Jetsettersblog

The 13th Annual Bermuda International Film Festival will premiere March 19 to 25, featuring award-winning films and emerging new talent.

Recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as a Qualifying Festival for the Short Film Academy Award, the Bermuda International Film Festival (BIFF) draws filmmakers from around the world, including Cannes, Turkey and throughout Africa.

The BIFF screens roughly 30 short films, seven documentary features and seven narrative features for the competition.

The seven-day festival begins with an official “Kick-Off Party” and follows with nightly gatherings throughout the week, allowing guests one-on-one interactions with filmmakers and industry VIPs. In-depth panel discussions are held for visiting and aspiring film producers, providing an opportunity to gain knowledge on the art and business of film.

Additionally, the BIFF presents a children’s section with high-quality cinema favorites for children ages 6 and older.

Film screenings will take place at Bermuda’s Liberty Theatres, Hamilton; Specialty Cinema & Grill and Southside Cinema. Standard film tickets are $13 per person, $8 for weekday matinees, and $25 for opening and closing night films.

Tickets are on sale and can be purchased at www.bdatix.bm

For accommodations, BIFF guests can take advantage of special rates at the festival’s two host hotels.

The Fairmont Hamilton Princess offers rates beginning at $199 per night, and Elbow Beach Resort Hotel offers rates starting $295 per night.

For more information, visit www.bermudafilmfest.com  or www.bermudatourism.com

Bermuda’s Cambridge Beaches Resort & Spa is offering a “Fourth Night Free” promotion.

Through April 26, travelers who book a minimum four-night stay will receive one free night of accommodations.

The promotion is valid for travel through April 30.

Daily breakfast and afternoon tea are included.

When booking guests must reference promotional code CBBDA4 to receive the special offer.

Cambridge Beaches is set on a 30-acre peninsula on the west coast of Bermuda and has four private beaches; gardens and nature preserve; European-style spa; Tamarisk Restaurant, rated by Food & Wine Magazine as one of Bermuda’s finest; afternoon tea in the historic main house; on-site bicycle, moped and kayak rentals; croquet lawn; tennis courts; and much more.

For more information, call 800-468-7300 or visit www.cambridgebeaches.com

The Spring Fling at The Reefs Hotel & Club in Bermuda is available from April 1 through 30. The package includes five days/four nights in an ocean view room with a private patio or balcony; daily breakfast, afternoon tea and gourmet dinner for two; champagne upon arrival; three-day bus/ferry pass; and one roundtrip airport transfer.

Package rates, which include all of the above as well as taxes and service charges, begin at $2,465 for an ocean view lanai and are quoted per couple.

Tim Finnegan of Massachusetts, who’s “Family Honeymoon Tradition” at The Reefs was voted on by more than one-third of the 3,000 voters, won The Reefs Hotel & Club’s Show Your Love Contest. Audrey Bennett, also of Massachusetts, won the randomly selected prize.

To view all of the Show Your Love finalists’ visit www.thereefs.com/showyourlove.

For more information, call 888-466-0288 or visit www.thereefs.com

The Fairmont Southampton, in Bermuda, is offering the Spa Days-Free Nights Package.

This package includes a complimentary night’s stay in a room with a private balcony with the purchase of any two 60-minute Willow Stream Signature Treatments per person, per day.

This package is available through April 30, 2010, and a two-night minimum stay is required. Rates are $299 per person, per night based on Fairmont Room plus 15 percent spa gratuities.

Also available is the Mini-Makeover Getaway, which includes Saturday night accommodations in a Fairmont Room (including tax, gratuity and resort levy), spa welcome amenity, Jane Iredale makeup demonstration and lecture followed by Mini-Makeover, Saturday evening reception to show off your new look, 60-minute spa treatment to unwind on Sunday morning, and Sunday brunch (gratuity included).

This package is available March 20 to 21, 2010. Rates start at $366 per person, based on double occupancy in a Fairmont Room.

Additional room nights may be booked at $171 per night inclusive of tax, gratuities and resort levy are extra.

For more information or reservations, call 800-441-1414 or visit www.fairmont.com/southampton

Right now, Funjet Vacations is launching its Best Prices Under the Sun sale.

 Guests who book a hotel or a flight and hotel package by March 25 for travel to Dec. 31 to Mexico, the Caribbean, Hawaii or Costa Rica get Funjet’s lowest hotel price.

During the sale shoppers will also find deals on Las Vegas, Florida, California and New York vacations.

If prices drop after booking, Funjet will refund the difference of the hotel portion of the vacation package.

Roundtrip airport/hotel transportation is included with Mexico and Caribbean hotel-inclusive vacation packages.

Travelers to Cancun/Riviera Maya, Vallarta/Riviera Nayarit, Los Cabos, Punta Cana and Jamaica will receive a complimentary “Experience More” card — Funjet’s exclusive vacation enhancer that offers discounts for popular nightclubs, restaurants, activities and more.

Clients have the option to choose an all-inclusive resort, with meals, beverages, entertainment and tips included in the price.

Exclusive hotel offers, including kids stay, play and eat free, complimentary room upgrades, spa or dining credits and other value-added inclusions.

For more information about Funjet Vacations, visit the banner at right.

Book Now for Luxury Summer Villas in Europe and Caribbean. Great Early Booking Offers Already Available for 2010 at Paradizo.com

Spectacular properties are still available for guests seeking the ultimate 2010 summer holiday. Now, it’s time to reserve as there are great early booking offers already available for 2010 villa rentals in prime locations.

Villa Acacia is a fabulous Koh Samui villa to rent on Mae Nam Beach designed around a central garden area with a tropical pond.Mae Nam Beach Front Villa

Beachfront Villa within Miskawaan Estate, an exclusive collection of 8 sophisticated and luxurious beachfront villas each with their own private pool and staff of 3.Hurakia Lodge – Rakino Island Retreat

Hurakia is an exclusive use villa on Rakino Island in Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf. A luxuriously secluded escape, accessible only by helicopter or boat.

BARCELONA, SPAIN, — In-the-know travelers are starting to book luxury villas for their 2010 summer vacations. One-stop luxury travel resource Paradizo.com has partnered with the top rental agencies offering the very best villa rentals around the world, from beachfront villas with access to a tropical beach to magnificent villas with a pool in the living room.

According to many industry insiders, the vacation rental market is on the rise. Lodging industry expert Glenn Haussman recently reported on the “explosive growth” of vacation rentals in recent years.

Spectacular properties are still available for guests seeking the ultimate 2010 summer holiday. Now, it’s time to reserve as some of the most desirable villas are already fully booked.

“The popular summer months are booking fast for 2010, with 25% of properties already booked-up for next summer. So those dreaming of spending their next holiday in a beautiful 400-year-old ‘finca’ or living the life of Riley in a newly-built, stylish mansion, need to book early!” said Paradizo’s partner Mallorca Farmhouses.

Group bookings are on the rise for holiday homes large enough to share a fantastic vacation with family and friends.

Many of even the most lavish vacation rental properties offer prices that, when divided among a group of 10 or 12, can cost less than or equal to a traditional hotel room.

More often than not, luxury villa rentals also come with 5-star services like a private chef, concierge or guest manager.

If you require additional services, the Paradizo Team can help you find the highest quality service providers, personal chefs, helicopter and jet charters or limousine services.

Reflecting the current economic setting, many luxury travel professionals commented on new bargains, noting that travelers are looking for ways to save money. It’s expected that value for price will be the top priority in 2010.

“There are great early booking offers already available for 2010 villa rentals in prime locations,” said Ollivier Jacq, Paradizo’s founder. Many luxury villa brokers are offering early-bird “Stay for 7, Pay for 5″ packages that include special extras.

Where are trendy travelers headed? Industry experts foresee Europe enjoying a rebound for the jet set crowd. It’s a safe bet for the more conservative traveler but also offers new hotspots like Sardinia and Croatia. There’s also renewed interest in old favorites like Ibiza, Provence, Tuscany and Mykonos in Europe and Turks & Caicos, Bahamas and St. Barts in the Caribbean.

Paradizo.com is a new online resource for luxury vacations. Its main objective is to provide discerning travelers with the tools necessary to create memorable and personalized luxury vacation experiences. It provides only the highest quality of vacation services: villa rentals, private islands, yacht and jet charters, concierge services and other luxury travel collections. Paradizo is not a travel broker or agent. The travel technology company aims to make dreams come true for Paradizo members and to create business for its esteemed partners.

Visit http://paradizo.com

This year, The Fairmont Hamilton Princess, Bermuda’s Pink Palace, will celebrate its 125th anniversary.

To celebrate, the hotel will offer a special Anniversary Package. Guests who visit for their own anniversary celebration will receive a complimentary night’s stay and additional nights at $125 per person.

Simply provide us your marriage certificate at check in to receive the complimentary anniversary night.

This package is available through Dec. 30, 2010. There is a minimum three-night stay and the package is based upon availability.

For reservations or more information, call 800-441-1414 or visit www.fairmont.com/hamilton

Bermuda’s The Reefs has extended itself to affordable beachfront Club residences. The Reefs and The Reefs Club are coming together with a new name,

The Reefs Hotel & Club, and combined web site at www.TheReefs.com

The new combined name and website better communicates all that the property has to offer to both travelers and those seeking an affordable way to own a Bermuda vacation home.

“The Club has many of the distinct characteristics of our renowned hotel.

Owners receive a high level of personal service, have access to our fine dining restaurants and new spa, and are just steps away from our secluded pink sand beach,” said Ben Tutt, managing director of The Reefs Hotel & Club.

To celebrate the new name and the month of love, The Reefs Hotel & Club is giving away two six-day, five-night vacations for two.

Now through Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14), guests and Club owners are being asked to show their love for the resort and the island by sharing a favorite experience.

It could be a proposal in the sand, a Bermuda wedding or honeymoon, an anniversary or special family reunion. To enter, visit www.TheReefs.com/ShowYourLove

Stories will be narrowed down by judges into a group of finalists and posted online.

Then from Feb. 18 to 28, the public will be able to vote for their favorite.

The person whose memory wins the hearts of the most people with the most votes will win.

Those who haven’t yet experienced the hotel will also have a chance to win.

A randomly selected winner from those who voted will also win a vacation. Every room at the 64-room hotel offers a private balcony and stunning ocean and sunset views. The Reefs Hotel & Club carries these views into every bedroom and living room of every residence.

For more information, call 888-466-0288 or visit www.TheReefs.com

WestJet said it will begin weekly seasonal non-stop service between Toronto and Samana, Dominican Republic, on June 5, 2010.

The airline currently serves Punta Cana, Puerto Plata and La Romana with a total of seven non-stop flights per week from Toronto’s Pearson International Airport. WestJet will also begin weekly seasonal service between Montreal and Punta Cana on June 5.

WestJet also announced details of its new seasonal non-stop service between Toronto and Bermuda.

Beginning May 3, 2010, WestJet will offer daily service between Pearson International Airport and Kindley Field, Bermuda. For more information, visit www.westjet.com

Luxurious hideaways and blushing pink sand beaches create the perfect formula for romance

No other island celebrates love like Bermuda, which is why this Valentine’s Day, the sensual paradise isle is dedicating an entire weekend to the art of romance.

The Bermuda International Love Festival will run from 12-14 February and couples are invited to experience the ultimate romantic retreat for a memorable Valentine’s Day.

Special events include a mixed golf tournament at Port Royal Golf Course boasting some of the world’s most scenic holes, VIP seating at a performance of Grammy award-winner Babyface and private performance by R&B legend, Chuck Jackson.

Couples can snap up one of the exclusive luxury Gold Packages for $1,600 (£979), which includes three nights’ accommodation in a superior Fairmont Gold Room, private concierge services, deluxe Continental breakfast, afternoon tea and pre-cocktail canapés and all the 2010 International Love Festival Events.

Return airfare from London Gatwick to Bermuda with British Airways, including taxes and fees start from £450 per person.

For more information and for a list of specialist tour operators,

visit www.gotobermuda.co.uk