Jetsettersblog

On A New Tour By Southern Explorations

The reason most international travelers don’t visit Argentina’s northern interior isn’t because there’s not much to see here.

It’s just that in a country so vast, they never make it this far. This brand new, spectacular twelve-day Argentina tour by Southern Explorations makes that journey easy.

Guests will visit a dramatic, stunning landscape complete with colorful canyons and unique stone formations that have been sculpted by the wind over time.

This Hidden North of Argentina tour includes a stay in Salta, the country’s best-preserved colonial city, a visit to one of the country’s most famous archeological sites, the pre-Columbian city of Quilmes, and wine-tastings in the northwest wine region.

Plus, guests will explore the two adjacent parks that contain the world’s only known complete and undisturbed paleontological record of the Triassic Period, when both dinosaurs and mammals originated.

All of these highlights, combined with two days of exploration in fabulous Buenos Aires, make for an unforgettable Argentina vacation.

12 days starting at $3395 per person.

www.southernexplorations.com

PORTLAND, ME—Summer Feet Cycling, a specialist in Maine cycling tours, is announcing a brand new family multi-sport adventure for the 2012 season.

This tour is perfect for active families who enjoy the great outdoors, history, and maritime culture.

This 6 day/ 5 night tour includes hiking and biking though the stunning landscapes of Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor. Other highlights include a lobster boat tour, a visit to Owl’s Head Transportation Museum as well as the Penobscot Maritime museum, delectable Maine fare, and plenty of family fun. www.summerfeet.net

BOZEMAN, Mont—This spectacular, brand new women’s only culture and cooking tour offers 8 memorable days of learning about Poland’s fascinating culinary and cultural scene.

This new tour is one of many that is being offered in 2012 to help commemorate the 30th anniversary of AdventureWomen, Inc., the leader in adventure travel for women worldwide, since 1982.

This girlfriend getaway includes hands-on and demonstration-style Polish cooking lessons, highlighting delicious regional cuisine including freshly made meals and breads, plus wine, beer, and vodka tastings.

Other highlights include excursions into the famous cities and towns in Poland, hiking in Eastern Europe’s Tatra Mountains, and visits to UNESCO World Heritage sites to experience the art and architecture of the region.

Other highlights include visits to local markets and agritourism farms in the countryside, opportunities to learn crafts from local markets, elegant accommodations at two luxurious 4-star hotel-spas in Zakopane and Krakow, optional tour extensions, and much more.

Dates: September 5-18th, 2012.

Cost: $3,895 from Krakow, Poland ($800 deposit).

www.adventurewomen.com

HOPKINS, Belize- Hamanasi Adventure Dive Resort has put together a special 2012 Maya End of the World package to celebrate the beauty and mystery of the ancient Mayan culture. Imagine climbing stone pyramids once walked upon by Mayan royalty, snorkeling reefs in search of vital ceremonial tools, and traveling into the Mayan Underworld. Located on Belize’s central coast, Hamanasi provides guests close access to many famous Mayan sites as well as one of the world’s largest reef systems.

As part of the Maya End of the World package, special tours and trips will be available such as:

• Climbing the pyramids at Xunantunich and Cahel Pech
• Entering the Underworld to view pottery shards and skeletons at the Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave
• Snorkeling the Barrier Reef for sting rays whose spines were commonly used in bloodletting ceremonies
• Discovering the unexcavated Mayflower Maya site hidden in the rainforest and hiking to nearby Antelope Falls
• Visiting Lubaantun and Nim Li Punit Mayan ruins, followed by lunch with a local Mayan family

Package includes seven nights’ beachfront accommodations, five Maya-inspired day trips, meals, ground transportation, hotel and sales tax, welcome drink, and a special Mayan gift. Between trips, guests can explore the area with free use of Hamanasi’s bikes and kayaks.

December 2012 will bring the end of the Mayan Long Calendar, whether this will also bring the end of the world… only time will tell.

www.hamanasi.com

INCLINE VILLAGE, NEV. – Next year, unconventional tour operator Myths and Mountains will host a new trip to beautiful northern Argentina.

“The Exquisite Estancia Experience” will give travelers a look at the region’s idyllic ranch estates, or estancias. A stay at the estancia is all-inclusive, and visitors can tour the vineyards, take sunset horseback rides or hike the trails in the surrounding hillsides.

Those who want to immerse themselves in the local culture can ride with gauchos and even try their hands at wielding a lasso.
At $4,495 per person, this trip makes for a perfect honeymoon or girls-only getaway.

www.mythsandmountains.com

ANGELS CAMP, CA – The Grand Canyon is one of the premier whitewater rafting experiences in the world, and it is notoriously difficult river to secure a river trip on; private permits often take years to win through a lottery system and commercial trips typically book up many months in advance. O.A.R.S., one of the most well established and respected outfitters on the Grand Canyon has had the rare opportunity to add two additional late season departures in the Canyon, meaning that you could find yourself on the adventure of a lifetime this fall.

O.A.R.S. Grand Canyon River Trip recently won recognition in National Geographic Traveler’s 50 Tours of a Lifetime for 2011, and is a trip that typically books up 6 to 12 months prior to departure. O.A.R.S. has been able to add two new departures: a 7-day Lee’s Ferry to Phantom Ranch trip from September 26th – October 2th, and a 9-day Phantom Ranch to Diamond Creek trip from October 2nd – October 10th. The two departures can even be combined into one wonderful 15-day full canyon trip of a lifetime. For reservations and pricing, please contact an O.A.R.S. trip consultant at 1-800-346-6277. Learn more about O.A.R.S. Grand Canyon river trips at http://www.oars.com/grandcanyon

O.A.R.S. offers everything from short 3 day floats to expedition-length 19 day dory trips on the American West’s most iconic rivers – the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon, the Colorado River through Cataract Canyon in Utah, and the Salmon River in Idaho. O.A.R.S. offers world-class multiday river trips throughout the American West, Canada, Alaska, Fiji and Latin America. More info at http://www.oars.com
www.oars.com

On June 25, 2011, Scottsdale celebrated its 60th anniversary commemorating the city’s Western heritage and history, which is still very much alive today in “The West’s Most Western Town.”

Travelers looking to please their palates with authentic Western grub will not be disappointed with the array of restaurants still serving it up – from former stagecoach stops and cattle stockyards to boot-scootin’ saloons.

Head ‘em off at the pass at Reata Pass Steakhouse, a restored 1880s stagecoach stop that’s been featured in everything from “Raising Arizona” to “Bonanza” and now serves as a kitschy, cowboy-themed chophouse.

Located next door, it doesn’t get more authentic than Greasewood Flat, a 120-year-old bunkhouse-turned-saloon that dishes out two-fisted burgers, cold beer and live Western music under a starry sky and named “Best of the Old West” by Food Network Magazine. Just down the street is Pinnacle Peak Patio where they’ve been serving up cowboy grub for more than 50 years.

This cowboy steakhouse is a casual place, so don’t even think about wearing a tie around your neck or else it will be cut off and hung from the rafters!

And in neighboring Phoenix, the historic Stockyards Restaurant and 1889 Saloon was originally a working stockyard owned by a local cattle baron – who lived in the adjacent castle.

Today, the restaurant features artfully restored historic details such as the hand-painted murals and saloon’s massive mahogany bar and cut-glass chandelier.

KOSRAE VILLAGE, Micronesia- Leave the blizzards and family squabbles at home this holiday season and head to a tropical island paradise. In the South Pacific a picturesque island complete with pristine coral reefs and lush rainforests awaits.

Let Kosrae Village become your holiday home and explore the pathways and palm frond cottages.

Ready for adventure, there’s plenty here. On land wander the rainforests or search for WW ll bunkers and ancient local ruins. Kayak the coconut and panadanus mangroves or watch marine life in tide pools along the beach.

At sea try out surfing, blue hunting, or snorkeling fringe reefs. Scuba divers can check out sunken plane and pirate ship wrecks or spectacular tropical fish and drop-offs. Certified scuba instructors can have new divers ready to dive in no time.

On Christmas Day experience local celebrations during the annual Christmas Marching. Area villages divide into groups which begin practicing songs and marching routines in November. Christmas Day brings the performances and a few festive surprises.

After the show, the audience votes for their favorite group with small donations, which go to the winning performers.

Kosrae Village offers a number of packages with 6-night, 7- day stays for under $1000.

To get here check out Continental Airlines Fly Micronesia Fare, which departs four times a week from Guam and Hawaii. The new Star Alliance Micronesia AirPass lets travelers visit up to 10 islands in Micronesia. This winter leave the cold and chaos behind and find your island adventure.

www.kosraevillage.com

Las Vegas — “Summer of Love” — featuring the soulful sounds of R&B hit-makers Tank, Avant and Carl Thomas — plays The Orleans Showroom August 27 and 28, each evening at 8 p.m.

Four-time Grammy nominee Tank reached No. 1 on the charts with his 2007 release of “Please Don’t Go,” a single that earned him an American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) Award.

He has written hit songs for numerous artists, including Jamie Foxx, Omarion and Chris Brown.

Additionally, Tank contributed to the score and had a cameo in the Academy Award-nominated film, “Dreamgirls.”

Singer-songwriter Avant burst onto the scene in 1998 with his Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop chart topping single “Separated.” He has been featured on numerous hit singles including the R&B remix of the Pussycat Dolls “Stickwitu,” Diddy’s “Claim My Place” and Bone Thugs-n-Harmony’s “Cleveland is the City.” Avant’s current album, “The Letter,” was released in 2010.

In 2000, Carl Thomas’ debut single, “I Wish,” topped the R&B charts, and his album “Emotional” was certified Platinum. He was featured on 2Pac’s “Dumpin” in 2006 and Trey Songz “Feels So Good” in 2009. Thomas’ current album, “So Much Better,” reached the Top 25 on the Billboard charts. He is currently working on his fourth album, set for release later this year.

Showtime is 8 p.m. Tickets are available starting from $39.95, plus tax and convenience fees, and can be purchased at any Coast Casinos Box Office, by calling 702.365.7075, or visiting www.orleanscasino.com

About The Orleans Hotel and Casino
Located at 4500 W. Tropicana Ave., The Orleans includes more than a dozen restaurants, an 18-screen movie theater, 70-lane bowling center, 827-seat showroom featuring theater-style seating, and a 9,500-seat Orleans Arena. The property has a 135,000-square foot casino with 60 table games including Blackjack-21, Roulette, Baccarat, Craps and Pai Gow. Guests will also find more than 2,800 slot and video poker machines. Additionally, The Orleans includes a bingo parlor, keno lounge and race and sports book. More information on The Orleans Hotel and Casino can be found at www.orleanscasino.com. The Orleans Hotel and Casino is a property of Boyd Gaming. Headquartered in Las Vegas, Boyd Gaming is a leading diversified owner and operator of 16 gaming entertainment properties located in Nevada, New Jersey, Mississippi, Illinois, Indiana and Louisiana. Additional news and information on Boyd Gaming can be found at www.boydgaming.com

Rates From $79, Complimentary Bottle of Wine, Dinner for Two, Spa Discounts at Hotels in Orlando, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Sanibel-Captiva

FORT LAUDERDALE – Autumn is one of the best times of the year to visit Florida – temperatures are cooler and crowds are fewer as kids go back to school, providing an ideal setting for romantic sunsets and strolls on the beach. Celebrate the change of season with LXR’s Florida Fall Escape which brings together fabulous rates with adult-friendly perks from the shores of Miami Beach to the shell-strewn sands of Sanibel Island.

Offered at LXR’s Florida properties for travel from Sept. 1 – Nov. 17, 2011, the Fall Escape requires a two-night minimum stay and includes a complimentary bottle of wine upon arrival, dinner for two (up to $75) at participating property restaurants, and 20 percent off spa treatments and services or a $25 credit towards spa products.

Participating Florida properties include:

- Buena Vista Palace Hotel & Spa in the Walt Disney® World Resort (Orlando) from $99 per night

- Bahia Mar Beach Resort & Yachting Center (Fort Lauderdale) from $79 per night

- Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty-Six (Fort Lauderdale) from $99 per night

- Miami Beach Resort (Miami Beach) from $89 per night

- South Seas Island Resort (Captiva) from $149 per night

- Sundial Beach & Golf Resort (Sanibel Island) from $129 per night

- Sanibel Inn (Sanibel Island) from $129 per night

- Sanibel Sunset Beach Resort (Sanibel Island) from $129 per night

- Seaside Inn (Sanibel Island) from $129 per night

- Song of the Sea (Sanibel Island) from $149 per night

For more information and reservations call (888) 886-5111 or visit www.LuxuryResorts.com/FallEscape

The Fall Escape is good for travel Sept. 1 – Nov. 17, 2011 at the above LXR properties. Reservations are subject to availability and a two-night minimum stay is required. Rates are quoted per room, per night, based on single or double occupancy and exclude resort fees, taxes and gratuities.

Package cannot be combined with any other offer, and group reservations are excluded. Dinner value excludes alcohol, tax and gratuities, must be used at one seating at participating property restaurants and is not redeemable for cash. Spa offers vary by property.

LXR Resorts & Hotels is a portfolio of independent properties dedicated to creating personalized experiences, a sense of ease and endless pleasure. LXR properties are distinguished by a style and spirit that captures the unique qualities of their setting, and are located throughout the United States and the Caribbean.

The LXR collection also includes the renowned Golden Door® Spa. For more information, visit www.LuxuryResorts.com