Jetsettersblog

Es Saadi Gardens & Resort has launched new art packages in association with the Marrakech Art Fair. Available from 30th September – 3rd October 2011, they include an invitation to the annual fair hosted at Es Saadi Palace, luxury accommodation and access to its renowned Palace Spa.

From 30th September – 3rd October 2011, 48 international art galleries will be exhibiting their latest collections showcasing the best of African, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern modern and contemporary art. Round-table talks with gallery directors, art historians and writers enrich the cultural circuit.

To discover more of the local art scene, round trip transfers to other cultural events in the city are included. After a day of gallery gazing and exploring the souks, art aficionados can unwind at Es Saadi Palace Spa with the largest swimming pool in the red city and its Oriental Thermae – a specialist circuit of hammams, ice fountains, plunge showers and saunas.

The Es Saadi ‘Bed & Art’ package includes bed and breakfast accommodation at Es Saadi Palace in a Junior or Executive Suite, two invitations per day to the Marrakech Art Fair, city transfers and access to Es Saadi Palace Spa. Prices start from 3,500.00 MAD (approx £270) per Junior Suite, per night, excluding local taxes of 45.10 MAD per person, per night. For other packages available, visit the website.

For bookings and information visit www.essaadi.com  or tel: 00 212 5 24 33 74 00

MyTravelMoney.co.uk, a new travel money comparison website, which is the UK’s first dedicated site of its kind to guarantee substantial currency savings, has been launched by the pioneers behind international money transfer saving site www.MyCurrencyTransfer.com

Believed to be the country’s first dynamic and independent comparison site solely dedicated to travel money, it captures live travel currency comparison on a minute-by minute-basis.

The launch coincides with calls for a ban on ‘0% commission’ advertising on travel money – a campaign spearheaded by FairFX, a currency provider listed on MyTravelMoney.co.uk, with an online petition.

The site helps travellers save on holiday cash, taking the time and stress out of searching around to find the best deals, and compares the exchange rates of all the major holiday currency suppliers, fairly and independently, on a near-live basis, so holidaymakers don’t have to.

It provides direct access to the best up-to-the-minute exchange rates thanks to its custom-built technology, which scrapes live rates from all its partner sites – enabling live travel money comparisons across all the major currency suppliers – and the ability to order online.

This new innovation follows recent research which shows that travellers are tired of paying expensive travel currency premiums and that buying holiday money online is a quicker, more cost-effective and hassle-free way to maximise the overall value of travel funds – especially in times of economic crisis.

All that’s required is to enter the amount and type of currency – choosing from more than 80 different currencies around the world, including the likes of euros, dollars, shekels and yen – for MyTravelMoney.co.uk to find the best deals on the market.

The impartial and dynamic holiday money comparison tables then source cheap, online, no commission currency suppliers – many of which offer a next day home delivery service, or airport pickup –delivering more foreign currency to the pound.

When the sun worshippers leave the beaches of Riviera Di Rimini, the gastronomes move in. The region, home to such culinary stars as Parma ham; Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese; Balsamic Vinegar Modena; and Sangiovese and Lambrusco wines has a host of festivals celebrating food.

An English language website, www.winefoodemiliaromagna.com provides a one stop shop for gourmands who want to learn more about the region. It includes an annual calendar of events and festivals plus special offers on accommodation and packages to the region. November Festivals include:

Ambra di Talamello Fair (Fossa cheese): November 12th-20th 2011

Talamello

This delicacy originates from the ancient tradition of storing cheese in sandstone to protect it from marauders in the middle ages. The cheese made from either cow’s or sheep’s milk, or a mixture of both is kept in pits built into the caves, for a period of three months during which time it gains a unique fragrance and excellent taste.

The cheese is buried in August and is kept there for three months. This festival celebrates the unearthing of the matured cheese. The Fair aims to keep the history of this unique cheese alive by offering tastings and opportunities to purchase – as well as the chance to explore the ancient town of Talamello.

Fossa Cheese, Truffle and Ceres Fair: November 20th and 27th, 2011

Mondaino

This is an opportunity to experience the smell and taste of the fine white truffle in an exhibition of local products and handicraft. There is the chance to try truffle-based specialties, pit-aged cheese and Mondaino’s traditional food and wine products throughout the day.

Olive and Autumn Products Fair: November 20th and 27th, 2011

Coriano

The festival celebrates the local extra virgin olive oil, which holds the Colline di Romagna PDO*. The Fair programme includes exhibitions of agricultural, forest and dairy products; exhibitions on Romagna civilization; olive oil and wine tastings; folk music and games; activities for children and street performance.

Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak region are full of Halloween excitement this October. Treat the whole family to some fun with coffin racing, ‘Boo at the Zoo’, haunted mines, a Victorian wake, a howl at the full moon or a night at the museum.

Coffin Races and Parade

This unique race takes place on Saturday 29 October in the small town of Manitou Springs. Locals in 19th century costumes ride on coffin-like contraptions pulled by teams of ‘mourners.’ The 17th annual race is in honour of the untimely death of Emma Crawford, a local girl who loved the town and its surrounding mountains and whose ghost supposedly still haunts Red Mountain…

Legend has it that in 1889 Emma went to Manitou Springs hoping that the famous mineral waters would cure her illness. Sadly that did not happen and she was buried at the top of Red Mountain where it took her fiancé and eleven other men an entire day to carry her coffin up to the top of the granite cliff; only for it to get washed down again in a storm several years later.

After the race, there is a parade and awards for the best Emma costume and the most creative coffin. The night before there is a Victorian Wake held at Miramont Castle. www.manitousprings.org

Experience 50 acres of fear as featured on The Travel Channel, and in Reader’s Digest and Haunted Attractions magazines.

TERREL, TX, — Thrillvania Thrill Park in Terrell, Texas, continues its status as the most decorated haunted attraction in the United States, attractions include Lady Cassandra’s Labyrinth of Terror in 3D, Granny Lupus’ Seance Theater and Dr. Lycan’s Trail of Torment.

The park has been featured on The Travel Channel’s “Americas Scariest Haunted Attractions,” and selected as one of the nation’s top haunted houses by MSN, Fangoria, Haunted Attraction magazine, Readers Digest, and AOL. In 2010, Thrillvania was featured on Frighthouse on the DIY Network. It also was named as One Of America’s Best Haunts 2011 by HYPERLINK “http://www.americasbesthaunts.com” http://www.americasbesthaunts.com,

Every year since 2006, the America’s Best Haunts expert judging panel – with more than 100 years of haunting experience – has reviewed, nominated, and selected the nation’s best Halloween attractions. The panel praised Thrillvania for “Keeping its main characters – Baron Michael Verdun and Lady Cassandra – fresh, with new twists and turns to their frightening history of torture, mutilation, and gore.”

“We are proud to be named one of America’s scariest haunted houses,” said Sue Pope, Thrillvania’s owner. “America’s Best Haunts is the premier authority on what is scary in our industry. To be acknowledged once again by this prestigious organization speaks volumes for the work and imagination of our staff, designers, and actors.”

“Each year we challenge ourselves to make Thrillvania not only an outstanding attraction, but a memorable event for our fans. This year thrill seekers can expect the scare of their lives,” Pope added.

One of the Worlds most renowned haunted houses to feature horror stars, new attractions for the Halloween season

NOVI, MI, — The Scariest Men in Michigan, Ed and Jim Terebus are ready for another season full of haunts and terror. Erebus Haunted Attraction in Pontiac is set to open on September 23 for its eleventh season and this year there are more thrills and chills than ever before.

Erebus is introducing a new “war zone” where visitors will enter the battlefield and fend off aliens that threaten our very existence. Those who dare to enter Erebus should be ready for frights that will shock all the senses.

Along with new attractions inside of their warehouse style fear factory, the Terebus brothers will have some of the leading horror film actors lurking around Erebus to terrify visitors. September 30 and October 1 will be taken over by Kane Hodder, the actor who played Jason Voorhies in multiple Friday the 13 films. October 7 will have J. Larose, a star from the Saw film series. Both will be featured at the Haunted Attraction for signings and photographs.

The Terebus Brothers have been in the business of scaring people for more than 30 years. They have spent every moment of the last three decades carefully planning, plotting and executing new and unique ways to terrify people giving them the title of the Scariest Men in Michigan. The duo of fright have created one of top haunts in the world, holding the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest haunted attraction for several years. Visit http://www.hauntedpontiac.com  for hours and more information on Erebus Haunted Attraction.

Beginning in 1980 with a series of haunted trailers, the brothers Terebus in their 30 years in the business have created a terror empire in Pontiac. With the founding of Erebus Haunted Attractions in 2000, Jim and Ed Terebus have built a national reputation for themselves, consistently being ranked near the top of the International Association of Haunted Attractions and Hauntworld Magazine for their attraction. In 2007, Erebus hosted the Hauntcon convention and was dubbed “The haunt that scared the haunted.” Ed also publishes Fear Finder magazine and the brothers recently exported their terror expertise to China, co-creating an attraction in Shanghai.

Lake District visitor attraction, Lakes Aquarium, at Lakeside near Newby Bridge, has created a truly magical experience this Halloween, to be heralded by the arrival on doormats nationwide of what is thought to be the country’s first-ever ‘Owl-Class Post’.

Parents buying special Owl-Class Post tickets from www.lakesaquarium.co.uk can give their child a passport to not just pumpkins and pointed hats, but a very special delivery purporting to be from wise old owls visiting over half-term (October 24 to 30). During this hoot of a week, Lakes Aquarium is staging a thrilling Witches and Wizards event alongside spooky train services run by its neighbour, the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway.

‘Owl-Class Post’ tickets for a combined visit to both attractions on Windermere’s southern shore will be posted out in special Owl Post envelopes, addressed to the child or children specified when booking. A letter typed in a handwriting-font will cordially invite Master or Miss Bloggs to board the train to Lakes Aquarium to meet some visiting owls swooping in for Halloween week.

Young witches and wizards are told that the entrance is alongside Platform ‘Long Meg and Her Daughters’, where the steam train puffs to a halt and departs in clouds of steam. The official-sounding letter also advises that those arriving in fancy dress will be rewarded with a little treat from a many-flavoured beans tub.

Lakes Aquarium staff will offer interactive sessions with creepy creatures, including snakes, millipedes and snails at 12.45pm each day and give five different themed talks on subjects such as the Rainforest and Rockpools. Pumpkin playhouses for the four adorable otters and the family of Pygmy marmosets and some other creepy creature can also be spotted.

Meet-the-owls, (as timetabled), a wise owl quiz, transformation face painting and creepy craft activities are detailed in the Owl-Class Post letter, building excitement well before the witches or wizard’s hat is pulled on and thoughts of handwiches and cauldron concoctions served in the lakeside café take shape.

Children writing a poem about owls before their visit can post it in a special Owl Post Box, to possibly win a wicked prize.

Owl-Class Post tickets cost just a little more than standard combined tickets for both attractions, to cover postage and administration, but will certainly sprinkle the magic. A child’s ticket costs £6.65 and a family ticket for two adults and three children costs £35.50 – a bargain for Lakes Aquarium visit, steam train ride, all activities and, of course, delivery by owl! Visit www.lakesaquarium.co.uk to buy your Owl experience.

Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak region are full of Halloween excitement this October. Treat the whole family to some fun with coffin racing, ‘Boo at the Zoo’, haunted mines, a Victorian wake, a howl at the full moon or a night at the museum.

Coffin Races and Parade

This unique race takes place on Saturday 29 October in the small town of Manitou Springs. Locals in 19th century costumes ride on coffin-like contraptions pulled by teams of ‘mourners.’ The 17th annual race is in honour of the untimely death of Emma Crawford, a local girl who loved the town and its surrounding mountains and whose ghost supposedly still haunts Red Mountain…

Legend has it that in 1889 Emma went to Manitou Springs hoping that the famous mineral waters would cure her illness. Sadly that did not happen and she was buried at the top of Red Mountain where it took her fiancé and eleven other men an entire day to carry her coffin up to the top of the granite cliff; only for it to get washed down again in a storm several years later.

After the race, there is a parade and awards for the best Emma costume and the most creative coffin. The night before there is a Victorian Wake held at Miramont Castle. www.manitousprings.org

Two Sisters Inn Conjures Up a Halloween Weekend of Ghostly Fun

Dare to stay in the Two Sisters Inn for two nights of spooky fun and terrifying treats with a Halloween breakfast feast. Sleep tight the first night and awake to the aroma of a seasonal breakfast with a few tricks but mostly treats! Participate in some of the many Halloween activities including a Ghostly Walking tour around Magical Manitou Springs with a spirit guide for ‘Ghost Stories of Old Manitou’. A two-night stay, October 30th to 31st costs $299 – $335 plus tax based on two people sharing, www.twosisinn.com.

Fright by Night at the Western Museum of Mining and Industry

By day tour this interactive museum but by night the grounds transform into a terrifying haunted attraction. ‘Victims’ will experience total terror as they drop into the Haunted Mines on the Rapid Descenders, travel through spooky tunnels, ride the Helievator, crawl to escape the vent shaft, slide down flumes, race through cemeteries and get terrorised in a western town. www.hauntedmines.org

Boo at the Zoo

The region’s wildest Halloween party takes place at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo for little witches and wizards. Families can enjoy trick and treating at this popular zoo. www.cmzoo.org

Full Moon Tour at Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Centre

The centre offers full moon tours that include feeding wolves by flashlight and hiking to howl with the wolves at the rising moon. Meet and greet one of the wolves after the tour and see the other wolf dogs, foxes and coyotes. www.wolfeducation.org

Night at the Museum IV at the Cripple Creek District Museum

During the evening on October 30 and 31 there will be a fiendish flock of ghouls, ghosts and monsters. From 6pm to 9pm guests can tour the Museum Depot and be scared out of their wits. No reservations are required. www.cripple-creek.org

Watch out for the Fish Witch as she cooks up a cauldron full of fun in her spooky rainforest lair at the SEA LIFE London Aquarium this Halloween. The shimmering sorceress of the sea has set up a cobwebby, pumpkin filled home on dry land to preside over a range of Halloween activities.

A special hallo-marine trail will highlight some very “halloweeny” sounding sea creatures – from Blood Shrimps to Bat Fish and Spider Crabs – plus there will be spooky face painting feeds every day, and interactive talks will tell some of the real scare stories of the sea. And of course, the Fish Witch, will be welcoming guests to the spooky rainforest where the crocodiles and pirahanas live deep within the aquarium.

Plus NOT TO BE MISSED is NEW Penguins: Ice Adventure featuring a family of rare Gentoo Penguins and an ocean full of fun to discover with thousands of marine creatures from every part of the world. Situated on the banks of the River Thames in County Hall, the SEA LIFE London Aquarium is open 7 days a week with great value family tickets from £54 and special behind the scenes packages also available. Check www.sealife.co.uk/london for full details.

A web of intrigue will descend over Bournemouth visitor attraction, Oceanarium, this half term (October 24-30) as it offers spook-tacular creepy creature fun of the ‘Halloween’ variety!

Some of the world’s slinkiest, spiniest and most slithery creatures are coming together at the global-themed, nine-zone attraction, to give visitors of all ages a chance to appreciate why they might not be quite as black as sometimes painted.

The ‘unlucky 13’, which are often badly misunderstood, are wolf, moray and dragon eels, red devil cichlids, fearsome piranhas, snake-necked turtles, spiny tailed lizards, sharks, spiny lobsters, vampire triggerfish, long-spined urchins, bearded dragons and octopus.

There will be ‘get-to-know-them’ interactive creepy creature sessions twice a day, every day, to dispel a few myths about this spooky gathering of reptiles, fish and crustaceans. Other activities will include shark and piranha-feeding demonstrations.

Oceanarium’s curator, Oliver Buttling, says: “Half term will be a time to face fears, explode myths and be bewitched by creatures that it’s sometimes difficult to look in the eye.

“It’s an opportunity to become more familiar with creature behaviour and characteristics and maybe even touch some of the ‘fearsome fiends’ calling Oceanarium home. Everyone should be on tenterhooks – or maybe tentacles – as half term will be creepily cool!”

Entrance to Oceanarium costs £9.25 for an adult and £6.60 for a child aged 3-15, but booking online before a visit reduces the cost to £6.90 and £4.95. Family tickets are available, but best value can come from a 2012 annual pass, valid from date of purchase and offering unlimited visiting until December 31, 2012.

More information about all creatures and features can be found at www.oceanarium.co.uk