Jetsettersblog

Brentwood Bay Lodge & Spa

Brentwood Bay Lodge Ltd. is launching the sales of six new oceanfront condominium residences just steps away from its award-winning five-star boutique hotel, Brentwood Bay Lodge & Spa.

The resort is located in the heart of Victoria’s wine-country on Vancouver Island, just 10 minutes from Victoria International Airport. The owners of the new OceanVillas will have direct access to the resort’s spa and fitness club and a private 40’ boat slip in its full-service marina.

Each of the six ultra-luxury OceanVillas will be 1850 square feet with two bedrooms plus den media room and a great room with designer finishes such as natural stone and hardwood floors. The West Coast contemporary design includes a gourmet kitchen and a double-sided fireplace on the large oceanfront balcony. “Lanai” style patio-doors fold completely open providing a seamless sense of inside- outside space with spectacular sunsets views over the Malahat Mountains and across the pristine Saanich Inlet.

The developer has committed to green building practices designing to “LEED for Homes” standards ensuring energy-efficient systems and environmental sustainability. Each OceanVilla will also include a private garage with a “green roof” with storage for bikes, golf clubs and kayaks.

Brentwood Bay Lodge & Spa is Victoria’s only five-star oceanfront resort. The culinary and spa destination has 33 luxuriously appointed OceanSuites, an award-winning wine cellar, SeaGrille & Pub, spa with a heated outdoor pool and hot tub, executive conference facilities and Marina & Eco-Adventure Centre.

Set on a pristine inlet at the southern tip of Vancouver Island, Brentwood Bay Lodge & Spa is close to the scenic capital city of Victoria, BC offering recreational activities, heritage attractions, shopping, wineries and The Butchart Gardens. Ten minutes from Victoria International Airport and BC Ferries terminal, the resort has convenient access by land, air and sea.

Sales inquiries: Lisa Williams, Century 21, Royal Victoria Realty Ltd. Phone 250-514-1966 email lisa@lisawilliams.com  or go online to www.brentwoodbaylodge.com

Intrepid Travel Canada Arctic Dog Sled Adventure

Inspired to find more offbeat adventures, Intrepid Travel’s new research and development division, The Travel Lab, announces its newest trip: the Canadian Arctic Dog Sled Adventure.

Traveling by dog team in the region north of the Arctic Circle, this Canada dog sled adventure tour offers an unmatched cultural experience and the opportunity to learn of the Inuit Eskimo lifestyle. This Canada adventure tour is for nature lovers, wildlife photography enthusiasts and adventure seekers alike. The traveler will be immersed in the Arctic and experience of the excitement of mushing on this remarkable dog sled adventure.

Adventurers will drive a dog sled guided by local Inuit Eskimo mushers, giving them an unparalleled opportunity to explore the magnificent ice and snow-locked landscape, including the region’s towering cliffs and gigantic icebergs. This Canada adventure tour is a chance to witness Arctic wildlife firsthand, including polar bear, seal, ptarmigan, and in late spring, the flurry of Arctic avian that fly north to nest. Adventure travelers on this Canada adventure tour can also try ice fishing Inuit-style for grouper, or for the famous Arctic Char in the inland lakes.

Adventurer travelers on Intrepid’s Canada Dog Sled Adventure will:

• Dogsled across Canada’s breathtaking Northwest Territories, pulled by 15 to 20 dogs

• Travel on historic trappers’ trails over snow and sea ice

• Spend nights in an igloo

• Visit an Anglican Cathedral and several galleries displaying and selling traditional Inuit crafts

• Explore the lakes to the north of the Great Slave Lake

Adventure travelers will experience this once in a lifetime opportunity to drive their own dog sled across the Canadian Arctic. Intrepid Travel’s Canada Arctic Dog Sled Adventure lasts for 9 days and costs $6,095. For more information about this opportunity visit: www.thetravellab.com/trips/tlcds

To learn more about Intrepid Travel’s Travel Lab and its new Antarctic adventures please visit: http://www.thetravellab.com

About Intrepid Travel

With over 19 years of experience, Intrepid Travel is one of the world’s leading small group adventure tour operators. Intrepid offers over 400 adventure itineraries in more than 90 destinations worldwide. Intrepid trips are designed to go off the beaten track, meet the locals and travel in an unconventional way, joining locals on their transport, in their markets and even in their homes. www.intrepidtravel.com

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

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.

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.

Free Paul Mccartney Quebec City Concert

Free Concert to Celebrate Their 400th Anniversary

July 20th 2008 – The Plains of Abraham, Québec City, Canada

Paul McCartney will perform his first live show in Canada since 2005 when he will lead the city of Québec in celebrations for their 400th anniversary on the 20th of July. The free concert will take place in one of the world’s most prestigious and historic city parks, The Plains Of Abraham, the site of many clashes between the French and British empires in the 18th century.

Paul said, “I have a feeling it’s going to be a great night. Music is a fantastic way to celebrate this event. It’s a universal language that can bring everybody together! Our two countries have close ties that remain strong to this day. We are looking forward to helping Québec City celebrate this anniversary.”

Just weeks ago Paul McCartney performed the largest ever show in the Ukraine, in Kiev, to over 350,000 people in the city’s Independence Square and on June 1st Paul played a stadium concert in Liverpool to celebrate the city being named the 2008 European capital of culture. If these previous shows are anything to go by, Québec City is in for a night it will never forget.

“Paul McCartney is not just a superstar; he’s a legend, a musical and cultural icon who will focus international attention on our historic celebrations. His concert will project Québec 2008 on the world scene,” declared Daniel Gélinas, CEO of the Société du 400e, the event organizers. “Paul McCartney is giving us a fabulous present and we are thrilled and proud to welcome him to Québec City!”

This will be Paul’s first visit to the capital. Paul first played in Canada when The Beatles appeared at the Montréal Forum in 1964. Since then Paul has toured in Canada on numerous occasions but never in Québec. So this will be a grand premiere for Paul and for the population of Québec City.

To celebrate this anniversary year the Société du 400e put together a balanced program featuring music from Québec and the First Nations, French songs, symphonic and classical music while inviting international stars and spotlighting the two founding peoples: France and the UK.

“With a British star participating in the 400th anniversary celebrations we can say mission accomplished! No ticket are needed for this free concert put on by the Société du 400e, a highlight of an already extraordinary year of concerts, exhibitions and shows,” summed up Gélinas.

The Société du 400e anniversaire de Québec is an independent, nonprofit organization funded by the Government of Québec, the City of Québec, and the Government of Canada with the mission to plan and carry out events celebrating Québec City’s 400th anniversary.

Painted Boat Resort Spa & Marina rail packages

Pender Harbour, B.C.-Canadian Rocky Mountain Resorts is excited to announce that Painted Boat Resort Spa and Marina, on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia, is now open! Featuring a protected deep-water marina and a casually elegant contemporary bistro, The Restaurant at Painted Boat, Painted Boat is a welcome addition to the Canadian Rocky Mountain Resorts family of companies.

Just an hour and a half from Vancouver, Painted Boat Resort is in Pender Harbour, an area renowned for its multitude of outdoor activities-fishing, kayaking, hiking-as well as the popular September Jazz Festival and flourishing local art scene. The luxurious resort has 31 waterfront vacation villas. Each has two bedrooms, fully equipped kitchen, and patio with a BBQ.

The suites have a distinct ‘West Coast’ feel, inspired by the traditional fishing structures along the coastline. Each suite offers spectacular water views, and just steps away are the infinity pool, outdoor hot tub, and state-of-the-art fitness centre. Guests are encouraged to visit the wellness spa, Solarice (www.solarice.com),  for a soothing massage or holistic treatment (scheduled for May 2009 opening).

Pat and Connie O’Connor, the founders and owners of CRMR, are excited to be adding this seaside oasis to their family of lodges and restaurants.

“This is our chance to offer our guests the opportunity to stay on the coast, while still experiencing all the luxuries and regional cuisine we’re so proud of in our lodges in the Rockies,” explains Connie O’Connor, adding, “the little extra touches will be what make this project so special-like the custom, Canadian-made wood furniture, and the prints and ceramics in the rooms created by area artists.”

Nestled amongst five acres of Douglas fir, red cedar and arbutus, Painted Boat Resort Spa & Marina is a four season paradise which offers fresh, local dishes, lavish suites and the personal touch guests have come to expect from Canadian Rocky Mountain Resorts. Visit www.crmr.com/paintedboat  to learn more.

Canadian Rocky Mountain Resorts is a family of companies consisting of Emerald Lake Lodge in Field, British Columbia, Deer Lodge in Lake Louise, Alberta, and Buffalo Mountain Lodge in Banff, Alberta. CRMR also owns four Calgary restaurants: Cilantro, Velvet, The Ranche, and Divino Wine & Cheese Bistro, as well as a game ranch, The Canadian Rocky Mountain Ranch, a Calgary wine boutique, Bin 905, as well as a bakery in Canmore, Panino. Now Open: Painted Boat Resort Spa & Marina, the newest member of the CRMR family.