Jetsettersblog

Ireland’s Castlemartyr Resort’s Gaelic Escape Package includes its Signature Spa Treatment, and a 10 percent discount off bespoke Anne Semonin products, while a full range of other luxurious spa services, from facials to nail treatments, lash and brow tinting, and waxing, are also available for an additional charge.

Available through Dec. 31, the cost of the Gaelic Escape Package begins at 489 euros per night, per room, two persons sharing. VAT and service charges are included.
For more information, call 011 353 21 4219000 or visit www.castlemartyrresort.ie

Several St. Kitts hotel and resort properties are offering fall and winter deals, and an island-wide, value-added program designed to help visitors save on their stay is also available.

Offers range from discounted rates to all-inclusive packages featuring meals and resort facilities, amenities and services from the following properties — the Bird Rock Beach Hotel, Ocean Terrace Inn, Ottley’s Plantation Inn, Rock Haven Bed & Breakfast, the St. Kitts Marriott Resort, the Sugar Bay Club, and the Timothy Beach Resort.

St. Kitts’ “Fall in Love” destination-wide value-added program offers visitors either seven nights’ accommodations for the price of four, plus either five or four nights for the price of three at participating hotels.

Guests also receive complimentary continental breakfast daily or a food and beverage credit along with a special discount card that provides savings at various island shops, restaurants, tours and more. Special children’s discounts may also apply.

Travelers can book a stay directly with the hotel and purchase air separately, or get reduced airfare on flights booked in conjunction with a stay at a participating hotel via American Airlines’ AA Vacations, US Airways Vacations or Delta Vacations.

The “Fall in Love” offer applies to new bookings made now through Dec. 12, 2011, for travel through Dec. 18, 2011.

For more information, call 800-582-6208 or visit www.stkittstourism.kn

In recognition of the once-in-a-lifetime date of Nov. 11, 2011 (11-11-11), Bolongo Bay Beach Resort in St. Thomas, U.S.V.I., is offering active duty and retired military members a discounted rate of $11 for the third night of a three-night booking, from now through Nov. 11, 2011. The offer applies to beachfront or oceanview rooms in the room-only plan.

Military members will also receive $11 in “Iggies bucks” per person to use toward food and drinks at Iggies Beach Bar & Grill. Military members who stay six nights receive two nights for $11 each plus a complimentary sunset cruise aboard Bolongo’s catamaran (a $110 value). After Nov. 11, the resort will continue its year-round military discount of 20 percent off the room-only plan.

For more information, call 800-524-4746 or visit www.BolongoBay.com

Pop sensation Ricky Martin will perform at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach as part of the hotel’s newly launched BleauLive performance series. Martin’s upcoming Fontainebleau performance will be his last before heading to New York City to star as Che in the Broadway revival of Andrew Lloyd Weber’s “Evita.”

Celebrating his 10th anniversary as Y100′s Afternoon Drive host, Michael Yo will be Master of Ceremonies for the weekend, introducing Martin on stage.

BleauLive is the resort’s new entertainment unit that brings the world’s top acts to Fontainebleau Miami Beach. Available only to hotel guests, BleauLive combines elements of performance, personal guest interaction with the artist and an immersive weekend getaway for the complete Fontainebleau experience.

BleauLive just launched Labor Day weekend with a performance and meet-and-greet by hip hop artist Pitbull.

Room packages for the weekend, including performance, meet-and-greet and much more can be booked by calling 800-584-8886 or visit www.bleaulive.com

For general information or reservations at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach, call 866-940-4512 or visit www.fontainebleau.com

Hyatt is rebranding 38 Hyatt Summerfield Suites and 16 newly purchased LodgeWorks Hotels to create a new hotel concept called Hyatt House, a new extended-stay brand. Hyatt House will combine form and function to create a warm, inviting, and comfortable environment, according to Hyatt. Upon arrival, guests are encouraged to relax with design elements and amenities that feel closer to home, allowing them to easily connect with others through enhanced social spaces.

“We looked very closely at the way extended-stay guests live their lives today and built a strong, innovative concept based on those needs,” said Mark Hoplamazian, president and chief executive officer of Hyatt Hotels Corporation.

“We’ve created what we believe will be a very successful concept — one that is social and sophisticated, yet casual and comfortable, and really allows guests to feel like residents of a connected neighborhood and community.”

Working in collaboration with architecture and interior design firm Stonehill & Taylor, Hyatt House signature elements will include dedicated social spaces. For example, each Hyatt House will feature a Great Lounge, a multi-purpose area with distinct spaces furnished with new signature chairs with built-in digital plugs and gadget resting spots, an oversized social sectional, and a glass-enclosed game room equipped with a state-of-the-art home entertainment system and a pool table.

The Great Lounge also will feature the H Bar, an integrated island that transforms from a breakfast bar in the morning to a cocktail bar in the evening with small plates.

Each Hyatt House will provide an extension of its social spaces with a unique backyard concept, complete with a built-in kitchen and conversation area centered on a signature fire pit.

Hyatt House also will feature studio, one- and two-bedroom kitchen suites that echo a well-appointed, urban residence designed with extended-stay travelers’ needs in mind. Residence-like touches include peek-a-boo cabinets in the kitchen for quick location of items and an entryway hall tree, a hotel’s version of a mud room where guests can hang keys, coats, umbrellas, and other items. Each suite will also feature a multi-tasking island where guests can prepare a meal, watch TV, or work on their laptop.

Hyatt House guests will enjoy an Eggs Your Way complimentary breakfast where they will be able to order eggs and toppings any way they would like from the chef preparing them fresh each morning.

There will also be a daily Open House with high-quality food and drinks at happy hour prices offered seven days a week from 5 to 10 p.m. in sync with the schedules of today’s travelers. The redesigned guest market will offer traditional and gourmet groceries and other items for purchase.

Personal shopping services will also be available, giving all guests a chance to easily have their refrigerators stocked with food and comfort items.

In addition to its 54 extended-stay hotels currently open in the U.S., Hyatt has additional properties in this segment under development in key markets in North America, the Middle East, and Southwest Asia.

The name Hyatt House was selected as an identifier that signals a residential, welcoming, personal and hospitable experience.

Hyatt House also has historical significance as the name of the first Hyatt hotel, which opened in 1957. The new logo, an iconic double lowercase/uppercase “H” with a curved square flag in a bold blue hue, was chosen as distinctive in the category but connected to the overall Hyatt brand.

Hyatt Summerfield Suites hotels and Hotel Sierra hotels are expected to complete their name and signage changes by early 2012. Service upgrades and remodeling are expected to occur over the course of the next year to incorporate Hyatt House signature elements into each property.

Guests who book a stay at Sandals Whitehouse European Village & Spa in Westmoreland, Jamaica, or Sandals Halcyon Beach in Castries, Saint Lucia, will receive a complimentary horseback riding adventure tour from Island Routes Caribbean Adventure Tours.

To qualify, guests must book a minimum six-night stay in select room categories between now and Oct. 20, 2011, for travel through Dec. 31, 2012.

Under the offer, Sandals Whitehouse guests will receive Island Routes’ Horseback Riding in Paradise tour, while guests of Sandals Halcyon will receive Island Routes Horseback Ride ‘n’ Swim Saint Lucia excursion.

The offer can be combined with current Island Routes promotions.

You’ve seen the movie (maybe in 3-D and IMAX), now you can soon “live” in the strange computer-generated world created by James Cameron in his movie “Avatar” — at least if you visit a Disney theme park. Walt Disney Parks & Resorts Worldwide is joining forces with filmmaker James Cameron and Fox Filmed Entertainment to bring the world of Avatar to life at its Disney parks.

Under an agreement announced Sept. 20 by Disney, Cameron’s Lightstorm Entertainment and Fox, Disney will partner with Cameron and producing partner Jon Landau to create themed lands that will give theme park guests the opportunity to explore the mysterious world of “Avatar.” Disney says it plans to build the first “Avatar”-themed land within Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park at Walt Disney World in Florida.

Animal Kingdom was selected because of its “natural fit” with the theme park’s emphasis on living in harmony with nature. Construction is expected to begin by 2013.

“James Cameron is a groundbreaking filmmaker and gifted storyteller who shares our passion for creativity, technological innovation and delivering the best experience possible,” said Robert Iger, president and CEO of The Walt Disney Company.

“With this agreement, we have the extraordinary opportunity to combine James’ talent and vision with the imagination and expertise of Disney.”

Noting that “Avatar” created a world that audiences can discover again and again, Cameron said the new partnership with Disney will bring Pandora, the planet depicted in “Avatar,” to life.

“With two new ‘Avatar’ films currently in development, we’ll have even more locations, characters and stories to explore,” Cameron said. “I’m chomping at the bit to start work with Disney’s legendary Imagineers to bring our ‘Avatar’ universe to life.

“Our goal is to go beyond current boundaries of technical innovation and experiential storytelling, and give park goers the chance to see, hear and touch the world of ‘Avatar’ with an unprecedented sense of reality.”

The Walt Disney Company, under the agreement, will have exclusive global theme park rights to the “Avatar” franchise and can build “Avatar”-themed lands at other Disney parks.

“The other locations will be determined by Disney and its international theme park partners. Cameron, Landau and their Lightstorm Entertainment group will serve as creative consultants on the projects and will partner with Walt Disney Imagineering in the design and development of these themed lands.

“‘Avatar’ is a uniquely powerful franchise that has global appeal with audiences of all ages,” said Thomas Staggs, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.

“Its spectacular settings, intriguing characters, imaginative creatures, and strong themes of family and loyalty make it a perfect fit for Disney,

“We can’t wait to give our guests the ability to journey to Pandora and explore the incredible immersive world of ‘Avatar’in person.”

Hertz has launched the Hertz Family Selection at all major airports and downtown locations in the U.K., France, Germany, Italy and Spain.

The range features the multi-purpose Meriva from Opel and sister brand Vauxhall as the hero car, with guaranteed availability once booked. The Family Selection also offers a wide choice of spacious and comfortable cars suitable for all family needs.

Designed with families in mind, the Meriva offers a FlexDoors system for easier car entry; adjustable seating; and versatile, multi-level storage. The Meriva features Hertz’s make and model reservation guarantee, meaning customers can be assured that when they book the Meriva, it will be the model they drive away with.
The Opel Meriva is available in France, Germany, Italy and Spain, and the Vauxhall Meriva in the U.K.

To celebrate the launch of the Meriva in the Family Selection, Hertz is offering a chance to win a Meriva in a free prize draw.

For more information, visit

www.hertzoffers.com/VauxhallMeriva/gb

and answer the one question: “What can you not leave home without on your family holiday?”

Virgin America will start flying daily to Palm Sprints, Calif., on Dec.15 and is now selling tickets for the new service to Palm Springs International Airport (PSP).

Nonstop flights originate in San Francisco. It offers same-plane through-flights from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to PSP.

Virgin America will offer daily nonstop intra-California flights from SFO to PSP and daily same-plane through-flights from New York to PSP.

To publicize the service, Virgin America is holding a “Get Some Playtime” fare sale with SFO-PSP fares from $99 and JFK-SFO-PSP fares from $199. For more information, visit www.virginamerica.com

BOISE, Idaho- Autumn brings to mind images of leaves turning from green to gold and maroon, a crisp chill in the air, and harvest season on farms.

Travelers can experience the changing of the seasons in one of the country’s top wine-sipping destinations: Southwest Idaho’s Snake River Valley.

Harvest Celebrations- Just outside Boise, many wineries hold annual festivities to celebrate the end of harvest.

At Woodriver Cellars the annual Grape Stomp and Harvest Festival will take place September 19th.

In addition to grape stomping competitions for all ages, there will be award winning wines to taste, and an artisan craft fair with local vendors.

October 1st is the Harvest Festival at Indian Creek Winery with more grape stomping, cork spitting, pumpkin painting, live music and El Gallo Giro Taco Truck.

The biggest festivities may be at Festa hosted by Ste. Chapelle Winery.

This pet and family friendly event is the grand finale of the harvest for the Sunny Slope area.

There will be a huge concert, tastings from multiple wineries, and lunch by Brick 29 Streatery.

Sipping in Style- Travelers wishing to combine wine and other adventures can try a customized trip with Idaho Winery Tours.

A few choices include visiting area wineries and an Opera Idaho or Boise Philharmonic concert, trip to the Boise Art Museum, mountain biking and hiking, fly fishing lesson, or even a private tasting dinner with local winemakers.

Scenic Snake River- For a relaxing weekend highlighting the area’s autumnal beauty, travelers should take a leisurely drive along the Snake River Canyon Scenic Byway.

Just before harvest. orchards and vineyards lining the way are at their peak.

With a wildlife reserve and birding islands nearby, fall is the right time to see spectacular migratory flyways in the sky.

There are plenty of opportunities to stop and sip at the wineries or capture the season by camera. Quaint inns and B&Bs, provide a cozy retreat from the city.

This fall, escape to the fun and festivities of Idaho wine country.
www.visitsouthwestidaho.org