Jetsettersblog

Setting sail from Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas the idyllic capital of the US Virgin Islands, you will find yourself in shopping heaven before embarking upon a 5 night journey around the Caribbean. Widely known as the duty free shopping capital of the world – Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas combines rich history with some of the world’s best shopping.

SeaDream I is an exclusive & intimate mega-yacht which hosts just 56 couples who are serviced by a team of 95 crew, providing a truly 5 star luxury experience.

Leading cruise holiday specialists ecruising Asia Pacific are providing you with this dream opportunity at a saving of up to 65%. Through ecruising you can enjoy 5 nights aboard luxury mega-yacht SeaDream I for only HK$19,249.00 usually HK$61,000.00

ecruising Asia Pacific is a fully registered and licensed travel agency who are specialists in cruise holidays. Recently launching their regional centre for Asia Pacific in Hong Kong, their team of dedicated customer service agents are providing Asia with a gateway to the world of cruising.

This exclusive package on SeaDream I includes all main meals, complimentary beverages, personal refreshment bar and entertainment. The mega-yacht also features an Award-winning Thai certified Spa (massage rooms, steam shower and sauna), Fitness center with state-of-the-art equipment, Outdoor whirlpool, pool and spa facilities.

Caribbean Itinerary

18 Jan - Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas

19 Jan - Cruz Bay, St. John

20 Jan - Anguilla, British West Indies

21 Jan - Gustavia, St. Barthelemy

22 Jan - Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands

23 Jan San Juan, Puerto Rico

Details
For sale until: 16 January 2009
Destinations: Caribbean
Ship: SeaDream I
Embarkation Port: Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas
Duration: 5 Nights
Departure Dates: 18 Jan 2009

Other great cruise holidays available through ecruising Asia Pacific include:

China, Vietnam & Thailand HK$13,499.00
14 nights on board Costa Allegra from Hong Kong to Singapore. Departing 21 Feb 2009
For sale until: 21 February 2009
Destinations: Asia
Cruise Line: Costa
Ship: Costa Allegra
Embarkation Port: Hong Kong, China
Duration: 14 nights
Departure Dates: 21 February 2009

ecruising Asia Pacific can be contacted for information about cruise holiday products here and world-wide by simply visiting

 www.ecruising.travel/hk

or phoning (852) 3711 3238.

The Dominican Republic is the place to be if you are thinking of organising that special meeting or incentive trip. From lavish resorts and stunning hotels to well-equipped convention centres and matchless historic venues and not to mention its warm and hospitable people, the Dominican Republic offers unique meetings in paradise. Delegates will also enjoy an array of sandy beaches, dazzling landscapes, lush green forests, exotic cuisine and a remarkable variety of art and entertainment options.

Dominican Republic has over 1,000 miles of stunning coastline and beaches which are widely celebrated as being among the world’s best.

Also a favourite golfing destination, the Dominican Republic is fast becoming the golf mecca of the Caribbean, with courses offering dramatic coastal views and year-round warm weather. The Dominican Republic was recently named “Golf Destination of the Year for the Caribbean and Latin America” by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO) at its annual award ceremony for the golf tourism industry.

From the north to the south, meeting delegates will find exciting sports, effervescent nightlife and festivals, magnificent national parks and world-class accommodations. In addition to golf, other outdoor activities like snorkelling, kite boarding, boating or cascading down waterfalls are other thrilling ways to experience the natural beauty of the island.

Exceptional value is another plus. The Dominican Republic’s world-class resorts and hotels offer expansive meeting venues and restaurants that are very affordable compared to rates in the U.S., Canada and other Caribbean countries.
Dominican Republic’s lush tropical country offers a fantastic combination of environments to capture your group’s imagination and refresh the soul. And with eight international airports, paradise has never been easier to explore.

So bring your group to this breathtaking island sanctuary and create meetings that will be remembered for a lifetime.

Dominican Republic online Meeting Planner is available at this link

Please contact us for further information and to register for fam trips in 2009.

Read the Jetsetters Magazine feature about the Dominican Republic by Edwin Ali, Jetsetters Magazine Caribbean Editor.

Paradisus, the luxury resort, is set to launch The Reserve. Set to open on Dec. 23, 2008, this multi-million dollar addition to The Leading Hotels of the World resort is a private, self-contained sanctuary, set apart from the main guest suites and dedicated to clients who prefer exclusivity and ultimate luxury.

Nestled in the interior of the property, The Reserve allows guests to enjoy all of the resort’s amenities while granting access to new features like exclusive pools, lounging, dining facilities and separate VIP check-in and check-out. The Reserve at Paradisus Palma Real, the second Reserve offering after the success at sister property Paradisus Punta Cana, will be comprised of eight buildings with 190 suites, including the new swim-up suites located at the swimming pool’s edge, an adult pool accessed solely by Reserve guests, and a kiddie pool located next to the Kid’s Zone.

The Reserve’s four satellite concierge desks, stationed evenly among the eight buildings, offer personalized service guaranteeing dinner reservations, appointments for Paradisus’ signature Life-Enriching Activities, and are empowered to fulfill guests’ every whim.

Operating independently from the rest of the resort, suites at The Reserve offers personalized mini-bars stocked with guest-specific goodies, flat-screen TVs, and terraces with panoramic views of The Reserve’s gardens. Reserve guests are also welcome to take advantage of Paradisus’ signature Family Concierge program, is an upgrade available to families unique to The Reserve which recently partnered with the parenting and lifestyle experts from www.PoshMom.com

Family Concierge amenities include a dedicated concierge, who is accessible daily via walkie-talkie communication; kid’s-sized Johnson & Johnson “tear free” bath products, bathrobes, and slippers; welcome backpacks filled with treats; optional in-room PlayStation; milk-and-cookies turn down service; and fun family-friendly activities.

Along with The Reserve, both Paradisus Punta Cana and Paradisus Palma Real will feature The Kid’s Zone, a new lounge dedicated to kids of all ages and available to all guests of the resort. The Kid’s Zone offers interactive video and computer games with current best-selling titles, a mini amusement park and playground, face painting, and Baby Club giving parents the opportunity to enjoy much deserved alone time. For the older kids, teenager activities are also available. Special kid-friendly frozen drinks and treats also keep the young ones entertained.

For adults, The Reserve area is home to a full-service gym, spin and yoga studios, and private poolside cabanas. Exclusive to The Reserve at Paradisus Palma Real is access to a private outpost of the resort’s YHI Spa. Appointments can be scheduled to fully indulge in all of the signature YHI massages, beauty regimens, and relaxation treatments. Dining options at The Reserve at Paradisus Palma Real will include Gabi Club, Mizu, a Japanese teppanyaki restaurant, and Aqua, which will offer Mediterranean fare.

Rounding out the amenities and venues available only at The Reserve at Paradisus Punta Cana are Vento restaurant and Gabi Club — a sleek, open air restaurant and lounge open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

For more information, call 800-33-MELIA or visit www.paradisusresorts.travel

Marriott and Renaissance Caribbean & Mexico Resorts announced the Winter 2008 Partners in Paradise Award recipients: Richard Poitras, strategic planner and founder of Horizons.com, and Carrie Plato, Caribbean strategy and buying leader of the Mark Travel Corporation.

Poitras was recognized with the Meeting Planner Partner Award and Plato received the Travel Industry Partner Award. The highly esteemed Partners in Paradise Awards are presented to the most extraordinary meeting and travel industry partners, recognizing their overall contributions to Marriott and Renaissance Caribbean & Mexico Resorts.

“These two, dynamic professionals have been selected to receive Marriott’s top industry honor for displaying qualities that exemplify the ideal Marriott partner — organization, leadership, flexibility, creativity and enthusiasm,” said Steve Cook, area director of sales and marketing for Marriott and Renaissance Caribbean & Mexico Resorts.

Launched in 2006, the bi-annual Partners in Paradise Award program is a way of recognizing individuals whose contributions to Marriott and Renaissance Caribbean & Mexico Resorts properties go above and beyond the financial opportunities alone.

Twice a year, the sales team nominates one meeting planner and one travel industry partner to receive this prestigious award. Winners are not only featured on ParadiseByMarriott.com and in a newsletter that is distributed to travel and meeting trades, but they also receive a personal letter, an engraved plaque and a $500 American Express gift certificate.

MLT Vacations added three popular island destinations in the Caribbean through the company’s NWA WorldVacations and Continental Airlines Vacations brands. The tour operator began offering Antigua, Turks & Caicos, and St. Lucia vacation packages Dec. 18.

NWA WorldVacations will offer all three island getaways while Continental Airlines Vacations will offer the islands of Antigua and Turks & Caicos. Vacations package components will include round-trip air, accommodations at a Sandals or Beaches Resort, and ground transportation.

Rental car options and more lodging selections will be announced in the spring of 2009, and optional car rental. More accommodation options are coming in spring 2009.

MLT Vacations, one of the largest providers of vacation packages in the United States, manages multiple package vacation brands, including NWA WorldVacations, Worry-Free Vacations, and Continental Airlines Vacations.

NWA WorldVacations offers vacation packages via scheduled air service on Northwest Airlines, Delta Air Lines and other airline partners, with convenient connections from many U.S. and Canadian cities, to destinations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Europe and Asia, including luxury vacation packages and destination weddings and honeymoons.

Worry-Free Vacations offers charter vacation packages from several U.S. cities to destinations in Mexico and the Caribbean. Continental Airlines Vacations offers vacation packages via scheduled air service on Continental Airlines with convenient connections from many U.S. and Canadian cities, to destinations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Europe and Asia.

For more information, visit www.worldagentdirect.com

Occidental Hotels & Resorts is offering up to $500 in air credits at Royal Hideaway Playacar, kids free offers at all Allegro properties, free nights at Occidental Grand locations and low nightly rates across the board. All Occidental vacations are all-inclusive, meaning meals, snacks, beverages and most resort activities are included.

The resorts are located in the Dominican Republic, romantic getaway to Mexico’s Rivera Maya or holiday escape to Aruba, Occidental Hotels & Resorts makes it possible for a wide variety of travelers to take a vacation, even in this economy. At the Royal Hideaway Playacar the Holiday special features no minimum stay for guests arriving Dec. 20 to 25 with rates starting at $319 per person, per night, based on double occupancy. A $500 air credit plus night of romance is targeted at couples booking a five- to seven-night stay by Dec. 21 for travel through March 31.

They will receive a $500 air credit and a night of romance including chilled champagne, chocolate-covered strawberries and one-hour couple’s massage. Couples booking a three to four night stay by Dec. 21 for travel through March 31 will receive a $300 air credit and a night of romance including chilled champagne, chocolate-covered strawberries and one-hour couple’s massage.

The Occidental Grand Cozumel’s holiday special also features no minimum stay at Occidental Grand Cozumel and a reduced minimum stay of three nights at Occidental Grand Xcaret for guests arriving Dec. 24 to 31 with rates starting at $150 per person, per night, based on double occupancy.

All Occidental Grand properties (excluding Occidental Grand Papagayo) are offering a fifth night free plus up to $100 spa credit for guests booking Royal Club accommodations for travel now through Dec. 18. Travelers who book their vacations by Dec. 21 for travel Jan. 2 to 31 can take advantage of low nightly rates at all Occidental Grand properties. All rates are per person, per night based on double occupancy at these participating resorts: Occidental Grand Punta Cana, Dominical Republic starting from $67;

Occidental Grand Xcaret, Mexico starting from $107; Occidental Grand Cozumel, Mexico starting from $147; Occidental Grand Papagayo, Costa Rica starting from $179 and the Occidental Grand Aruba starting from $247.

Allegro’s Holiday special also features no minimum stay at all Allegro properties for guests arriving Dec. 24 to 31 with rates starting at $85 per person, per night, based on double occupancy.

Travelers who book their vacations by Dec. 21 for travel Jan. 2 to 31 can take advantage of low nightly rates at all Allegro properties. All rates are per person, per night based on double occupancy at these participating resorts: Allegro Playa Dorada, Dominican Republic starting from $68; Allegro Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico starting from $73; Allegro Cozumel, Mexico starting from $93; Allegro Playacar, Mexico starting from $100; and Allegro Papagayo, Costa Rica starting from $127. Kids vacation for free at all Occidental Allegro properties now through Dec. 18. Rates are based on one child (age 3 to12) free for each paying adult guest and vary by Allegro property selected.

For more information, call 800-858-2258 or visit www.occidentalhotels.com

Certified Vacations Group entered into a partnership with CaribbeanWeddings.com, the largest site on the web dedicated to destination weddings in the Caribbean, to launch a new CaribbeanWeddings.com brand offering complete travel and destination wedding planning and booking services to the Caribbean.

The partnership provides CaribbeanWeddings.com professional travel industry expertise to back up its web marketing prowess. Roberta Backus Turner, chairwoman and founder of CaribbeanWeddings.com, said, “We worked with our visitors this way for many years, but our call volume and email requests became so enormous that we needed to find an experienced travel partner. Certified’s 28-year track record of excellence in developing packaged leisure travel, combined with our wedding expertise makes a perfect marriage. We interviewed some excellent firms and found the right relationship with Certified Vacations.”

CaribbeanWeddings.com, with more than 1.3 million page views a year, claims to be the leading Internet site dedicated exclusively to the Caribbean wedding and honeymoon market. The Internet company is ranked number one in over 5,000 first page rankings on the major search engines and continues to establish itself as a major Internet player in the Caribbean. Destination weddings are not only popular but they continue to increase each year according to most industry research, and wedding, honeymoon and romance packages sales remain solid year-round, despite a down economy.

According to the most recent “American Wedding Study” conducted by Condé Nast Bridal Media, an estimated 2.3 million Americans got married in 2006, with approximately 16 percent of couples enjoying a destination wedding. This represents an increase of 400 percent since 1996. Destination weddings and honeymoons generate an estimated $5.4 billion in annual revenue for the Caribbean.

To better serve brides and grooms-to-be, Certified Vacations has established a dedicated Caribbean Weddings call center staffed with destination wedding reservations specialists.

CaribbeanWeddings.com was launched in 1999 and is the largest site on the web dedicated exclusively to providing information about destination weddings in the Caribbean.

Before entering into its arrangement with Certified, CaribbeanWeddings.com provided information about weddings and honeymoons in the Caribbean to its visitors and sent leads from those visitors to participating hotels. Now, its visitors will be able to contact Certified directly to handle all or any part of their travel, wedding and honeymoon needs. For reservations on CaribbeanWeddings.com, call 877-312-LOVE (5683).

For more information on Certified Vacations, visit www.certifiedvacations.com

Every year on the first Thursday in May a peculiar festival is celebrated in honour of San Domenico…the Snake Fest.

In the old village of Cocullo located on the slopes of the Apennine Mountains in the region of Abruzzo, every year on the first Thursday of May a peculiar fest is celebrated in honour of San Domenico. Here you will be able to witness an event which will be different to any event experienced. Snakes are freed on the streets and squares of the village, an old ancient tradition.

The story starts here. San Domenico, an abbot, was considered a healer against snake and dog bites. Furthermore he was also the patron saint of the toothache. The cult of the saint entwines with the old pagan snake rites, typical of the people of the Marsica, this pagan rite was then adopted by the Romans. The people of Marsica were famous in times of old as snake tamers and clever poison makers and they used to worship the goddess Agizia who would put her magic powers into practice from a cave located on the Fucino lake. During the days that precede the festivities of San Domenico of Cocullo (the first Thursday in May), shepherds and country folk search the countryside looking for snakes and these snakes are then kept in big wicker baskets and are then set free among the faithful present in the church during the festivity.

During the procession, the statue of the Saint is wrapped by the biggest snakes and is serenaded through the faithful who throw handfuls of small snakes at the saint. Many people pick these small snakes up from the ground and put them on themselves as it is believed that they have curative powers. The faithful are then blessed with a reliquary which contains the saint’s tooth. At the end of the procession all the snakes are collected and set free in the country side.

For the toothache faithful, he who wants to defend himself from toothache needs to attend the rite of the “bell sound”, this takes place inside the church. This bell, which is set in motion by a rope, needs to be pulled by the teeth.

The Italian Connection has put together a group tour with a minimum of 25 persons starting on Wednesday 6th May 2009 and ending on Sunday the 10th May which will allow you to bear witness to the festival but will also introduce you to the beautiful region of Abruzzo, which still remains untouched by tourism. Prices for the group start from £ 199.00 per person sharing in a double room.

The Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA) has unveiled its new website, which is which is designed to streamline pertinent information to the organization’s hotel and affiliate members, while allowing for new capabilities such as an online membership directory, access to CHTA publications, and the ability to register online for conferences and events.

Through the website, members can access their profile in the CHTA membership directory at any time to update company profiles and records as well as employee contact information. The site also features CHTA manuals, publications, committee minutes and presentations.

The new website will provide information on conferences and events, as well as the ability to register online. Registrations processed online will receive immediate confirmation.

A new feature CHTA expects to have in place shortly is the ability for members to renew their membership dues online. Online purchases such as membership dues and conference registration will require credit card payment through PayPal, a secured credit card transaction company.

For more information, email marketing@caribbeanhotelandtourism.com  or visit www.caribbeanhotelandtourism.com

Set Course For Golf’s Most Enticing Fairways

Silversea’s 2009 Silver Links Golf Theme Cruises For golf explorers, it’s a dream come true! Silversea’s 2009 Silver Links program offers golfers the chance to combine their passion for the game with their love of adventure on 13 golf theme cruises featured aboard Silver Shadow and Silver Whisper.

The Silver Links voyages offer optional golfing excursions in multiple ports arranged and escorted by the ship’s golf professional. From the breathtaking Pacific scenery of the Cape Kidnappers Golf Club in Napier, to the narrow fairways and mountain terrain of the elegant Monte Carlo Golf Club, to the rolling hills and lush landscape of the St. Lucia Golf and Country Club, guests will have a chance to perfect their game at some of the world’s most challenging and revered championship courses in 30 countries and island destinations throughout the South Pacific, Mediterranean, Caribbean and Mexico.

“The popularity of golf is increasing every year, and more and more golfers are looking for an international golf experience,” said Steve Odell, Senior Vice President for Asia Pacific. “With our Silver Links program, avid golfers of all levels can combine a luxury vacation with the chance to enjoy guided golf excursions and priority tee times at some of the world’s most celebrated courses.”

The escorted, optional golfing excursions vary in price from course to course and include transfers to and from the select golf courses, pull or power-drive carts (where available), green and any applicable caddy fees. Should guests choose to leave their clubs at home, the finest Nike Golf clubs and golf essentials are available for rental or purchase. Golf clubs can be rented for as little as US$45 per day with multiple-day and equipment packages available.

 On each of these exciting voyages rich in golf destinations, guests will also have the opportunity to advance their game aboard ship with the help of a certified PGA-classed golf professional, who is available to organize personalized instruction, specialty group clinics, demonstrations and even putting contests. While some group activities are complimentary, there is a fee for private lessons.

Golfers have the option to further hone their skills aboard ship with sophisticated split-screen swing analysis utilizing the most advanced V1 digital coaching system, the same software selected by PGA.com as their preferred instructional technology. The cost for private swing analysis starts at just US$30.

Guests aboard Silver Links voyages will also enjoy spacious, ocean-view accommodations, most with private veranda, award-winning gourmet cuisine, personalized service, warm Italian hospitality, and Silversea’s unmatched selection of all-inclusive shipboard amenities, including complimentary beverages, wines and spirits served throughout the ship, 24-hour room service, stocked in-suite beverage cabinet and all gratuities.

Following is a sampling of the Silver Links voyages and golf courses for 2009:

– Silver Shadow departs January 4 on a 9-day Caribbean sailing (#3901) from Fort Lauderdale to Barbados calling in Tortola, Antigua, St. Lucia, Grenada and Bequia. Optional golf excursions visit Cedar Valley Golf Club (St. John’s); St. Lucia Golf and Country Club (Castries); and Sandy Lane Country Club (Bridgetown). Silver Sailing cruise fares start at US$3,537 per person.

— Silver Whisper departs January 4 on a 14-day South Pacific sailing (#4901) from Auckland to Sydney calling in Napier, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, Hobart, Burnie and Melbourne. Optional golf excursions visit Titirangi Golf Club (Auckland); Cape Kidnappers Golf Course (Napier); Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club (Wellington); Royal Hobart Golf Club; Royal Melbourne Golf Club and Sydney’s Camden Lakeside Country Club. Early Booking Incentive cruise fares start at US$9,005 per person.

– Silver Shadow departs February 18 on a 17-day Panama Canal crossing (#3906) from Antigua to Los Angeles calling in Cartagena, San Blas Island, Costa Rica, Puerto Quetzal, Acapulco, Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas and Ensenada. Optional golf excursions visit La Iguana at Los Sueños (Puntarenas); Fairmont Pierre Marquis Golf Club (Acapulco); and Puerto Vallarta’s El Tigre Golf Club. Early Booking Incentive cruise fares start at US$7,906 per person.

– Silver Whisper departs May 19 on a 9-day Mediterranean sailing (#4912) from Athens to Barcelona calling in Santorini, Malta, Sicily, Sorrento, Rome, Monte Carlo and Porquerolles. Optional golf excursions visit Il Picciolo Golf Club (Catania); Le Querce Golf Club (Rome); and the Monte Carlo Golf Club. Advance Payment Bonus cruise fares start at US$6,236 per person.

– Silver Whisper departs August 15 on a 7-day Mediterranean sailing (#4924) from Monte Carlo to Barcelona calling in Sardinia, Antibes, Sète, Porto Mahon and Palma de Mallorca. Optional golf excursions visit Monte Carlo Golf Club; La Grande-Motte Golf Club (Sète); Son Parc Golf Club (Mahon); and Son Vida Golf Course (Palma de Mallorca). Silver Sailing cruise fares start at US$4,896 per person.

– Silver Shadow departs December 2 on a 9-day Caribbean voyage (#3931) from Fort Lauderdale to Barbados calling in Grand Turk, Samana, La Romana, St. Lucia and Grenada. Optional golf excursions visit Casa de Campo’s Teeth of the Dog (La Romana), St. Lucia Golf and Country Club and Bridgetown’s Sandy Lane Country Club. Silver Sailing cruise fares start at US$3,657 per person.