Jetsettersblog

Go around, about and above London this fall

VISIT LONDON - London - For those who enjoy exploring a city and really getting under its skin, London is the perfect destination. London is easy to explore and this fall there is even more to see from a peek into royal life, high-flying adventures in the “East” and fun in the fresh air.

Without a doubt, there is a lot to see in London. From jam-packed museums and splendid architecture to live performances and free festivals, the city has a lot offer every type of traveler. What may surprise some visitors to the capital is that there are an incredible number of ways to take in the famous sites and Visit London has compiled some of the most exciting ways to experience the city.

Want to see how the royals live? Every year, Buckingham Palace opens its famous gates to visitors for a glance at the State Rooms. This year, the palace is open from July 29 to September 29 for visitors to tour the royal residence. The tour includes a look at some of the world’s most opulent collectibles, including Faberge eggs, Rembrandt paintings and some of the finest furniture in the world.

This year, for the first time and only for 2008, visitors to the palace will be able to feast their eyes on the Ballroom set up for a State Banquet. Palace banquets have been a hallmark of lavish entertaining for centuries, and the State Banquet is the highest honor of all, set up to welcome a visiting head of state. Tourists may not have an official invitation, but they can still gaze at the famous horseshoe-shaped table set with fine porcelain, silver and magnificent flower arrangements.

London is opening its doors to more than just royal residences. This year, the annual London Open House Weekend is being held on September 20 and 21. Dubbed “architecture in the flesh,” this event features free entry into more than 600 buildings in the city, including banks, offices, government buildings and even private homes.

Open House Weekend allows the public to gaze at unique architecture and gain an appreciation for the varied designs that decorate the city, but are usually hidden behind closed doors. The list of buildings on display will be released in mid-August, but visitors are guaranteed a very exclusive look inside the city.

Also in September (26-28), art lovers will be given a rare opportunity to see the work behind London’s incredible performances and exhibitions during Open Rehearsal. The annual event will pull back the curtains on the preparations of a variety of cultural institutions such as the Barbican, National Theatre, the Old Vic and English National Ballet.

Visitors needn’t stay “inside” to experience London; they can go above as well. While many visitors may be familiar with the views from the London Eye, for a limited time, they will be able to get a similar birds-eye view from the east of the city with the opening of the Greenwich Wheel. The wheel will be up until September 28, and offers spectacular panoramic views of both central and east London. At a height of more than 180 feet (taller than Lord Nelson’s column in Trafalgar Square), visitors can see past St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Tower of London in the west and past Canary Wharf into the future Olympic village in the east.

Adrenalin junkies will also be right at home in the capital where they can find action and adventure in some unusual places. One of the fastest-growing sports in London is “power kiting,” which involves being pulled along by a kite while sitting in a buggy or riding a board. Richmond Park has regular classes with qualified instructors. If you prefer to have your feet planted firmly on the ground, why not try hash running, where a leader sets out a trail for a group of runners including loops, false trails and shortcuts. The fun doesn’t stop on the river, either. For a James Bond-style experience, jump onboard an inflatable dinghy and race past London’s famous landmarks.

Jacqueline French, Visit London commented: “London is such a unique city that every kind of visitor can find the right experience to suit them. Whether it’s power kiting in Richmond Park, opening closed doors in the city or even taking in the breath-taking works of art in London’s free museums and galleries, a vacation to London will definitely be a trip to remember.”

For more information about London including accommodation, travel and entertainment, log onto www.visitlondon.com

Wimco Villas Can Arrange Spa Treatments

Wimco Villas announces a relationship with La Ligne de St. Barth to provide in-villa spa and massage treatments in all of its 260 private luxury villas on the island of St Barts in the Caribbean. A Caribbean vacation is all about relaxation, and with this agreement, licensed massage specialists will come with their own equipment right to guests’ private villas. Wimco clients can decide to have the service performed outside by the pool, or in their air-conditioned bedrooms, whatever best suits their desires.

“The in-villa spa service provided by La Ligne de St. Barth enhances our villa guests’ vacation experience,” says Stiles Bennet, Wimco Villas’ Director of Marketing.

“When our reservationists are booking a villa, they suggest to a client that a spa treatment on the morning of the first full day of their vacation is the perfect way to jump-start the journey to relaxation.”

Wimco notes that this service also provides a guarantee of discretion, satisfaction and security. By partnering with a licensed spa and massage treatment specialist, with pre-screened technicians, Wimco is assuring their clients peace of mind as well as deep relaxation.

Villas is an award-winning luxury villa company, providing access to some of the world’s most beautiful and exceptional villas in Italy, the South of France, Mykonos.

In the Caribbean Wimco Villas represents over 260 villas on St Barths and offers an expansive selection of villas throughout the region including St Martin, Barbados, Anguilla, Jamaica, British Virgin Islands, Mustique, Nevis and the Cayman Islands.

 

Worldwide Adventure with Saga Holidays

Recent research conducted by Saga Holidays reveals that two thirds (63 percent) of over 50s didn’t travel abroad on holiday until they were adults. 82 percent of respondents over 65 believe they have made up for it in later life, whilst 50-64 year olds are doing everything possible to explore new and exciting destinations.

Australia’s dramatic scenery and historical Commonwealth ties make it the most popular desired destination, with 44 percent of respondents saying they would like to explore the country. Of those who would consider releasing equity from their homes, 36 percent said they would use it to travel the world.

Gap years, once the sole domain of adventurous university students, are being taken to the next level by their parents and grandparents who continue to show they have huge amounts of energy by trekking through the old hippy trails of Nepal, clambering through jungle excursions in Borneo, and delving into the rain-forests of Costa Rica. The traditional backpacking destinations of Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina are no longer reserved just for the young.

One third (30 percent) of children and grandchildren are envious of the travelling their parents and grandparents are doing. This is particularly clear for mothers and grandmothers who have just reached the age of retirement, and on average are taking nearly 2.5 holidays abroad each year. Films and books influence women in their travel decisions and aspirations with 40 percent naming literature (31 percent for men) and 26 percent naming movies (20 percent for men) as important factors, which may indicate why nearly all (91 percent) name scenery and three quarters (72 percent) name history as the main attraction of a place to visit.

There is little doubt the adventurous programme Saga Holidays offers is hitting the right spot. 80 percent of all respondents take two or more holidays per year and the company reports substantial increases in requests for special interest wildlife, music and art appreciation holidays.

Nearly all respondents (97 percent) have already visited the European mainland, and whilst only a small number has visited Antarctica (one percent), it is high on the list of places to visit (21 percent), along with South America (31 percent).

When asked if an annual event would influence them to travel to a destination, music played a large part; however at opposite ends of the spectrum, 50 year olds were more likely to choose the Rio Carnival in Brazil (19 percent), whilst 65 and over named opera festivals (15 percent).

Only six percent of all respondents to the survey, carried out by Populus, were worried their newly found freedom to travel would impact on how much they passed onto their families, preferring instead to ensure they travelled and tasted the ever changing face of travel for the over 50s.

For further details on Saga Holidays please call 0800 056 5880 or visit www.saga.co.uk/travelshop

Religious Travel Year of Faith Tourism

The World Religious Travel Association (WRTA) designated 2009 as The Year of Faith Tourism.

The year-long celebrations and activities will: Highlight the New Era of Faith Tourism; Increase the awareness of the personal and communal benefits of Faith Tourism;

and contribute to the overall growth and health of the global economy, travel industry, and individual travel providers.

The official host of The Year of Faith Tourism is the World Religious Travel Association, the leading organization dedicated to the $18 billion faith-based travel, tourism, and hospitality industry.

As part of its kick-off for The Year of Faith Tourism, the World Religious Travel Association (WRTA) is hosting this fall the World Religious Travel Expo & Educational Conference in Orlando from Oct. 29 to Nov. 1, 2008.

To learn more about The Year of Faith Tourism, visit the official website at www.faithtourism2009.com.

For more information about the World Religious Travel Association or the World Religious Travel Expo, call 800-657-1288 or visit www.religioustravelassociation.com

and www.religioustravelexpo.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.

YEAR OF THE REEF WITH SPECIAL CONTEST

Explorer Ventures announces “Ventures into the Reef,” a series of competitions in recognition of International Year of the Reef (IYOR 2008). They are inviting people to share their underwater adventures in celebration of the beauty and excitement that reefs provide. There are three categories in which people can participate; best underwater photo, best topside photo and best trip commentary.

To enter the Explorer Ventures “Ventures into the Reef” contests, participants need to fill out a simple entry form and submit their photo(s) and/or trip commentary electronically.

The competition is free. Photos must have been taken between August 31, 2007 and August 31, 2008 and the trip commentary must be from a trip taken within the same dates. The winning entries will be showcased online and will be included in a 2009 Explorer Ventures “Ventures into the Reef” calendar.

The winners of each competition will receive a $500 credit* towards a future trip on any Explorer Ventures boat in Australia or the Caribbean as well as five copies of the 2009 Explorer Ventures calendar.

There are prizes for the runners up as well. For entry forms and complete information, visit this website or email contest@explorerventures.com

*$500 credit can be used on Caribbean Explorer I, Caribbean Explorer II, Turks and Caicos Explorer II, or Nimrod Explorer.

The credit must be used before December 31, 2009, is non-transferable and cannot be substituted.

AGGRESSOR FLEET AIRLINE DEPARTMENT

Booking international flights to exotic destinations is now easier with the help of Aggressor Fleet’s own Airline Department and newest travel expert specialist, Katharina (Kathy) Walker, who boasts over 28 years of airline reservations experience.

Kathy has extensive knowledge and training in airline ticketing software networks including Pars, System 1, Data’s, Worldspan, Delta Term and CMS. As an international airline specialist and travel agency manager,

Kathy knows all aspects of airline travel and the extensive needs of international and group travelers. Aggressor Fleet’s European clients will appreciate her fluency in the German and Croatian languages.

To book your next flight through the Aggressor Fleet Airline Department, you may contact Kathy at airtravel@aggressor.com  or by phone at 800-348-2628 or (985) 385-2628.

BECOME A PLATINUM PRO 5000 DIVER

Being honored with the Platinum Pro5000 Diver Award places you among the world’s most experienced water explorers. The list of cardholders is a “who’s who” of diving, containing the world’s most prominent dive leaders, scientists, photographers, manufacturers, retailers and resort operators. This honor cannot be purchased. Individuals must apply for the award and be recommended in writing by two Platinum Pros.

What makes the SSI Platinum Pro5000 award so special is that it’s all about diving. The unsung dive master on any island and Jacques Cousteau earned their cards the same way–by diving 5,000 times, or diving 2,500 times and making a significant contribution to the diving industry.

Since 1993, the Platinum Pros have been recognized at a party held during the annual DEMA trade show. The party has become one of the signature events at DEMA. At the annual party, Platinum Pro 5000 Divers get to meet one another and are recognized for their achievements. Divers and dealers from around the world come together to honor those who have become Platinum Pro 5000 Divers, and congratulate them on their entrance into this exclusive, historical group.

Divers from any certification agency may apply. This is a non-affiliation award. This award is truly about your achievements and nothing else.

For more information and to download an application visit www.diveSSI.com/platinumpro  or call 970.482.0883.

2008 GUIDE TO UNDERWATER IMAGING

Written for both the novice and those with a little more experience, this will be the ultimate guide to the tools and techniques for capturing better dive photos and videos.

This special, first-of-its-kind publication by the editors of Scuba Diving will go directly to underwater photo and video enthusiasts, making it the perfect vehicle for advertisers who want to reach this targeted market.

15,000 copies will be sent to a pre-determined list of underwater photo enthusiasts.