Jetsettersblog

Tourist Guide Booking Tool

Explore Egypt with a tourist guide

Hailed as “the travel service innovation of 2008″ by the Irish Times

OurExplorer facilitates with ease the on-line booking of professional tourist guides from all over the world. Save time and money while you explore your next destination with the wisdom and guidance of a local.

Have you ever thought whilst visiting a new destination, “I wonder where the locals eat, drink, fish, ski, shop or party?” OurExplorer suggests its time for us all to stop simply sight-seeing but rather start exploring with the local wisdom and knowledge of a professional tourist guide.

OurExplorer has launched a new travel concept in BETA, a user-rated tourist guide booking tool created exclusively for your personal travel needs.

As the global financial crisis still looms, OurExplorer can save travellers hassle and money by getting the maximum out of their overseas adventure with a private tourist guide.

Enjoy the insight of the best shopping and value for money dining experiences in a city, directly from a native. Some tourist guides are currently offering special discounted rates and free tour hours on OurExplorer.

OurExplorer promote professional tourist guides only. Pre booking, the traveller can view their experience, license, past client testimonials or even chat with the tourist guide.

OurExplorer launched in July 2008 with now over 400 private tourist guides covering more than 80 countries worldwide — making it the biggest professional tourist guide directory in the world and growing all the time!

Make your trip overseas unique and full of adventure.
You book your flight and accommodation on-line, why not your tourist guide?
Get a tourist guide for land (city guide, mountain guide) or sea (diving guide).

Purpose of OurExplorer:

1. To help tourist guides increase their income thereby benefiting the local community - especially those in poor countries e.g. Kenya, Mexico and Cambodia.

2. Increase cross cultural awareness and acceptance via direct connection with locals e.g. people in USA get the chance to understand those in Pakistan and Israel

“Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry but it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends,” said Mahatma Gandhi.

“Less than 9.7% of overseas travelers interact in meaningful discussion with a local,” according to the Tourism 2020 Vision reported by WTO.

The IMF concluded in March 2007 that “direct support of independent local businesses when you travel has the most positive results on local economy”.

“Rather than just donating money, OurExplorer is a sustainable long term solution to help low income families globally,” said David Cunningham (Chief Exploring Officer).

Cunard 2009 World Cruises

Cunard says World Cruises aboard its flagship Queen Mary 2 and the new Queen Victoria — as well as shorter segments — offer a value because they are priced in U.S. dollars.

The World Cruises are “more sensible than comparable five-star travel experiences on land since, at sea, meals and entertainment are included,” Cunard said. Both ships offer shorter segment voyages ranging from 15 to 30 days with fares starting at $122 per day, per person.

Space is still available on some of the most popular segments, including Queen Mary 2’s 28-day Fort Lauderdale-to-Los Angeles segment with fares starting at $122 per day, per person; 15-day Los Angeles-to-Sydney segment with fares starting at $160 per day; and 31-day Singapore-to-New York segment priced from $171 per day. Queen Victoria’s 17-day New York-to-Los Angeles segment offers fares from $200 per day, per person; the 23-day Los Angeles-to-Sydney segment starts at $209 per day; the 27-day Sydney to Singapore starts at $237 per day; and 32-day Singapore-to-Southampton is price from $215 per day, per person.

Among the speakers scheduled to appear during the World Cruises are oceanographer-meteorologist Joe Bishop, astronaut Walter Cunningham, ocean liner authority and color commentator William Miller and adventurer Harvey Mann.

Departing from Fort Lauderdale simultaneously with Queen Victoria on Jan. 13, Queen Mary 2’s “Epic Expedition” features 26 port calls on five continents. Included is a call to Alexandria (for Cairo/Giza) for visits to the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx. Maiden calls include Lima, Peru; Osaka, Japan; Bangkok, Thailand; and Salalah, Oman.

The ship will journey in a westward direction, sailing around South America to Los Angeles, then across the Pacific Ocean to Honolulu. From there, stops include Pago Pago, American Samoa; Auckland, New Zealand; Sydney, Australia; and Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The voyage culminates in New York on April 14. Fares start from $19,362 per person, double occupancy.

Eighteen maiden calls are highlights of Queen Victoria’s westbound circumnavigation.

First-time visits include Apia, Western Samoa; Aqaba (for Petra), Jordan; Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; Cairns (for the Great Barrier Reef), Australia; Christchurch (Lyttelton), New Zealand; Nagasaki, Japan; Nha Trang, Vietnam; Nuku’alofa, Tonga; Phuket, Thailand; Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; Pusan, South Korea; Rabaul, Papua New Guinea; and Willemstad, Curaçao.

The ship will transit the Panama Canal and Suez Canal and visit Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala; Shanghai, China; and Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, as well as an overnight call in Sydney. Queen Victoria will also call on Mormugao in Goa, on the west coast of India, which is known for its beaches and Portuguese architecture; and Hobart, Tasmania. The journey concludes in Southampton on April 20, where guests may opt to continue their voyage with a six-day transatlantic crossing to New York aboard Queen Mary 2.

Fares for Queen Victoria’s 99-day “Exploration of Distant Horizons” World Cruise start from $20,955 per person, double occupancy.

Newmans Vacations Tax Free Flying Program

Newmans Vacations launched a Fly Me Tax Free offer to help travelers feeling squeezed by the myriad of airline taxes and fees.

Through September, Newmans will pay all international air taxes and fuel surcharges on their vacation packages to the South Pacific and Asia- a potential savings of up $500 per person.

Airline taxes and fuel surcharges have skyrocketed in recent months, often adding hundreds of dollars to international air tickets.

The Fly Me Tax Free offer is good for all new land/air vacations booked and deposited with Newmans before Sept. 30, and cannot be combined with any other offer.

For more information, visit www.newmansvacations.com

Air New Zealand New Domestic Baggage Policy

Travellers on Air New Zealand’s domestic services will in future be allowed to take a first bag weighing up to 25kgs compared with today’s limit of 20kgs. That’s an additional five kilogrammes of luggage for free.

Second bags weighing up to 25kgs will incur only a $15 charge compared with the current policy which sees customers being charged $5 a kilogramme for excess luggage.

The changes come into effect on September 15.

Group General Manager Short Haul Airlines Bruce Parton says Air New Zealand’s baggage policy change is designed to take some of the stress out of travel for customers and to help further stimulate demand at time of financial difficulty for many people.

“Our customers told us that they wanted to pay less for extra baggage and have a simple system that they can understand. The savings under the new policy will be enormous for many customers. For example, on Air New Zealand 50kgs of luggage will cost just $15 while it will be between $150-$230 on other airlines,” Mr Parton says.

“In addition to the first bag up to 25kg being free, customers can also take an item of baby or medical equipment (such as a baby stroller, car seat, or wheelchair) at no additional cost.” Mr Parton says a cornerstone of Air New Zealand’s new baggage policy is recognition of customer loyalty.

“For Air New Zealand’s Gold, Gold Elite and Koru Club members their second piece of luggage will also be free.” To assist customers with the change, Air New Zealand will be operating both systems for a grace period from 15 September to 28 October 2008.

The changes are part of Air New Zealand’s overhaul of its domestic services. Earlier this year it introduced ‘Koru Hour’ food and beverage services onto peak hour flights and in the next two weeks will complete the refit of its 737 fleet to include seat pitch of up to 35” in the front section of the cabin for the benefit of frequent flyers. At the end of October Air New Zealand will make significant changes to its check-in areas at Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch as well as introduce new kiosks and new gate technology at a number of airports across the country

Starwood Hotels Amazing Offers In Asia Pacific

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. invites meeting planners around the world to take advantage of some delightful deals throughout hotels in Asia Pacific. More than 130 hotels and resorts in over 50 locations are offering meeting planners great deals for meetings booked and held from now through 31st January 2009.

Meeting planners can receive generous incentives in the form of bonus Starpoints for rooms booked, in addition to the Starwood Preferred Planner loyalty points earned when the group meetings actualize. These Starpoints can be used to redeem for rewards including complimentary hotel services, accommodation and so on at Starwood hotels. In addition to the Starwood Preferred Planner offer available at all Asia Pacific hotels, meeting planners can also enjoy 10% savings on Meeting Package pricing and double their complimentary rooms & upgrades at selected hotels across the region.

The generous offers will be available in many popular travel and meetings destinations including China, Japan, Southeast Asia, South Asia, Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. Participating brands include Westin, Sheraton, St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, Four Points by Sheraton, W and Le Méridien.

Meeting planners can find more details on the offer as well as a list of destinations and hotels at www.starwoodmeetings.com 

 Note : Terms and Conditions apply.

The newly revamped site www.starwoodmeetings.com Is one of the most robust meetings related websites in the industry, and offers meeting planners a variety of attractive offers, rewards and recognition and comprehensive search options, making it an easy resource for organizing meetings of any scale.

About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with approximately 900 properties in more than 100 countries and 155,000 employees at its owned and managed properties.

Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands:

St. Regis, The Luxury Collection W, Westin, Le Méridien, Sheraton, Four Points by Sheraton, and the recently launched aloftSM, and element SM. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts.

Crystal Savings on World Cruise Segments

Crystal Cruises is offering new savings incentives and added value to guests booking the first two back-to-back segments of its 14th annual 2009 World Cruise.

The 26-day voyage from Los Angeles to Auckland, New Zealand, now offers free air transportation back to the U.S., a combination-fare discount, a full payment discount, and no fuel surcharge.

The new savings are valued between $2,000 and $3,300 per couple. Further, guests taking two segments of the World Cruise receive a $200-per-person onboard spending credit and two complimentary shore tours, as well as the added entertainment, classes and activities on a Crystal World Cruise.

Free air transportation from Auckland back to 20 U.S. gateways is valued at about $600 per person. Five percent combo savings — usually offered to guests taking two or more non-World Cruise voyages — have been extended to the first two segments of the 2008 World Cruise for savings of up $2,900 per couple. In addition, guests can save 3.5 percent by paying for the back-to-back segments in full by Oct. 27, 2008, for savings of up to $1,924 per couple.

With the $12-per-person, per-day fuel surcharge waived, guests can an additional $312 per person. In all, the savings is up to $6,600 per couple.

Added World Cruise value includes $200 shipboard credit and complimentary Crystal Adventures shore excursions in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, and Noumea, New Caledonia. The World Cruise segments also feature more onboard Creative Learning Institute enrichments classes and more lecturers and special-interest guest speakers.

From Los Angeles to Auckland, Crystal Serenity will call in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; Nuku Hiva, Marquesas Islands; French Polynesia’s Rangiroa, Moorea, Papeete and Bora Bora; Rarotonga, Cook Islands; Suva, Fiji; Noumea, New Caledonia; and Waitangi (Bay of Islands), New Zealand. Cruise fares start at $12,910 (after 5 percent savings) per person, double occupancy, less all of the special offers. Crystal Serenity’s full World Cruise — “Pacific Circle Celebration” — visits 46 ports of call in 17 countries in the South Pacific, Asia, Africa and Europe. The seven segments range from 12 to 22 days.

Pacific Blue Auckland-Melbourne $179 Fare

New Zealand airline Pacific Blue today announced a significant addition to its international network with daily flights between Auckland and Melbourne to begin in September.

Seats for the new trans-Tasman service from Auckland to Melbourne will be available for sale from 1.00pm (NZST) today with a special launch sale fare of $179*.

Pacific Blue CEO John Bartlett said that international expansion was a logical next step for the airline following its successful launch of domestic services within New Zealand.

“Pacific Blue’s combination of low fares, a low cost base, and high quality service has proved a compelling success story and we’re very happy to be adding to our network again,” he said.

Mr Bartlett said that despite fuel increases and a slowing world economy the airline was confident that people would continue to travel.

“Air travel is a part of people’s lives but what they’ll be looking for is value for money and not having to pay for things they don’t want,” he said. “That’s exactly what we offer.” Auckland Airport chief executive Don Huse said it was very pleasing to see Pacific Blue expanding its services. “As the first low-cost carrier to operate on this particular route, we anticipate that this new international Pacific Blue service will stimulate greater demand for flying across the Tasman”.

As well as its famous low fares Pacific Blue has brand new state-of-the-art aircraft with comfortable leather seating, a free to join ‘Velocity’ frequent flier program and Web and Self-check-in facilities for domestic flights.

Optional services available on a pay-for-use basis include a range of delicious in-flight drinks and snacks, Blue Zone seating with extra leg room, Fully-flexible fares, carbon off-setting options, and video entertainment units on international flights.

Pacific Blue currently has 270 flights a week on New Zealand domestic routes and internationally between Australia and New Zealand and throughout the South Pacific. Pacific Blue’s low lead-in fare from Auckland-Melbourne is $239**.

*Fare is one-way for flights booked on the internet, $15 more by phone. Seats are limited and fare may not be available on all flights or during peak periods. On sale from 1.00pm Monday 28 July 2008 to midnight Wednesday 30 July 2008 or until sold out for travel from 22 September 2008 to 13 December 2008.

** Fare is one-way for flights booked on the internet, $15 more by phone. Seats are limited and fare may not be available on all flights or during peak periods.

About Pacific Blue, Polynesian Blue, and Virgin Blue Airlines Pacific Blue and Polynesian Blue, along with Australian domestic airline Virgin Blue, operate a fleet of 68 modern Boeing 737 and Embraer E-Jet aircraft flying to 24 Australian and eight international destinations including New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu and the Cook Islands.

Vaka Eiva Paddling Festival

Vaka Eiva Paddling Festival takes place in Rarotonga every year in November. From the inaugural festival in 2004, it is now the largest annual sporting event in the Cook Islands, and an established event on the international paddling calender.

November 14th signals the start of the 2008 Vaka Eiva festival and Club Raro Resort is the ideal base to watch all the action. This colourful competition attracts teams from around the South Pacific including Australia, New Zealand & the USA, and is one of the sporting highlights on the Cooks Islands calendar.

Conveniently situated in Rarotonga, the main island in the Cooks, just 2.5km from Rarotonga International Airport and 2 kms from the main township of Avarua, Club Raro is close to all your holiday needs and activities. Great value accommodation, a fun and a relaxing atmosphere with the beauty of the tropical lagoon front setting makes Club Raro Resort the ideal base to enjoy all the fun of Vaka Eiva week.

All proceeds from the Vaka Eiva festival are used to support youth development and the ongoing national development of outrigger canoe paddling in the Cook Islands.

To book your Vaka Eiva Club Raro accommodation package visit www.clubraro.co.ck … be there!

Quiksilver/Roxy camps help Cystic Fibrosis

QUIKSILVER AND ROXY SURF CAMPS PARTNER WITH CYSTIC FIBROSIS FOUNDATION

Huntington Beach, CA, — Quiksilver and Roxy Surf Camps along with the Quiksilver Foundation have partnered with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to raise money and awareness for cystic fibrosis, a fatal, genetic disease. Throughout July and August, Quiksilver and Roxy Surf Camps will host a series of single-day surf camps around the country for children with cystic fibrosis. The camps will also be open to the public and will donate 100% of the proceeds from paying campers to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Often seen as a path to physical and spiritual well-being, surfing has recently also been linked to prolonging the lifespan and quality of life for people with cystic fibrosis. Doctors determined that inhaling saltwater mist has a powerful effect on rehydrating the lining of the lungs and allowing cystic fibrosis patients to more easily eliminate bacteria-contaminated mucus. This discovery led researchers to develop a hypertonic saline solution, which when inhaled recreates the effect of a typical “surf session,” and is now used by cystic fibrosis patients around the world.

Quiksilver and Roxy Surf Camps are also sponsors of the upcoming PIPELINE TO A CURE inaugural gala in Huntington Beach, California on July 19, 2008. In addition to sponsoring the event, Quiksilver Foundation also donated four pairs of one-of-a-kind boardshorts designed by Quiksilver Big Wave Invitational Invitees Shane Dorian, Danny Fuller, Mark Healey and Bruce Irons to be auctioned off at the event.

For more information on dates and locations of surf camps, visit www.quiksilvercamps.com. For more information on PIPELINE TO A CURE, visit www.pipelinetoacure.com.

About Quiksilver and Roxy Surf Camps:

Surfacing at more than 20 beaches throughout North America this summer, Quiksilver and Roxy Surf Camps offer kids a week of surf and fun. Taught by some of the most reputable instructors in surfing, our camps bring together the basics of surfing, surf etiquette and ocean safety. Quiksilver and Roxy Surf Camps also teach campers about the ocean environment and its preservation through an exclusive curriculum co-designed by Quiksilver and Surfrider Foundation. Camp locations include California, Canada, Costa Rica, Florida, Hawaii, New York, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas and Ecuador. For more information and a full detailed list of camps please visit our new website www.quiksilvercamps.com.

About Quiksilver:

Quiksilver, Inc. (NYSE:ZQK) is the world’s leading outdoor sports lifestyle company, which designs, produces and distributes a diversified mix of branded apparel, wintersports equipment, footwear, accessories and related products. The Company’s apparel and footwear brands represent a casual lifestyle for young-minded people that connect wi