Jetsettersblog

We’ll let you in on a secret. Now is the time to book that once in a lifetime holiday to one of the world’s greatest resorts. North Island in the Seychelles, the iconic exclusive barefoot escape, has a very special Seven For Six offer available to guests staying on the island from now until 15th December 2011.

For every 6 full-paying nights on island, guests will receive an additional night free of charge. This represents a 15% saving and is valid for all new bookings for travel before 15th December 2011. Prospective guests should book quickly through their travel agents to take advantage of this rare offer, as availability is limited.

Nightly rates at North Island are from 2115 Euros per person per night (until 22 December 2011), based on 2 adults sharing a luxurious Villa. Rates include Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and all alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and cocktails daily (with the exception of premium wines and champagnes on the reserve list); all scuba diving courses, scuba diving activities and snorkeling in and around the North Island & Silhouette dive sites; all activities including sea kayaking, mountain bikes, sunset cruises and guided walks; shore based fishing on North Island and half day fishing trips; the use of one North Island Buggy per villa for duration of stay, in-villa wireless internet and local Government tax.

The rates exclude helicopter transfers between Mahe and North Island; drinks on the reserve list and Tobacco; Full Day deep sea fishing trips; telephone calls; spa treatments and boutique purchases.

Package Price: ITC Classics (01244 355 527; www.itcclassics.co.uk ) has prices from £18,790 per person based on two adults sharing a North Island Villa for 7 nights including all food and beverages, all activities, return economy class flights and helicopter transfers. Valid for travel until 15th December 2011.

Saving up to £4,430 per person

Recently voted “Runner Up” favourite Overseas Leisure Hotel and number 9 in the overall World’s Top 100 destinations by UK Conde Nast Traveller’s prestigious Reader’s Awards, North Island continues to lead the way in environmentally friendly, luxury tourism.

As part of Wilderness Collection, a carefully selected portfolio of progressive and innovative programmes in Africa, North Island offers unashamed, but sustainable, luxury and exceptional guest experiences.

www.north-island.com

Western Australia’s capital Perth and its port city Fremantle will host this year’s largest international sailing regatta from December 3 – December 18, 2011

(PERTH; WESTERN AUSTRALIA; This December, one of the world’s largest and most elite sailing events will take place in Western Australia, the Perth 2011 ISAF World Sailing Championships. The ISAF Sailing World Championships are held every four years, and it was announced in 2007 that Western Australia was the successful bidder against seven other cities to host the 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships – the biggest sporting event to be held in Perth since the 1987 America’s Cup Defence.

Over 5,000 visitors from 80 countries will visit Western Australia’s port city Fremantle from December 3-18, 2011 for Perth 2011 – a pre-qualifying event for the 2012 London Olympic Games – including 1,400 of the world’s best Olympic class sailors and 850 boats.

Teams from Australia, the United Kingdom, United States, New Zealand, Germany, China, Korea, Japan, Singapore and Malaysia will all be represented in the heated competition, and each regatta will provide competitive foresight into the Olympic event in 2012.

Sideline to the biggest international sailing event of the year, The Perth 2011 Worlds Festival will celebrate the sailing world championships with a 16-day festival showcasing Western Australia’s culture and lifestyle, the state’s connection to its magnificent coastline, and its affinity with sailing. International rock superstars INXS will perform at the opening of the Worlds Festival at the Perth 2011 ‘Worlds Village’ in Fremantle on Saturday, December 3, 2011, which is also the first day of the Sailing Competition.

Tickets to the Perth 2011 Worlds Festival opening event – the iconic rock band INXS supported by Grinspoon – can be purchased online through ticketmaster at http://www.ticketmaster.com.au/search?tm_link=tm_header_search&q=INXS.

All other Worlds Festival events, of which there are more than 250 to experience, are free to attend.

More information, including best vantage points, Competition Schedule, and Worlds Festival Schedule is available online at www.perth2011.com . Special event access is also available for Perth 2011 Members. See http://www.perth2011.com/membership 

About Western Australia

Western Australia, the largest state in Australia located in the western half of the country, is divided into five distinct regions: Australia’s North West, Australia’s Coral Coast, The Golden Outback, Experience Perth, and Australia’s South West.

Travelers can truly “Experience Extraordinary” when exploring the State’s many natural wonders, unique to Western Australia. Australia’s North West is home to spectacular natural attractions, including the Bungle Bungle Range in World Heritage Listed Purnululu National Park, the world’s only Horizontal Waterfall, the famed white sands and turquoise water at Broome’s Cable Beach, and the million acre El Questro Wilderness Park.

Travelers to the Coral Coast can dive with the world’s largest fish – the whale shark, snorkel with manta rays, see wild dolphins at play, and explore Ningaloo Reef—the world’s largest fringing reef. Australia’s Golden Outback, the Gold Rush country of the 1890’s, offers the ideal blend of history and heritage.

Travelers can explore mines and museums, pan for gold, or visit one of Kalgoorlie’s historic pubs. In spring, travelers to Australia’s Golden Outback can see the largest collection of wildflowers on earth in bloom. Western Australia’s capital city, Perth, and the surrounding region is a microcosm of the whole state, boasting vineyards, fantastic restaurants, a lively and original music and arts scene, and stylish accommodation.

Perth is also home to Kings Park, the world’s largest inner city park. Featuring beautiful beaches, tall tree forests, and award winning wineries, the South West is also home to the Margaret River region, which produces almost 20% of Australia’s premium wine. With over 220 wine producers in the region, travelers can explore more than 100 cellar doors, which are open to the public.

For more information on the extraordinary experiences in Western Australia, please visit: www.westernaustralia.com

These days, many travelers are forgoing traditional vacations in order to take part in a volunteer vacation. Volunteer vacations gives average travelers the chance to volunteer abroad by taking part in a worthwhile project such as helping to preserve endangered wild animals or ecosystems through wildlife conservation programs, often in remote parts of the world, and much more. Dr. Matthias Hammer, Executive Director of non-profit wildlife conservation volunteer organization Biosphere Expeditions, offers his top ten tips on how to choose the right volunteer vacation:

1. Make sure it is a well-established organization with a proven track record of making a real difference in the projects it has become involved with – has it won any awards for its work?

2. If for example the project is about wildlife conservation, make sure that the program is run on verifiable scientific grounds. While you give your time as an interested traveler who wants to make a difference, you need to have peace of mind that the project you are helping with is being run by a qualified scientist.

3. Ask where your money goes. To truly make a difference, it is best if as much money and resources as possible go to help the local environment in the country the project is in. Reputable organizations will always publish information about how funds are distributed to the public.
4. Make sure that the organization keeps you up to date on how your volunteer project is progressing. Even though you may have only been there for one or two weeks, many volunteer programs run for many years. Make sure that you will be sent regular reports to see what is happening with the program.

5. Many volunteer vacations will take place in remote parts of the world where you may have close encounters with potentially dangerous wild animals.

Make sure the organization that you are volunteering with has an excellent safety record and takes the whole issue seriously.

6. Do some background research on your expedition leader and make sure that they are qualified. To some extent you may be putting your life in their hands, so you need to be sure they have all the necessary qualifications.

7. Determine what new skills you will learn on your volunteer vacation and how you will be taught these skills. One of the biggest bonuses of a volunteer program may be learning something new in an exciting environment and you want to make sure that the people who are teaching you are well qualified.

8. Make sure that you have clear goals about what you hope to accomplish out of the whole experience and don’t be afraid to ask questions or seek the views of travelers who have gone before you. Reputable organizations will always offer to put you in touch with previous travellers – if they don’t, beware.

9. Find out who you will be traveling with. As you may be virtually living “next door” to each other for some time, you need to be comfortable with the type of people you are likely to be with. The organization should be able to tell you about the kind of people who typically attends their projects. Facebook, blog pages, and social media outlets can be invaluable information gathering tools for volunteer vacations.

10. Most importantly, determine if it will be fun. Although most volunteer vacations have a serious purpose, you should have fun considering that you are spending your valuable vacation time “giving back”.

For more tips, advice, and information about volunteer vacations and volunteer wildlife conservation programs visit the Biosphere Expeditions website at www.biosphere-expeditions.org

Luxury tour operator provides global assistance to travelers with special diets or food allergies
New York, NY, October 20, 2011 -

A gluten-free dinner with geisha in Japan, kosher meal delivery to hotels in Tuscany, a vegetarian dinner at an ancient monastery in Vietnam–these are a few of the recent dining experiences luxury tour operator Artisans of Leisure has arranged for travelers with dietary restrictions.

The innovative leader in personalized travel, Artisans of Leisure specializes in fulfilling individual travel dreams and requirements.

The company is taking a proactive role to help ensure that travelers with dietary restrictions can travel comfortably and enjoyably during their international tours. Because several Artisans of Leisure travel experts have their own dietary restrictions, including celiac disease and vegetarianism, they understand how difficult it can be to find suitable meals when traveling overseas.

“Dealing with dietary demands while away from home is one of the biggest challenges facing a growing number of international travelers,” said Ashley Isaacs Ganz, founder and CEO of Artisans of Leisure. “Dietary requirements need not force passionate travelers to stay home or limit their international travels.”
“Travelers are so appreciative that Artisans of Leisure acknowledges their needs and goes above and beyond expectations to accommodate them,” said Ganz.

“In some cases, it’s as simple as being aware that special meals are available on trains throughout Europe and ordering them for travelers in advance.

In other cases, it requires considerable work to make things happen, such as flying kosher meals to a safari lodge in the remote South African bush or coordinating extensive, multi-country arrangements for a family with severe nut allergies.

We also arrange unique, related activities, such as visiting an organic farm in India for a vegetarian lunch or having a gluten-free pastry lesson with a chef in Paris.”

“We hope that more companies within the travel and hospitality industries–including tour companies, hotels, airlines and restaurants–will join us in acknowledging the needs of such travelers by providing ever more options and expertise,” said Ganz.

Artisans of Leisure assists travelers with food allergies, special diets and other food restrictions in many ways, including:

Communicating food requirements in advance to international restaurants and hotels so arrangements can be made to provide meals that are suitable and to ensure that specialty items and ingredients are pre-ordered and available

Arranging private cooking classes and other culinary experiences that are nut-free, shellfish-free, dairy-free, gluten-free, vegetarian, etc.
Incorporating visits to specialty food stores into tours for access to gluten-free, kosher and allergen-free snacks and food items while traveling

Providing expert guides who can assist with translation of dietary restrictions when ordering at restaurants and/or who can provide detailed written instructions in the local language for restaurant kitchens and dining venues

Arranging refrigerators in hotel rooms for storage of specialty foods

Identifying kosher restaurants and caterers, and coordinating reservations and/or delivery, as well as appropriate food storage, preparation and serving procedures

Providing recommendations for restaurants that are renowned for their special diets menus and assisting with reservations

Artisans of Leisure arranges private, customized luxury tours in more than 50 countries worldwide.

For more information, visit www.artisansofleisure.com

Seven New Ports, Five Grand Voyages and Circle South America

FORT LAUDERDALE– Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ 2012-2013 winter voyages to South America, Asia and the South Pacific, Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, Alaska and the Caribbean are available for booking today.

All voyages feature 2-for-1 fares, free air and bonus savings of up to $10,000 per suite when booked by Dec. 30, 2011.

The ultra-luxury line’s exotic 2012-2013 Winter Collection boasts new ports of call, five Grand Voyages with exclusive amenities, a new Western Australia cruise, and Business Class upgrades from just $999 each way.

Widely recognized as the world’s most inclusive luxury line, all Regent Seven Seas voyages also include all-suite accommodations, gourmet cuisine, premium spirits and fine wines, free shore excursions, gratuities, and a pre-cruise luxury hotel stay, at no additional cost.

“Our new Winter Collection is sure to sell out quickly,” said Mark Conroy, the line’s president. “When you couple the new itineraries with our luxurious suites, personalized service, superb cuisine and all-inclusive pricing, Regent Seven Seas is the best value in luxury cruising, bar none.”

2012-2013 Winter Collection Highlights

Beginning October 2012, Seven Seas Voyager will offer five Grand Voyages departing Rome, Bali, Auckland and Beijing. Ranging from 54 to 143 nights, Grand Voyages include exclusive amenities such as free Business Class air, a special pre-cruise overnight and dinner, exclusive event, free Visas, internet access and more.

From December 2012 through April 2013, the ship visits Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Bali, Vietnam, India, China and Japan, including maiden calls at Hiroshima and Huangpu (Canton), China.

A new 21-night Western Australia cruise, departing Dec. 19, 2012, features maiden calls at Exmouth, Fremantle (Perth), Geraldton and Kangaroo Island.

Many of the Asian itineraries offer free land programs or multi-night hotel packages in Angkor Wat, Sydney, Bali, Auckland, Hong Kong, Beijing, Chiang Mai, Safaga (Luxor) and to the Taj Mahal.

Seven Seas Mariner’s “Circle South America” explores many of the Continent’s most popular ports-of-call with a 72-night voyage, roundtrip from Miami departing January 7, 2013.

Exclusive amenities include free First Class air, special pre-cruise overnight and dinner in Miami, an exclusive event, free private transfers to and from the port of Miami, free roundtrip luggage delivery service, Internet access and Visas.

Four shorter South America voyages ranging from 12 to 24 nights focus on the Panama Canal, Chilean Fjords, Brazil, Argentina and the Amazon.

Seven Seas Navigator voyages to the tropics will now operate roundtrip from Miami – one of the line’s newest ports – beginning November 2012 through April 2013, with 16 departures to the Eastern and Western Caribbean.

The ship then departs Miami for an 18-night voyage to San Francisco to begin its highly popular cruises to the untamed beauty of Alaska.

To receive a brochure or for more information on Regent Seven Seas Cruises, see a professional travel agent, visit www.RSSC.com or call toll-free 800-285-1835.

About Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Regent Seven Seas Cruises is the world’s most inclusive luxury cruise line. Fares include all-suite accommodations, round-trip air, highly personalized service, acclaimed cuisine, fine wines and spirits, sightseeing excursions in every port, a pre-cruise luxury hotel package and gratuities.

Three award-winning, all-suite vessels, Seven Seas Mariner, Seven Seas Voyager, and Seven Seas Navigator, are among the most spacious at sea and visit more than 300 destinations around the globe.

This year’s New York Comedy Festival will feature the likes of Ricky Gervais, Kathy Griffin and Bill Maher.
NEW YORK, NY– The New York Comedy Festival returns next month with a host of star performers on the bill, including Ricky Gervais.

Due to run from Wednesday November 9th to Sunday November 13th, the annual festival will see more than 150 comedians appear at venues across the Big Apple.

The Brooklyn Academy of Music, Beacon Theater, Carolines on Broadway, Carnegie Hall, Tribeca Performing Arts Centre, Bowery Ballroom and the 92nd Street Y are all set to host events over the five days.

Highlights of the programme include Gervais’s appearance at the 92nd St Y on the closing night of the festival for a conversation with New York Times reporter Bill Carter.

The British comedian has enjoyed considerable success in the US, having starred in films such as Ghost Town and seen his hit show The Office remade for American audiences by NBC.

Elsewhere, the likes of Kathy Griffin, Wanda Sykes, Bill Maher, Glenn Wool, JB Smoove and Cipha Sounds are due to keep audiences entertained with their own performances.

Tickets for festival shows are individually priced and can be purchased online via the event website.

Comedy fans seeking places to stay in New York will find a large selection of accommodation at LateRooms.com, including the Intercontinental New York Barclay.

For more information on this event, visit http://www.nycomedyfestival.com

Always wanted to see the Northern Lights from your own cosily heated glass igloo? Perhaps you would prefer to ride the enchanting ‘Polar Express’ high into Swedish Lapland? Looking for a bit more adventure? Then how about an exciting husky tour around the edge of Finland’s spectacular Pallas Ylläs National Park?

All of these and more are now available as a number of exciting new itineraries offered by specialist tour operator to Scandinavia, Taber Holidays. Packed with new winter destinations and programmes, its Nordic Only 2011/12 winter programme is the perfect option for those seeking a snowy adventure.

The full range of new itineraries includes:

Storklinten –Swedish Lapland. From £780pp
Located just south of the Arctic Circle, Storklinten offers a true winter wonderland, far away from it all in the wilderness of Swedish Lapland.

With an abundance of dry, white snow it is the perfect winter playground and an excellent base from which to hopefully see the Northern Lights. The resort’s proximity to the famous Treehotel makes it possible to visit for a guided tour, or intensify the experience and spend a night amongst the branches so to speak!

Prices start from £780 per person based on six people travelling together including flights, guided transfers and four nights accommodation including breakfast.

Kakslauttanen. From £1,041pp

Kakslauttanen is situated in the Saariselkä fell area of Finnish Lapland and offers first class traditional log cabin accommodation plus an igloo village with stylish glass and snow igloos.

What better way of seeing the Northern Lights than from your own heated glass igloo? Its closeness to Santa’s Resort, where guests are received in Santa’s House by elves serving hot drinks and ginger biscuits, means it is an excellent destination for families with young children.

The resort also offers a wide range of winter activities.

Prices start from £1,041 per person based on four people travelling together including flights, transfers and four nights accommodation including dinner and breakfast.

Child reductions are available.

Discover the wilderness with huskies. From £1,926pp

A brand new five-day husky tour around the edge of Finland’s Pallas Ylläs National Park offers a unique opportunity to really admire the unspoilt beauty of North-West Lapland.

Each participant will drive his own team of four to six dogs, between 25 and 40 kilometres a day, depending on your physical condition and the weather. This is a real hands-on experience with everyone taking care of their own dogs and helping to prepare meals and build the fire.

Prices start from £1,926 per person including flights, transfers, six nights accommodation and full board.

The ‘Polar Express’ To Lapland. From £1,636pp

The ‘Polar Express’ rail tour from Sweden’s capital Stockholm, to Kiruna above the Arctic Circle, has now been extended to include a stop at Luleå and the fabulous Treehotel. Snowmobile and husky safaris are offered as optional excursions and the itinerary also features an overnight stay in the Ice Hotel at Jukkasjärvi.

Prices are from £1,636 per person and include flights, transfers, accommodation and the rail journey from Stockholm to Luleå and from Luleå to Kiruna.

Luleå and the Treehotel. From £1,136pp

The Swedish city of Luleå is the perfect destination for winter activities.

Taber Holidays now offers a four-day break to this lively and friendly city, combined with an overnight stay at the Treehotel in nearby Harads. Virtually the last spot of civilisation before entering the Arctic wilderness, Luleå offers guests the opportunity to try their hand at a number of exciting optional activities. These include snowshoeing, snowmobiling, dog sledding, driving on ice and skijoring behind a horse. Prices start at £1,136 per person and include flights, transfers, accommodation in Luleå and the Treehotel including breakfast.

For more information or to book, call Taber Holidays on 01274 875199 or visit their website at www.taberhols.co.uk

An Amazing Value Priced Specially For Your Christmas- or Hanukkah-Giving

At A Savings of $1000.00 per Couple!!

Are you looking to give the perfect gift this holiday season? More and more people are realizing the value of giving experiences instead of things, and Lion World Tours has an amazing vacation at a very special price – perfect for your holiday gift list!

South Africa on Sale – 9 days

Start this exciting trip in Cape Town where you will spend 4 nights at The Commodore Hotel situated at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town’s center of activity. From here, embark on a Cape Peninsula tour where you’ll see the pristine beaches along the coast, visit the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve and the charming penguin colony at Boulders Beach.

Head to the Winelands and enjoy a wine-tasting on an estate, where you will have the opportunity to purchase some of the crisp white and classic French-style red wines that are produced in South Africa’s fertile valleys.

Your trip would not be complete without a cable car ride to the top of Table Mountain with spectacular views of the city and ocean.

For your safari, head to Bakubung Bush Lodge or Kwa Maritane Bush Lodge for a 2 night stay in the malaria-free Pilanesberg National Park, which borders the entertainment complex of Sun City. You’ll have the opportunity to view the “Big Five” on game drives or head to Sun City with its multitude of attractions and activities.

South Africa on Sale Includes:

Roundtrip, international, economy airfare from New York or Washington, DC, to Johannesburg on South African Airways
Regional flights in South Africa: Johannesburg/Cape Town/Johannesburg
All transfers as specified in the itinerary
Sightseeing excursions as specified in the itinerary
Six Breakfasts, three Dinners
Game drives as specified in itinerary

For a detailed itinerary please take a look at our website

http://www.lionworldtravel.com/tours/South-Africa-On-Sale

Priced from only USD $2499.00 per person, based on double occupancy, including fuel surcharges, Government taxes, departure fees and September 11th Security Fee.

Valid for travel, January 10-31, February, March, May and September 2012, subject to space availability

To purchase a voucher for this amazing trip for your friends or family, just call Lion World Tours. Once you have given your gift, they can call us directly to book their preferred travel date! Lion World Tours: USA: 1-800-387-2706 / Canada: 1-800-668-9968

Lion World Tours specializes in group and individual tours to Southern and East Africa, and is a member of The Travel Corporation, which also includes Trafalgar, Contiki, Brendan Vacations, Red Carnation Boutique Hotel Collection, Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection, and Insight Vacations.

In its fifth decade, clients continue to benefit from Lion World Tours’ destination knowledge, expertise, and emphasis on customer service. With their safari specialists all having first-hand knowledge of Africa, Lion World Tours can confidently assist clients in creating an African adventure that fits their specific interests as well as their budget. Affordable luxury and value for money are what keep clients coming back to Lion World Tours.

www.lionworldtours.com

Rates From $89, Plus Up to $100 Resort Credit and Kids Eat Free at the LXR Hotel or Resort of Your Choice in Orlando, Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Sanibel-Captiva

FORT LAUDERDALE – As the chilly weather sets in this winter and with early predictions of a particularly wet and slushy season*, warm and inviting temperatures await travelers in Florida – where sun-kissed beaches and value-added vacation packages make a winter escape accessible and affordable for everyone.

This year, LXR properties in Florida are giving travelers a reason to ditch their overcoats and enjoy the cold-weather season where the temperature is warm and the sun shines bright with their annual Winter Escape offer, which combines reasonable rates with family-friendly perks from the shores of Miami Beach to the sugary-white sands of Sanibel Island.

Offered at LXR’s Florida properties for travel from November 1 through April 27, 2012, the Winter Escape offer requires a three-night minimum stay and includes a welcome gift upon check-in as well as a $75 resort credit per room. Travelers who stay four nights or more can enjoy a $100 resort credit. Resort credits can be used towards a variety of resort amenities and activities such as golf, dining, spa treatments, tennis and more.

The best part of the offer? Kids 12 years and younger can “stuff their face” with free meals from restaurant children’s menus and buffets, all day, every day during their stay. **

Participating LXR Florida properties include:
- Buena Vista Palace Hotel & Spa in the Walt Disney® World Resort (Orlando) from $99 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 $179 per night

- Sundial Beach & Golf Resort (Sanibel Island) from $149 per night

- Sanibel Inn (Sanibel Island) from $149 per night

- Sanibel Sunset Beach Resort (Sanibel Island) from $149 per night

- Seaside Inn (Sanibel Island) from $149 per night

- Song of the Sea (Sanibel Island) from $179 per night

For more information and reservations call (888) 886-5111 or visit WWW.Luxuryresorts.com/winterescape 

The LXR Florida Winter Escape offer is valid for travel November 1 through April 27, 2012 at all of the above-mentioned LXR properties.

Reservations are subject to availability and a three-night minimum stay is required. Resort credits will be applied at time of checkout and final credit value will be based upon total nights consumed.

Credits can be applied towards all charges except room rate, corresponding taxes and resort fees. Resort activities vary by property.

Welcome gift provided at check-in varies by property. Offer is not combinable with other promotions, packages, negotiated/qualified rate plans and offers.

Unused portions of the credit will be forfeited and not reimbursed in cash. Offer subject to availability. Blackout dates and other restrictions apply.

Not applicable to confirmed, existing reservations or group bookings.

*According to the Farmer’s Almanac Winter 2012 prediction, the U.S. is expected to have a very stormy and snowy winter, especially in the Northeast. While temperatures aren’t predicted to be particularly cold, the storms are expected to bring freezing rain and slushy snow.

** Kids 12 years and younger eat FREE is valid for up to two children per room at participating resort restaurants only. Children must be accompanied by at least one paying adult when eating in a restaurant. Kids must select from the Children’s Menu or Buffet (if available). Room service is not included.

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

Feeling frazzled from your vacation? You’re not alone. Only 53% of working Americans return from vacations feeling rested and rejuvenated, Expedia.com reported in its annual “Vacation Deprivation” survey. While away, stress nags almost one-third (30%) of vacationers, the site found. It’s what some sociologists have called Post Vacation Stress Disorder.

People need a place to decompress and clear their minds before heading back to their harried lives,” says Nicki E. Grossman, Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau President. “Combining a vacation extension in Greater Fort Lauderdale is the simplest solution to stay, play, decompress and clear your mind.”

Greater Fort Lauderdale has the cure for pre- and post-vacation blues. From Blue Wave Beaches to Everglades adventures, outlet malls to manicured greens, the destination offers the perfect Sunshine State recreation respite for harried travelers. A day or two tacked on before or after a Port Everglades cruise or international vacation can help travelers prepare – or unwind.

Whether planned in advance, or with no planning at all, Greater Fort Lauderdale offers countless getaways to easily extend your stay.

Uniquely South Florida Excursions: Board the Water Taxi to visit restaurants, shopping and other destinations along the Intracoastal. Sightsee aboard the Jungle Queen Riverboat or other riverfront cruises.

Explore historic Fort Lauderdale on Fort Lauderdale Duck Tours. Or two-wheel it with Broward County’s new B-Cycle bike sharing program, which lets riders from Hallandale to Pompano Beach access public bicycles for short trips around town. Onboard GPS tracks mileage, calories burned and carbon offsets. Register or learn more at broward.bcycle.com.

Hotels: Many hotels offer guest shuttle service to and from Port Everglades and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. Check with your cruise line about packages to extend your stay in Greater Fort Lauderdale, or visit WWW.Sunny.org/cruiseandplay for deals on hotels, attractions and special discounts available just by showing your cruise card or documents.

Ways to Play: With two dozen museums, the 3D IMAX Theater, the Funderdome indoor playground, the Riverwalk Arts & Entertainment District, and its linear park, Greater Fort Lauderdale is central to a $100 million, countywide arts and culture construction program.

Sports: Outdoor enthusiasts will thrill at the options. Experience snorkeling and Scuba diving, deep sea fishing, sailing, surfing, skim boarding and paddle boarding.

If you’re a newbie, most sports offer free lessons. In season, Broward’s own NHL Florida Panthers hockey franchise play host to teams from across the U.S. and Canada.

Nature, South Florida Style: See flora and fauna at Butterfly World and Flamingo Gardens – and explore the ’glades from Florida Everglades Holiday Park. Any can be enjoyed in a half-day or less.

Shopping: From bargain to boutique and designer brands, shopping abounds. Las Olas Boulevard and Galleria mall are easily accessible via the Water Taxi. Some hotels run shuttles to area malls.

A Day More Tours offers excursions to Sawgrass Mills which implemented a new Bags To Go program that will fetch and forward shoppers’ luggage and purchases to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood or Miami International airports.

Golf Resorts & Spas: Need to hit the links, pamper yourself or just enjoy a little wellness and fitness? Visit an area luxury resort or world-class spa for that special treatment.

Gambling: Ship-board casinos have nothing on Greater Fort Lauderdale. The Seminole Hard Rock Casino is the place for blackjack and baccarat, while The Village at Gulfstream Park has thoroughbreds, the Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park features harness racing, and the Mardi Gras Casino offers dog racing and race simulcasting. All offer slots and poker games.

Want to learn more? Check out Greater Fort Lauderdale’s new Mobi site for smart phones and mobile devices. Download the iVisitLauderdale iPhone app for insider tips.

Or visit us online on www.facebook.com/visitlauderdale , www.twitter.com/visitlauderdale , www.foursquare.com/visitlauderdale  and www.sunny.org