Jetsettersblog

Viking River Cruises is happy to announce its Early Booking Discounts for the 2009 sailing season has been extended and now expires on the 31st of October. Valid for cruises in Europe, Russia and China and now also including sailings on the newly renovated Viking Surkov in Russia and their ‘Roof of the World’ itinerary, a 16 day adventure exploring the imperial treasures of Beijing, Xian and Shanghai, 6 day Yangtze cruise as well as the Tibetan plateau known as ‘the roof of the world’.

The Grand European Tour, the iconic Amsterdam to Budapest cruise, from Holland’s windmill studded tulip fields to Germany’s fairytale castles, from the engineering marvel of the Main & Danube Canal to the picturesque vineyards of Austria’s Wachau Valley, this epic voyage presents the highlights of Holland, Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary. Starting from $5,799 per person in a category B deluxe stateroom, now offered with a saving of $1,250! Book and pay in full by 31 October and all you pay is $4,549 per person for an all-inclusive 15 day cruise along the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers in a deluxe category B stateroom or higher.

Viking River Cruises award winning 12 day Yangtze cruise, Imperial Jewels of China, exploring cosmopolitan Shanghai and the historic imperial treasures of Beijing such as the Forbidden city, the Great Wall and famed Summer Palace combined with a cruise between Wuhan and Chongqing through the wildly beautiful Three Gorges and Lesser Gorges is also now offered at a discount. Save up to $750 per person in a deluxe category B stateroom or higher, now starting from $2,749 per person including the fantastic discount.

Grand European Tour, 15 days, Amsterdam to Budapest &
Eastern European Odyssey, 16 days, Bucharest to Nuremberg
For stateroom category B or higher - save $1250 per person
For stateroom category C or lower - save $500 per person

Treasure of the Rhine, 15 days, Switzerland to Belgium
Portraits of Southern France, 8 days, Chalon-sur-Saone to Avignon
Rhine Getaway, 8 days, Amsterdam to Basel
Romantic Danube, 8 days, Budapest to Nuremberg
Cities of Light, 12 days, Paris to Prague
Elegant Elbe, 12 days, Berlin to Prague
Paris and the heart of Normandy, 8 days, Paris to Le Havre
Tulips & Windmills, 10 days, Amsterdam to Amsterdam
Danube Holiday Delight, 8 days, Passau to Vienna
Danube Explorer, 8 days, Vienna to Nuremberg
China’s Cultural Delights, 17 days, Beijing to Shanghai
Imperial Jewels of China, 12 days, Shanghai to Beijing
Roof of the World, 16 days, Beijing to Shanghai
For stateroom category B or higher - save $750 per person
For stateroom category C or lower - save $500 per person

Waterways of the Czars, 13 days, St Petersburg to Moscow
Russian Rhapsody, 16 days, St Petersburg to Moscow
Footsteps of the Cossacks, 11 or 12 days, Kiev to Odessa
For all stateroom categories - save $500 per person
EBD discount for Viking Surkov is $350 per person, all categories.

For Terms & conditions please visit www.vikingrivercruises.com . All prices are listed in Australian dollars. Book and pay in full by 31 October 2008 and valid on 2009 sailings only.

For bookings and enquiries please contact your local travel agent or Viking at:
Australia:  Australia@vikingrivercruises.com or toll free number: 1800 829 138
New Zealand:  Newzealand@vikingrivercruises.com or toll free number: 0800 447 913

About Viking River Cruises is the leading river cruise line in the world, operating the world’s largest fleet of 22 deluxe vessels built specifically for river travel providing unique, deluxe vacations. All 22 vessels are fully owned by Viking River Cruises and operated by Viking River Cruises own Swiss hotel management and staff. Viking River Cruises is a member of International Cruise Council Australasia.

For more information and all details on Viking River Cruises product, service, please go to www.vikingrivercruises.com or contact Teresia Fors, Managing Director Australia & New Zealand, +61 405 644 550 or teresiafors@vikingrivercruises.com

Gay travelers always find a warm welcome in Denmark. Now they receive the same treatment even before they board their flights on SAS. Scandinavian Airlines recently launched a Web site dedicated to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transsexual/transgender travelers: www.flysas.com/gay . The site, created in partnership with Wonderful Copenhagen and Copenhagen Gay Life, offers GLBT maps, guides and event calendars for the city. It’s a useful resource any time, and it will be especially handy when Copenhagen hosts the World OutGames in 2009.

Finnair passengers are now able to use the Finnair web site to make all their travel arrangements on-line at the same time as booking their flights. Tickets for special events, tours and other transport bookings can be made at the following link: www.finnair.com – Plan & Book – Tickets, Tours & Transfers.

Over 10,000 different products for both business and leisure travelers are offered through the facility. Finnair offers you the chance to book your favorite tours, tickets, and transfers in your destination wherever you stay or fly. The Swiss service provider Unaira supplies the online booking engine, giving access to high-quality destination services around the world.

“Our customers now have the chance to make bookings for all the services they want at one location,” says Mikko Tuomainen, responsible for Finnair’s Internet sales. “Unaira has produced the new service in cooperation with Amadeus, and that means the service is easy to use.”

Unaira is a leading provider of travel services, with offices in Holland, the USA and France, as well as Switzerland

Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) is expanding the alternatives for travel to Europe this winter with the return of two popular seasonal routes, Bangkok - Stockholm and Dubai – Copenhagen and the launch of a new route Delhi - Copenhagen.

“We see a strong demand from our Australian customers, for the Bangkok – Stockholm service in particular, which provides a great alternative for those who prefer to arrive into Europe in the evening,” says Lars Olofsson, General Manager SAS Australia and New Zealand.

“Both Stockholm and Copenhagen are ideal cities to visit on the way to continental Europe, says Olofsson. “Winter season is filled with various highlights such as Christmas celebrations in Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen and Gamla Stan Christmas Markets in Stockholm.”

Scandinavian Airlines’ Economy fare via Bangkok to Stockholm and Copenhagen starts from $1,840. Combination fares which include flights in Economy Extra (premium economy) or Business, between Asia and Europe start from $3,000.Taxes and surcharges are additional from AUD470.

For travel tips tailor-made for Australians, there are a series of free stopover guides for Bangkok, Copenhagen and Stockholm. The guides can be downloaded from Scandinavian Airlines’ website www.flysas.com.au. There you’ll also find up-to-date visitor information and tips on over 60 destinations within Scandinavia, Finland, the Baltic’s and more. Or visit the Scandinavian Tourist Board website www.visitscandinavia.com.au

For information on all fares visit www.flysas.com.au  or call SAS on 1300 727 707.

Scandinavian Airlines offers daily connections from Australia in co-operation with selected Star Alliance™ partners THAI, Singapore Airlines, Air China, United Airlines and frequent flyer partner Qantas. Services operate via Asia and North America to more than 75 destinations in Scandinavia, Finland, the Baltic’s and Europe, utilising the gateways of Stockholm and Copenhagen.

Scandinavian Airlines International is the long-haul operator of SAS with 1.4 million passengers per year. The fleet consists of Airbus A330s and A340s, serving 10 destinations: New York, Chicago, Washington, Seattle, Bangkok, Beijing, Tokyo, Dubai, Copenhagen and Stockholm. In 2008, SAS International will launch flights to Delhi.

An ultimate winter adventure in the Nordic Region is a unique journey to Norwegian and Finnish Lapland offering a blend of first class travel with the most fascinating and invigorating winter activities in the region.

 Scandinavian tour specialist MyPlanet is offering 8 day escorted tour departing from Oslo and ending Stockholm starting from $ 4860 per person.

Winter Lapland tour offers the opportunity to witness the incredible King Crabs in Kirkenes and taste this giant delicacy of the Barents Sea! Tour includes a stay at the Kakslauttanen Igloo village in the Finnish Lapand in the famous glass igloos, and weather permitting the breathtaking Northern Lights.

Activities include also a Reindeer safari, before visiting the home of Santa Claus in Rovaniemi. The highlight of this winter adventure is the ‘Sampo’ Icebreaker cruise with a chance to take a swim in the fresh Arctic waters of Kemi.

Escorted \Winter Adventure 8 days tour departs from Oslo 17 Jan, 31 Jan, 14 Mar and 4 Apr 2009. Price starting from A$4860 per person in twin and A$5730 in single.

Package include touring by 1st class private coach, Internal flights, guide, Sampo Icebreaker cruise including ice swimming, King crab safari including warm clothing and city sightseeing tours in Oslo and Stockholm.

For bookings and more information please call Myplanet 02 90205800 email: syd@myplanetaustralia.com  or visit www.myplanetaustralia.com

With options ranging from horse riding and kite-flying to the simple pleasures of sandcastle-building, Denmark’s thousands of kilometres of wide open, sandy beaches are wonderful for an active escape in the last rays of the summer sun.

Even if the capricious autumn weather gets you heading under cover, there’s still plenty to keep the entire family entertained as the country’s selection of exciting, indoor activities and attractions make Denmark the perfect place for a fun-packed autumn break – whatever the weather.

Denmark is home to a massive range of family-friendly attractions, including Bakken north of Copenhagen (www.bakken.dk) – the world’s oldest amusement park – and of course the world-famous Legoland (www.legoland.dk) on mainland Jutland, where families can discover miniature versions of famous landmarks as well as a selection of thrilling rides. On cooler days head indoors to the warmth of the sweet factory at Bolcheriet Løkken (www.bolcheriet.dk), on the north west Jutland coast, where visitors can watch lollipops and boiled sweets being made by hand and then buy them straight from the shop. Nearby, Action House (www.actionhouse.dk) is handily located for burning off that extra energy with indoor go-karting, bowling and arcade games.

Kids of all ages will enjoy Denmark’s unique Viking heritage, which can be discovered at such weather-proof attractions as Lindholm Høje (www.nordjyllandshistoriskemuseum.dk)  near Aalborg in north Jutland, Scandinavia’s largest Viking burial ground with more than 700 graves. Further Viking encounters can be had in other parts of Denmark including northern Sealand at the Viking Ships Museum in Roskilde (www.vikingeskibsmuseet.dk)  where five authentic wooden ‘longships’ (dating from the 11th Century) are on display alongside a collection of other Nordic boats aboard which visitors can get a feel for what life was like for these notorious raiders.

In terms of exciting historical attractions Den Gamle By (‘The Old Town’) in Denmark’s 2nd largest city Aarhus is a great living museum where you can experience old-style shops, gardens and workshops that have been brought from all over Denmark and captures a snapshot of a time gone by (www.dengamleby.dk)

For more ancient history, there is also Middelaldercentret (the Medieval Centre) at Nykobing Falster in south Sealand, where the clock has been turned back to 1396 to bring medieval Denmark back to life (www.middelaldercentret.dk/Engelsk/welcome.html . Expect to find rope-makers, blacksmiths and other craftsmen going about their daily chores.

Danes have an extremely high regard for the natural world, so it’s no surprise to find many wildlife-themed attractions across the country too. Among the best of these is Randers Rainforest (www.regnskoven.dk)  in east Jutland, an indoor tropical safari featuring 200 different animals and 450 kinds of plant. Kids can get up close and personal with monkeys, iguanas, bats and parrots, with the collection including animals from each of the world’s rainforest regions.

For wildlife of the aquatic kind, the ‘Discover Scuba Diving’ programme at the nearby Kattegatcentret (www.kattegatcentret.com) offers an introductory lesson in scuba diving from a PADI-certified trainer, followed by a dip in the attraction’s Oceanarium to discover sharks, rays and various other creatures from the deep. Continuing with the watery theme, the Fisheries and Maritime Museum in Esbjerg in west Jutland (www.fimus.dk/eng_index.html ) has a saltwater aquarium and a family of friendly seals alongside an exhibition on the history of sea-faring;

while seals and porpoises are also the stars of the show at Fjord&Baelt (www.fjord-baelt.dk) in Kerteminde on the island of Funen, an educational facility dedicated to protecting the marine environment. Those preferring their wildlife on the wing, meanwhile, should head further east in Denmark to Gavnø Castle in south Sealand to experience its fascinating butterfly house (visit this link)

Gavnø Castle is also home to a vast collection of artworks – in fact the largest private collection of paintings in the whole of Scandinavia. Further north in Humlebæk, north of Copenhagen, the impressive Louisiana Museum of Modern Art showcases international art exhibitions throughout the year and offers a wide range of activities for children and adults to explore together in ever so popular The Children’s Wing.

These include free activities for families with children plus drop-ins and special activities at weekends and on school holidays (www.louisiana.dk).  World-class exhibitions can also be found at Copenhagen’s National Museum (www.nationalmuseet.dk)  which also has a special Children’s Museum that allows kids to play their way through Danish history.

A great time to visit Denmark’s cultural attractions is during the Night of Culture festivities (10 October, www.kulturnatten.dk/en)  when many of the museums stay open late and there are special events across a number of cities in including Copenhagen, Aalborg and Aarhus, where the ARoS Art Museum (www.aros.dk) has an excellent art collection housed in a striking cube-shaped building.

Also popular is the Skagens Museum (www.skagensmuseum.dk) at the very tip of north Jutland, where families with children are very welcome and entrance is free of charge for all children and young people under 18. On the first floor of the museum there tables with paper and drawing requisites that all youngsters are encouraged to use. The museum houses more than 1,800 works of art by the famous painters of this artists’ colony’s, in the very surroundings in which they were created.

Further educational attractions can be found at the GeoCenter at Møns Klint (www.moensklint.dk)  on the small island of Møn in south east Denmark, which tells the story of Denmark’s geological development from 70 million years ago to the present today.

 The attraction (which took nine years to complete) opened in May 2007 and has an interactive visitor centre that showcases the spectacular chalk cliffs on Møn’s east coast. Also following the educational theme is the Experimentarium (www.experimentarium.dk) located just north of Copenhagen, this hands-on facility delves into the wonderful world of science.

A new exhibition, ‘Energy for the Future’, opens at the Experimentarium in February 2009. Equally insightful is The Danish Railway Museum on Funen which is a four-star attraction showcasing more than 10,000 sqm of carriages and locomotives, buses, model ferries, model railway tracks, mini-trains and with a great play area too.

And moving further west again the science and technology ‘fun park’ at Danfoss Universe in south Jutland (http://uk.danfossuniverse.com) features a world of information on the forces of nature and the latest technology in a highly interactive environment.
For those of a more active bent, there are many sporting activities that can be enjoyed indoors at the various top-notch holiday centres scattered along the Danish coasts.

SeaWest (www.strandhotellerne.dk) for example, is one of the country’s newest holiday centres; located in an incredibly beautiful setting amidst towering sand dunes in west Jutland, the resort offers a fully-equipped fitness centre, spa facilities and a subtropical water park with pools and slides – with over 60km of sandy beach to be explored in fair weather.

Similar facilities can be found at Skallerup (www.skallerup.dk) in north Jutland, where a wonderfully themed Roman spa provides a welcome retreat to recuperate from the exertions of the squash courts, swimming pool and tropical water park.

 For the largest water pool of all, visitors should head to the holiday centre at Lalandia Resort on the south coast of Lolland (www.lalandia.dk) south of Copenhagen, where they will also find facilities such as badminton, archery, fitness centre and spa.

Accommodation at these holiday camps is provided in comfortable, fully-equipped cottages with prices starting from £470 for a family of three for one week. Alternatively, opt for an attractive Danish holiday cottage through Novasol (www.novasol.dk , which offers excellent off-season deals on accommodation;

for example a spacious five-star house at Tisvilde, near Helsinge in north Sealand, costs from approximately £950 for a week in October, based on 12 people sharing and has an indoor swimming pool, sauna and whirlpool.

Getting to Denmark from the UK has never been easier. DFDS Seaways (www.dfds.co.uk)  sails from Harwich to Esbjerg, while Sterling (www.sterling.dk)  SAS (www.flysas.com) , BMI (www.flybmi.com) and Ryanair (www.ryanair.com) fly to various Danish gateways from several UK airports.

For more information on Denmark including the latest offers go to: http://www.visitdenmark.com

Europcar - Prius - final.docWorkers and residents in and around London can now escape the city whilst saving fuel, congestion charge costs and their conscience with the availability of the Toyota Prius from Europcar. The UK’s leading vehicle rental organisation is now offering the Prius, the world’s first and most successful hybrid power vehicle, from all of its London locations.

Driving pleasure, comfort and space haven’t been sacrificed to provide an eco-car. Instead the Prius combines style and superb handling with state of the art technology needed in these environmentally conscious times.

The fleet of vehicles are exempt from the London Congestion Charge and can be driven certain distances using electric power only at the press of a button. This means zero emissions, less noise and better fuel economy – perfect for city and country driving alike.

“The availability of the Prius provides customers with an opportunity to put the hybrid to the test following news that Toyota aims to sell at least 1 million hybrid vehicles annually in the early part of the next decade.” said Catriona Lougher, Marketing Director for Europcar.

“Renting a car with Europcar is already a green choice as all our vehicles are on average just 3 months old and fitted with the latest technology to cut emissions. The average CO2 emission of our fleet is 157 g/km compared to the UK car parc of 164.9 g/km*. However, by making the Prius available we are bringing our customers a new way to drive greener that will also help them cut costs in terms of fuel and congestion charges. It’s all part of our commitment to exploit new manufacturer developments to bring customers the latest models to hit the road and a great rental experience.”

*Source SMMT 2007 report.

Reservations Phone: 1-800-626-0126Website: www.amawaterways.com

Holland America Line’s flagship, the Rotterdam, will sail two new six-day Scandinavian itineraries in July. The two round-trips feature scenic cruising and explore Sweden, Denmark and Norway.

“Given our legacy in Rotterdam, we are thrilled to be sailing in and out of this magnificent port, right past our original headquarters, now the Hotel New York,” said Richard Meadows, executive vice president for marketing, sales and guest programs. “It’s a unique and unforgettable experience to watch Rotterdam’s citizens cheering at our arrivals and departures.”

Departing July 18 from Rotterdam, Netherlands, the ship calls at Helsingborg, Sweden; Copenhagen, Denmark; and Oslo, Norway. A 22-hour stay in the Danish capital allows guests to explore Copenhagen or enjoy dinner at a sidewalk café before returning to the ship. The second sailing, departing Rotterdam on July 24, explores the coast of Norway with calls at Flam, Bergen and Stavanger. Two days of scenic cruising in Norway are included — the first in Sognafjord and Aurlandsfjord, and the second at Lysefjord and Pulpit Rock. Cruise fares begin at $869 per person, double occupancy.

Holland America also offers two extended cruise options. Departing on July 18, guests can combine the two six-day itineraries for a 12-day cruise with only one overlapping call at Rotterdam.

Pricing for the 12-day cruise begins at $1,629 per person, double occupancy. The six-day July 24 sailing can be combined with the following 12-day July 30 sailing for an 18-day Collectors’ Voyage. The Collectors’ Voyage includes Oslo, Norway; Århus, Denmark; Warnemünde (Berlin), Germany; Tallinn, Estonia; and two days in St. Petersburg, Russia.

The voyage then continues on to Helsinki and Stockholm, along with scenic cruising of the Stockholm Archipelago, before disembarking in Copenhagen. Pricing for the 18-day Collectors’ Voyage begins at $2,399, per person, double occupancy.

Taxes and fuel supplement are additional on all fares.

Beyond Travel’s European Odd Couple package featuring Helsinki and Vienna; two most ideal destinations to experience the winter magic in Europe. The Winter package includes optional tours from Helsinki to Finnish Lapland for fun winter adventure and from Vienna to visit enchanting winter cities Innsbruck and Salzburg.

Mid-November both capitals start to gear up for the most reflective time of year — Advent. Both Vienna and Helsinki show their most romantic but individually different sides during the run up to Christmas. Imaginative Christmas lighting transforms the main shopping streets. The shops and boutiques dress their windows for the Christmas shopping season. Many Christmas concerts are arranged in the concert halls and churches to get into the Christmas spirit. The Christmas markets offer ideal finds for Christmas presents i.e. handicrafts and designer items.

Helsinki’s stunning range of visual arts can be admired in many quality museums and galleries. Helsinki’s active bar and café culture in the wintertime is brightened up by countless parties for hot chocolate and glögi (Gluhwine) in cosy cafés throughout the city.

To experience a thrill of ice hockey game which is the national sport in Finland, is a must in Helsinki. Helsinki hosts various winter festivals such as traditional Lucia Day, Forces of Light, Viaborg Winter Blues and Linnanmaki Outdoor Winter Festival. Season package offers optional winter adventure tours to Lapland, to visit the Santa at the Arctic Circle or experience Sampo Ice Breaker Cruise in Kemi and other winter fun.

Fairytale like Vienna offers various winter events such as Vienna Ice Dream: ice skating on Vienna’s City Hall Square rink along waltz or salsa against a fabulously illuminated backdrop.

The winter is also The Viennese Ball season of glittering diversity. Travellers can now extend the tour from Vienna to Innsbruck, the capital of the Alps and home of two winter Olympics. Visitors can combine sports events and cultural highlights i.e. by travelling by cable car from the Imperial Palace to the top of the snow covered peaks and famous ski slopes in 20 minutes. Or optionally a trip to Salzburg, the stage of the world and the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, dominated by churches, palaces and the UNESCO world heritage sight listed picturesque old town.

Beyond Travel is offering a four night ‘Odd Couple’ package competitively priced from AUD$2,100 per person** which includes return economy travel on Finnair to Helsinki and Vienna, two nights in Helsinki at the three star Sokos Hotel, two nights in Vienna at the Starlight Suite Hotel, breakfast daily, a Helsinki Audio tour & 48 hour Helsinki card and a 72 hour Vienna card that includes free public transport, free drinks, shopping and attraction discounts. There is a free bonus upgrade in Helsinki to a four star hotel for weekend stays.

There are two optional tours** from Helsinki to Finnish Lapland: ”Arctic Icebreaker Adventure” in Kemi including 2 day tour/3 nights accommodation, 4 hour Sampo Arctic Icebreaker safari and airport transfers starting AUD$875* per person in twin. “Rovaniemi Santa Claus Safari” includes 2 nights accommodation, 6 hour Santa Claus Safari and airport transfers starting AUD$ 490 per person in twin or 3 hour Northern Lights Tour and airport transfers starting AUD$ 423* per person in twin.

Extension packages from Vienna include 4 days/5 nights “Innsbruck Tyrolean Winter Wonders” starting AUD$ 485 per person in twin including 3 nights accommodation, first class train tickets Vienna-Innsbruck and Imperial Palace tour. Or optionally 4 day/3 nights “Salzburg Winter Explorer package” features 3 nights accommodation, Vienna-Salzburg first class train tickets, 2.5 hour City Tour – on the traces of Mozart -, 4 hour Sound of Music tour and services of a local representative.

Travellers can also go in the draw to win a fantastic trip to Helsinki and Vienna valued at AUD$8,500 per couple. Enter the competition at www.austria.info/au.

* Not including domestic air Helsinki-Kemi starting from AUD$320 per person

Packages are subject to availability and prices as of 30 August - subject to change without notice

For further information on Vienna/Austria please visit www.austria.info/au or contact the Austrian National Tourist Office in Sydney: per phone 02 9299 3621 or email info@antosyd.org.au

For further information on Helsinki/Finland please visit www.visitfinland.com/au or www.visithelsinki.fi

For further information on Finnair visit www.finnair.com.au

For bookings contact your local travel agent or for package details Beyond Travel on 1300 363 554 or email info@beyondtravel.com.au