Jetsettersblog

Southwest Airlines Vacations is offering free Disneyland Park Hopper tickets with three-or-more-night packages at any of the Disneyland Resort Hotels, a savings of $140 to $190 per ticket.

A Free Kids Disneyland Park Hopper ticket must be added to vacation packages at the time of booking to receive the free ticket offer.

In addition, the company is offering discounts of up to $336 on the price of hotel accommodations at the Disneyland Resort Hotels.

Vacation packages must be booked before Oct. 13 by 6 p.m. CT for travel Oct. 2 through Dec. 24.

One-day advance purchase is required.

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

Customized vacation package may include flight, hotel, car rentals, show tickets, attraction passes or tours.

Southwest Airlines Vacations is located in Orlando and operated by The Mark Travel Corporation (TMTC). For more information, call 800-423-5683 or visit www.southwestvacaciones.com

Crystal Cruises is offering two new four-day overland adventures in South Australia.

The land trips are offered in concert with Crystal Serenity’s Feb. 7 Sydney-to-Singapore voyage. The trips depart from Adelaide and conclude in Perth.

One trip includes Kangaroo Island, an eco-friendly, luxury cliffside lodge serving organic cuisine, plus scouting the bush for wallabies, koalas, fur seals and sea lions. “The Flinders Ranges & Barossa Valley” trip includes winery tours and tastings in the Clare and Barossa valleys, a traditional Aussie barbeque, and viewing emus, eagles and kangaroos with Australia’s largest mountain range as backdrop.

Prices start at $3,861 and $4,029 respectively, per person, double occupancy.

The cruise sails from Sydney to Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth/Fremantle, Bali, Semarang and Singapore.

Guests who book a verandah stateroom by Oct. 31 receive $600 per couple additional savings.

Two-for-one fares for the 19-day cruise start at $11,910 per person, double occupancy, including free air from 24 North American cities or air credit, airport transfers, and $1,000 per person shipboard credit.

American Safari Cruises said its newest ship, the 86-guest Safari Endeavour, will operate a new “Baja’s Bounty” adventure cruise in Mexico’s Sea of Cortés from November 2012 through April 2013.

The weeklong cruises will sail roundtrip from La Paz, Mexico. The ship was previously known as Spirit of Endeavour when it was operated by defunct Cruise West.

The itinerary will remain flexible to ensure maximum opportunities to view wildlife. The cruise explores Isla Espíritu Santo, Isla Partida, Isla San Francisco, Loreto, Isla Coyote and Isla San José.

Included excursions are a guided walking tour in Loreto and guided hikes in Bahia Agua Verde and barbeque dinner with a local ranchero and his family. An excursion to remote Isla Coyote visits 20 members of the Cuevas family who make their living as fishermen.

Families with children under 12 can travel together on March 9 and March 23 “Kids in Nature” cruises selected to coincide with many spring break dates.

The Safari Endeavour is undergoing extensive renovation. Five stateroom categories include three Master, 21 Commander, 12 Captain, three Admiral and four Commodore Suites with step-out balconies.

All staterooms have one or two outside windows. Other new amenities include two massage rooms, two hot tubs, sauna, exercise equipment, a wine bar and a library.

An American crew of 34 will create a guest-crew ratio of 2.5 to 1.

For more information, call 888-862-8881, email sales@americansafaricruises.com  or visit www.americansafaricruises.com

IslandsEscapes … by Goway is offering three Pacific destinations — Fiji, Samoa and Tonga. Travelers can explore Fiji and Samoa for $2,779, or Fiji and Tonga for $2,694. Both packages include roundtrip airfare with Air Pacific from Los Angeles, meet and greet, all transfers, accommodation, select meals and more.

For more information, 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

ExperiencePlus! Bicycle Tours is commemorating its 40th anniversary with an early booking discount of $200 for bookings of 2012 tours made by Oct. 31.

In addition, the company is holding the line price rises on 90 percent of its programs.

The company began with a Pisa-to-Venice cycling tour in 1972 and now bikes throughout Europe, including its most recently added destinations, Scotland and Germany.

A June 6 to 17, 2012, re-creation of the original tour is $4,495 per person. Accommodations reflect the Italian love of la dolce vita. The company offers 20 different Italian adventures from the Lakes District to Puglia and Sicily. Two are new for 2012.

Bicycling Italy’s Lakes District will be a 12-day adventure of over 350 miles at $4,495 per person, double, beginning and ending at Lake Maggiore/Mantua.

An eight-day program is offered at $3,495.

Italy’s Lakes District is a transition zone between peninsular Italy and Alpine Europe. This series of lakes created by the melting of alpine glaciers enjoys a unique micro-climate harboring olive and citrus groves, exotic botanic gardens, villas and extraordinary vistas.

Long an attraction for writers and artists, the Lake District and this program encompass Maggiore, Lugano and Como. Departure dates for 2012 are June 17, July 29 and Aug. 19.

The new Culinary (Agriturismo) Tour in Emilia Romagna is an 11-day trip with a sevem-day option at $4,295/$3,295 per person, double. Between meals it traverses over 250 miles, beginning and ending in Cremona/Faenza.

En route, there are visits to purveyors of cured hams, pastas, parmesan cheese, balsamic vinegar and wine makers, ancient castles and world heritage UNESCO sites.

Departure dates in 2012 are May 27 and Sept. 16.

ExperiencePlus! is releasing its catalog for 2012 along with a fully updated website with trips, dates and prices.

Tours in 2012 will go to Argentina, Australia, Austria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic , France, Greece, Hungary, India, Italy, New Zealand, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, the U.S. and Vietnam.

The Colorado-based operator offers cycling tours immersed in local character to 21 countries on five continents.

For more information, call 800-685-4565 or visit www.experienceplus.com

Trafalgar is expanding its series of At Leisure guided vacations in Europe and Britain in its new brochure for 2012.

The operator is extending the series of relaxed-paced itineraries to three additional continents. The new brochure showcases 28 itineraries, including 15 new trips — four in North America, two in South America, two in Australia and New Zealand, and seven in Europe.

Introduced in Europe for 2011, Trafalgar’s At Leisure trips have been successful with clients looking for a guided vacation with a more relaxed pace.

The itineraries feature two or three nights average stay in each location and plenty of free time for clients to do some individual exploration of the destination.

With hop-on/hop-off city sightseeing on most of the trips, the At Leisure itineraries offer various options to meet clients’ travel needs.

On the nine-day Madrid, Seville and Barcelona trip, guests have a full day to discover Seville on their own.

Whether they’re looking for Spanish cuisine or to rent a bicycle and explore the city, Trafalgar’s travel directors can provide recommendations on what to see and do.

On the eight-day Best of Scotland trip, an afternoon of personal time is given to guests to discover Edinburgh on their own.

During The Edinburgh Festival, they are also treated to complimentary tickets for the Tattoo, followed by a night out in the city.

“When we introduced the At Leisure guided vacations in Europe last year, agents saw that they were an instant hit with travelers who wanted time to discover the destination on their own, but still enjoyed the stress-free aspect of a guided vacation,” said Paul Wiseman, president of Trafalgar USA.

“We’re so pleased to offer the same relaxed-pace vacation style to our guests traveling to South America, North America and the South Pacific, not to mention offer our agents top commissions for booking the trips.”

The 15 new itineraries include Spanish Island Serenade, Canada’s Rockies, Discover Australia and Best of South America. With departures no earlier than 9 a.m. on most travel days and smaller groups for locally guided sightseeing, the new At Leisure trips allow travelers to enjoy their destination with maximum flexibility. For European At Leisure itineraries, Trafalgar is encouraging travelers to book their 2012 summer vacations early, offering up to $1,000 per couple savings when booked and paid in full by Dec. 1 for travel between April 1 and Oct. 31, 2012.

Trafalgar offers guided vacations and independent travel packages for destinations in Europe, Britain and Eastern Mediterranean, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, China, Mexico, Central and South America, the U.S. and Canada. For more information, call 800-854-0103 or visit the dedicated travel agent site at www.TrafalgarAgent.com

The Globus family of brands introduced a series of what it is calling “standing deals and discounts,” including savings on early bookings, second tours, repeat travelers, group tours and young travelers.

With Book Early and Save, clients who book and pay for their 2012 vacation nine months or more before their departure will save 10 percent off the land portion of their tour.

With Discounts for Loyal, Repeat Travelers, Journeys Club members save 5 percent on any 2012 Globus family of brands vacation. With the Second Tour Discount, clients booking two Globus family vacations in the same year will receive 5 percent off the land portion of their second tour. With Big Savings for Small Groups, groups of five, six or seven can save 5 percent per person off the land-only portion of Globus family vacations.

In groups of eight to 15, one person travels at half-price, while in a group of 16 or more, one person travels free.

The Young Traveler Discounts offers clients aged 8 to 17 a 10 percent discount on the land portion of their vacation. On Globus Family Travel vacations and Monograms packages, young travelers save as much as 25 percent.

With the Triple Room Reduction, travelers can also save when three people travel together and share accommodations. Certain restrictions may apply.

The Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort and Spa has launched the Sunset Luau, which takes guests on a journey to Tahiti, New Zealand, Samoa and Hawaii through song and dance, including Samoan fire knife dancing.

The luau takes place every Saturday and Wednesday at the resort’s Luau Grounds.

Included are a ceremony to unearth the imu (underground oven) to reveal the kalua pig that will be eaten during dinner, an open bar with Hawaiian cocktails, a Hawaiian dinner buffet, an aloha welcome with picture-taking and Red Gecko Punch, a hula lesson for keiki (children) to perform on stage, Hawaiian crafts and games, a pu (conch shell) blowing contest, talk story with Hawaiian entertainers, and Polynesian music and dance performances.

Tickets are priced at $88 general, $40 for children ages 6 to 12, and free for children ages 5 and under.

Premier seating, which includes first-row seating, a lei greeting and a Hawaiian pupu (appetizer), is available for an additional $25 per seat.

Rates are inclusive of tax and subject to change without notice. For more information, call 808-886-6789 or visit www.sunsetluau.com

For general hotel information, call 800 922-5533 or visit www.waikoloamarriott.com

The Island Hotel Newport Beach is offering Holiday packages through Dec. 30.

The Holiday Getaway includes breakfast in the Palm Terrace restaurant or via room service and valet parking from a nightly room rate of $199 double.

The Shop Till You Drop, Then Spa package features a discount card for shops at nearby Fashion Island, a $100 credit at The Spa at Island and valet parking from $295 per night.

In addition, the hotel is offering two New Year’s Eve packages for the evening of Dec. 31. The New Year’s Eve Getaway includes a five-course dinner for two at Palm Terrace Restaurant and valet parking from $495.

And the Private New Year’s Eve Escape package features a bottle of Veuve Clicquot rose champagne, party favors and chocolate lollipops, as well as valet parking, from $245.

The property also is offering special Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve meals, hosting holiday festivities and services such as a gingerbread house display and free gift wrapping for guests, and participating in Toys for Tots by transforming its lobby into an official toy drop location from Nov. 24 through Dec. 18.

To book a package, call 888-321-4752.

For more information, call 866-554-4620 or visit www.islandhotel.com

The Northern Quest Resort and Casino in Spokane, Wash., is offering a Washington Winery package. Starting at a nightly room rate of $199, the package includes a bottle of Washington State wine, two keepsake wine glasses, chocolates made at Masselow’s Restaurant, a $50 dining credit at Masselow’s Restaurant, valet parking, roundtrip airport transfers, area-wide transportation, and complimentary wireless Internet.

Also included is transportation to Barrister Winery in downtown Spokane, where each guest will receive a tour guided by the winemaker, including a barrel tasting in the cellar. From Barrister, guests can visit any of Spokane’s 14 tasting rooms on their own.

For more information, call 877-871-6772 or visit www.northernquest.com