Jetsettersblog

Bethel Inn Resort $2.99 Gas Guarantee

To alleviate the rising costs at the pump for summer vacationers, The Bethel Inn Resort in Maine is guaranteeing a gasoline price of $2.99 per gallon round trip to the resort from any departure point within 300 miles of the resort. At check-in, the staff will calculate the round trip mileage and miles per gallon of the guest’s vehicle. The difference between the current gasoline price at the guest’s last fill-up and the $2.99 guarantee will be credited towards the guest’s vacation. A minimum two-night stay is required. The gas guarantee is available for resort vacations from Father’s Day, June 15 through Labor Day, September 1, 2008. Reservations for the guarantee must be made during the three week period, June 13-July 4, 2008.

The Bethel Inn Resort located in a historic Maine village at the base of the White Mountains offers summer vacations for families, couples and groups that are some of the most affordable in Northern New England. Comparisons of vacation rates at similar resorts in coastal and mountain locations show a savings of anywhere from 32-37% on room rates, meals and activities.

A quick three-day, two night getaway for a couple includes two nights lodging, two full country breakfasts, two four course dinners, unlimited golf, use of all the resort amenities including the health club, outdoor pool and lake house with canoes and kayaks, resort fees and taxes from $170 per person per night.

Vacationers can save on the many no-fee recreational activities in the area like hiking in the White Mountains, nature walks to visit waterfalls or to take a dip in a mountain stream, rock hounding and gem mining at abandoned quarries (a favorite with kids), visiting the Bethel Historical Society and its guided walking tour of the historic district, and sampling a free piece of fudge at the Maine Line Products Store. The community hosts special events nearly every weekend and there are free music concerts on the common.

Information on The Bethel Inn Resort and Bethel Village can be found on line at www.bethelinn.com or by phoning 800-654-0125.

Toronto Upcoming Sporting Events

A special block of tickets to the August 14 game between the Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers is now on sale only through Tourism Toronto.

Sports fans can get in on the NFL action with packages including one night accommodation, breakfast for two and game tickets-all starting from $175 per person at www.torontotourism.com. Make it a powerhouse football weekend by catching the Toronto Argonauts on Aug. 15 as they play the rival Montreal Alouettes.

This summer Toronto also hosts the All Star spectacle as Major League Soccer (MLS) All Stars take on the West Ham United Football Club of the English Premier League.

Sports fans can book their July 24 seat at BMO Field with an MLS package from Tourism Toronto including one night accommodation, breakfast for two, game tickets and access to the sold-out MLS All-Star Official Player’s Party including two complimentary drinks, hors d’oeuvres and a limited edition commemorative keepsake, starting from $250 per person at www.torontotourism.com.

Additional summer sporting events taking place in Toronto include:

the Rogers Club, July 19 to 27; RBC Canadian Open, July 21 to 27;
Toronto Blue Jays Baseball, throughout the summer; and the Toronto Argonauts at the Rogers Centre on July 20, Aug. 1 and Aug. 18, 2008.

For more information, visit www.torontotourism.com

Holland America Cruises New Pan-Asian Restaurant

Holland America Line’s new Eurodam features a new Pan-Asian restaurant called Tamarind. The 144-seat restaurant will serve reservations-only lunch and dinner. The complimentary lunch menu will feature dim sum, an assortment of Asian dumplings and fusion sauces for dipping.

Soup and salad, as well as desserts-such as green tea tiramisu and mango sorbet-will also be included on the lunch menu.

For dinner, guests can order Asian-inspired cuisine off of the menu or choose Rijsttafel, a Dutch adaptation of the traditional Indonesia dinner. To complement the traditional offerings at Tamarind, Master Chef Rudi Sodamin has created Asian-inspired entrees.

The Silk Den, a new lounge adjacent to Tamarind, will overlook the magradome, offering guests a view of a new, poolside water feature. A full menu of Asian-themed specialty cocktails including Sakétinis will be served.

Dinner at Tamarind will cost $15 per person with the Rijsttafel costing $20 per person. Lunch is complimentary.

The 2,104-guest Eurodam was christened July 1 in Rotterdam with Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, followed by a maiden voyage in the Baltic region.

The ship will offer its first trans-Atlantic cruise and sail Canada/New England in the fall, followed by Caribbean itineraries for the remainder of 2008.

Future Vacations New Price Match Policy

Future Vacations launched a new Price Match policy. Under terms of the new policy that will match any competitor’s price on comparable vacation packages within three hours, ensuring that travelers always receive the best value for their vacation dollar.

Travel agents or consumers who book a Future Vacations package and find a lower price on a comparable package elsewhere can call Future Vacations’ new Price Match Hotline – 800-373-7801 – and speak directly to a Price Match Specialist for immediate service.

Comparable packages must feature the same airline, hotel, room category, travel dates and inclusions (e.g.: rental car, ground transfers, theme park/show tickets, etc.). For the fastest service, calls must be made during the following Price Match business hours: Monday to Saturday 9 am to 7 pm EST and Sunday 10 am to 4 pm EST.

Calls made outside of these hours will receive a return call the following business day. If Future Vacations is unable to match the price of a package, travelers will receive a $25 travel credit for future use.

The Price Match Policy is effective now and until further notice on all packages in the Future Vacations portfolio, which spans the U.S., Canada, the Caribbean, Central America, Hawaii, Mexico, Europe, South America, Africa and the Middle East.

For telephone reservations, call 800-456-2323.

Hurtigruten Independent Vacations of Norway

Hurtigruten is offering travelers four Independent Vacations of 12, 13, 14 and 17 days that couple Norwegian Coastal Voyages with land and rail components, affording travelers a rich and rewarding picture of the “real” Norway. The 14-day “Scandinavian Tours Sampler” also includes two days in Reykjavik, Iceland.

These unescorted vacations provide independent travelers the chance to arrange their own dining and sightseeing experiences but at cruise tour prices, with fares ranging from $2,999 to $5,199 per person, double for those selecting cabins and $3,699 to $10,299 for suites. Fares include intra-country air; first or superior first-class hotel accommodations; Oslo and Bergen cards providing free and discounted admission on sights and attractions; train journeys; transfers; port charges; and three meals daily aboard ship. Departures are available year-round.

The centerpiece of each independent vacation is a seven-day northbound, six-day southbound or 12-day roundtrip cruise that sails along a 1,250-mile stretch of the stunningly scenic Norway coastline, indented with numerous fjords, with calls at 34 ports between Bergen and Kirkenes, above the Arctic Circle.

The cruise, described in Lonely Planet’s “Bluelist” as the “world’s most beautiful voyage,” features an eclectic array of ports, including Trondheim, one of the country’s oldest cities and a thriving university town; the Lofoten archipelago, with peaked mountains and villages filled with rust-red fishermen’s cabins; and Alesund, destroyed by fire in 1904 and completely rebuilt in the Art Nouveau style.

The packages also include significant sightseeing opportunities in Kirkenes, Bergen and Oslo, and a rail journey aboard the Bergen Railway between Oslo and Bergen, traveling through spectacular, unspoiled fjord country.

Kirkenes, perched at the edge of Veranger Fjord, is home to Pasvik Nasjonal Park, where travelers can stand at the meeting point of Norway, Finland and Russia. In Bergen, founded in the 11th century, guests can explore the city’s waterfront, Bryggen, which has been designated a World Heritage site, and travel to Troldhaugen, the home of composer Edvard Grieg, now a museum.

Oslo, a city filled with hiking trails, forests and lakes, features dozens of attractions, including the Edvard Munch and Viking Ships museums, and Vigeland Park, with its life-size statues by the country’s renowned artists.

Hurtigruten is a world leader in exploration cruising, sailing to the remote destinations of Antarctica, Greenland and the Arctic’s Spitsbergen.

For more information about the cruise and optional excursions, contact Hurtigruten at (800) 323-7436 or (212) 319-1300; fax (212) 319-1390;

for brochures, (800) 666-2374, 24 hours a day;

www.hurtigruten.us

See Both Sides of the Arctic with Peregrine

With the launch of its 2009-10 Polar programme, Peregrine is offering a ‘balanced’ experience of the High Arctic, with a new expedition voyage that explores both ‘sides’ of the northern wilderness, travelling from Iceland around the southern tip of Greenland to Canada. The company will be the only operator cruising in the wildlife-rich waters of Canada’s Baffin Island in 2009.

The 15-night Iceland, Greenland and Baffin Island Explorer voyage begins in Reykjavik, Iceland and crosses the Greenland Sea to follow the coast of Greenland south, stopping to visit remote Inuit villages, where brightly-painted houses are set against dramatic mountain-scapes and glaciers, or amid meadows of exquisite wildflowers. The aim of the voyage is to spend as much time off the ship as possible, visiting the locals, hiking in the tundra, cruising among icebergs in the Zodiac inflatable boats and wildlife watching: seals, whales and seabirds are prolific in the region.

Rounding the southern tip of Greenland, the voyage heads north to World Heritage-listed Disko Bay, where the Jacobshaven Glacier – the most active in the world – calves massive bergs into the bay that sometimes drift as far south as New York. The ship then crosses Baffin Bay, home of the Polar bear and massive seabird rookeries that cling to the sea cliffs.

The Iceland, Greenland and Baffin Island Explorer departs from Reykjavik on July 19, 2009 and costs from $9525 per person, twin share, in a Main Deck cabin. For an even more extensive exploration, the trip can be combined with the 13-night Spitsbergen, East Greenland & Iceland voyage for an extraordinary 24 nights.

The 14-night Svalbard in Depth voyage takes a leisurely pace to explore the Svalbard Archipelago to the north of Norway. The trip adds four days to the ‘regular’ itinerary to allow photographers and artists to have more time at each destination to capture the extraordinary beauty of the ice, tundra and the prolific wildlife including seals, seabirds and, of course, Polar bears.

Photographer John Rodsted will conduct workshops and lead excursions for photographers, drawing on his 25 years experience as a commercial photographer and photojournalist, and as a photo essayist working in some of the most challenging landscapes on earth. Lars Jonsson is a celebrated wildlife and landscape artist known for his ability to capture the life and atmosphere surrounding birds in their natural landscape. Both will lead workshops and discussions geared to suit all levels of experience.

The Svalbard in Depth voyage departs from Longyearbyen on June 22, 2009 and costs from $9640 per person, twin share, in a Main Deck cabin.

Rodsted will be joined by Brett Jarrett, acknowledged leading marine bird and mammal painter specialising in oil on canvas, to guide photographers and artists on a new Peregrine voyage at the opposite end of the world: a 24-night Falkland Islands, South Georgia and Antarctica voyage that again adds extra days to a ‘regular’ itinerary. This new trip has been developed in response to clients wanting to spend more time in the wildlife wonderland of the Falklands and South Georgia. These islands – some of the most remote on the planet – are inhabited by overwhelming numbers of penguins, seals and seabirds, which throng the beaches beneath massive mountain peaks in one of the world’s most spectacular wildlife displays.

The Technicolor scenes of these sub-Antarctic islands contrast with the stark, icy plateaus and glacier-backed bays of the Antarctic Peninsula, where a completely different – but equally prolific – collection of wildlife can be seen.

The 24-night Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica voyage departs from Ushuaia, Argentina, on November 6, 2009 and costs from $16580 per person in a Main Deck twin share cabin, cruise only, twin share.

All the voyages are aboard Peregrine’s 100-passenger expedition sister ships, the Peregrine Mariner and Peregrine Explorer, which are widely regarded as the best expedition ships operating in Polar waters.

For further information, contact your travel agent or Peregrine Travel Centre, call 1300 854 500, or visit www.peregrineadventures.com

Quebec celebrating 400th anniversary

Preparations for a summer of celebration are underway at Espace 400e, the official site of the 2008 festivities to celebrate 400 years of French presence in Quebec City.

A whirlwind of shows, entertainment, and free activities for the whole family will be offered every day as artists, singers, musicians, dancers, acrobats, historians, and conference speakers light up Grande Place, the wharves, the Ephemeral Gardens, Petite Place, and all around the pavilion for 17 weeks.

The celebration will include mega shows, productions and expositions — with more than 130 activities.

The Image Mill, the world’s largest multi-media projection show created by Robert Lepage and Ex Machina, started lighting up Quebec City’s Old Port grain silos as part of the celebration.

The 81 grain silos are transformed into a huge screen of almost 2000 feet long. This multimedia experience featuring the city’s history will be presented until August 24th — from 10 to 10:40 pm regardless of the weather, say the event organizers.

The entire south side of the Louise Basin from Pointe-à-Carcy to the western extremity of the basin is wired for sound with speakers. A total of 329 speakers, 27 video projectors, 20,000 lumens each, and 238 spotlights are being used around the site.

The work consists of four movements corresponding to the city’s four centuries of history: waterways, the age of exploration and discovery; road building, clearing and developing the land; the railroad and industrial expansion; and finally, the age of air travel and the development of communications.

DHS Improves Entry for International Travelers

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) launched three initiatives – the Global Entry pilot program, the Passenger Service Program, and an expanded Model Ports Initiative – intended to strengthen customer service at U.S. ports of entry.

They are designed to create a more welcoming environment for international passengers, said Michael Chertoff, Homeland Security secretary. Global Entry is a customer service and security program designed to expedite the screening and processing of pre-approved, low-risk travelers entering the U.S.

Currently only U.S. citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR) are eligible to join. The pilot started last week at George Bush Intercontinental, John F. Kennedy International and Washington Dulles International airports. Global Entry applicants will voluntarily provide their biographic and biometric information, undergo a background check and complete an interview with a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer. Once accepted, Global Entry travelers can use a kiosk at any of the three pilot airports to verify their identity electronically and make any needed customs declarations. CBP has been accepting applications at www.cbp.gov/travel since May 12.

Under the new Passenger Service Program, CBP Program Service Managers will serve as a dedicated point of contact for identifying and resolving passenger issues. The initiative promotes customer service techniques in officer interactions with the traveling public, and includes joint efforts with the private sector and industry stakeholders to reduce wait times through the use of improved signage and technology. The program will be established at CBP’s top 20 Model Ports.

The department also is expanding the Model Ports Initiative to 18 additional airports. Originally established in 2006 as part of the Rice-Chertoff Initiative, Model Ports has enhanced border security with the use of the new technology while streamlining security processes and facilitating travel for legitimate visitors. In addition to brochures and increased signage, a new video, currently available in Spanish, French, German and English, will assist travelers through the customs and immigration process by providing practical information about the entry process and required entry documents and forms. In a related effort, CBP is providing wait times online at www.cbp.gov for 16 of the busiest international airports and pedestrian wait times for 12 land border crossings in Arizona, California, and Texas.

For more information, visit www.dhs.gov

VIA Rail’s Canadian New Schedule

VIA’s flagship western transcontinental Canadian will depart at a new time starting on Dec. 2.

A new evening departure time from both Vancouver and Toronto will enable passengers to make connections in Toronto to/from eastern Canada, as well as provide more daylight viewing through the Rockies.

The cross-country journey will move from a three-night trip to a four-night schedule and will also include additional time at select en-route stations for possible touring. The new schedule comes into effect Dec. 2. The operating departure days from Vancouver and Toronto remain unchanged.

There will be thrice-weekly departures from Toronto on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, and thrice-weekly departures from Vancouver on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday. One additional night is added to the schedule in each direction, thus changing the arrival days in Toronto and Vancouver.

The departure times at both originating terminals move to an evening departure. Train No. 1 will depart Toronto at 10 pm and arrive in Vancouver four days later at 9:42 am. Train No. 2 departs Vancouver at 8:30 pm and arrives in Toronto four days later at 9:30 am. The new schedule will mean a change in train operations for some communities. For example, in the Prairies and British Columbia (Saskatoon, Kamloops) the new eastbound operation will make daylight train travel a viable option.

For more information, call 888-VIA-RAIL or visit www.viarail.ca

Go Toronto Card includes Niagara Falls

Newest Addition to Go Card Family Extends the Product’s Flexibility,

Ease and Savings Across International Borders

Smart Destinations Inc., the premier provider of unlimited admission attraction passes in major U.S. travel destinations, today announced the availability of its first international product: the new Go Toronto Card. The Go Toronto Card enables visitors to enjoy the best of Toronto, Niagara Falls and surrounding areas for one low per-day price, which saves vacationers time and money on their visit. With the Go Toronto Card, users can enjoy as many attractions as they want on each day. And with nearly 20 attractions from which to choose, the Go Toronto Card has something for everyone – whether you’re traveling with family, an art and culture enthusiast, or an adventure seeker.

“The Go Toronto Card is a great weapon in the arsenal of any savvy traveler looking to get a true taste of this fabulous city without breaking the bank,” said Cecilia Dahl, co-founder and president of Smart Destinations. “Canada remains an attractive destination for Americans since the exchange rate is still favorable. The Go Toronto Card provides a further boost in savings, helping people recession-proof their summer travels.”

The Go Toronto Card gives travelers unlimited access to participating attractions for a fixed number of calendar days (1, 2 and 3). Much like a theme park pass directed at an entire destination, the Go Toronto Card enables users to set their own maximum savings by visiting as many attractions as they want to during the days that the pass is valid. The more attractions visited, the higher the savings. The average customer saves 30% or more on attraction visits.

The Go Toronto Card comes with a free full-color destination guidebook that offers up to 20% additional savings on shopping and dining. Pass holders also receive VIP preference at some attractions, enabling them to skip the lines and spend more time enjoying their vacations.

For a true taste of Toronto, the Go Toronto Card includes a Hop on Hop Off City Tour with Gray Line, a great way to familiarize yourself with this stunning destination; a Harbor cruise with Mariposa Cruises; Rogers Centre Tour Experience (Home of the Toronto Blue Jays); and Sights on Bikes/Toronto Bike Tours for a different and exciting exploration of the city. There are a series of attractions that are unique to Toronto’s rich history and culture, and cannot be experienced anywhere else in the world, such as the Bata Shoe Museum; Gardiner Museum; Textile Museum of Canada; Steam Whistle Brewing – Brewery Tour; Distillery District Walking Tour; Toronto Hippo Tours; half-day Bike Rentals at Segway of Ontario/Distillery District and Natrel Rink at Harbourfront Centre. To complement the Toronto Experience, the Go Toronto Card also features attractions in nearby Niagara Falls. Attractions there include Bird Kingdom; Nightmares Fear Factory; Fallsview Indoor Waterpark; IMAX Niagara and Skylon Tower. Additional attractions beyond Toronto include Reptilia and Treetop Trekking.

Additionally, Go Toronto Card holders enjoy special offers, such as 15% off Niagara Falls Day and Night Tours with Gray Line; 15% savings at Mariposa Cruise two-hour lunch or brunch cruise or three-hour dinner cruise; 20% off Segway Distillery Spin and Tour; 20% off The Second City and 20% off Greg Frewin Theatre: Beyond Belief Magic.

Introductory pricing for the Go Toronto Card (valid through July 31) starts at USD $64.99 for adults and $49.99 for children.