Jetsettersblog

IslandsEscapes by Goway released packages to the Islands of the Indian Ocean, Seychelles, Mauritius and Maldives, combined with a brief stay in Dubai.

The tropical escapes start with a three-night experience in Dubai on the shores of the Arabian Gulf at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel built in the shape of a breaking wave. Next are the palm-fringed tropical islands of the Seychelles, known for some of the best beaches for diving, sailing, fishing, hiking and island-hopping.

Alternatively, clients can go to Mauritius with a choice of beaches and water sports, golf courses, deep sea fishing, boutique shopping, hiking, and fine cuisine.

Or clients can go to the Maldives with many islands of coconut palms and tropical greenery surrounded by endless colors of turquoise and sapphire in crystal clear lagoons.

A 10-night escape to these idyllic islands is priced from $2,019 including three nights in Dubai at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel, and seven nights on one of the spectacular islands of Seychelles, Mauritius, or Maldives, select meals and all relevant transfers. For information about IslandsEscapes’ “World’s Most Idyllic Islands” brochure, call 800-667-6601 or visit www.Islandsescapes.com.

Goway has been offering travel to Africa, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Latin America and island destinations since 1970. It has offices in Toronto, Vancouver, Los Angeles and Sydney Australia.

For information, call 800-387-8850 or visit www.goway.com

A trio of New Zealand luxury lodges — Kauri Cliffs, The Farm at Cape Kidnappers and Matakauri Lodge — are offering three “lifestyle packages” with some activities and “value-add” offers within one all-inclusive price. The packages — Romantic Hideway, Revitalizing Retreat and Family Heaven — are available at all three lodges.

The Romantic Hideaway includes one night for two in a Deluxe Suite with a bottle of French champagne in room on arrival and romantic turn-down service including rose petals, bath oil and candle to take home. Included in the romance package are pre-dinner drinks and canapés, gourmet dinner, full breakfast and a complimentary mini bar (excluding liquor and wine), as well as a guaranteed late check-out.

The Revitalizing Retreat includes one nights’ accommodation for two in a Deluxe Suite including 2.5 hours in the spa with a 50-minute massage and an 80-minute facial per person.

A pre-treatment Afternoon Tea followed by post-treatment NZ method champenoise and guaranteed late check-out of 1 p.m. are all included.

The Family Heaven includes two nights in a luxury suite with interconnecting second bedroom and daily pre-dinner drinks and canapés, gourmet dinner, full breakfast and a complimentary mini bar (excluding liquor and wine).

As part of this package, parents choose either a day of golf or an 80-minute spa treatment, while the children have their choice of either an introductory junior golf lesson or a specially designed children’s mini manicure, pedicure or facial. Dinner is served family style for the first night, and on the second night parents can take advantage of four hours of babysitting included in the package with room service for the children, and dine privately in their choice of fireside locations within the lodge.

All packages are based on double or twin occupancy of a Deluxe Suite at Kauri Cliffs, Ridge Suite at Cape Kidnappers and a Deluxe Suite at Matakauri Lodge. Government Goods and Services Tax (GST) is applied at 15 percent.

A Fly Fishing package is also available at Cape Kidnappers and Matakauri Lodge.

For more information, call the Lodge at Kauri Cliffs at 011 64 9 407 0010 or visit www.kauricliffs.com, call The Farm at Cape Kidnappers at 011 64 6 875 1900 or visit www.capekidnappers.com , or call the Matakauri Lodge at 011 64 3 441 2180 or visit www.matakaurilodge.com

Active travel specialist Austin-Lehman Adventures is offering three new itineraries for 2012 for exploring both sides of the Andes in Argentina, Chile and Patagonia.

Argentina and Chile-Wine Country is a nine-day multi-sport (trekking, horseback riding, cycling) program priced at $5,098 per person double, beginning in Mendoza and ending in Santiago.

The 2012 tour dates are Feb. 13-21, March 5-13 and Dec.24-Jan. 1, 2013.

The itinerary encompasses the Uco Valley of Argentina and Mendoza´s wine regions (Malbecs and Torrontés) in a dry desert at the foothills of the Andes as well as Chile’s vines (Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Carmenere) that grow in the Colchagua Valley, a lusher colonial-flavored landscape near the Pacific.

The scenic drive across the Andes takes guests along the base of Mt. Aconcagua (22,841-foot elevation), the highest peak of the Americas and anywhere outside of the Himalayas.

Dan Austin, ALA’s founder and owner, said the trips are enhanced by “engaging guests on bike, horseback and on foot in the living cultural experiences available in these two extraordinary countries. Our choices for lodging are boutique hotels at the vineyards, haciendas and estancias (authentic working cattle ranches) that become true highlights of the trip.”

Also new for 2012 is Argentina and Chile-Patagonia, a 10-day, moderately paced mountaineering adventure with hiking trips and horseback tours priced at $5,498 per person double, that begins and ends in El Calafate (South Patagonia) for transfers to Buenos Aires and covers much of the territory of Bruce Chatwin’s In Patagonia.

The 2011-2012 tour dates are Dec. 19-28, Feb. 20-29, March 12-21 and Dec. 31-Jan. 9.

Highlights include (in Argentina) trekking to the best views of the Southern Face of Cerro Torre, its lake and hanging glaciers, and the Egger and Standhard spires plus views of the Fitz Roy massif, Mt. Saint Exupery, and Poincenot peaks. There’s also a glaciologist-led ice hike over the Perito Moreno Glacier to observe its surreal formations of ice peaks and blue crevasses.

A third new tour is Argentina and Chile-Salta to Atacama, a 10-day cycling, horseback and hiking adventure priced at $5,298 per person double, that begins in the northwest Argentine city of Salta and ends at the Atacama town of Calama with air transfers to Santiago, Chile.

The 2012 departures are offered year-round.

Highlights include cycling Los Cardones National Park, wine tasting at local bodegas, museum visits, the UNESCO World Heritage site of Humahuaca Canyon and three full days exploring Chile’s Atacama, the driest desert in the world.

For more information, call 800-575-1540 or visit www.austinlehman.com.

International Expeditions waived its single supplement on some 2012 Amazon and Galapagos Adventures, amounting to a savings of up to $1,749 for the 25 percent of Americans who travel solo, according to a 2009 survey by D.K. Shifflet & Associates.

The single supplement fees will be waived on 11 expedition cruises, including the April 6, 20 and 27 and Aug, 3, 10, 17 and. 24, 2012, Amazon River expedition cruise departures — a $1,749 per person savings. Single travelers will also enjoy no additional single supplement — a $1,200 per person savings — on IE’s May 11 and 25 and Oct 12 and 26, 2012, Galapagos Island cruises.

“Over the past five years we have seen larger numbers of single travelers looking for safe, escorted travel to the world’s wildlife-rich regions, “ said IE President Maggie Hart. “IE has made every effort to make our journeys open and inclusive for all travelers, and that includes keeping single supplements as low as possible and waiving the fees throughout the year — not just at the last minute.”

Aboard IE’s journey into the headwaters of the Amazon River, guests travel more than 600 miles aboard a classically styled riverboat, enjoying chances of rare wildlife sightings. Daily outings on this small-ship adventure take travelers deep into the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve to spot diverse wildlife, hike into the rainforest, and even fish for piranha.

During excursions into the narrow river tributaries, guests may spot more than 100 kinds of birds, pink and gray river dolphins, sloths, giant otters and nocturnal animals such as caimans and capybaras.

Amazon cruise passengers also spend time with ribereños in remote river villages, handing out school supplies to children and meeting with a local shaman.

Ensuring a high level of authenticity, IE varies the villages guests visit during their expedition. 2012 rates for the 10-day Amazon journey start at $3,798 and include accommodations, complimentary on-board laundry, all excursions, most meals, transfers and tips to porters and waiters for included meals.

On the 10-day Galapagos Islands cruise, International Expeditions’ 32-guest yacht M/V Evolution navigates to islands where the small group size allows for easy access to the wildlife and far more personal attention than guests find aboard large cruise ships.

Aboard the M/V Evolution, guests sail in comfort with spacious accommodations, fine cuisine and a host of amenities including an observation deck (perfect for whale watching) and canopied bar, plus complimentary snorkeling equipment, wetsuits and kayaks.

In addition to daily snorkeling and hiking, other highlights include a visit to the Charles Darwin Research Center, famous for its tortoise breeding programs; an exploration of Santiago Island, a haven for finches, doves and Galapagos hawks; and a sailing to Kicker Rock.

Trained Galapagos naturalist guides share their knowledge and bring clients within inches of giant tortoises, blue-footed boobies, sea lions, penguins and other animals. Prices for the Galapagos Islands vacations start at $5,098 in 2012, and include accommodations, all excursions, most meals, transfers and tips to porters and waiters for included meals. International Expeditions specializes in small-group journeys to remote destinations.

For more information, call 800-633-4734, email nature@ietravel.com  or visit www.IEtravel.com

Go Visit Ireland, an Ireland-based tour company that specializes in authentic cultural tours throughout Ireland, is offering 10 percent off its guided walking tours of Ireland for the remainder of the 2011 season, now through October.

Go Ireland’s guided walking tours include Explore Hidden Kerry on an Ireland Walking Tour, with departure dates April-October and prices starting at $925 per person double, before discount, and Celtic Kerry Footsteps Cultural Walking Tour, with departure dates Sept 17 and Oct 1 and prices starting at $1,500 (all inclusive except one dinner) per person double, before discount.

For information, visit www.govisitireland.com

Southwest Airlines Vacations is offering savings of up to $100 on Florida beach vacation packages. Air/hotel packages at participating hotels in the most popular Florida Beach destinations are reduced up to $100 in instant savings (reflected in the package price) at time of booking.

Three-night packages save $50, four-night packages save $75, and five-or-more-night packages save $100.

The company is also offering up to 40 percent off hotel stays, one night free, a room upgrade (based on availability), or a resort credit with air/hotel package for three or more nights at participating hotels.

Rental cars from Alamo are going for up to 25 percent off.

Packages must be booked by Sept. 15 by 6 p.m. CT for travel Aug. 27 through Dec. 28.

Black-out dates apply and one-day advance purchase is required.

Customized vacation packages include roundtrip flight via Southwest Airlines; hotel accommodations (including taxes); Rapid Rewards points on the flight portion; 24-hour traveler assistance; and two bags checked free (weight and size limits apply).

Southwest Airlines Vacations offers vacation packages to more than 80 destinations with flight service available from every scheduled Southwest Airlines departure city.

For more information, email sales@southwestvacations.com

The Mark Travel Corporation introduced Brand g Vacations, which offers specialized group experiences to the gay community and pitches itself as “the next generation in gay travel.” Brand g was created under the direction of 25-year industry veteran Charlie Rounds, who has deep roots in gay group travel.

Although Brand g’s customer base will be mostly gay and lesbian, Rounds hopes to attract a larger share of the segment by welcoming friends and family of the LGBT community, also known as allies.

“Gay travel looks a lot different than it did 25 years ago,” said Rounds, former president of RSVP Vacations. “More gays and lesbians are out, getting married, and are interested in vacationing with friends and family. This is a great opportunity for travel agents to break into the LGBT travel market, because even if they don’t have gay customers, they probably have customers with gay family members or friends.”

Brand g will primarily offer escorted group tours to international destinations. Its inaugural trip in August 2012 is a full-ship charter of AMA Waterways’ newest 164-passenger riverboat, the AmaCerto, featuring two nights in Prague followed by a custom tailored, seven-day itinerary down the Danube River.

As a former travel agent, Rounds is a strong believer in the importance of the travel agent community in selling specialized products such as those offered by Brand g. “This is a more complicated and sophisticated product, and a great way for travel agents to show their value to customers.”

The Brand g website encourages consumers to contact their local travel agent to book its vacations. Rounds will also be hosting a webinar on VAX VacationAccess’s new Gay Travel Showcase, which was launched in July as a resource for travel agents interested in selling to the LGBT segment. His future goals for Brand g are to design innovative vacations that celebrate destinations that have led the way in improving the lives of gays and lesbians, and to incorporate a give-back element, where passengers can experience the beauty of destinations first-hand while also contributing to the improvement of the local communities. In addition to the riverboat cruise, the new brand will offer small group land programs in 2012 to Ireland and Mexico City, with plans to add a Wellness vacation in 2012.

For more information, call 800-433-4303 or email info@brandgvacations.com

La Réserve Ramatuelle is offering fitness fanatics what they are calling a “très français boot camp” in two sessions in September and October. Set just outside of St. Tropez, La Réserve Ramatuelle is surrounded by quintessential Cote d’Azur scenery and nearly 360-degree views of the Mediterranean Sea.

While strenuous, this boot camp is hardly roughing it, and includes walks through the Mediterranean countryside, spa treatments, and healthy local flavors cooked up by Chef Eric Canino.

Designed for groups of four to eight, the boot camp is a five-day/four-night program.

Guests start with a medical assessment to measure physical aptitude.

The next day, training kicks off with an hour-long yoga session and healthy breakfast before a guide leads a fast-paced walk through the hills and along the coast.

While sure to get hearts pumping, the duration and pace of these walks is determined on an individual basis.

After the walks, guests can relax for the rest of the day, with a healing and rejuvenating spa program that includes balneotherapy, body wraps, and the La Réserve Better Aging body treatment.

This detoxifying, slimming, and draining treatment enables cellular regeneration while eliminating blockages and tensions in the body.

Guests can also add à la carte experiences such as beauty and body therapies exclusively crafted for La Réserve by La Mer. The boot camp is offered Sept. 18 to 23 from 5,450 euros ($7,873) or from Oct. 10 to 15 at a price of 4,950 euros ($7,151). Rates include accommodations in a Deluxe room and full board. Prices are per person based on single occupancy. The boot camp program not including accommodations is 2,700 euros ($3,901) per person for the five-day program. A typical day’s activities includes a yoga session, morning walk, Balneotherapy, body wrap, jet shower, La Réserve Better Aging body treatment, relaxation session and meals.

For more information, visit www.lareserve-ramatuelle.com/en/home

The Bahamas’ former Our Lucaya Beach & Golf Resort will be renamed the Grand Lucayan, Bahamas effective Sept. 1, 2011. The new name “gives a better sense of what the resort delivers, a truly grand Bahamian experience,” said Benjamin Davis, general manager.

The resort offers nine dining establishments, personalized wedding services including “For a Moment Like This,” the Grand Lucayan’s signature ceremony, and a nightly Junkanoo parade featuring colorful costumes and rhythmic dancing to the sound of goombay drums, cowbells and whistles.

For more information, visit www.grandlucayan.com