Jetsettersblog

Düsseldorf’s Breidenbacher Hof Introductory Rates

Following a transformation and May 2008 re-opening, Breidenbacher Hof, a Capella Hotel, in Düsseldorf, Germany is offering special introductory rates.

Through Aug. 31 summer rates start at €225 ($354) for a Standard Room – proving anything but standard – with beautiful views of the hotel’s lush, inner courtyard. During this introductory period, Deluxe Rooms start at €325 ($512), and Capella Rooms, with separate living quarters and guest powder rooms, start at €500 ($788).

Beginning Sept. 1 rates will start at € 275 ($433), € 425 ($669) and €800 ($1,260) for the Standard, Deluxe and Capella Rooms, respectively.

Call 877-247-6688 or visit www.capellahotels.com

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

Geneva’s Mandarin Oriental Period Property Getaway

The Lifestyle Institute at Mandarin Oriental Hotel du Rhône, Geneva announced its 2008 program, which coincides with the completion of a multi-million Swiss Franc redesign project of the hotel’s public areas.

On Sept. 27 and 28, the hotel is offering a Period Property Renovation Getaway, during which guests will enjoy a trip to a nearby period property currently undergoing restoration followed by lunch as well as overnight accommodations;

buffet breakfast; a decoration program, wine tasting and welcome amenities, including wine and chocolate. The Lifestyle Institute’s Weekend Period Property Renovation starts at CHF 900(approx. USD 883) for single occupancy and CHF 1,200.00 (approx. USD 1178) for double occupancy.

Additional weekend packages are also available. For more information, visit www.mandarinoriental.com

Croatia Hosts Summer Fests

Croatia is holding several festivals this summer. The Dubrovnik Summer Festival ( www.dubrovnik-festival.hr)  to Aug. 25, uses open-air stages to host about 80 plays, ballets, operas and musical performances, literary events, exhibitions, poetry recitals and more.

The Kastav Cultural Summer (www.kkl.hr) runs through Aug. 29 in Kastav, a small town close to the city of Rijeka on northern Adriatic coast. During summer months, Kastav becomes a center where many cultural events take place. Concerts, theater and dance performances and much more is happening in this small inland town that’s becoming more popular as a tourist destination in the past few years.

The Split Summer Festival (www.splitsko-ljeto.hr), to Aug. 14, features opera, theater, dance and music. It takes place on locations in and around the city, including the Diocletian’s Palace.

Call the Croatian National Tourist Office at 800-829-4416 or visit www.croatia.hr

Religious Travel Year of Faith Tourism

The World Religious Travel Association (WRTA) designated 2009 as The Year of Faith Tourism.

The year-long celebrations and activities will: Highlight the New Era of Faith Tourism; Increase the awareness of the personal and communal benefits of Faith Tourism;

and contribute to the overall growth and health of the global economy, travel industry, and individual travel providers.

The official host of The Year of Faith Tourism is the World Religious Travel Association, the leading organization dedicated to the $18 billion faith-based travel, tourism, and hospitality industry.

As part of its kick-off for The Year of Faith Tourism, the World Religious Travel Association (WRTA) is hosting this fall the World Religious Travel Expo & Educational Conference in Orlando from Oct. 29 to Nov. 1, 2008.

To learn more about The Year of Faith Tourism, visit the official website at www.faithtourism2009.com.

For more information about the World Religious Travel Association or the World Religious Travel Expo, call 800-657-1288 or visit www.religioustravelassociation.com

and www.religioustravelexpo.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

Lufthansa Business Jet daily from Dubai to Munich

Demand for Premium Travel on the rise; easy connections to the hub in Munich with onward flights to destinations in Europe and the US
Lufthansa German Airlines will increase its frequency on the Dubai-Munich route. From July 15th onwards, the Airbus A319 with an all Business Class configuration will operate daily to the airlines’ hub in Munich. The Lufthansa Business Jet service commenced on May 1st with six flights a week. With this new service, Lufthansa passengers can avail of a year-round connection from Dubai to Munich complimenting the flights from Dubai to Frankfurt, which are scheduled for all days of the week.

LH 639 departs Dubai at 07:45 and arrives in Munich at 12:10, the return flight LH 638 departs from Munich at 21:30 and arrives in Dubai at 5:30 the next morning. From July 15th onwards Lufthansa will as well depart Wednesdays and arrive on Thursday mornings back into Dubai.

“We are extremely pleased with this market development and the high demand for our premium services on this route. The success of this service in such a short while has encouraged us to increase the frequencies and now fly double daily from Dubai to both our hubs, Munich and Frankfurt,” stated Peter Pollak, General Manager Passenger Sales UAE & Director Gulf & Pakistan, Lufthansa German Airlines. “Our customers for this exclusive product enjoy an all year-round-offer on this route as well as convenient departure and arrival timings specially designed to meet the needs of our business travellers”.

Onboard the Lufthansa Business Jet, passengers enjoy an exclusive atmosphere with ample space and individual attention. Lufthansa Business Jet offers a maximum of 48 seats, hence quick and comfortable boarding and de-boarding as well as reduced travel time at airports. The sleeper seats recline at a comfortable 160 degrees with a seat pitch of 58 and a seat width of 21 inches. DVD players allow passengers to make personal selections on their choice of entertainment.

Passengers travelling with Lufthansa’s Business Jet service check in at the Lufthansa Business Class counter, have access to the Business Class Lounge located on the departure level (H level) in Munich and the Star Alliance Lounge in Dubai. Senators and HON Circle Members can also check in at the First Class counter and relax in the Senator Lounge at Munich airport.

Lufthansa’s Miles & More offers it’s existing and new member’s double miles from May 01st until 31st July. Prior registration will be necessary and a special registration link is set up on Lufthansa’s homepage at www.miles-and-more.com/flymunich

Escapes at Park Hotel Weggis on Lake Lucerne

A truly luxurious three-day getaway on picturesque Lake Lucerne in the Swiss Alps is now on offer at the Park Hotel Weggis, one of Europe’s leading luxury hotels.

Set in a beautiful lakeside park with its own private beach, and just under an hour’s drive from Zurich, the award-winning hotel is offering a special three-night ‘Parc & Premium’ package which is available through the glorious alpine summer from Euro 2,662 (CHF 4,259).

The package includes return transfers from Zurich by limousine and a stylish welcome with Krug Grand Cuvée Champagne and gourmet canapés.

Accommodation is in the resort’s new super-luxury Adara Suites, with stunning views of the mountains and lake from private terraces, and a host of designer features, where passionate wine lovers are in their element with wine cabinets containing such rarities as Premier Grand Cru Classé from Bordeaux, Château d’Yquem and Australia’s legendary Grange Hermitage.

Along with a five-course gourmet dinner accompanied by specially chosen wines at acclaimed Restaurant Annex, headed by Michelin-star chef Renee Rischmeyer, is a romantic six-course candlelit dinner on the shores of Lake Lucerne, or alternatively in the resort’s vaulted wine cellars of Vinothek – home to one of the largest wine cellars in Switzerland with more than 2,600 wines.

A guided day-trip on a ‘Mount Rigi Royal Tour’ includes a local Swiss lunch and tasting of fruit spirits from the nearby Fassbind distillery.

Aperitifs at the ‘Sunset Caviar Bar’ are also included, along with 105-minutes of pampering with a ‘four-handed’ Lomi Lomi treatment, a short ‘Power Plate’ session with a personal trainer and three hours in a private Spa Cottage, complete with whirlpool or blossom-bath, sauna or steam bath, Kneipp spring, solarium, treatment table, foot-bath, exhilarating shower and a cosy relaxation corner with waterbed.

Rates until September 30th 2008 are 2,662 Euros in an Adara Deluxe Junior Suite, or Euro 2,772 (CHF 4,434) in an Adara Suite. From October 1 to March 31, 2009, the rates are respectively Euro 2,544 (CHF 4,070) and Euro 2,654 (CHF 4,245). Other room categories are available on request. *

The historic 5-star, Relais & Châteaux hotel which has been immaculately restored and extended in a multi-million dollar renovation, is one of Europe’s most outstanding luxury hotels.

A new wing with 10 sensational new Adara Suites, complements the 43 original rooms of the hotel. Throughout, the art nouveau-style hotel incorporates features by leading international designers including Philippe Starck lighting, Murano glass, Molteni furniture and Versace tableware.

Voted the GaultMillau ‘Hotel of the Year 2001’, the grand luxury resort is also renowned for its newly established ‘Sparkling Wellness & Cosmetics’ spa incorporating private Asiatic SPA-Cottages for beauty treatment, fitness, massage and a range of therapies.

Unique spa treatments include traditional Tibetan massage and healing, and a ‘Med Beauty’ centre for anti-ageing skin treatment.

* Rates are based on per guest and include service and VAT but exclude tourist tax of Euro 2.50 (CHF 4.00) for the period of 1 April – 15 October 2008, and Euro 1.60 (CHF 2.50) for the period of 16 October – 31 March 2009.

Bavarian Passion Play Program

Trafalgar Tours is now offering packages to Oberammgergau, –a village in the Bavarian Alps – including tickets to the Passion Play in Oberammergau, at a great value.

Trafalgar has reserved special first-class tickets for the 2010 Passion Play, obtained hotel accommodations far in advance in anticipation of the high demand and is offering 15 itineraries that include one- or two-night stays in Oberammergau and tickets to the play.

The play is performed every 10 years by residents of Oberammergau. The play has a running time of approximately seven hours, with a meal served during the intermission.

The next play takes place in 2010. Trafalgar’s Oberammergau itineraries range from 10 to 22 days, departing every week May through September.

The first eleven itineraries come from the First Class Europe brochure, and last four are from the CostSaver brochure.

They include: European Escapade — 22 days from $6,205; two nights in Oberammergau; European Horizons — 18 days from $5,549; two nights in Oberammergau; Traditional Europe — 20 days from $6,160; two nights in Oberammergau; European Marvel — 15 days from $4,230; one night in Oberammergau; European Spree — 10 days from $3,435; one night in Oberammergau; European Whirl — 15 days from $4,590; one night in Oberammergau; European Interlude — 18 days from $5,240; one night in Oberammergau; The Grand Alpine Tour — 16 days from $4,550; two nights in Oberammergau; Best of Germany & Austria — 15 days from $4,385; two nights in Oberammergau; Best of Germany — 13 days from $3,924; two nights in Oberammergau; Sound of Music — 10 days from $3,505; two nights in Oberammergau; European Delight — 15 days from $3,300; two nights in Oberammergau; European Experience — 16 days from $3,375; one night in Oberammergau; European Cavalcade — 20 days from $4,025; one night in Oberammergau; Picturesque Lakes, Mountains & Villages — 13 days from $3,165; two nights in Oberammergau.

For more information and reservations, call 800-854-0103 or visit www.trafalgar.com/preview

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.