or visit www.AtlanticHotelFL.com and reference rate code MKTPRD. Recipients of the complimentary couples massage must present a marriage license.

The Romance By The Sea Package for Lovers at The Grand Resort & Spa features two nights in a choice of Junior Suite, One-Bedroom Suite, or One-Bedroom Penthouse at the property. Champagne and gourmet chocolates are given upon arrival and during the stay guests receive a choice of a Couples’ Massage or Couples’ Facial at the spa at The Grand Resort. Couples can continue the honeymoon at home with two souvenir Grand Resort logo robes. Package rates start at $466.87.

For more information, visit www.grandresort.net  For more information about GLBT Greater Fort Lauderdale, visit www.sunny.org/glbt

After filming their upcoming motion picture in New York City, the Smurfs are again taking on the city with Smurfs Week NYC, five days of events in anticipation of the July 29, 2011, release of “The Smurfs” movie.

NYC & Company, Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation have orchestrated Smurfs Week NYC for New Yorkers and visitors alike, to encourage families to travel to the city.

The Smurfs are this year’s Get More NYC Family Ambassadors, highlighting New York City as a family-friendly destination, complete with a special itinerary of things to do and see in the city on www.nycgo.com.

In 2010, New York City welcomed about 14.3 million family visitors, a new record. Family visitors tend to spend more and do more than regular visitors, contributing about $12 billion to New York City’s economy.

Smurfs Week NYC kicks off at Merchant’s Gate near Columbus Circle with a 3D Smurfs Village on July 25. Later that day, the Empire State Building will shine blue to encourage Smurfs fans to donate to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF via www.unicefusa.org and by texting “ZERO” to UNICEF to make a $10 donation. Activities will continue throughout the week, with an unveiling ceremony at FAO Schwarz, a character meet-and-greet at Build-A-Bear Workshop, and special themed windows and activities at Dylan’s Candy Bar.

Additional events will take place at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, the Mount Vernon Hotel Museum & Garden, The New York Botanical Garden, the Regal E-walk, The Skyscraper Museum, and more. Smurfs Week NYC also includes Smurfs-themed programs, exhibits and activities at 92nd Street Y, the City Parks Foundation, the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art, NYC Urban Park Rangers, On Location Tours, and Sony Wonder Technology Lab.

For a complete Smurfs Week NYC calendar of events, visit www.nycgo.com/smurfsweeknyc

The Keauhou Beach Resort (www.keauhoubeachresort.com ) on Hawaii’s Big Island is offering a free Dollar (www.dollar.com ) rental car through Sept. 30 to clients booking a family room category (two connecting rooms) for up to six people.

The nightly room rate is $299.

The vehicle can be picked up in Hilo or Kona and must be returned to the same rental location to avoid drop-off charges.

Additional service fees and taxes apply to Dollar Rent A Car rentals.

To book, call 866-326-6803. For more information on the offer, visit www.outrigger.com/keauhou-family-getaway.