Jetsettersblog

Goway Travel is offering a 10-day World of the Maya trip that presents an opportunity to learn about the enigmatic culture of the Mayans during the year when the Mayan calendar comes to an end. According to Don Forster, Goway’s product and marketing manager for Latin America, although the Long Count Calendar of the Ancient Mayans ends on Dec 21, 2012, it does not necessarily predict catastrophe.

“Though the Mayans have calculated that the date of Dec. 21, 2012 A.D. (13.0.0.0.0 in the Long Count) marks the end of a cycle and a beginning of a new one, they did not stipulate or predict what this ending and new beginning may denote,” Forster said.

According to Forster, there are generally two schools of thought on the matter. One is a more holistic spiritual view in which we see the ending of one phase and the beginning of a new one. The other is what he calls the “Hollywood view” in which a catastrophic event may take place, even the end of the world as we know it.

The trip surveys Mayan culture in El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala with opportunities to extend your trip into Belize. The record of the civilization of the Maya can be found carved on towering temples such as Copan and Tikal as well as in the handiworks and daily life rituals of the modern descendants of the Mayan culture, all seen on Goway’s World of the Maya.

The 2011-12 Latin America travel planner prominently features the journey as well as many other options in to Central and South America. To order a copy of the Latin America Travel Planner, call 888-469-2955, email info@goway.com  or visit www.goway.com

Specialist independent tour operator On the Go Tours has just launched brand new Mexico and Central America touring programs.

Its new flexible small group tours, with a maximum of 18 passengers that range from 9 – 22 days, provide an adventurous way to visit the very best that Mexico and Central America offer. From the Mayan sites of Palenque, Chichen Itza and Tiakal to the Colonial cities and towns of San Cristobal, Antigua and Granada the region is awash with history and culture. Added to this all of the countries in Central America and the southern regions of Mexico offer unrivalled natural beauty from lush tropical beaches to untamed rain forests.

Tour can also be combined so that it’s possible to travel from Mexico City to Panama City on a 51 day extravaganza passing through the Mayan Empires countries and onto the nature lover’s paradise of Costa Rica before finishing in the cosmopolitan capital of Panama City.

Each individual group tour has been designed to provide maximum local interaction and a true flavour of the individual countries. Throughout Central America local family run simple hotels and public transport has been selected so that the authenticity and charm of the region can be fully appreciated. All tours are fully escorted by an English speaking tour leader.

On the Go Tours run the following tours in Mexico and Central America:

Cancun to Antigua – 10 days from £610

Costa Rica Calling – 14 days from £1090

Cost Rica to Panama – 14 days from £1,030

Footsteps of the Mayans – 13 days from £740

Mayan Empires 22 – days from £1280

Mexico City to Guatemala – 22 days £1310

The Way to San Jose -15 days from £990

Wild Cost Rica – 9 days from £580

www.onthegotours.com
Tel: 020 7371 1113
ABTA, ATOL & AITO bonded

Guatemala and Honduras with Friendly Planet Travel JENKINTOWN, Pa.-October 24, 2011-Central America’s exquisite culture, picturesque views, and rich history have attracted travelers for ages. Now, thanks to Friendly Planet Travel, a leading tour operator of high-quality, affordable vacation packages to exotic destinations worldwide, travelers can experience the untamed nature and impressive sites of Guatemala and Honduras on the 11-day Best of Guatemala and Honduras tour, visiting four UNESCO World Heritage sites. Guatemala combines the best of colonial Spanish culture with traditional Mayan heritage, and Honduras is the heart of ancient Mayan culture, with impressive Mayan tombs and step-pyramids. Seeing these two historic countries on one value-packed trip will make it the trip of lifetime for any traveler. They’ll get all this for the unbeatable price of $1,999, which includes airfare, superior accommodations, fully escorted tours, and more.

Travelers begin their journey in Guatemala’s capital and largest city, Guatemala City, before heading to the colonial town of Antigua, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, nestled between three picturesque volcanoes and colonial architecture.

As travelers explore Antigua, they’ll walk the cobblestone streets and discover Antigua’s most famous sites, including Church of San Francisco, La Merced Church, and Antigua’s Jade Factory. Travelers will stop at the bustling, colorful, open-air markets of Chichicastenango and enjoy the unique opportunity for lunch with an indigenous family before heading to the shores of the beautiful Lake Atitlan for a boat ride to Santiago and Santa Catarina. Later, travelers return to Guatemala City. From there, travelers will cross over the Honduran border through the vast coffee and fruit plantations, and continue to Copan, the most renowned archeological site in Honduras and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The abandoned ruins of Copan, dense tropical vegetation, and mystical monuments will round out the sightseeing in Honduras. Travelers continue back to Guatemala, stopping along the ancient trade route of Quirigua, another UNESCO World Heritage Site known for intricately carved, giant sculptures, including the massive Zoomorphs. A balanced mix of tour and leisure time continues as travelers enjoy a ride across Rio Dulce, also called the “Sweet River,” and visit an indigenous community development organization, Ak-Tenamit to learn about the indigenous communities of Guatemala and the sustainability of Mayan culture in a modern world. A stop at the Fort of San Felipe and logging village of Sayaxche is sure to inspire the history buffs on the trip. A tour of the twin cities of Yaxhe and Topoxte in the jungles on the shores of Yaxha Lake and later exploration of the islands of the lake will keep travelers enthralled. A final stop at the fourth UNESCO World Heritage of Tikal, located in the heart of the Mayan biosphere, entices travelers with impressive tropical forests and enormous amounts of plant and animal species. A climb to the top of some of Tikal’s tallest pyramids rounds out the best Guatemala and Honduras has to offer. The trip includes round-trip airfare from Miami and all transportation; superior hotel accommodations; 10 full buffet breakfasts, four lunches and one dinner, including lunch with an indigenous family; comprehensive sightseeing with a local, English-speaking expert guide; and a visit to the Ak-Tenamit sustainable development community. “This tour’s combination of the unmatched culture and nature in Guatemala, and impressive temples and terraces in Honduras and Guatemala, will attract even the most experienced traveler,” says Peggy Goldman, President of Friendly Planet Travel. “Magnificent monuments; exotic, tropical landscapes; dynamic Mayan culture; and stops at four UNESCO World Heritages Sites make for an unforgettable exploration of Central America’s gems.” Friendly Planet’s 11-day Best of Guatemala and Honduras tour has the following departures at the $1,999 rate: Mar. 16, Apr. 20, May 18, June 15, and July. 27. For more information about Friendly Planet Travel’s Best of Guatemala and Honduras tour, please visit the company’s website at www.FriendlyPlanetTravel.com; the blog at blog.friendlyplanet.com; or contact Jackie Zima at 610-228-2138 (office), 215-534-2973 (mobile), or write to Jackie@GregoryFCA.com. ABOUT FRIENDLY PLANET TRAVEL Friendly Planet Travel makes high-quality exotic travel affordable for everyone. Since 1981, Friendly Planet Travel has been arranging all-inclusive escorted discount vacation packages and cruises to the most exciting destinations in the world at the lowest possible prices. Each year, Friendly Planet Travel offers more than 30 different group travel packages to Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe and South America-at discounts of hundreds of dollars off similar vacations. With no hidden charges, add-ons or surprises, Friendly Planet Travel vacations include convenient flights and airfare, carefully-selected first-class and superior hotels, knowledgeable English-speaking guides, many meals, and itineraries as well as friendships and memories that last a lifetime. Friendly Planet Travel offers its extensive, economical travel services to private groups including universities, religious institutions, alumni associations, and families. Groups who wish to travel together can count on Friendly Planet Travel’s three decades of experience to operate their group travel program expertly and always at the very best possible prices. Visit us at www.FriendlyPlanetTravel.com. You can also follow Friendly Planet on Twitter and Facebook.

ROATAN, Honduras — Pristine Bay Resort – located on the idyllic Caribbean island of Roatan — announces its “Golf in Paradise” stay-and-play package highlighted by luxurious villa accommodations and rounds on the Perry and Pete Dye-designed Black Pearl Course.

Offering savings of more than 30 percent, the Golf in Paradise package starts at $775 per person (plus tax, double occupancy). It includes four rounds of championship golf on Roatan’s only course, the acclaimed Pete and Perry Dye-designed Black Pearl; five days’ / four nights’ accommodations in a well-appointed villa with private pool; and daily breakfast.

Packages may be customized to include scuba diving, zip lining, deep-sea fishing and other activities.

“Our Golf in Paradise offer presents an exceptionally enticing opportunity to savor the many wonders of Pristine Bay, The Black Pearl and Roatan,” says Mario Toriello, Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “The splendid trifecta of championship golf, luxury amenities and natural beauty of the Caribbean’s last ‘undiscovered’ island makes Pristine Bay an ideal escape.”
Open since January, the par-72, 7,179-yard Black Pearl is dominated by mesmerizing seascapes with 14 holes providing dramatic views of the Caribbean. The layout superbly utilizes Roatan’s diverse topography as the course begins at the ocean’s doorstep and rises into the island’s verdant foothills before taking golfers on a rollicking journey back to the beachfront clubhouse. Notable is one of Dye’s signature island greens – the 157-yard, par-3 11th – where beguiling trade winds make club choice crucial.
Pristine Bay’s luxury five-star resort hotel is scheduled for its grand opening later this year with 30 standard guest rooms, 11 two-bedroom villas, five-star restaurant “Las Pergolas,” beachfront infinity pools and palapa bar. The 25,000-square-foot Beach Club showcasing the largest infinity edge pool in Central America (18,000 square feet), two hard courts for tennis, private beach, international restaurant, pool bar and grill, croquet field, movie theatre, pro shop and fully-equipped locker rooms will make a November debut.

Additional information about Pristine Bay Resort, The Black Pearl and Golf in Paradise package may be gleaned by visiting www.pristinebayresort.com, emailing golf@pristinebayresort.com , or calling 713. 489.2554.

About Pristine Bay Resort
Located on the lush, tropical island of Roatan, 35 miles off the coast of Honduras, Pristine Bay Resort is situated on a 400-plus acre site adjacent to the Caribbean Sea. The azure waters off the coast of the island, enhanced by the world’s second-largest barrier reef, provide a stunning backdrop and one of the truly unique settings for golf in Central America on its Pete and Perry Dye-designed Black Pearl Course.

Pristine Bay features a wide variety of residential products including: bay view and golf course condominiums, two-, three-, and four-bedroom villa units and one-quarter-acre custom home lots, many with unobstructed views of the ocean. Villas start at $600,000 and range up to $1 million; lots start at $230,000 and range up to $700,000; and condominiums from $348,000 to $700,000. A 155-slip full-service marina located near The Black Pearl clubhouse will provide deep-water access for a wide variety of sea-going vessels.

Residents and guests will have access to the ocean-front Bay Village at Pristine Bay with boutiques, art galleries, restaurants, cafes and other entertainment options. The 120-room, five-star Resort and Spa at Pristine Bay, to be managed by the Lancaster Hotel Group, is scheduled to open in late 2011.

Getting There: Roatan International Airport (RTB) is served by non-stop flights from the United States (Houston, Atlanta and Newark, NJ) and Canada (Toronto and Montreal). Service to the island is also available through the Honduran cities of Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula and San Salvador, El Salvador.

Roatan’s Pristine Bay Resort is offering travelers a “Golf in Paradise” package featuring villa accommodations and rounds on the resort’s Perry and Pete Dye-designed Black Pearl course.

The package starts at $775 per person and includes four rounds of golf, four nights’ accommodations in a villa with a private pool, plus daily breakfast. Pristine Bay’s luxury hotel will open later this year with 30 standard guest rooms, 11 two-bedroom villas and beachfront infinity pools. For more information, call 713-489-2554 or visit www.pristinebayresort.com

MSC Cruises suggests that snowbirds from the Northeast head south to Florida on MSC Poesia’s Oct. 29 12-night repositioning cruise.

This “Colors of the Caribbean” cruise calls in Ochos Rios, Jamaica; Cristobal, Panama; Puerto Limon, Costa Rica; and Cozumel, Mexico. Cruise fares begin at $899 per person plus $58.56 government fees and taxes.

“Not only is a cruise one of the most cost-effective vacations to travel in style, but for snowbirds relocating to Florida for the winter, this itinerary provides a worry-free option by avoiding airlines, baggage fees, and other inconveniences allowing them to make the most of their journey south,” said Rick Sasso, MSC Cruises’ North American president and CEO.

The MSC Poesia kicks off its Caribbean season Nov. 10 with Eastern, Western, and Southern Caribbean cruises roundtrip sailings from Fort Lauderdale.

Ports of call include

Key West, Fla.; Nassau, Bahamas; Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico; Roatan Island, Honduras; Montego Bay, Jamaica; St. Thomas, USVI; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Willemstad, Curacao; Oranjestad, Aruba; Cartagena, Colombia; Cristobal, Panama; St. John’s, Antigua; Saint George’s, Grenada; Fort-de-France, Martinique; and Philipsburg, St. Maarten.

Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, owners of the W, Sheraton, St Regis and Westin hotel chains, has recently announced plans to open two new hotels in Central America, one in Costa Rica and one in Panama, both aimed at business travellers. In San Jose (Costa Rica), the new hotel is expected to open this year and will have 150 rooms in seven floors. Starwood is also investing around US$ 50 million in a new hotel in Panama City with 312 rooms, expected to open in December 2012.

Panama is also attracting the attention of other major international hotel chains such as Hilton, planning to open a new hotel with 213 rooms in Panama City; Ritz-Carlton, also opening a 216 room hotel in the capital, the Ritz Plaza Suites; and the Spanish chain NH Hotels, which will open a 180-room hotel in Panama City.

In El Salvador, the previous Radisson hotel has become a modern Crowne Plaza Hotel with 194 rooms and 23 meeting rooms to suit the most demanding business traveller, following an investment of US$ 3 million by Spanish group Agrisal.

There are currently more than 7000 hotels in Central America, with a total of 108,500 rooms, catering for both leisure and business tourists.

NEW WORLD ASSOCIATION FOR SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
The recently created World Association for Sustainable Tourism, which has Costa Rica as its new vice-president, aims to transform tourism by sharing sustainable initiatives from different countries to learn from their experiences and implement best practice.

The Association is formed by 18 national governments, five United Nations entities, The Organisation for Economic Development and Cooperation (OEDC), 17 international and business organisations, as well as 16 ONGs committed to promote sustainability in the tourism sector.

Under this umbrella, the hotel sector has launched several initiatives aimed at implementing good environmental practice such as the energy efficiency, renewable energy, residual water treatment and use of alternative water sources such as rainwater.

Specific strategies will be devised for places which require special care such as archaeological sites, beaches, forests and marine parks, contributing to offset the impact of visitors. Such initiatives have already been implemented in Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica.

PANAMA LAUNCHES FIRST MEDICAL INSURANCE FOR TOURISTS
The Panama Tourist Board (ATP) has launched a new Medical Insurance for Tourists to guarantee the wellbeing of visitors to this exotic country. The insurance is applicable to any foreigners or Panamanians living abroad who arrive in the country through Tocumen International Airport, and is valid for 30 days. It can be obtained, at no cost, on arrival at the airport.

The new medical insurance, backed by Generali and Axa, covers travellers in the event of falling ill or having an accident while in Panama, including: hospitalisation, medical expenses, transfer to the nearest hospital or regular place of residence, hotel expenses if they are convalescent for more than 10 days, pharmaceutical expenses, legal assistance, accidental death and repatriation to the country of origin, amongst others.

LUXURY TOUR OPERATOR LAUNCHES TWO CLIPPER SHIP ITINERARIES

Cox & Kings is offering a new way to explore the magnificent Pacific coastlines of Central America, rich in wildlife, culture and buccaneering history. The new itineraries of the Star Flyer Tall Ship focus on Costa Rica, offering access to major and lesser-known national parks, some located on remote islands and bays inaccessible to land-based tourists.

NEW: COSTA RICA AND PANAMA CRUISE
This seven-night cruise begins with a visit to the Panamanian island of Isla del Coiba, which is covered in virgin rainforest and home to howler monkeys and scarlet macaws. Other highlights include visits to the famous national parks of Corcovado, one of the most biologically diverse places on earth, and Manuel Antonio, a tropical lowland forest where the jungle meets the ocean.

NEW: COSTA RICA AND NICARAGUA CRUISE
Sailing north, the first port of call on this seven-night cruise is the fishing town of San Juan del Sur in Nicaragua where optional excursions include visiting the colonial town of Granada or the Masaya volcano crater. Returning to Costa Rica’s northern coast, visits are made to Palo Verde National Park, which contains 300 species of bird and Islas Tortugo, whose waters are home to manta ray, whale and dolphin.

Both cruises are priced from £2,995 per person including international flights with Iberia, 1 night accommodation in San Jose, 7 night accommodation on the Star Flyer in a category 4 outside cabin on the Commodore deck, meals as detailed, private transfers and an excursion on Day 2. All excursions on board are optional and payable locally.

ROATAN, Honduras — Pristine Bay Resort on Roatan – an idyllic tropical island 40 miles off the coast of Honduras – announces its Perry and Pete Dye-designed golf course, The Black Pearl, is now open for public play.
Golfers of all skill levels will enjoy the par-72, 7,179-yard layout overlooking the shimmering Caribbean Sea.

The course starts at the ocean’s doorstep and rises into the island’s rolling foothills before taking golfers on a wild ride back to the seaside clubhouse. It features one of Dye’s signature island greens, and 14 holes with unfettered views of the ocean and Meso-American Barrier Reef.

“The anticipation is over and The Black Pearl is ready to take its place among the Caribbean’s ‘must play’ golf courses,” says Mario Toriello, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Pristine Bay Resort. “The Dyes skillfully routed it through tumbling terrain, showcasing both the shot values that have made their designs famous and the island’s stunning natural aesthetics.”

The 157-yard, island-green, par-3 11th is perhaps The Black Pearl’s most notable hole. From the elevated tee, players enjoy exceptional golf course and sea vistas. The green sits in the middle of a lake and is ringed by a narrow bunker to give slightly awry shots a chance of remaining dry. With the ever-present trade winds, proper club selection is key to avoiding a big number on the scorecard.

Roatan has become an increasingly popular destination on Caribbean cruise itineraries. The course opened December 1 exclusively for Carnival and Royal Caribbean passengers. Additionally, both the Sky Lounge and 19th Hole restaurants are open to enjoy before and after a round. The highly anticipated Resort and Spa at Pristine Bay – the 120-room, five-star hotel – will have a “soft opening” this spring.

“The Black Pearl is a true jewel of the Caribbean,” says Toriello.

“Pristine Bay and Roatan are ready to welcome visitors seeking our tropical weather and first-class service.”
Additional information about golf membership, real estate options and the coming-soon Resort and Spa at Pristine Bay can be gleaned by visiting www.pristinebayresort.com , emailing info@pristinebayresort.com , or calling 323.203.0623 or 786.315.8657.

About Pristine Bay Resort

Located on the lush, tropical island of Roatan, 35 miles off the coast of Honduras, Pristine Bay Resort is situated on a 400+ acre site adjacent to the Caribbean Sea.

The azure waters off the coast of the island, enhanced by the world’s second largest barrier reef, provide a stunning backdrop and one of the truly unique settings for golf in Central America.
Dye Designs, pioneers of the use of Paspalum turf for tropics-based projects, is grassing The Black Pearl with this salt-water tolerant strand known for its environmental compatibility, ease of irrigation and maintenance, and translucent green hue.

Its appearance — juxtaposed against the turquoise waters offshore – inspired The Black Pearl’s tagline: “The Best Greens and the Best Blues.”

Pristine Bay Resort features a wide variety of residential products including: bay view and golf course condominiums, two-, three-, and four-bedroom villa units and one-quarter-acre custom home lots, many with unobstructed views of the ocean. Villas start at $600,000 and range up to $1 million; lots start at $230,000 and range up to $700,000; and condominiums from $348,000 to $700,000.

A 155-slip full-service marina located near The Black Pearl clubhouse will provide deep-water access for a wide variety of sea-going vessels.

Residents and guests will have access to the ocean-front Bay Village at Pristine Bay with boutiques, art galleries, restaurants, cafes and other entertainment options.

The 120-room, five-star Resort and Spa at Pristine Bay, to be managed by the Lancaster Hotel Group, is scheduled to open in 2011.
Getting There: Roatan International Airport (RTB) is served by nine weekly, non-stop flights from the United States (Houston, Atlanta, Miami and Newark) on Continental, Delta and TACA.

Flights to the island through the Honduran cities of Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula and San Salvador, El Salvador are also available.

Copa Airlines has announced that that as of June 2011 it will increase daily flight frequencies to several countries in its extensive route network, offer more convenient schedules and begin service to three new destinations — Toronto, Canada; Porto Alegre, Brazil; and Nassau, Bahamas.

Copa Airlines’ transition as of June 15 from a four-bank to a six-bank operational system (groups of connecting schedules) will allow the airline to better utilize Tocumen Airport’s existing infrastructure as well as offer passengers more and better scheduling options.

As of June 15, the Hub of the Americas at Tocumen Airport will add to its existing flight banks, currently two in the morning and two in the afternoon, a group of early morning departures — ideal for travelers who want to arrive at their destination early in the day — and a group of afternoon departures.

These operational changes also translate to significant improvements in Copa Airlines’ flight schedules to major destinations on the American continent, such as New York’s JFK Airport and Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C., as well as to South America’s principal cities.

Copa will also increase frequencies of flights in other markets, including Lima, Bogota, Santiago, Orlando and Miami.

For more information, visit www.copaair.com