Jetsettersblog

Paul Gauguin Cruises is offering a free Valentine’s Day gift package for guests from Jan. 30 through Feb. 18. Guests booking any seven-night sailing will receive the gift package of Leonidas chocolates, flower turndown service, and a $100-per-person credit at the Deep Nature Spa by Algotherm, compliments of Paul Gauguin Cruises (a $230 value). As with all 2012 sailings, guests also receive 50 percent off standard cruise fares and free airfare from Los Angeles.

Paul Gauguin Cruises also offers a gift registry, where guests celebrating their honeymoon, anniversary or other milestone event can choose a wish list of gifts, ranging from shore excursions to dining and spa options.

Club Med, the all-inclusive brand with more than 80 resorts worldwide, Med Global Escapes, allowing guests to discover their dream destination while enjoying a Club Med all-inclusive vacation.

Global Escapes must be booked from Jan. 30-March 5, 2012 for travel through April 27, 2012 for European destinations and travel through Oct. 26, 2012 for South American and Asian destinations.

Travelers can experience Club Med’s ski resorts, including Peisey-Vallandry, Chamonix Mont-Blanc, La Plagne 2100, Valmorel and Tignes Val Claret, which have received a combined 20 feet of natural snow this season. Club Med currently operates 20 ski resorts worldwide, including the recently opened Club Med Valmorel, which underwent a $130 million investment to create a new resort offering multiple bedroom Chalet-Apartments, complete with a private butler and personal chef.

Guests also can choose to visit a resort in South America such as Rio Das Pedras or an Asian resort such as Bali or Kabira Beach.

Club Med resorts provide the ideal getaway with activities to suit all interests from water sports and cooking demonstrations to spa treatments and flying trapeze lessons.

Each resort is infused with the local culture – with every resort’s design, cuisine and ambiance indigenous to its surroundings.

For more information or to make a reservation, click the banner above.

No need to worry about a chance of showers or winter weather advisory this Valentine’s Day. Guests can enjoy the ultimate romantic package that would make even Cupid envious! Indulge a little this upcoming Valentine’s Day and let your honey take you to where it’s sunny…at the St. Regis Bora Bora with the ultimate Couples Retreat package.

Experience the exclusive romance of Bora Bora with five nights in an elegant deluxe overwater villa with an upgrade to a premier overwater villa or from a pool beach villa to premier oceanfront retreat villa. Additional amenities include daily breakfast for two with signature Bora Mary on weekends, 50 minute couples massage at the Resort’s Miri Miri Spa, one flower turndown service, a flower bath and Tahitian Black Pearl guaranteed to make your hearts flutter. Welcome champagne and sweet treats will be served upon arrival by your very own St. Regis Butler (courtesy of executive chef Sebastien Le Gall from the Resort’s four dining options including Lagoon Restaurant by Jean-Georges Vongerichten). Guests celebrating their wedding or wedding anniversary at the Resort will receive a personalized gift.

Rates begin at USD$1,194 per night, minimum five nights stay is available until March 2013. Rates do not include taxes, and is based on double occupancy per Villa per night. Based on availability and black out dates apply. Use booking code: CPL. For reservations email: reservations@stregisborabora.com or visit www.stregis.com/borabora. Direct reservations accrue double SPG points.

St. Regis Bora Bora Resort features 100 exquisitely designed over-water and beach villas, many with terrace whirlpools or private swimming pools, the one-, two- and three-bedroom villas range in size from 1,550 square feet to the resort’s ultra-luxurious 13,000-square-foot Royal Estate, fittingly set apart in a secluded cove. Guests of the resort have access to world-class restaurants, including Lagoon which is suspended over the water and features cuisine by renowned chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten.

Set amidst lush unspoiled surroundings and pristine waters, guests enjoy spectacular views of the main island of Bora Bora as well as the mystical Mount Otemanu, towering over the Pacific Ocean, with the remote islands of Tahaa and Raiatea on the horizon. St. Regis Resort, Bora Bora is protected by self-contained saltwater lagoons and designed to complement the surrounding landscape. The resort features a manmade “hoa” — a Tahitian inlet that utilizes the ocean tides and currents — that provides deep ocean water to the lagoon, replenishing fresh nutrients to sustain the abundant variety of native fish and stingrays.

The islands of Tahiti are leveraging the powerful romance dimension in their brand to promote a trip to Bora Bora, Moorea , Huahine or Rangiroa as a Valentine’s Day present for a significant other. Starting at $1,699 per person, all packages include roundtrip airfare from Los Angeles on Air Tahiti Nui, accommodations, welcome flower lei on arrival and shell lei on departure, transfers and baggage handling.

The air-inclusive options include the five-night Tahiti Getaway from $1,699, which visits Papeete and includes the Manava Suite Resort Tahiti, Radisson Plaza Resort Tahiti or Sofitel Tahiti Maeva Beach Resort, transfers and baggage handling and is valid for travel through May 31.

The five-night Tahiti & Moorea package, from $1,899, includes a night at the InterContinental Tahiti Resort in a standard room, four nights at the InterContinental Moorea Resort and Spa in a lanai room, daily American buffet breakfast, roundtrip ferry transportation from Tahiti to Moorea, welcome flower lei on arrival and shell lei on departure, and transfers and baggage handling.

The package is valid for travel through May 31.

The five-night all-inclusive Tahiti & Huahine package is priced from $2,399 and includes a night at the InterContinental Tahiti Resort in a garden view room with American buffet breakfast; four nights at the Maitai La Pita Village Huahine in a garden bungalow; all meals and select beverages in Huahine; roundtrip inter-island air transportation on Air Tahiti, Tahiti’s domestic airline; welcome flower lei on arrival and shell lei on departure; and transfers and baggage handling. The package is valid for travel through May 31.

The five-night Rangiroa Luxury package is priced from $2,599 and includes five nights at the Hotel Kia Ora, Rangiroa in a beach bungalow; buffet breakfast and dinner daily; roundtrip inter-island air transportation on Air Tahiti, Tahiti’s domestic airline; welcome flower lei on arrival and shell lei on departure; and transfers and baggage handling.

The package is valid for travel through May 31.

The five-night Bora Bora package is priced from $2,799 and includes a night at Le Meridien Tahiti in a deluxe ocean view room and four nights at Le Meridien Bora Bora in a lagoon bungalow, or a night at Manava Suite Resort in Tahiti in a guest room and four nights at the Hilton Bora Bora Nui Resort & Spa in a lagoon view suite; daily American buffet breakfast; roundtrip inter-island air transportation on Air Tahiti; welcome flower lei on arrival and shell lei on departure; and transfers and baggage handling and is valid for travel through May 31.

For travel between April 1 and May 31, add $100 per person.

The seven-night Bora Bora & Moorea package is priced from $3,499 and includes a night at the InterContinental Tahiti Resort in a standard room, three nights at the InterContinental Moorea Resort and Spa in a lanai room, three nights at the InterContinental Bora Bora Le Moana Resort in a beach junior suite bungalow, daily American buffet breakfast, roundtrip inter-island air transportation on Air Tahiti, welcome flower lei on arrival and shell lei on departure, and transfers and baggage handling is valid for travel through May 31. For travel between April 1 and May 31, add $100 per person. For more information, call 877-GO-TAHITI.

For Valentine’s Day, a trip to Tahiti

Tourism officials are touting the islands of Tahiti as “surprise Valentine’s day” destination with packages starting at $1,699 per person, which includes roundtrip airfare from Los Angeles on award-winning international carrier Air Tahiti Nui, accommodations, welcome flower lei on arrival and shell lei on departure, transfers and baggage handling. There are several options and Tahiti is only an eight-hour flight from LA. For more on these packages, visit

www.tahiti-tourisme.com/romanceintahiti  or call 877-GO-TAHITI

Southwest offer in St. Pete

Travelers booking a flight plus hotel vacation package for four or more nights at any hotel Southwest Airlines Vacations offers in St. Petersburg or Clearwater can save $100 per reservation. Users need to use promotion code SUN100 at the time of booking. Plus, they will receive one night free when booking a flight plus hotel package at participating hotels. “Receive additional savings of up to $120 per person, roundtrip because Bags Fly free,” the site says. Even golf bags fly free. Clearwater or St. Petersburg beach vacation packages must be booked between now and February 9 of this year by 6 p.m. Central Time for travel now through May 25 of this year. Blackout dates apply. One-day advance purchase is required.

JetSet getaway to South Florida

JetSet Vacations is featuring seven-night getaways from $899 per person that combine a little bit of everything. The deal includes round-trip airfare; three nights at the Volcano Lodge & Gardens; four nights at the Doubletree by Hilton; airport transfers; all meals, drinks, gratuities, tips, and non-motorized watersports for five days; and car rental for eight days. The price is per person, based on double occupancy and departure from Ft. Lauderdale on select dates through March 31. Additional departures cities are available at higher prices. JetSet says this is how it saves money: a stay of seven nights in the included hotels costs $519, a round-trip flight between Ft. Lauderdale and San Jose costs $635, and the extras, including all meals, drinks, and an eight-day car rental, total $275. “So this deal saves around $270 per person ($540 per couple),” the site says.

One-third off at Idaho resort

Aston Hotels & Resorts in Idaho says bookers through January 31 of three nights or more receive a “spectacular” 30 percent off seasonal rates for stays through March 31, 2012. “Sun Valley boasts fine alpine skiing, sleigh rides, tubing and sledding, ice skating and cross country skiing. Aston’s condominium suites, ski villas and private homes throughout Elkhorn, Ketchum, Sun Valley and Warm Springs offer an assortment of amenities such as full kitchens and fireplaces as well as access to outdoor heated pools, hot tubs and saunas,” the site says. Families enjoy additional savings with Aston Hotels & Resorts Sun Valley’s Kids Ski Free program. Children 15 years and younger receive a free lift ticket with the purchase of an adult lift ticket when staying with Aston. The offer is valid for up to two children per family. Rates start from $133 per night for a Sun Valley studio. Rates are subject to change and are based on availability. Rates do not include taxes and fees. Some restrictions and blackout dates apply.

Pleasant Holidays launched a January Tahiti Vacation Sale valid for new bookings made by Jan. 30, 2012, for travel Jan. 28 to March 31. Pleasant Holidays’ Tahiti vacation packages include special airfares on air Tahiti Nui from Los Angeles, four nights’ hotel accommodation, hotel taxes and more.

Vacations begin at $1,289 for a four-night stay including breakfast daily at the Manava Suite Resort Tahiti. A getaway at the Radisson Plaza Resort Tahiti in waterfront accommodations begins at $1,309. Pleasant Holidays is offering Tahiti/Moorea combo packages featuring one night’s accommodation at the Manava Suite Resort Tahiti and three nights at the Moorea Pearl Resort & Spa from $1,439 per person.

The Tahiti/Bora Bora Getaway Combo includes one night’s accommodation at the Radission Plaza Resort Tahiti and three nights at Hotel Maitai Polynesia Bora Bora from $1,789 per person including breakfast daily. Prices are per person based on double-occupancy and subject to availability.

Pleasant Holidays offers instant air and hotel confirmations for Tahiti vacations.

Pleasant Holidays is one of the leading travel companies to Hawaii, Mexico, Caribbean, Costa Rica, the South Pacific and continental United States serving more than 10 million travelers since 1959.

For more information, call 800-448-3333.

The Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora is offering winter packages and discounts from Air Tahiti Nui that include free nights, breakfast and airfare discounts.

The offers include a fourth night free with breakfast through Dec. 12, 2012.

This package is not combinable with any other offer or promotion and is available on select overwater bungalows and beachfront villas, with rates from XPF 75,000 ($804) nightly.

The complimentary fourth night must be used consecutively with the three paid nights. The offer is subject to availability and certain blackout dates apply.

A Fifth Night Free with Breakfast package, available through Dec. 12, 2012, is combinable and stackable with other offers, and is available on select overwater bungalows and beachfront villas, with rates from XPF 75,000 ($804) nightly.

The complimentary fifth night must be used consecutively with the four paid nights. The offer is subject to availability and certain blackout dates apply.

Air Tahiti Nui is supplementing these lodging packages with airfare discounts including complimentary airfare for children 11 and under (up to two children’s tickets when two adult tickets are purchased).

This offer is valid from Jan. 7, 2012, to Jan. 6, 2013. A 30 percent discount on airfare from Los Angeles (LAX) to Papeete, Tahiti (PPT) is valid for a visit up to 10 days from Nov. 1, 2012, to Dec. 14, 2012. The booking must be made in Q class and tickets issued at least 120 days prior to departure. For more information, call Four Seasons at 800-819-5053 or Air Tahiti Nui at 877-824-4846

One departure is already nearly sold out — Only 2 other departures available in 2012

The deluxe m/s Paul Gauguin’s 7 April, 2012, sailing to the Marquesas, Tuamotus & Society Islands is nearly sold out.

You  must act fast to take advantage of this luxury cruise to one of the most exotic destinations in the balmy South Pacific.

Fortunately, Paul Gauguin Cruises has two more sailings of this popular itinerary planned for 2012 but these, too, are filling up quickly. Don’t miss this chance to secure their space- as well as this special offer:

Savings of 50% off standard cruise fares plus Air Credit and an additional value of up to US$3,200 per couple.

Guests enjoy exceptional value on all 2012 sailings of The Gauguin: savings of 50% off standard cruise fares plus our regular inclusions of:

• All shipboard meals with the choice of three open-seating dinner venues (at no charge)
• All shipboard amenities, activities and entertainment
• All onboard gratuities included
• Complimentary beverages, including select wines and spirits, soft drinks, bottled water and hot beverages served throughout the ship
• Complimentary 24-hour room service
• Mini-bar replenished daily with soft drinks, beer and bottled water
• In-suite bar setup and butler service in categories B and above
• Complimentary use of our exclusive, private white sand beach in Bora Bora, with bar service, volleyball and snorkelling
• Complimentary day on our private islet, Motu Mahana, off the coast of Taha’a, featuring snorkelling, watersports, barbecue with full bar service, and Polynesian hospitality
• Retractable watersports marina featuring complimentary waterskiing, windsurfing and kayaking

There is a lot more to Tahiti and her islands than its stunning beaches. As a year round destination, Tahiti and her islands offer an array of interesting events throughout the year from traditional festivals to sporting events to cultural celebrations. With warm temperatures, breathtaking scenery, and a vast heritage of local cultures, visitors will find plenty to keep them occupied in French Polynesia.

FIFO Tahiti 8th Edition: 6th – 12th February 2012
This is the international Oceanian Documentary Film Festival of Tahiti. The festival hosts short film screenings, script writing and shooting workshops at the “Maison de le Culture”. The festival aims to showcase the best of the documentary production of the region. For more information visit: www.en.fifo-tahiti.com/

Stand Up World Tour: May 2012
The Stand Up World Tour was established in 2009 to address the exponential growth in the sport of Stand Up Paddling, and to provide its premier athletes with an international platform on which to compete for the prestigious World Championship Title. Stand Up World Tour shows now reach 220 countries on 170 networks. For more information visit: www.standupworldtour.com/

Tahiti-Moorea Sailing Rendez-zous: 24th – 26th June 2012
This is an interactive event between tourists, sailors and locals. Three days of festivities begin at Papeete Harbour with a sail to Moorea, followed by a variety of local competitions on Tahiti’s sister island, such as outrigger canoe races, javelin-throwing, fruit-carrying races, stone lifting and a coconut shredding contest. This is a great opportunity for tourists to meet and mingle with the locals. For more information visit: www.portdepapeete.pf/

Heivā Va’a i Tahiti and Heivā i Bora Bora – “The Celebration of Life”: July 2012

In Tahitian, the word Heivā (‘hei ‘meaning to assemble and ‘va’ meaning community places) refers to activities, pastimes, physical exercise and festivals. Heivā is the largest annual cultural festival in Tahiti and it takes place at beautiful To’ata Square in Papeete and Moto’i Place in Vaitape, Bora Bora. In addition to the traditional dance and singing competitions Heivā celebrations also involve cultural demonstrations, cuisine and crafts, and sporting events including a traditional outrigger canoe race through the channel between Tahiti and Moorea. For more information visit: www.heivanui.com

Billabong Pro Surfing Competition: 20th – 31st August 2012
From May to November, the magnificent waves at Teahupoo attract the more expert surfers as the freshwater flowing from the mountains inhibits coral growth and creates some of the most exhilarating waves in Tahiti. At the end of August each year, the Billabong Pro Surfing competition takes place. This is a key event on the surfing calendar showcasing the best surfing talent from around the world.
For more information visit: www.billabongpro.com

World Tourism Day: September 2012
Every year this day is set aside for the people of Tahiti to celebrate International Tourism Day with a series of events designed to welcome visitors to the region. Across Tahiti and her islands there are opportunities to enjoy traditional food, local art, handicraft demonstrations, sports competitions and a range of musical shows.

Tahiti International Golf Open: October 2012
The Olivier Breaud International Golf Course in Atimaono, Papara, is around 50km from Papeete, Tahiti, and it hosts the annual Tahiti International Golf Open. The golf open is a stop on the Pacific Tour organized by the Australian PGA and supported by the Polynesian Golf Federation and is a popular event with keen golfers.

Hawaiki Nui Va’a: November 2012
Va’a (canoe racing) is one of the traditional sports of Tahiti. The Hawaiki Nui Va’a is the world’s largest, longest, and most exhilarating international open ocean outrigger canoe event, and is the ultimate test of strength and endurance for six-person crews of both men and women. Over 100 canoes race 72 miles between the islands of Huahine, Raiatea, Taha’a and Bora Bora to the finishing line at Matira Point in Bora Bora. An entourage of avid fans followed by canoes and boats welcome the winners at the finish line. For more information visit: www.hawaikinuivaa.pf

Marquesas Arts Festival ‘Matavaa o te Henua Enana’: December 2012
This is a Culture and Arts Festival held on the island of Nuku Hiva in Marquesas. It brings together pacific islands such as New Zealand, New Caledonia, Rapa and Hawaii where costumes and ancestral rites are shared among them. This festival is regarded by Marquesan artists as one of the best opportunities for them to showcase their talent and culture and increase international recognition. For more information visit: www.tahitinuitravel.biz/viewservices/News.aspx?Pop=1&rqEventID=619

For more information on Tahiti and her islands visit:
www.tahiti-tourisme.co.uk

Goway’s IslandEscapes is offering five free nights in the islands of Tahiti in a package that includes the islands of Moorea and Bora Bora.

The package includes five nights in Moorea and five free nights in Huahine, priced from $4,099.

Bora Bora is considered the cultural hub of the South Pacific, featuring colorful markets, distinguished art and history along with lush botanical gardens.

It is situated at the edge of an azure lagoon.

Goway combines a package with Tahiti and Bora Bora for eight nights from $3,599.

Included in this escape are three nights’ accommodation at Le Meridien Tahiti Resort (garden view room) with breakfast and five nights at Le Meridien Bora Bora Resort and Spa (Lagoon Bungalow) with a free room upgrade (subject to availability), plus approximately $300 credit per room towards food and beverages.

The packages include roundtrip airfare from Los Angeles on Air Tahiti Nui, an airport welcome with flower lei, inter-island flights, and all relevant transfers.

For more information, call 800-667-6601.