Jetsettersblog

Award winning golf in the French Alps

Are you a devoted golfer looking to enjoy a holiday where you can relax and play a round or two this summer, but have a family that’s not too keen on the idea? All is not lost, the traditional French Alpine village of Méribel offers not only an award winning 18-hole golf course, but also a varied selection of extreme sports and bespoke spa treatments that will keep the whole family entertained.

So while the wife is enjoying a relaxing hay-bath, body peel and thermal water treatment and the kids are off on a backcountry mountain biking adventure, you can be basking in Summer temperatures that rarely fall below 30˚c and marveling at the panoramic views (including the ice-capped Mont-Blanc, Beaufortain and Vanoise mountain ranges, fields of glaciers, dense evergreen forests and meadows), whilst trying for that elusive hole in one.

And while not all of us have the ability of Tiger Woods, you can increase the distance of your drive by two club lengths due to the resort’s high altitude and dry atmosphere – players normally increase drives by anything up to 100 yards. Green fees for an 18-hole round start from just €55 pp available through The Méribel Tourist Office, and club and buggy hire is also available.

With so many budget airlines now flying from regional UK airports to Geneva (just two hours from Méribel) getting a family to the Alps has never been easier or better value. The modern and luxurious Altiport Hotel is perfect for those who want to indulge themselves. Situated at the foot of the Altiport lifts on the edge of the Fontany Forest, and right next to Méribel’s golf course, facilities include a hot tub, sauna and gym. A week’s stay at the Altiport Hotel this August starts from just £413 pp (half-board).

Alternatively, the Boulevard Apartments (sleep four) are situated in the centre of the resort and a week’s stay this August costs just £275 (total) – under £69 pp (based on full occupancy). Price includes seven-nights’ accommodation on a self-catering basis.

Other activities available across the Trois Vallées include white water rafting, rock climbing, canyoning (which involves traversing cliff faces, by a mixture of climbing down and across the mountain face and wading in ice-cold rock pools), paraponting, archery, swimming, horse riding and tennis. There are also a wide range of shops, bars, night clubs and a number of Michelin star rated restaurants scattered throughout the valleys.

All prices are based on two adults and two children sharing two rooms and include seven nights’ accommodation. Flights and transfers extra.

For further information, or a copy of the Summer Brochure, please visit the website at www.meribel.net  or telephone The Méribel Tourist Office on 00 33 479 00 50 00.

Windstar to sail from Venice

Luxury yacht cruise operator Windstar is to run fly-cruises from Venice next summer as part of deployment plans for 2009-2010.

Return sailings from the Italian city will be run by each of the company’s three vessels, 312-passenger Wind Surf and 148-passenger Wind Star and Wind Spirit.

The voyages will take in destinations in Croatia such as Rovinj, Split and Dubrovnik.

New ports to feature in the line’s new Voyage Planner include L’lle Rousse in France and Ischia in Italy.

Mediterranean departures next summer will run from Barcelona, Lisbon, Nice and Rome (Civitavecchia) in addition to Venice. Itineraries of between six and eight nights have been scheduled.

Greek island fly-cruises on Wind Star lead-in at £2,279 per person for seven nights between Athens and Istanbul departing the UK on July 9, 2009.

Wind Surf will operate seven-night Caribbean sailings from Barbados and Wind Spirit from St Thomas this winter. Wind Star winter itineraries cover the Panama Canal, Central America, South America and the Caribbean.

The company has also re-established its Signature Collection Series featuring guest lecturers on selected cruises next year covering subjects such as wine, art, food and sports.

Geneva’s Hotel d’Angleterre Tamarind Dinner Deal

For the fifth year running the Hôtel d’Angleterre, Red Carnation’s hideaway in Geneva, will be hosting its annual summer sub-continental spectacular when a five-man team flies in from the Michelin-star Tamarind restaurant in London.

This three-week event runs from July 28 to Aug.16 in the hotel’s Windows Restaurant.

To encourage guests to enjoy the event, the hotel is offering a package that features: an overnight stay for two; buffet breakfast; a four-course Indian dinner; and daily newspaper of choice. Rates are from CHF640 for one night, based on two people sharing a double room, including VAT and service charges and excluding Geneva city tax of CHF 4.25 per person per night.

For bookings or further information, call +41 (0) 22 906 55 14 or visit www.dangleterrehotel.com

Monte Carlo Fireworks Competition

Monte-Carlo International Musical Fireworks will run on July 25 and Aug. 11 and 22. This free event attracts thousands from the area to view some of the most beautiful and original fireworks around.

The competition has been held since 1966 and brings pyrotechnic specialists from around the world to show off their talent. Fireworks begin around 9:30 pm, or when it is dark.

There is good viewing from several locations: around the port sitting at a café, from the palace area or along the ramparts of Fort Antoine, and just off the Casino Terrace. The competition continues through the month of August and the winner returns Nov. 18 to create the fireworks display on the evening before the National Holiday.

Visit www.visitmonaco.com

Monte Carlo Summer Festival

The 2008 edition of the Monte-Carlo Sporting Summer Festival will take place until Aug. 23. Two guitarists will perform at the beginning and end of the summer: Eric Clapton will bring the Monte-Carlo Sporting Summer Festival to an end on Aug. 22 and 23.

American rock bands ZZ Top (July 21) and Chicago (July 28)

Call 800-753-9696 or visit www.sportingmontecarlo.com

Tripwolf Free Guides to Europe

Tripwolf.com, a social travel guide that specializes in Europe but also offers content about other pats of the world, is targeting the U.S. market. It combines professional editorial content with user-generated content from travelers worldwide. Tripwolf is backed by MairDumont, Europe’s largest publisher of travel guides, including Baedeker, Dumont and Marco Polo. Through collaboration with tripwolf, MairDumont has put all of its content - covering more than 200,000 destinations and points of interest - online for free.

For more information, visit www.tripwolf.com

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.

Uniworld Cruises Early-Booking Incentives

Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection is offering travelers who pre-plan their cruises additional savings.

With Pay-In-Full and early-booking discount programs, travelers reduce their costs by booking and paying for all or a portion of their Europe cruises in advance. Couples who book a 2009 Uniworld Europe river cruise and pay in full before Sept. 30 can save up to $1,000 per person on select itineraries in Europe. By paying before this date, travelers are protected from any currency fluctuation. Those who place a deposit on a 2009 river cruise can save up $300 per person by booking and depositing by Nov. 30.

For more information, call 800-733-7820 or visit www.uniworld.com

Luxury Alpine Chalet

Luxury destination club Distinctive Holiday Homes is proud to announce the latest addition to its stable of sumptuous getaways: a stunning chalet nestled high in the Alpine village of Les Mouilles, Megeve.

Famed as one of the most stylish locales in the Haute Savoie region of France, the bustling town is a skier’s dream, and hosts two unique winter sport events: the Vacheron Constantin Snow Golf Cup and the International Snow Polo Meeting.

With a plethora of high-end boutiques, restaurants, local markets, cultural events and kids’ entertainment, Megeve is a unique holiday destination that offers just about everything the discerning family could want. It even makes a gorgeous summer spot, when the town and surrounding countryside are in full, astounding bloom.

DHH’s members can enjoy the many attractions of this exquisite town from the lushly designed cosiness of a chalet that maintains the company’s established reputation for indulgence. The three-level, three-bedroom, three-bathroom home comfortably sleeps six adults and two children.

It’s located in the heart of the village, a gentle walk from the centre of town and just 100ft from the main chairlift. Guests can survey the majesty of the peaks from the comfort of the master bathroom’s antique copper bathtub, socialise in the gourmet kitchen and dining room with built-in bar, or relax after a hard day’s skiing in the chalet’s own sauna and Jacuzzi. Spacious and stylish with the finest in contemporary finishing, the Megeve chalet blends a new dimension of luxury with rustic French charm.

And there’s even more to this five-star living. DHH members also benefit from an impressive range of standard perks – fully stocked fine food and beverage provisions and use of a luxury car during their stay, as well as year-round membership of Quintessentially, the international concierge service, and private jet charter group Bombardier.

A choice of impressive holiday destinations is not all that DHH offers. Membership provides an impressively affordable alternative to the hassle, expense and financial risk of buying a second home abroad. In today’s uncertain markets, investing in property is no longer a sure thing. DHH members get all the benefits of a guaranteed four weeks holiday a year in a luxurious, homely and family-friendly environment, along with the exciting possibility of vacationing in a different thrilling destination every year – and all this while freeing up the majority of their capital for a less risk-intensive investment.

The company was started by entrepreneur Nick Wood, founder of Australasian internet service provider iHug and owner of the award-winning Octopus resort in Fiji. Wood brought his formidable knowledge of the hospitality industry to bear on the crucial issue of choosing DHH’s properties.

The Megeve chalet joins nine hand-picked properties and two luxury yachts as far afield as Corsanico, Fiji and Lake Tahoe.

Distinctive Holiday Homes’ latest acquisition has once again raised the bar for luxury vacations.

Budapest Grand Prix 2008

Eurail Hungary Pass
EXPERIENCE the thrills of Formula One racing with three days of motor sport action from 31 July until 3 August 2008 at Budapest’s Hungaroring circuit.

This circuit is only a few kilometres to the south of the city centre and the Budapest Grand Prix offers the ideal opportunity for motor sport fans to enjoy a city break in one of Europe’s prettiest capital cities, whilst catching one of the most exciting Formula One races live.

Apart from the Grand Prix that takes place at 2pm on 3 August and the pre-race build up, there is also the chance to see the next generation of F1 drivers from the GP2 series as well as the Porsche Supercup pilots compete over the three days.

Tickets start from Euro 100 for general admission and from Euro 220 for the grandstands and can be purchased online at www.hungaroinfo.com/formel1/ Parking is included in the ticket price. An additional fee of Euro 15 is charged to have them posted to the UK by UPS.

This site also lists 30 hotels and campsites that can be booked online at special prices for the event, plus details of helicopter transfers to the track from downtown Budapest or the airport from Euro 169 per person, for anyone that fancies arriving in style!

For more information about Hungary visit www.gotohungary.co.uk

GETTING THERE

Flights to Budapest are available from nine UK airports including Heathrow, Gatwick, Bristol, Luton, Liverpool, Manchester, East Midlands, Glasgow and Dublin.