Jetsettersblog

Looking for a summer kayak adventure? Join staff of the Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve for kayak tours in the Great Bay Estuary, where you can watch osprey diving for fish, herons gracefully glide overhead and learn what makes the Great Bay Estuary one of the most amazing and diverse places on earth!

The 3-4 hour tours take place in the tidal waters of Great Bay. Most trips begin and end at the Great Bay Discovery Center in Greenland, N.H. All safety equipment, kayaks and basic instruction are provided.

Participants learn proper entry and exit of the kayak, basic paddling techniques and how to safely and easily do a “wet exit” (on dry land, of course).

No experience is necessary, however, be aware that kayaking is moderate to vigorous activity, and you will spend approximately 2.5 hours on the water. The remainder of your time will be spent receiving instruction and helping guides carry the kayaks to and from the waterfront.

You must be at least 16 years of age to participate. You may sign up for one trip at a time and put your name on a wait list for another

Costs are as follows: $15 if you bring your own boat; if you do not bring your own boat, the tours are $25 for Great Bay Stewards members and $35 for non-members. Checks should be made payable to: Great Bay Stewards/Kayak Trips, 89 Depot Road, Greenland, NH, 03840.

Cancellation policy: 7 days prior to trip - full refund; less than 7 days - 50% refund; less than 24 hours, no refund. If trips are cancelled because of bad weather, there is a full refund.

For more information or to register, call Education Coordinator Kelle Loughlin at the Great Bay Discovery Center at (603) 778-0015.

Following is the schedule of 2009 tours:

Wednesday, June 24, 2009, 1:30 - 5:30 p.m.: Edge of the Sea –

Native Americans belonging to the great Wabanaki and Algonquian Nations once hunted and fished along the shores of Great Bay.

They were called “the people of the dawn” because they lived near the edge of the ocean, where the sun rose in the east every morning to greet them. Paddle back in time on a stretch of the southwestern shore of Great Bay and learn about the plants and animals that attracted settlement here over 400 hundred years ago. Rating: EASY

Friday, July 10, 2009, 2:30 - 6:30 p.m.: Salt Marsh Exploration — This all-paddling trip begins and ends at the Great Bay Discovery Center. Paddle along the southwestern edge of Great Bay, past tall stands of spartina grass and over waving beds of eelgrass. Listen for the calls of salt marsh sparrows, watch ospreys gliding overhead and if we are lucky, catch a glimpse of the majestic bald eagle.

Paddle under the Squamscott River train trestle and into a hidden creek where we will raft up for a snack and a drink.

Learn about the natural and cultural history of the region while immersing yourself in the unique flora and fauna of the Estuary. Rating: EASY.

Saturday, July 11, 2009, 3:00-7:00 p.m.: Birding with Steve Mirick - Join well know coastal birder, Steve Mirick as you look and listen for marsh and songbirds or raptors along the southeastern shore of Great Bay. Bring your own binoculars or use ours. Steve has been known to find birds when no one else could! A real treat for hardcore birders!

Saturday, July 25, 2009, 2:00 - 6:00 p.m. Goat Island Geocache Adventure — Join Reserve staff as we paddle to Goat Island, located in Little Bay.

While there, we will have the task of finding the geocache that is hidden on the island near an historic archaeological site.

This geocache is one in a series that are associated with the “Passport to Great Bay.”

If you are new to geocaching, it is a popular hide and seek adventure game using a GPS (Global Positioning System) unit.

We will provide a GPS unit for participants to try, but please bring your own if you have one. You might also enjoy the short hiking trail or relaxing on the beach while on the island. Participants will receive a Passport to Great Bay booklet to take home.

Trip begins and ends at the Scammel Bridge parking lot in Dover/Madbury. Rating: MODERATE DIFFICULTY

Saturday, August 1, 2009, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m: Go With the Flow — Great Bay is a dynamic, ever-changing ecosystem full of surprises.

This “self-directed” trip will primarily be a chance to simply enjoy the beauty of the Estuary without a planned tour. Your guides may point out interesting things along the way, but for the most part they will allow you to take in your paddle in a quieter, contemplative manner. A hidden creek in the middle of the trip often delights kayakers with glimpses of rare birds, tall swaying grasses and surprises around each bend. Rating: EASY

Friday, August 7, 2009, 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.: “It Begins and Ends Here”; Exploring the mouth of the Great Bay Estuary — Discover the mouth of the Great Bay Estuary, where fresh waters from the rivers meet the salty waters of the Gulf of Maine.

Explore the islands and back coves around Newcastle and Portsmouth as we examine the plants and animals that are more commonly found in this area.

Tides and currents can present more challenging conditions here, so we recommend some experience to participate.

The trip begins and ends at the Peirce Island boat launch in Portsmouth. Rating: MODERATE DIFFICULTY Special Note: Additional $5 for launch fee paid to launch attendant.

Friday, August 21, 2009, 1:00 - 5:00 p.m.: Sunset Birding — Enjoy a leisurely paddle from Sandy Point into the mouth of the Squamscott River.

Along the way we will look and listen for signs of a variety of birds that call Great Bay home during the summer.

Birds you may see include osprey, bald eagles, salt marsh sparrows, harriers, swallows and many more. We will provide identification cards, field guides and binoculars, but you are welcome to bring your own. Rating: EASY

The Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve is a cooperative federal-state partnership between the N.H. Fish and Game Department and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

It was established in 1989 to promote informed management of the Great Bay estuary and estuarine habitats through linked programs of stewardship, public education and scientific understanding.

In addition to kayak tours, the Reserve’s Great Bay Discovery Center offers programs for children and adults, including workshops, field trips and kids camps. Come explore exhibits at the center and a boardwalk into the salt marsh. Visit www.greatbay.org

Affordably Luxurious Romantic Getaways

From Bailey Robinson

BAILEY ROBINSON (www.baileyrobinson.com  Tel 01488 689 700) the operator specialising in affordable luxury, has selected seven destinations - Fiji, South Africa, Mauritius, Malaysia, Antigua, Canada and India - ideal for weddings, honeymoons or romantic getaways.

WEDDING & HONEYMOON IDEAS & OFFERS:

INDIA - 12-night wedding & honeymoon packages from £5,000 per person

ANTIGUA - book 10 nights and receive a free wedding package from £1,565

FIJI - Royal Davui Island Resort - seven nights for the price of six from £3,880

MAURITIUS - Le Prince Maurice - bride stays free, seven nights from £2,740 per couple

ROMANTIC GETAWAYS:

SOUTH AFRICA - Garonga - five nights for the price of four from £1,230

CANADA - eight nights from £4,900 per couple in British Columbia

MALAYSIA - Pangkor Laut - seven nights for the price of six from £1,230 per couple

INDIA - This proposed wedding itinerary starts from Shimla at the foot of the Himalayas featuring the Wildflower Hall’s ornate glass-domed gazebo as the wedding location. This former Lord Kitchener residence, built in the grand colonial style, is now an Oberoi hotel.

Next up, Agra, 16th and 17th century capital of India and home to the world’s greatest monument built for love - the Taj Mahal - with accommodation in another Oberoi property, Amarvilas.

The itinerary concludes in Rajhasthan with stays in both Jaipur and Udaipur.

WEDDING PACKAGE PRICE: 12-nights from £5,000 per person which includes international flights, the wedding ceremony and city tours.

ANTIGUA - WEDDING OFFER: book 10 nights at Blue Waters and receive a free wedding package which includes room upgrade, registration, fees, bouquet, button hole, decorated gazebo, champagne, wedding cake and wedding breakfast with champagne.

Alternatively, for a 10-night honeymoon, silver or gold wedding anniversary receive a guaranteed room upgrade with a free champagne breakfast.

PRICE: 10 nights for the price of nine from £1,565 per person including accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis and international flights.

FIJI - Voted “The Most Romantic Island Hideaway in the South Pacific, Caribbean and Atlantic” by Condé Nast Traveller two years running, the Royal Davui Island Resort is the perfect wedding/ honeymoon location.

Various wedding options are available including a traditional Fijian ceremony.

HONEYMOON OFFER: seven- nights for the price of six from £3,880 per person on an all-inclusive basis and including international flights.

MAURITIUS - According to Condé Nast Traveller, there are few hotels in the world to rival the sheer physical beauty of Le Prince Maurice which stretches back from a private, reef-protected lagoon fringed by four white beaches.

Facilities include a magnificent infinity pool surrounded by sixty acres of glorious gardens. HONEYMOON OFFER: The bride stays free with prices starting from £2,740 per couple, including accommodation on a half board basis with international flights.

SOUTH AFRICA - Nestling in the Makalali Conservancy, west of Kruger National Park, Garonga is an exclusive secluded, incredibly romantic safari camp offers nature lovers an intimate, holistic, unhurried wildlife experience.

PRICE: five nights for the price of four from £1,320 per person on an all-inclusive basis including international flights.

CANADA - This suggested eight-night self-drive itinerary through British Columbia features beautiful Victoria, Clayoquot Sound, renowned for its bears, whales, sea lions, orca, porpoise, puffins and bald eagles, and Sonora Resort, the ultimate in scenic luxury, relaxation and gourmet dining.

PRICE: eight nights from £7,800 per couple, including international flights; two nights at Abigail’s Hotel including breakfast; three nights at Wickaninnish Inn; three nights at Sonora Resort including all meals, drink and a privately guided salmon fishing trip; car rental and a bear viewing tour.

MALAYSIA - Pangkor Laut, a stunning 300-acre private paradise island, boasts villas which are situated over water, on the beach and in the hills.

PRICE: Seven nights for the price of six from £1,230 per couple with accommodation on a room only and international flights and transfers.

IN ADDITION:

MALAYSIAN AIRLINES is offering free upgrades from business to first class on Asia and Australasia flights. Offer valid until 31st December 2009, must be booked by 30th September 2009.

Bailey Robinson (www.baileyrobinson.com Tel 01488 689 700) specialises in affordable luxury, designing individually tailor made journeys.

From its portfolio of fabulous handpicked hotels and resorts in over 65 destinations worldwide, Bailey Robinson can create the perfect itinerary. Whatever a traveller’s interests, dreams and aspirations - a romantic break for two, an action-packed family adventure or a life enhancing journey to the farthest reaches of the globe - Bailey Robinson has the solution.

A NEW ERA IN EXECUTIVE AND LEISURE PRIVATE TRAVEL HAS ARRIVED

Exclusive Membership Club Offers Unparalleled Service and Value-Added Amenities ~

MIAMI,– Private air travel for executive and leisure passengers has never been as easy or comfortable or more of a value proposition than with Air Platinum Club, a totally new concept in the category. Launching July 6, 2009, this exclusive members-only club not only offers the finest in air travel in well-appointed Gulfstream GIV SP corporate jets, which can accommodate 12 people for flights up to 10 hours, the Miami-based company also provides use of its spacious luxury watercraft, self-driven exotic sports vehicles, beachfront condominium and personalized concierge services, among other offerings.

Air Platinum Club’s member rates are well below standard charter prices, yet inclusive of services and benefits.

Annual membership packages begin at $163,000.

As an incentive for charter club members, Air Platinum Club is offering a Founder’s Program, which features 10 percent free flight time for those who join by July 31, 2009.

This new era in executive and leisure private travel was conceived by Air Platinum Club Founder and CEO Mickael Cohen, a pilot who has been involved in the private air industry since 2001.

“Private air travel is here to stay. It is efficient and practical,” said Cohen.

“Air Platinum Club goes a step further – we provide the kind of personalized services and amenities on an exclusive membership basis that makes the entire travel experience truly premium and stress-free, while still delivering value to the bottom-line.”
Headquartered at the Opa-Locka Executive Airport (KOPF), the largest of Miami-Dade County’s general aviation airports, Air Platinum Club offers morning and evening round-trip jet service between major city pairs in the continental U.S. and transatlantic flights to Paris from any major U.S. city.

What’s more Air Platinum Club facilitates all additional transportation needs for members in any given destination.

Air Platinum Club owns it own fleet of planes, yachts and cars and employs a full-time staff of seasoned pilots, yacht captains, crew, chauffeurs and maintenance technicians. All 10 Air Platinum pilots are full-time and gold-rated.

Premium Travel at its Best

Reservations can be made with as little as 24 hours notice and from the moment they are greeted at the airport’s exclusive Turnberry Aviation facility, a world-class hangar with state-of-the-art amenities and benefits,

Air Platinum Club members enjoy the comfort, privacy and efficiency typical of privately owned business aircraft – with none of the hassles, delays and congestion of bustling airports. Members are required to arrive only 30 minutes prior to their scheduled departure and can wait in a private lounge or meeting room.

An Air Platinum Club representative attends to luggage at all times and takes care of the requisite formalities, including check-in process. A hostess remains at travelers’ disposal throughout the flight to accommodate requests. The planes feature fully reclining seats, flat-screen televisions, sofas, desks, club tables, galleys and large windows. Complete onboard communication facilities are offered as well.

Limousine service is provided upon arrival and prior to departure for all flights. In South Florida members can choose to be chauffer-driven in the club’s Rolls Royce Phantom or Cadillac Escalade ESV or, in a high-adrenaline alternate, drive themselves in a Ferrari, Lamborghini or other exotic sports car. Private and secure parking is available at all airports. Helicopter transport for connecting flights at major airports can be arranged.

Luxury yachts like the Doral Alegria 50 and the Lazzara LSX Quad 75, which accommodates 16 people, are also offered to members in South Florida as is a three-bedroom, three-bath condominium at the plush Acqualina Resort & Spa situated on four and a half beachfront acres in Miami Beach.

The Acqualina boasts two acclaimed restaurants, three oceanfront swimming pools and an innovative marine biology-based children’s program.
Safety First

Air Platinum Club is an Aero Air Charters partner.

Corporate shuttle flights are operated under Department of Transportation regulation Part 135 by Aero Air Charters as a direct air carrier and Air Platinum Club as an indirect air carrier. Commitment to best practices in pilot training and experience, progressive aircraft maintenance and flawless safety histories are requirements of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certified Part 135 operators serving the clients of Air Platinum.

FAA-certified Part 135 air carriers providing service to Air Platinum Club members are carefully reviewed by leading safety programs.

One-time “Experience Package”

Air Platinum Club offers a one-time “experience” package for interested members that includes a single, round-trip flight to any destination in the continental U.S.

Membership and Reservations

For more information on Air Platinum Club, please call toll-free 1 (877) 681-7215 or send an e-mail to info@miamipc.com  Visit www.airplatinumclub.com

Jet-It-Together announced the launch of www.jet-it-together.com , the online community where members experience significant cost savings on private jet travel by matching their itineraries with other members who have the same travel plans.

By aggregating individual trip itineraries, Jet-It-Together members can save up to 70% on private jet travel as compared with a traditional whole plane charter.

Jet-It-Together provides a cooperative approach for its members to share in the cost of private jet charter. When a member initiates a trip, or decides to join a trip that has already been initiated by another member, the website displays the cost of the trip one way.

If the member is initiating a new trip, Jet-It-Together notifies other members to give them the opportunity to join the shared trip. Once there is sufficient interest to cover the estimated trip cost, Jet-It-Together negotiates the exact pricing with a FAA Part 135 charter operator.

The final cost of the trip for each member is then adjusted, based upon the final number of travelers and the negotiated cost of the trip. Members can also secure the whole plane if they do not wish to share with other Jet-It-Together members. As with the shared trips, Jet-It-Together will negotiate the most competitive cost from a range of operators.

Jet-It-Together members can also use the Going My Way? feature to build a “wish list” of trips. These are trips that a member would like to take, but are open-ended and would only be scheduled if other members shared in the cost of the private jet charter.

The technology powering Jet-It-Together.com allows members to control the complete process for shared private jet travel. Members can map trips, receive cost estimates, initiate new trips, review and join existing trips, manage their personal profiles, receive email updates and confirmations, and, through links to other suppliers, purchase travel insurance. Jet-It-Together has an instructive online demo and web-based customer support.

“Jet-It-Together is building an online community that will redefine the private jet experience, providing greater affordability and convenience for travelers.

This new online service gives members the option to have an enjoyable travel experience for a fraction of the cost of traditional private jet charters.

When you join the online community, you gain access to a wide choice of regional, as well as hub airports, and the ability to truly control your travel time in the air and on the ground,” said John Ackermann, one of the founders Jet-It-Together, LLC.

Since Jet-It-Together is not a charter operator, nor does it have any investment in or from charter operators, the company has the flexibility to continually review and manage a pool of pre-screened Part 135 operators that the company believes meet the highest standards for offering the safest and best service to its members. Having that independence allows Jet-It-Together experts to negotiate the best pricing and services for its members.

Visit www.jet-it-together.com  for more information.

The Playboy Golf Scramble was created 10 years ago and has grown into an exclusive grassroots tournament hitting more than 20 cities across the United States, Canada and Australia.

Each local event features a VIP pre-party followed by a unique day of golf on a specially selected golf course with Playboy Playmates and Girls of Playboy Golf hosting all events.

Playboy Golf is currently accepting local sponsorship requests and golfer registrations for all events of the 2009 season online at www.playboygolf.com

“The Playboy Golf Scramble combines the fun and sexiness of the Playboy brand with parties and golf in each city, creating a truly memorable experience for all attendees,” said Playboy Playmate Pilar Lastra, Miss August 2004, who has worked at many Playboy Golf Events. ”

We bring together golfers of all ability and mix them with sun, music, food, cocktails, Playmates and Girls of Playboy Golf! It always turns into quite a party on the golf course and I’m looking forward to seeing old friends as well as meeting many new golfers this season!”

Remaining 2009 Season Schedule:

July 9 & 10: Pittsburgh, PA
July 15 & 16: Vancouver, BC
July 23 & 24: San Diego, CA
July 29 & 30: Toronto, ONT
August 6 & 7: Indianapolis, IN
August 9 & 10: Chicago, IL
August 15 & 17: San Francisco, CA
August 19 & 20: Edmonton, AB
August 22 & 24: Los Angeles, CA
August 27 & 28: Des Moines, IA
September 16 & 17: New York, NY
September 20 & 21: Boston, MA
September 24 & 25: Scottsdale, AZ
September 27 & 28: Austin, TX
October 3 & 5: Miami, FL
October 23 & 25: Las Vegas, NV
November 19 & 21: Gold Coast, Australia

The Playboy Golf Scramble, a licensee of Playboy Enterprises International Inc. and produced by TAJ Entertainment, takes place annually and is one of the most unique golfing events in the world.

Golf participants compete at the local and semi-final levels for the honor of reaching the national finals tournament in Southern California.

The Playboy Golf Scramble Finals take place at a world-class golf venue and features celebrity and athlete participants, Playboy Playmates, Girls of Playboy Golf and a once-in-a-lifetime VIP Player’s Pajama and Lingerie party at the Playboy Mansion, making it a truly memorable life experience for any golfer.

Additionally, Playboy Golf raises money for charity at all events.

TORONTO — Golf Town - Canada’s largest golf retailer with unequaled selection and competitive prices at 47 locations coast to coast - announces it has partnered with the Royal Canadian Golf Association to become an official vendor of tickets for the 2009 RBC Canadian Open.

In celebration of the 100th Canadian Open, and as part of the season-long GT-10 campaign commemorating its own 10th anniversary, Golf Town is currently selling tickets to the event at 12 Toronto-area locations. Hosted by Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, ON, the PGA Tour’s second-oldest tournament will take place July 20-26, and ticket options include weekly badges for $110 or “Anyday Passes” for $55.

“As the centre of the Canadian golf community, Golf Town continues to help players of all ages develop a lifelong connection to the game,” says Stephen Bebis, President and CEO.

“The RBC Canadian Open is the country’s premier golfing event, and we’re proud to offer our customers a great opportunity for front-row seats to the game’s top performers.”
Available while supplies last, tickets can be purchased at the following Toronto- area Golf Town locations:

• Aurora
• Downtown Toronto
• Etobicoke
• Hamilton
• Markham
• Markham East
• Kitchener
• Mississauga Heartland
• Mississauga
• Scarborough
• Whitby
• Woodbridge

Part of the FedExCup, the 2009 RBC Canadian Open offers a purse of $5.1 million. Contenders will include defending champion Chez Reavie, along with marquee players like Stephen Ames, Mark Calcavecchia, Fred Couples, Luke Donald, Trevor Immelman, Anthony Kim, Camillo Villegas and Mike Weir, among others.

Golf Town offers an unbeatable selection of clubs, bags, balls, apparel, footwear, accessories, gifts, logo merchandise, promotional services and more.

This includes the world’s leading golf brands, such as Adams, Ashworth, Bridgestone, Callaway Golf, Cleveland Golf, Cobra, Dunning, ECCO, FootJoy, Founders Club, Gordon Cooper, Greg Norman, Honma, Hugo Boss, LaCoste, Liz Claiborne, LIJA, Mizuno, Never Compromise, Nike Golf, Odyssey, Ogio, Paradise, Ping, Srixon, Sun Mountain, TaylorMade adidas Golf, Titleist and Wilson.

For more information, please visit www.golftown.com

About Golf Town

Canada’s largest golf retailer, Golf Town was founded in 1999 and has grown from one location in Scarborough, ON, to 47 superstores coast to coast.

At an average size of nearly 18,000 square feet, these retail centres feature all the major name-brand products at the best price, ensuring customers find what they want, when they want it.

A centre of the Canadian golf community for individuals and organizations, Golf Town locations serve as sanctuaries where players of all ages and abilities try, buy, learn about and improve their games.

The largest employer of CPGA professionals, Golf Town offers on-site lessons tailored to an individual’s needs through its In-Store Academy.

The retailer has also established Canada’s leading customer advantage initiative via its Leaderboard Membership Privileges Program. Benefits of this free membership include the chance to win a $500 gift card in a national monthly drawing; timely e-newsletters; members-only special offers on equipment, accessories, golf lessons, in-store events; and more.

Golf Town was acquired by OMERS Private Equity, the entity responsible for private equity investments of the OMERS pension fund, in September 2007.

For more information: www.omerscapital.com

Already a leader in logo products for golf events and other programs, Golf Town purchased Accolade Reaction Promotion Group, Inc., in May 2008 and has created a one-stop-shop for the promotional needs of businesses, meeting planners, sales and marketing executives, and human resource professionals.

Named a 2008 Top 40 Distributor by the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI), ARPG is the first Canadian corporate merchandise services firm to achieve ASI Top 40 Status.

For more information: www.arpg.ca

Extraordinary Resorts in Legendary Destinations

Welcome to Shell Vacations Hospitality, where a collection of 23 one-of-a-kind resorts provide you with just the right place to experience the vacation of a lifetime.

Choose from a variety of popular vacation destinations in North America and Canada including Whistler, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Napa Valley, Las Vegas, San Antonio, San Diego, Kauai, Kona, and Waikiki.

Shell Vacations Hospitality brings you friendly service, superior settings, and an array of year round activities to experience whether you are on a family vacation, a business trip, or on a romantic getaway.

At all of our resorts, guests can enjoy an impressive selection of spacious suites, some with one or two bedrooms, multiple baths and plush living areas. Many have fireplaces, jetted tubs, full kitchens or sleek kitchen-bars and oversized TVs.

Choose from an exciting array of vacation options:

Beach and Water Sport Resorts:

Enjoy the best Hawaiian beaches in Waikiki-Oahu, Kapaa-Kauai, and Kona and Waikoloa-Big Island, or relax on a floating villa in San Diego.

Golf Resorts: Tee off on some of the nation’s most beautiful and challenging golf courses in Phoenix, Tucson, Scottsdale, Napa Valley, Kapaa-Kauai, Kona and Waikoloa on the Big Island, Las Vegas, Mt. Hood in Oregon, Whistler and Northern Ontario in Canada.

Ski & Snow Resorts: Gracefully glide on cross-country Nordic tracks or ride hard freestyle on snowboard in Whistler and Northern Ontario in Canada, Mount Hood in Oregon, and Door County in Wisconsin.

Cultural Pursuits: Sample wines, stroll art galleries and museums, and fully experience the finer points of trendy travel destinations including Napa Valley, San Francisco, Las Vegas and San Antonio.

Family Friendly Resorts: At many of our resorts, enjoy spacious accommodations well suited for families. Close to family-friendly theme parks and cultural centers in Anaheim, San Antonio, Whistler, & Northern Ontario in Canada.

From European style living in the heart of San Francisco’s cultural arts district, to Mountain Lodge living in Whistler, to Southwest style casitas along the fairways of Arizona’s top-rated golf courses, to beach-front lanais overlooking the eastern shore of Kauai, you will always find more than just an ordinary hotel room waiting for you.

http://www.shellhospitality.com

Air Canada has begun daily non-stop flights between Montréal and Rome. During this summer’s peak travel season, this service will link on a daily basis the Italian capital with Air Canada’s extensive Québec and Atlantic Canada network, as well as major cities on the Eastern U.S. seaboard. Starting Oct. 27, Air Canada will offer year-round Montréal-Rome flights on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, with same-plane service continuing on to/from Toronto.

For greater convenience and travel choice, this service is timed to offer connecting flights to popular destinations in Italy, including Bari, Lamezia, Milan, Palermo and Venice. As well, Air Canada’s Star Alliance partners Lufthansa and Swiss International Air Lines offer service from Montréal to Munich and Zurich respectively, further increasing connections and travel options.

Insight Vacations unveiled a new Hot Deals savings promotion through which it will release on the first and 15th of every month a list of guaranteed departures that are priced at least 10 percent lower than the brochure rate.

Initially the promotion applied only to select European departures. On Monday, Insight released 10 new discounted Europe departures as well as 10 U.S., Canada and Mexico departures that offer a savings of at least 10 percent.

Here are some example departures: Treasures of Mexico, departing July 11, brochure price, $2,475, discounted price, $2,225, savings per couple, $500;  and Enchanting Canyonlands, departing July 11, brochure price, $1,650, discounted price, $1,485, savings per couple, $330.

The Hot Deals program includes: Book any of the departures listed on the Hot Deals flyer posted on www.insightvacations.com  and clients will save a minimum of 10 percent off the brochure land rate; must be deposited within seven days of booking; bookings that are made 45 days within departure must pay in full at time of booking; offer applies to new bookings only; and every other week beginning June 1 a new list of departures will be posted on www.insightvacations.com

Insight pays a minimum of 10 percent commission on land.

For more information, call 800-582-8380 or visit www.insightvacations.com

With downtown Vancouver hotels nearly completely booked for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, Newwest Special Projects LP, an entrepreneurial travel company, chartered Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Star for the duration of the games.

The ship will be docked in North Vancouver from Feb. 10 through March 2, adding 10 percent capacity (1,119 rooms and suites) to the city’s downtown hotel inventory of 12,000 rooms.

The Norwegian Star will arrive in Vancouver after a four-day sailing from Los Angeles. On March 2, the ship will head south, arriving back in Los Angeles on March 6. A variety of packages are available in either three- or four-night durations during the games.

Nightly stateroom rates start at $350 per person, double, and include meals, airport transfers, daily transfers between the ship and North Vancouver’s Sea Bus Terminal, and a city tour of Vancouver.

Since the ship is a private charter, custom packages can be arranged that could include private coach transfers, multilingual guides, private meals and onboard functions for up to 1,000 guests.

For more information, call 800-661-7281

or visit www.vancouver2010cruiseship.com