Jetsettersblog

Top-Flight Africa With Free Air

African Travel, Inc. Offers Two Luxury Specials

Glendale, CA- African Travel, Inc. specialists in luxury African safaris, is offering free round trip air fare to Africa — worth more than $1,500 — on a pair of safari itineraries from October through December. Travelers can choose from a 12-day South Africa and Victoria Falls trip or 13 days in Northern Tanzania, both offering topflight accommodations and services. Designed for individual parties, both safari packages depart any day of the week and can be customized with optional extensions and other arrangements. Prices are per person, double occupancy.

The Great Migration, 13 Days Tanzania, from $11,195 per person

This safari combines northern Tanzania’s finest wildlife viewing with luxury lodgings. Highlights include 4 nights in the Serengeti with daily wildlife viewing, the famed Ngorongoro Crater, one of the most unique caldera in the world; Tarangire, one of Tanzania’s “secret” wildlife havens and home to a large elephant population; and Manyara National Park in the Great Rift, with its hippos and flamingos.

Beginning and ending with a night in Arusha, the itinerary spends two nights each at Tarangire and the Ngorongoro Crater, one night at Manyara National Park, and four nights in the Serengeti. Included are roundtrip air fare from New York, luxury accommodations, 29 meals, and daily game drives and other wildlife activities with highly trained guides. Accommodations are “Wildebeest” level, and include Arusha Hotel, Tarangire Tree Lodge, Lake Manyara Tree Camp, Crater Lodge at Ngorongoro and – for maximum wildlife viewing — Mobile Migration, a mobile camp in the Serengeti.

Depending on the month of departure, prices begin at $8,795 per person, based on double occupancy for November. October and December prices are slightly higher. Single supplement begins at $2,595. Round trip economy air fare from New York to Kilimanjaro is free for travel from October through December; Business class air fare is available upon request. Taxes, fuel surcharges and security fees are additional. Travelers can spice up their trip with an optional extension to Zanzibar.

Southern Explorer, 12 Days: South Africa & Victoria Falls, from $9,975

Capetown, Kruger National Park and Victoria Falls combine on this 12-day odyssey. Two days are spent at the legendary falls with three days each in Cape Town and Kruger National Park, plus an overnight in Johannesburg en route from Kruger to Victoria Falls and prior to departure. Two full days touring Cape Town plus a dinner with a Capetonian family are followed by a stay at Singita Private Game Reserve, including morning and afternoon wildlife drives. At Victoria Falls a walking tour and an evening sundowner cruise on the Zambezi provide various vistas of one of the world’s highest falls.

Top-of-the-line accommodations for “Ebony Class” departures are at the Cape Grace in Cape Town, at Singita Boulders/Ebony in the Sabi Sands, the Saxon in Johannesburg, and the River Club at Victoria Falls. Price includes 20 meals, accommodations, all transportation, sightseeing and safari drives in an open vehicle.

“Ebony Class” departures from October – December are $9,975 per person, based on double occupancy. Single supplement is $2,875. Economy class air fare from New York to Cape Town with return from Johannesburg is free for departures from October through December (black-out dates apply). Flights to Victoria Falls and Kruger National Park are additional. Business class air fare is available upon request. Taxes, fuel surcharges and security fees are additional. Travelers can extend their trip to savor more of South Africa with optional tours to South Africa’s renowned Cape Winelands or Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve.

About African Travel, Inc.

Since 1976 African Travel Inc, under the leadership of its Founder and Managing Director, Dave Herbert, has designed custom-tailored, luxury vacation experiences to the African continent and beyond for discerning travelers. African Travel Inc.’s offerings stretch from Cape Town to Cairo, the Seychelles islands, Mauritius, Madagascar and Dubai. Travel + Leisure magazine named African Travel, Inc. one of the top ten tour and safari operators in 2007.

In keeping with its philosophy, African Travel encourages preservation and economic development through a number of activities, including donating a portion of profits to wildlife conservation and cultural preservation.

For more information on African Travel Inc.’s custom-tailored trips, see your travel agent, phone (800) 421-8907 or (818) 507-7893. Information is also available at http://www.africantravelinc.com  or by emailing ati@africantravelinc.com

Sama Airlines Summer Flight Deals

Riyadh - Sama Airlines; the newest airlines in Saudi Arabia; announced the new initiatives in airports and inside the aircraft to simplify a quick check - in process for passengers without luggage, and to give the priority boarding to families with children and old people. In addition, Sama has implemented an on-board dedicated toilet inside the aircraft for ladies only, to make the travel experience a more comfortable one. These initiatives are part of Sama’s “Just for You” a campaign designed to support the summer getaway.

Mr. Samer Atawi, Sama CCO said: “We allocate a special and fast track for passengers without luggage, to simplify the whole check-in process.When it comes to boarding the aircraft, we give priority to families with children and old people to help them get settled on board. Furthermore, we allocate a one toilet inside the aircraft for ladies use only, helping them to feel more comfortable during the journey These initiatives are the first of their kind in the aviation sector in Saudi Arabia and the region, as part of “Just for You” a campaign to satisfy our traveler guests and for their comfort”

Sama Airlines has allocated a team of staff in Dammam and Jeddah, and sooner in Riyadh, to fast track Check-In for passengers without luggage, and support families with children and old people.

“Previous “Just for you” initiatives, include our frequent traveler program, which rewards the traveler with one free trip for every 9 boarding passes to any Sama destinations (Domestic or International). In addition, our promotion for kids is still valid for 250 SR to any Sama’s international destinations, to reduce the travel costs on families during this summer. “Just for You” a campaign is unique and unprecedented initiatives”, Samer Atawi added.

Sama flies to 12 domestic destinations ( Dammam, Riyadh, Jeddah, Abha, Jizan, Hail, Arar, Jouf, Tabouk, Rafha, and Bisha) and 10 international destinations across the Middle East (Abu-Dhabi, Sharjah, Amman, Damascus, Latakia, Aleppo, Beirut, Alexandira, Asiut and Sharm el Sheikh). Sama offers various ways for booking, such as the website (www.flysama.com) or Call Centre 9200 05588, or Sales Centre in all the main cities (Riyadh, Dammam, Jeddah, Madinah, Abha) and the Airports, or our Authorised Travel Agents (Inside Saudi Arabia and outside). There are various payment options also available (Cash, Credit Card, Sadad).

WALK IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF NELSON MANDELA

From Robben Island to the Apartheid Museum, South African Tourism invites travelers to celebrate freedom on the path of a living legend

South African Tourism joins the world in wishing former president Nelson Mandela a happy 90th birthday on 18 July 2008.

“South African Tourism thanks you for helping to put South Africa on the map as a beacon of hope, dignity and reconciliation for the world. We thank you, too, for inspiring people the world over to come and visit our country, to share our excitement in the political, natural and, above, all, profoundly human miracle that is South Africa,” says Moeketsi Mosola, CEO of South African Tourism. “We celebrate your birthday with you. We admire you for your dignity, humanity and your resolve to always be just, fair, honest and determined to live the exemplary life that a nation, and the world, aspires to. Happy birthday.”

For information on tours that include these Mandela-inspired highlights, or for the opportunity to wish Nelson Mandela a personal happy birthday, visit www.southafrica.net

Travelers can follow in the footsteps of this living legend by visiting the places that served as the backdrop for the historic events in the life.

Highlights of a self-guided tour of Mandela’s South Africa include:

Umtata – This Wild Coast region of the South Africa’s Eastern Cape is the ancestral homeland of Nelson Mandela, known for its unspoiled beauty, rolling green hills and pristine beaches.

The Nelson Mandela Museum in Umtata officially opened on February 11, 2000 to coincide with the ten year anniversary of Mandela’s release from prison and is considered one of South Africa’s most significant cultural institutions. Visitors can tour Mandela’s childhood home, the church of his baptism, even the remains of his birthplace – a spiritual sight where his umbilical cord is buried – and much more.

Soweto – The largest of South Africa’s “townships”, Soweto is home to some 2 million people and a number of historic sites. Visitors can toss back a local beer at a traditional shebeen (drinking hall) and see the former homes of Mandela and his fellow Nobel laureate, Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

Robben Island – A UNESCO World Heritage Site and nature conservation area, reached via short ferry ride from Cape Town, Robben Island was Mandela’s state-imposed home from 1964 to 1982. Today, former inmates lead visitors on insightful tours of the prison grounds.

Apartheid Museum – A significant experience of any trip to South Africa, and especially on the “Footsteps of Nelson Mandela” tour this modern museum provides insight into the country’s turbulent past and the many notable events that led to the abolishment of Apartheid. Among many poignant highlights: a unique interactive system that enables visitors to assume the identity of an individual who lived during the struggle.

West Indies Travels in 2009 by Crictours

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE, UK, - Crictours announces England Supporters Cricket Travel Packages for 2009 West Indies Tour
Following the ECB’s announcement of the 2009 England-West Indies tour, The Cricket Tour Company has launched their tour itineraries. The combination of beautiful beaches, exotic locales and exceptional cricket assure that the West Indies tour packages are in high demand by England supporters.

The dates for the West Indies tour have now been released, as follows:

04-08 Feb - 1st Test, Jamaica
13-17 Feb - 2nd Test, Antigua
26 Feb-02 Mar - 3rd Test, Barbados
06-10 Mar - 4th Test, Trinidad

Sun 15 Mar - Twenty20 International, Trinidad
Fri 20 Mar - 1st One-Day International, Guyana
Sun 22 Mar - 2nd One-Day International, Guyana
Fri 27 Mar - 3rd One-Day International, Barbados
Sun 29 Mar - 4th One-Day International, Barbados
Fri 03 April - 5th One-Day International, St Lucia - Day/Night

Crictours offers following tour itineraries:

Jamaica: Sat 31st Jan - Tue 10th Feb (12 days)

Enjoy 3 days of relaxation on a gorgeous North coast all-inclusive beach resort before heading down to the Hilton, Kingston for the 1st Test at the pulsating Sabina Park - scene of Steve Harmison’s stunning 7 for 12 in 2004!

Antigua: Wed 11th Feb - Sun 22nd Feb (12 days)

Kick back on one of Antigua’s 365 beaches at the stunning all-inclusive Verandah Resort & Spa. See the 2nd Test at the Sir Vivian Richards stadium - newly opened for the 2007 World Cup.

Barbados: Sat 21st Feb - Wed 4th Mar (12 days) or Sun 8th Mar (16 days)

With thousands of English fans expected, the atmosphere at Kensington Oval is sure to be fantastic for the pivotal 3rd Test. Join us for a 12 day tour or one of our 2 x 16 day tours - one at an all-inclusive resort, the other on B&B basis.

Trinidad & Tobago: Thu 5th Mar - Fri 13th Mar (9 days +)

There’s no beach in Port of Spain, but there is a fantastic atmosphere at the wonderful Queen’s Park Oval and a great music scene in the home of calypso & soca (soul-calypso) music! Stay at the Hilton Trinidad. Extend your stay with a beach holiday on Tobago and pop back for the Twenty/20 match!

ODI Tour: Sat 21st Mar - Sun 05th Apr (16 days) or Wed 18th Mar - Sun 05th Apr (19 days)

Our main tour will take in the last 3 ODI’s on Barbados & St Lucia. However, we will also be offering a pre-tour extension for those wanting to go to Guyana to see the first 2 ODI’s.

Combo Tours

For England supporters that need a bigger dose of sun, sea and/or cricket, itineraries can combine any or all the tours above!

Flights will be with Virgin Atlantic from London and BMI from Manchester to Barbados, both with the option to upgrade to Premium Economy & Business Class.

Brochures and information can be obtained:
Via email sue@crictours.com  or
Phone call on 01494 713 007.or on http://www.crictours.com

Regent Seven Seas Grand Explorations in 2009

Regent Seven Seas Cruises will offer a series of “Grand Explorations” aboard the Seven Seas Voyager and Seven Seas Mariner this winter.

From January through May 2009, the 700-guest sister ships will visit a total of 110 ports in 50 countries on six continents.

The 14 winter voyages range in length from 12 to 24 nights and explore destinations in the Caribbean, South America, the South Pacific, New Zealand and Australia, South East Asia, Japan, India, the Middle East, North Africa and the Mediterranean. In addition to the exotic itineraries, these Grand Explorations will feature celebrity guests.

Former Florida Governor and Senator Bob Graham, hurricane forecaster and meteorologist Max Mayfield, former NFL coach Don Shula, and Apollo astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Al Worden will lecture aboard Seven Seas Mariner. Seven Seas Voyager will feature humanitarian and Church of England envoy Terry Waite, former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, and Apollo astronauts Edgar Mitchell, Charles Duke and Gene Cernan. Environmentalist and film producer Jean-Michel Cousteau will also join select cruises of Seven Seas Mariner.

Complimentary events are offered on each voyage, including exclusive song-and-dance demonstrations in Brazil, New Zealand and the Marquesas Islands; a catamaran adventure in the Chilean fjords; a visit to the dragons of Komodo Island; or exclusive events in world-class hotels. These cruises offer savings of $3,200 to $35,345, depending on departure date and suite category.

Free airfare or complimentary hotel stays are also featured on select departures. The Grand Explorations include “South Pacific Passage,” a 19-night voyage from Los Angeles to Auckland, New Zealand, on Seven Seas Voyager Jan. 13-Feb. 1, featuring Terry Waite and a complimentary Festival of Arts event in the Marquesas Islands. Special 2-for-1 fares start at $7,995 per person.

“The Brazilian Riviera,” an 18-night voyage from Fort Lauderdale to Buenos Aires on Seven Seas Mariner departs Jan. 26 and features guest lecturer Max Mayfield and a complimentary Brazilian dance celebration in Fortaleza. This cruise also offers free airfare, up to $200-per-suite shipboard credit, and early-booking fares from $9,950 per person.

“New Zealand, Land of the Rings” is a 12-night voyage from Auckland to Sydney on Seven Seas Voyager, Feb. 1-13 that includes a complimentary “French Day” in Akaroa, New Zealand. Offered are free airfare, up to $200-per-suite shipboard credit and early-booking fares from $10,195 per person.

The 12-night “China and Vietnam” voyage from Shanghai to Singapore on Seven Seas Voyager departs March 6. Celebrity guest lecturer is former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. There will be a complimentary event in Hong Kong. With this cruise, clients can receive free airfare, up to $200-per-suite shipboard credit, and early-booking fares from $9,695 per person.

For a list of the other Grand Exploration cruises or more information, call 800-285-1835 or visit www.rssc.com

Environment trips With Hands Up Holidays

Believing that every day should be Environment Day, Hands Up Holidays, the voluntourism specialist who blends holidays with worthwhile conservation activities, has selected five environmental projects around the world.

The Hands Up Holidays (www.handsupholidays.com)  trips are:

- Penguin conservation in New Zealand’s South Island- Rhino Monitoring in Borneo

- Plant Recording in Argentina
- Coastal clean up in Galapagos
- Seed planting in South Africa

SOUTHERN ENCOUNTER – 15 days – New Zealand - £1,950

Guests spend three days helping to maintain the habitat of the yellow-eyed penguins at the Catlins on the South Island that includes weeding, planting and pest control. The rest if the trip is spent sightseeing on New Zealand’s stunning South Island including a cruise of the Doubtful Sound, albatross, penguin and sealion viewing, taking part in adrenalin activities in the adventure capital of the world, Queenstown and visiting Lake Wanaka. The next set departure dates are 15 November and 20 December 2008.

SABAH DISCOVERER – 15 days – Borneo - £2,300

Assist SOS Rhino tracking and monitoring the movements of the elusive Sumatran rhino, a highly endangered species where there are estimated to be only 25-50 left alive, in Tabin Nature Reserve. Then explore the natural environment of Borneo including visiting the famous Seliplok orangutan rehabilitation centre, viewing the endemic proboscis monkeys, visiting mud volcano and walking in pristine rainforest, plus white water rafting, cruising the Garama river and visiting Tunku Abdul Rhaman Marine Park. The next trip set departure dates are 9 August, 20 September, 25 October, 15 November and 13 December 2008.

NORTHERN EXPLORER IN STYLE – 14 days – Argentina - £2,300

Spend three days monitoring birds, recording orchid flowers, studying amphibians and reptiles, as well as helping with reforestation work in a park close to the impressive Iguaçu Falls dividing Argentina and Brazil. Sightseeing highlights include visiting the Brazilian side of the falls, exploring the sultry capital of Argentina, Buenos Aires, staying on a traditional ranch near Salta and visiting Iruya, a small village perched precariously on a mountain. The next set departure dates are 25 October, 15 November, 6 & 27 December 2008.

GALAPAGOS & VOLCANOES – 15 days – Ecuador - £2,200

Spend seven nights in the remote Galapagos Islands off the coast of Darwin with three days spent helping the local fisherman hired by the Galapagos Foundation to collect debris and waste from the coastal areas and beaches. Sightseeing highlights include four further days in the Galapagos on a yacht excursion visiting the Ecuadorian capital of Quito, visiting the Equatorial Line to stand half in the southern and northern hemispheres, travelling on the Chiva Express to Riobamba and shopping in the colourful market town of Otavalos. The next set departure dates are 16 August and 6 September 2008.

SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY IN STYLE – 9 days – South Africa £3,350

Spend three days volunteering in one of Cape Town’s disadvantaged communities on a conversation project that includes trench digging and filling, planting of seeds and seedlings, building simple nurseries, plus making jams and chutneys using garden produce. Sightseeing highlights include visiting Table Mountain and staying in a luxury boutique hotel in Cape Town, visiting Cape of Good Hope and the Stellenbosch winelands plus a luxury ‘Big Five’ safari staying at a premier lodge. The next trip dates are 2 August, 13 September and 20 December 2008.

ALL PRICES for the set departure dates above include land based tour and volunteering projects as per itinerary, with bed and breakfast accommodation (luxury on ‘in style’ trips), all domestic transport, guide and entrance fees, and some lunches/dinners. International flights are NOT included. Hands Up Holidays can also organise bespoke itineraries with flexible departure dates for which prices are available on request.

Hands Up Holidays (www.handsupholidays.com tel 0800 783 3554) offers a selection of 158 trips to 36 destinations worldwide, blending travel with meaningful volunteering experiences and believes that travel can make a positive difference and that holidays should be both inspirational and rewarding.

Commenting on Hands Up Holidays, MD and company founder Christopher Hill said “We know that our holidays won’t change the world, but that should not be an excuse for not trying, for not making a contribution. For many travellers, Hands Up Holidays will be their first taste of volunteering and we hope that it will not be their last.”

Itineraries are suitable for anyone who has a sense of adventure and community spirit whether they be young professionals, single travellers, gap year students, parents who want to provide their children with memorable educational experiences, backpackers, the young at heart as well as honeymooners who want more than a ‘flop and drop’ holiday. Luxury lovers and companies seeking team building experiences are also catered for.

ALL CARBON EMISSIONS FROM FLIGHTS ARE OFFSET - Hands Up Holidays, which was launched in 2006, partnered with Climate Stewards, pays to have trees planted or for other energy efficient solutions to be provided to guests.

PUTTING PROFITS BACK – Hands Up Holidays gives at least 10% of its profits back to its project partners for further community development.

PARTNERS include Rotary International and the Tear Fund. Hands Up Holidays is also a founding member of the Ethical Tour Operators Group (part of Tourism Concern) and an affiliate member of Green Globe (an environmental standards organisation).

Traveller’s Latest Compendium Brochure

The Classic Traveller (0800 988 5843, www.theclassictraveller.co.uk) has released its latest Travellers’ Compendium brochure, featuring an exclusive selection of special offers (with savings of up to £900 per person) as well as additional departure dates for certain holidays.

The Travellers’ Compendium also includes advance notice of some exciting new itineraries which will become available for the first time in the forthcoming Worldwide Collection brochure, due to be published in September.

Keen pricing is synonymous with The Classic Traveller and the special offers promoted in the Travellers’ Compendium brochure mean that these holidays promise exceptional value for money.

The largest saving is to be found on the Mauritius to Madagascar cruise of the Indian Ocean, which visits these two island nations along with Kenya, the Seychelles and several remote island groups aboard the Costa Europe.

This 16-day odyssey in an E2 cabin (the highest grade) costs from £2,199 per person and offers an incredible saving of up to £900 per person from the cruise line’s original brochure price for this cabin class. The cost includes flights, full-board accommodation and all applicable taxes (though excursions, tips and service charges of €70 per
person are not included).

Two other fantastic cruise options with incredible savings are the Ancient Treasures tour of the eastern Mediterranean and the Riviera Highlights cruise of the western part of the Med. These 8-day voyages of discovery both cost from £599 per person in an E2 cabin – a price that offers a £700 saving per person on the cruise line’s original brochure price for that cabin class.

The first option takes in eastern Italy, Greece, Turkey and Croatia while the second covers western Italy, Spain and Provence, with the price including seven nights’ full-board accommodation and all port taxes. Flights, transfers, insurance, tips, service charges and excursions are not included in the price.

Sticking with the watery theme, one of the most popular holidays in the programme is the 8-day Lake Maggiore & the Borromean Islands itinerary. This luxurious escape to one of Italy’s finest and most romantic lakeside settings combines seven nights in a four-star waterfront hotel with an excursion to the nearby Borromean Islands and opportunities to discover verdant gardens, alpine scenery and even the cosmopolitan city of Milan. The holiday costs from £499 per person, to include flights, transfers, accommodation on a B&B basis and all necessary taxes.

Those looking for savings on land-based tours will also find plenty of interest in the Travellers’ Compendium brochure. The 11-day Legends & Landscapes of Japan itinerary, for example, is a fully-escorted tour that combines the colourful city of Tokyo with intoxicating natural landscapes, exotic temples and a relaxing cruise on beautiful Lake Ashi. Highlights of the tour include a journey on one of Japan’s legendary Bullet Trains and a visit to the Atomic Bomb Museum in Hiroshima – a fascinating but profoundly moving experience. Departing on 6 November 2008, the holiday costs £1,699 per person (a saving of up to £130 per person), with the price including flights, transfers, accommodation, some meals, various excursions and the services of a professional guide throughout.

In addition to these special offers, the brochure also includes details of some exciting, new itineraries that are being featured by The Classic Traveller for the first time. A particular highlight is a short break to Morocco; this 5-day Marrakech & the Atlas Mountains adventure costs from just £179 per person, to include four nights’ accommodation in a four-star hotel (with breakfast), in-resort transfers and a sightseeing tour of Marrakech. Optional extras include excursions along the Berber trails into the jagged peaks of the High Atlas or a visit to one of the impressive fortresses that afford a glimpse into Morocco’s colourful history.

Flights are not included in the price.

Also new is the fascinating 12 day Pyramids, Petra and the Red Sea itinerary, a unique cruise-and-stay combination that takes in some of ancient Egypt and Jordan’s most iconic monuments. The tour begins with a visit to the incredible Pyramids of Giza and their attendant Sphinx before embarking on a six-night cruise of the Red Sea.

A particular highlight of the cruise is an optional excursion to Petra, home to the famous Treasury whose intricate façade is cut into the red sandstone of a cliff-face. The holiday costs from £1,299 per person and includes flights, transfers, all accommodation, many meals and the services of professional guides throughout.For more information or to book call The Classic Traveller on 0800 988 5843 or visit the website at www.theclassictraveller.co.uk

South Africa’s Mantis Shamwari Town House

The Shamwari Townhouse in Port Elizabeth, in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, will be the newest addition to the Mantis Collection of ultra-deluxe boutique hotels and game reserves in August.

Flanked by miles of beaches and near malaria-free nature reserves, including the award-winning Shamwari Game Reserve, Port Elizabeth is an emerging tourist destination. The hotel is in the beachfront suburb of Summerstrand, ten minutes from the airport and 100 meters (328 feet) from the Indian Ocean.

Surrounded by landscaped gardens, the Art Deco façade of the two-story building is reflected in the contemporary interior, with an executive boardroom and a private 16-seat cinema modeled after that in Clarence House, Prince Charles’ London residence. The building is wired for wireless internet service throughout.

The breakfast menu offers traditional and house specialties, while the lunch menu presents and range of cold seafood items as well as more substantial fare.

The seven suites each have a private lounge, butler service, individual business unit and double bathroom. Guests can relax in the comfort of their lounge with a drink from their private bar or with a selection of freshly brewed coffee. In-room dining options allow for a personal five-star meal.

For a sybaritic experience in the hotel’s tranquil surroundings, guests can indulge in specialized body and beauty treatments at the top floor rock spa, or unwind in the adjacent rock garden. And for fitness aficionados there is a well-equipped gymnasium with a breathtaking view of the ocean.

Rates per suite per night are $ 649 double occupancy, including breakfast. For more information, email reservations@mantiscollection.com  or visit www.shamwaritownhouse.com

Austin-Lehman Adventures Top 10 Bike Adventures

Austin-Lehman Adventures (ALA), the multi-sport travel company, listed its Top 10 biking favorites from its all-inclusive itineraries. Included are the following: The ride from Pine Creek into Montana’s Paradise Valley, where they filmed “The Horse Whisperer.” End with a dip in the thermal springs at Chico. For the Montana Canyons, Calderas & Cowboys Adventure, visit this link.

Creek to the historic Gold Rush town of Hope. Waterfalls and wildflowers adorn the route. For the Alaska - Best of the Greatland, visit this link. 

A third ride starts from Osprey Lake high above the valley floor, and then descends the Trans-Canada Trail through shady stands of towering Ponderosa Pines following the abandoned Kettle Valley Railway into British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley. For the Okanagan Valley-Canada’s Wine Country, visit this link.

Yet another ride is through Antelope Flats starting from the front door of the Spring Creek Ranch under the granite spires of Wyoming’s Grand Tetons. For the Wyoming/Grand Teton-Valley Floors to Jagged Peaks Adventure, visit this link.

In Peru’s Sacred Valley, bike off-road to the Inca site of Moray (a nine-mile ride) then on to the ancient salt pools and mines of Maras (four mile ride). For the Peru - Land of the Inca ride, visit this link.

Experience South Africa’s Cape Point Nature Reserve and bike along a network of back roads keeping an eye out for Cape mountain zebra and indigenous fynbos plants. For the South Africa Safari & Multisport Adventure, visit this link. Read the Jetsetters Magazine feature about ALA’s Sabi Sabi Safari with Multi-Sports.

To view all of the Top 10 Bike Rides, visit this link. 

For more information, call 800-575-1540 or visit www.austinlehman.com

Twelve Apostles’s Azure Restaurant Gets Blazon Award

The Azure, signature restaurant of Cape Town’s Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa, is without doubt one of those ‘special occasion venues’ recognized for its incredulous location, diverse menu, and charismatic executive chef. Now this internationally acclaimed restaurant has one more accolade to add to its long list: the Blazon by the renowned Chaine des Rotisseurs.

A Blazon is an indication of excellence in food and service. The names Azure and Roberto De Carvalho (executive chef and member of The Chaines des Rotisseurs) are synonymous with the high standards diners experience first-hand, along with the exceptional service the restaurant and hotel are known for.

The founder of ‘fynbos cooking’ in the Cape, Roberto’s personal passion for these indigenous herbs has resulted in many unique tastings of different local South African cuisine. Added to this, his Portuguese background makes his choice of menu an unusual mixture of flavours. Guests love the combination of traditional Cape with internationally Mediterranean, so it is no wonder word of the Azure spread to worldwide professionals such as the Chaine.

The Azure boasts a contemporary and relaxed interior, easy-listening background music, mesmerizing sunsets across the Atlantic Ocean, appetizing cuisine and five-star service. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served every day; the dress code is smart casual. The Sunday Brunch with live entertainment by songsters Jennie Oliver is a must-do when visiting Cape Town. Alternatively, the choice of a seafood buffet is the perfect way to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon

Located at Camps Bay, The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa is a luxury hotel consisting of seventy bedrooms and suites, two acclaimed restaurants and conference facilities. The property is the African jewel in the crown of the Red Carnation Hotel Collection and remains committed to the tradition of surrounding guests in an ambience of unsurpassed elegance and comfort while ensuring outstanding and discreet personal service.

Red Carnation Hotels is a collection of luxury family-run properties.

The five-star luxurious London jewels are The Milestone Hotel, overlooking Kensington Palace, and member of The Leading Small Hotels of the World; “41”, overlooking Buckingham Palace’s Royal Mews; and The Edgerton House Hotel, in Knightsbridge. Outside of London is Summer Lodge Country House Hotel, Restaurant, and Spa, Overshot, Dorset, a member of Relays & Châteaux. Other RCH properties are the five-star Hotel d’Angleterre on Lake Geneva, Switzerland, a member of The Leading Small Hotels of the World; and Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve and Retreat, a member of Relais & Châteaux, in the heart of the Cederberg Mountains in South Africa’s Western Cape.

For further information and reservations contact The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa on (27) (21) 437 9000, email bookta@rchmail.com or visit www.12apostles.com