Jetsettersblog

From Taber Holidays As Massive Solar Storm Creates Heightened Interest In The Aurora
Everyone is talking about the Northern lights, with some of the most amazing displays of aurora activity seen in recent years over the skies of Norway, and as far south as the UK, thanks to last week’s solar storm. If seeing the Northern Lights is on your wish list, then there really is no better time. Taber Holidays are offering a special one-off itinerary to the Lofoten Islands in Norway next month to take advantage of this unique period of solar activity.

The four-night Lofoten Islands & Northern Lights break departs on February 23rd and costs £1,432pp or £526pp for children under 12 sharing their parents’ room. As well as focusing on the awe-inspiring aurora borealis, the trip also takes a close look at culture, history and nature. Included in the price is an excursion to the Polarlight Centre at Laukvik for a multi-media presentation about the aurora, followed by a Northern Lights walk on the beach. A further excursion offers guests a short photography course in how to capture the best Northern Lights images and a storytelling session around an open fire about the many fascinating myths and legends associated with the aurora.

NASA experts predict 2012 will present the best Northern Lights activity for more than 50 years, and if January is anything to go by then the rest of the winter months will offer something truly magnificent.

The Lofoten Islands and The Northern Lights – From £1,432pp – A four-night break to Lofoten in Norway costs £1,432pp for adults or £526 for children under 12 sharing their parents’ room. The price includes direct flights from London Gatwick to Evenes, transfers, accommodation, full board and a number of excursions.

For more information or to book, call Taber Holidays on 01274 875199 or see www.taberhols.co.uk

Cox & Kings, The Americas unveiled new itineraries to what it’s calling “Exotic Europe.” The programs are designed to bring out more of the adventurous possibilities for a region that many feel they have already “done.” The programs are built to provide more adventure, insider access and off-the-beaten-path experiences. It’s Cox & Kings own approach to a destination that it has only come to lately, adding it to its portfolio last year.

Cox & Kings is offering the destination in a way that goes beyond the standard packages for Paris or Rome. The programs dig deep down under the surface to bring enchanted folklore to life with experiences such as exploring Medieval citadels and traveling beyond the Arctic circle.

“We’re proud of this new collection of European journeys that embodies the values and experiences Cox & Kings is noted for — offering travelers moments that go far beyond providing typical sightseeing,” said Thomas Stanley, center head and COO of Cox & Kings, The Americas. “Our expert Europe Destination Specialist Thor Forsberg has cultivated these unique journeys so that travelers can have rare experiences and see the continent in a new way, with under-the-radar activities, adventurous culinary options and breathtaking sights.”

The selection includes Sweden & The Midnight Sun; A Journey through Northern Spain on Gran Lujo; Albania: Lost in Time; and Gourmet Scotland. For more information, call 800-999-1758.

This year, 2012, is the 100th anniversary of the death of August Strindberg (1849-1912), Sweden’s most celebrated author and playwright. His works — “Miss Julie” and “The Ghost Sonata,” among them — are classics of modern theater, both for their deeply defined characters and their revolutionary exploration of psychological and social themes. A true innovator, Strindberg “set the stage” for the generations of actors and dramatists that followed him.

Sweden will celebrate Strindberg with several events, including “Strindberg” at the Nordiska Museet in Stockholm (through Jan. 1, 2013), featuring personal items, family photos and original manuscripts. “Sender A. Strindberg” at the Post Museum in Stockholm (March 23 to Dec. 31) focuses on the author’s letters and correspondence.

For clients who’d like to walk in Strindberg’s footsteps, the Strindberg Museum (Strindbergsmuseet) is housed in his reconstructed apartment complete with his 3,000-volume personal library. The Intima Teater, founded by Strindberg in 1907 and restored in 2002, is now a 100-seat theater for live performance, especially works by Strindberg.

Röda Rummet, the inspiration for Strindberg’s 1879 novel “The Red Room,” is a magnificent Baroque-style room in Stockholm’s Berns Hotel. A gathering place for bohemians and free-thinkers in Strindberg’s day, the Red Room is now used for private dinners and gatherings.

Windstar Cruises, which operates a fleet of three luxury sailing yachts, is introducing three new Baltic itineraries this summer on the 312-guest Wind Surf. All three itineraries feature two-for-one savings fares plus two free hotel nights in embarkation or disembarkation port cities.

“Capitals of Scandinavia” allows guests to experience the beauty, culture and city life of Scandinavia. They can explore Oslo’s parks and architecture; the palaces, canals and copper spires of Copenhagen; and the contrast of minimalist design and spice-colored buildings of Stockholm. Seven-day sailings between Oslo, Norway and Stockholm, Sweden visit Stromstad, Sweden; Copenhagen, Denmark (overnight); Rugen, Germany; and Bornholm, Denmark, and depart July 27 and August 19, 2012. Two-for-one savings fares plus two free hotel nights per cabin in Oslo or Stockholm, are priced from $2,799 per person.

“Best of the Baltic” features an overnight in St. Petersburg. Wind Surf docks close to the center of each port—just steps away from the grand capitals and hamlets. Guests can explore the treasures of St. Petersburg’s Hermitage and the city’s charming cafes.

Seven-day sailings roundtrip from Stockholm, Sweden visit Mariehamn, Finland; St. Petersburg, Russia (overnight); Helsinki, Finland; Tallinn, Estonia; and Sandhamn, Sweden, with departures Aug. 3 and 11, 2012.

Cruises, including two free hotel nights per cabin in Stockholm, start from $3,699 per person.

“Treasures of Northern Europe” features three sailing days, plus the best of Northern Europe and overnights in Oslo and Amsterdam.

Guests can explore Northern Europe’s legendary cities and stand in the presence of some of the world’s great art masterpieces.

Eleven-day sailings between Lisbon, Portugal and Oslo, Norway visit Le Havre, France; Dover, Great Britain; Antwerp, Belgium; and Amsterdam, Netherlands (overnight), with departures July 16 and Aug. 26, 2012.

Cruises with two-for-one savings fares plus two free hotel nights per cabin in Lisbon or Oslo, start from $2,499 per person. Seven-day sailings, LeHavre to Oslo or reverse, are also available from $2,199, with two-for-one savings fares plus two free hotel nights per cabin in Oslo.

All fares are per person cruise only, based on double occupancy in category B and include non-discountable amounts. Government fees and taxes are additional ($35-$300 per person).

Two-for-one cruise fares are based on 50 percent of published full cruise fares as shown on select sailings. The two-night complimentary hotel offer is available per booked cabin, is applicable on select sailings and includes one complimentary transfer to or from the yacht, all tips, gratuities, taxes and luggage-handling fees.

Sweden has been given a major infusion of cultural potency with the success of the novels (and subsequent films) of Stieg Larsson and the winning of a Nobel Prize by poet Tomas Tranströmer. Tranströmer, the first Swede since 1974 to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, is widely regarded as one of the most important poets of the modern age. He lives and works in Stockholm. Tranströmers’ poems have their roots in the nature of the Stockholm archipelago and his upbringing on the Södermalm district in Stockholm.

The Swedish Tourist Office released a list of the places connected to the Nobel Laureate including the Nobel Museum, Stortorget, Gamla Stan; Stockholm City Hall, Ragnar Östbergs Plan, Kungsholmen, home of the Nobel Prize banquet; Runmarö, Archipelago, where he spent his childhood summers; Grindsgatan 33, Södermalm, where he lived the first three years of his life; and Stigbergsgatan, Södermalm, where he and his wife live now.

Tranströmer was born in Stockholm in 1931, and studied poetics and the history of literature, the history of religion, and psychology at Stockholm University. After writing poetry for several journals, Tranströmer published 17 poems in 1954. He was already then showing an interest in nature and music, themes that have featured strongly in much of his production.

revealed in Price of Travel’s updated Backpacker Index
In the updated list of 40 major European cities by price, Sofia (Bulgaria) just barely stays ahead of Krakow (Poland) as the cheapest tourist city for budget travelers for 2012. Budapest moves up into the number 3 slot, mostly due to the weakened Hungarian currency.

Zurich, Oslo, and Stockholm remain the 3 most expensive cities on the list, with the similar group of budget-traveler expenses costing on average of four times as much per day compared to the cheapest group.

The European Backpacker Index for 2012 enters its second year as the most accurate gauge of costs in tourist cities in Europe and around the world. The index price is based on costs of hostel beds, public transportation, attractions, food, and drink in each city.

“Prices have climbed at least slightly in most European cities during the past year,” says Roger Wade who runs the PriceofTravel.com website that compiles the Backpacker Index. “But Americans should be happy to know that a recent surge in the value of the US dollar has actually made most of Europe cheaper than it has been in a few years.”

The Backpacker Index covers over 100 global cities, and coming weeks will see updates of the Asia, South America, and North America lists for 2012.

Price of Travel launched in early 2010 as a resource to help travelers compare typical expenses of hotels, attractions, transportion, and food in each of over 110 cities to help make an accurate budget and find the best values around the world.

Rail Europe is offering several deals this season. Beginning Feb. 15 through March 14, Rail Europe is offering travelers a 20 percent savings on Eurostar.

Standard Premier Tickets will begin at $154 for one way and $308 for roundtrip.

Travel is valid within six months of purchase.

Now through March 30, travelers who purchase a six- or eight-day Eurail Sweden Pass will receive an additional travel day complimentary with Rail Europe’s Sweden Free Day promotion.

This exclusive deal offers seven days of rail travel for the price of six or nine days of rail travel for the price of eight aboard Sweden’s national rail network.

The pass also includes travel from Gothenburg and Stockholm to Oslo and roundtrip from Copenhagen’s airport.

Prices begin at $356 for first class seating and $275 for second class seating. Travel is valid within six months of purchase.

Rail Europe’s BritRail Low Season Pass Offer is for travelers looking to book a last-minute trip to Britain.

Now through Feb. 14, travelers receive a 20 percent savings on BritRail Passes, which offer unlimited travel throughout the national rail networks of Great Britain.

Prices begin at $219 for first class travel and $159 second class travel for three consecutive days.

Travel is valid through Feb. 29.

Hurtigruten Deploys Extra Ship To Meet Growing Demand In Spitsbergen

Captivated by the BBC’s Frozen Planet documentary that everyone is talking about? Fancy a trip to the frozen north next summer to see more of the landscape and wildlife of Spitsbergen? Polar experts Hurtigruten have just announced that they will be sending an extra ship to Spitsbergen next summer to meet the substantial increase in interest it is experiencing in the region which has been given a high profile recently following Prince Harry’s Arctic expedition and current Frozen Planet TV programme. Book by 31 January to receive 10% off!

Between June and August 2012, Hurtigruten will send MS Nordstjernen up to Spitsbergen to travel the west coast of the island for a total of 21 five and six day itineraries. This nostalgic ship is well known in the Svalbard Archipelago having sailed there between 1994 and 2009 and for many, exploring this frozen landscape and reaching the 80th parallel on a traditional ship is a perfect combination. Between 2009 and spring 2012 Nordstjernen has sailed along the Norwegain coast. Hurtigruten’s newest ship MS Fram will continue to sail the summer in Spitsbergen also.

Spitsbergen lies just 1200km from the North Pole and is home to the King of the Arctic – the Polar Bear. On the journey through the light polar night in the north of the archipelago guests visit interesting settlements including the Russian coal mining town of Barentsburg and the Ny Ålesund research station, as well as excursions to fascinating glaciers and landscapes.In favourable weather conditions, the ship reaches the 80th parallel.An encounter with polar bears is one of the highlights of the trip alongside walruses, arctic sea birds and of course the Midnight Sun.

POLAR ENCOUNTERS VOYAGE – From £1614pp – A five-night ‘Polar Encounters’ voyage to Spitsbergen on selected dates in June, July and August costs from £1614 per person including four night’s full board on the ship, one night’s b/b in a Longyearbyen hotel plus landings, sightseeing in Longyearbyen and accompanied by an expedition team. Based on two sharing and price valid if booked by 31 January 2011. Flights are extra and can be booked via Hurtigruten from £844pp.

For more information call Hurtigruten – 0844 448 7601  www.hurtigruten.co.uk 

The ANNIKA Invitational Europe, an elite junior golf championship founded by Hall of Fame golfer Annika Sorenstam for the 78 best females residing in Europe, will be played for the first time in Sweden in late summer 2012.
The tournament will be held Aug. 31 – Sept. 2, 2012 at Linkopings Golf Club in Annika’s native country, Sweden. The 54-hole stroke play competition, modeled after the award-winning ANNIKA Invitational in the United States, will feature 78 participants from European.countries. Annika, winner of 89 professional tournaments (72 on the LPGA Tour) and 10 major championships during her 15-year Hall of Fame career, will also host a number of activities, including skills clinics and educational sessions for the participants.

“Expanding our ANNIKA Invitational series to Europe has been a dream of mine,” said Annika. “I want to continue to inspire young girls to focus on golf and being active while teaching them life lessons along the way. This will give my Foundation three world-class junior tournaments in different regions of the world. Bringing this tournament to my native country, Sweden, was an obvious choice.”

The three low finishers in ANNIKA Invitational Europe will win coveted berths to the ANNIKA Invitational that Annika hosts in the United States. That tournament, started by the ANNIKA Foundation, is an official American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) tournament in Orlando, Fla. The AJGA is widely regarded as the best junior golf circuit in the world, and has awarded the ANNIKA Invitational in Orlando two national awards, including “Best Invitational” for girls.

The ANNIKA Invitational began in partnership with the AJGA in the United States in 2009 and expanded to Mission Hills, China in 2011. The ANNIKA Invitational Europe is a collaboration between the ANNIKA Foundation, the Swedish Golf Federation (SGF), Skandia and Linkopings Golf Club. Since 2007, the SGF, Skandia and Annika have partnered on the ANNIKA Cup, an annual match play competition for twelve of the top amateur girls in Sweden. The ANNIKA Cup, which invites younger top junior girls, will continue to be played each year immediately preceding or after the ANNIKA Invitational Europe at Annika’s childhood course, Bro Balsta Golf Club, near Stockholm.

“For us at Skandia, the ANNIKA Invitational is part of our long-term efforts to support young girls in junior golf. We know the past success of the ANNIKA Invitationals will lead to a wonderful tournament here in Europe,” said Ing-Britt Ekberg, Skandia’s sponsorship manager.
“We are thrilled that the ANNIKA Invitational Europe will bring greater attention to Swedish girls’ golf,” said Magnus Grankvist, head of the junior golf at the SGF. “We are proud to be linked with Annika and the Foundation partners, including the AJGA. It is wonderful that the top juniors from Europe will have the opportunity to play in the AJGA version in the United States”

“We are proud to host the inaugural ANNIKA Invitational Europe,” said Carl-Stephan Rundquist, president of Linkoping Golf Course. “We feel it is important to continue to grow the game of golf among young people.”
For additional information visit: www.annikafoundation.org.
About the Annika Foundation:

The ANNIKA Foundation teaches children the importance of living a healthy, active lifestyle through fitness and nutrition, and offers aspiring junior golfers opportunities to pursue their dreams. The Foundation has partnered with several key organizations to promote healthy and active lifestyles for children, including SPARK, the leading physical education program for schools; Florida Hospital for Children, supporting its Healthy 100 Kids initiative; and The First Tee, developing the Nine Healthy Habits curriculum for children. The Foundation annually conducts three major golf events for aspiring junior girls, including the ANNIKA Invitational at Reunion Resort in Orlando, Fla., the award-winning American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) event; the ANNIKA Invitational at Mission Hills in China for top Asian juniors; and the ANNIKA Cup, a team event for the top juniors in Sweden. The Foundation awards SPARK grants to schools, is a financial supporter of Healthy 100 Kids, and has endowed an ACE scholarship with the AJGA. Other key Foundation initiatives include ANNIKA Junior Day, the ANNIKA Inspiration Award and scholarships for aspiring Swedish juniors. More information about the ANNIKA Foundation can be found at www.annikafoundation.org

Hurtigrutenis offering a Pearls of the Baltic cruise this spring, traversing the Baltic Sea from Oslo to Stockholm. The cruise will visit six ports in as many countries on a nine-day journey aboard the Fram. Highlights include Stockholm, Tallinn and Saint Petersburg, as well as a range of optional excursions.

Early booking fares, for cruises booked by Dec. 31, range from $3,061 to $5,461 per person, double — a 10 percent savings off of brochure fares for the May 5 voyage. Included are all meals onboard, a wind- and water-resistant jacket, landings in Polarcirkel boats, and onboard lectures by the expedition team.