Jetsettersblog

The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) has launched a new website with more information for prospective travelers to Antarctica.

“The familiar URL www.iaato.org  remains the same, but the similarity stops there,” said IAATO Executive Director Steve Wellmeier.

“The new site provides much better graphics and navigation tools, including a search function and site map. One of our goals is to provide accurate information for the Antarctic traveler, particularly in the area of environmental stewardship, guidelines for visitors, and answers to the many questions they might have.”

The redesigned home page has links to IAATO news, frequently asked questions, history of IAATO and featured topical discussions and information, such as non-native species and climate change, along with other science-support initiatives.

New “Who is IAATO?” and “What is IAATO?” pages provide a membership directory of all IAATO members and operators, a listing of IAATO-member vessels, biographies of the IAATO executive committee and secretariat, and a brief history of the association, its objectives and bylaws.

An extensive “Guidelines & Resources” section features visitor guidelines, a PowerPoint briefing for visitors, wildlife-watching guidelines, links to other Antarctica-related organizations and tourism statistics.

The new Media Center links to current and archival IAATO press releases, the association’s Antarctic Ambassador Chronicle e-newsletter for media, and recent press articles on Antarctic tourism issues. For more information, visit www.iaato.org

Big White Ski Resort in Kelowna, B.C., is offering several women-specific events, camps and packages. New this year is the Rugged Riders Freestyle Camps for snowboarders who want to improve their terrain park skills. Professional female coaches will show campers the basics of the park and help them progress to the next level of freestyle riding.

The cost of the camp is $299 and includes six nights of coaching, entry into the “Kinky Rail Jam” or similar contest, BC Snowboard Association one-year membership, goody bag and chance to win a Nitro snowboard or a L1TA outerwear jacket or pants. The camps take place Dec. 23 to Jan. 27 and March 9 to April 13.

The Kinky Rail Jam clinic and contest series started in 2007, and this year takes place on Jan. 21.

The new Downhill Divas includes a two-day Edge Camp experience, which includes coaching by Edith Rozsa, accommodations, a welcome basket, private shopping at the Edith Boutique, massage, and choice of private boot-camp or yoga class.

The two-night package is priced from $660 per person for six women.

For more information, call 800-663-2772 or visit www.bigwhite.com

Purgatory at Durango Mountain Resort in Colorado kicked off its winter season Nov. 25 to 27, but temporarily suspended operations on Nov. 28 to allow its snowmaking and grooming team to operate at maximum capacity throughout the week. Operations will resume Dec. 2 to 4.

Purgatory will be open Fridays through Sundays only until conditions permit daily operations, most likely around mid-December. For more information on mountain operations, the snow report and other information, call 970-247-9000 or visit www.skipurg.com

For other information, call 800-525-0892 or visit www.durangomountainresort.com

Barceló Hotels & Resorts is offering 35 percent off advance reservations at the company’s all-inclusive properties in Mexico, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic through April 2012.

The offer allows vacationers to book their stays according to their personal schedules.

Under the program, travelers can book stays at Barceló’s Mexico and Dominican Republic resorts for travel through April 30, 2012, or at its Costa Rica resorts for travel between Dec. 24, 2011, and April 30, 2012, and receive a percentage off their stay based on the date of the booking.

The earlier the reservation is made, the greater the value. For example, guests who book more than 120 days in advance receive 35 percent off, between 90 and 119 days in advance earns 30 percent off, from 60 to 89 days in advance earns 20 percent off, and between 31 and 59 days in advance earns 15 percent off.

“By extending the early booking discount through next spring, we’re giving consumers any opportunity to take advantage of a great value for a gift that everyone will truly enjoy,” said Claudio A. Zboznovits, Barceló’s vice president of sales and marketing in the U.S.

For more information, call 800-BARCELO or visit www.barcelo.com

The Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC) in Laie, Hawaii, will present “Christmas in Polynesia,” a 25-minute canoe ride that winds through a live production of “Kamakana and the Five Fir Trees.” Rides will be offered from 6 to 8 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from Dec. 12 to 23.

“The storyline is a local adaptation of a popular Christmas story, ‘The Three Fir Trees,’ depicting a grandfather as he shares with his grandson, Kamakana, how five fir trees became part of the Christmas nativity story,” said William Mahoni, PCC special events manager.

It is an opportunity to experience the new menu at the recently upgraded Gateway restaurant. For the holidays, the center will feature festive food, arts and crafts, entertainment by halau, choirs and bands, and keiki holiday train rides. In addition, free tram rides will be available to the nearby Laie Hawaii Temple Visitors Center, where guests can see a grand-scale Christmas tree display featuring 19 decorated trees.

Christmas in Polynesia tickets are $10 per adult and $8 per child. Kamaaina Annual Pass holders may enjoy one free ride per night.

For more information, call 800-367-7060 or visit www.Polynesia.com

Offer Affordable Fun Throughout the Winter Holidays
MYSTIC, Conn — Mystic Aquarium, in partnership with a number of nearby Connecticut hotels, announces special packages for visitors during the winter holiday season and beyond.

The packages provide an affordable way for couples and families to enjoy an enhanced Mystic Aquarium experience with value-added offerings that range from tempting meals and recreational activities, to discount passes for restaurants and retail shopping – combined with free admission to the Aquarium.

What better way to enjoy holiday time together than enjoying unique animal encounter experiences, enriching educational exhibits and special events at Mystic Aquarium? The historic, scenic Mystic area of Connecticut is a perfect backdrop for winter holiday fun!

Mystic Aquarium “Encounter Package” at Mystic Marriott Hotel

Deluxe overnight accommodations for two adults and two children
Buffet breakfast
Two adults and two children tickets to Mystic Aquarium

Through August 30, 2012: $279 – $499 per room for two adults and two children.

Inn at Harbor Hill “Winter Escape & Return Package”
This two-night package starting at $350/couple (a 20% discount) with a return Bonus is valid from Nov 1st – Feb 28, 2012* and includes:
A 2-night stay at the Inn at Harbor Hill Marina, an award-winning waterfront Bed and Breakfast on the Niantic River
A fireside candlelit breakfast buffet each morning overlooking the Niantic River
Two tickets to your choice of Mystic Seaport or Mystic Aquarium
A $50 gift certificate to a local favorite restaurant
Discount coupons to shopping at nearby Tanger and Clinton Premium Outlets
Complimentary snacks and beverages during your stay
Lodging tax included
BONUS $50 gift certificate for a return visit
*Package Price from $350 – $555, depending on days and room selection.

Whalers Inn “Beluga Whales and Sailor’s Tales” Package
Lodging for Two Nights
Tickets to Mystic Aquarium
Tickets to Mystic Seaport
September 6 – November 27, 2011: $165 – $295 per person
November 28 – December 31, 2011: $135 – $245 per person

Residence Inn “Marine Experience” Package
Deluxe accommodations including a hot breakfast buffet every morning
One bottle of wine per stay
Two tickets to Mystic Aquarium per stay
Two tickets to Mystic Seaport per stay
Through July 5, 2012: $348-$699 per room

Family Fun Vacation Package at Howard Johnson – 1 night
Standard overnight accommodations for two adults and two children
Two adult and two children tickets to Mystic Aquarium
Welcome gift pack with brochures to local Aquarium
Through December 31, 2011: begins at $204 per room for four.

—

About Mystic Aquarium
Mystic Aquarium is a division of Sea Research Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, and is counted among the nation’s leading aquariums with more than 300 species and an extensive collection of marine mammals, including New England’s only beluga whales. Mystic Aquarium has been a pioneer in offering guests a variety of up-close encounters with a wide range of marine animals. The mission of Sea Research is to inspire people to care for and protect our ocean planet through education, research and exploration. Learn more at www.mysticaquarium.org  or www.searesearch.org

Taking a break on Hamilton Island in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef for a little rest before his busiest time of year, Santa swapped his usual mode of transportation for a golf buggy as he practices his swing on the Hamilton Island Golf Course, Australia’s only 18-hole championship golf course situated on its own island. But as Santa knows all too well, golf isn’t the only reason to visit Hamilton Island during the holiday season.

The “Summer Festival” (http://www.hamiltonisland.com.au/Events/summer-festival/Pages/summer-festival.aspx), which runs from mid December to mid January during the l holiday season in the Southern Hemisphere, is packed full of festive fun, guaranteed to give the holidays a truly tropical twist.

Highlights include:

Over 3,000 Christmas decorations on the island including a reindeer light display
Live entertainment from Hamilton Island’s resident musicians, playing in many of the islands bars, restaurants and poolside locations
A personal appearance from Santa at ‘Carols by Candle-light’ held beneath the starry Whitsunday skies
A wide variety of fun activities for children, from face painting, cookie decorating and beach sports through to kids quad bikes and magic shows
Sparkling New Year’s Eve Party with live band
Accommodation (December 22, 2011 through January 4, 2012 inclusive) starting from AUD$450 per room per night in a Garden View room at the Reef View Hotel.
For more information or to make reservations, visit www.hamiltonisland.com.au

Hamilton Island is one of 74 tropical islands in the Coral Sea between the Queensland coast and the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. The largest inhabited island in the Whitsunday Islands, Hamilton Island is on the same latitude in the southern hemisphere as Honolulu in the north with an average of 81°F temperatures year round. With five resort accommodation choices, 10 restaurants and varied water and beach activities, the Island makes the perfect launching pad for US travelers to enjoy Australia’s most spectacular beaches, explore the Great Barrier Reef and create an unforgettable vacation in tropical Australia. Hamilton Island is easily accessible from major East Coast cities in Australia in less than three hours. For more information about Hamilton Island, visit www.hamiltonisland.com.au

Visitors advised “remember to breathe.”

Alberta will begin marketing tourism under a new brand that focuses on the unique and authentic experiences that visitors can enjoy in breathtaking landscapes, Travel Alberta has announced.

“Alberta is blessed with so many real and memorable experiences in one of the most spectacular backdrops in the world and we are confident that we will raise awareness of Alberta with travellers around the world with the message ‘remember to breathe’ when you visit here,” said Bruce Okabe, Chief Executive Officer of Travel Alberta. “This message will differentiate Alberta from competing vacation destinations both in Canada and internationally and underpin our strategy to grow tourism spending in the province $1 billion by 2016.”

Tourism currently attracts more than 22 million visitors annually to Alberta who spend more than $5 billion in the province. The industry generates more than $2 billion in annual tax revenue for federal, provincial and municipal governments and employs more than 90,000 people.

“Travel Alberta has worked with our tourism industry to embrace a new approach to marketing our province – one that aligns with the Alberta brand launched two years ago,” said Jack Hayden, Minister of Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation.

“I am confident that tourism operators across the province will rally behind this new brand, helping us make a stronger impact in a crowded global marketplace.”

“Research by Travel Alberta confirms that ‘remember to breathe’ is a powerful expression of what makes this province so attractive to the travellers who are the target of our marketing programs,” Royce Chwin, Travel Alberta’s Managing Director, Global Marketing and Brand Strategy. “Travel experiences in every community throughout the province reflect that sentiment which millions of visitors enjoy every year,” he said. “The brand promise speaks to the emotional connection that surprises a first time visitor and the feelings that keep travellers coming back to their favourite places in Alberta. We know that it is an extremely attractive message for youthfully-spirited travellers.”

Alberta’s new tourism brand is the result of an 18-month process which included consultation with industry stakeholders representing all regions of the province as well as opinion research with frequent travellers in Alberta’s target tourism markets in Canada, the United States, Europe and Asia/Pacific.

The first phase of the new brand will launch with Travel Alberta’s winter consumer campaigns in the United States and Canada beginning next month. The multi-media campaigns include television commercials, print advertising, social media and a new website www.remembertobreathe.com.

About Travel Alberta

Travel Alberta is the tourism marketing agency of the Government of Alberta.

Learn more about Alberta’s new tourism brand at www.Industry.TravelAlberta.com
Follow Travel Alberta at: http://twitter.com/travelalberta  and at
https://www.facebook.com/TravelAlbertaCanada  and
http://www.youtube.com/TravelAlbertaCanada

For Popular Stay And Play Golf Package

DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK, Calif., –

Furnace Creek Resort in Death Valley is offering its popular Stay and Play package at the Inn at Furnace Creek which just opened for the season and the Ranch at Furnace Creek, open year-round.

The Stay and Play package features accommodations, unlimited golf per day at the Furnace Creek Golf Course, 18-hole cart rental and club storage. Rates start at $248 at the Ranch and $412 at the Inn.

Rates drop in January and February before rising again in March and April.

Rates are for two people, based on double occupancy in a standard room. The Stay & Play Package is also available for other room types at both lodging complexes. Rates do not include applicable tax.

This package may not be combined with other offers. Some restrictions and blackout dates apply.

Reserve this package online at www.furnacecreekresort.com  using the promo code “GOLF” or by calling toll-free to 1-800-236-7916 or from outside the U.S. to 1-303-297-2757 and refer to the promo code “GOLF”.

At 214 feet below sea level, the Furnace Creek Golf Course is the lowest golf course in the world. It has achieved the designation “Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary” from the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary System (ACSS), the educational division of Audubon International. To achieve certification, a course must demonstrate it is maintaining a high degree of environmental quality in the areas of environmental planning, wildlife and habitat management, outreach and education, reduced chemical use and safety, water conservation and water quality management.

The 18-hole Furnace Creek Golf Course measures 6,236 yards from the back tees with a course rating of 69.7 and a slope rating of117. Although a relatively short course, the low elevation and challenging greens earned it a place on Golf Digest’s list of “America’s 50 Toughest Courses.” Because the golf ball does not fly as far as it does at sea level and higher elevation courses, players must adjust their club selections as well as their mental approaches.

The course also features small greens, strategically placed Palm and Tamarisk trees and water hazards on nine holes.

Originally opened in 1931, the course underwent a major renovation in 1997 under the direction of world-renowned golf course architect Perry Dye.

The Furnace Creek Resort has been welcoming guests since the 1930s. Furnace Creek Resort is operated by Xanterra Parks & Resorts. The resort also features two restaurants; a saloon; general store; two spring-fed swimming pool; tennis courts; the Borax Museum, a service station and a 3,000-square-foot airstrip adjacent to the property.

For more information about facilities in Death Valley National Park or to make reservations, call toll free at 1-800-236-7916 or 1-303-297-2757 or go to www.furnacecreekresort.com

Montrose a convenient, reasonably-priced hub for downhill, cross-country skiing;
snowmobiling; snowshoeing; and more! –
Montrose, Colo. – The Montrose Association of Commerce and Tourism invites travelers to make Montrose their base camp for a winter vacation that is packed with fun and adventure, yet won’t break the bank.

Winter travelers may fly directly to Montrose Regional Airport from Denver, Dallas, Chicago, Houston, Newark and Atlanta (which is typically less expensive than flying directly into other nearby resort airports).

Montrose is at the epicenter of some of Colorado’s finest ski resorts. Telluride, Crested Butte and Powderhorn are within a two-hour drive Montrose. Book a reasonably-priced room in Montrose and hit a different ski resort each day!

There are also many off-slope winter activities in and around Montrose. The 62,000 acres of public lands around town offer hundreds of miles of excellent snowmobile trails.

Black Mesa, which receives an average of 500 inches of snow each year, offers some of the most spectacular powder riding in the region. The Uncompaghre Plateau, 30 minutes from Montrose, is characterized by wide open spaces offering great intermediate riding on groomed and un-groomed trails, as well as climbs that are not too steep. Grand Mesa, one of the largest flat-topped mountains in the world, is 40 minutes from Montrose.

It boasts 525 inches of snow per year and is home to the 123-mile-long Sunlight to Powderhorn Trail (“The SP” for short), the longest snowmobile trail in the lower 48.

Montrose averages 274 days of sunshine a year, giving winter vacationers the opportunity to snowshoe in the morning and golf in the afternoon. At Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, one of the gems of the national park system, visitors may cross-country ski or snowshoe on the six-mile long South Rim Drive. Other recommended snowshoe routes include Oak Flat Loop and Rim Rock Trail, as well as any part of the canyon’s rim. Ranger-guided snowshoe tours and a moonlight cross-country ski outing are also available January through March. Call 970-249-1914, ext. 423 for details and reservations.

Wintertime golf is also available at one of the three courses located in Montrose. The Links at Cobble Creek features jaw-dropping views of the San Juan Mountains and offers a links-style golfing.

Bridges at the Black Canyon is a par-71, Nicklaus-designed course. Montrose Black Canyon Golf Club offers the best of both worlds with a park-style course on the front nine and a links-style course on the back.

Another year-round pastime in Montrose – road biking. The city has a number of bike paths and bike trails that weave through town and offer a great way to see the sights. Stop by the visitors’ center to pick up a bicycle trail map.

For rentals, gear and route recommendations, check out Cascade Bicycles (21 N Cascade Ave.).

Those who crave a dose of culture will delight the Montrose’s museums. The Ute Indian Museum is one of the most complete collections of the Ute people in the nation. The Museum of the Mountain West offers docent-led tours that highlight more than 500,000 artifacts of the Mountain West from 1880-1930, displayed in store and office settings.